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View Full Version : [Completed] In the Absence of a Hero *NC-17* Updated: Feb 28, 2009



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BlueSabby
13th November 2007, 22:30
Disclaimer: Neither Smallville, nor Metropolis, nor any of its inhabitants belong to us. They're all in the possession of WB, CW and so on and so forth. Please don't sue.

A/N: Blue: Look at us mixing stuff up! No yelling at us!

A/N: Sabby: This one is angstier than before and uhm...


Warnings: Here there be slash, meaning male/male relationships of the not so platonic kind. We'll warn you for individual bigger occurrences too. But remember. This is still Chloe/Lex main pairing.


~~~~

The living room was empty, dark and quiet. Too quiet. There wasn't even the sound from a stereo or the TV to make the quiet less disturbing. No reason to risk coming across a newsflash about. Him.

Just the fire crackling in the fireplace and the clinking of the ice in his glass of scotch. Depressing really. And when had it gotten so cold in Metropolis during mid spring?

Lex pulled a pillow over his lap and continued to stare into the fire.

This wasn't normal. He knew it wasn't normal. Especially not for him. He wasn't the type to sit around morosely doing nothing except brooding over the fact that his significant other was somewhere halfway across the world doing his 'duty' and wouldn't be home until god only knew when the next day.

He spent far too many nights like this, too.

That's what you got for falling in love with a hero. Stupid of him, really.

He should have never forgiven the supposed hero after he'd figured it out.

One moment of perfect clarity and he'd excused every lie, forgotten every insult, and forgiven all the failures.

Lex reached to his side and picked up the phone.

He didn't even know what time it was. Only that it was hours past a cold dinner and another one of those messages that he hated to receive from his S.O.

It rang five times before the other end was finally picked up.

“He did it again,” Lex said without preamble.

Chloe wasn’t used to being woken up at such an hour. She’d had some fairly good sex and was in a post orgasm coma so it took her a moment to take in the words, who had spoken them and who he was talking about.

“Did it again good or did it again bad?” The calls between her and Lex about Clark were becoming more and more frequent.

She could guess that it was the bad kind of doing it again by now. But Lex didn’t really have anyone else to talk to about it. Chloe was the one who understood. Too well.

Clark had been her first everything. Boyfriend. Sex. Love. Ex-Boyfriend. Gay ex-boyfriend.

He and Lex had been dating for years and, somehow, she and Lex had become sort of close.

Chloe scooted away from the guy who she was sharing her bed with. He was a heavy sleeper so she knew he wouldn’t wake up but it felt a little constricting to have his arm lying uselessly on her chest.

Lex sighed again. “In the I won’t be home for dinner because I'm rescuing helpless people in Somalia way.” She could hear the pout in his voice. She wondered where the Lex Luthor she’d known in her teenage years had gone to.

But she sort of knew. He’d been crushed by the work it was dating Clark.

“And, as you will notice, it’s way past dinner and he’s still not home.” Chloe could imagine him sitting in a dark room and brooding. But before she used the last card of her sleeve she asked a question.

“Can’t you call him and see what’s up and when he’ll be home?” Logically, she knew that it was impossible to get in touch with Clark when he was doing the whole hero thing. But maybe giving Lex an option would make him feel less helpless.

Lex stared into his drink and downed it. Call him. Didn't he wish it was that easy.

“His fucking costume doesn't exactly allow for a cell phone, you know that.”

And even if it did, Clark wouldn't even think about answering the phone while he was too busy carrying some damsel in distress or another out of a burning building. Cause there weren't any real firemen to do that job, no sir, the world needed a superhero to rescue everyone from everything.

While the hero's boyfriend was sitting alone at home, waiting up over yet another missed dinner gone cold and hoping to get at least a couple hours worth of quality time in between one rescue mission and another. Never mind that he had a business to run as well and couldn't spend his entire day at home waiting for the AWOL lover to come home.

Chloe knew how this conversation was going to end so she would just get to it. “Do you want me to come over?” She could leave a note for the guy in her bed. He’d just put his pants on and leave. They’d see each other again when one of them felt a certain itch for company.

“I don’t want to bother you….” It was Lex’s trademark comeback.

“It’s not a bother, Lex,” she said, honestly. She liked spending time with him. Talking to him and bitching about Clark was always fun for her. “You know I wouldn’t offer to come over if I didn’t want to.”

“Besides,” she said, stretching, “I’m not doing anything.” She looked over at the guy and grinned. “Anymore.”

Lex found a smirk somewhere and shook his head. He knew exactly what that meant.

Chloe liked to date around, not getting seriously attached to any guy. It was her thing. She had her friends, her job and then she had fun on the side with guys that looked good and fucked reasonably well.

“The guy still in your bed?”

He heard a low thumping noise on the other end of the phone and envisioned her picking up a random body part and letting it fall away beside her. “Uhuh,” she said, “but I can get out. No problem.”

Lex waited for the obligatory comment that was sure to follow. “I'm orgasmed out anyway, as much as I can with him, that is.”

That actually got a chuckle out of him and he put the pillow aside so he could put his glass on the desk. “You sure you can leave him alone in your apartment?”

He didn't want to be the reason her apartment got emptied while she was across town.

“Yeah, he's not a one nighter. I've done it before with him.”

“Ah.”

That was new, but then, he'd been out of the game for a while. Maybe one night stands were out of season.

“Booty call, Lex. You remember those?”

Trust Chloe to call him on it, too. But it didn't matter. At least he could always count on her to be there when he needed someone to fend off the moroseness and cold.

“Yeah, yeah.” He waved off the comment and filled up his glass again. “So you'll be here in twenty?”

She could hear the eagerness in Lex’s voice and she smiled. Lex was the one person, other than family and they didn’t count, that she knew was always glad to see her. “You got it.” She already had a key to their place so she just needed to throw on something that approximated clothing, write the note and drive.

“I’ll see you soon, Lex.”

Chloe placed the phone on the cradle and got moving.

~~

Lex wasn’t hard to find. He was in the living room, empty glass on the table beside him and pouting at the fire. “Hey,” she said, coming up behind him and laying a kiss on top of his head. That always annoyed him, she heard a mock growl and did it again.

She toed off her shoes and grabbed a blanket that was on one of the oversized chairs in the room. She used to sit in them but, as the calls from Lex had occurred more often, she’d slowly made her way from one chair, to the next and now to Lex on the couch.

Being with Clark was weird. You thought he loved you. He said it enough but he was bad at most things. At least with her, he was. The sex, well, she wouldn’t dwell on that. But even just basic, human affection.

She took off her jacket, which left her only in t-shirt and pajama pants and plopped down next to Lex. She spread the blanket over both of them and leaned against him. She always waited for him to speak first. Never sure if it would be a night where he was more angry, hurt, drunk or needy.

He relaxed into his seat the moment she was settled comfortably. It always felt a little less all bad when she was there. And the fact that she was wearing pajamas or comfy clothes nine out of ten times when she showed up on the doorstep had become another comfort thing. The first time he'd looked at her like she was crazy. But then, that first time he'd been pretty much out of his head with rage while on the phone with her and had calmed down considerably by the time she showed up.

Lex slung an arm over her hip and started fiddling with the soft flannel at the back of her thigh. Flannel. Same soft fabric that Clark used to wear before he got into the crappy off the rack suits.

“I can't even remember the last time I saw Clark in one of his stupid flannel shirts.”

It didn't make much sense to say that, but Chloe would get it. She always got what he was trying to say.

“These days, it feels like he's only ever wearing the fucking spandex suit. But then, these days I see more of him on TV than in person.”

Chloe nodded against Lex and moved closer. Some nights he hadn’t wanted to be touched. But, when she thought about it, that had been in the beginning. Now, he usually pulled her closer. But not for any nefarious reasons.

Lex had never been a person that you could easily touch. However, Clark had probably broken him of that habit. And then neglected Lex.

She ran her hand over his chest in reassuring circles. “I know, Lex. I’m sorry.” It was all she could usually say. “He’s a jerk,” she added, for good measure. A thought had occurred to her more and more often lately.

“What if you…” this wasn’t going to be easy for her to say. Or Lex to hear. For a number of reasons. One of them was that, even after everything, she thought that maybe she still considered Clark a friend of hers.

The Clark he used to be before he dated either of them, that was.

“Have you ever thought of seeing other people? Lex, tons of people, both men and women, would kill to be with you.” She knew it was true. Some for the fame and money and attention but maybe some for actual reasons.

Lex shook his head, not because he was denying the idea. He'd had the idea. Multiple times in the last couple of years. But then, he'd always found reasons not to.

His head fell back onto the rest of the couch and he stared at the ceiling for a change.

“Considered it, but in the end, it's not worth the trouble, I think.”

There weren't that many people out there that he was still attracted to. Sure, there were thousands of attractive people out there, but just because it looked gorgeous, he didn't need to have it.

He was seriously screwed up. And it was surely all Clark's fault. He'd been a hardass, once. He'd fucked and sucked with the best of them, not caring whether they hung around the next day or not. But now he didn't want that anymore. His life was devoid of passion anyway, no reason to make it worse by going out and fucking some random person just because he could.

And then there was still that inkling of hope that Clark might wake up one day and realize he was being a complete asshole, a neglectful asshole who couldn't even be bothered to come home for dinner one day out of the seven in a week.

“We used to be so good together, and now it's like I'm just some old toy that he can put aside whenever he wants to, because surely it's still going to be there the next time he feels the urge to pick it up.”

The defeated tone of Lex’s voice used to freak her out. Because Lex Luthor didn’t talk like that. None of the Luthors did. But now she’d become used to it. Which made her angry and sad at the same time.

“That’s cause he’s an ass, Lex.” He really needed to get out into the world again. He didn’t have to go and screw a random bevy of people. Just maybe go out and have a little fun. Get a little perspective.

“Clark is self centered and self righteous, always has been.” It was an unbeatable combination when you added in the whole hero thing. It made it pretty impossible to fight with him if he missed your birthday because he had to save a plane full of people.

“I think you need to have a life outside of him, you know?” She craned her head up to look at him. Lex didn’t work the long hours he used to. He was part of a consulting firm but was no longer a higher up in his own company. Lionel had gone postal when he’d found out about Lex and Clark. Another sacrifice Lex had made was his career at LuthorCorp.

An idea was forming in her head. Her friends knew that she was friends with Lex because she’d been photographed with him. They always wanted to meet him and begged her to bring him out with them. They said that they could loosen him up in no time flat. Maybe that’s what Lex needed.

“Come out with me tomorrow. I’m going to a club with some friends. Nothing crazy, just some light drinking and dancing.” If nothing else, it would get him off the couch.

Lex smirked tiredly and returned his stare from the ceiling to the flames. Staring at nothing but shadows on the wall made his eyes hurt. “Alcohol hasn't helped before, I doubt it will now.”

He couldn't even remember the last time he'd been out to dance. Wasn't sure he still knew how to play the game. It had been years. And then there was the fact that he didn't feel the need to socialize. Not with people he didn't know. “I doubt I'd make great company for your friends, either.”

And the pathetic thing about that was, it wouldn't be because he was Lex Luthor, powerful, dangerous, don't fucking mess with me heir of the Luthor Corporation who could get you disappeared with a single phone call.

It was because he was Lex Luthor, the guy with the morose airs that could kill any party mood with a handful of comments. If he put effort into it, he was probably able to talk a lottery winner who dated a super model into committing suicide.

“You don’t have to drink,” she pointed out. She didn’t want to rush Lex into anything that he wasn’t ready for, but she wasn’t above some gentle nudging. She wouldn’t resort to the ‘do it for me’ line. Yet. Or ever, really. She knew that Clark was a pro at that one.

“And, trust me, my friends don’t have that high a standard when it comes to conversation.” Lex would fit in even if he tried only a little. “I’ll tell them to be on their best behavior. Or their worst. Whichever one you want.”

“Plus, you don’t have to talk to anyone you don’t want to. And, you don’t have to touch anyone, either. But there’s no harm in looking, right?” It wasn’t as if Lex was going to bring home some random person. It wasn’t in his nature.

He chuckled at that, but it came out kind of rusty. He didn't see much humor in anything anymore.

But she was cute, in a way, trying to convince him to do something about the misery that was his day to day life because he'd gone and picked the wrong love interest. Again. As always. “It would have been so much easier if he was homicidal.”

Lex didn't need to look at Chloe to know that she was giving him the 'have you lost your mind? I think you've lost your mind.' look.

“No, really, if he had been like the ones before, he would have tried to kill me and then I either would have found a way to kill him, or he would have killed me and I wouldn't have to be...” He waved an all encompassing hand at himself and the situation in general. “This.”

Lex took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.

What could it hurt? The worst that could happen would be that the evening went disastrous, her friends told her never to bring him around again, and he would go home to the same empty apartment, drink endless amounts of scotch and then call his best friend for another round of 'Why me?'.

“Okay.”

Chloe was mauling her lower lip, trying not to call him on the whole not wanting to be alive thing. While Lex became more and more depressed every day because of Clark, it was now difficult for her to try and remember all of the good the man did.

He could do even more good if he either fully committed to Lex or let him go. The man deserved better. “Thank you,” she said. “I can’t promise that you won’t regret it but I think it will be fun.”

Her friends didn’t know all that much about Lex, and she had no intention of telling them specifics, but she would let them know to give him space and take it slow with him. He warmed up to people really slowly.

Hell, it had to get really bad between him and Clark for him to have started calling her. She knew how lonely he must be in this apartment. Sure, it wasn’t the Manor but it was still a very big place. Going to bed and waking up every night to nothing for days on end when you were actually supposed to be in a relationship.

“Do you want me to stay with you tonight?” The question popped out before she could really think about it. She didn’t mind and it would actually make her feel better, too. It wasn’t as if she got in much cuddling time with her fucks.

“I mean, I’m staying tonight.” Lex would probably try to beg off, thinking she didn’t want to. “So, let me know when you want to go to bed.”

Lex turned his head to face her, almost tempted to smile. She was getting better with the pre-emptive strikes. Not that she'd ever pushed this far before. Usually, she would listen to him for a few hours and go home when he was ready to turn in. He would never admit it, of course, but it had consistently become a little harder to let her go.

Even though he loathed himself for it, he missed the contact, the warmth that she created, just by being there. He even missed the ridiculous pawing that she'd started some night or another he couldn't remember. Things had shifted from them on opposite ends of the table, to them adjacent to each other, to her next to him on the couch, to her cuddling up next to him and petting him like some oversized droopy dog.

And he liked it, for crying out loud!

And now she'd offered, and then insisted that she would stay. He knew she'd done it because she knew that he would refuse the offer if given a chance.

“So that's why you always show up in pajamas, huh? Just waiting for your chance, were you?”

The joke fell flat, but that didn't matter. It was as good a way as any to show his acceptance of her offer.

“Yeah, you know me,” she said as she started to kick off the blanket, “always wear the pajamas. It gets a man in bed like nobody’s business.” She was glad that he hadn’t said no. The lame joke was his tacit ok.

She knew that she’d told him to indicate when he was ready, but if he was letting her take charge with deciding to stay, maybe he wouldn’t mind this either.

“Come on, let’s go to bed.” She got up and held her hands out to him. Not sure if he’d take them.

Lex shook his head, but got up anyway. Who was he to argue with Chloe when she'd obviously figured it all out? Plus, it didn't make a difference if he was morose and insomniac on the couch or in the bed.

He took one of her hands and led her towards the bedroom. He couldn't even remember if she'd ever seen it before.

It was a simple room, much less ostentatious than the master bedroom in the manor. An oversized bed, a small walk in closet in one corner, door to the adjacent bathroom on the other side and a sturdy dresser by the window.

Lex took off his shirt, pants and socks mechanically and dropped them where he was standing at the end of the bed. No one there to care if things lay around.

While she and Lex could be quiet with one another, this was a different type of silence. She couldn’t put her finger on what type it was, just different.

She’d never been in their bedroom. But it was hard to find any traces of Clark. Which said something in and of itself.

Lex was silently undressing, uncaring as to where his clothes went. Even though he didn’t have any live in servants, they did have a person who came to clean the apartment once a week.

But her old habits died hard. She took off her own socks and then walked over and picked up Lex’s things.

After a small search for a hamper which was successful, Chloe returned back to the side of the bed. Lex had already slipped in.

It was strange thinking that she was taking Clark’s place. Sleeping on his side of the bed. But she was only doing it because he refused to.

Lex had turned on his side and mumbled a good night. But, what was the point of this if there wasn’t any touching? The man next to her would never admit it, but she knew that he craved affection.

She scooted over to his side and pressed herself against his back. Chloe threw one arm over his waist, her hand coming to rest against his stomach at an odd angle. She gave his shoulder a gentle kiss and then started to breathe evenly. She was tired, this shouldn’t take too long.












He involuntarily went rigid the moment she pressed against his back, but allowed himself to relax after a moment. This was Chloe. His friend who was offering him comfort. Comfort that, even though he hated to admit it, he sorely needed.

The angle was a little awkward like this and she seemed to not quite know where to fit herself. Not surprising considering that she was a good deal smaller than him.

“Your feet are icy.”

A flash of a memory ghosted through his mind. Before Clark, there'd been women, mostly. And all of them had icy feet. He'd always complained about it.

But now, it felt good. Because with the icy feet came a comfortable bundle of warmth pressed against his back. Someone who wouldn't run off at superspeed in a moment and not return until well into the next day.

He hooked his leg around hers to pull her feet between his own, covered her hand with his to reposition their arms more comfortably around his chest.

He could spend the night like this, get some rest, maybe even...

Before the thought was finished, Lex was out like a light.


~~~

tbc

lj715
14th November 2007, 00:16
Really interesting start to this fic. Chloe as the friend to start. Can't wait to read more of this one.

skauble
14th November 2007, 10:27
Absolutely loved this, ladies!

What a fascinating premise. There’s all the talk of Clex subtext, but I think that a lot of it glosses over the reality of what a real relationship between them might be like.


But she sort of knew. He’d been crushed by the work it was dating Clark.


And that pretty much sums it up. Because it can’t possibly be easy dating Clark. The only reason that Lois probably ever managed to be with him was because they worked together so at least she got some time with him.

And, as it’s being shown here, Lex needs affection, he needs to be loved. I get that Clark has his duties, and Chloe’s right that it’s a bitch because you can’t even yell at him about it, but even if he and Lex were the two most in love people in the world, their needs are just *so* vastly different I’m not sure they could ever make it work.

This is interesting the way that you’ve had this relationship really beat Lex down. He’s changed his whole life because of this; it almost seems like he’s lost his identity. I love the idea of him finding that again.

And the closeness that you’ve built between Chloe and Lex is exquisite because, even though we’ve come into it later in the game, it’s clear that it was built slowly and carefully.




The defeated tone of Lex’s voice used to freak her out. Because Lex Luthor didn’t talk like that. None of the Luthors did. But now she’d become used to it. Which made her angry and sad at the same time.


Yeah, me too! Come on, Smallville’s not so far away. Chloe could go and be back with some Kryptonite before morning. Lol



“I think you need to have a life outside of him, you know?” She craned her head up to look at him. Lex didn’t work the long hours he used to. He was part of a consulting firm but was no longer a higher up in his own company. Lionel had gone postal when he’d found out about Lex and Clark. Another sacrifice Lex had made was his career at LuthorCorp.


I found this to be fascinating. I’m not sure if this is going to be an area of Lex’s life that’s going to be explored or change in any meaningful way, but it would be interesting to see, as Lex and Chloe grow closer, what Lionel’s reaction is.


Even though he loathed himself for it, he missed the contact, the warmth that she created, just by being there. He even missed the ridiculous pawing that she'd started some night or another he couldn't remember. Things had shifted from them on opposite ends of the table, to them adjacent to each other, to her next to him on the couch, to her cuddling up next to him and petting him like some oversized droopy dog.

And he liked it, for crying out loud!


This part was excellent. Wonderful way to show the craving for genuine closeness that Lex has and how it grows in the face of Clark’s neglect.



“Your feet are icy.”

A flash of a memory ghosted through his mind. Before Clark, there'd been women, mostly. And all of them had icy feet. He'd always complained about it.

But now, it felt good. Because with the icy feet came a comfortable bundle of warmth pressed against his back. Someone who wouldn't run off at superspeed in a moment and not return until well into the next day.


This part was both sad and lovely. It was sad to see that it had been so long since he’d enjoyed real, honest to goodness comfort without any angst that he’d even take it with icy feet. But it was wonderful to see Chloe being there for him when he needed someone so badly.

Again, my hat’s off to both of you. This is a very interesting take on Chlex and a difficult one to tackle given the inclusion of Clark. I very much look forward to more, not only of the Chlex interaction, but of an exploration of the relationships between Lex and Clark and Chloe and Clark.

Wonderful story. Lex’s sadness was palpable as was Chloe’s comfort. Beautiful beginning.

~Sarah~

Kit Merlot
14th November 2007, 21:17
This is quite an interesting start: Clark and Lex are in a romantic relationship and Chloe's their friend--more like Lex's friend.


Chloe was mauling her lower lip, trying not to call him on the whole not wanting to be alive thing. While Lex became more and more depressed every day because of Clark, it was now difficult for her to try and remember all of the good the man did.

This is a great line--Clark maybe a superhero, but he is neglecting a person he is supposed to love, or at least care deeply about. I'm just glad that Lex has Chloe to lean on.

However, I am stunned that Lionel is a homophobe--or is it that he just doesn't want to see Lex happy in a relationship?

Please update soon.

malugargula
14th November 2007, 22:42
Wonderful start
:)
I can`t wait to see where this friendship will go
;)

kimmie
15th November 2007, 01:49
really really intrigued by this, it's a different spin on the chlexiness, the clark bashing is good can't wait for the chlex getting it on!!!

-K-

SVfan1286
15th November 2007, 20:55
Really intresting start, can't wait to see where you go with this.

Please update again soon!!!

dagney
16th November 2007, 02:37
Fab fic, i'm hooked already. Dagney

somethingeasy
17th November 2007, 00:33
Wow! This was.. incredible! I remember saying, some time ago, that I wouldn’t be reading any Clex fic that BlueSabby would be writing. Now I am so glad that they ignored me, and decided to go ahead with this fic anyway. Although, I have to admit that it’s mostly the promise of Chlex that makes up for my uneasiness about the Clex.

Actually, this fic covers a LOT of the stuff that I always thought was ‘wrong’ with Clex in the long run relationship. I didn’t like the idea of Superman being forced to compromise his ideals for the sake of his beloved or lover, and I didn’t like the idea of Lex Luthor being anything less than what he is fully capable of being. But the truth is that, if both these characters come together, both of them would be forced to ‘diminish’ some aspect of themselves to accommodate the other… Clark would have to turn a blind eye to some of Lex’s ‘grey area’ methods of business, and Lex would be forced to constantly question himself and reconsider whenever he needed to do something unethical, whether it’s something drastic like human experimentation that promised huge scientific rewards and breakthroughs…. OR whether it was something ‘standard’ like leaning heavily on business competitors to gain lower rates or advantages in a hostile takeover.

In the case of larger than life figures like Superman and Lex Luthor, it just always seemed like such a shame to see the two of them compromising their beliefs and ideal like this, and it never sat well with me.

OR, if one of them wasn’t willing to negotiate and compromise, the other would be swallowed up in the life and ideals of the other… And THIS seems to be what has happened to Lex. He has sacrificed everything of what he was and everything he could be for Clark, and even after all that sacrifice, he’s still miserable, lonely and unhappy.

Oooh, the angst. I LOVE IT!!!

I loved how the chapter began with Lex acting like the clichéd ‘desperate housewife’ waiting for her lover to come home long after the ‘special dinner’ she cooked has gone cold. To imagine LEX reduced to such a pitiful state… it made something inside me twist in anguish.

At least he has ONE friend to help him through such occurrences. I really enjoyed the ‘implied back-story’ about how these occurrences are regular events in Lex’s life, and how he’s slowly grown closer to Chloe out of as need for, not only comfort, but also simple human interaction and company. He’s a Luthor, so he never had that many friends in the first place, and NOW he can’t even have the company that he despised before, such as dinner with annoying, business colleagues and one-night stand women.

Is Clark really worth THIS extreme level of loneliness and solitude? It’s truly no wonder that Lex clings to Chloe.

I really loved how Chloe greeted him with this…


“He did it again,” Lex said without preamble.

Chloe wasn’t used to being woken up at such an hour. She’d had some fairly good sex and was in a post orgasm coma so it took her a moment to take in the words, who had spoken them and who he was talking about.

“Did it again good or did it again bad?” The calls between her and Lex about Clark were becoming more and more frequent.

LOL! concern disguised as a smart-ass comment. Vintage Chloe comfort, LOL! VERY nice. But I liked the personality that was drawn for her in this fic. It’s obvious that Chloe is (on the surface at least) happy, successful and a highly sought-after bachelorette. And I was ROTFLOL at the visual of Chloe becoming close friends with the man who stole HER ‘I’ve turned gay’ boyfriend away from her. ROTFLMAO! That is delicious irony, and it speaks well of Chloe’s maturity that she harbours NO resentment towards Lex for stealing Clark away from her. On the contrary, it’s deliciously ironic that she sympathises with Lex because she knows what a high maintenance boyfriend Clark is.


Chloe liked to date around, not getting seriously attached to any guy. It was her thing. She had her friends, her job and then she had fun on the side with guys that looked good and fucked reasonably well.

“The guy still in your bed?”

He heard a low thumping noise on the other end of the phone and envisioned her picking up a random body part and letting it fall away beside her. “Uhuh,” she said, “but I can get out. No problem.”

Lex waited for the obligatory comment that was sure to follow. “I'm orgasmed out anyway, as much as I can with him, that is.”

That actually got a chuckle out of him and he put the pillow aside so he could put his glass on the desk. “You sure you can leave him alone in your apartment?”

He didn't want to be the reason her apartment got emptied while she was across town.

“Yeah, he's not a one nighter. I've done it before with him.”

“Ah.”

That was new, but then, he'd been out of the game for a while. Maybe one night stands were out of season.

“Booty call, Lex. You remember those?”

ROTFLMAO! Oh MY! Chloe and Lex not only traded boyfriends, they actually traded sex and relationship lives. Now CHloe is the one flitting from one ‘pretty body’ to another in a strong of fun, meaningless relationships, while Lex is ‘trapped’ waiting home along for his superhero man to come home. Can I say I REALLY love Chloe’s life… I think it’s good for her to be free to enjoy sex with anyone she wants without getting too hung up on any one person.

And I was LOL at Lex asking whether it was ‘safe’ leaving this one-night stand alone in her apartment. It’s a good, sensible question, but I have to wonder whether Lex is speaking from bitter experience over here, ROTFLOL!


He was seriously screwed up. And it was surely all Clark's fault. He'd been a hardass, once. He'd fucked and sucked with the best of them, not caring whether they hung around the next day or not. But now he didn't want that anymore. His life was devoid of passion anyway, no reason to make it worse by going out and fucking some random person just because he could.

And then there was still that inkling of hope that Clark might wake up one day and realize he was being a complete asshole, a neglectful asshole who couldn't even be bothered to come home for dinner one day out of the seven in a week.

“We used to be so good together, and now it's like I'm just some old toy that he can put aside whenever he wants to, because surely it's still going to be there the next time he feels the urge to pick it up.”

The defeated tone of Lex’s voice used to freak her out. Because Lex Luthor didn’t talk like that. None of the Luthors did. But now she’d become used to it. Which made her angry and sad at the same time.

Oh dear GOD! Where has all of Lex’s passion gone? I noticed the bit where Chloe said how Clark has always been a good friend, but a horrible person to be in a relationship with. That he was a kind, considerate, loving friend, but just not a dependable, affectionate boyfriend. I thought that was a VERY interesting and apt perception of Clark. He loves humanity, but he finds it difficult to focus love on a single person, and who can blame him really for that attitude. You ADMIRE that Superman is so selflessly in love with people, that it’s petty to complain ‘you don’t pay enough attention to ME!’.

But THIS, a part of me DOES want to hate Superman for what he’s done to his lover. It’s as if Lex has been sucked dry of all his passion, joy, exuberance and enthusiasm… and we just have this shell of a man he used to be. I don’t blame Chloe for being freaked out. It is a horrible incongruous image… something that doesn’t make sense, and something that just shouldn’t… BE! The nasty thought occurred to me that perhaps Clark doesn’t come home because he doesn’t WANT to come home to THIS.


“I think you need to have a life outside of him, you know?” She craned her head up to look at him. Lex didn’t work the long hours he used to. He was part of a consulting firm but was no longer a higher up in his own company. Lionel had gone postal when he’d found out about Lex and Clark. Another sacrifice Lex had made was his career at LuthorCorp.

This was the saddest part of this chapter. Lex had been forced to give up his dream of being a multi-billionaire, CEO ruler of the world for Clark??!! Oh dear GOD! This is the ultimate sacrifice for Lex, and in return he got THIS kind of a life?

And I’m sure it must have also hurt Lex when Lionel rejected him this one final time… for good. Underneath all the hate and animosity, Lex always wanted to impress his father and make his father finally LOVE him, but he lost that too. And I’m quite certain he never admitted to that special kind of hurt to Clark AT ALL!

Hmmm, I share Skauble’s curiousity about how Lionel would react once Lex dumped Clark and started dating Chloe. It would be interesting to see how the old bastard would send some ‘sign of his approval’.


And the pathetic thing about that was, it wouldn't be because he was Lex Luthor, powerful, dangerous, don't fucking mess with me heir of the Luthor Corporation who could get you disappeared with a single phone call.

It was because he was Lex Luthor, the guy with the morose airs that could kill any party mood with a handful of comments. If he put effort into it, he was probably able to talk a lottery winner who dated a super model into committing suicide.

And here is yet ANOTHER way that Lex has diminished himself for Clark’s sake. Lex the suave charmer, Lex the party reptile, Lex-everyone wants a piece of me-Luthor has completely disappeared, and only this morose, depressing stranger is left behind. I am SO grateful to Chloe for being Lex’s only teeter to sanity. I truly think Lex would have been either on depression medication by now, OR in a suicide–watch psyche ward if it hadn’t been for Chloe’s selfless, compassionate friendship.


But she was cute, in a way, trying to convince him to do something about the misery that was his day to day life because he'd gone and picked the wrong love interest. Again. As always. “It would have been so much easier if he was homicidal.”

Lex didn't need to look at Chloe to know that she was giving him the 'have you lost your mind? I think you've lost your mind.' look.

“No, really, if he had been like the ones before, he would have tried to kill me and then I either would have found a way to kill him, or he would have killed me and I wouldn't have to be...” He waved an all encompassing hand at himself and the situation in general. “This.”

Yikes! I thought I was exaggerating about the suicide-watch, but it seems like Lex is halfway there already. DAMN you, CLARK!! You MORON! Lex had more passion, survivor sense and the will to live than most other people, and he’s been turned to someone who is now half in love with the idea of ‘death’ being a ‘sweet release’ from pain and loneliness.


“I mean, I’m staying tonight.” Lex would probably try to beg off, thinking she didn’t want to. “So, let me know when you want to go to bed.”

Lex turned his head to face her, almost tempted to smile. She was getting better with the pre-emptive strikes. Not that she'd ever pushed this far before. Usually, she would listen to him for a few hours and go home when he was ready to turn in. He would never admit it, of course, but it had consistently become a little harder to let her go.

Even though he loathed himself for it, he missed the contact, the warmth that she created, just by being there. He even missed the ridiculous pawing that she'd started some night or another he couldn't remember. Things had shifted from them on opposite ends of the table, to them adjacent to each other, to her next to him on the couch, to her cuddling up next to him and petting him like some oversized droopy dog.

And he liked it, for crying out loud!

LOL! I enjoyed how Chloe was so bossy about staying to comfort Lex, whether he likes it or not, ROTFL!

And I also liked the hints about how this ‘friendship’ has been steadily turning into something deeper and closer. That Lex is finding it just a ‘little’ but more difficult to let go of Chloe when it’s time for her to leave. And it’s not just because he’s lonely and desperate for company (although that is a factor too), but because he wants HER to stay.

Heh, veeery interesting… the note about them ‘pawing each other’ one night. Now how did THAT happen? What started it? What finished it? And how did they look at each other immediately afterwards? Does Clark know? How would he have reacted?


It was strange thinking that she was taking Clark’s place. Sleeping on his side of the bed. But she was only doing it because he refused to.

There are several levels of irony in this statement and situation. Not the least of which is how Clark himself is pushing Chloe and Lex together through his neglect… LOL! The relationships between all three of them are so twisted, convoluted and complicated it’s almost like incest. Chlark, Chlex, Clex… so much history between all three of them. I look forward to finding out a little more about the current state of the Chlark relationship.


He involuntarily went rigid the moment she pressed against his back, but allowed himself to relax after a moment. This was Chloe. His friend who was offering him comfort. Comfort that, even though he hated to admit it, he sorely needed.

The angle was a little awkward like this and she seemed to not quite know where to fit herself. Not surprising considering that she was a good deal smaller than him.

“Your feet are icy.”

A flash of a memory ghosted through his mind. Before Clark, there'd been women, mostly. And all of them had icy feet. He'd always complained about it.

But now, it felt good. Because with the icy feet came a comfortable bundle of warmth pressed against his back. Someone who wouldn't run off at superspeed in a moment and not return until well into the next day.

Poor, POOR Lex. I feel such intense pity for this man. He’s so desperate to be touched, cuddled and feel LOVED. He would give anything… he HAS given everything for his beloved’s sake, but he asks for so little in return… and even that little bit of affection and attention… he’s just not getting it.

In fact, I feel like Lex does not consider himself WORTHY of such attentive, selfless and devoted love anymore. Which is why he keeps letting Clark do this to him without complaining or searching anywhere else for love. DAMN you, Clark! What have you done to this passionate, generous man?!

This was an EXELLENT start to a new story, BlueSabby. I weas deeply impressed by your unique and original take on the old Clark/Chloe/Lex triangle story. I can’t wait to see how this goes, but I can already tell it’s going to be one hell of a ride.

Hmmm, any chance of a threesome coupling happening in this fic ;)

LOL! I HAD to ask. It was practically compulsory ;)
Good luck with future chapters, please update soon.

BlueSabby
29th November 2007, 21:44
A/N: Blue: Ready to hate Clark more? Than this is the chapter for you!
A/N: Sabby: What she said. Plus, some drunk Lex and Chloe, too.


Chloe couldn’t ever remember being so nervous when introducing friends. She’d sat down with all of them, except Lex, before they’d gone out. She’d told them that he was weird but nice. And that they weren’t to blatantly hit on him. Her male or female friends. They were to let him take the lead.

Thankfully, they’d all listened and Beth, who was possibly the nicest person on Earth without being dull, seemed to be having an ok conversation with him at the bar.

When she’d woken up this morning it had felt….odd.

She and Lex had been a tangle of limbs. She’d expected to wake up alone knowing that Lex usually got up with the sun. But he’d still been there. They’d laughed nervously and Lex had gone to take a shower after she’d told him when and where to meet her and her friends.

“Stop staring.” A voice in her ear and hands on her hips. “You’re really with me tonight. At least pretend to pay me more attention than him.”

Chloe smiled and spun around. While she and Ian were technically together tonight, it wasn’t a major transgression on her part. It wasn’t like they were dating. And she’d explained that if Lex looked uncomfortable she’d be leaving with him.

She linked her arms around his neck and started to pick up the rhythm of the song in her hips. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you needed my full attention.”

“Didn’t think I’d have to fight so hard for it. Maybe I should try a new tactic.” He grinned down at his friend who he sometimes screwed, he was hoping tonight would be one of those nights, and moved his hand to her ass.

“Well, what kind of girl do you think I am to stand for that?”

He leaned down. “You forget I know exactly what type of girl you are.” She was the type of girl that liked to have fun in the same way he did. They’d known each other for over a year before they’d ever hooked up. But, when they both had no one, they would sometimes fall into bed with each other. He started to kiss her. Hard. She didn’t take much to get worked up, either, which he loved.

Beth smiled at Lex and set her drink down, a bright fruity affair with a little umbrella. She internally gave herself a pat on the shoulder that she'd managed to make Chloe's friend try one. He was a nice guy. Maybe a little stiff around the edges and he did have a serious brood going on, but he was nice. And good looking. And off limits unless he made the first step. It was grossly unfair.

And the drink was evil because she really needed to pee now. It was a curse that the drinks that tasted best made you have to run to the bathroom with the hideous long lines.

“Hey, uhm, I gotta go to the bathroom, so if I'm not back in less than an hour...”

Lex chuckled and put his own drink aside. “I'll send a search and rescue team.”

“That's exactly what I was gonna say!” Her grin widened. The guy had a sense of humor, too. Life really was grossly unfair. “Okay, I'll be back as soon as womanly possible.”

She hurried off through the crowd and hoped that the line wasn't that long, but with her luck, it probably was.

Lex turned around in his seat to have a look around. They'd arrived a couple hours ago and so far, he had to admit, it wasn't bad. Chloe's friends seemed to be nice. Especially Beth. He could see that the young woman had taken a shine to him, for whatever reason, and the conversation with her had been interesting without being strenuous.

His eyes wandered around to see how Chloe was doing. He knew she was here with one of her friends who liked to fuck.

It took him a moment to find her in the crowd of dancing people, mostly because most of her was hidden from view by said friend.

They were kissing.

This was the first time he was confronted with the visual of Chloe 'having fun'.

The couple made a half turn and he could see both of them more clearly. The guy, Ian, was tall and not bad looking. Nice ass, handsome face, okay build, but nothing to write home about. Chloe didn't even try to get her arms around his neck, she was plain groping his butt while they were 'dancing'.

Lex watched as they continued to grind against each other, completely absorbed in the kiss.

He popped the buttons on his sleeves and rolled them up.

He had to admit they looked hot together. Both blonds, both attractive, and both obviously two steps away from doing it in the middle of the dance floor.

A flash of heat took him by surprise as he imagined what they would look like, naked and wrapped up in each other, sharing kisses and touches, inevitably leading to ravenous sex.

Lex shook his head and reached behind him for his drink. Entirely too fruity for his taste, but at least it was cool enough to fend of the inexplicable heat flash and get some wetness back into his dry mouth.

He licked his lips and put the glass back on the counter, eyes still not leaving the couple on the dance floor.

Chloe was pressed up against Ian so tightly that you couldn't fit a sheet of paper between the two.

He remembered how warm it felt to have her pressed against him like that. Heat soaking into him from the back through his entire body. What would it have felt like if they'd both been naked?

Lex shook his head again.

This was nuts. He couldn't think of her that way. She was his friend. Just his friend.

And he was starting to get wrong ideas because the person who should be pressed against him like that, kissing him like that, wasn't. Said person wasn't even in the same state at the moment. Too busy saving people or doing his 'job' as an investigative reporter.

Lex clenched his teeth as he felt anger welling up inside him.

Ian was a very skilled kisser. It was one of the reasons that they’d started sleeping together. They’d started making out and Chloe hadn’t wanted to stop. After they’d both laid down their ground rules they’d, well, started laying each other, so to speak.

And she wasn’t opposed to the idea tonight. Her body was already heating up in a very specific way. As long as Lex didn’t mind. She wasn’t going to be the type of friend who ditched Lex just because she could get lucky.

When Ian had let up a little and turned his attention to her neck, Chloe had opened her eyes to see if Lex was still talking to Beth.

She blinked a few times before she was able to single him out. Beth was nowhere to be seen.

He was watching her with Ian.

Their eyes locked and she saw something in them that she’d never seen from Lex. It took her so much by surprise, as did her reaction, that she gasped a little. Ian took it as a good sign and bit her a little harder.

Then someone passed in front of her and when they had cleared her vision, Lex was already turning around.

She took her hand away from Ian’s body and he eased up on her a little. “I’m not done dancing,” she said. What kind of friend would she be if she didn’t invite Lex to dance?

Ian blinked down at her and then nodded. She started dancing her way over to Lex, one hand still holding on to Ian’s so he trailed after her.

He got himself back under control. Thankfully, Chloe was in front of him. Otherwise, it might be a little embarrassing.

Lex was still a few feet away with his back turned. There was this thing she did. This whistle she let loose when she couldn’t find Lex in his apartment. She used it now.

Instinctively, she thought, he turned around. Chloe crooked her finger at him, grinned and then started to swing her hips again. She felt Ian take a step away from her. Good, she didn’t want to grind with Lex and Ian. Just dance.

The familiar whistle had jerked Lex right out of his thoughts. His brows rose in surprise when he saw Chloe was using it to ask him for a dance.

He looked from her to her fuckbuddy and back to her, mouthing, “You're sure?”

When she nodded and continued to sway her hips to the rhythm of the music, he got up from his chair and stepped closer.

He could do that, let her have a dance. After what she'd done for him the night before, he'd promised himself he would try his best not to spoil the mood while they were out. That did include dancing when he was asked to.

Ian took the place behind her and Lex looked up at the blond to make sure he was okay with this. The last thing he wanted was some kind of unnecessary pissing contest.

Ian shrugged and smiled. Chloe was in one of her mood swing moods. The only thing you could do was hang on for the ride. It was usually fun. If you didn’t count that one time she almost got them both arrested.

Once Lex saw it was ok, he saw him step a little closer to Chloe. Nice guy, not wanting to step on anyone’s toes.

Chloe rolled her eyes at the male posturing that she was stuck between. Sometimes, she really hated being short. Even with heels.

She smiled up at Lex and then pulled him closer by his belt loops. He was clearly surprised by the move and Chloe started to laugh.

Ian shook his head at her antics. The girl was lucky that all of her friends didn’t mind being manhandled all of the time.

Chloe started to dance and spin between Lex and Ian. She didn’t want to neglect either of them. Though she faced Lex more often than not. And looked at him more. She’d have to stop soon. It was pretty hot in the club and she needed a drink.

She saw Beth approach the bar, stop, look around and then shake her finger at Chloe. The young woman approached them and, taking a page out of Chloe’s book, grabbed Ian by the hips and dragged him away to dance with him.

Laughing, Chloe linked her hands around Lex’s neck and danced a little closer. She eased her body up so she could get close to his ear. It was hard to be heard a lot of the time in this place. “Having fun?”


Lex gave a little wave at Beth behind Chloe's back, receiving a wide smile and a cute little finger twiddle in return that let him know she didn't feel deserted.

Then he got a little distracted by the fact that Chloe pressed up against him to speak in his ear. The sensation of heat was immediate and a little confusing.

“Uhm.” Right, she'd asked him if he was having fun. “Your friends are nice.” He tightened his arm around her waist to keep her steady. He could get used to the warmth. “It was a good idea.”

Even if it didn't change anything. He would still go back home alone tonight, sit in his living room for hours until he was tired enough to pass out for a few hours and then get up to go to work. Same shit, different day. Clark wouldn't show up until late afternoon the next day at the earliest.

Lex swallowed and tried to push the thought away. It would only make it harder for him to keep up the good mood.

She saw the look on his face and knew he wasn’t really there with her. He was thinking about Clark. And that wouldn’t do at all.

“Can’t be too good if you’re distracted by him,” she said. She edged even closer to him, which was almost impossible to do what with his arm wrapped around her. She was now speaking directly into his ear. How could she possibly get him to forget about Clark, even if it was for a few minutes?

She would just have to change topics. “I haven’t told you how good you look tonight.” Chloe let her eyes drift over his body. “Very good.” She leaned forward a little more. “I think Beth has a tiny crush already.”

A soft chuckle from him. It made her smile. “What? Like that’s so unbelievable. You are rather charming, you know?” Her movement was hampered a little by Lex’s arm around her body but she didn’t mind. She just moved her hips in small circles instead of flailing around while gyrating.

There was something she’d never told him. Or Clark, either. But it might just do the trick. “I had a huge crush on you when I was in high school.” She looked up at him and nodded when his eyes went wide.

“Huge.”

Lex didn't quite believe it, but he could tell when she was lying, because she always chewed on her bottom lip and talked faster when she did. But now, she didn't. Still.

“You're kidding. I never noticed anything.”

They hadn't even been close back then. Their friendship had ironically started around the time he and Clark got together. After Clark had broken up with her because he realized he was gay. Hard to believe, in a way, but instead of blaming Lex and turning into a sworn enemy, as he'd expected to happen, she had supported their relationship.

It made no sense. That she'd have had a crush on him in high school. She and Clark had gotten together their first year of college. And she'd always been in love with Clark, until they broke up.

For a moment, he wondered. Wondered what if. What if he'd noticed? What if she'd said something? What if…

But that was absurd. Things were the way they were, and there was no going back into the past and changing things. Still.

“I kinda wish I had known.”

“What?” She spoke the word softly but she thought that Lex had heard it. Why did he wish he’d known? Would he have actually done something?

This was wrong. Very wrong. She shouldn’t have said anything. She was pressed up against Lex’s body, and by the way, when had his knee gotten between her legs?, and they were treading on some very dangerous ground.

She hadn’t expected his reaction. The disbelief, yes. But not that other statement. Chloe shook her head. “It probably wouldn’t have mattered,” she said, honestly. “What with my self esteem and other issues, it probably wouldn’t have worked out.”

The strong words that were supposed to come out didn’t. Instead her last statement was more of a question. “But I’m glad you never noticed. Would have been a little embarrassing if you’d told me you knew and found it cute or something.”

The beat of the music was picking up and they both moved to it. When Lex’s thigh angled up in just the right way, Chloe knew it was time to stop. She hoped that he hadn’t caught the minute shudder that her body gave. A reaction to the stimulus.

She was far too hot, thirsty, horny and confused to keep doing this. Besides, Lex had a boyfriend. Her friend Clark. “I need a drink,” she said, looking up at him. “A real one. You in?”

Lex didn't care to explore the subject any further, so he left it at Chloe's assumption of what would have happened. He didn't know. Couldn't guess at his reaction had he known. A drink sounded good. Maybe five, or ten.

“Sure, let's get something without umbrella for a change.”

He pulled back, rubbing a hand down his chest to smooth it out. It felt weird, like he almost noticed a difference in temperature now that they were standing apart again.

Lex really could use a drink.
~~
“Lex, no, you can’t. You’ll regret it.” Chloe was putting up as much of a fight as she could in her current state. She was drunk. As hell. So was Lex.

They were in the hall by his bedroom. She couldn’t remember why, exactly, they were on the floor but there had to be some reason. Lex was trying to operate his cell phone. To call Clark.

He was about two feet away. Seemed really far.

After their dance session, they’d gone shot for shot. She remembered Ian coming over to her. She’d politely told him it wasn’t going to happen. He’d been nice about the whole thing. Even drove her and Lex here, he hadn’t drank, drunk, drank, imbibed that night so it had been fine.

She started to crawl over to him when she heard the tiny ring on the other end of the line. “Lex, no. Drunk dial never good.”

“Don't care,” Lex grumbled back at her, waiting for his stupid S.O. to finally pick up the fucking phone.

He had a piece of mind to share with the stupid alien about his tendency to be a crap ass lover and boyfriend and other.

Finally, there was that little click noise that meant the other person had picked up and he could start talking.

“You're an asshole.”

“Lex?” Clark sounded confused. Like anyone else would call him in the night to tell him he's an asshole.

“You remember my name,” Lex drawled, “I'm impressed. Do you by any chance also remember where we live?”

“Lex, what are you talking about.” More confusion.

“King of obliviousness is what you are. High priest of ignorance. A completely, oblivious, ignorant and …” He needed another word, a good word to describe the shitty habit of Clark to not notice anything going on with other people.

He turned to Chloe. “Gimme another word.”

Instead of being helpful in any way, shape or form, Chloe started to giggle. She imagined Clark having that dumb look on his face. “Dumb as a doornail.” No, wait, that wasn’t right. She could see that Lex knew that too. He smirked over at her.

“Not fair. Had the same but I’m tinier.” Her shoes had already been kicked off and her pantyhose were somewhere else so it was easier to crawl over to Lex. And reach for the phone. Lex fought her a little but she bit him and he quickly let go of the phone.

“Clark,” she said, very importantly, “you need to come home and do your man. Do you understand? He’s a cuddlebug and needs some manly attention. He could be doing anyone and he wants you. So, bring that big dick of yours that we all three know you have home now.”

Clark glared at the phone. Chloe was clearly drunk. Which meant that Lex was, too. They’d discussed this. He didn’t think that Lex should be drinking so much. It had seemed to get worse lately. And his boyfriend actually had the gall to blame him.

“Chloe, I expected better than this from you.” He couldn’t believe that she had said what she did. It wasn’t proper.

“So did I when you popped my cherry so I suppose we’re both going to have to get used to disappointment.”

“Chloe!” He was sitting up now.

“He’s yelling now. It’s for you,” she said as she handed Lex the phone.

“Insensitive dick!” That's the word he had been looking for. Insensitive. That's what Clark was.

“And don't yell at Chloe, she's right. At least with the first part.” He didn't know much about the cherry popping part. This was the first he'd heard of it. But she'd worn her honest face, so he believed her on that account. “And probably with the second. And when's the last time you've been home for more than two hours hrm?”

He could feel himself working up to a good rant. One of those spectacular ones that he hadn't had in a while. “Let's face it, Clark, you suck! Actually, no you don't. Haven't in over a month, at least not my dick. Hell knows what you get up to while you're supposedly out there saving the world.”

Clark's jaw dropped as he stared at the phone. He couldn't believe what was coming out of Lex's mouth. His boyfriend was cussing him out because he wasn't getting enough blowjobs, when Clark had to worry about thousands of people in trouble, screaming for help, needing him.

“Lex, how can you say that? We've talked about this. You knew what I am when we got into this…”

Lex didn't care for a repeat of that song and dance. He switched the phone to the other ear and leaned his head back against the wall.

Chloe lay back down and thought about her first time with Clark. Should have let Lex pop her cherry. At least she would have gotten an orgasm probably. ‘stead of like flannel burn on Clark’s shirt.

It was hot. She wanted out of the constricting dress. Like that snake. Needed something else to wear. Was able to flip over and then crawl into Lex’s bedroom. Took off dress, bra, panties. In the hamper. Had to teach Lex that. Realized that she was naked. Should have gotten clothing first. Rifled through closet. Black t-shirt. Got it on over head. Then walked back out into hallway. Lex still on the phone, thumped down next to him.

“Blah blah blah, you know what? I don't give a fuck. I don't give a fuck. Fact is, you spend more time out there, saving kittens from trees and doggies from fires than you do with me. You go off on your flights of fancy, saving the world, yaddah, yaddah and expect me to sit here and just wait until you're done for a few minutes and feel like coming to a place where you can get your booboos fixed and get a little support from the convenient boyfriend.”

“S’right. You tell him.” She yelled a little so Clark could hear her. “Man’s got needs Clark. Should go down on him more to make up with never doing it for me!”

Chloe was pawing at his arm again, which was why he missed the first half of Clark's protests, not that it mattered much anyway.

“You're an asshole and you don't even care,” he spoke over the indignant waffling of his so called lover. “You don't even bother to notice when I'm feeling like shit because some stupid person halfway around the world needs saving.” But it wasn't just the spandex and the flying thing that got between them “And when it's not one suit, it's the other. Report here, investigation there.”

He hated it. Plain and simple. As if a fucking 'sacred duty' wasn't enough, Clark had to insist on the ridiculous cover of being an investigative reporter of all things. “Expect me to be home, expect me to make time, expect me to turn everything upside down and inside out and fix your messes, never mind that I'm wearing a suit too. Have a job, too. Used to have a life...”

Chloe nodded along with everything that Lex was saying. He needed some support for once. “He tries and tries and you just flies and flies to other countries. Can’t the fucking Batdude and his troupe do something for once? Isn’t there some fish dude too?”

Now, if any superhero was gay, it had to be him.

Chloe was yelling at him for this, too? Where they hell did she get the right? And where were she and Lex, anyway? “Listen, it’s not as if I can just ignore the people that need my help. My gifts are bigger than both of us, Lex. I thought you understood that.”

“We’ve been over this before. I think that you’re drunk. Both of you and have just wound each other up.” He looked at the clock and did some time zone math. “I’m sure you’ll feel better once you get some sleep and we can discuss this, if you still feel the need to, when I get home tomorrow.”

God, was Clark still talking about how he was right and they were wrong. Chloe bumped Lex on the thigh with her foot. “I’m tired. Let’s go to bed.”

Lex snorted into the phone. That was so like Clark. So incredibly, obliviously, ignorantly, insensitively like Clark. “Fuck you.”

He pressed the end button and hurled the tiny little cell across the hall where it landed with a crash and dissolved into even tinier pieces.

“He's such an asshole,” he commented as he leaned back again, bringing his hands up to cradle his head. “Such an incredibly oblivious asshole.”

And yet...

And yet, Lex couldn't bring himself to do what he should do. Because there were reasons. Reasonable reasons that he couldn't think of right now. And that stupid feeling that maybe one morning Clark would wake up and realize his assholishness and change for the better.

Chloe nodded. “I know. And he doesn’t even look all that good in that suit. I mean, it’s all tight. Like, dude, what are you overcompensating for? Cause, yeah, he’s got a big dick but he had no idea what to do with it.”

She stood up and swayed for a moment. “Come to bed. I’m cold.” She held out her hands and opened and closed them a few times. “I’m better than Clark in bed without even doing anything cause I’m here.”

lj715
30th November 2007, 00:28
WooHoo!!!! Excellent, excellent chapter!! Love Chloe & Lex dancing & then getting drunk & telling Clark off. Can;t believe you left it there. MORE PLEASE!

SVfan1286
30th November 2007, 01:41
It's getting really juicy...fantastic chapter!

I love Chloe and Lex getting drunk, and then calling Clark, it was just to hilarious.

I almost feel bad for Clark, he so oblivious, and he just doesn't get it. *Stupid BDA* Lex telling Clark off was good, he knows he should just leave Clark but he is still in denial that Clark will realize his wrong's and change. It's a total role reversal between Chloe and Lex; she was always the one in-love with Clark and in denial, but in this fic it's Lex instead. It makes it even more intresting to read.

I just love this story, and can't for the Chlex to heat up even more!

Please update again soon!!!

Kit Merlot
30th November 2007, 03:36
A great update!

Beth and Ian seem like very cool people, but I think I like that Lex was so attracted to Chloe most of all. And I do hope they have another conversation about her having a crush on him when she was in highschool--that really needs to be explored more.


“Clark,” she said, very importantly, “you need to come home and do your man. Do you understand? He’s a cuddlebug and needs some manly attention. He could be doing anyone and he wants you. So, bring that big dick of yours that we all three know you have home now.”

And good for Chloe for telling Clark off as well as she did while she was drunk--that is just awesome:grin3:

This story continues to rock.

toryjhay
30th November 2007, 09:01
yeah, clark is an ass! lex and chloe together, completely amusing! i'm really loving this fic. more soon please!!!!

skauble
1st December 2007, 05:06
It’s funny; for a story in the angst section this part was a lot of fun.

I really love Chloe’s loyalty to Lex here.

I get that Clark has to save people, and I don’t think that it’s wrong on him to want a career. But I do have a problem with him because I think that he’s using Lex’s issues with love and the past to keep him hanging on when Clark knows that he’s never going to be able to meet those needs. The way that Clark tries to make him feel ashamed because Lex doesn’t want to be in a relationship where he’s really alone for most of the time is cruel. It’s easy to see why Lex stays, given his issues, but Clark using those issues to get him to stay because it’s easier for him to have someone who knows his secret and will take the scraps he’s given isn’t right.

I loved the drunk Chlex interaction and the drunk Clex and Chlark confrontations. Protective Chloe is scary and she knows Clark’s weakness. He really should watch himself.

Lex was so cute trying to remember enough words to describe what a dick Clark is. And Chloe talking about the bad sex - :rofl:




“Clark,” she said, very importantly, “you need to come home and do your man. Do you understand? He’s a cuddlebug and needs some manly attention. He could be doing anyone and he wants you. So, bring that big dick of yours that we all three know you have home now.”


OMG! You know that Chloe’s wasted if she’s calling Lex a cuddlebug. And that Lex let’s her? Clearly he’s sloshed beyond reason, too. This part was soooooooooo sweet. :)




Chloe nodded along with everything that Lex was saying. He needed some support for once. “He tries and tries and you just flies and flies to other countries. Can’t the fucking Batdude and his troupe do something for once? Isn’t there some fish dude too?”

Now, if any superhero was gay, it had to be him.


I was ROTFLMAO at this. I’ve always felt *exactly* the same way.

Even more excellent work from you both. I don’t know how you two manage so many stories so wonderfully but you do and I thank you mightily for the effort.

More soon please. :)

~Sarah~

dagney
1st December 2007, 18:22
very funny chapter. I'm enjoying how different this story is and am looking foward to much much more. dagney

somethingeasy
1st December 2007, 21:17
She and Lex had been a tangle of limbs. She’d expected to wake up alone knowing that Lex usually got up with the sun. But he’d still been there. They’d laughed nervously and Lex had gone to take a shower after she’d told him when and where to meet her and her friends.

It was really so sweet of Chloe to be taking so much time out of her schedule to make Lex feel a little better about himself and his situation. She’s a true friend, and a better source of comfort and support than the person who ‘claims’ to love Lex.


“Didn’t think I’d have to fight so hard for it. Maybe I should try a new tactic.” He grinned down at his friend who he sometimes screwed, he was hoping tonight would be one of those nights, and moved his hand to her ass.

“Well, what kind of girl do you think I am to stand for that?”

He leaned down. “You forget I know exactly what type of girl you are.” She was the type of girl that liked to have fun in the same way he did. They’d known each other for over a year before they’d ever hooked up. But, when they both had no one, they would sometimes fall into bed with each other. He started to kiss her. Hard. She didn’t take much to get worked up, either, which he loved.

I liked getting this character glimpse into Chloe’s fuck-buddy. He seems like a nice enough guy, even if he’s not worth getting serious about… I liked how he wasn’t pouting over Chloe ‘ignoring him’ tonight, but was willing to take whatever attention she was willing to give, without demanding more… the perfect boytoy, LOL!


“That's exactly what I was gonna say!” Her grin widened. The guy had a sense of humor, too. Life really was grossly unfair. “Okay, I'll be back as soon as womanly possible.”

heh, TELL me about it, Beth! If only she knew just how many women probably started crying the day they heard that Lex had committed himself in a relationship with another MAN! It’s nice to know that Lex can still be charming and irresistible, even when he’s depressed and neglected.


Lex turned around in his seat to have a look around. They'd arrived a couple hours ago and so far, he had to admit, it wasn't bad. Chloe's friends seemed to be nice. Especially Beth. He could see that the young woman had taken a shine to him, for whatever reason, and the conversation with her had been interesting without being strenuous.

It was probably also good for Lex to know that he’s still got his ‘mojo’, and can still attract pretty, interesting potential partners to himself. I think he’s been suffering a major inferiority complex, and it will do him good to know that he ‘could’ have other options.

A flash of heat took him by surprise as he imagined what they would look like, naked and wrapped up in each other, sharing kisses and touches, inevitably leading to ravenous sex.


Lex shook his head and reached behind him for his drink. Entirely too fruity for his taste, but at least it was cool enough to fend of the inexplicable heat flash and get some wetness back into his dry mouth.

He licked his lips and put the glass back on the counter, eyes still not leaving the couple on the dance floor.

Chloe was pressed up against Ian so tightly that you couldn't fit a sheet of paper between the two.

He remembered how warm it felt to have her pressed against him like that. Heat soaking into him from the back through his entire body. What would it have felt like if they'd both been naked?

Lex shook his head again.

This was nuts. He couldn't think of her that way. She was his friend. Just his friend.

I really enjoyed the hot description of Chloe wrapped up with a sexy guy. It’s fantastic to see that she’s finally being appreciated as a sexy, desirable young woman… and she’s finally having the chance to enjoy her sexuality. It always drove me crazy thinking about her alone, OR wasting her time with unworthy guys who could never satisfy her.

Heeee, and Lex is getting turned on by seeing Chloe in full sex-mode this evening. Even HE gets to see what an incredible, passionate partner she can be… and perhaps all these ‘naughty thoughts’ will lead somewhere in the future ;)


He was watching her with Ian.

Their eyes locked and she saw something in them that she’d never seen from Lex. It took her so much by surprise, as did her reaction, that she gasped a little. Ian took it as a good sign and bit her a little harder.

Then someone passed in front of her and when they had cleared her vision, Lex was already turning around.

I person can VERY easily fall in love with this girl. She’s passionate, but she doesn’t allow her own desires get in the way of her loyalties and priorities. I liked how, although she was really enjoying herself with Ian, she had no intention of being rude and ‘ditching’ Lex, just to have her own good time.

Heh, AND her fortunate moment of turning to check on Lex allowed her to catch a moment of heat for her in his eyes. She didn’t acknowledge the look fully, but perhaps later she’ll have a chance to fully appreciate that Lex is attracted to her… I wonder where that realization is going to lead the both of them.


Lex was still a few feet away with his back turned. There was this thing she did. This whistle she let loose when she couldn’t find Lex in his apartment. She used it now.

Instinctively, she thought, he turned around. Chloe crooked her finger at him, grinned and then started to swing her hips again. She felt Ian take a step away from her. Good, she didn’t want to grind with Lex and Ian. Just dance.

The familiar whistle had jerked Lex right out of his thoughts. His brows rose in surprise when he saw Chloe was using it to ask him for a dance.

ROTFLMAO! She actually has a special whistle to call Lex Luthor??!! I LOVED that! ROTFLMAO!


Ian shrugged and smiled. Chloe was in one of her mood swing moods. The only thing you could do was hang on for the ride. It was usually fun. If you didn’t count that one time she almost got them both arrested.

I really like this Ian guy. He’s perfect for what Chloe needs in her life right now… when she’s between boyfriends and not ready to commit herself to anyone. Ian actually understands what she needs, and doesn’t push her for more. What an excellent, custom-made fuckbuddy, LOL!


She smiled up at Lex and then pulled him closer by his belt loops. He was clearly surprised by the move and Chloe started to laugh.

I know she didn’t mean it that way, but it was REALLY hot imagining Lex being drawn closer by tugging on his belt loops. I really enjoy the image of Lex being pushed and manhandled into ‘appropriate position’ by a bossy, demanding partner. Can we play with this later? LOL


Lex gave a little wave at Beth behind Chloe's back, receiving a wide smile and a cute little finger twiddle in return that let him know she didn't feel deserted.

awww, this was a really cute image… All four friends, dancing together… interchanging partners without the slightest bit of jealousy or possessiveness. It’s a very sweet outing between friends without the complications of sex muddying up the picture. I suspect Lex has been to VERY few social gatherings like this, where there’s only clean, simple FUN to be had, and no other pressures.


“Can’t be too good if you’re distracted by him,” she said. She edged even closer to him, which was almost impossible to do what with his arm wrapped around her. She was now speaking directly into his ear. How could she possibly get him to forget about Clark, even if it was for a few minutes?

She would just have to change topics. “I haven’t told you how good you look tonight.” Chloe let her eyes drift over his body. “Very good.” She leaned forward a little more. “I think Beth has a tiny crush already.”

A soft chuckle from him. It made her smile. “What? Like that’s so unbelievable. You are rather charming, you know?” Her movement was hampered a little by Lex’s arm around her body but she didn’t mind. She just moved her hips in small circles instead of flailing around while gyrating.

Poor Lex… even in the middle of this ‘good, clean fun’ there’s still a thread of loneliness and misery in him… DAMN that Clark for doing this to him. It’s a really good thing Lex has Chloe to help him out during moments like this, otherwise I don’t want to imagine the semi-suicidal, drunken depression he would have fallen into if Chloe wasn’t so determined to distract him from his miserable relationship.


There was something she’d never told him. Or Clark, either. But it might just do the trick. “I had a huge crush on you when I was in high school.” She looked up at him and nodded when his eyes went wide.

“Huge.”

Lex didn't quite believe it, but he could tell when she was lying, because she always chewed on her bottom lip and talked faster when she did. But now, she didn't. Still.

LOL! It’s surprising that this news was such a shock to Lex. I would have thought he would have gotten used to the idea of being irresistible to every female (and some males) that he came into contact with… It was really cute that he actually had to check for Chloe’s ‘tells for bluffing’ when she dropped this revelation.


For a moment, he wondered. Wondered what if. What if he'd noticed? What if she'd said something? What if…

But that was absurd. Things were the way they were, and there was no going back into the past and changing things. Still.

“I kinda wish I had known.”

“What?” She spoke the word softly but she thought that Lex had heard it. Why did he wish he’d known? Would he have actually done something?

oooh, BOY! The two of them have NO idea on how dangerously close they’re skirting towards infidelity over here?! Idiots! He’s miserable and unhappy in his relationship (with good reason, but still…), he’s just noticed how sexy and attractive his supportive and comforting friend is, and NOW he’s found out that his sexy friend used to have a huge crush on him?!

AND he’s entertaining thoughts of ‘if onlys’ and ‘what ifs’ over here too?

Do you NEED anything more to add onto this formula for unfaithfulness?!


This was wrong. Very wrong. She shouldn’t have said anything. She was pressed up against Lex’s body, and by the way, when had his knee gotten between her legs?, and they were treading on some very dangerous ground.

heh, at least Chloe has some inkling about the dangerous territory they’re edging into. Let’s hope she manages to keep a tight hold on her sense of right and wrong, even when the hormones start an overwhelming torrent inside.


“Lex, no, you can’t. You’ll regret it.” Chloe was putting up as much of a fight as she could in her current state. She was drunk. As hell. So was Lex.

They were in the hall by his bedroom. She couldn’t remember why, exactly, they were on the floor but there had to be some reason. Lex was trying to operate his cell phone. To call Clark.

He was about two feet away. Seemed really far.

After their dance session, they’d gone shot for shot. She remembered Ian coming over to her. She’d politely told him it wasn’t going to happen. He’d been nice about the whole thing. Even drove her and Lex here, he hadn’t drank, drunk, drank, imbibed that night so it had been fine.

ROTFLMAO! As far as ‘stupid mistakes that could be committed while drunk’ goes… Drunk-dialling is quite harmless as far as I’m concerned. And it’s really cute and hilarious how Lex is being so persistent about calling Clark while he’s miserable and drunk, and Chloe’s trying to stop him.


“Don't care,” Lex grumbled back at her, waiting for his stupid S.O. to finally pick up the fucking phone.

He had a piece of mind to share with the stupid alien about his tendency to be a crap ass lover and boyfriend and other.

Actually, drunk-dialling sounds like a VERY good idea. I get the feeling Lex never complains about Clark’s neglect, so Clark is probably oblivious about how unhappy and lonely Lex really is. I’m not saying that Clark is not to blame, but LEX is also responsible for not letting Clark know that this situation is getting to intolerable levels of misery, loneliness and unhappiness for him. Lex is allowing Clark to do this to him, and complaining about it might be a good first step in fixing the problems between them?


“You're an asshole.”

“Lex?” Clark sounded confused. Like anyone else would call him in the night to tell him he's an asshole.

ROTFL! If it hasn’t happened before, it’s long overdue.


“King of obliviousness is what you are. High priest of ignorance. A completely, oblivious, ignorant and …” He needed another word, a good word to describe the shitty habit of Clark to not notice anything going on with other people.

He turned to Chloe. “Gimme another word.”

Instead of being helpful in any way, shape or form, Chloe started to giggle. She imagined Clark having that dumb look on his face. “Dumb as a doornail.” No, wait, that wasn’t right. She could see that Lex knew that too. He smirked over at her.

“Not fair. Had the same but I’m tinier.” Her shoes had already been kicked off and her pantyhose were somewhere else so it was easier to crawl over to Lex. And reach for the phone. Lex fought her a little but she bit him and he quickly let go of the phone.

ROTFL at the way Chloe and Lex are drunk tagteaming while insulting Clark. It’s really a lot of fun to watch, LOL!


“Clark,” she said, very importantly, “you need to come home and do your man. Do you understand? He’s a cuddlebug and needs some manly attention. He could be doing anyone and he wants you. So, bring that big dick of yours that we all three know you have home now.”

Clark glared at the phone. Chloe was clearly drunk. Which meant that Lex was, too. They’d discussed this. He didn’t think that Lex should be drinking so much. It had seemed to get worse lately. And his boyfriend actually had the gall to blame him.

Oh dear HEAVEN! Clark really doesn’t have a clue! Not the slightest hint about how much Lex is suffering! He has no idea about where all this resent-filled talk is coming from, or even why Lex has been seeking solace in a bottle lately. Lex REALLY needs to have an open, honest and SOBER discussion with him. Is Lex afraid of sounding petty? Or is he afraid that Clark is going to leave him if he complains?


“Chloe, I expected better than this from you.” He couldn’t believe that she had said what she did. It wasn’t proper.

“So did I when you popped my cherry so I suppose we’re both going to have to get used to disappointment.”

“Chloe!” He was sitting up now.

“He’s yelling now. It’s for you,” she said as she handed Lex the phone.

“Insensitive dick!” That's the word he had been looking for. Insensitive. That's what Clark was.

ROTFLMAO! Seriously, it’s a LOT of fun seeing Superman being randomly called and drunkenly insulted by his ex-girlfriend and his current boyfriend.

And I’ll just BET that Batman is listening in on this conversation… I wonder what he’s making of it, LOL! Is he amused, or just disgusted?


He could feel himself working up to a good rant. One of those spectacular ones that he hadn't had in a while. “Let's face it, Clark, you suck! Actually, no you don't. Haven't in over a month, at least not my dick. Hell knows what you get up to while you're supposedly out there saving the world.”

Clark's jaw dropped as he stared at the phone. He couldn't believe what was coming out of Lex's mouth. His boyfriend was cussing him out because he wasn't getting enough blowjobs, when Clark had to worry about thousands of people in trouble, screaming for help, needing him.

ROTFLMAO! Oh dearie me… If Batman is listening in, I’m sure a good part of him must be simply horrified. And Clark just doesn’t seem to get what Lex and Chloe are trying to tell him. He thinks they just called him up on a random drunken mood-swinging impulse… he doesn’t get that there are REAL issues that Lex is trying to address over here. I seriously hope that Lex has a proper talk with him later about this.


“Blah blah blah, you know what? I don't give a fuck. I don't give a fuck. Fact is, you spend more time out there, saving kittens from trees and doggies from fires than you do with me. You go off on your flights of fancy, saving the world, yaddah, yaddah and expect me to sit here and just wait until you're done for a few minutes and feel like coming to a place where you can get your booboos fixed and get a little support from the convenient boyfriend.”

Excellent! I don’t know how long Lex has been holding all of this inside, but it’s waaay past time all his resentment got vocalized. Granted, it hasn’t been very elegantly phrased, but I can see how everything rings true, and Clark is an IDIOT (or a careless jerk) for not realizing that.


He hated it. Plain and simple. As if a fucking 'sacred duty' wasn't enough, Clark had to insist on the ridiculous cover of being an investigative reporter of all things. “Expect me to be home, expect me to make time, expect me to turn everything upside down and inside out and fix your messes, never mind that I'm wearing a suit too. Have a job, too. Used to have a life...”

This was also an excellent point. I DO get that Clark has a responsibility to use his superpowers to save others… and sometimes a relationship time might get put off when there are potential robberies, rapes, murders and assorted accidental deaths to be prevented… But Lex sacrificed EVERYTHING for Clark, while Clark gave up nothing… not even his side-career as a journalist. Lex is the one making 95% of the effort and compromises in keeping this relationship alive, and Clark doesn’t even seem to realize that.


And yet, Lex couldn't bring himself to do what he should do. Because there were reasons. Reasonable reasons that he couldn't think of right now. And that stupid feeling that maybe one morning Clark would wake up and realize his assholishness and change for the better.

Poor needy, clingy Lex. Even when his partner is making his desperately unhappy, he STILL can’t bring himself to give up on a person he loves. I can see why he keeps hanging on, despite how miserable he is. Hope can be quite addictive… especially to a man as well-versed in the art of denial as Lex Luthor.


She stood up and swayed for a moment. “Come to bed. I’m cold.” She held out her hands and opened and closed them a few times. “I’m better than Clark in bed without even doing anything cause I’m here.”

I have to wonder about Chloe’s motivation for trying to compensate for Clark’s absence in Lex’s life. She’s a great and loyal friend, but this is going way above and beyond the call fo friendship. Does she empathize with Lex because she remembers the way SHE was also last-priority with Clark in the Chlark relationship? Why has she accepted this huge responsibility as Lex’s only companion and source of comfort during his time of great need?

This fic is turning out very interesting, and I look forward to seeing which way it goes. It’s fascinating seeing this Clex bond turning into Chlex, but I’d like to explore the Clex bond a little bit more… see WHAT it is that Lex is trying so hard to desperately keep holding onto. There must be ‘some’ good there if he’s willing to put up with all this nonsense.

Please update soon.

BlueSabby
11th December 2007, 21:57
A/N: Blue: More bonding and opportunities for Clarkhatred
A/N: Sabby: Enter stage Left: The Superhero/Boyfriend.

Lex took her hands and they were able to get him up and at em. Her cell phone rang in the bag that she’d slung over a chair. They both ignored it. As they made their way to the bedroom, Chloe helped Lex get his shirt over his head. The phone next to the bed rang.

Chloe picked it up. “You’re done for tonight. Go jerk your useless dick off.” She hung up the phone. Her words weren’t quite right, she thought.

Lex chuckled at that one while he got his pants down. “I don't think even he can manage that.”

But it wouldn't be too tragic if he actually did. Cause it wasn't used often for recreational purposes these days anyway. “Useless prick. He's not even good anymore.”

Like it was a chore instead of a connection. At least that's what it felt like to Lex. And then with all the bitching and the whining about can't do this, won't do that. That he'd put up with that for five years proved he really was a fool for love.

Lex stumbled a little as he got his socks off and tossed them carelessly in the direction of the hamper.

He pulled back the sheets with a huff and let himself fall squarely back into the mattress.

“Least he makes you come,” Chloe pouted. “I always had to use my hand. Or his hand. He always finished before me.”

She counted the ways that Clark was much worse to her than to him. “And at least he went down on you, even if it’s been a month since it happened. I never got that. Let’s face it, I broke him in and you reaped the benefits.”

“Now, move,” she pushed at his shoulders. “I’m not getting any tonight so I at least want some good sleep.”

“And what benefits they are. And what do you mean, broke him in? Do you know what an act it was to get him to blow me that first time?”

Lex shook his head remembering all too clearly the frustration of not getting more than sloppy kisses and halfhearted groping because Clark just 'wasn't sure'. Or because something 'wasn't right'.

“I could've convinced Mary faster than that,” he added. Then realized that she wouldn't know who he was talking about. “I mean The Mary, you know, Jesus' mother, not my housemaid, she wouldn't need convincing.”

It was a shame really, thinking that he'd put so much time and effort into this and in the end it wasn't worth it, because Clark was never there to do it anyway. Good or no good.

Chloe got under the blankets and then fluffed her pillow. “Lex, my love, Clark never used his tongue on me below the belt.” Lex looked over at her. “Nev-er.”

“He have sex with you completely naked?” Lex nodded. “Took two months for that to happen between us.”

“Trust me, Clark is still an emotional waste land but at least you get some tongue action.”

Lex blinked, then blinked some more. Processing the facts. It had taken him nearly a year to get to the point of first sex, but when confronted with Nev-er...

“Really, never? Not even once?”

Chloe shook her head and rolled onto her side to face him.

“Now that's just...rude.”

Really, there was no other word for it, at least, not right now. There was another long one. Inconsiderate. Right, it was that, too. But rude sounded better.

He brought one arm up and pushed it under his head so he could look at her comfortably while they talked.

“But I bet he had no problem with you giving him head, did he?”

So Clark probably liked that now, eh? “Actually,” she said, “not at first.” Another surprised look from Lex. “He wanted to know why we just couldn’t do it the regular way.”

“But,” she said, proud, “once he got a taste of it,” though that was turned around, she’d been the one tasting, “he always asked for it. And, I’m good, too. So, like, he got everything and I got nothing.”

“At least he can find your happy spot. So, you do get blown, have orgasms and I bet he doesn’t get all weird with you if you ask to be taken from behind.”

Another discussion about why the regular way was what he was more comfortable with.

Lex barked out a laugh at that. “Are you kidding me?” Trying to get Clark to try out any other position than missionary was like trying to move a mule up a mountain when there was food at the bottom of it. “It took me a year to get him to have sex with me period. And the only two positions he accepts is the missionary and riding style.”

Not that he'd complained about it. For the first two years. But now that he thought about it, he should have complained. It was ridiculous and childish and prude and other things that he couldn't think of right now.

“And the whole happy spot thing doesn't count.”

Chloe rolled her eyes. Yes, people had sexual hang-ups that dealt with the way that they were raised. But, if that person was with another one, usually things got worked through. Not with Clark. You’d talk for hours about it but he’d still feel weird or ashamed about it. Which made you feel bad for even asking for that stuff.

“I know, your kind are so easy it’s not fair,” she said, gesturing in the vicinity of Lex’s crotch. “It’s like those water guns we had when we were kids. Pull a little and a stream comes out without fail.”

“Women are much more complex.” Unbidden, an old picture from her 7th grade health book of the woman’s anatomy appeared in her brain. “I mean, I told him what to do, where to go and how to move but it still didn’t work. I was patient, caring, understanding,” she ticked the points off on her fingers, “and it still didn’t help.”

“He’d like, just keep pounding on away.” She’d stood for it because she loved him. Same as Lex. They’d only broken up when he realized he was gay. She probably would have stayed with him. Same as Lex.

“Hope he’s got more finesse now.” Or else she really didn’t know what Lex was doing with him. He had so many other options. Of both sexes.

“Hey,” she said, something occurring to her, “do you like women or men better, in general?” He arched an eyebrow at her. She tried to look serious but failed, a grin spreading over her face. “Sexually, I mean. And don’t say it depends on the person.”

While she and Lex were close, there were things they steered away from. Conversations like these were chief among them. Talking about Clark in that way, Lex’s past, things like that. But alcohol made for loose lips and minds.

Lex scrunched his eyebrows together, trying to find a way to say 'It depends on the person' without saying 'It depends on the person'. Because it did totally depend on the person. “It's different, doing it with a guy, or a woman. It's not really something you can compare. I don't have a preference, that's why I'm bi. If I had a preference I'd go for that preference and stick with it, wouldn't I?”

And relationship wise, things were totally different too. There were just some issues that would never appear with a woman and vice versa stuff that would never come up with a guy. “And as for Clark's 'finesse',” he said with a shrug, “It's not like I fell in love with him because he's a great fuck.” He'd fallen in love because he was a moronic idiot who'd had a serious case of hero worship and blindness towards reality when it came to the boy with the sunny smile and puppy dog eyes.

“He used to be good with his tongue, once he got over that whole 'no blowjobs' thing.”

Chloe squeaked in indignation. “So, not only did you get to get him to go down on you.” That wasn’t right but he knew what she meant. “But Clark was also good at something with you.” She really had gotten the short end of the stick.

But maybe it had nothing to do with her as a woman. More as a person. Maybe Clark had tried more with Lex because he cared more about Lex. Chloe could feel the drunken depression and weepiness trying to rear its ugly head. She pushed it away.

“You know, a good tongue move would have really helped in a lot of ways.” Yes, if he’d used his tongue to go down on her. But, also, just for kissing. While both she and Clark hadn’t had much experience, she thought that she had at least gotten better.

“You ever believe him when he says he loves you?” Clark said it plenty with her. But more in a reassuring way. She’d heard it and accepted it but never really believed it. It almost seemed to her that they started dating because he’d given up on rejecting her advances.

It made sense now. Be with the safe girl that you didn’t really have any feelings for. Better than being with the guy that you did. In Clark’s world.

Lex closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “That's what's kicking me most.”

He thought about the last time he'd heard Clark say the words. It had been on the phone, Clark had been in Singapore that day and it had been three in the morning for Lex. The call had come because Clark let him know that he would not be home for another two days. Something about helping with the clean up.

“I believe him when he says it. I believe that he loves me, as much as he's capable of loving someone. The problem is that he sucks at showing it. In his mind, it should be enough for me to know that he loves me, I guess. That he's coming home when the world doesn't need him for five minutes.”

A bitter smirk curled up one corner of his lip. “He was always crap at time management.”

But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. If he'd still had his 18 hours a day job, maybe it would have worked for him. But Lex doubted it. He knew that he was the 'all or nothing' type, always had been. And with Clark, all he'd gotten was pieces. A piece of the hero that belonged to him while he had to share the rest with the entire world. Lex had never been good at sharing.

“And trust me, the occasional fuck or kiss, no matter how good, doesn't make anything better.”

Chloe smiled at the irony of the whole thing. Their positions had been reversed. She’d gotten more of Clark’s time but always doubted the way that he felt. Their dates seemed perfunctory, like Clark was playing the role of the perfect boyfriend.

“And, you trust me on this one,” she said, catching Lex’s eye, “while it sucks to never see him, it sucks far worse to know he never loved you.”

Lex’s face changed, now etched with concern, a little bit of surprise, and oodles of pity. He opened his mouth. “Can we not do that? Not go through the whole song and dance of telling me I’m wrong. We both know it’s true.” She shrugged. “Just never said it before.”

She lay back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling for a few seconds. “He doesn’t deserve you,” she said with some finality. “I wish you really believed that.”

Lex remained silent. It wasn't as easy as all that. And in his mind, it had nothing to do with deserving something. It was about being able to let go and he sucked at that. He didn't let go of things unless it was absolutely inevitable. And it took a lot to get him to the point where he saw it as absolutely inevitable. Attempted homicide, for example.

He didn't argue her assertion that her situation had been 'worse' either. Mostly because there was no option of comparison on her part, being that she'd never been with someone who loved her but treated her like crap. She'd always gotten the 'no loving' end of the stick it seemed. Lex had been in both situations and could now say with conviction that they were both equally bad.

“The situation is just too fucked up. I'd consider couple therapy, but I know he'd be too busy to show up for the sessions,” he said snidely.

Sarcasm, his favorite weapon.

“Plus, you know that he’d pull the puppy eyes on the shrink and they’d immediately take his side.” It wasn’t fair that Clark’s charm got him out of being accountable for his actions.

“So, you have a boyfriend that loves you but refuses to actually stay around you for more than a day or so. And I haven’t had anything approaching a real relationship in years.” For some reason, Chloe started to laugh. “God, we’re so pathetic.”

She shook her head and closed her eyes. “Wish I had a damn time machine. Maybe old me would stay away from Clark if new me showed up to smack her around a little.” And the new her might whisper a little something about Lex into old her’s ear, too.

Chloe turned onto her side and looked at the clock. 3:22am. She needed to get to sleep.

“Not to be rude, but can we table this until tomorrow? We’ll both still resent him in the morning.”

Lex nodded. “Yeah, alright.” There was nothing to say that he hadn't said a thousand times already anyway.

“But, thank you. Tonight wasn't bad.”

Not as bad as it could have been. He'd gotten a few hours of almost fun. Met some nice people. And Chloe had come back with him, so he didn't have to stare at the ceiling alone.

She rolled back over and looked at Lex. “You’re welcome. I’m really glad you had fun.” She reached over and turned off the light on her bedside table. Lex did the same.

Like the night before, she scooted closer to him. This time, being they were face to face, Lex opened his arms to her and she settled against his chest. “Night, Lex.”

Once her breathing started to match Lex’s and her body relaxed, Chloe drifted off to sleep.
~~
When Chloe had woken up, she’d felt excessively hot. She quickly figured out why. She was mooching some additional body heat off of Lex. He was on his back and she was semi-splayed over his chest. She smiled a little against his skin before raising her head up.

She felt some dull pain in her noggin and knew that she’d have to find some aspirin. She pulled her knees up and kneeled next to Lex for a few moments before stretching her arms above her head.

That had been a good night’s sleep. Lex seemed to agree being that he wasn’t awake yet. She’d have to make fun of him for that later.

He moved around a little restlessly so Chloe pulled the blankets up on his body, trying to compensate for the warmth that he was now losing. She bent down and kissed his forehead before getting out of the bed.

Aspirin and a shower would be divine. She looked back at Lex’s sleeping body. She doubted he would mind. She took off Lex’s shirt, placed it on the back of a chair and made her way into the bathroom.

The lack of warmth had been disturbing enough for Lex to come to semi-consciousness. The click of a door was all it took to rip him out of sleep completely and he sat up in bed with a disturbed sound, confused for a moment just why he'd woken up so suddenly.

The space beside him was empty. Right. His subconscious apparently still had that trigger. He couldn't count how many times he'd woken up in the middle of the night when Clark had left to do some world saving or another. Before the time that Clark just plain didn't come home at night anymore when he was off on duty.

Lex rubbed a hand over his face and scratched the back of his neck. A quick look around showed Chloe's outfit still on the floor and the shirt she'd borrowed on the back of the corner chair. The clicking of the door was explained when he heard the shower start in the bathroom.

With another disgruntled sound, Lex flopped back onto the mattress and stared at the ceiling.

Last night had been interesting. Different. He remembered everything, including the drunken call he'd made to Clark. Asshole. Said asshole would be home in a few hours, too. Lex couldn't even find it in himself to be happy about that.

Experience had taught him that Clark's stays were nothing but perfunctory visits anymore. Stick around for a couple of days at most and leave again. Then come back to stick around for a few hours and leave again. It seemed all Clark ever did these days was leave.

Lex had a headache. But he doubted the alcohol had anything to do with that. He usually didn't suffer hangovers.

Coffee. Maybe coffee would help.

He got up and picked up the shirt from the chair to put it on. The apartment got a little cold when you wore nothing but boxers.

The shower was still running, so Lex trudged straight on into the kitchen to start some coffee. Maybe make a light breakfast or something.

Chloe felt much better after her shower. She’d taken the aspirin before getting in and they seemed to have taken effect. She wrapped the huge towel around her body, and one around her hair, and then stepped back into the bedroom.

Then started pouting. Lex wasn’t there. She could do with some more cuddling. While Lex was with someone who denied him physical contact, it wasn’t like she got hugged much, either.

Huffing, she went to put Lex’s….

She gaped at the chair. The little devil had taken that for his own. Fine, she’d just have to steal another one. She walked over to a closet, opened it, and grimaced. Clark’s stuff assaulted her eyes.

The other closet was much nicer. Now, what to wear…what to wear…

She found Lex in the kitchen. Chloe had followed the smell of coffee. He was standing in front of the open fridge…wearing the shirt she’d rightfully stolen from him.

The shirt she’d stolen from him for now was a deep blue, business shirt. She’d always liked the way it looked on him.

Walking up behind him, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his shoulder. “I was coming back to bed.” She turned her head and placed her cheek on his back. “You owe me some cuddling once we’re done here.”

Lex smirked and placed a hand over hers, noticing that she'd nicked yet another of his shirts. And not even a t-shirt this time. “You hungry?”

He felt the nod against his shoulder blade and fancied he could also feel the pouting. It was nice to know that he wasn't the only one who enjoyed the closer contact they'd shared the last couple of nights. Judging by the limpet like hold around his waist, she needed some affection as much as he did.

“Why don't you get us coffee and wait for me on the couch? I'll just whip up some breakfast.”

Another nod against his shoulder before she let go and stepped back, taking the warmth of her body with her.

Listening to the every day noises of getting cups and plates out of cupboards, the shuffling of feet as she took the mugs and carried them into the living room. It hit Lex as he placed the pan on the stove and cracked the first egg how oddly domestic this all was. Just a completely normal start to a completely normal morning.

Except that it wasn't, because this situation wasn't normal for them. And it wasn't Chloe that should be in the living room with the coffee. It wasn't her that should be flicking on the TV to see if there was anything good on. She wasn't the one that was supposed to be curled up in his arms the whole night and wake up to demand more cuddling.

Lex shook the thought off and stirred the eggs in the pan. Those thoughts would just make him angry and morose again. And he didn't want to be angry and morose now. Not when things could be bright for just a while. Even if they weren't real.

He carried two filled plates into the living room and found Chloe still channel surfing on the couch, coffee clutched in one hand, remote in the other.

When she saw Lex carrying the plates of food and the scent hit her she smiled. “You’re my hero.” He shook his head and she took the offered plate from him.

She waited for him to settle down a little and then scooted closer to him. They needed each other, she’d come to that conclusion. For conversations and cuddles. They were both pathetic but at least they could have each other.

Until Clark came home. Chloe swallowed down a bitter taste along with her eggs when she thought of that.

That was where they differed. Clark would come back and Lex would have him and she would have….nothing. Not even a cat.

Clark would always have Lex. He’d treat him like shit and misunderstand the man but Lex would stay. Because he loved Clark.

Chloe could feel herself starting to get mopey and she stopped herself.

“Thanks, the food is great.” They ate in compatible silence after Lex nodded in response to the compliment.

She was finished before Lex was and he was watching the morning news report with some interest. Chloe slid closer and started to rub his stomach. “Now, what are we going to do about you stealing my shirt that I stole from you, huh?”

Lex looked over at her, toast halfway to his mouth. “It is my shirt, you know.”

The stomach rubbing was nice, odd, but nice. Yes, he was a pathetic, droopy old dog. But at least there was no tail wagging involved. Lex snorted at himself as he imagined his ears perking and a big bushy tail wagging at his side.

“Maybe you should get a pet,” he suggested apropos of nothing.

He finished his toast and set the plate on the table, then leaned back into the couch. Chloe used the chance to scoot closer and get the cuddles she'd demanded earlier. “Then again, you've already got me.”

Not really. That was her first reaction. She was still stuck on the whole ‘she had no one while everyone had someone else even if they were being neglected’ but she tried to ignore it again.

“I’d hardly call you a pet,” she said, sinking more against him. She wormed her arm between him and the couch so she was pressed against his side and continued to run her hand over his belly and chest.

Lex wrapped his arm around her and she pressed her face against his chest. She took a few long, deep breaths and closed her eyes as Lex’s hand stroked down her back.

His fingers played along her spine and Chloe grinned. Until something happened. She felt tingly. Those kind of tingles. The wrong kind.

She gulped and told her body to stop it. Lex was with Clark. She wasn’t here for random sex, she was here for petting and making Lex feel better.

“In related news, Superman..”

Both of their heads snapped up.

The report was about a mudslide that he’d helped to contain. Without speaking, Chloe reached for the remote by her side and turned off the TV. “Just us here. No room for him.”

The gods of irony were working over time.

The front door opened and Chloe heard a familiar voice calling out Lex’s name.

Lex gave her a sympathetic smirk and got up from the couch. “In here, Clark.”

He straightened up and wished he was wearing pants so he could shove his hands into their pockets.

“There you are,” Clark said as he stepped up and enfolded Lex in a hug. “Feel better today.”

Clark hadn't gotten much sleep, so he was still a little wired, but it was good to be home. He buzzed a kiss to Lex's mouth before he noticed Chloe on the couch. “Hey, Chloe.”

“Clark.” She returned with a nod.

He was still slightly miffed at what had happened during the night. The drunken call and accusations were not forgotten, but he'd have words about that later.

Lex waited until Clark released him to step back a little. “How was the mudslide?” Things fell into their usual places. He knew the game and he played it well. The only thing that was missing was real emotion behind it. At least it felt that way to him lately. Embraces, kisses, they all seemed perfunctory, distracted, like Clark was never really there.

“God, it was horrible. So many people Lex, so much suffering.” Clark shook himself out of it. He had to push these things away when he was home or he'd go crazy. “Is there any coffee left?” Without waiting for an answer he rushed towards the kitchen.

Chloe’s hands had fisted and she was shaking her head. Leave it to Clark to notice nothing. Lex was clearly not pleased. Any idiot could see that, which was probably why it had escaped his notice.

She looked up at Lex, who was still looking in the direction that Clark had disappeared and her heart went out to him. She knew by the set line of his mouth that Clark was in for another rant.

How the man could come home and give Lex an almost absent minded hug and kiss after last night was beyond her.

She stood up and took Lex’s hand. He looked down at her. “I’ll be going now.”

Lex started to protest but she said, “I know you two need to talk. Call me if you need me. Promise?” Lex nodded.

Reaching up, she gave Lex a short but firm kiss. “Give him hell for me.” She smiled a little and then went back to the bedroom to put on her clothes and get herself home.

lj715
11th December 2007, 23:55
Excellent chapter! I really thought Lex & Chloe were gonna kiss...maybe they would have if Clunk hadn;t walked in. He's such a dope. Time to end this relationship Lex & start one with Chloe.

xxasaxx
12th December 2007, 00:05
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this so far!!!:grin3:

SVfan1286
12th December 2007, 10:47
Clark is such an idoit, he just so stupid that I can't even hate him. I hope Lex gives him hell! I loved Chloe and Lex's drunken conversation about 'the many faults of Clark', and awww at the morning cuddlng. I absolutely love this ficcy!

Please update again soon!!!

somethingeasy
14th December 2007, 00:24
This chapter was very interesting because it provided a lot of details of the kind of boyfriend Clark is to all his partners… not only Lex, but also Chloe. And I have to say, I am very unimpressed! Why the heck did two intelligent, passionate, vivacious and engaging people like Chloe and Lex cling to a ungracious, inconsiderate dud like Clark?


“Least he makes you come,” Chloe pouted. “I always had to use my hand. Or his hand. He always finished before me.”

She counted the ways that Clark was much worse to her than to him. “And at least he went down on you, even if it’s been a month since it happened. I never got that. Let’s face it, I broke him in and you reaped the benefits.”

Oh this was just SAD! I thought that Clark might have made up for a lot of his absent time by providing quality sex whenever he DOES happen to be there for his mates. Instead, he’s as bad when he’s present as when he’s absent. WHY did Chloe stick with this dud for so long? Especially since he refused to satisfy her?!

LOL! I did think it was amusing how Chloe was insisting that she ‘broke Clark in’ and eroded away some of his boring squeamishness when it came to being sexually adventurous, LOL!


“I could've convinced Mary faster than that,” he added. Then realized that she wouldn't know who he was talking about. “I mean The Mary, you know, Jesus' mother, not my housemaid, she wouldn't need convincing.”

It was a shame really, thinking that he'd put so much time and effort into this and in the end it wasn't worth it, because Clark was never there to do it anyway. Good or no good.

Sheeesh! Now that is just sad! Poor Lex had to suffer through this ‘outraged virgin’ act for such a long time before he got some good nookie? I think it’s likely that he got drawn deeper into the relationship because it represented a challenge to him… a fun game about how far can he ‘corrupt’ the innocent farmboy? Only now, the challenge just isn’t worth it anymore, but he’s too deep in the relationship to pull out now. Poor Lex! Trapped in by his own competitive tendencies.


Lex blinked, then blinked some more. Processing the facts. It had taken him nearly a year to get to the point of first sex, but when confronted with Nev-er...

“Really, never? Not even once?”

Chloe shook her head and rolled onto her side to face him.

“Now that's just...rude.”

Really, there was no other word for it, at least, not right now. There was another long one. Inconsiderate. Right, it was that, too. But rude sounded better.

He brought one arm up and pushed it under his head so he could look at her comfortably while they talked.

“But I bet he had no problem with you giving him head, did he?”

Oh Clark, you unbelievable bastard! HOW the hell did Chloe let him get away with this kind of double-standard behaviour? He took oral sex favours from her, but refused to return them? That is despicable sexual etiquette! Chloe self-esteem must have been unbelievably low to allow him to do that to her.


Lex barked out a laugh at that. “Are you kidding me?” Trying to get Clark to try out any other position than missionary was like trying to move a mule up a mountain when there was food at the bottom of it. “It took me a year to get him to have sex with me period. And the only two positions he accepts is the missionary and riding style.”

Not that he'd complained about it. For the first two years. But now that he thought about it, he should have complained. It was ridiculous and childish and prude and other things that he couldn't think of right now.

Heh! It definitely sounds like Lex was having a lot of fun just seducing Clark as a high-competitive sports challenge. That would explain why he has been so lenient in indulging Clark’s narrow views on what’s ‘acceptable’ in sex and what’s ‘immorally kinky’.

Actually BOTH Chloe and Lex sound like they had been too lenient with Clark… letting the clueless farmboy run roughshod all over their own needs and desires, prioritizing HIS preferences above their own… because they were both convinced that he was the more ‘deserving one’ in their relationships. And Clark came to believe it too, which is why he didn’t try to change the status quo, or even realize his partners were unhappy.

Hmmm, it sounds like the relationship problems were as much Chloe’s and Lex’s fault as they were/are Clark’s. He just didn’t know better, or ‘learn’ better, because none of his partners ever complained.


“I know, your kind are so easy it’s not fair,” she said, gesturing in the vicinity of Lex’s crotch. “It’s like those water guns we had when we were kids. Pull a little and a stream comes out without fail.”

:rofl:
I fell over laughing at this description. Ain’t it the truth? LOL!


Lex scrunched his eyebrows together, trying to find a way to say 'It depends on the person' without saying 'It depends on the person'. Because it did totally depend on the person. “It's different, doing it with a guy, or a woman. It's not really something you can compare. I don't have a preference, that's why I'm bi. If I had a preference I'd go for that preference and stick with it, wouldn't I?”

And relationship wise, things were totally different too. There were just some issues that would never appear with a woman and vice versa stuff that would never come up with a guy. “And as for Clark's 'finesse',” he said with a shrug, “It's not like I fell in love with him because he's a great fuck.” He'd fallen in love because he was a moronic idiot who'd had a serious case of hero worship and blindness towards reality when it came to the boy with the sunny smile and puppy dog eyes.

This was an interesting question from Chloe! I suppose I was also a little curious about this, and Lex gave a very reasonable, plausible answer too. Thanks for the clarification, BlueSabby.


“You ever believe him when he says he loves you?” Clark said it plenty with her. But more in a reassuring way. She’d heard it and accepted it but never really believed it. It almost seemed to her that they started dating because he’d given up on rejecting her advances.

It made sense now. Be with the safe girl that you didn’t really have any feelings for. Better than being with the guy that you did. In Clark’s world.

This was just tragic! Poor Chloe! It explains a LOT about why she allowed Clark to be the selfishly dominant one in their relationship. Because she believed he was the more important one, while she was always only the side-kick… the one who gave more love than she got. I REALLY hope Chloe also gets a chance to rant and vent at Clark about the horrible boyfriend he was to her.


Chloe smiled at the irony of the whole thing. Their positions had been reversed. She’d gotten more of Clark’s time but always doubted the way that he felt. Their dates seemed perfunctory, like Clark was playing the role of the perfect boyfriend.

“And, you trust me on this one,” she said, catching Lex’s eye, “while it sucks to never see him, it sucks far worse to know he never loved you.”

Lex’s face changed, now etched with concern, a little bit of surprise, and oodles of pity. He opened his mouth. “Can we not do that? Not go through the whole song and dance of telling me I’m wrong. We both know it’s true.” She shrugged. “Just never said it before.”

This was very interesting! It seems like Chloe got more time with Clark, but little emotional response and involvement from him… while Lex is a lot more secure about Clark’s emotional stake in him, but he’s not getting any bonding time. I really don’t know which situation is more pathetic, but I feel a ‘little’ bit more sorry for Chloe’s time with Clark.


He didn't argue her assertion that her situation had been 'worse' either. Mostly because there was no option of comparison on her part, being that she'd never been with someone who loved her but treated her like crap. She'd always gotten the 'no loving' end of the stick it seemed. Lex had been in both situations and could now say with conviction that they were both equally bad.

heh, Lex is probably right! Both situations are equally pathetic, but he’s being very noble and diplomatic in not saying so. Chloe wants to indulge in a higher claim to fame in self-pity? Let her! LOL!


When Chloe had woken up, she’d felt excessively hot. She quickly figured out why. She was mooching some additional body heat off of Lex. He was on his back and she was semi-splayed over his chest. She smiled a little against his skin before raising her head up.

This was very interesting! The two of them don’t even seem to realize how comfortably intimate they’re becoming with each other. The fact that they’re going to cheat on Clark seems inevitable now, and the two dunces probably won’t have any idea on how it happened, because it would have developed so slowly and naturally from where they are right now.


He moved around a little restlessly so Chloe pulled the blankets up on his body, trying to compensate for the warmth that he was now losing. She bent down and kissed his forehead before getting out of the bed.

GACK! Can neither of them SEE how much they’re already acting like a couple? The two of them have already developed a ‘lover-like’ level of ease and comfort with each other. They’re already acting like lovers even if they haven’t yet ‘done the deed’.


She found Lex in the kitchen. Chloe had followed the smell of coffee. He was standing in front of the open fridge…wearing the shirt she’d rightfully stolen from him.

The shirt she’d stolen from him for now was a deep blue, business shirt. She’d always liked the way it looked on him.

Walking up behind him, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his shoulder. “I was coming back to bed.” She turned her head and placed her cheek on his back. “You owe me some cuddling once we’re done here.”

Lex smirked and placed a hand over hers, noticing that she'd nicked yet another of his shirts. And not even a t-shirt this time. “You hungry?”

Seriously, it’s almost creepy how much they’re acting like a comfortable, secure, snug and comfy married couple. It’s very interesting seeing how the loneliness inside both of them is setting them to act out domestic intimacy with each other, even of they’re not actually involved. Is it only a façade that they both are desperately (albeit subconsciously) clinging to? Or are they genuinely this much at ease with each other?

It WAS a lovely scene to watch… if only I could have forgotten that the whole beautiful domesticity of the scene screams of infidelity.


Listening to the every day noises of getting cups and plates out of cupboards, the shuffling of feet as she took the mugs and carried them into the living room. It hit Lex as he placed the pan on the stove and cracked the first egg how oddly domestic this all was. Just a completely normal start to a completely normal morning.

Except that it wasn't, because this situation wasn't normal for them. And it wasn't Chloe that should be in the living room with the coffee. It wasn't her that should be flicking on the TV to see if there was anything good on. She wasn't the one that was supposed to be curled up in his arms the whole night and wake up to demand more cuddling.

Lex shook the thought off and stirred the eggs in the pan. Those thoughts would just make him angry and morose again. And he didn't want to be angry and morose now. Not when things could be bright for just a while. Even if they weren't real.

Heh, at least Lex has realized that this is only a façade of domestic closeness that he’s indulging in right now. His REAL partner is gone, so Chloe is being used as a substitute. Not to say that Chloe is a victim, because I think she’s also using Lex to fill a emotionally barren void in her life. SHE doesn’t really have a real relationship, and hasn’t had one in a long time (if ever), and using Lex while he’s alone and lonely must be very convenient for her.

What a depressing threesome these people make.


That was where they differed. Clark would come back and Lex would have him and she would have….nothing. Not even a cat.

Clark would always have Lex. He’d treat him like shit and misunderstand the man but Lex would stay. Because he loved Clark.

There we are, CHLOE is also starting to realize how this pretty domestic closeness she’s enjoying is just a superficial façade until the Lex’s REAL partner comes back home again. I’m still not sure who to feel more sorry for… but I do know that Clark has one HELL of a ranting lecture coming to him. If only Lex can bring himself to voice some of the complaints that are ripping him up inside.


He finished his toast and set the plate on the table, then leaned back into the couch. Chloe used the chance to scoot closer and get the cuddles she'd demanded earlier. “Then again, you've already got me.”

Not really. That was her first reaction. She was still stuck on the whole ‘she had no one while everyone had someone else even if they were being neglected’ but she tried to ignore it again.

“I’d hardly call you a pet,” she said, sinking more against him. She wormed her arm between him and the couch so she was pressed against his side and continued to run her hand over his belly and chest.

Lex wrapped his arm around her and she pressed her face against his chest. She took a few long, deep breaths and closed her eyes as Lex’s hand stroked down her back.

Awww, some of the reasons for this closeness might be twisted and nearly incestuous, but I think there is a genuine connection between the two of them. The question is whether it all about Clark, or is it something more?


His fingers played along her spine and Chloe grinned. Until something happened. She felt tingly. Those kind of tingles. The wrong kind.

She gulped and told her body to stop it. Lex was with Clark. She wasn’t here for random sex, she was here for petting and making Lex feel better.

Heh, the connection is definitely edging towards infidelity. I wonder whether Chloe and Lex will be able to catch themselves in time before cheating on Clark. The right thing to do would be to break up with him first before falling into bed… but where’s the fun in doing the ‘right thing’? LOL!


Clark hadn't gotten much sleep, so he was still a little wired, but it was good to be home. He buzzed a kiss to Lex's mouth before he noticed Chloe on the couch. “Hey, Chloe.”

“Clark.” She returned with a nod.

He was still slightly miffed at what had happened during the night. The drunken call and accusations were not forgotten, but he'd have words about that later.

HE’D have words?! HIM?! The mind boggles that Clark believes himself to be the wronged party in this situation. Chloe and Lex have gone overboard in spoiling Clark and making him feel like the privileged one in any relationship he happens to be. Clark has a VERY skewed sense of equality in a relationship. Let’s hope Lex and Chloe manage to set him straight so he can do better in his next match.


“God, it was horrible. So many people Lex, so much suffering.” Clark shook himself out of it. He had to push these things away when he was home or he'd go crazy. “Is there any coffee left?” Without waiting for an answer he rushed towards the kitchen.

I understand that Clark must have had a traumatic night, and I get that he might need some ‘special treatment’ tonight to get over the horror of what he just went through… BUT I get the impression he feels entitled to ‘special treatment’ ALL the time. He’s become used to relationship where quality time with his partner is all about HIS needs, HIS fears and anxieties, HIS comfort and support. He just doesn’t have any consideration about what his partner wants.


Lex started to protest but she said, “I know you two need to talk. Call me if you need me. Promise?” Lex nodded.

Reaching up, she gave Lex a short but firm kiss. “Give him hell for me.” She smiled a little and then went back to the bedroom to put on her clothes and get herself home.

It’s going to be interesting to see whether Lex can get his point across in the upcoming argument. Clark DOES need some special time-out tonight, and he’s probably even LESS in the mood than usual to listen about Lex’s needs (and neediness). I don’t think it’s going to be a pretty argument in the next chapter. Squeee! FUN! Let’s get to it then, LOL!

BlueSabby
8th January 2008, 00:37
A/N: Here is the domestic bliss at the Luthor/Kent household. Enjoy!
A/N: Sabby: What she said. Plus, there's comfort food ahead...kinda..


Clark hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he’d seen the eggs in the kitchen. He was always forgetting to eat. Usually Lex reminded him to do so.

The man in question walked into the kitchen. “Chloe leave?” He’d thought he’d heard the front door open and close.

“Yes,” Lex said neutrally as he settled down at the kitchen table. His mood had taken a complete nosedive from the moment Clark stepped into the living room.

Silence reigned as Clark prepared himself a plate and sat down at the kitchen table to shovel food in his mouth like he hadn't eaten in days.

“Aren't you even going to ask?” Lex finally broke the silence with the snide remark.

“About?” Clark didn’t know what Lex was talking about. Yes, they’d fought last night but Lex had clearly been drunk. Lex didn’t have to apologize for that. Though, they would have to have a conversation about it.

Then he remembered what they’d been talking about. “Chloe? What about her?” Sure, she’d been in a shirt that clearly wasn’t hers. But, Lex and Chloe? Never.

“Honey, I know that you’d never cheat on me.” He drank some coffee and remarked, “Especially with her” before going back to his eggs.

Lex's jaw clenched, not only at the nonchalant tone, but also at the very dismissive way Clark spoke about Chloe. It was like he didn't think she was anyone worth noticing.

“And what exactly do you mean with that?”

His eyes narrowed and he started to feel the childish need to pick up Clark's plate and shove it in his face, eggs and all.

The blatant disregard that Clark was showing only served to strengthen his ire. Clark didn't even look up at him, just kept shoveling the damn food in his mouth.

“Come on, Lex, she’s not even your type.” He looked around on the counter and snagged the ketchup. “Even if you wanted to be with a woman again, it wouldn’t be Chloe.”

Why were they even talking about this?

“You like bombshells, remember?” He went through the visuals of the women that Lex had been with that he’d seen. Chloe didn’t compare. “I mean, yes, she’s cute and all, but hardly up to your standards.”

Besides, he’d been with her too. And there were unspoken rules about that. He looked up at Lex. He didn’t look happy at all. A joke would have to help.

“Plus, after me, you’d be no comparison, right?” He grinned over at Lex. “A girl always remembers her first.”

Lex's brows rose slowly, his lips pursing to hold in the automatic comeback. Oh, she hadn't forgotten, alright. Hard to forget something that utterly bad and dissatisfying.

“Right, how could I forget?”

It was obvious that Clark didn't think anyone could resist him, or move on once he'd decided to leave them behind.

He watched as Clark got up and brought the plate to the sink, getting himself a second cup of coffee. Lex's next words were spoken to his suit-clad back.

“Do you even care about what I said last night?”

Clark had thought a lot about it. When he could, his gifts made many demands on him. And he’d come to a conclusion. There was no need to fight about what Lex had said. Clark knew that he was probably sorry about it.

“Of course I care. But don’t worry,” he turned back to look at his boyfriend. “I know that you’d been drinking. You don’t have to apologize, babe.”

Apologize. Apologize? Lex stared him down without even blinking. He couldn't believe the audacity of that statement.

On second thought, he could believe it. That was the problem. He knew that Clark meant it, that he felt magnanimous for letting Lex 'get away' with it.

“Have you ever taken into consideration that I am not the one who has to apologize for this?”

Lex really wondered if Clark had even once, just for a moment, even a fleeting one, at least at one single point in this year long relationship, ever considered that he wasn't in the right. That he'd screwed up and badly, and that he needed to change himself to make things better.

Lex's eyes started itching from staring so hard without blinking. The edges of his vision were beginning to become hazy. All he could see was Clark's nonplussed expression as he looked back at him from the kitchen counter.

“You’re the one who called me in a drunken rage, why should I apologize for that?” Great, yet another fight. Clark wasn’t even sure why he came home anymore.

Lex clearly didn’t understand how stressful this was for him. He’d go off and save hundreds of people and they were grateful beyond compare. And then he had to come home to this?

He was sick of Lex snapping at him for no reason. “I wasn’t even here and you got mad at me. Did you ever think it was the drinking that is your problem and not me?”

Lex was out of his chair and in Clark's face before he even realized he'd moved. “Did you ever think that it is you who is causing me to drink? That you not being here is the fucking reason I get mad?”

At this moment, Lex wished that Clark was human so he could plant his fist in his stomach and make him feel it. The irony of it was that if Clark had been human, they wouldn't have this conversation in the first place.

“Fucking alien,” Lex spat at him and turned to leave the kitchen. He couldn't deal with this shit right now. Just...couldn't.

Clark glared at Lex’s retreating back, glad that he had control over his heat vision. He took a few steps and grabbed onto his arm. “I thought you wanted to talk about this. Don’t blame me for your drinking. We both know that it started long before you and I did.”

Lex spun around and Clark prepared himself to fight more. They needed to get this settled and get Lex some help.

Instead, Clark was momentarily stunned when Lex’s fist connected with his jaw. It didn’t hurt, but it surprised him, and he took a few steps back.

Lex was seething. “Don't fucking touch me.” He enunciated every word slowly and precisely.

Then he spun on his heel and stalked out of the kitchen. He needed a shower, and he needed to get dressed. Then he needed to...he needed. He didn't know yet but right now, he just couldn't deal with Clark and his oblivious, uncouth, emotionless, asshole behavior.

Yes, he had been drinking a lot in his younger years. Yes, he had also been drinking a lot in the last couple of years. But both fucking times, he'd had ample reason to fucking drown his problems in alcohol. And he wouldn't do it if Clark would finally get his head out of his ass and actually listen to what Lex had been trying to tell him for almost a year now.
~~
After today, Clark wasn’t sure why he bothered coming home. Not if Lex was going to act this way. The problem was that he needed to leave again the next day. He’d come home early to see Lex. But that plan had bitten him in the ass.

Lex was already in bed, his back to Clark, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him. Lex had said something about their lack of sex when he’d been drunk. Clark had to admit that that was true. So, he’d show Lex that he still cared for him.

He shucked off his boxers and got into the bed. Lex’s light was already out and he turned his off, too.

Then, he slid over to Lex’s side and put a hand on his hip. He wasn’t usually into the dirty talk but it might help. Anything to get over this fight. “I want your cock in my mouth.” His hand went further down, its destination now obvious to both of them.

Lex's hand clamped down around Clark's wrist, squeezing as hard as he could without hurting his own fingers in the process. “Do you honestly think that a blowjob is going to fix what's wrong between us?”

He didn't turn around, consciously kept his back to Clark as a barrier between them. Thankfully, he'd stopped sleeping naked quite a while ago or Clark might have misunderstood it as an invitation to be fucked. “Clark, you haven't been home in two weeks. I have no idea when you're going to leave again, or for how long this time. You can't honestly think that's normal.”

His grip on Clark's wrist loosened a little, he didn't want to fight. He wanted to get through to his lover and maybe find a chance to fix this. Somehow.

“You knew that when you got into this,” Clark pointed out. He sounded like a broken record. He didn’t think this was fair. “My schedule is crazy and I can’t do anything about that.”

He sighed and rolled onto his back. “I wasn’t trying to fix what’s wrong. I was just trying to show you that I care.”

“You say that I’m never around and that I don’t touch you. Then, when I come home you pick a fight and don’t want me to touch you. It’s like I can’t win with you anymore, Lex.” He sighed again.

“Listen, let’s agree to not discuss this anymore today. I have to leave tomorrow but I should be back next week. We’ll sit down and get through this.” It seemed like a good proposal to him.

It seemed like he couldn't get through. Whenever he tried to discuss it, Clark found one reason or another to put the discussion off. This was just one in a long line of attempts to get through to him. “It's not about winning.” Lex was not ready to give up yet. “It's about realizing that something doesn't work and trying to do something about it.”

He turned around and looked down at Clark, trying to see the boy he'd fallen in love with. It was hard to manage when he looked at the firm lines and displeased set of jaw. The stubble on his face made him seem older than he really was. “Sex is not the solution to this problem. And if you ever listened to me you would know that.”

The fact that Clark had just told him that he'd be leaving again the next morning wasn't even surprising anymore. Lex had stopped hoping for more a while ago. It really was always the same. And Clark didn't ever notice what was wrong with the picture. Maybe if Lex spelled it out to him, one more time. “Do you really have to be gone for a week?” He paused for a moment before he continued, “I miss you when you're gone. It’s not just all the other people in the world who need you.”

“I miss you too, Lex.” He turned over and looked at him. “Maybe I don’t say it enough but I do.” Ok, so he could possibly communicate better. Chloe had harped on that, as well. “I can’t help that I’m going to be gone for a week.” There was a meeting amongst himself and the others like him that he couldn’t miss. He sighed. “It’s something that I have to do.” They were going to come up with a battle plan, of sorts.

“I know that you need me, too, but…” He trailed off. No one understood. “I’m here for a reason, Lex. I have to help people. It’s who I am. I can’t just give that up because my boyfriend is feeling a little lonely.”

A little lonely? How about a lot. “When's the last time you've been home for longer than two days in a row, Clark, do you even remember?”

Maybe he could get him to understand. If he just showed Clark how little he was actually there, maybe he would see what went wrong and learn to set priorities. “I'm not asking you to give up being who you are.” Even though I've given up pretty much everything to be with you, went unsaid. “I'm asking you to consider more carefully where you are really needed. I'm glad that the world has somebody like you, several somebodies in fact, who can jump in to the fray and help where human strength and technology isn't enough, but...”

They'd had this conversation before, as well, but he'd never gotten this far in it. Maybe there was hope after all. “We have police forces, firemen; our country has the fucking FEMA for catastrophes, and other countries have similar organizations. I could go on like this for an hour and still not be done with the list.”

He paused again, bracing himself for Clark's reaction to his next statement as he leaned up onto one arm. “Do you really think the world needs you to rush to the rescue for every fire, every flood, every mugging that happens when you're close enough to hear it? You know you can't save everybody, and nobody of sane mind would ask you to even try.”

Clark considered Lex’s question. Did he technically need to do all that he said? Probably not. But it was what drove Clark. It was why he was on Earth. His dad had made that very clear before he died.

Turning his back on his duty would be like spitting on his father’s grave, and he wouldn’t, couldn’t do that.

“I know that I can’t save everybody, Lex. But I have to try, don’t I?” He looked over at him. “It’s not just what I do, it’s a big part of who I am.”

He thought about what Lex had said. “But, maybe, I could talk to the others about…” He didn’t know what he’d say, though. Yes, I agree that the world is going to hell in a hand basket but my boyfriend is lonely and says I don’t touch him anymore. Clark didn’t think that would go over too well.

“I haven’t been home much,” he admitted. “After this summit, I promise you that I will stay here until we hash it out.”

Lex looked into Clark's eyes and it was all there, clear as day. He wouldn't talk to the others about cutting him some slack. It wasn't even 'the others' who were the reason that Clark went out and saved everyone from everything all the time. It was all Clark's own decision. He wanted it this way. Needed to be the all encompassing hero who saved the world single handedly.

In that moment, Lex knew. He reached out a hand and placed it on Clark's cheek. There was no reason to talk about this anymore. Not when it wouldn't change anything. A sad smile flicked at the corners of his mouth, but it was gone in an instant.

He tried to think of something to say. Something poignant and meaningful that would let Clark know that Lex got it now. That he understood what Clark would probably never realize.

Lex leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Clark's mouth. To him it tasted like ashes.

“Goodnight, Clark.”

He turned his back on the hero and stared at the wall across from him. Listened until Clark's breathing changed and watched the curtains long enough to see the bright spots of artificial street light turned off and were replaced by the orange-red of the rising sun.

~~
Clark had disappeared from the bed and the apartment before the room was fully bright.

Lex turned around and stared at the empty mattress for a moment before he forced himself to get up and make coffee. At seven, he called into work and told them he wouldn't be coming in. Around eight he watched the morning news, shaking his head of the footage caught of his boyfriend saving expensive art from a fire that had broken out in an Italian museum. Close to nine he settled down in his home office and did some paperwork until his eyes burned from staring at the computer screen.

It was two pm the next time he looked at his watch. Chloe would have ushered her last few fledglings out into the waiting arms of their parents by now.

Lex ambled into the living room and picked up the phone. Dialed her cellphone number by heart. She picked up after the third ring.

“Want me to pick you up from school today?” he asked without preamble.

She did own a car, but for some reason preferred to use the bus to get to work. Something about being less stressful than submitting herself to rush hour, better for her temper and healthier for the kids.

Chloe knew that things were bad. If Lex didn’t even say hello and pretend to be ok, well, it didn’t bode well. Neither did the fact that Clark had been on TV this morning.

That meant that he’d already been long gone this morning. Leaving Lex alone, again.

“Sure,” she said, making sure to keep her voice level. There were a few people around her at the moment. Other teachers that she didn’t want to hear her next few words.

Chloe smiled at them and waggled her fingers as she made her way quickly into the hallway and then her classroom.

“I’m sorry about Clark, Lex.” She sighed. “Anything that I can steal from the teacher’s lounge that’ll make you feel better? I saw some cupcakes earlier.”

Lex shook his head, ignoring her condolences in favor of her question. He didn't want to talk about it at the moment. “No, but thanks for asking.” He was already making his way towards the front door, grabbing his keys from the small side table. “If you're hungry we can go somewhere get lunch.”

He needed to be out of the apartment, at least for a while. Felt like a caged animal inside the walls. “I'm on my way now. The green Jaguar.”

Chloe worked at a prestigious private school, so classy cars weren't as rare there as they might have been in other parts of town. The Jaguar was also his comfort car. Comfort food had never done the trick for him.

“Ok, I’ll be waiting outside. Bye, Lex.” She hung up on him and looked at her watch. It would take Lex about fifteen minutes for him to get there. If she knew him as well as she thought she did, he probably wouldn’t have eaten yet.

She called a sushi place halfway between their apartments and made a reservation for them. She cleaned up her classroom for a few minutes, picking up stray crayons and wiping down the desks, and then picked up her bag and went outside.

Most of the teachers and students had already cleared out so there wasn’t much to worry about. It wasn’t that she was ashamed of her friendship with Lex. She just didn’t share all that much with her coworkers.

He pulled up in his car a few minutes later and she gave him a small smile as she climbed in and buckled up. He remained silent so she started to talk. “How does sushi sound?”
~~
Lex picked up the small cup of sake and took another sip. “He basically accused me of being an alcoholic.”

He shook his head, wondering how Chloe managed to get him to talk without even having to prod. Maybe it was exactly the not prodding that brought him to speak every single time.

The sushi plates were nice, but he couldn't bring himself to eat more than three pieces. He wasn't hungry and sushi wasn't exactly the ideal thing to eat first thing in a day.

“So I told him flat out that he is the reason I drink in the first place, insulted him and tried to leave the room.”

Chloe whistled. That was the most confrontational Lex had ever been with Clark. She was so proud of him.

“Tried to leave the room?” That didn’t sound all that promising. That indicated that he was not successful in leaving the room. She noticed that he wasn’t eating much. Only poking the rolls of food around on his plate.

“Try this one,” she said, placing a salmon roll on this plate. “He’s such a smug, self righteous..” She cut herself off. This wasn’t about Clark. It was about Lex. “Sorry, keep going.”

He sighed and poked at the salmon with his chopsticks. Picked up the soy sauce and drowned the little ball in the brown liquid. The resentment he should be feeling wasn't there. Not since last night. “He grabbed me by my arm and I turned around swinging. Socked him in the jaw, told him not to touch me and finally left the room.”

His fingers spun the little cup of sake on the spot. He didn't even want to drink anymore. Partly because he knew that he was drinking too much.

He pushed the cup away.

“We didn't talk for the rest of the day.”

Until Clark crawled into his bed to seduce him. Lex shook his head, pushing the thought away. He couldn't deal with it just yet. Not yet.

“Enough of me for now, tell me about your day?”

What he was really asking for was a stay of execution. Before he had to face what he'd just come to see last night.

Chloe was a pusher. She knew it. Would push people to do something, to talk to her, to face their fears. But she wouldn’t push Lex anymore. His body language could be read loud and clear. What he needed now was some stories about her kids.

“Well, Hunter cut off one of Bethany’s braids today. And that happened before 9am.” Lex smiled. He’d heard numerous stories about the little scamp already. “So I had to call both of their parents and find a mutually agreeable time for a parent teacher conference.”

She shook her head. “I really don’t know what I’m going to do with they boy. I know it’s because he’s smart and bored but he needs to get that you can’t go cutting people’s hair off to get attention.”

Sitting back in her chair she went on. “Then, Ribbets somehow got out of his tank.” He was the class frog. “And the kids were going nuts while I ran around the room to get the damn thing back without hurting it.”

“Jeffery,” he was a very sensitive kid, “insisted we take him to the nurse.” She smiled a little. “I swear, it’s a wonder that I don’t take that one home with me.” He was a cute little kid who was very serious but busted out with the greatest lines.

“He told me that if Ribbets needed a new organ, he’d be glad to give him part of one of his.”

“So, a pretty typical day, really.”

Lex chuckled at the stories, getting the vivid image of how things transpired in his mind. He could see Chloe's irritated expression as she chased after a tiny green frog and the 'trying not to laugh' face as she thanked Jeffery for offering organ parts to said frog.

“Admit it, you love your job.”

No one would have thought it as a future career for Chloe Sullivan, snooper by nature, but she'd decided to go into education and had found the job of her life in being an elementary school teacher. Lex had been perhaps the most surprised about that turn of events, but he'd also been the one to understand quickest. Some things just felt right, no matter how weird they seemed to everyone else around you.

He picked up one of the sushi peaces that wasn't drenched in soy sauce and stuck it in his mouth. Tuna, not bad.

“You could always suggest to little Hunter to seriously get into hair styling,” he said as he sat back in his chair. “That should scare him off trying to cut little Bethy’s braids.”

The kids were always good for a laugh. It seemed that all it took was to leave them to their own devices for a minute for them to come up with crazy shenanigans.

“I do love my job,” she admitted. She’d never considered herself a kid person. Still didn’t sometimes after a long day when all she wanted was one moment of peace, but she was good at it and it was fulfilling.

“And,” she said, pointing her chopstick at him, “that’s an excellent idea where Hunter is concerned.” She smiled over at him. “I should bring you in and see what he can do with that unruly mop of yours.”

Chloe picked up her water and scrutinized his head. “Really, Lex, you’ve got to use some product on it.”

Lex snorted and picked up his sake again. “I don't need any products. I don't even use conditioner but it's still shiny enough to blind people when I stand in direct sunlight.”

He gave her hair a scrutinizing gaze.

“Yours on the other hand…” He laced his statement with just enough doubt to be credible, furrowing his brows as he pretended to stare at something that was wrong with her hair.

She knew, knew, that he was trying to goad her. But she still couldn’t help but taking the bait. She hadn’t looked in a mirror in hours.

“What? Does it look bad? Oh my god, is there glue in it?”

Chloe looked around for the nearest reflective surface. They’d had arts and crafts and sometimes some of it stayed on her for a few hours. “It’s glitter, isn’t it?”

God, where was a mirror when you needed one?

When Lex started chuckling, she knew she’d been had. “You’re an ass,” she said, while throwing her napkin at his chest.

Lex caught the napkin and smirked at her. “And the finest one within the city limits if certain rumors are to be believed.”

There really was some glitter in her hair, but for Lex that didn't count as 'something wrong' anymore. Not since he'd seen her with glue, transparent paper in four different colors and some not further identifiable gooey pink substance in her hair. Glitter was relatively low on the 'mess scale'.

He picked another sushi roll from her plate, dipped it into the wasabi paste and stuck it in his mouth. The spicy taste blended perfectly with the fish and rice, giving it more flavor.

“Really?” She quirked an eyebrow at him. She made a big show of leaning over in her chair and looking at the body part parked on the chair.

“I’ll be sure to check it out as we leave, then. Maybe take a picture. I was running out of things to teach the kids and I’m sure this fits into our biology lesson somewhere.”

She was happy that his mood seemed to have improved. And he was eating, always a plus.

There’d be a fight later, though. When she had called ahead, she’d also given them her credit card number. This one was on her. Maybe if she set fire to something at the point that the bill should have come he wouldn’t notice.

Their green tea ice cream arrived at that time. This place was weird in the fact that they decided when you were ready for the next course. Her plate was empty so she didn’t mind.

She took a small bite of the dessert and gave it her approval. “I know you don’t like sweets but you have to try this,” she gestured at his bowl.

Lex arched a brow at the ice cream, wondering if he really wanted to taste a treat that was basically frozen tea with cream. Either that, or completely chemical.

“Just how sweet is it?” he asked as he poked his spoon into the quickly melting concoction.

Before she could answer, he lifted the spoon and stuck the small bite into his mouth.

It wasn't bad.

Just not necessarily very good either.

His mouth pursed up and he gestured towards her water as he swallowed. “May I?”

“Course,” she said, pushing the glass towards him. “Not like we haven’t swapped spit before.” Usually after school ended she spoke like whatever grade she had to watch while her kids napped and the aide looked after them. Today it had been seventh.

Lex almost choked on the water and she didn’t bother to hide her laughter. “Sorry, that’s what Timmy McCain said to Henry Jensen today because they apparently, and disgustingly, share a trumpet mouth piece.”

He made a face at that thought and took another sip from the water. “That...” He paused for another cough. “Is disgusting.”

And he couldn't remember that Chloe and he had ever swapped spit. At least not in the way the expression would lead one to think. Or imagine. Or paint in bright colors across his retinas complete with a rewind to two nights ago at the club when he'd watched her and Ian.

Lex shook his head to clear it of the thoughts, and hoped that the flare of heat he felt was not visible on his face.

“I don't think I ever talked like that when I was a kid. Then again, I probably said much worse things when I was out of it.”

Chloe nodded. “Yes, I think both of us became much more disrespectful in our teen years.” But they’d both snapped out of it, as well.

“Who would have thought that we’d both turn out to be such upstanding citizens?” She picked up her cup of sake and held it out towards him. “To us.”

Upstanding citizens was maybe taking it a bit far, but in general, he had to agree with her. Things could have turned out much worse. Especially where he was concerned. After all the shit he'd been through, he sometimes wondered how he'd escaped going completely insane.

With a smirk, Lex picked up his own cup and clinked it against hers. “To us.”

tbc

superag
8th January 2008, 03:50
Nice lover's quarrel. It has so many good elements of real spousal arguments, but in the reverse. Who knew that Clark would be the one gone all the time and Lex playing the drunken wife. I love this story!

dagney
8th January 2008, 03:52
I'm so disgusting with how much of an asshole you've written Clark. Why lex would put up with it and also how he belittled Chloe. Lex needs to move out ASAP and leave dear Clark letter. dagney

lj715
8th January 2008, 04:00
I LOVED this chapter!!!!! Clark is such an ass. Hopefully Lex & Chloe can get together soon. Can't wait for more.

pipersmum
8th January 2008, 15:56
Interesting idea for a story and I love what you have done with it so far. Clark really is an ass isn't he lol!! Looking forward to reading more :)

somethingeasy
10th January 2008, 00:30
I was absolutely disgusted with Clark in this chapter… He seriously didn’t see ANYTHING that was wrong with his behaviour, and thought himself magnanimous for not making Lex grovel and apologise for the miserable, pitiful cry for help in the shape of a drunk-call. What an unbelievable ass!!!

And I was quite angry at Lex as well, for putting up with behaviour like this from someone in a committed relationship with him. Although I can understand how someone as needy, loyal, passionate and emotionally insecure as Lex would allow himself to be trapped in a relationship… even when he wasn’t given the kind of care and respect more partners deserve in an equal relationship. Hmmm, I can imagine it was these same qualities that kept Chloe tied to Clark, even when he was a clearly unsatisfying partner (physically as well as emotionally)


Then he remembered what they’d been talking about. “Chloe? What about her?” Sure, she’d been in a shirt that clearly wasn’t hers. But, Lex and Chloe? Never.

“Honey, I know that you’d never cheat on me.” He drank some coffee and remarked, “Especially with her” before going back to his eggs.

Lex's jaw clenched, not only at the nonchalant tone, but also at the very dismissive way Clark spoke about Chloe. It was like he didn't think she was anyone worth noticing.


“You like bombshells, remember?” He went through the visuals of the women that Lex had been with that he’d seen. Chloe didn’t compare. “I mean, yes, she’s cute and all, but hardly up to your standards.”

Besides, he’d been with her too. And there were unspoken rules about that. He looked up at Lex. He didn’t look happy at all. A joke would have to help.

“Plus, after me, you’d be no comparison, right?” He grinned over at Lex. “A girl always remembers her first.”

Oh My GOD! I was angry enough with the way Clark was dismissing Lex and whatever miseries the poor man was going through. But the way he dismissed Chloe? It made it LIVID with absolute, raging fury! At this moment, I really, REALLY wanted to grab Clark out from the screen and give him a pummelling… with a Kryptonite wrecking ball.

Who the HELL does he think he is to be judging Chloe worth, value and beauty?! How DARE he!?!? It’s even worse knowing that this is Chloe’s ex-boyfriend talking about her in such a dismissive, contemptuous manner, because it’s OBVIOUS that he doesn’t have any respect for her, and probably never did.


It was obvious that Clark didn't think anyone could resist him, or move on once he'd decided to leave them behind.

It made me feel a ‘little’ better to know that Lex also felt a fraction of the indignation that I felt about Chloe being referred to in such a dismissive, contemptuous manner. It’s good to know that Chloe is actually appreciated by the more intelligent member of this partnership… the one with actual sense and good taste!


Clark had thought a lot about it. When he could, his gifts made many demands on him. And he’d come to a conclusion. There was no need to fight about what Lex had said. Clark knew that he was probably sorry about it.

“Of course I care. But don’t worry,” he turned back to look at his boyfriend. “I know that you’d been drinking. You don’t have to apologize, babe.”

Babe? Where does Clark get off calling Lex Luthor a ‘babe’?! I know it can be a harmless term of affection, but I ALSO know that it can sometimes be used as a petty, demeaning term for a partner. Somehow, I got the sense it was the latter rather than the former with Clark… even if he was only doing it subconsciously. Especially since Clark seems like a completely selfish, self-obsessed, self-absorbed, oblivious, inconsiderate asshole in the way he handles all his relationships.


Lex really wondered if Clark had even once, just for a moment, even a fleeting one, at least at one single point in this year long relationship, ever considered that he wasn't in the right. That he'd screwed up and badly, and that he needed to change himself to make things better.

heh, don’t count on it, Lex. But I liked the way Lex summed up so MANY things that was wrong in this relationship in this section. I think he’s driving himself towards an epiphany… FINALLY!


Clark glared at Lex’s retreating back, glad that he had control over his heat vision. He took a few steps and grabbed onto his arm. “I thought you wanted to talk about this. Don’t blame me for your drinking. We both know that it started long before you and I did.”

I was really glad that Lex had pointed out that CLARK was the cause of, not only the drunk-phone call, but also Lex’s tendency to drink himself into a miserably stupor. I think this might be the first time Lex has actually confronted Clark about how unhappy and unsatisfied he is. But then I was enraged with Clark turning the situation in his favour so, in HIS view, he came out pure and virtuous, while Lex seemed like the drunken boyfriend who bothered his beloved with random calls in the middle of the working night. WHY doesn’t Clark just LISTEN?!?!


Instead, Clark was momentarily stunned when Lex’s fist connected with his jaw. It didn’t hurt, but it surprised him, and he took a few steps back.

Lex was seething. “Don't fucking touch me.” He enunciated every word slowly and precisely.

Squeee! Lex hit him! Finally! Lex gave him what for! Granted, it didn’t hurt Clark even the tiniest bit like he deserved, but it was the point that mattered.


Then, he slid over to Lex’s side and put a hand on his hip. He wasn’t usually into the dirty talk but it might help. Anything to get over this fight. “I want your cock in my mouth.” His hand went further down, its destination now obvious to both of them.

Lex's hand clamped down around Clark's wrist, squeezing as hard as he could without hurting his own fingers in the process. “Do you honestly think that a blowjob is going to fix what's wrong between us?”

He didn't turn around, consciously kept his back to Clark as a barrier between them. Thankfully, he'd stopped sleeping naked quite a while ago or Clark might have misunderstood it as an invitation to be fucked. “Clark, you haven't been home in two weeks. I have no idea when you're going to leave again, or for how long this time. You can't honestly think that's normal.”

It was at this point where my anger at Clark simply disappeared… NOT because I was turned into sentimental mush or anything… I was just so… sad… at both of them. Clark doesn’t ‘mean’ to be a bad boyfriend, but he truly doesn’t know any better, which is just tragic, because it means that not only will his partners suffer, but even Clark himself will probably never be able to enjoy a good, stable, secure relationship unless he understand what’s he doing wrong.

I think Lex has been sending Clark the wrong message all this time, being so lenient and compromising, that Clark has no idea what a stupid, bad boyfriend he’s actually being. It’s partially Lex’s (and before that, Chloe’s) fault for letting Clark develop these bad habits in the first place.


It seemed like he couldn't get through. Whenever he tried to discuss it, Clark found one reason or another to put the discussion off. This was just one in a long line of attempts to get through to him. “It's not about winning.” Lex was not ready to give up yet. “It's about realizing that something doesn't work and trying to do something about it.”

He turned around and looked down at Clark, trying to see the boy he'd fallen in love with. It was hard to manage when he looked at the firm lines and displeased set of jaw. The stubble on his face made him seem older than he really was. “Sex is not the solution to this problem. And if you ever listened to me you would know that.”

I think it’s great that Lex is trying to tell Clark that the relationship is NOT working the way it is right now. Lex is actually being very mature and reasonable over here. And I KNOW that, of only Clark was paying attention, there could have been a chance to salvage this relationship. I can see that Lex genuinely loves Clark, and Lex is NOT the kind of person to quit on any kind of a relationship (friendship or love) unless there was outright betrayal from the friend or lover in question. So if ONLY Clark listens just now… he and Lex could still manage to salvage this whole thing…

Unfortunately, I think most of what Lex has said just now has either been ignored, or gone straight over Clark’s dimbulb head.


Maybe he could get him to understand. If he just showed Clark how little he was actually there, maybe he would see what went wrong and learn to set priorities. “I'm not asking you to give up being who you are.” Even though I've given up pretty much everything to be with you, went unsaid.

heh, yet another example of the accommodating and overly-compromising precedent that Lex set that eventually led Clark into a habit of being a horrible, negligent boyfriend. Both Lex and Chloe were willing to compromise and give up everything to make Clark happy, which led him to believe he was worth any sacrifice as long as he paid a token amount of affection in return. All three of them were idiots!


He thought about what Lex had said. “But, maybe, I could talk to the others about…” He didn’t know what he’d say, though. Yes, I agree that the world is going to hell in a hand basket but my boyfriend is lonely and says I don’t touch him anymore. Clark didn’t think that would go over too well.

“I haven’t been home much,” he admitted. “After this summit, I promise you that I will stay here until we hash it out.”

Lex looked into Clark's eyes and it was all there, clear as day. He wouldn't talk to the others about cutting him some slack. It wasn't even 'the others' who were the reason that Clark went out and saved everyone from everything all the time. It was all Clark's own decision. He wanted it this way. Needed to be the all encompassing hero who saved the world single handedly.

Hmmm, Lex raised some good points over here about how Clark ‘could’ tone back the super-heroing a little bit. After all, there are plenty of other people and institutions created to also ‘save people’. SO Clark ‘could’ take some time out from patrolling for petty criminal activities in the areas that are already covered by other life-saving forces. Personally, I think another good solution would have been for Clark to have cut down on his hours at the Daily Planet.

Lex was basically asking Clark to re-prioritize a little bit… To spend a little more time on his personal life and boyfriend. He was asking Clark to ALSO bend his schedule a little bit after Lex has rearranged his whole life for Clark’s benefit.

But Clark was simply not willing to consider doing that. Perhaps he didn’t realize the perilous danger he was in of losing Lex, but I also think it’s likely that he wouldn’t have compromised even IF Lex had given him an ultimatum.


In that moment, Lex knew. He reached out a hand and placed it on Clark's cheek. There was no reason to talk about this anymore. Not when it wouldn't change anything. A sad smile flicked at the corners of his mouth, but it was gone in an instant.

He tried to think of something to say. Something poignant and meaningful that would let Clark know that Lex got it now. That he understood what Clark would probably never realize.

Lex leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Clark's mouth. To him it tasted like ashes.

“Goodnight, Clark.”

oh GOOD! Finally Lex has realized that Clark is not willing to change, and he has finally acknowledged that he is NOT going to be happy being taken for granted. He’s finally realized that he’s reached his limits, and that he’s not going to allow himself to be stretched any further. EXCELLENT!

It was rather sad seeing Lex wishing Clark goodbye, and I really wish he had made it clear to Clark on what was going on in his mind. It doesn’t seem right that Clark shouldn’t know. But then again, perhaps it’s fitting that Clark should be as oblivious to THIS as he is to everything else about Lex…


Chloe knew that things were bad. If Lex didn’t even say hello and pretend to be ok, well, it didn’t bode well. Neither did the fact that Clark had been on TV this morning.

That meant that he’d already been long gone this morning. Leaving Lex alone, again.

It’s a good thing Lex has Chloe to help him through this trying time in his life. Even if it was HIS idea to break up with Clark, I imagine Lex is going to need a lot of comfort and support after that.

Heh, and Chloe is a school teacher? Wasn’t THAT a complete shock? But it seems like she’s happy in her life.


“So I told him flat out that he is the reason I drink in the first place, insulted him and tried to leave the room.”

Chloe whistled. That was the most confrontational Lex had ever been with Clark. She was so proud of him.

‘This’ was the most confrontation Lex has ever given Clark? No wonder Clark turned into such an ass in the face of all this accommodating doormat-like behaviour. I was also please, just like Chloe, about Lex finally taking a step which has obviously been a long time coming.


Chloe was a pusher. She knew it. Would push people to do something, to talk to her, to face their fears. But she wouldn’t push Lex anymore. His body language could be read loud and clear. What he needed now was some stories about her kids.

awww, Chloe really IS a good friend to Lex. Only a good, close friend would be sensitive to their companion’s moods like this, and be able to adapt their behaviour accordingly. Lex is really lucky that Chloe chose to ‘pity’ him rather than resent him when Clark switched his dubiously devoted attentions from her to Lex, LOL!


Lex chuckled at the stories, getting the vivid image of how things transpired in his mind. He could see Chloe's irritated expression as she chased after a tiny green frog and the 'trying not to laugh' face as she thanked Jeffery for offering organ parts to said frog.

“Admit it, you love your job.”

No one would have thought it as a future career for Chloe Sullivan, snooper by nature, but she'd decided to go into education and had found the job of her life in being an elementary school teacher. Lex had been perhaps the most surprised about that turn of events, but he'd also been the one to understand quickest. Some things just felt right, no matter how weird they seemed to everyone else around you.

LOL! I enjoyed all those silly stories of one of Chloe’s ‘normal’ days of work. It’s fantastic to see that she takes joy and delight in her job. Even if it IS a surprising and unexpected career path she’s chosen for herself, it suits her.

Heh, and it’s also pleasant to see Lex also enjoying her job through her stories about her workday. :D It just goes to show how WELL they’re going to get along together once they realize that they are perfect for each other.


“What? Does it look bad? Oh my god, is there glue in it?”

Chloe looked around for the nearest reflective surface. They’d had arts and crafts and sometimes some of it stayed on her for a few hours. “It’s glitter, isn’t it?”

God, where was a mirror when you needed one?

When Lex started chuckling, she knew she’d been had. “You’re an ass,” she said, while throwing her napkin at his chest.

Lex caught the napkin and smirked at her. “And the finest one within the city limits if certain rumors are to be believed.”

There really was some glitter in her hair, but for Lex that didn't count as 'something wrong' anymore. Not since he'd seen her with glue, transparent paper in four different colors and some not further identifiable gooey pink substance in her hair. Glitter was relatively low on the 'mess scale'.

ROTFL! Oh you silly, SILLY little boy, Lex! LOL! I don’t think Lex has had a chance to tease and play with Clark in this light-hearted manner in a long time, but it’s good to see that all the spirit hasn’t been deadened in him from lack of use… Thank heavens Chloe stuck around to ‘save Lex’ before he died inside from neglect.


And he couldn't remember that Chloe and he had ever swapped spit. At least not in the way the expression would lead one to think. Or imagine. Or paint in bright colors across his retinas complete with a rewind to two nights ago at the club when he'd watched her and Ian.

heee :D Now THAT was an excellent visual to put in Lex’s head… something to start leading him down the path of seriously considering Chloe in the relations of lover as well as friend, LOL!


Upstanding citizens was maybe taking it a bit far, but in general, he had to agree with her. Things could have turned out much worse. Especially where he was concerned. After all the shit he'd been through, he sometimes wondered how he'd escaped going completely insane.

With a smirk, Lex picked up his own cup and clinked it against hers. “To us.”

ROTFLMAO! I wonder if Lex realized that he answered his own question over here about how he escaped from going completely dead and/or insane from his horrible, trying relationship with Clark… It was all due to Chloe of course. It was Chloe’s care, concern and diligent attention that kept Lex from either withering away, or going bonkers. It would be NICE to see Lex finally acknowledge how Chloe has ‘saved him’ from Clark, LOL! it would be even nicer if Lex told Clark that, ROTFL!

This was a fun chapter, filled with lots of interesting insights and hateful details about the Clex relationship. I can’t imagine that Clark is enjoying this kind of a relationship any more than Lex is… how ‘could’ he enjoy being a part of such a passion-devoid partnership? But at least Clark is not as actively unhappy and miserable as Lex because Clark is oblivious and just doesn’t know any better about how things ‘could’ or ‘should’ be.

I honestly hope that Clark does learn better and become a man capable of enjoying a loving and equal partnership with another person. Of course I want Lex to break up with him and run into Chloe arms first, but it would be nice to know that Clark could also have a chance of realizing the error of his ways and forming a satisfactory, fulfilling relationship of his own… someday.

BlueSabby
22nd January 2008, 21:41
A/N: Sabby: Here is were things start to get tricky..on top of complicated with a bit of difficult thrown in the mix.

A/N: Blue: I really couldn't say it any better...so I won't. Enjoy

Thankfully, they’d gotten out of the restaurant without much fanfare. When Lex had started looking around for a waitress so they could get their check, Chloe had explained what would happen. They would get up and leave because she’d already taken care of it. He would not freak out. He would also let her drive the pretty green car because he’d promised her that the last time. Plus, he was slightly tipsy.

The sake must have gotten to him because Lex barely put up a fight on either front.

Chloe carefully drove the car to Lex’s place. They’d flipped a coin to decide where they’d spend the next few hours. If she decided it was best for her to go home, a very long shot she thought, then a cab could come and fetch her.

Once back in Lex’s place, Chloe had kicked off her shoes and Lex had gone to change out of his ‘fancy pants’ clothes as she liked to call them.

She was sitting on the couch, looking through one of Lex’s newest history books, when he returned. She hoped that he wouldn’t comment that she didn’t speak Greek and, therefore, was stupid for continuing to look at said book. But, it did have amazing lithographs.

Lex finished tying the drawstrings on his sweatpants as he stepped closer to the couch. He arched an eyebrow at the book she'd pulled out of one of the boards and flopped down beside her.

“There's a nice one picturing Perseus killing Medusa. A little further in the back.”

He hadn't really read the book. He knew all the myths and legends inside it, but his ancient Greek was nowhere good enough to get through the texts without a dictionary.

Lex leaned back into the cushions and put his bare feet up on the coffee table, getting comfortable. It still didn't feel quite right being back here. He wished he could have avoided the apartment for longer. Just looking in the direction of the kitchen brought back the fight from yesterday. And being in the bedroom could have seriously warped his mind if he hadn't ignored the bed with all his might.

Chloe carefully flipped through the pages until she came to the picture he was talking about. It had a great deal of detail and was rather impressive. “I was always more interested in Prometheus,” she remarked. They had a lot in common. Getting into trouble for helping others, for example.

She looked over at Lex and smiled. “Nice outfit.” She cocked her head to the side, “You still wearing my shirt?”

People probably thought that Lex dressed in a suit all of the time but he was just as human as everyone else. When he wanted a good wallow, he dressed in sweats.

“Too bad about that whole liver and eagle thing, though,” she said, scrunching up her nose as she found that particular picture in the book. “Ugh.”

Lex smiled ruefully, looking at the picture she showed to him. “That's the thing with heroes,” he said slowly, “it's always a tragedy, and there's never a happy ending.”

His gaze turned to the blank screen of the TV. The thought he'd been trying to push away since he'd left the bed this morning was back with a vengeance. And Chloe had stuck his nose in it without even meaning to.

He shook his head, trying to put his thoughts into a coherent sentence that would explain it to her. Knew it was time to face the music. “The ironic thing is that I didn't get it. I read every single one of these stories and I still didn't make the connection.”

The smirk on his face felt stretched, like it didn't belong there. “Not until last night.”

“Hey,” she slid over a little and put a hand on his thigh, “it doesn’t always have to end like that.” They were no longer talking about fairy tales and myths.

He laughed but there was no humor in the gesture. Chloe knew that she was reversing herself but she couldn’t help it. She didn’t want to see Lex like this. Maybe Clark could change for him. Maybe if he really tried….

“Not everything has to be a tragedy, Lex.” But they both knew that Clark couldn’t change. They knew it deep down.

“Even if the hero,” she rolled her eyes, “suffers, it doesn’t mean that those around him have to.” Lex snorted and she couldn’t blame him. He already was suffering.

“You can change all of it. Your life is yours.” She tried to catch his eye but he was looking up at the ceiling. “He can be gotten over, Lex. Trust me on that one. I would do a lot for you, but I wouldn’t lie about this to make you feel better. It hurts like hell but you’ll come out on the other side. I’ll help you.”

She took his hand and squeezed it for a moment before letting go. Chloe wasn’t sure what Lex needed or wanted from her and until she got a clear sign, she’d hang back.

“I know,” he said.

And he did know. Except that knowing didn't change much of anything. It just made thing all the more sad.

Last night when he'd had that last talk with Clark, it had all come together and he'd tried to push it away, but that wasn't possible. Not when it was shoved so blindingly in your face that you were standing against all odds. Clark was nothing if not a hero, and he lived to save the world. He always would and nothing could change that. Not even love.

And the bloody fucking kicker about it was that Clark didn't even realize his fate. Not as long as Lex was still there to come home to. Not as long as this pretense of a relationship was still existent. Lex would have to be the one to show Clark his tragic destiny by making the decision to walk away. To save himself, he'd have to sacrifice the hero. It was enough to crack a man's head.

Lex started to laugh. It was either that or break out in tears, so laughing it was.

“Why does it all have to be such a fucking drama?” he asked between gales of hysteric laughter.

He shook his head, still laughing. “Why the fuck couldn't I get the fairy tale instead of the goddamn heroic tragedy?”

Chloe stared at Lex. For the first time in all of this she wasn’t just worried about Lex, she was scared for him. He was very close to some sort of breakdown, that much was clear to her.

She ran her hand over his back and spoke quietly to him. “Life’s not a fairy tale. Never has been, never will be. No one gets a Prince Charming that sweeps them off their feet. You get some guy who you love and try not to kill when he does or says something dumb. As long as he tries to change, and you do to, you stay with him.”

“Losing Clark will not be the defining moment in your life,” she said, strongly. She wouldn’t let it be. Lex was more than one boyfriend. More than one fucked up relationship. “You’ve got a ton more messed up relationships to look forward to,” she said, ruefully. “Until you find one that works. One that doesn’t turn you into this.”

It was one thing to be vulnerable and open and quite another to define your whole life as tragic just because of Clark.

“I wish I could promise you that things will get easier if you decide to leave him. That he won’t turn this around to you being the bad guy because you can’t possibly understand how hard it is to be him.” Chloe was ashamed to hear the venom in her voice when she spoke. But Clark had used that line on her, even back in Smallville, so she was positive that Lex had heard it a million times.

“But, you either live with knowing the real reason you left him while he sees it as selfishness or you stay with him for the wrong reasons. It’s a bitch of a choice.” She said the last part almost to herself. She didn’t envy Lex one bit.

“You know I’ll be here, whatever you choose.” Chloe felt she needed to make that clear. She’d done so much bitching about Clark that it was clear where she stood. But, it was Lex’s life, not hers.

Lex stared at the ceiling for another moment, wondering what he was going to be. He was well aware of the consequences of either choice. Neither looked the least bit attractive right now.

“A bitch of a choice I'm not going to make today.”

Lex got up from the couch, decision to not decide firmly made, and headed towards the kitchen. He was just not going to think about much of anything for the rest of the day. Not as long as he could distract himself with Chloe and other things.

He pulled out the paper baggy and tossed it in the microwave, then pushed the button to start it.

“Do you still like it salty with lots of butter?” he called back into the living room.

Chloe looked off in the direction that Lex had disappeared and raised her voice, “The more heart attack inducing, the better.” She sighed and then got up herself.

If they were going to watch a movie, that was the only time that Lex broke out the popcorn, they needed a blanket. Unless the mercury read over 80, she never went without one for that particular activity.

As she made her way down the hall, she looked at the walls and into the various rooms. She could never figure out who had decorated this place. It didn’t look much like Clark or Lex. Maybe they’d compromised?

Opening the closet, she looked at her choices. It had to be big enough for two and so not thick…ah, there, perfect. Of course the damn thing was on the top shelf, though. She refused to ask Lex for help so she spent another minute fixing the closet before closing it.

Her clothes would have to go, too. Not all of them but she couldn’t sprawl out and get totally comfy in her work stuff. She wandered further down the hall and back into Lex’s bedroom. She shook her head. Lex and Clark’s bedroom.

Now that she knew where Lex’s clothes were, she went straight there. She found an appropriate t-shirt from a fancy gallery that Lex had invested in years ago, but nothing for her bottom, literally.

Huffing in Lex’s bedroom in a t-shirt and panties, she walked over to a dresser, how many places for clothes did these men need?, and finally found a pair of sweats.

After putting her bra, skirt and blouse on a chair and grabbing the blanket, she made her way back to the living room.

Lex was already on the couch again, big bowl of popcorn, a bottle of soda and two glasses on the table, waiting for Chloe. He'd figured she'd scampered off to find herself a 'movie blankie', but his brows rose as his eyes fell on her.

She'd raided his closet, again, and his dresser, apparently. The shirt was old, a bit frayed at all ends, but probably the softest cotton you could get. There'd been a print on it once upon a time, but that was hardly visible anymore thanks to a million and one times in the washer. She'd also found his old pair of running sweats. They were about half a mile to long in her ankles, but she made it look kinda cute.

“Love the outfit, would buy it myself...Oh wait, I forgot it is mine.”

He grinned as she rolled her eyes at him and moved over to plan her nest on the couch. “Thief,” he accused with a smile.

The smile softened further when he noticed she was including him in her blanket nest making.

“You’re just jealous that you can’t fit into any of my super cute outfits,” she grumbled good naturedly. Lex had given up trying to discourage her from going through his things and taking what she liked. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d reproached her for that. Or when he’d stopped doing that. Amazing, when you thought about it. A Luthor not caring that a former reporter was loose in his place.

Chloe got herself properly settled, making sure her butt was in just the right place so she could tuck her feet under her and lean against Lex, and then snapped the blanket out in front of them twice before letting it fall over both of them.

Then she realized something. “Please tell me the movie is already in or ordered or whatever.” She was already pretty comfortable and hated to move again. Lex called her the laziest person on the face of the planet once she was settled in one spot or another. He’d caught her using an old curtain rod to change the channel on her TV when she couldn’t find the remote.

“Don't worry, I got us covered, sloth.”

Lex leaned forward to grab the remote and the popcorn bowl. He placed the latter in her lap leaving his arm around her once it was settled securely. Huh, now that was a smooth move, why hadn't he thought of that one when he was sixteen and trying to make a pass at Hillary Stevenson?

The remote in the other hand controlled the TV, DVD player and surround system. A very handy little thing, and so much better than a curtain rod. He pushed a few buttons and the Paramount stars came floating towards the mountain.

“I thought we could do with some humor,” he said as the first strains of rock music picked up with the opening credits.

“Amen to that,” she muttered as she eased further into Lex’s body. He smelled good and felt warm and safe. Chloe wished that all of her relationships could be like that. But her men weren’t Lex. Not a friend that she knew she could trust and let her guard down with and for.

She smiled when she saw what movie it was. Giggling, she put on a pouty voice and said, “You mean we’re not in the band.” The kid that said that line was very cute. And how apropos that Lex would pick a movie dealing with a ‘teacher’ that had unorthodox methods. She’d been taken to task for that when she’d first started at her current position.

Jack Black jumped across the stage like a freak and dove into the crowd…being promptly caught by no one. Chloe snagged some popcorn from the bowl in her lap. “Excellent choice,” she said around the popcorn.

Lex chuckled at the poor guy, knowing he'd deal with a lot of shit during the movie. But there'd be lots of laughs and a happy end, so it was funny. “I like the part with the groupies. And the little chick that ends up being the manager. Annoying as fuck, but she's got guts.”

He relaxed into the cushions and put his feet back up on the table. His fingers started aimlessly stroking back and forth over the fabric of the t-shirt where his hand was. Chloe had dead aim when it came to stealing his favorites. At least she always gave them back.

Pavlov proved that a stimulus was the key to a reaction. Didn’t matter if the food was there or not, the bell set you off. So, it didn’t matter that it was someone else’s boyfriend now stroking the skin at her hip, she was reacting to the touch.

Chloe told her body to calm down a little. It was only Lex who had started to move his hand aimlessly over her body. So what if his skin sometimes rubbed against hers under the shirt?

She took a breath and said, “Joan Cusack is a goddess.” Sure, she wasn’t on screen yet but that didn’t mean it wasn’t true.

Once she got used to the warm hand on her, it wasn’t an issue.

Lex hummed in approval. “Great actress. And she's hot in an eccentric way. Best movies are those where you get both Cusacks for the price of one.”

He moved his other hand to get some popcorn, shifting a little so he didn't squish Chloe while he was at it. Lots of butter wasn't his favorite thing, but he could live with it. At least they liked the same variety. Clark had acted like a five year old when he'd been presented with a bowl and noticed too late that it wasn't sugary popcorn.

“I thought she did a great job when all those angry parents were screaming and ranting at her and she just tried to stay polite and friendly until she fled the room.”

He munched on the popcorn and watched as Joan finally made her first appearance, making a very prim and proper impression during her first chat with Jack Black. “Of course my favorite is still the part where she's drunk and going off to Stevie Nicks.”

When Lex had moved to get closer to the bowl, he’d also moved her closer to him. Now, his wrist rested on her hip and the center of the palm of his hand was about two inches away from her belly button. His whole hand was placed on her stomach and she could feel her skin contact his every time she breathed.

It took some getting used to but once she did, she enjoyed the contact. Chloe knew that Lex wasn’t coming on to her, that he probably didn’t even realize he’d done it. That made her happy. He was usually always so concerned with etiquette and crap like that.

“You just like laughing at drunk people, admit it.” But that was a very entertaining part of the movie.

“I still love the glam rock outfits the fashion kid makes.” She chuckled warmly as she remembered the look on Jack Black’s face. Chloe leaned her face against Lex’s chest. This was nice. Hearing his breathing as she was warm, eating popcorn and happy. It was a sort of cocoon that she didn’t want to leave.

Lex chuckled before he cleared his throat and tried to fake the voice of the boy. “It's glitter rock, and it's glam, and it's fabulous!” His voice dropped back to its normal pitch. “How to hit the gay stereo type in one sentence.”

As Chloe started to giggle, he noticed that his hand had slipped under the shirt at some point in time. He wondered if he should ask if that was okay. But then, if it wasn't okay, she would have said something. And it wasn't like he was trying...anything.

He grabbed for more popcorn and laughed as Jack Black started handing out tasks. “Oh, here comes the groupie part.”

Chloe made sure that she was quiet for the next few minutes. The shot of Jack Black’s character saying ‘groupie’ followed by the shot of the innocent girls was too good for words. As were the nicknames “fancy pants” and “Turkey sub.”

Her hand that had been previously engaged in snagging popcorn out of the bowl started to run across his belly. Turn about was fair play, of course. She hoped he didn’t mind getting butter over his shirt. Whatever, she’d offer to wash it. Later.

“The kids were so well cast in this movie,” she commented. “And most of them could actually play their instruments.” She nestled her head against Lex and turned her nose into his chest before taking a deep breath. He always smelled so good. She wondered what kind of soap or body wash he used.

Lex's muscles tensed in reflex to the touching and sniffing. “Should I hand you a rolled up twenty?”

He grinned when she stopped sniffing to look up at him. “Since you're obviously trying to inhale me.”

Not that he really minded, it was just a tad bit weird. The grin grew a few more teeth as a thought came to mind. Retaliation was sweet.

He used the arm around her to keep her in place and moved his other hand to hold on to her head as he went in for the kill. Or sniff as the case may be.

Sticking his nose in her hair, he started snuffling exaggeratedly, making his way from the side of her head down to her neck as she squeaked indignantly and tried to fight him off. With all the squealing and tussling going on it took a while for him to actually register the smell.

He took one last extended sniff before he pulled back.

Chloe was red in the face and her hair was completely mussed. Lex had a hard time not laughing at the picture she made. “Nice, coconut?”

She harrumphed at him as she tried to get herself smoothed out again. Both physically and mentally.

While she had seen this side of Lex numerous times, it was always a little…a little…a little something that made her melt and tense up at the same time. She couldn’t put her finger on it.

But, he was smiling that smile so she’d forgive him anything and everything. That knowledge would have scared her badly if she didn’t trust Lex implicitly.

“Yes, it is, Mr. I Violently Smell People Without Their Written Permission and Will Now be Sued.” She decided that being ridiculous would help Lex’s mood. He immediately started laughing. She knew that he would point out that she had started it. But that was hardly the point. Besides…

“I was just delicately sniffing you because you always smell good. It was an involuntary thing. I am a lady and, therefore, would never assault someone like you did.” Very primly, she finished, “I will now accept your apology.” She looked up at him and waited.

It took a moment to stop laughing before he caught the look on her face that meant she was waiting for something. Like an apology, which was not going to happen. “You're the one who got yourself into this, so don't expect me to say sorry. Predators don't say 'sorry' to their prey.”

He knew she wasn't really mad at him, so it didn't matter if he refused to give the apology she was looking for. “Thanks for the compliment though, and same goes for you. Coconut suits you.”

He sniffed again, more gently this time. “Except I'm starting to get the craving for a pina colada.”

Lex leaned back and tucked Chloe's head back under his chin. “You're not helping my alcohol problem at all.”

The bowl had shifted and Chloe was surprised that it hadn’t fallen off of her body yet. She leaned away from Lex and, after a moment, he let her go. Once it was on the coffee table, she took up her previous position, Lex’s head and arms returning to where they were before.

Chloe wanted to tell Lex that his problem wasn’t her. But that would bring Clark back into the room. And that wouldn’t do at all.

She ran her left hand up his chest until it rested over his heart. She thought about what they could put in their systems in place of the alcohol. They’d already had something from the overly salty and buttery group. She’d suggest some ice cream but he probably didn’t have any in the apartment.
“Fine,” she huffed while smiling, “I’ll make a note to smell less appealing the next time we meet.” She drummed her fingers on his chest. “What do you prefer, land fill or rotting meat?”

“Neither,” he said with sincerity, having gotten to know both smells intimately at one point or another.

The smell wasn't really a problem. He liked the coconut on her, but it really did give him a craving for pina colada, or maybe a coconut crème pie, or...something other to eat or drink that had coconut in it.

“But you could use that other one.”

He remembered one night when she'd come to him and snuggled up. Could have been the first time, but he didn't remember if it was. Could have been any of the times since she'd started getting close, really. In any case, that one night he'd caught a whiff of something really nice. “Kind of nutty and flowery at the same time. Smelled really good.”

Of course he had no clue which one it was, or if she even still had the bottle of that. A mental image of sniffing through all of Chloe's perfume and lotion bottles whisked through his mind and made him chuckle. “Any chance you remember which one that was?”

She grinned up at Lex before she snuggled closer to him. The man was so, well, dear sometimes. Remembering how she smelled? If he wasn’t gay and in a relationship, she’d be so dead. Bi, she reminded herself, he’s bi.

Chloe tried to think about her various perfume purchases over the past few months. If he’d been close enough to smell it, it had to be bought in that time span. She had this perfume, one other that didn’t fit the description and a rancid one that Lois had gotten her as a joke.

That left either shampoo or lotion. “I think I know which one you mean,” she said. She remembered the bottle but not the name. “It’s a lotion but I don’t know the name off hand. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to slather it on when I come over the next time.”

Lex smiled back and sunk a bit deeper into the cushions. “Good.”

It felt good to know that Chloe would always be there. And with a start he realized that he couldn't know that. Well, he couldn't know for sure as far as logic went, his brain told him so. But that didn't change the fact that he just knew. The kind of knowledge that was purely instinct.

He smirked at himself and leaned down to press a kiss to her temple. “Thank you.”

Her eyes lit up as she looked back at him with a big smile, next snarky comeback just waiting to spill out. It struck him how pretty she looked when she smiled. Pretty and kind of sexy. That thought brought back the memory of their night at the club. More than kind of sexy. Clark was a complete moron.

Lex swallowed.

He was suddenly very conscious of all her luscious curves that were pressed against him.

Her voice called him back to the here and now. He must have been staring at her a bit too long.

“You’re too easy to please,” she said. She was surprised about the way he’d reacted. Pulled her a little closer and kissed her. Sure, not on the mouth, but it was still a kiss. But, she was still happy about his reaction.

“You should have insisted that I wear a glam rock outfit along with the lotion, silly. After all, I do come over and eat all of your food a lot of the time.”

It wasn’t fair. Lex would put away just as much as her but he never seemed to gain any weight. And she couldn’t remember him ever mentioning working out or a gym or anything. Her brows drew together and she placed her hand on his stomach, checking for a six pack. “ ‘s not fair.” She could feel some musculature below her hand. “How do you not work out and still look that good? Stupid genes.”

Lex managed a smirk, but it felt a little thin. With the consciousness of the curves obviously came the awareness of touch. She'd petted him like this a thousand times, but it had never had that much effect on him. Instead of merely feeling warm, he felt like he was starting a fever.

“Yea, stupid h...genes.”

He took a deep breath. He'd almost slipped up there and cursed his hormones, which would have required an explanation that he'd rather not give.

Okay, so he was apparently attracted to Chloe. Not good. In fact, horribly inconvenient. But he could work through this, make it go away. Somehow. Chloe was his friend, not a fuck. And she was looking at him weird.

Right, insert snappy comeback here.

“It's got nothing to do with the fact that I usually run three miles a day.”

Lex had looked and sounded off there for a moment. She’d immediately gone into worry mode. While her stomach was like a garbage pail, Lex usually didn’t indulge as much as she did. She was about to ask about his stomach, which could be a touch sensitive, when he gave the witty retort.

“Hmmm, well I didn’t know that.” She settled back against him and kept running her hand over his stomach, just in case he wasn’t feeling well. While they were close, Lex still had a problem sometimes with accepting that he wasn’t physically invincible.

Maybe since he’d shown her that he was emotionally needy, he needed to be strong in another way. Or maybe she was thinking too much about it.

And she was now thinking a little too much about the skin beneath his shirt. What it looked like, what it would feel like bare under her hand. Chloe swallowed and actively tried to lose herself in the movie.

lj715
22nd January 2008, 22:09
OMG...I love this chapter. Love how they are slowly becoming aware of how attracted they are to one another. Now all Lex has to do is dump Clark & then on to Chlex smut . :D Excellent work.

Kit Merlot
23rd January 2008, 16:32
I loved these last two updates!

I like that is this story, it's Chloe who is helping Lex to see that Clark is all wrong for him. I especially loved this line:


“You can change all of it. Your life is yours.” She tried to catch his eye but he was looking up at the ceiling. “He can be gotten over, Lex. Trust me on that one. I would do a lot for you, but I wouldn’t lie about this to make you feel better. It hurts like hell but you’ll come out on the other side. I’ll help you.”

Yes it will be painful, but Clark can be gotten over, and Chloe is proof postive of this. I think Lex realizes it, but he just doesn't want to give up.

And I also love how attracted Lex and Chloe are too each other, but they are no where near ready to be in a relationship yet.

Continued great work on this story.

somethingeasy
24th January 2008, 22:29
The chapter started out on a very moody, broody and depressing tone, which I rather enjoyed, LOL! It was very interesting how the atmosphere and mood was set with Lex and Chloe discussing Classic Greek Tragedies while contemplating the depressing state of Lex’s collapsing relationship… not to mention his breaking heart. He might be the one calling an end to his match with Clark, but I am quite certain that he felt weak, horrible and guilty for ‘quitting’ and giving up on something so important.

Thank heavens Chloe was here to help him weather through the worst of his depression. I shudder to imagine the kind of state Lex would have dug himself into without her there to allay some of the despair, disappointment and heartbreak he was experiencing. He probably would have drunk himself into a stupor, and then taken from ‘happy pills’ from a long-ago hidden stash to lift his spirits or something… I’m sure he would have done SOMETHING colossally stupid, if not for Chloe’s presence.

The poor man was dressed in SWEATS for heavens’s sake! How low has he sunk?!


Chloe carefully flipped through the pages until she came to the picture he was talking about. It had a great deal of detail and was rather impressive. “I was always more interested in Prometheus,” she remarked. They had a lot in common. Getting into trouble for helping others, for example.

heh, I liked this comparison between Chloe and Prometheus. It fits in very well. I can easily imagine Chloe as a self-sacrificing hero, struggling to deliver truth to the ordinary humans, even as great personal risk and consequences.


He shook his head, trying to put his thoughts into a coherent sentence that would explain it to her. Knew it was time to face the music. “The ironic thing is that I didn't get it. I read every single one of these stories and I still didn't make the connection.”

The smirk on his face felt stretched, like it didn't belong there. “Not until last night.”

“Hey,” she slid over a little and put a hand on his thigh, “it doesn’t always have to end like that.” They were no longer talking about fairy tales and myths.

I really liked this little bit… It’s really such a tragic shame that Clark has come close to destroying what little, tiny, miniscule amount of hope Lex still harboured for ‘happy endings’. How can Lex now EVER hope that ‘love conquers all’ after he’s been screwed over by a super-hero?

Save him, Chloe!


He laughed but there was no humor in the gesture. Chloe knew that she was reversing herself but she couldn’t help it. She didn’t want to see Lex like this. Maybe Clark could change for him. Maybe if he really tried….

“Not everything has to be a tragedy, Lex.” But they both knew that Clark couldn’t change. They knew it deep down.

I think Lex has been hanging onto Clark with the hope that Clark would get ‘better’, that he would change his behaviour and attitude and start behaving like a worthy partner. This is probably why Lex has tolerated being in this kind of a relationship for so long.

It’s a good thing he’s finally seemed to have realized that Clark is ‘not’ going to change… especially not if he’s unaware on what the problem is in the first place.


“You can change all of it. Your life is yours.” She tried to catch his eye but he was looking up at the ceiling. “He can be gotten over, Lex. Trust me on that one. I would do a lot for you, but I wouldn’t lie about this to make you feel better. It hurts like hell but you’ll come out on the other side. I’ll help you.”

It was this part that REALLY made me happy that Chloe was here to help Lex get through this time of deep depression. All of her words were exactly what Lex needed for reassurance. Her own experience with Clark allowed her to give the perfect words and advice to give Lex ‘some’ semblance of hope for happiness later in his life.


And the bloody fucking kicker about it was that Clark didn't even realize his fate. Not as long as Lex was still there to come home to. Not as long as this pretense of a relationship was still existent. Lex would have to be the one to show Clark his tragic destiny by making the decision to walk away. To save himself, he'd have to sacrifice the hero. It was enough to crack a man's head.

heh, oh well… Clark is about to get a rude awakening very soon. Let’s see how the oblivious manages on his own without having someone dote on him, and reassure him that he’s a wonderful and amazing catch of a boyfriend. He went straight from being worshipped by Chloe to being worshipped by Lex… Let’s see how he deals when he doesn’t have anyone waiting loyally waiting home for him.


Lex started to laugh. It was either that or break out in tears, so laughing it was.

“Why does it all have to be such a fucking drama?” he asked between gales of hysteric laughter.

He shook his head, still laughing. “Why the fuck couldn't I get the fairy tale instead of the goddamn heroic tragedy?”

Chloe stared at Lex. For the first time in all of this she wasn’t just worried about Lex, she was scared for him. He was very close to some sort of breakdown, that much was clear to her.

Heh, it was pretty funny. I should be glad that Lex can see the ironic humour in this situation. But I also share Chloe’s worry about Lex giving into his despair and having a breakdown.


She ran her hand over his back and spoke quietly to him. “Life’s not a fairy tale. Never has been, never will be. No one gets a Prince Charming that sweeps them off their feet. You get some guy who you love and try not to kill when he does or says something dumb. As long as he tries to change, and you do to, you stay with him.”

awwww, wasn’t this a PERFECT assessment on what makes up a good relationship? Chloe’s quite savvy for someone who hasn’t found ‘The Perfect Guy’ in her life as yet.


“Losing Clark will not be the defining moment in your life,” she said, strongly. She wouldn’t let it be. Lex was more than one boyfriend. More than one fucked up relationship. “You’ve got a ton more messed up relationships to look forward to,” she said, ruefully. “Until you find one that works. One that doesn’t turn you into this.”

It was one thing to be vulnerable and open and quite another to define your whole life as tragic just because of Clark.

“I wish I could promise you that things will get easier if you decide to leave him. That he won’t turn this around to you being the bad guy because you can’t possibly understand how hard it is to be him.” Chloe was ashamed to hear the venom in her voice when she spoke. But Clark had used that line on her, even back in Smallville, so she was positive that Lex had heard it a million times.

“But, you either live with knowing the real reason you left him while he sees it as selfishness or you stay with him for the wrong reasons. It’s a bitch of a choice.” She said the last part almost to herself. She didn’t envy Lex one bit.

Chloe is REALLY brilliant, and a perfect friend for Lex. She knew exactly what he needed to hear. She knew that he would probably feel guilt about being a weak quitter for giving up on this relationship, and she’s allaying these feelings.

I can even imagine Clark playing on Lex’s feelings of insecurity and unworthiness. He probably WOULD have turned the situation around blaming Lex for not being strong, loyal and steadfast… and Lex would probably have believed him too, and might have even ended up begging for a second chance. Lex is SO lucky that Chloe is here to bring perspective on the situation and reassure Lex that he did everything possible to make this relationship work… but that it was impossible to fix this without Clark cooperating or compromising.


Lex was already on the couch again, big bowl of popcorn, a bottle of soda and two glasses on the table, waiting for Chloe. He'd figured she'd scampered off to find herself a 'movie blankie', but his brows rose as his eyes fell on her.

She'd raided his closet, again, and his dresser, apparently. The shirt was old, a bit frayed at all ends, but probably the softest cotton you could get. There'd been a print on it once upon a time, but that was hardly visible anymore thanks to a million and one times in the washer. She'd also found his old pair of running sweats. They were about half a mile to long in her ankles, but she made it look kinda cute.

This made for a very cute, intimate, homey visual. I LOVED it! I loved the image of Lex in sweats, with Chloe wearing one of his comfortable shirts, and the two of them cuddled up together on the couch with all kinds of movie snacks surrounding them. It was a beautiful scene for Chlex interaction… and it’s LOVELY to see that Lex gets SOME person to be ‘domestic’ with.

I kept expecting Clark to walk in any moment and take in the scene of domesticity that he was not a part of in any way. Perhaps he would have been oblivious, or perhaps he would have noticed the obvious that HIS boyfriend was getting far too cozy for comfort with a very attractive female.


“Love the outfit, would buy it myself...Oh wait, I forgot it is mine.”

He grinned as she rolled her eyes at him and moved over to plan her nest on the couch. “Thief,” he accused with a smile.

The smile softened further when he noticed she was including him in her blanket nest making.

“You’re just jealous that you can’t fit into any of my super cute outfits,” she grumbled good naturedly. Lex had given up trying to discourage her from going through his things and taking what she liked. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d reproached her for that. Or when he’d stopped doing that. Amazing, when you thought about it. A Luthor not caring that a former reporter was loose in his place.

I also enjoyed the banter between the two of them. It was cute, engaging and also very familiar and comfortable. It’s incredible that the two of them have not realized the intimacy that exists between the two of them.


Lex leaned forward to grab the remote and the popcorn bowl. He placed the latter in her lap leaving his arm around her once it was settled securely. Huh, now that was a smooth move, why hadn't he thought of that one when he was sixteen and trying to make a pass at Hillary Stevenson?

heh, I can see Lex is making ‘some’ of the proper associations in his mind about the position he is in with Chloe… but he’s not following through with that train of thought. Oh well, just a little while longer until the idea of a possible grope enters Lex’s mind in connection with Chloe, LOL!


He relaxed into the cushions and put his feet back up on the table. His fingers started aimlessly stroking back and forth over the fabric of the t-shirt where his hand was. Chloe had dead aim when it came to stealing his favorites. At least she always gave them back.

Pavlov proved that a stimulus was the key to a reaction. Didn’t matter if the food was there or not, the bell set you off. So, it didn’t matter that it was someone else’s boyfriend now stroking the skin at her hip, she was reacting to the touch.

Chloe told her body to calm down a little. It was only Lex who had started to move his hand aimlessly over her body. So what if his skin sometimes rubbed against hers under the shirt?

Heh… the choice in movie was terrible… but I’m a LOT more interested in the slow, sneaking seductive mood that’s creeping on the screen in front of me. I LOVE how the mood is developing so softly, slowly and organically that neither Lex nor Chloe are aware on where it’s headed. ANY person who walked in on them would immediately assume that he/she was disturbing an intimate bonding moment between two lovers.

Heh, it’s going to be fun to see both Lex and Chloe come to the realization that they progressed beyond the lines of ‘friendship’ quite a long time ago.


When Lex had moved to get closer to the bowl, he’d also moved her closer to him. Now, his wrist rested on her hip and the center of the palm of his hand was about two inches away from her belly button. His whole hand was placed on her stomach and she could feel her skin contact his every time she breathed.

It took some getting used to but once she did, she enjoyed the contact. Chloe knew that Lex wasn’t coming on to her, that he probably didn’t even realize he’d done it. That made her happy. He was usually always so concerned with etiquette and crap like that.

It was quite amusing to see them both indulging in useless movie trivia, critique and gossip… and all the while, underneath all their shallow, flippant conversation, their bodies are drawing closer together… and Lex’s hands are getting more comfortable and ‘friendlier’ without him even realizing it. At least CHLOE can feel a little but of what’s going on between them… even if she IS determined to remain in denial about it, LOL! Now Lex is the one being oblivious…. I guess it’s a guy-thing, huh? LOL!


Lex's muscles tensed in reflex to the touching and sniffing. “Should I hand you a rolled up twenty?”

:rofl:
I shouldn’t be surprised about the association that Lex made with sniffing, but I seriously LOVED the image of someone trying to snort up Lex Luthor… the world’s most expensive, exclusive drug EVER… available only through LexCorp! Damn I’d like to get a package of that stuff!


Sticking his nose in her hair, he started snuffling exaggeratedly, making his way from the side of her head down to her neck as she squeaked indignantly and tried to fight him off. With all the squealing and tussling going on it took a while for him to actually register the smell.

Do these two people think it’s really ‘normal’ for a pair of friends to be wrestling with each other for the purpose on some intense sniffing? What planet are these people from?! ROTFL!


While she had seen this side of Lex numerous times, it was always a little…a little…a little something that made her melt and tense up at the same time. She couldn’t put her finger on it.

She can’t put her finger on it? Sheeesh! This is a VERY serious case of denial. Someone bring a baseball bat to knock some obvious truth into her… or BOTH of them!


“Yes, it is, Mr. I Violently Smell People Without Their Written Permission and Will Now be Sued.” She decided that being ridiculous would help Lex’s mood. He immediately started laughing. She knew that he would point out that she had started it. But that was hardly the point. Besides…

“I was just delicately sniffing you because you always smell good. It was an involuntary thing. I am a lady and, therefore, would never assault someone like you did.” Very primly, she finished, “I will now accept your apology.” She looked up at him and waited.

It took a moment to stop laughing before he caught the look on her face that meant she was waiting for something. Like an apology, which was not going to happen. “You're the one who got yourself into this, so don't expect me to say sorry. Predators don't say 'sorry' to their prey.”

ROTFLMAO! This was priceless! I loved this banter between the two of them. It was adorable, sweet and lighthearted… and it was a delight seeing Lex being so playful instead of indulging in The Brood. He is SO unbelievably lucky to have Chloe with him during a time like this.


“Fine,” she huffed while smiling, “I’ll make a note to smell less appealing the next time we meet.” She drummed her fingers on his chest. “What do you prefer, land fill or rotting meat?”

“Neither,” he said with sincerity, having gotten to know both smells intimately at one point or another.

ooooh, fabulous! This was an intriguing reference to Lex’s possible activities during his rebellion days. It really raised my eyebrows, and now I’m dying for more details… Elaboration please? :puppydog:


He remembered one night when she'd come to him and snuggled up. Could have been the first time, but he didn't remember if it was. Could have been any of the times since she'd started getting close, really. In any case, that one night he'd caught a whiff of something really nice. “Kind of nutty and flowery at the same time. Smelled really good.”


That left either shampoo or lotion. “I think I know which one you mean,” she said. She remembered the bottle but not the name. “It’s a lotion but I don’t know the name off hand. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to slather it on when I come over the next time.”

Lex smiled back and sunk a bit deeper into the cushions. “Good.”

ROTFL! And now he’s requesting his friend to adjust her perfume according to his wishes? AND she’s actually paying attention and agreeing to indulge his wishes? And they’re STILL going to insist that they’re ‘only friends’?!? ROTFL! It’s equal parts frustrating and fun seeing them both acting clueless. LOL!


It felt good to know that Chloe would always be there. And with a start he realized that he couldn't know that. Well, he couldn't know for sure as far as logic went, his brain told him so. But that didn't change the fact that he just knew. The kind of knowledge that was purely instinct.

He smirked at himself and leaned down to press a kiss to her temple. “Thank you.”

I loved this moment. I really liked how Lex appreciated what an amazing source of comfort, loyalty and support Chloe is… and how he knows that he can depend on HER like he can depend on no other person (up to and including his own lacklustre boyfriend).


Her eyes lit up as she looked back at him with a big smile, next snarky comeback just waiting to spill out. It struck him how pretty she looked when she smiled. Pretty and kind of sexy. That thought brought back the memory of their night at the club. More than kind of sexy. Clark was a complete moron.

Lex swallowed.

He was suddenly very conscious of all her luscious curves that were pressed against him.

Heee :D He’s not only realized what an amazing person she is, but he’s also finally noted that she’s quite a sexily, luscious babe too, LOL! Perfect! Now put both of those revelations together, Lex, and perhaps you’ll see that your perfect match is sitting right there beside you!


Lex managed a smirk, but it felt a little thin. With the consciousness of the curves obviously came the awareness of touch. She'd petted him like this a thousand times, but it had never had that much effect on him. Instead of merely feeling warm, he felt like he was starting a fever.

“Yea, stupid h...genes.”

He took a deep breath. He'd almost slipped up there and cursed his hormones, which would have required an explanation that he'd rather not give.

ROTFLMAO! Oh what an interesting slip THAT would have been! ROTFL! It was really fun seeing Lex’s awareness slip to a new level as he realized that all that intimate cuddling taking place could be construed as something a little ‘more’ than just friends. About time!


Okay, so he was apparently attracted to Chloe. Not good. In fact, horribly inconvenient. But he could work through this, make it go away. Somehow. Chloe was his friend, not a fuck. And she was looking at him weird.

Right, insert snappy comeback here.

*sigh* I guess it’s time for Luthor to go into ‘denial mode’ now. Is it SO much to ask that someone takes note of the attraction between them and voices it out loud?!?

Heh, oh well, the cuddling session taking place between the two of them is not over YET! Perhaps there will be a kiss before the movie’s ending credits come rolling in?

It would be interesting to see how Chloe and Lex deal with the possibility that this ‘thing’ arising between them might be a rebound reaction on Lex’s part? He HAS just recently been having serious problems with his former relationship, and he’s RIGHT on the verge of a breakup… Any new relationship being formed at this fragile, emotionally tensed moment would be highly suspect. And Chloe’s just too smart not to question about how valid and genuine Lex’s emotions might be while he’s on the verge of an breakdown.

I look forward to seeing future chapter. Good luck.

BlueSabby
3rd February 2008, 18:58
A/N: Blue: Some more snuggling...and a tad bit more.

A/N: Sabby: You know what they say about good intentions...


Lex closed the bedroom door behind them and went to the bathroom as Chloe started to straighten out the bed and pull back the covers.

They'd ended up watching another movie after School of Rock, which ended up being stupid enough to snark away. The much needed release of sarcasm had allowed Lex to calm down and get used to the feeling of her hand on his stomach all over again.

Also, somewhere during the movie, she'd made it clear that she was staying the night, again. Lex was glad for that, even with the odd feeling still making room for themselves inside of him. He didn't want to be alone.

Returning to the bedroom, he found Chloe already snuggled under the covers on her...Clark's side of the bed. Lex wondered why he even still made the distinction. It wasn't like Clark still slept in the bed much.

He slipped in next to her and held his arms open before his brain could tell him that maybe that wasn't such a good idea. But it wasn't like anything would happen. He wasn't even really aroused yet. At all, he wasn't aroused at all and wouldn't be, because Chloe was his friend, not a fuck.

Chloe sighed contentedly against Lex. She’d gotten into bed before him hoping that she could warm her feet up, even a little bit, before Lex came in. He seemed a little stiff to her for a moment before he relaxed. Must have been thinking about Clark.

It had occurred to her that it was weird that she was on Clark’s side of the bed, maybe Lex had just had that same thought. She moved her head up to say goodnight, not knowing that Lex had been moving his head down to rest on hers, and she felt their bones connecting.

“God, I’m sorry.” She couldn’t believe that she’d done that. His body relaxed even more as he held his jaw with a hand and chuckled down at her.

He was looking at her with that look. That look that meant he was a millisecond away from making fun of her. “Oh, shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.”

Lex laughed. And Chloe’s body reacted. She felt a physical tug both in her chest and between her legs.

“Good night, Lex,” she said in a no nonsense tone of voice, telling him in no uncertain terms, without saying it, that he was to shut up.

It was dark and her eyes hadn’t adjusted. That’s why it had happened.

Lex was still chuckling. He couldn't see very well in the darkness, but he didn't need to see her in detail to know which kind of expression was on her face right now. “You're...” Adorable, cute, funny, and quite a few other things that she probably didn't want to hear right now.

He brought a hand up and stroked it gently over her head, cradled her cheek and carefully leaned down to press a kiss against her mouth.

Got whammied by the rush of something as their lips connected and froze after he pulled back about an inch. Couldn't figure out why he'd done that, just that it had felt right and he definitely hadn't meant to come on to her.

She'd kissed him on the mouth before, so if he didn't move now, it'd be okay, right? Right.

Chloe could hear both of them breathing when Lex pulled back. Rather heavily, in her opinion, but it could have just been because the room was so quiet.

Her palms were sweating and her heart was working overtime. Before she knew what was good for her, she’d leaned up a little and kissed Lex again. She hadn’t paid proper attention the first time.

The firm pressure of his lips coupled with the surprising softness of them made her want to moan. But she trapped the noise in her throat. Her hand tentatively came to rest on his shoulder. She had to stop. He had a boyfriend. They were just friends. God, she was damned.

She pulled back, ashamed that she’d taken advantage of the situation, of him. “Night.” Her traitorous body wanted more contact but she wouldn’t give in to her urges.

“G'night,” he croaked out.

What had just happened?

Because he was sure something had just happened. That had not just been one of her innocent I'm here, I'm your friend kisses. It had felt different. More like, I'm here, I'm your friend and if it's alright with you, I'd like to jump your bones.

No, he had to be projecting. Which wasn't good either. He really shouldn't be having these kinds of thoughts to project in the first place.

Lex closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He had a boyfriend, he was in a relationship with someone. He shouldn't have done this, shouldn't be thinking about doing more. Which he wasn't. Thinking.

Another deep breath. He could work past this. No more inappropriate feelings for the girl who was just being his friend and trying to make things better for him.
~~
While Chloe had slept well, she’d had strange dreams. She couldn’t remember any of them but still felt odd upon waking. As usual, she and Lex were wrapped up in one another. She wouldn’t mind staying that way but her bladder had other ideas.

But getting out of bed was easier said then done. She smiled softly at just how clingy Lex was and felt a surge of triumph when she was able to break free.

She scurried over to the bathroom and quietly shut the door.

Lex's eyes popped open upon the click.

He cursed his Pavlovian conditioning and wondered if he'd ever be able to get rid of it again.

Unlike last time, his brain was still kind of fuzzy. He rolled over onto his stomach, grabbed the nearest pillow and shoved it under his head, burrowing his nose in. Chloe hadn't left, she was just in the bathroom. She could make the coffee this morning.

The bed was still warmer than the outside, even without the additional warmth that Chloe provided. Lex's eyes closed on their own volition as his body relaxed back into the sheets.

The door to the bathroom clicked again and Lex smirked into the pillow against his face. He was so not getting up.

Chloe opened the door and was halfway back to the bed before she noticed what Lex had done. The greedy pig had stolen her pillow.

Her eyes narrowed. He’d pay for that. She’d obviously washed and dried her hands. But they were still a good ten degrees colder than the bed was.

She could tell by how he held himself that he was fully awake so the thievery was no mistake. She continued on to the bed, slid in and then placed her cool hands on his lower back.

Lex's muscles tensed, but he managed to keep in the indignant sound that was trying to come out of his mouth.

Instead he growled at Chloe for a moment and moved his head just enough to glare at her. “'S not a nice way of saying good morning.”

Her hands were slowly warming up against his skin now, so the sensation became rather pleasant. “Wanna give me a backrub while you're there?”

“It’s not nice to steal my stuff, either,” she pointed out as she tried to pry her pillow away from Lex. It wasn’t as easy as it looked.

She knew why he was doing it. Because he thought it was fun to see the faces she made when she was annoyed or angry or concentrating or anything really. After a minute of tug of war, she gave up.

“You weren’t serious about that were you,” she asked. She hadn’t had any coffee, was worried about her reaction to Lex and now was the time he wanted to annoy her? Perfect.

Lex looked at her, leaving her dangling for a moment. He just liked to see her all frazzled. Hair mussed, shirt askew, face all scrunched up and puppyish in frustration. Too cute.

“Nah,” he finally said as he slung an arm around her middle. “C'mere.”

It took one hearty tug from him to get her flat on the mattress beside him and she thought she could outwrestle him for a pillow. Adorable.

He shifted until she had some space on the pillow too, then buried his face in her neck and placed a kiss on her jaw. “There, wouldn't wanna take away what you rightfully stole in the first place.”

Lex’s voice was husky from nonuse. He was close to her ear when he spoke. This wasn’t her fault, she was only human after all.

The heat that started to permeate her body was partly from the heat she was stealing from Lex and partly from something else…

Chloe had herself under control, she really did, until she felt him nuzzling at her neck. She’d told Lex she was sensitive there, a number of times, was he trying to kill her?

“Lex…” Her voice should have been strong or put off or brisk or ironic or anything other than that weak, whimpery sound that it was.

It was then that she noticed she was clutching at his shoulders. When he looked up at her, his face unveiled, she could see that he was shocked at what he’d heard. And she thought she saw something else.

Not thinking about what she was doing, or thinking about what could happen if she did what she was doing, her hands moved to the sides of his face. She brought his mouth down to hers and kissed him.

At first, just a brush of their lips against each other’s. When he didn’t pull away, she kissed him with more force.

He still wasn’t going anywhere. Scooting closer, she wrapped her arms around him as much as she could and kissed him again. Between her groping him, she murmured, “I’m sorry, I can’t help it. God, you’re so…” Kissed him again and again. Felt like she couldn’t stop.

Lex was confused and off-balanced and getting very turned on very fast. There was a reason why he should protest this and why they should both be sorry and...It didn't matter. It absolutely didn't matter one bit because this felt too good, and it felt right. So screw reasoning out the window. Literally.

His arm around her waist tightened at they continued kissing and he rolled them over until Chloe was on top of him. Brought his other hand up to move her hair out of her face and keep her head just were it was, in the perfect position to devour her mouth with tongue, teeth and lips.

“'S okay. Want this. Want you.” Half sentences to assure her this was more than okay, really, between kissing and groping.

He felt her hands pressing against his chest, sliding down to his stomach. Warmth was quickly replaced with heat again as he ran his fingers down her back and under her shirt. Felt his way around, exploring the skin and feeling the muscles shift as she pressed into his hands.

Sensory overload hit her. She didn’t know what to do first. Lex touching her felt…felt…Chloe couldn’t come up with a word that meant what she felt as his hands wandered over her back and up her spine. Wanted to feel more of him. All of him.

“Good,” she breathlessly said. “Cause I can’t stop.” Her hands were shaking a little, what was wrong with her?, as they continued to play over his body. She’d shucked up his shirt to midway up his chest. But she wanted to feel and see more.

His mouth was fused to hers again, his tongue doing something to her that had to be illegal in both the US and Canada. Chloe was usually in control and suave, now she felt herself lost in what Lex was doing as she moved almost helplessly against and on top of him.

As Lex’s hand came up to tangle in her hair and hold her in place, Chloe’s hand traveled in a southern direction. Back past his belly button and then below the waistband of his boxers.

His hips bucked into the touch of her hand and he made some kind of noise that he'd deny until his dying day when her fingers circled his cock for the first time.

The hand in her hair flexed before he moved it down again, clawing at the shirt to get it off her. He wanted to feel her skin against his, touch her without all that cotton in the way. She was rocking against his leg as they kept kissing. The bottom of her panties was slowly growing damp.

Lex managed to somehow get his free hand between them and slip it inside her underwear. His fingers slid through her wet folds and inside. He moved them in counterpoint to her hips as she rode them.

Chloe moaned into his mouth and tightened her fingers around his cock, making him moan in turn.

They needed to get out of those damn clothes, now.

The groping they were both partaking in might have been embarrassing for two grown adults if they weren’t both so needy and close. Chloe now knew that she wasn’t the only one who desperately needed this.

She didn’t think that they’d get there, though, if one of them didn’t take some advancing steps. Like getting off her panties. And Lex’s boxers.

But his mouth was so skilled that she didn’t want to stop kissing him. She also didn’t want to let go of the evidence of what she was doing to him. Chloe whimpered and Lex swallowed the noise as his hand worked between her legs.

An orgasm was quickly rising in her body. It was that sensation that made her stop and think.

Chloe didn’t want to come with Lex like that. She wanted him inside.

Finally, she broke away from his mouth and immediately started to gasp for air. Her lower half kept grinding against him while her hand stroked over his cock. Panting, she looked down at Lex…and almost lost it at what she saw.

Lips looking swollen and moist, eyes focused on hers and dilated by arousal. He was flushed and gorgeous and she found herself swooping down for another kiss. She stopped herself…barely.

“Want you inside,” she explained as best she could. She regretfully took her hand away from his cock and leaned up a little before she was able, with Lex’s help, to divest her of her shirt. The panties had to go next. Then they’d work on him.

Lex pulled her into another kiss the moment she'd lost the shirt. He turned them around and moved from her mouth to her jaw, down her neck, kissing, nipping and licking a path across her upper body. With a last caress to her clit he pulled his fingers away so he could get rid of the panties.

They went down in one swift motion and Lex made his way back up, licking and kissing at random spots on the way. Got a little distracted around her belly button as his hands explored every bit of her body they could reach. Cupped her breasts in his hands, feeling the soft skin and hard little nipples poking out.

Chloe's hands were at his shoulders, trying to pull him up, but he was reluctant to let go of this already.

“Let me,” he said between kisses, “indulge.” He just wanted to take everything he could for as long as he could get it.

“Kay,” she breathed out. She took her hands away from Lex’s body and let them fall back onto the mattress. She was already moaning and shaking and felt like she’d come just from his touch but whatever Lex wanted, she’d give him.

She turned her head and tried to muffle her voice in the pillow. She was being kinda loud. It was a little embarrassing.

Problem was, she wanted to watch and touch Lex. Just because he was ‘indulging’ didn’t mean she couldn’t, too. She was so dumb. Her brain wasn’t working properly or else she would have thought of it before.

His hands were running over and then under her thighs and she let her legs part as he applied gentle pressure. Lex was looking between her thighs and the look on his face made her breath quicken. His hands kept moving up over her skin until they had worked their way under her body and were cupping her ass.

Lex ducked his head and Chloe arched her body up. Her legs and arms wound around him as his tongue started to tease at one of her nipples. Eyes rolling back in her head and trying not to grind against him, Chloe started to speak. Hoped some of the words made sense. She held his head in place, moaned when he let go of her flesh and then sighed when he took the neglected nipple in his mouth.

“God, Lex, so good.”

Hands now running over his back, nails digging in a little. Trailed a path down his spine and down further below the waist of his boxers. Stopped just above his ass.

Another flutter of his tongue sent Chloe on a cursing fit as her head lolled back and whipped to the side.

She dimly felt the material of his shirt on the back of her hands as she held tight to his body. “Lex…shirt…off.”

Lex released the bit of skin he'd sucked on to rear up. Pulled his shirt off as fast as humanly possible without breaking his neck and threw it aside, then went right back to what he'd been concentrating on.

When he felt her hands on his skin, stroking, scratching and holding on, he arched into the touch as his mouth moved over her upper body, kissing and nipping at random spots until he reached her neck.

She still smelled faintly of coconut as he buried his nose in the crook of her neck and licked at the skin. Latched on for just a moment, not long enough to leave a mark, and fluttered the tip of his tongue in a trail up to that spot behind her ear. Caught her earlobe between his teeth and grinned as she bucked into him and moaned long and loud. Returned to kissing and licking her neck.

Her hips rolled up, grinding into him steadily now. His cock was throbbing, begging for some attention. Lex moved one hand down to pull down his boxers and wriggled out of them as quickly as possible.

The moment he felt his dick slide against her wetness, a thought hit like a ton of bricks.

“Shit, I don't have any...”

And he didn't want to think of the reason why he didn't have any condoms in the apartment, because that would lead to other thoughts that he didn't want to have right now.

“Wha’?” Good, Chloe, very understandable and cohesive use of the English language.

She pushed some hair out of her face and looked at him. Really looked at him. Fully naked. And panting. And covered with a light sheen of sweat on some spots of his body. “You’re fucking gorgeous.”

But Lex had said something.

When her eyes wandered down to his cock, she knew what he was talking about.

Chloe also knew a few other things.

Knew that she was on the pill.

Knew that Lex had been faithful, until now, for five years.

Knew that his boyfriend had insisted on three STD tests before they’d been together.

Knew that she trusted Lex.

She shook her head. “Don’t need it. I trust you.” Held out her hands like she’d done so many times over the past few months and beckoned him closer. As usual, he came to her.

Lex hovered above her body and she spread her legs wider, making room for him. Then she thought of something else. He didn’t know where she’d been. But she’d been tested two years ago and had been safe ever since. She kissed him softly. “I’m clean. But if you want to wait until I can get another…”

Then his mouth was on hers. And she felt his cock sliding against her pussy but still not inside.

He pulled out of the kiss once he was sure she wouldn't try to finish her sentence anymore. The trust she placed in him meant more than she could probably imagine. It just added to all the things she did for him as his best friend. “I believe you,” he whispered against her lips. “And I trust you, too.”

Her legs closed around his waist, pulling him closer. They both wanted this and Lex didn't want to wait anymore.

His eyes remained on her face as he shifted his hips and slowly pushed inside. The feeling was so different, so much better than he'd remembered. Soft, hot and tight around him. His breathing became heavier as his eyes grew wide.

Her face was priceless, mouth open and eyes fixed on him as he slowly started to move. So incredibly open and close. Right there with him.

Lex closed the distance between them and kissed her with every last bit of the consuming passion she woke in him.

For a moment, Chloe couldn’t believe this was happening. Literally. Thought it might be all a figment of her imagination. She and Lex couldn’t be doing this.

Then she felt him. In her, around her, on top of her. Everywhere.

She responded as much as she could to his kiss while trying not to come. She’d been so worked up that it was hard not to just let herself go. But she wanted to wait.

Lex’s cock was moving slowly in and out of her but, with every thrust, his pace was picking up. She knew that he hadn’t been with a woman in over five years. And he hadn’t been with Clark in at least a month. He was probably about to pop. Figuratively and literally.

His technique obviously hadn’t suffered, though.

Chloe broke their kiss and rested her forehead against his shoulder as she pumped her hips up.

“Wanna see.” Lex’s voice was gravelly and deep. But not exactly demanding. He was asking for this.

After another few seconds, Chloe moved her body again until her head was resting on the pillow so Lex could watch her face.

When she looked up at him, she felt more naked. If that was possible. This was Lex. Not some random guy that didn’t know her insides as well as her outsides. When their eyes locked, she squeezed her internal muscles around him. Something she guessed that the fairer sex had better control over.

Lex reached down one hand to find hers, linking their fingers together to move their joined hands up beside her head.

He couldn't tear his eyes from her face, couldn't get enough of that open, trusting look. Chloe's face was always so full of expression, showing everything. “Thank you,” rasped the words out before he kissed her again.

Loosing himself in the movement, the rhythm as natural as breathing in and out, feeling her surrounding him, one arm still slung around his shoulders, holding on, holding him to her.

Arousal built up warm and slow at the base of his spine and low in his belly, he wouldn't last long, not like this. Not if he let himself go like this. But it felt so good, so much more than...

“God.” His voice shuddered and broke as he drew out the syllable, nose to nose, so close he could feel their breaths mingling between them and heating both their faces.

It felt like she didn't just look at him, she really saw him, right through to the places no one else wanted to know about. The things he'd done, the reasons why he'd done them, the way they'd changed him, made him who he was.

Frantic rhythm below the waist now, thrusting faster and harder, but their faces remained still. Couldn't see more than her huge, trusting eyes looking back at him, holding his gaze. Right there with him. Could feel her muscles starting to flutter around his cock as a wave of pleasure crashed over him and pulled him under.

Usually, Chloe was a screamer. In college, those who she lived with always knew when she’d gotten lucky. It had been a big joke between them. She didn’t know why, but she could never keep her mouth shut with all of the frantic gyrating and grinding that went on. Always had been loud, always knew she would be.

But she wasn’t this time. Not that she hadn’t come. Not that she didn’t feel that same pressure that snapped viciously. But her usual antics would have spoiled the mood.

Lex was being no less passionate with her, if anything, the look on his face was the most intense thing she’d ever experienced when she was with another person, so it didn’t make any sense.

Instead of screaming at the top of her lungs and thrashing about, she’d just held him tighter and his name passed her lips on a drawn out groan. He felt closer to her than any other man she’d been with.

She could feel his weight on top of her, his eyes searching her face, their fingers laced, his come inside of her, smell their combined scent.

And he still didn’t pull away. There was no quick smile and then the eventual feeling of coldness when they left her. Lex stayed put, his other hand now brushing some hair out of her face.

Chloe ran her thumb over his cheekbone and smiled up at him before drawing him down for a lazy kiss.

Lex's hand tangled in her hair, cradling her head as the kiss drew on. His other hand let go of hers to move under her back and hold her to him as he turned them over, settling her securely on top of him.

When the kiss eventually broke he tightened his hold on her and moved just enough to allow her to tuck her head under his chin. His mind was still somewhere not quite in the real world, imagining what it would be like to just stay here. If things were always like this, perfectly peaceful and silent.

His fingers carded through her hair and his eyes closed, letting his mind drift further from reality, just for a few moments. Just now, just here, just this.

Her body was warm and slick, skin on skin and their breathing oddly synchronic. She inhaled as he exhaled and with every breath he took, he could feel a puff of air against his shoulder. Her fingers scratched lightly at his upper arm and he was somehow still inside her, didn't want to disconnect.

Lex was the perfect pillow which was very unexpected. He was all angles and not very fleshy. He had a better body than she’d even imagined. It was odd that he was so cushiony. Odd, but very nice.

He held her tightly to him and Chloe didn’t feel suffocated or trapped or like she needed to run. Huh. Guess that sometimes happened when you had some really amazing sex with your best friend.

She ran her fingertips over whatever expanse of skin she could find. Lex placed another gentle kiss on top of her head and Chloe could hear herself practically purring in contentment. They should have done this much earlier.

By now, Lex was totally soft inside of her and she could feel wetness between her thighs. That needed to be taken care of but she felt too boneless and lazy to even move all that much.

She yawned against his skin. Sure, she’d just woken up from a dead sleep but she’d also just used up a lot of energy. Lex’s steady heartbeat, his giving body beneath her and the sound of his even breathing had her in a trance. She felt her eyelids flutter shut.

Lex felt her yawn against his shoulder and couldn't stifle his own matching one. He shouldn't be tired, he'd had enough sleep. He should get up and start the coffee or something. In a minute, just another minute.

His hand in her hair stilled as sleep pulled him under without much difficulty at all.

Kit Merlot
3rd February 2008, 22:44
This was an excellently smutty chapter!

I just hope that neither Chloe nor Lex pulls away from their friendship because they slept together. In fact, I hope this is a wake up call to Lex that he needs a passionate relationship in his life, one where two people care for each other, and that he isn't getting that from Clark. But he does have it with Chloe;)

dagney
4th February 2008, 00:09
so beautiful and passionate, They love one another so much and know one another so well and now know how great the sex is... but this is in the angst section and I expect Clark to spoil the afterglow and the angst will commence again. LOOOVE this. dagney

pipersmum
4th February 2008, 02:10
Another great update and fully of delicious smut :yeahbaby: I loved Lex wanting to see Chloe's face as she came. They fit so perfectly together I just hope Clark doesn't come home and catch them cuddled up together. PPMS :D

lj715
4th February 2008, 02:19
Finally! I just hope they don;t start regretting what they did. They should move forward with their relationship & tell Clark to take off. Love this fic!

hfce
4th February 2008, 05:17
Wow what an amazing update. I had to read two other chapters to catch up. It was great that they got together but please I hope they don't let this ruin their friendship. They need each other to much to let that happen. ;)

tatie87
4th February 2008, 06:43
WoW great chapter, I'm so glad Chloe and Lex got together. I love their relationship. Update soon!!!

lilinny
5th February 2008, 06:12
How did I miss this story? I love it, more please.

somethingeasy
5th February 2008, 23:11
He slipped in next to her and held his arms open before his brain could tell him that maybe that wasn't such a good idea. But it wasn't like anything would happen. He wasn't even really aroused yet. At all, he wasn't aroused at all and wouldn't be, because Chloe was his friend, not a fuck.

ROTFL! This set the tone for this chapter perfectly. Although, the mood has been building up for a little while now, but this is the chapter where everything finally came to a head. LOL! And I enjoyed the way that Lex insisted to himself over here that ‘nothing’ was going to happen, or even possible, between himself and Chloe because he just ‘didn’t think of her that way’. LOL! Oh, these two clueless fools.

It did however strike me as a little disquieting that BOTH and Lex and Chloe gave a thought to the fact that Chloe was on Clark’s side of the bed. Both of them were basically together, in their own twisted ways, because of Clark. Everything that happened in this chapter just screamed ‘rebound comfort fuck’ to me.


Lex was still chuckling. He couldn't see very well in the darkness, but he didn't need to see her in detail to know which kind of expression was on her face right now. “You're...” Adorable, cute, funny, and quite a few other things that she probably didn't want to hear right now.

LOL! I also enjoyed the cute banter they shared… not to mention the adorable visual of both of them whamming their heads against each other. They both are so cute when they’re being domestic.


The firm pressure of his lips coupled with the surprising softness of them made her want to moan. But she trapped the noise in her throat. Her hand tentatively came to rest on his shoulder. She had to stop. He had a boyfriend. They were just friends. God, she was damned.

This first kiss was beautiful, gorgeous and sexy! And it seemed to be ‘mostly’ about Chloe and Lex, without either of them thinking too much about Clark. Not during the kiss itself at least.


No, he had to be projecting. Which wasn't good either. He really shouldn't be having these kinds of thoughts to project in the first place.

Lex closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He had a boyfriend, he was in a relationship with someone. He shouldn't have done this, shouldn't be thinking about doing more. Which he wasn't. Thinking.

Another deep breath. He could work past this. No more inappropriate feelings for the girl who was just being his friend and trying to make things better for him.

Heh, it was quite amusing to see how their thoughts were mirroring each other… BOTH of them were desperately trying to convince themselves that the gentle, searing kiss meant nothing more than platonic comfort. These two are just so clueless! It’s definitely fun seeing them both bumble their way towards each other, LOL!


Lex's eyes popped open upon the click.

He cursed his Pavlovian conditioning and wondered if he'd ever be able to get rid of it again.

Heh, was this conditioning from Lex training himself to waking up whenever Clark had to leave their bed for one of his missions? What was the use of this kind of conditioning? Except for providing a chance for Lex to just lie alone and fume.


She could tell by how he held himself that he was fully awake so the thievery was no mistake. She continued on to the bed, slid in and then placed her cool hands on his lower back.

Lex's muscles tensed, but he managed to keep in the indignant sound that was trying to come out of his mouth.

ROTFL! It was hilarious seeing them both fighting and playing at a fun battle over pillows and bed-sheets. LOL! And Chloe fights dirty too, which makes it all the more interesting, ROTFL!


She knew why he was doing it. Because he thought it was fun to see the faces she made when she was annoyed or angry or concentrating or anything really. After a minute of tug of war, she gave up.

heh, I like that Lex enjoys riling Chloe up mostly because he LIKES seeing her annoyed or angry… and I also enjoyed how Chloe knew that this was Lex’s primary reason for irritating her like this. They both know each far too well to be ‘only friends’… they’re like an old married couple already.


“Nah,” he finally said as he slung an arm around her middle. “C'mere.”

It took one hearty tug from him to get her flat on the mattress beside him and she thought she could outwrestle him for a pillow. Adorable.

I loved, LOVED this little part. I ADORED the visual of Lex giving Chloe a firm tug to fly her back into bed against him. And I even liked the arrogant, smug way he was amused about Chloe thinking she could out-wrestle him when she didn’t stand a chance. LOL! I loved the implication that there have been plenty of instances when Lex has let her win at wrestling because she just wrestled TOO hard for him to not let her have victory, LOL!


Chloe had herself under control, she really did, until she felt him nuzzling at her neck. She’d told Lex she was sensitive there, a number of times, was he trying to kill her?

“Lex…” Her voice should have been strong or put off or brisk or ironic or anything other than that weak, whimpery sound that it was.

It was then that she noticed she was clutching at his shoulders. When he looked up at her, his face unveiled, she could see that he was shocked at what he’d heard. And she thought she saw something else.

Not thinking about what she was doing, or thinking about what could happen if she did what she was doing, her hands moved to the sides of his face. She brought his mouth down to hers and kissed him.

At first, just a brush of their lips against each other’s. When he didn’t pull away, she kissed him with more force.

Squeee! So THIS was how it started. Heh, I’m going to blame it completely on Lex (HE started in with the irresistible nuzzling), although it IS both of their ‘fault’ for being too muzzy-headed to realize the path they were headed towards being so comfortable cuddling and then wrestling together on a huge bed.


“'S okay. Want this. Want you.” Half sentences to assure her this was more than okay, really, between kissing and groping.

heh, even now, they’re still a little muddled about what’s going on. Their BODIES know what they’re doing, but Chloe and Lex still seem quite confused about why this is happening. But it was reassuring to see that there was no thought to Clark while this was happening. Both Lex and Chloe were completely focused on each other, and there wasn’t even the ghost of a memory of Clark Kent. I guess it ‘might’ not be a rebound fuck after all.


His hips bucked into the touch of her hand and he made some kind of noise that he'd deny until his dying day when her fingers circled his cock for the first time.

The hand in her hair flexed before he moved it down again, clawing at the shirt to get it off her. He wanted to feel her skin against his, touch her without all that cotton in the way. She was rocking against his leg as they kept kissing. The bottom of her panties was slowly growing damp.

Lex managed to somehow get his free hand between them and slip it inside her underwear. His fingers slid through her wet folds and inside. He moved them in counterpoint to her hips as she rode them.

This was gorgeously written smut. I loved seeing them both explore each other. It’s fascinating to see that there are absolutely no higher brain functions taking place during this exploration. It’s pure Chlexy body instincts driving them forwards… which is good, because if they stopped to think about this, they would stop period.


Finally, she broke away from his mouth and immediately started to gasp for air. Her lower half kept grinding against him while her hand stroked over his cock. Panting, she looked down at Lex…and almost lost it at what she saw.

Lips looking swollen and moist, eyes focused on hers and dilated by arousal. He was flushed and gorgeous and she found herself swooping down for another kiss. She stopped herself…barely.

“Want you inside,” she explained as best she could. She regretfully took her hand away from his cock and leaned up a little before she was able, with Lex’s help, to divest her of her shirt. The panties had to go next. Then they’d work on him.

It was also great seeing this frantic, intense need that they have for each other. I wonder how they would have explained this need if they had been forced to think or put their desires into words. Heh, I guess the uncomfortable, awkward ‘how did we make such a mistake’ conversation is going to be covered later… I look forward to seeing it. For now, I’ll enjoy them being driven by pure animal instinct.


“Let me,” he said between kisses, “indulge.” He just wanted to take everything he could for as long as he could get it.

ah HAH! The first hint I’ve got about what kind of need is driving Lex onward. Perhaps Clark’s ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ attitude towards his lovers has made them desperate to cling and grasp to any bit of closeness and intimacy they can find? Perhaps that’s what making Chloe and Lex so desperate for each other? I find it hard to believe that Clark doesn’t play a part in their choices and desires right now.


“Kay,” she breathed out. She took her hands away from Lex’s body and let them fall back onto the mattress. She was already moaning and shaking and felt like she’d come just from his touch but whatever Lex wanted, she’d give him.

hmmm, Lex is desperate to be close to someone, and Chloe wants to be able to give Lex whatever comfort he can find? Underneath the sizzling physical interaction, is there also a give and take of comfort happening?


Lex ducked his head and Chloe arched her body up. Her legs and arms wound around him as his tongue started to tease at one of her nipples. Eyes rolling back in her head and trying not to grind against him, Chloe started to speak. Hoped some of the words made sense. She held his head in place, moaned when he let go of her flesh and then sighed when he took the neglected nipple in his mouth.

“God, Lex, so good.”

Hands now running over his back, nails digging in a little. Trailed a path down his spine and down further below the waist of his boxers. Stopped just above his ass.

Another flutter of his tongue sent Chloe on a cursing fit as her head lolled back and whipped to the side.

I don’t remember whether I mentioned it… but the smut was AMAZINGLY hot! I loved reading it.


And he didn't want to think of the reason why he didn't have any condoms in the apartment, because that would lead to other thoughts that he didn't want to have right now.

heh, I just bet it would… Big huge Clark-shaped thoughts, right?

Hmmm, he has no condoms because he doesn’t need to use them with Clark? Or because it’s been so long since he last had sex with Clark? Or did he not bother to replenish his supply since he made the decision to break up with Clark?


Knew that she trusted Lex.

She shook her head. “Don’t need it. I trust you.” Held out her hands like she’d done so many times over the past few months and beckoned him closer. As usual, he came to her.

Lex hovered above her body and she spread her legs wider, making room for him. Then she thought of something else. He didn’t know where she’d been. But she’d been tested two years ago and had been safe ever since. She kissed him softly. “I’m clean. But if you want to wait until I can get another…”

Heh, this is fiction, so I’m going to shove aside my rant about the importance of protection under any and ALL circumstances, especially between two people who have basically JUST become lovers in a mad, unconsidered rush. Instead I’m just going to go awww at this show of (stupid, blind) trust between both of them… and rub my hands gleefully at the angsty possibility of pregnancy OR disease showing up later. It’ll add drama, LOL!


He pulled out of the kiss once he was sure she wouldn't try to finish her sentence anymore. The trust she placed in him meant more than she could probably imagine. It just added to all the things she did for him as his best friend. “I believe you,” he whispered against her lips. “And I trust you, too.”

It was lovely seeing how touched Lex was about Chloe showing complete trust to him. It’s always beautiful seeing Lex being completely shocked and emotionally levelled whenever anyone puts complete faith in his word and actions.


His eyes remained on her face as he shifted his hips and slowly pushed inside. The feeling was so different, so much better than he'd remembered. Soft, hot and tight around him. His breathing became heavier as his eyes grew wide.

Her face was priceless, mouth open and eyes fixed on him as he slowly started to move. So incredibly open and close. Right there with him.

Lex closed the distance between them and kissed her with every last bit of the consuming passion she woke in him.

I really enjoyed this part. I enjoyed seeing how Lex’s passion was being re-awakened by this encounter. The observation he made… about how this ‘feeling was so different and much better than he remembered’… I don’t think he was remarking on the difference between being with a man and a woman. I think he was referring to feeling loved and connected to someone, after suffering from Clark’s neglectful, indifferent and emotionally detached species of ‘lovemaking’.


“Wanna see.” Lex’s voice was gravelly and deep. But not exactly demanding. He was asking for this.

After another few seconds, Chloe moved her body again until her head was resting on the pillow so Lex could watch her face.

This was beautiful. I liked seeing all this evidence on how Lex seemed aware of Chloe and completely focused on her. There didn’t seem to be any ‘Clark’ between them, no comparison taking place between Clark and Chloe, and very little sign that Lex was using Chloe as a means of getting over his heartbreak over Clark.

I’m a suspicious kind of person, so I’m VERY sure that Lex was partially using Chloe for comfort and solace… but at least he was still seeing her as CHLOE rather than a convenient body.


When she looked up at him, she felt more naked. If that was possible. This was Lex. Not some random guy that didn’t know her insides as well as her outsides. When their eyes locked, she squeezed her internal muscles around him. Something she guessed that the fairer sex had better control over.

heh. There was surprisingly very little sign that Chloe was comparing herself to Clark during this session. I’m quite pleased that she wasn’t driving herself nuts trying to ‘out-do’ Clark and prove herself to be a better lay than him… but it was cute (and plausible) to imagine her taking some satisfaction about the way that she ‘might’ be a physically superior bed-partner than Clark… because she could control her muscles to massage Lex’s cock better than Clark could, LOL! Priceless!


He couldn't tear his eyes from her face, couldn't get enough of that open, trusting look. Chloe's face was always so full of expression, showing everything. “Thank you,” rasped the words out before he kissed her again.

ah HAH! So it is solace and comfort that Lex was seeking within Chloe. At least they both seemed fully aware of it, AND Lex seemed sweetly appreciative of Chloe giving herself to him. It seemed all right for him to ‘use’ her like this as long as she allowed it.


It felt like she didn't just look at him, she really saw him, right through to the places no one else wanted to know about. The things he'd done, the reasons why he'd done them, the way they'd changed him, made him who he was.

This was a gorgeous, beautiful observation from Lex. I loved seeing how he believes that no other person can understand him the way Chloe does. He’s aware that she knows everything there is to know about him, and she loves him… and he loves her for it.


Usually, Chloe was a screamer. In college, those who she lived with always knew when she’d gotten lucky. It had been a big joke between them. She didn’t know why, but she could never keep her mouth shut with all of the frantic gyrating and grinding that went on. Always had been loud, always knew she would be.

LOL at this ‘quirk’ of Chloe’s. I should have known that Chloe was the kind of person to be vocal about everything… and the more passionate she gets, the louder she gets. ROTFL! It fits in perfectly with her personality.


Lex was being no less passionate with her, if anything, the look on his face was the most intense thing she’d ever experienced when she was with another person, so it didn’t make any sense.

Instead of screaming at the top of her lungs and thrashing about, she’d just held him tighter and his name passed her lips on a drawn out groan. He felt closer to her than any other man she’d been with.

She could feel his weight on top of her, his eyes searching her face, their fingers laced, his come inside of her, smell their combined scent.

I LOVED this climatic ending. It was intense and mind-blowing! It was definitely a world-shifting experience for the both of them.


And he still didn’t pull away. There was no quick smile and then the eventual feeling of coldness when they left her. Lex stayed put, his other hand now brushing some hair out of her face.

Chloe ran her thumb over his cheekbone and smiled up at him before drawing him down for a lazy kiss.

Lex's hand tangled in her hair, cradling her head as the kiss drew on. His other hand let go of hers to move under her back and hold her to him as he turned them over, settling her securely on top of him.

When the kiss eventually broke he tightened his hold on her and moved just enough to allow her to tuck her head under his chin. His mind was still somewhere not quite in the real world, imagining what it would be like to just stay here. If things were always like this, perfectly peaceful and silent.

The intense sex was followed by a beautiful afterglow. I loved how there was no awkwardness or regret between the two of them over what happened. They might have gone into this without fully understanding what was happening, but they DO understand everything that took place, and WHY it happened. It was wonderful to see that the sex has not ruined their friendship, or made their bond into something cheap and demeaning.


Lex was the perfect pillow which was very unexpected. He was all angles and not very fleshy. He had a better body than she’d even imagined. It was odd that he was so cushiony. Odd, but very nice.

He held her tightly to him and Chloe didn’t feel suffocated or trapped or like she needed to run. Huh. Guess that sometimes happened when you had some really amazing sex with your best friend.

She ran her fingertips over whatever expanse of skin she could find. Lex placed another gentle kiss on top of her head and Chloe could hear herself practically purring in contentment. They should have done this much earlier.

Heh, I really enjoyed Chloe’s slow, groggy thoughts over here. She just felt so warm, safe and comfortable with Lex. There was nothing unpleasant in her thoughts… in fact, she seemed quite pleased about how NICE it was to have sex with your best friend, and wondering why they had not done it before… which definitely means she would be more than open to trying this again. I hope they figure out that combining passionate sex with a loving friends relationship means something more than the fuck-buddy relationships she’s gotten used to in recent years.

Heh, and they both fell asleep, feeling peacefully warm and sated against each other. They fell asleep on Lex’s bed, right? Yikes! Now what’s going to happen when Clark flies in to see them both entwined naked around each other? I’m assuming that he will not be THAT oblivious to not be able to guess what happened. Fireworks in the next chapter? I look forward to it :D

juuicebox
8th February 2008, 01:15
so will lex ditch clark and go with chloe now? hahaha. post soon please.

starmoon
9th February 2008, 05:32
great please continue i can't wait for more. i love chloe and lex together they are soul mates!!!

BlueSabby
20th February 2008, 23:58
A/N: Blue: Here's the afterglow and the afternotsomuchglow.
A/N: Sabby: Like she said. It's fallout time!

Something tickled his nose and Lex slowly came awake, opening his eyes to find his face full of hair. Blonde hair.

Chloe.

He smiled.

They'd shifted during sleep and he was spooned up behind her, plastered to her back. Lex pulled back and felt the pull of sticky skin as their bodies separated.

Memory came crashing back with a vengeance.

His smile fell.

Shit, what had they done? How could he have done this? Fuck, he was a complete moron.

Lex closed his eyes and pulled back further, sitting up in the bed and rubbing his hands over his face. His fingers still smelled like Chloe and he pulled them away abruptly. He was a fucking bastard.

Five years, five years and thousands of temptations and he hadn't swayed one single time. No matter how pretty the girl or how deep his desperation. He'd never cheated on Clark.

Until now.

Lex jumped from the bed and turned his back to Chloe, cursing himself for his foolishness and weakness. He shouldn't have done this. Least of all with Chloe. She shouldn't have let him get so close. He shouldn't have let himself get so close.

The sex had been amazing.

It had been so wrong.

It was the absence of warmth that woke her up. She shivered a little and then opened her eyes. Blinking, her mind still fuzzy, she sat up. No wonder she was cold, the covers were off and Lex wasn’t there like he usually was.

Lex.

She’d had sex with Lex. Really good sex. Intimate sex.

The sound of harsh breathing hit her ears and she turned her head.

Lex was standing there, his eyes wide. She recognized panic when she saw it. But he needed to calm down. It didn’t happen often but he was still prone to asthma attacks.

Their eyes locked and her stomach dropped.

They’d had sex.

He’d cheated on Clark.

With her. Clark’s former best friend. Now his. Clark’s first sexual experience. Now his last.

“Oh god.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. She didn’t know if he could even hear it.

She hated herself. How could she do this? Was she such a whore that she had to go after her best friend?

Chloe started shaking her head. “Lex, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have…” She’d taken advantage of the one person who would never hurt her.

“No.” Lex shook his head and tried to get his breathing back under control. “No, we shouldn't have done that.”

It was so wrong. The best thing he'd felt in too long and it had to be the worst mistake of his life. “He'd kill us if he knew.”

Just what he needed. Things were already so fucking wrong between them, so twisted out of shape that nothing could twist them back again and now this. If he thought he'd lost Clark before, now he was sure of it.

Another tragic scene in the drama of the hero. Lex wasn't cut out for this. He could deal with drama, but not in this amount. Not when he already felt like he was pulled apart form two ends because he had to make a decision that would change everything, not just for him, but for someone who had the ability to crush the world in his wrath.

He felt his knees going weak and locked them, forcing himself to remain upright. Now was not the time to fall apart. Look where that had gotten him last time. He had to remain calm and fix this. Somehow.

“He can never know.”

This wasn’t fair. And she was a horrible person. Lex was in pain and freaking out and all she could think about was that it wasn’t fair. It had felt too good to be with Lex. And now she’d never have that again.

Not just what they’d done last night but everything they were. She’d lost him. They wouldn’t get to laugh together or touch one another again. She felt a sharp pain in her chest. Clark had him and didn’t even appreciate him.

“I know,” she murmured. Clark would go ballistic and ask them how they could have done that to him. Forgetting that he was the one who, time after time, abandoned Lex emotionally and physically.

But Lex was wrong. This wasn’t his fault. That rested solely on her shoulders. She’d taken advantage of him when he’d been vulnerable. What sort of person did that?

When she looked up at him he looked more lost than she’d ever seen him.

She quickly wrapped a sheet around herself and cautiously walked over to him, careful to remain at an appropriate distance. “Lex, you didn’t mean it.” She knew that he would never do something to hurt Clark. “It…it just happened. I never should have kissed you. You were lonely and I…”

Chloe looked away from him. She couldn’t believe that she’d done this to him. Seeing Lex in pain was something that she hated. But now, the pain he was feeling was all her fault. She’d put that look on his face.

Lex jerked out of his thoughts and looked at Chloe, realizing for he first time that he wasn't the only one suffering the turmoil of feelings and thoughts that their lapse had resulted in.

“Hey,” he reached out, but stopped short before touching her. “It's not just your fault. Don't turn me into an innocent victim.” His face hardened and he took a step back, straightening up. “I knew what I was doing and if I had made the right choice, we would have stopped.”

But he hadn't made the right choice. He'd gone with the feelings she'd woken in him and completely discarded reality or the fact that he was cheating on his lover of five years without regard for the consequences.

“I need to get dressed.”

He walked over to the closet and pulled out the first pants and shirt that came into his hand. Thankfully it was Saturday. Lex didn't think he would have been able to deal with work today without suffering a minor psychotic breakdown.

They'd fucked up so spectacularly. He'd fucked up beyond repair. And now he would have to lie to Clark. Keep a secret from his lover even though history had proven that secrets and lies were just about enough to completely destroy any relationship between Clark and him.

“Fuck.”

Chloe walked over and sank down on the bed. Lex’s words didn’t make her feel any better. She’d ruined his life. And just because it had felt good to kiss him and be with him. How dumb could she be?

She should have known. Known that it was wrong and it couldn’t end well for either of them.

Her clothes were around here somewhere. She’d get dressed and leave. Her breathing picked up and she could feel tears prickling in her eyes. But she’d suck it up. She wasn’t the one who was in the most pain in this room.

While Lex got dressed, Chloe did the same. Lex was muttering to himself and she thought it was best that they didn’t say anything more to each other.

They both knew the score. Their friendship, as they knew it, was over.

~~
Things had been going better since he’d been home. Clark was amazed at the change in Lex. He’d expected the questioning to start the moment he’d come back yesterday. But Lex had given him some space.

36 hours later and Lex hadn’t asked once when he was leaving again. Clark sighed happily as he sat reading in bed. It seemed as if Lex had finally seen the light. Realized that Clark had to come and go as his schedule dictated.

He’d been prepared for a big fight. Especially since he’d neglected to ask the rest of the League members about cutting him some slack. He’d meant to but it had just slipped his mind. This week had been about building their community stronger. He’d really bonded with Dick Grayson and they were going to meet up when Clark had some time.

Lex had even spruced the place up for his return. Sort of. He’d bought a new sheet and comforter set. Clark could tell it was of the highest quality. He only hoped that that didn’t mean that Lex wanted sex from him. He was still tired from all of the physical training that they’d done. Sparring with someone else with powers took a lot out of him. Plus, they’d tried to build up his resistance to kryptonite, too.

Though, he thought, he wasn’t opposed to Lex going down on him. His hips moved about a little. Yeah, that wouldn’t be too bad. He just didn’t feel like reciprocating. After Lex was done, that’s when they would discuss the fact that Clark had to leave tomorrow.

Lex stared at himself in the bathroom mirror, taking the few minutes alone to drop the mask he'd been wearing since Clark had returned yesterday afternoon. He was constantly on edge inside, trying to act as normal as possible. Smiling when he felt like grabbing the next best object and hurling it at a wall, taking a glass of water when all he wanted was to see how fast he could down a bottle of Jack.

Chloe had left last Saturday without another word. She hadn't called since then. Lex hadn't called her either. Maybe it was better this way. To keep their distance, let things calm down. Maybe somewhere down the line he would be able to look in her face again without seeing what they'd done.

Clark, bless his alien nature, was as oblivious as ever.

He hadn't even asked about Chloe yet. Hadn't noticed that anything was out of place. Hadn't commented on the new sheets except with a thank you and a peck to Lex's cheek.

It made his stomach churn to think that Clark could still be so naïve. Or was it egotism that made Clark believe everything was right between them, just because Lex had stopped asking questions of his own?

He'd dropped the subject of Clark's permanent absence without further discussion. There was nothing more to say on the subject, really.

Resentment battled with guilt and Lex rinsed his mouth, thought about spitting at the mirror. He knew Clark was waiting for him. Was prepared to do whatever it took. Hoped to hell Clark didn't expect anything of him. Didn't think he'd be able to pull this off without doing permanent damage to his own psyche.

He spit into the sink, let the water clear everything away, wiped the edges with a towel and turned towards the bedroom. Opened the bathroom door. Switched out the light and pasted on a smile.

“Hey, ready to turn in?”

Clark nodded and turned off the light on his side of the bed. Now that he’d decided he really did want some attention, he was anxious for it. The relaxation he usually felt afterwards would help in telling Lex that he was leaving the next day.

Lex slid into the bed next to him and gave him a small kiss before turning over. Oh. Well, Lex had obviously misread the situation.

He moved over a little and pressed his hips against Lex’s ass. He was wearing his flannel pj bottoms but Lex would instantly know that Clark wanted some one on one time.

Lex fought an unexpected fit of nausea as he felt Clark's hard on pressing into the crack of his ass. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Of course he could pretend to be tired now and beg off completely. He could take the woman's way out and fake a headache.

But the fact of the matter was that he'd be adding just another lie to the one he was already keeping. And if he started acting 'off' now, as in not putting out, Clark might just start getting suspicious after all. They would start the whole song and dance over and if Lex was pushed too far, he'd use his mistake to lash out and hurt Clark.

With another deep breath, Lex turned around to face Clark with the same false smile that he kept on his face since Clark had come back.

“Someone feeling amorous?” he asked in a sultry voice and placed his hand on Clark's chest.

Involuntarily, his fingers flexed over the hard muscle, comparing the sensation to the feel of soft, giving flesh.

He almost jerked his hand back, but then reminded himself that it would be the completely wrong move in this situation. Instead, he forced himself to continue the caress and lean closer to Clark.

“Yeah,” Clark breathed out. He took Lex’s hand and moved it further down his body. He leaned over and gave Lex a quick kiss as he slid his pants down. He was already hard and ready.
Lex reached out and gripped his cock. “Yeah, just like that baby.” Clark started to pump his hips. “Baby, suck me good and hard. Want your mouth on me.”

He could feel Lex using his precome to lube up his dick. “Oh!” He didn’t think he was going to make it to the main event. He was too tense.

Clark reached out blindly for Lex’s shoulders and started to pump into Lex’s fist. It only took a few thrusts before he was coming, his neck arching back. Once he came down a little, he opened his eyes. “Sorry I couldn’t last.”

“It's alright,” Lex said, overwhelmed by the sense of relief that flooded him.

He managed to press a kiss to Clark's cheekbone, rough stubble scraping his dry lips, before he turned around and grabbed a few tissues from the nightstand to wipe off his hand. It was habit that made him grab for a couple more and clean up the mess on Clark's stomach.

Clark fell onto his back like a big content cat and stretched lazily, unconcerned with the world at large. Lex thanked his lucky stars for small mercies. “Tired?” He injected as much sympathy into the question as possible as he settled on his side, hoping to get a positive answer.

He nodded as he fluffed up his pillow. This was nice. Just being with Lex without the other man being angry and demanding. “We trained and plotted.” He looked over at Lex. “We have a lot to do.”

“Which is why I have to leave again tomorrow.” He waited for the meltdown. Being with Lex could be exhausting sometimes. But he loved the man. Well, at least he thought he did. He felt as strongly about Lex as he had about anyone yet in his life.

Lex's stomach turned to ice at the words. He couldn't help it, for a moment his guilt at what he had done was drowned out completely by the cold feeling of disappointment that settled inside him. It didn't matter what he did, didn't make one lick of difference how he acted or what he said. Clark would always be just in for a bit of petting and stroking before he ran off again. Lex would never be anywhere near top priority in Clark's life.

Lex swallowed and the chill in his stomach seemed to solidify into a block of ice. “How long this time?” His voice was smooth, devoid of any feelings.

“At least two weeks,” Clark answered with a shrug, “I know you hate it, but you have to under...”

“It's okay.” Lex cut him off before the discussion could start. “Don't worry about it. I get it now.”

Clark seemed surprised and his look was completely dumbfounded for a moment before he broke out in a blinding smile. “Thank God, great! So you're not angry anymore?”

Lex shook his head and accepted the happy puppy kiss from Clark before the other man turned around and settled down to sleep.

The room had turned cold. Lex for his part was freezing. And it wasn't just the ice in his stomach. His entire body felt like he was stuck in a freezer.

Without a word, Lex got up and went to the heater. He was surprised to find it set to comfortable 75 degrees.

Had to be broken.

He cranked it up to 85 degrees and went back to bed, staying on the edge of his side to wait for the sunrise once again.

~~
Chloe finished up the stencils and looked around the room. Her handiwork had paid off. The Monday after the thing with Lex she’d come in, depressed, and waited for the kids to show up. As she’d looked around the room, she started making a vague list of things she could do to make it more interactive for them.

The list had become a real thing and now the room looked totally different than it had just five days ago. Yes, she’d had to stay until 8 o’clock every night but it wasn’t as if she had anyone waiting at home for her. Ben, Jerry, Haagen, Daz and Breyer’s didn’t count.

She’d bordered the classroom with every student’s name. Then, she’d researched the language of origin and meaning of the name and written it below it. They’d had a lesson on Greek, Latin, French, Spanish and German. The board had loved it and so had the parents.

She’d started a chart for their height and done a little with the metric system. Where Ribbets sat now looked more like his home environment. She and the kids had worked on arts and crafts and made it look like a little swamp.

More and more ideas had come to her so she had things to do with, and teach, the kids until the end of the term.

Chloe knew that she was doing this so she wouldn’t have to go home. Sighing, she started to clean up. Last Friday, everything had been fine. Then she’d gone and fucked everything up.

Lois was worried about her. She sensed something was wrong. Even from three states away. But Chloe told her that her malaise would pass and if it didn’t they could talk about it when she came to visit in a few weeks. Thankfully, that had shut her cousin up.

Her friends wanted to know why she didn’t meet up with them. Chloe had no inclination to go out and hook up with random people.

She was done here for the night. She picked up her bag and coat and went home to her empty place.

~~
Television didn’t really appeal to her at the moment. Now that she’d gotten more into stimulating the kids’ brains she did a lot more reading. About child development in general and then specific articles and books on teaching styles.

Her apartment was really quiet, both units next to her were vacant at the moment so there was no background noise ever, which was why she almost had a heart attack when she heard the pounding at the door. It was followed by the door shaking as something fell or was thrown against it.

Chloe walked over to the door and looked through the peep hole.

It took her a moment to realize what she saw. It was the top of Lex’s head.

“Lex?” She carefully opened the door and thankfully, he didn’t fall headfirst into her apartment.

He looked like total hell.

His suit was rumpled, there were dark circles under his eyes and he reeked of alcohol.

This couldn’t be good. “Lex, are you ok? What happened?” Her body had reacted before her mind could catch up. She saw Lex, clearly in trouble, so she’d taken his hand and led him to the couch before she realized she’d even moved.

“Nothing,” he slurred the word, then realized she'd probably need more explanation. “Absolutely positively fucking nothing, all 42 hours he was there.” He smacked his lips together and let his head loll onto the backrest of the couch. “Except a one off,” he made the appropriate hand motion. “Went off like a bottle rocket.” He expelled a cracked laugh and smacked his lips again. “Got anymore Jack? Mine's empty. Both of 'em.”

It only took a few words from Lex to have her seething again. So, Clark had come, literally too, and gone already. And this was how Lex reacted. She sighed, she wished that the man dealt with it in some other way.

“No, Lex,” she said, sternly, “I don’t have anymore booze for you to drown your sorrows in.” She leaned closer and could see that there was a huge stain on his jacket. He’d probably spilled a good portion of the second bottle on himself.

A thought occurred to her. She carefully patted down all of his pockets and was grateful when she found only his house keys on him. If Lex had driven over here, well, she didn’t want to think about what could have happened.

“I’ll get you some aspirin and water.” Then she’d send him on his way.

She got up off the couch and squeaked when Lex immediately pulled her back down.

He buried his face in her neck and sniffed deeply, the nutty scent this time, made him grin like a fool. “No aspirin, don't have a headache, just drunk.”

His arms settled comfortable around her midsection and he waited for the warmth to come and soak into him. The alcohol had really just made his belly burn, not done any good for the rest of his body. “I w's so cold,” he slurred, “thought I'd hyper...hypo...thermi,” no that wasn't a verb, “freeze to death.”

Lex closed his eyes, but the room started spinning so he opened them again. Breathed slow and steady, nutty and flowery, in and out. Until the room finally found the break.

Maybe that second bottle had been a little too much? But he was pretty sure he'd puked most of the first one out after he was done with it. “Went without saying goodbye.” That had been the reason for the first bottle, and the chill. The chill was bad and the heater really broken cause “85's s'posed to be warm but was freezing.”

Might have left the fire on in the fireplace, burned a few pictures, newspaper articles, books maybe. Couldn't remember, too drunk. “Don't care.”

It wouldn't get warm though, never got warm anymore unless he was with Chloe. So Chloe it had to be. Had to be... “Had to be you.” Sniffed deeply. “Missed you.”

She wasn’t equipped to deal with this. Not after last week. She needed more time for things to get back to normal. Needed to not feel hot everywhere that Lex was touching. Her heart tripping after he’d said his last words.

Needed to not want to lean into his body and feel a pull between her legs when his hot breath ghosted over her skin.

Chloe mentally slapped herself. Lex was in pain and drunk. She had to control her involuntary reactions.

She was his best friend and had to be that now. Not that person she’d been last week.

“I missed you too, Lex,” she said, honestly. He pulled her closer and she felt his nose brush against a sensitive spot. “I’m sorry about Clark.” Whatever he was doing must be top secret being that he hadn’t been on the news this week.

“You may not have a headache now,” she said as she tried to pry herself a little out of Lex’s arms, “but you will tomorrow. It’ll help, trust me.”

She turned her head to the side and looked at him. “Let me help you, ok?”

The distance would help. Maybe Lex would even pass out.

“You are helping,” he insisted as he tightened his hold. “Making me warm.”

He'd missed this so much, even with the guilt and the resentment and the acting he'd had to do. “Why didn't you call?” He hadn't called either, but that didn't matter cause looking back, she really should have called.

“Needed you,” he murmured.

Clark was such an asshole, too. Hadn't even noticed that she wasn't there. Hadn't asked or nothing. “Didn't even realize, just acted all happy and satisfied that I wasn't saying anything anymore.” Had just taken it for granted that Lex accepted his shitty attitude and his never being there and his...no his, Lex's compliance with the no sex, which had been a major bad before last night. “Felt sick touching him. First time that happened.”

Sniffed against Chloe's neck again and buried his nose in her hair. “Don't care if he never touches me again.”

Chloe was at a complete loss. How was she supposed to help him? She didn’t even know what would be best for him at this point in time.

She’d been scared to call. Truly terrified at what Lex would say. With some time to think, he might have come up with the truth. That it was an unforgivable transgression on her part.

Instead, he was here, telling her that he needed her. And it sounded like he thought he needed her as much as she actually needed him.

During the past week she’d come to realize just how big a part of her life Lex was. Their random conversations lifted an otherwise dull day. And she never had to pretend to be someone else when she was with him. She could say every random thing she thought and he wouldn’t look at her as if she’d lost her mind. She could say terrible things and he wouldn’t judge her.

But this wasn’t about she and Lex. It was about him and Clark.

The fact that he’d felt sick touching Clark wasn’t a good sign.

“You’re drunk now. You don’t really mean that.” He loved Clark. They were just going through a bad patch. A horrible patch that had lasted months, true, but…he loved Clark. Unable not to touch him, it was part of the way they were with one another, she placed a hand on his knee.

“Lex.” He was still sniffing at her neck and she needed him to pay attention. “Lex.” He dragged his face up to meet her eyes. “We’ll figure it out, ok?” She didn’t know how but she meant it. There was some solution.

Even if she had to drag Clark to therapy with Lex using a kryptonite collar, she’d do it. Anything to see Lex happy again.

Lex snorted and brought one heavy hand up to ruffle her hair. She was so nice, trying to be helpful and figure stuff out for him, to make it better. “But sweet thing, I do mean it.”

He cradled her cheek and smiled sadly. “Wasn't drunk when I touched him, wasn't drunk when I got sick.”

Only later, but that had been hours and a bottle of whiskey later and didn't count. “Nothing to figure out there,” he drawled slowly, “nothing either one of us can do. 's just the way it is.” He shrugged and patted her cheek, carefully, before he dropped his hand.

A deep sigh rolled through him and he looked at the ceiling. “Clark's an insensitive hero asshole and there's nothing we can do about that. I'll always play last fiddle in his orchestra.” His head rolled to look at her. “Not like with you.”

His eyes pinned her, making it almost impossible for her to move. Lex was usually honest with her. She’d found it surprising at first and now took it for granted. But there was regular honest and then there was drunk honest.

Lex had finally come to grasp the way things were. It had taken him two bottle of Jack Daniels, Clark coming home and then wandering off and her fucking him. But he now saw his relationship for what it was.

It killed her.

She wanted to tell him that things could change but she wouldn’t lie to him.

He was right about her, too. Whenever they were together, he was her top priority. Even when he wasn’t around, too.

“How…” There was nothing to help so she wasn’t going to ask the useless question. “What can I do, Lex? Tell me what you need.”

A place to stay, she’d give him that. If he wanted her to tell Clark off she’d do that, too. Anything to buck him up and get back her old Lex.

Lex didn't have to think about it. Thinking was always what got him into the worst places.

“You.”

And really, that was all there was to it. First thought on his mind when things went wrong, very first person on his mind when things were good. Mostly because she was already there then.

He didn't even need to close his eyes to see the images that popped into his brain. A week ago, them together, in bed, best sex ever, and after, that place outside reality that he wished was real.

“Always you.”

Lex’s voice had dropped and his body was already relaxing. Chloe found herself doing the same as well. He’d probably fall asleep soon and then they could discuss things with clearer heads in the morning.

He’d spoken to her softly and she didn’t doubt that Lex meant what he said. He was right. He did need her. They needed each other to mire through the shit and annoyance that everyday life could be sometimes.

“You have me, Lex,” she assured him. “I won’t go away again.” She should have known that. Should have thought about what not contacting him would do to his already delicate psyche at this point in time.

Lex nodded and pulled her closer to his body, tucking her under his chin. “Good.” He petted her hair absently and breathed deeply. He was already feeling more comfortable, warming up with her body pressed against him.

“Want you,” he murmured against the top of her head, “wasn't a mistake, was damn fucking amazing.”

Clark was never there. He didn't really care. Love-shmove. He could get his jollies from saving the world from now on. Lex needed more. Needed the connection he'd felt that morning with Chloe.

Lex was drunk and falling asleep and might not remember what he said in the morning. Chloe tried to be logical about the whole thing. He wanted her. But what did that mean? Sighing, she knew that she wouldn’t get that answer tonight. Nor should she. Lex was in no condition to make life altering changes.

But tell that to her body that was reacting already to his words. Not in the way she expected. Instead of the arousal she’d expected to feel it was something else far more dangerous.

At least he thought it wasn’t a mistake. She wouldn’t lose him as a friend. Chloe ran her hand up and down his chest a few times. Sleeping out here wasn’t an option.

She managed to rouse him just enough to get him into the bedroom. She stripped him down to his boxers and flopped into the bed next to him, mentally exhausted.

Predictably, Lex reached out for her and she went without comment. She worried that her mind wouldn’t shut off and she’d be up all night. However, she was asleep in a few minutes.

lilinny
21st February 2008, 01:27
My heart is breaking for Lex and Chloe. Can't wait for what's next.

superag
21st February 2008, 01:30
Clark is the typical working overtime oblivious spouse. Whether male or female, a person needs the loe and comfort of someone. I feel bad that CHloe and Lex have to sneak around, but maybe it will just show Lex what he really needs is someone that can be there all the time.

dagney
21st February 2008, 01:31
wonderful update ladies. Dagney

Kit Merlot
21st February 2008, 01:35
This was a truly lovely update!

Lex and Chloe's devotion to each other is a beautiful thing, and it seems that Lex is finally realizing that Chloe is who he wants in his life.

I just hope that Chloe doesn't think she's the rebound girl after he decides to break things off with Clark.

I do like that Chloe and Lex both realize that their sleeping together wasn't a mistake, that in fact, it was the best sex of their lives. That should be all the proof they need that they belong together.

Continued excellent work on this fic:grin3:

hfce
21st February 2008, 02:58
Wow my jaw is on the floor. That was f'ing amazing. :eek: I have no words. It seems Lex figured out it is Chloe he wants and she was always there for him but was to blinded by Clarko to realize that. I have a feeling he will still think that when he wakes up the next morning. I can't wait to see the morning after this revelation. :)

lj715
21st February 2008, 03:05
Excellent chapter! So glad that Lex told Chloe he needs & wants her. Now, all he has to do is feel that way after he's sobered up. No more going back to Clark. Can;t wait for more.

somethingeasy
21st February 2008, 12:32
This was the BEST chapter so far, BlueSabby! I loved seeing both Lex and Chloe freaking out from the aftermath of their cheating. I was afraid that you would skip over the self-recriminating guilt and go straight into Lex and Chloe rationalizing away their actions with a ‘Clark deserves it, and who cares because we’re great together’ attitude.

But it was fantastic seeing the guilt-stricken, heartbreaking and gut-wrenching play of emotions between the Chlex as they acknowledged what had happened. It was seriously heartbreaking seeing both of them slowly realizing that they had probably messed up, not only the Clex relationship, but that even the Chlex friendship was now finished because of this one horrible mistake.

And it was really horrible that events had been arranged so Clark now has the moral high-ground in the Clex relationship. It doesn’t matter that he’s been a neglectful, unavailable, and distracted boyfriends… as well as a selfish, self-absorbed lover… because now CLARK is the ‘victim’ here. Which is enough to send anyone (but most especially Lex) screaming with howling frustration.

I didn’t know whether to feel more sorry for Lex or for Chloe. Lex has messed up what he believes to be a relationship with the love of his life. But Chloe has also lost something deep, meaningful and special. Her relationship with Lex was something important to her… AND I can tell that having sex with Lex awakened a sense of yearning in Chloe. She loved having sex with him… it was something beautiful and wonderful, but now she’s being forced to call it a ‘mistake’, and watch Lex go commit his life with a person who doesn’t deserve him. It’s killing Chloe!


36 hours later and Lex hadn’t asked once when he was leaving again. Clark sighed happily as he sat reading in bed. It seemed as if Lex had finally seen the light. Realized that Clark had to come and go as his schedule dictated.


Though, he thought, he wasn’t opposed to Lex going down on him. His hips moved about a little. Yeah, that wouldn’t be too bad. He just didn’t feel like reciprocating. After Lex was done, that’s when they would discuss the fact that Clark had to leave tomorrow.

And then Clark came home… and, oh dear heavens, I was utterly disgusted with this man!!! Clark doesn’t want a boyfriend… He wants a hooker to service his needs! And a servant to take care of the house while he’s away. Lex has become the cliché of a neglected, downtrodden wife whose only purpose is to exist for and service her husband without having a life, ambitions or needs of her own.

I used to ‘try’ and find some excuse for Clark’s behaviour… trying to rationalize that he’s a spoiled, oblivious over-grown kid who doesn’t know any better. That is all true, but there is NO excuse for this kind of selfishness!!! Clark is a HORRIBLE friend, partner and lover! I seriously felt like throttling him after seeing Clark thinking about getting a blow-job with absolutely no intention of returning the favour. It was as if he thought that granting Lex the chance to suck his Kryptonian dick was favour enough!!! The complete, utterly selfish BASTARD!!!

And it’s horrible to see Lex was just ‘taking’ this kind of treatment because he felt guilty about betraying Clark. He’s leading Clark to believe that Lex is now all right, fine and HAPPY to live for servicing his super-hero boyfriend. He even gave Clark the damned handjob without even hinting that it would be polite to reciprocate. AND even cleaning up Clark afterwards. I swear, seeing Lex being treated like an unappreciated sex-servant made me want to vomit!

Heh, at least it was good to see that Lex was also nauseous about this sickening arrangement between himself and Clark. I was a little afraid that Lex’s martyred guilt-complex would end up pushing him to completely repress his own desires, identity and needs to ‘make up’ for his betrayal. That he would become a complete doormat to Clark because he felt guilty about cheating. Lex’s guilt-complex did end up pushing Lex to be extra accommodating tonight, but he hasn’t shut away his own sense of self-worth. He knows that he’s unhappy, and that he doesn’t deserve to be miserable like this… no matter if he IS a cheating bastard who is lying to his boyfriend about… well… everything.


The room had turned cold. Lex for his part was freezing. And it wasn't just the ice in his stomach. His entire body felt like he was stuck in a freezer.

Without a word, Lex got up and went to the heater. He was surprised to find it set to comfortable 75 degrees.

Had to be broken.

He cranked it up to 85 degrees and went back to bed, staying on the edge of his side to wait for the sunrise once again.

This part was heartbreaking! Lex is not starting to feel cold and alone even while Clark is right there in bed beside him?!? This is terrible! And the worst part is how bewildered Lex is about what might be causing this shocking, numbing coldness. The poor man is losing himself… his whole body is warning him that he’s miserable and lonely, but he’s still so confused about everything.

I can see that Lex has tried to broach the subject of neglect, loneliness and unhappiness with Clark. But they really haven’t discussed it properly. This is mostly because Clark has never been ready to listen, although partially also because Lex has not made his grievances really clear. I really look forward to the eventual conversation where Clark finally, FINALLY understands that he’s a BAD friend and lover… and that he needs to change otherwise he’s going to end up miserable and alone.

It was interesting that Clark never seemed to have ‘felt’ anything like real love before. He’s only ‘guessing’ that he’s in love with Lex, but only because he feels something slightly stronger for Lex than he does for anyone else. That little part made me feel rather sorry for Clark. It’s quite horrible for a person to be so passionless, and not be aware of it.

I enjoyed reading about Chloe preparing the class lessons. I loved hearing about how much she enjoys her job, and how much happiness and satisfaction she derives from her work. It’s good to see that Chloe has some pleasurable way of distracting herself from the misery of her personal life.

I was shocked by Lex’s sudden, abrupt entrance into Chloe’s life again. It was really alarming seeing how pitiful and pathetic a state he was in. The man was drunk right out of his mind, AND he was looking to get even more drunk! I guess there was no fear of the Chlex friendship dying out, because it’s obvious that Lex would never be able to survive without Chloe. He NEEDS her!! More than he needs anyone. I love that :D


His arms settled comfortable around her midsection and he waited for the warmth to come and soak into him. The alcohol had really just made his belly burn, not done any good for the rest of his body. “I w's so cold,” he slurred, “thought I'd hyper...hypo...thermi,” no that wasn't a verb, “freeze to death.”

The poor thing was still so damned confused about why he was feeling so cold. This is horrible! I’m furious at Clark for driving a strong, capable, intelligent and magnificent man like Lex Luthor into this pathetic, bewildered, miserable and pitiable state of being. NO-one would be able to recognize the strong, intimidating man Lex is supposed to be. Clark did this to him?!?! Kill the bastard!!! Make sure he goes through a special kind of hell reserved for fair-weather friends and selfish lovers.


“Lex.” He was still sniffing at her neck and she needed him to pay attention. “Lex.” He dragged his face up to meet her eyes. “We’ll figure it out, ok?” She didn’t know how but she meant it. There was some solution.

Even if she had to drag Clark to therapy with Lex using a kryptonite collar, she’d do it. Anything to see Lex happy again.

And there was Chloe… the complete opposite of Clark! I can see Chloe has finally acknowledged how deep her feelings run for Lex… but even AFTER knowing how much she wants Lex and needs him, she’s still placing HIS needs above her own. Any other person would have been happy hearing Lex admit that his relationship with the ‘competition’ was making him feel sick! That he was unhappy, and didn’t feel that things were working out.

Instead of cheering on and encouraging this line of thought, Chloe immediately said that it was something that would be worked out… AND she’s even making plans to help Clark and Lex overcome their problems by forcing them to go to therapy. She’s an AMAZING friend! Lex was right in his assessment… Chloe always makes Lex her top priority when she’s with him, or even when he’s not around. SHE’S the one who is a loving, loyal companion, while Clark is just the… abuser of emotional attachments.


And really, that was all there was to it. First thought on his mind when things went wrong, very first person on his mind when things were good. Mostly because she was already there then.

He didn't even need to close his eyes to see the images that popped into his brain. A week ago, them together, in bed, best sex ever, and after, that place outside reality that he wished was real.

“Always you.”

This was fantastic! Lex has finally realized who his ‘perfect companion’ is. heh… looks like Lex needed to get stinking drunk before he achieved this kind of clarity. I hope he remembers ‘something’ from his drunken revelations when he wakes up tomorrow morning.


“You have me, Lex,” she assured him. “I won’t go away again.” She should have known that. Should have thought about what not contacting him would do to his already delicate psyche at this point in time.

Lex nodded and pulled her closer to his body, tucking her under his chin. “Good.” He petted her hair absently and breathed deeply. He was already feeling more comfortable, warming up with her body pressed against him.

“Want you,” he murmured against the top of her head, “wasn't a mistake, was damn fucking amazing.”

YAYYY!!! It seems like the Chlex friendship has been repaired! Both Lex and Chloe might ‘still’ feel a little guilty about what happened (as well they should, there’s still no good excuse for fucking around with another person behind someone’s back)… but at least they don’t feel sick with guilt whenever they look at each other. And they’ve acknowledged that their friendship is far too important to throw away ‘just’ because of a single, horrible mistake.

Heh… AND it seems like the stage has been set for both of them to admit that there is the potential of something deeper between them. I look forward to seeing how THAT particular revelation goes over. It’s going to be interesting to see how much of this conversation Lex remembers tomorrow morning. I look forward to finding out. Good luck with the next chapter, BlueSabby!

tatie87
22nd February 2008, 01:19
Clark is such a morally superior jerk off. Poor Lex. I want Lex and Chloe to get together and show Clark. Preferably Clark walking in on them! Please update soon this is a great story!!!

summer_enchanted
23rd February 2008, 20:43
I just started reading this story a few weeks ago and it's totally blown my mind, I think it's excellent. I hope there's more chlexiness coming soon. :love2:
I really hope that Lex can see that he's meant to be with Chloe, someone who does'nt take him for granted.

Please update again soon. :grin:

TheAmazingApe
20th March 2008, 10:47
Can I just say that I've been checking periodically for more of this? I mean, I'm a damned Chlarker and a Clark lover and I can't stay away. That should give you some kind of mad motivation to give me more. I mean, I'm crossing lines, here.

Just saying.

More!

Kit Merlot
20th March 2008, 21:22
Oh man, but it is now a month since this beautiful fic was updated!

I hope you will put us all out of our collective misery by giving us an update--I wonder if Lex will have a horrible hang-over and if he will remember everything he said to Chloe.

But most of all, I hope you guys are alright;)

karila
23rd March 2008, 16:30
This story is so good.
Lex need Chloe and she need him too.
An update please!!!!!

SVfan1286
30th March 2008, 15:09
Wow the only thing I can think of is that Clark is such a selfish bastard. He says he loves Lex, but treats him like a prostitute. My god I hope Lex dumps his ass soon!

The smut between Lex and Chloe was amazing, so beautiful and also hot! It was so sad to see them both feel so guilty about their 'mistake', but I'm glad that it didn't ruin their friendship. I have no doubt that there will be tons more angst ahead... And I can't wait!

Fantastic as always ladies... Looking forward to reading more!!!

BlueSabby
30th March 2008, 16:20
A/N:Blue: Another morning after. Let's see the result. Enjoy!
A/N: Sabby: She took the words right out of my mouth...or fingers as the case may be.


Lex woke slowly, moving his head about an inch before a stabbing pain reverberated through his skull and convinced him that moving wasn't a good idea. Hangover from hell.

He remembered that he'd started drinking after Clark left and hadn't stopped drinking until the alcohol had run out, parts of it over his chest. The smell that attacked his nose was rancid, stale alcohol, and Lex half expected he would open his eyes to find himself lying somewhere in the gutter, or in a deserted alley.

But something wasn't quite right for it to be out in the streets. For one, the surface beneath him was soft and his head cradled by a downy pillow. For another part, he doubted that someone would have joined him in the gutter to cuddle up against his side.

His hand reached up and came in contact with long, tousled hair.

Chloe.

Lex groaned as memories started to come back.

Last night, after his second bottle, he'd felt the voracious need to see her. Drunk and beyond rational thought, Lex had stumbled through the apartment and, at not finding his keys, grabbed a taxi to go see her.

He remembered she hadn't been impressed by his state, remembered something about aspirin - he really craved one of those right about now - and then the last thing he remembered was cuddling her close, feeling that peculiar warmth soaking into him as she let him hold on to her.

The same warmth that was suffusing him now. The warmth that had been sorely lacking in his life from the moment she'd left his apartment a week ago.

Lex hadn't even known if she wanted to see him again after what they'd done.

Well, seeing as how she hadn't thrown him out on his ass, he supposed he'd gotten his answer.

Which brought back the memory of something he'd said last night. Something he'd admitted in his drunken stupor that he never would have said otherwise.

But it was still true.

Chloe slept like a corpse. Unless she sensed someone moving around her or looking at her. She wasn’t sure which of these occurrences woke her up but it didn’t matter one way or another. She was awake and painfully aware of the person next to her.

She wondered if he remembered anything of what he’d said and done last night. Probably. Lex wasn’t a black out type of drunk.

Her face was plastered to his chest and she felt the slight sting when their skin disconnected and imagined the weird red mark that it left on her face. Looking up at him she knew, immediately, that he wasn’t feeling as fresh as a daisy.

Even though she offered, he hadn’t wanted any aspirin. And hadn’t drunk any water, either. She should have tried harder to circumvent this from happening.

“You want that aspirin now,” she said by way of a greeting.

Lex managed to pry open one eye enough to look at her, even though the sting of the daylight made the stabbing in his skull worse.

“Yes, please. Or a bullet to the brain, whichever works faster.”

His voice was shot for some reason and his tongue felt like a thick dead thing in his mouth. A thick dead thing with fur covering it. Why hadn't he taken her up on that offer yesterday? He hated hangovers and usually did pretty much anything to prevent them from happening.

Lex felt her sitting up and scooting away from him, the warmth clinging to him for a moment through the sheet that she tucked against his chest. The bed dipped as she got up.

His temples throbbed and he closed the eye again, turning around ever so slowly to bury his face in the pillows.

They needed to talk. He knew that, but that would have to wait until he felt at least halfway human again. Not like his limbs were made of lead and his brain the newest construction site of downtown Metropolis.

He felt the bed dip again a few endless moments later and muttered a 'thank you' as he turned on his back, then forced himself to sit up against the headboard. It was still a little too much to ask that he open his eyes at this point in time. Chloe hadn't drawn the curtains last night.

Lex's hand reached out blindly for the glass and he startled in surprise when he felt it press against his lips. He opened his mouth and gratefully took a sip, before two small pills were pushed against his lips. He swallowed them down and accepted the glass a second time, taking it with his own hand this time.

“You're too good to me,” he muttered as he rested the glass in his lap and finally slitted his eyes open to look at her. She looked no worse for the wear.

“I know,” she said as she gently fixed the covers around his body. “Big fault of mine, I’ll try to work on it.” Lex looked as bad as she’d ever seen him. She felt sorry for him that he thought this was the way to handle things. And enraged with Clark for doing this to Lex. How could a man who wanted to save others leave his boyfriend alone to drink himself to death? It didn’t make any logical sense.

Even though she could see that Lex was in pain, he also had his determined face on. She knew he wanted to talk about last night. When he met her gaze she said, “Later. Why don’t you get some more sleep? I’ll be here when you wake up.”

She had plenty of lesson planning details to work out. And what they had to discuss…well, they both needed their full brains for it.
Feeling her pull away, Lex lashed out with his free hand and grabbed her wrist to keep her where she was.

“Sleep isn't going to change anything about what I have to say,” he stated neutrally.

His head was slowly coming clear as the aspirin and water started to help him towards humanity. And giving her another few hours to build up a good defense was not something he wanted to do.

“In case you wondered, I remember what happened last night.”

Of course the memories were a bit fuzzy around the edges, but the gist of it was there. What he'd told her, how he'd acted. How she had reacted.

“And I meant it.” He dropped the bombshell as he looked her squarely in the eyes, waiting for her reaction.

And wishing the damn curtains were drawn so it didn't hurt his eyes so much to keep them open.

The four words repeated over and over in her head. So he meant that he didn’t regret it. That made her relax and she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding herself tense.

Smiling down at him, she said, “I’m glad.” He’d been so open with her last night the least she could do was repay the favor. “I can’t lose you.” It sounded cheesy to her own ears but it was the truth. “You’re my best friend and I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Lex was always saying how she was his anchor and things like that. But he didn’t seem to realize that, over the years, he’d become the same thing to her. “I don’t regret what we did,” she reiterated. “And, it was…”

She’d once been a wordsmith but couldn’t come up with what their being together had been. Emotional and intimate and phenomenal all wrapped up into one. But she didn’t think there was a word for that.

“One of the best nights of my life,” she finished. All of her cards were on the table. She was being as honest with Lex as she’d ever been. In for a penny, in for a pound. “And I want it to happen again.”

The words came out softly. It was as if she was admitting it to herself and Lex at the same time. “I know that you’re in love with Clark, but…”

Chloe gulped down the lump in her throat. Never thinking that she’d ever say this and knowing it wasn’t good for her but unable to stop herself. “I’ll share you.” She’d lose Lex in the end to Clark but she couldn’t think about that now.

Lex's heart sped up at the last words that echoed through his mind. He'd never expected her to react like this. Hadn't dreamed that she would make this offer. “Are you sure?”

He wanted her to be certain, wanted to know that this wouldn't destroy what they were. Lex needed her too much for that. She was his best friend and as much as she said she couldn't do without him, it was the same on his end.

Licking his lips, he smoothed his thumb over her wrist before he let it go to entwine their fingers. His gaze went from their joined hands back to her face, still waiting for an answer.

The thought that they would share again what they had that one night made him tighten his hold on her hand. He wanted it more than he'd thought possible.

“Yes.” Chloe made sure to look directly at him. And she was sure. Sure that she wanted him. And sure that, in the end, she’d be alone again and kicking herself for her stupidity.

But knowing she was stupid didn’t stop her from being so.
Lex smiled up at her and she brought their linked hands up to her face. She laid a kiss on the back of his hand and then said, “Why don’t you take a shower and then we’ll have breakfast?”

He nodded and reluctantly pulled his fingers from her grip, rolling over and sitting up on the edge of the bed to give his sore muscles a long stretch.

That's when he finally noticed that he was wearing nothing but his boxers.

Looking over his shoulder he smirked at Chloe. “Just how did you manage to get me out of my clothes and into bed?”

He couldn't have been much help last night, being that he didn't even remember getting into bed. Or getting out of his clothes for that matter.

~~~
Chloe had pretty much used all of the ingredients in her fridge to make their omelets. She was surprised that Lex was actually hungry. Even his hangovers didn’t last as long as the average man.

He’d shared his strange healing abilities with her awhile ago. And then held her at bay as she wanted to go about tracking his recuperation time ‘scientifically.’ She may have been holding a lighter at the time.

They stood side by side at the sink and she smiled as she remembered the scuffle that had followed. They’d broken a lamp and a vase and she had gotten a bruise out of the whole thing.

Lex was busy on the frying pan so she could sneak looks over at him. He’d changed back into his pants and was wearing an old t-shirt that one of her flings had left behind. But he still managed to look sexy.

She wondered how he would react if she reached over and grabbed him. Down girl.

He noticed the looks, of course. It wasn't like he could not notice the way she looked at him like she was starving and he was a three course meal complete with chocolate dessert.

Lex scrubbed the pan a little more vigorously, wondering if she intended to do something about it. After all, he was a meal that had agreed to be eaten. And that simile popped a picture into his mind that made it just a little more complicated to hide his growing erection.

He cleared his throat as he finished scrubbing the pan and set it on the rack to dry.

“Did you have anything planned for today?” he asked as casually as possible, looking at her out of the corner of his eyes.

Chloe was reminded a little of a first date. With the slight awkwardness and politeness that they were showing towards one another. She knew if she said she was busy Lex would just leave unsexed. But she had no intention of that happening.

“I did,” she admitted as she turned off the tap. “But plans change.”

Now that he didn’t have anything in his hands she could push him against the sink and not worry about him dropping anything. Which is what she did. “They now mostly involve you and me groping one another.” She pressed herself against him and her eyes widened when she felt that he was already a little hard. “Not the only one who’s mind is in the gutter, eh?”

Lex slung his arm low around her waist and pulled her closer so she had to spread her legs to maintain her balance. “With you looking at me like that, can you blame me?”

His hand cupped one of her butt cheeks and gently kneaded the supple flesh. Leaning down to brush his lips over her mouth, he smirked as her tongue flicked out almost instantly. “I'm glad we're on the same page, because I was just about to ask if it's alright with you if I ravish you now.”

Her warmth was beginning to seep into him again, heat slowly building as he felt her breasts pushing against his chest, her hips undulating slowly against his groin. His eyes slid half closed as he covered the last inch of distance and kissed her slow and lingeringly.

The same feeling of rightness that had settled in him the first time they'd kissed like this flared up again and Lex brought up his free hand to cradle her jaw, angling her face lightly to give him better access to explore her mouth. There was nothing perfunctory or hurried about this kiss. Nothing that suggested either of them was going anywhere anytime soon. It felt incredibly good.

Chloe leaned up into his body and the kiss as well. One arm reached up and settled loosely over his shoulder as the other found its way around his middle. They were already pressed tightly together but Chloe wanted to feel his whole body against hers.

She was a greedy bitch and didn’t mind admitting it.

While their kiss was passionate it didn’t remind Chloe of the ‘must have you now’ gropings that she’d gotten used to as of late. More of an appetizer before the main course.

Lex tasted like peppers.

When their lips parted, Chloe immediately smiled. She felt revved up and a little fuzzy. A nice combination. “Can’t help looking at you like that,” she whispered against his lips before kissing him again. “Gorgeous.”

Hoped he didn’t mind her word choice. Couldn’t help it though, it was true.

Her arm at his middle had moved now. Her hand had snuck under his shirt and was pressed against his lower back. Moving him into her body even more.

He hummed low in his throat, enjoying the nice shiver that ran up his spine from her warm hand on his back. His hand brushed through her hair, combing it back from her face as he looked back at her. She was smiling at him, happy and bright, coaxing a smile from him in return.

“I'd accuse you of trying to compliment your way into my pants, but then, you're already there,” he said as he felt her hand slip lightly under the waistband.

His hold on her butt tightened and he pushed his pelvis forward, letting her feel the effect she had on him. Strangely enough, he didn't feel like something needed to be done about that immediately.

“I love making out with you,” he blurted out without thinking.

Lex was a little shocked at himself, but found his statement was non the less true. He could probably spend hours like this. Just touching and kissing and enjoying the feel of her warm body against his. Except the damn sink was digging into his ass.

Chloe laughed at Lex’s unabashed honesty. He looked surprised and a little embarrassed. “Good,” she said, “because you’re going to do a lot more of it before I even think of letting you go home.”

She put her fingers through his belt loops and started to walk backwards. Lex followed without a protest. “I’m thinking we can make out on the couch like a bunch of teenagers. I might even let you get to third base.” She paused. “Again. If you’re lucky.”

They were standing next to the couch now and Chloe looked up at Lex. “But first, we have to get rid of this.” Her hands made quick work of his shirt. She shook her head. “In case I didn’t say it before…damn.”

Hands now crawling and smoothing up and down his torso in random patterns. He was panting and her breathing started to mirror his. Chloe dipped her head and used her tongue to explore as well. Lex’s hands were on her hips, pulling her closer as their lower bodies continued to rock in tandem.

Her tongue ran over every defined muscle she could find. Nipping and blowing at the skin sometimes. Spending time on his nipples, tweaking and biting at them. Lex made a myriad of sounds which encouraged her to keep going.

She’d started at the top of his collar bones and then found herself on her knees. Now paying attention to the taut muscles below his navel. Breathing against the wet skin and then staring at Lex’s clothed cock. Chloe promised herself she’d do that later. She rose up again, with Lex’s help, kissed him hungrily on the mouth and then lay down on the couch.

Lex was staring at her. Looking at her body and she started to squirm around a little. “Lex, please…” She wanted him on top of her, surrounding her.

He was breathing a little heavily, his mind still reeling from her teasing kisses a moment earlier. It was incongruent with the almost innocent, needy look on her face now as she held out her arms for him. And to top it all off she was wearing ducky pajama bottoms.

He bit his lip and slowly crawled onto the couch, between her legs, sliding his body along hers as he pushed his hands under her back. Her arms immediately wrapped around him, drawing him close. He buried his nose in her neck, smelling that nutty, flowery scent he was fast becoming addicted to.

His groin pushed against the apex of her thighs, but it wasn't painful. Not yet.

Lex kissed a spot high on her neck and trailed his lips up her jaw line, back to her mouth, nibbling on her lips until she opened them for him and slipped his tongue inside, tangling it with hers. Her arms tightened around his shoulders and Chloe hummed into his mouth as he drew the kiss out, languidly rubbing his thumbs over her shoulder blades.

He really could do this for hours and not get tired of it.

Chloe knew that her legs and arms were moving about and working to keep Lex on top and close to her. But she was paying far more attention to Lex’s mouth. He drew her deeply into every kiss until she forgot about everything else in the world. The man was her own personal drug of choice.

She blinked up at him when he stopped and noticed the slightly evil grin before he dove back down…but not for her mouth.

For her neck.

Her sensitive neck.

His nose nuzzled against it at first and she bucked up against him while she moaned his name. She felt him smile against the skin and then began to place a trail of wet kisses on the space.

Instead of doing something productive or something to drive him mad, Chloe merely turned her head to give him better access.

Lex started to use his teeth on one specific spot. But not too hard.

But Chloe wanted what he was hesitating to give her. They were supposed to be groping teenagers after all.
When he tried to move away, one of her hands pressed down on his back while the other pressed down on his neck.

She felt Lex tentatively take some of the flesh under his lips in his mouth and bite down. That elicited a deep keening noise from her throat. She pressed him tighter.

The message received, Lex concentrated on the bit of flesh. Working at it with his tongue and mouth. Chloe could feel the throb of the bruise forming. The throbbing in her neck started to match with the one between her legs.

Lex worried at the skin between his teeth for a few moments longer, then released it with a last broad lick. A quarter sized purple bruise had appeared where he'd bitten and sucked her. Satisfied with his accomplishment, Lex moved back up and brought their mouths together for another long, passionate kiss.

His hips began to move in small pushes, pressing his clothed cock against her as he moved one hand down to get under her shirt. Time to try for second base. At the thought, he grinned against her parted lips before his tongue lashed out again to slide over the roof of her mouth.

Lex braced himself on his other arm as his fingers inched their way under her loose shirt and up her sides, stroking the soft skin until his fingertips reached the underside of her breast. She hadn't changed from her night clothes, so there was no bra to get in the way.

He traced the pads of his fingers along the swell of her breast, slow and gentle until he could cup the soft mound with the palm of his hand, feeling the bud of her nipple harden under his touch. His hips surged forward when she arched into his touch, grinding her pelvis against his as she pressed her breast further into his hand.

Broken noises came past her parted lips. She almost had to close her eyes the feelings were so intense but she wanted to watch Lex watching her. Chloe took her hands off of Lex’s body and felt around for the hem of her shirt.

He kept working her breasts even as she rose up a little to take off the shirt. Once she was settled back on the couch, Lex’s hands began to move in random patterns over her breasts.

Her hips were working against his and she hooked her legs around him. It took her a few tries before she was successful.

“Uh, uh, uh.” Her neck arched back and she felt her orgasm approaching. She didn’t know if Lex wanted her to wait or what or…

She looked back over at him and saw that he was just as desperate as she was. He’d slide into home later.

When she felt her orgasm rising up, she locked her eyes with Lex. She knew he liked to watch her.

He ran his palms gently over her nipples before massaging the flesh.

Chloe grabbed at his shoulders. “Coming, Lex.”

Her pussy was twitching, looking for something to hold onto. She knew that her pajama pants were soaked between her legs.

With one last touch of his thumb over her hard nipple, Chloe came. She kept her eyes open as long as she could to let Lex see what he did to her. Her hips kept moving against his as she groaned his name out. Long and low.

He was still hard against her. Chloe pulled him closer with her legs until their faces were almost touching. She looked up at him as her hands moved lower down his body, grabbing his ass.

Chloe locked her eyes with him again. “Lex…” She heard the begging quality of her voice but didn’t care.

He could feel the pressure build low in his stomach and started to thrust against her. Closing his eyes he meshed their mouths together and kissed her fiercely, shifting his hands to hold her tight as he rutted against her like a mindless animal. Her short nails dug into his shoulders and the coil in his stomach wound tighter, the friction against his cock driving him to the brink. When the tension finally snapped, he groaned into her mouth, hips jerking irregularly as he spilled himself into his pants.

hfce
30th March 2008, 17:15
I love how they admitted they wanted each other. I just don't agree with Chloe on the sharing part. Lex needs to dump Clark's sorry ass and get with Chloe exclusively. I just don't understand the hold Clark has over Lex. Lex he is no good for you. He uses you for his fuck toy and nothing more. UGH!!!! Hopefully he will finally be brave and see Chloe is the one for him not Clark.

I love how even clothed they can give each other orgasms. :drool2:
More please... :beg:

SVfan1286
30th March 2008, 17:38
That was... well... HOT!

I feel bad for Chloe though, 'sharing' him with Clark isn't going to end well, even she knows it, but loves Lex to much to stay away. Not that I can blame her.(lol) As much as I can't stand Clark and wish Lex would dump his ass, even he doesn't deserve to be cheated on. It turns Lex out to be the bad guy... but I gotta say love the angst!

Awesome chapter!!!

karila
30th March 2008, 19:45
Good chapter.
I'm glad about their decision to pursue what they have but like others I disagree with the fact that she accept to share.
I want to know what will happen next.

tatie87
30th March 2008, 20:21
WOW that was hot. They're like two horny kids. I can't believe Chloe's going to share him. Screw sharing!!! Can't wait for the next update.

lj715
31st March 2008, 00:14
Ok, so glad you updated because I really love this fic. Happy that Lex & Chloe actually told each other their feelings but WTF!!! CHloe actually says she's gonna share Lex with Clark & he doesn;t even say anything in response to that. No " Chloe, I love you & only you." No "Chloe, you won;t have to share me because I'm leaving Clark." What the hell is that? It's like Lex thought he could get the best of both worlds or was too chicken to tell Clark his real feelings & , as long as Chloe said she would share him, he isn;t required to do anything more. Yikes, not good. Hope they can fix this soon. More please.

hfce
31st March 2008, 00:19
Ok, so glad you updated because I really love this fic. Happy that Lex & Chloe actually told each other their feelings but WTF!!! CHloe actually says she's gonna share Lex with Clark & he doesn;t even say anything in response to that. No " Chloe, I love you & only you." No "Chloe, you won;t have to share me because I'm leaving Clark." What the hell is that? It's like Lex thought he could get the best of both worlds or was too chicken to tell Clark his real feelings & , as long as Chloe said she would share him, he isn;t required to do anything more. Yikes, not good. Hope they can fix this soon. More please.

I should have just let you do my feedback. That is what I wanted to say. :rofl:

lj715
31st March 2008, 00:43
I should have just let you do my feedback. That is what I wanted to say. :rofl:


You'll be receiving my feedback bill in the mail. :D

Kit Merlot
31st March 2008, 19:11
This was a lovely update!

I'm glad that they could both admit to needing each other, and I also like that they want to continue sleeping together, but how long will they be able to live like that? Will Clark agree to an arrangement like that?

Please let us know as soon as you can:D

kimbo
1st April 2008, 01:07
oh what a hot hot hot chapter! Chloe is always sacrificing herself in one way or another, and it made me raise my eyebrow when Lex didn't even try to convince her that sharing is baddddd! to me that's a little bit selfish on his part. I understand that he's in a vulnerable state right now and that he needs someone to take care of him but by him agreeing to be shared was so not good for Chloe. On one hand i want to tell Chloe to stay and support Lex, but i think she's going about it the wrong way. So on the other hand i'm telling Chloe to run in the other direction. Anyway i can't wait for the next chapter. Something tells me that things are gonna get even worse! More soon :)

lilinny
1st April 2008, 02:55
What? Chloe does not share her men with anyone!! Lex better be dumping Clark.
By the way, great chapter. I can't wait for more.

ChloeLovesLex
1st April 2008, 20:09
I agree. No sharing. Good chapter :)

somethingeasy
5th April 2008, 10:58
Lex groaned as memories started to come back.

Last night, after his second bottle, he'd felt the voracious need to see her. Drunk and beyond rational thought, Lex had stumbled through the apartment and, at not finding his keys, grabbed a taxi to go see her.

I loved how the chapter began with the vivid and painful description of Lex’s hangover. It was a clever touch to show how intense the pain was through Lex wondering whether he was lying in the gutter or in some horrible alley way. VERY nice visual to capture Lex’s completely flattened state of mind and body, BlueSabby. It’s pretty lucky for Lex that he managed to make his way to Chloe’s, otherwise he might actually have been lying hung over after passing out in some nasty, dark, dangerous alleyway… probably naked because, with his luck, he would have been mugged while he was unconscious.

ROTFL! So he took a taxi last evening NOT because he was too sensible to try and drive, but because he was too drunk to find his car keys, huh? I cannot describe how hilarious (and frightening) that thought is.

But it was wonderfully fortunate for Lex to wake up beside his beloved Chloe in this difficult, horrendous state. I loved how he relished the feeling of ‘warmth’, comfort and solace she was providing him, just by lying right there beside him. I wonder how much longer before Lex understand that he can live VERY easily without Clark in his life while CHLOE is the one who is his essential companion. The dumbass STILL has not figured that out?!?!


“You want that aspirin now,” she said by way of a greeting.

Lex managed to pry open one eye enough to look at her, even though the sting of the daylight made the stabbing in his skull worse.

“Yes, please. Or a bullet to the brain, whichever works faster.”

His voice was shot for some reason and his tongue felt like a thick dead thing in his mouth. A thick dead thing with fur covering it. Why hadn't he taken her up on that offer yesterday? He hated hangovers and usually did pretty much anything to prevent them from happening.

LOL! Poor Lex… I got this very nasty visual in my head about how horrible he looks right now. Judging by the way he feels, he must look like a corpse that died about three nights ago… ewwww! LOL! Poor Lex! I don’t know how long it’s been since his last hangover, but I can certainly understand why he avoids them if they effect him like ‘this’.


“I know,” she said as she gently fixed the covers around his body. “Big fault of mine, I’ll try to work on it.” Lex looked as bad as she’d ever seen him. She felt sorry for him that he thought this was the way to handle things. And enraged with Clark for doing this to Lex. How could a man who wanted to save others leave his boyfriend alone to drink himself to death? It didn’t make any logical sense.

heh, good question… But I suppose it’s because Lex doesn’t stand outside screaming for help at the top of HIS lungs? Perhaps he should try that? It seems like it’s the only to get Clark’s attention.


She had plenty of lesson planning details to work out. And what they had to discuss…well, they both needed their full brains for it.

Feeling her pull away, Lex lashed out with his free hand and grabbed her wrist to keep her where she was.

“Sleep isn't going to change anything about what I have to say,” he stated neutrally.

oh GOOD! Talk now! Excellent! I’m glad to see Lex being assertive, grabbing the bull by the horns in a full frontal confrontation. Now WHY can’t he adopt this kind of assertive confrontational attitude with Clark? For heaven’s sake, Lex, TELL your boyfriend that you’re miserable and drinking yourself into a stupor and an early grave!


“One of the best nights of my life,” she finished. All of her cards were on the table. She was being as honest with Lex as she’d ever been. In for a penny, in for a pound. “And I want it to happen again.”

I was SO very pleased by these words, because I thought this heralded the start of a new relationship where Lex and Chloe have finally realized that they are best suited for each other. Clark would get dumped (gently or nastily, depending on Lex’s mood), and Chloe and Lex would start off on a happy, new chapter of their lives together.


The words came out softly. It was as if she was admitting it to herself and Lex at the same time. “I know that you’re in love with Clark, but…”

Chloe gulped down the lump in her throat. Never thinking that she’d ever say this and knowing it wasn’t good for her but unable to stop herself. “I’ll share you.” She’d lose Lex in the end to Clark but she couldn’t think about that now.

Lex's heart sped up at the last words that echoed through his mind. He'd never expected her to react like this. Hadn't dreamed that she would make this offer. “Are you sure?”

I was so pleased and hopeful… and then THIS happens?! :eek:
I am… ANGRY! And insanely frustrated… and MAD beyond anything! HOW could two such wonderful, brilliant, amazing, generous and honourable people be will to indulge in a relationship like this one?! It’s senseless and wrong on SO many levels!

First of all, I hate the thought of Lex and Chloe compromising their honour. They might have a dubious moral system, but I DO know that they have a high regard for faithfulness, loyalty and fidelity. Chloe encouraging Lex to cheat, and Lex letting her encourage him is bad and wrong… and there is no way that the two of them will not regret it or not feel guilty about it later.

Second… I HATE and despise the thought of Chloe settling for less that what she is due and worth in a relationship. I can understand how she might find it difficult to resist Lex after that fantastic night of sex, but she’s acting as if she doesn’t deserve the ‘whole of Lex’ to herself… even though she knows that she a MUCH better companion, friend (and lover) to Lex than Clark is.

The only reason she is not pushing for a ‘all or nothing’ deal is because she doesn’t believe that Lex will choose her over Clark, and THAT is a horrible, crying shame… which brings me to my rant about Lex…

How DARE he force Chloe into a ‘second class’ relationship where she’s being kept as a secret mistress on the side while he continues to indulge in a relationship with another person. That is a horrible, nasty thing to do to someone he claims to love… BOTH of the people that he claims to love actually. It is dishonourable, cowardly and selfish, and I am extremely disappointed in him.


He wanted her to be certain, wanted to know that this wouldn't destroy what they were. Lex needed her too much for that. She was his best friend and as much as she said she couldn't do without him, it was the same on his end.

HAH! I seriously doubt that Lex’s optimistic hopes are very realistic… He’s basically making Chloe into his side-mistress, and he’s cheating on Clark… The most likely way I see this ending is with Lex ending up hated by BOTH of his lovers and alone. Chloe is being very emotional right now, and not making rational choices… but eventually she’ll hate how Lex will keep going over to Clark despite how her entire world is centred around him. And Clark will of course find out about the cheating, he will feel like the injured party, and he will never learn about how it was partially his own fault that his relationship feel apart.

Not good! This is NOT going to end well. How can these two people be so STUPID?! Heh, at least Chloe realized that she was being stupid, even if Lex thinks this is a great idea for a fantastic ‘compromise’. The idiotic asshole!


He’d shared his strange healing abilities with her awhile ago. And then held her at bay as she wanted to go about tracking his recuperation time ‘scientifically.’ She may have been holding a lighter at the time.

ROTFLMAO! Oh that was a hilarious visual, BlueSabby! Was Chloe drunk at the time? LOL! I loved the idea of the scuffle ending with Chloe being the only one to get ‘injured’, ROTFL!


Now that he didn’t have anything in his hands she could push him against the sink and not worry about him dropping anything. Which is what she did. “They now mostly involve you and me groping one another.” She pressed herself against him and her eyes widened when she felt that he was already a little hard. “Not the only one who’s mind is in the gutter, eh?”

heh, I kept on shaking my head in wonderment about how the two of them could be so stupid… but now I’m seeing where all that dumbness comes from. I suppose it IS rather hard for the two of them to focus their brilliant minds on trivial things like ‘honour, sense, reason and logic’ when they’re both salivating over each other’s individual body-parts. *hopeful glance* perhaps if they get some distance from each other, they might gain some perspective?


The same feeling of rightness that had settled in him the first time they'd kissed like this flared up again and Lex brought up his free hand to cradle her jaw, angling her face lightly to give him better access to explore her mouth. There was nothing perfunctory or hurried about this kiss. Nothing that suggested either of them was going anywhere anytime soon. It felt incredibly good.

Both of them are already kissing and touching each other as if this is a ‘real’ loving relationship… it’s such a shame that it has the overtones of a dirty, sordid affair all over it.


Lex tasted like peppers.

LOL! That’s a new one, but very nice! I can easily imagine the taste of him being stimulating and having a ‘kick’ like that ;)


Hands now crawling and smoothing up and down his torso in random patterns. He was panting and her breathing started to mirror his. Chloe dipped her head and used her tongue to explore as well. Lex’s hands were on her hips, pulling her closer as their lower bodies continued to rock in tandem.

Her tongue ran over every defined muscle she could find. Nipping and blowing at the skin sometimes. Spending time on his nipples, tweaking and biting at them. Lex made a myriad of sounds which encouraged her to keep going.

She’d started at the top of his collar bones and then found herself on her knees. Now paying attention to the taut muscles below his navel. Breathing against the wet skin and then staring at Lex’s clothed cock. Chloe promised herself she’d do that later. She rose up again, with Lex’s help, kissed him hungrily on the mouth and then lay down on the couch.

Hot, HOT!!! I really enjoyed the way that the two of them are taking their time and leisure in just ‘exploring and enjoying’ each other’s bodies without being in any real hurry to rush ahead to the satisfying orgasms. ROTFL! The two of them are so ‘cute’ acting like a pair of groping teens… albeit, it’s a very skilled pair of gropers we have here, LOL!


Lex kissed a spot high on her neck and trailed his lips up her jaw line, back to her mouth, nibbling on her lips until she opened them for him and slipped his tongue inside, tangling it with hers. Her arms tightened around his shoulders and Chloe hummed into his mouth as he drew the kiss out, languidly rubbing his thumbs over her shoulder blades.

He really could do this for hours and not get tired of it.

That is really beautiful… but I do wonder why Lex is not feeling even the ‘slightest’ amount of guilt about cheating on her boyfriend. I know that Clark is a emotionally vacant, distant and neglectful boyfriend, but he IS due certain basic things such as faithfulness. I also wonder whether Lex is going to have any thoughts later about how ALL of his time with Chloe was spent without a single thought for Clark? He was completely consumed by her… which should make it obvious to ANY person that SHE is the person he loves above all others, and he is doing her a great injustice by using her as a mistress. It’s not fair to Chloe, and not fair to Clark.


His nose nuzzled against it at first and she bucked up against him while she moaned his name. She felt him smile against the skin and then began to place a trail of wet kisses on the space.

Instead of doing something productive or something to drive him mad, Chloe merely turned her head to give him better access.

Lex started to use his teeth on one specific spot. But not too hard.

LOL! It looks like Lex has found Chloe’s ‘special weak spots’, ROTFL! He’s certainly taking full advantage of this knowledge.


Lex worried at the skin between his teeth for a few moments longer, then released it with a last broad lick. A quarter sized purple bruise had appeared where he'd bitten and sucked her. Satisfied with his accomplishment, Lex moved back up and brought their mouths together for another long, passionate kiss.

heh… so there is also some physical evidence of their cheating… I wonder how Chloe will feel when seeing it later on herself? Satisfied and pleased? Or sick and guilty? Desire or regret?


She looked back over at him and saw that he was just as desperate as she was. He’d slide into home later.

When she felt her orgasm rising up, she locked her eyes with Lex. She knew he liked to watch her.

He ran his palms gently over her nipples before massaging the flesh.

Chloe grabbed at his shoulders. “Coming, Lex.”

Her pussy was twitching, looking for something to hold onto. She knew that her pajama pants were soaked between her legs.

This part was REALLY hot! I especially enjoyed and giggled over how the teenage reference of the ‘base system’ was carried throughout. Good job in setting the tone and following it through perfectly, BlueSabby.


He could feel the pressure build low in his stomach and started to thrust against her. Closing his eyes he meshed their mouths together and kissed her fiercely, shifting his hands to hold her tight as he rutted against her like a mindless animal. Her short nails dug into his shoulders and the coil in his stomach wound tighter, the friction against his cock driving him to the brink. When the tension finally snapped, he groaned into her mouth, hips jerking irregularly as he spilled himself into his pants.

ROTFLMAO! It was hot, but still HILARIOUS!!! Oh my heavens! You weren’t kidding when you called this a complete teen groping session, were you? LOL! He actually came in his pants?

But it was intensely hot and amazing visualizing Lex bucking wildly out of control as he ended up ruining his pants. Well done, Chloe! You made Lex lose himself completely.

Hmmph! But how much do you want to bet that the dunce will STILL not realize that he should break up with Clark and start giving Chloe all the care, time and attention that she is due from a full-on boyfriend of all her own. Lex is being incredibly unfair to both of his lovers. I feel a lot sorrier for Chloe rather than Clark… mostly because it’s hard to feel sorry for someone who is so smug, self-satisfied and damned pleased with his own ‘perfection’. I feel like Chloe is the one really suffering because she’s selling herself short and settling for less than her true worth. I think, in the end, she’s going to end up dreadfully unhappy about playing ‘back-up girl’ to yet ANOTHER person that she loves.

This was a very interesting chapter with a fascinating twist, BlueSabby. I look forward to seeing where you plan to take it in the future. You’ve made me both very angry and saddened for your characters… great work! Please update soon.

Impress
5th April 2008, 23:45
I finally sat down to read this, I was a little hesitant at first given that I'm not really a fan of Clex but I'm glad I took the time. It's a really good story, and I can't wait to read the next part. I'm hoping that it doesn't take long before Lex realizes he needs to ditch Clark or Chloe long to realize she doesn't want to share Lex (and she shouldn't have to.) More soon.

dagney
6th April 2008, 02:18
Smoking.. I don't know how but i missed the update earlier. Bad Me. I like how much passion is felt btw the two. MMMM good. Dagney

starmoon
6th April 2008, 07:28
That was... well... HOT!

I feel bad for Chloe though, 'sharing' him with Clark isn't going to end well, even she knows it, but loves Lex to much to stay away. Not that I can blame her.(lol) As much as I can't stand Clark and wish Lex would dump his ass, even he doesn't deserve to be cheated on. It turns Lex out to be the bad guy... but I gotta say love the angst!

Awesome chapter!!!

you took the words right out of my mouth!!!!!!!!!!

BlueSabby
19th April 2008, 19:45
A/N: Blue: More sex and angst. Cause you all seem to enjoy it so much *G*
A/N:Sabby: I really wish there was a quicker way to update the thread title. *grumble/bitch* Okay, enjoy your update fiends. And remember, this is still angstful, so no hoping for a quick resolution to the whole Clark problem.

Lex stretched out on the mattress, languid from the long hot shower they'd just enjoyed and unselfconscious in his nudity. Chloe wiggled beside him and he turned to sling his arms around her waist, pulling her on top of him.

“That was nice,” he said with a kiss to her shoulder as she made herself more comfortable on his stretched out body.

They hadn't done anything in the shower except wash each other, a few touches lingering longer than they needed to, but nothing overtly sexual. She'd made him hum in contentment as she'd washed his back with massaging touches and he could have sworn she'd actually purred as he'd washed her hair.

The strands were still wet. She'd only dried them haphazardly before they'd tumbled into bed.

He pushed the hair from her face and cradled the back of her neck, guiding her down for another drawn out kiss. His hand moved up and down her still damp back, enjoying the feel of soft warm skin under his palm.

Chloe wanted to stay like this forever. Damn the outside world. Their jobs, their friends, their families…they’d get along without them somehow. But Chloe knew it wasn’t going to happen. But, for now, at least, there was only she and Lex in her bed.

She languidly kissed Lex back. They both seemed to revel in just touching each other. Exploring the planes and curves of one another’s body, memorizing them and saving information for later. How lightly touching Lex just below his lowest rib would make him jump. That he could just sit back and relax as her lips and hands played over his chest.

Being that he’d taken up residence on her neck about a half an hour ago, he’d clearly learned some things, too.

Once she’d gotten out of the shower and cleaned off the mirror she had looked at her neck. There was a nice sized hickey. Chloe knew that she’d be wearing cover up there all week.

Lex had come up behind her and she could see that he was waiting to see her reaction. She’d asked for it in the heat of the moment but he clearly didn’t know if she would still be pleased about it. “Nice work,” she’d commented and then tilted her head. Lex had dutifully kissed the bruised spot.

After kissing his lips thoroughly, she nuzzled against his upper torso. Her hands moving across his ribs and sides. “Nice doesn’t even begin to describe it.” Whether he was talking about their teenage performance or the later cleanup didn’t matter. They’d both been much more than nice.

He slid his fingers through her damp hair and started lightly scratching her scalp. His eyes dropped to half-mast as she nuzzled and kissed her way around his chest.

This was really beyond nice. Just being together like that, making out and being close, exploring each other's body and feeling...

Teeth latching on to his chest?

His eyes popped open and Lex looked down to find Chloe creating a hickey about two inches away from his left nipple. The suction felt weird and she almost broke off as he tried to suppress a laugh.

“Payback?”

Not that he minded. Nobody would see it. And it would be gone within three days at the most. He wished it would stick around longer. And wasn't that a surprising thought?

His head thumped back onto the pillow behind him and he let Chloe do her best. Judging by her wide open mouth, she planned for this to be the mother of all hickeys. Her breath fanned against his skin and the suction grew a bit stronger, sending Lex's mind into the gutter as he wondered what this would feel like on other parts of his anatomy. As long as she didn't use her teeth there.

When Lex didn’t protest what she was doing, instead his hand remained steadily massaging her damp hair, she kept at it. It was only fair. Besides, she liked knowing that Lex would have something to remember her by if they weren’t able to see each other in the next couple of days.

Plus, she hadn’t actually given a guy a hickey in she didn’t even know how long.

She gave his skin one last, long suck and then looked down at her handiwork. It had escaped her that she’d placed it directly over his heart until now.

Her thumb ran over the already forming bruise. “Perfect, I think it goes very well with your aristocratic alabaster skin.”

As she wiggled around to get more comfortable, her leg brushed against Lex’s cock. He was already interested again. “You really are like a teenager.”

Lex chuckled and stroked a hand down her side to grab her ass and shift her a little higher on his hips. “Curse of a high metabolism. Or was it a gift? Not sure, why don't you tell me?”

He licked his lips and craned his neck up slightly so he could capture her bottom lip between his teeth and lick at it. The lick turned into another kiss that mutated into nibbling along her jaw to get to that sensitive spot behind her ear.

One of them, or maybe both of them, groaned as Chloe started rocking her hips, rubbing back and forth over his hardening cock.

“Want you,” he murmured against her mouth between more kisses and nips.

His hands moved down her back to settle on her hips. He helped her keep her balance as she leaned forward and reached behind herself to guide his dick to her opening.

They were both already breathing heavily and Chloe wondered if they’d ever be able to take it slow and draw out their pleasure. She really did feel almost totally out of control when she was with Lex like this. It was too easy to lose herself in the feelings and not think about how to prolong them.

She’d try that a little more this time.

Lex’s cock was held firmly by her hand and, together, they moved her body up enough and then…

Her hands clawed a little at his shoulders once he was fully inside. “Fuck.”

This position had always done wonders for her. Stimulation to her clit usually left her able to come numerous times so she’d use that to her advantage. She imagined Lex sitting in a chair as she rode him with her back towards him. That position was like heaven.

Chloe took a deep breath to get herself under control and she saw the huge grin on Lex’s face. His fingers had flexed over her hips once he was all the way in so at least she knew he wasn’t totally unaffected by what they were starting to do. “Don’t even say it,” she panted.

While she had no idea what he was thinking, she didn’t want to hear it. “Not my fault that you’re so…”

Couldn’t think of a word that encompassed all that Lex was.

Instead of thinking of a word, she started to move.

Slowly, enjoying the feel of Lex sliding easily in and out of her pussy. She leaned forward a little to change the angle and yelped at the feeling of getting fucked as her clit dragged against his cock. Leaned down further in order to catch his lips.

They started to kiss. Hungrily and with teeth. Chloe waited until he seemed a little distracted. Then she used her internal muscles. Lex bucked and his teeth clamped down on her lower lip. She whimpered as she felt him break the skin and his cock slid further inside.

Lex’s hips stopped and he pulled away from her. “Don’t stop.” Ran her hand over his forehead. “S’okay.” Looked into his eyes and kept squeezing him. His eyes crashed shut and she swallowed his groan with her mouth.

He rolled his hips and picked up her slow rhythm again, letting her set the tempo. He swiped his tongue over her lips, tasting the metallic tang of blood. His hands came up slowly, sliding over her back and to her shoulders, feeling the muscles shift below the soft skin. The clenching and unclenching around his cock was slowly but surely driving him insane.

Sliding his palms over her shoulders and down her arms, he found her hands and took hold of her wrists. Lex pulled out of the kiss to nuzzle against her ear. “Lean back.”

It took her a moment, but then she started to right herself up. Lex braced a hand behind him and followed her, holding on to her waist until he found his balance again. This position didn't allow for much movement or a fast hard fuck, but that wasn't what he was looking for anyway.

“Put your legs behind my back.”

He tightened his hold around her waist, pushing against her lower back to guide her into the movements as he crossed his legs Indian style. The gentle rocking wouldn't get either of them over the edge for a while, but the stimulation was nice and even.

This was nice. She felt close to him and the constant stimulation on her clit was causing nice feelings through her whole body. But she didn’t feel out of control. She dipped her head and kissed whatever part of Lex she could get at before pulling back to look him in the eyes.

Lex kept his arms around her, hands moving and she rocked against him. She leaned down and kissed him slowly and thoroughly, leaving no part of his mouth untouched by hers.

Meanwhile, something was happening between her legs. It felt different than usual. A gradual, even build up. Nothing that seemed overwhelming but it was still incredibly pleasurable. She clutched at Lex with her pussy.

Was groaning and whimpering in his mouth. Pulled back. Arched her neck a little but kept looking at Lex. She saw that his hand started to drift between their joined bodies. But she knew she’d make it without that. Wanted to try at least.

Grabbed at his hand and laced their fingers. Squeezed it as she felt her body jerk and shake.

Eyes crashing closed, hips moving, pleasure released and diffused everywhere. Only a small “oh” drawn out of her mouth as she crested.

Immediately went back to Lex’s mouth. Her tongue more insistent now.

Lex smiled into the kiss and kept up the steady rocking motion, one hand guiding her at her lower back and his other moving to push her hair out of her face. The contraction of her muscles had heightened his arousal, but he was still nowhere near that urge that came when his climax was imminent.

“Like it?” he asked as he kissed a path down her neck to capture a nipple in his mouth.

In this position, he could go at it for hours. As far as he remembered. It had been over five years since he'd done it in any other position than missionary and riding. But now, that would change. Screw heroic callings and tragedies. Literally.

He traced his tongue in circles around her areola then flicked the tip over the hard little bud of her nipple. When he felt Chloe shuddering silently, something occurred to him. He sucked on the bit of flesh between his lips for another moment then released it with a wet smacking sound.

“How come you didn't scream?”

She'd just come, without the help of his hand at that, but she hadn't made a single sound. Earlier on the couch, she hadn't been very loud either. And last week, she'd been completely silent, just a long shuddering breath while her body seized like she'd gotten an electric shock.

Something wasn't right there. Chloe had told him how much of a screamer she was in bed. A 'neighbors once called the police' type of screamer.

As she kept up the slow rocking of her hips she looked down at Lex. It took her a moment but she figured out what he was asking. “Don’t know.” She leaned down and kissed him gently.

“Didn’t feel like I had to.” Circled her hips and moaned when Lex thrust up a little harder. “Almost like…” Thought about how she felt when she’d come with him.

“Too intense for all of that nonsense.” She didn’t want him to feel like he was inadequate because she wasn’t giving her vocal chords a workout. “You haven’t been making all that much noise, either,” she pointed out.

She ran her hand over his shoulders and then down his sweaty back as much as she could. “When we were together last week?” She was going to tell him something that maybe she shouldn’t. “That was the most intense experience I’ve ever had.”

Chloe didn't look at him as she said it and her words were voice so low that someone who wasn't two inches away from her mouth probably wouldn't have heard them. But Lex had heard and he was struck speechless for a moment.

He was surprised that it had meant that much to her. He'd been so wrapped up in his own world, admittedly, a world that consisted of nothing but her, he'd never even thought about how she'd experienced their first time together.

And the way she buried her face in his neck, she probably didn't expect that he was on the same level with her.

Lex ran his hand through her hair and placed a kiss just above her ear. “Me too.”

Her hands twitched on his back and Lex pulled her closer, tightening his arms around her.

Chloe kissed his shoulder and her right hand made its way to where she thought his hickey was. She couldn’t see because her head was still nestled in the crook of Lex’s shoulder. She continued to kiss and nip at him.

It was comforting to hear that last week had meant a lot to him, too. She wasn’t alone in this thing. Lex felt that this was as right as she did. Even though he had…

She didn’t allow herself to continue on down that path.

“I’m glad,” she murmured. Putting all actual thought out of her head, she started to pump her hips more strongly.
~~
Lex leaned back against the headboard and stared at the weird picture on the other side of the bed. It was a print of a Magritte painting. It showed a lady on a horse in the middle of the woods. Only, part of the horse between two trees was invisible, making it seem that horse and ride were painted onto a tree and giving the whole scenario an absurd look.

“Did they ever figure out what kind of drugs he took? Because it had to have been the real good stuff.”

They were just lounging in bed, neither of them willing to get up yet. Lex couldn't remember the last time he'd done that when sober. He usually fought for something to do, to keep himself busy, every minute of the day.

This was much better.

Chloe gave his shoulder a half hearted smack. After what they’d just done she didn’t have much energy or feel much like arguing with Lex. She felt like cuddling and asking him how long he could stay. “I’d think that, from one genius to another, you’d cut the man some slack.”

She rolled so she was semi on top of him. All the better to run her hands over him. They probably should get out of the bed and get something to eat but that didn’t appeal to her at all. She liked Lex where he was. Naked and splayed out in her bed.

They probably looked a mess but she didn’t care. Her hands lazily ran over his chest and then lower down, fingers tracing his belly button.

It was past six in the evening so she’d made herself move out of the bed and turn on some lights a few minutes ago. Chloe moved her head until she could nip at his neck. Then she sucked his earlobe into her mouth.

Yes, she liked sex but even this was a little ridiculous for her. Couldn’t seem to get enough of Lex. “You’re addictive, you know that?”

“Like Hagen Daaz?” He smirked as he trailed his fingertips back and forth over her shoulder. “I still remember the time I caught you with your face in the tub, trying to lick the last scraps from the bottom. Now that's an ice cream addict if I ever saw one.”

Lex chuckled as he called up the memory, watching in his mind's eye as Chloe's tongue stretched and curled to reach every bit of ice cream left in the large carton. “Hmm, to be that ice cream,” he murmured under his breath.

His mind immediately started to conjure up different images, far less innocent ones. Women were really unfair to blame guys for their fixation on oral sex. They were the ones who kept licking things in plain sight so it was only natural that a man would start to wonder and inevitably end up thinking of a blow job. There were just some things a tongue could do for you that other body parts couldn't.

She smiled against Lex’s neck. “Like double chocolate chip ice cream laced with crack and rum.” Now that she was allowed to do so, Chloe couldn’t stop touching him. His last comment also hadn’t gone unnoticed by her.

But, she’d bide her time a little. Get him good and ready before she headed further south.

“Should come with a warning label.” Her stomach grumbled but she ignored it. They’d get food. Later. Once she was done blowing his mind by blowing another part of his body.

Chloe knew that Lex didn’t get much in the way of that. They’d had more discussions about it than she’d care to remember at this point in time.

She moved her body so it would be easy to slide down Lex’s. Working her way from his neck down to his collar bones she said, “I usually don’t miss dinner for anyone.” He’d joked with her about her apparent never filling stomach. “You’re very special.”

Lex matched the small grin she gave him as she scooted a little further down. As she ran her tongue over the hickey she’d made, her right hand drifted below his waist. She fastened her mouth to his flesh as she encircled his cock with her fingers.

He hissed in a breath, forcing his hips to stay still. His grip on her shoulder tightened and he took a deep breath, willing himself to remain in control. It had been too long. “You don't have to miss dinner if you don't want to,” he said as calmly as possible, “and you don't have to do this either.”

If his cock could speak it would ask him what the hell he was thinking. But thankfully, only his brain had the ability to speak to him and it told him that it would not be nice to ignore what Chloe wanted just because he'd really love to have his dick sucked.

She was sure this was part of his pattern with Clark. Mostly because Clark probably thought this was dirty. But Chloe wasn’t doing this out of some sort of duty. While keeping her hand on his cock, she looked up at him.

“Lex,” she kissed the skin next to his hickey. “Do I ever do anything that I don’t want to?” Once he answered in the negative, she kept going. “Yes, I’m hungry but it can wait. I want to watch as you lose control because of me.”

Chloe started to move her wrist. “I want to feel you in my mouth.” Again, she doubted that Lex got any of this talk from his boyfriend. “I want to do things with you that I’ve only ever fantasized about.” While she was sexually adventurous there had always been trust issues with her other partners.

She could feel him getting harder in her hand and saw his breathing pick up. “Now, will you shush and let me show you how good this can feel?” Sure, he’d probably had this done before Clark but he might have forgotten about the others and what they’d done to him. At least they’d be dimmed in his memory. His boyfriend usually did a quick and perfunctory job. Another nip to his chest before she looked at his face.

Lex couldn't help but grin at her bold statement. “I do know how good this can feel, you know? It's not like...” He cut himself off before he could finish the sentence, the grin gone from his face. Clark had no place here. Neither past nor present.

He moved his hands to comb the hair out of her face and brushed his thumbs over her cheekbones. “I'm at your mercy, do what you will with me.”

His eyes searched her face and he knew that she was well aware of what he'd almost said. But she didn't call him on it and he was glad for that. This was about them and they'd both have to try to avoid bringing up things, or people, that had no right to interfere with this.

She placed another kiss on his hickey and Lex lowered his lids, watching her through half closed eyes. His hands remained in her hair, massaging her scalp and following her movements across his chest and stomach.

This would be slow. As slow as she could go without it being comically slow. She wanted to show Lex what it was like to be with someone who actually cared about how they made you feel. Both physically and in other ways.

It wasn’t hard to take her time. Lex’s body was amazing so Chloe found herself distracted rather easily. Tracing each hard line of his ribs with her tongue and then lightly blowing on the wet flesh. Running her hand over his side, feeling his skin under her palm as her other hand kept up its steady, slow rhythm.

Once he was fully erect, Chloe pulled her hand away and quickly scooted lower. She ran her thumbs over his slightly jutting hip bones and ran her tongue over and under the indentation in his belly. She placed an open mouthed kiss just above the thatch of pubic hair.

His hands slipped through her hair as he tried to keep them in contact with her skull. He was already pulling in deep, almost ragged breaths. When she looked up at him, she noticed that his eyes had fallen closed.

“Lex.” She cleared her throat a little but her voice was still husky. “Watch me.”

She waited for his eyes to open and focus on her before she moved to settle herself between his spread legs. Chloe knew he was watching her carefully as her eyes crawled over his body.

Her hands ran up his upper thighs as she tried to get her own breathing under control. He was laid out for the taking and it had to be one of the most erotic things she’d seen in her life. “No idea what you do to me,” she murmured.

It was hard to keep his eyes open when all he wanted to do was let them drift shut and enjoy the sensations she was creating with her lips and fingers. Lex forced himself to look at her face and was rewarded with the sight of her mouth slowly lowering over his cock and her tongue flicking out to circle lightly over the crown.

He hissed in a breath and groaned as wet heat closed over the head of his dick and her wicked tongue flitted over his sensitive slit. Her fingers circled the base of his cock in a firm grip, pumping slowly up and down as she focused her attention on the tip.

Lex forced his hips to remain on the mattress, letting her have her way and do things on her own pace. He let the pleasure suffuse his body, heat spreading slowly through his entire body.

“So good,” he murmured as his thumb brushed over her cheek again.

The whispered words of encouragement, while not needed, pleased Chloe. It was obvious from the tightness of his body and its involuntary reactions that Lex was enjoying this. Chloe wanted to give him that. Give him pleasure that wasn’t demanded or given grudgingly.

She ran her tongue randomly over the tip of his cock. Varying the speed and strength as Lex’s taste became stronger. Chloe let her throat relax as she moved her head forward, taking more of Lex inside her mouth.
Thankfully, Lex’s hands in her hair kept the strands in place so she could watch his reactions. She knew that he was holding himself back, wanting to let her take control. He clearly wasn’t used to the slow and steady route. He’d been mistreated too long for that.

Her one hand kept working at the base of Lex’s cock as the other traveled to massage his balls gently. She hollowed out her cheeks as more of his dick disappeared down the channel of her throat.

Lex’s hips jerked up a little and he cursed. He hadn’t meant to do it. But Chloe didn’t mind, in fact, she’d liked it.

She hummed around his throbbing dick and worked at his balls a little more forcefully. He jerked again and her head moved in counterpoint to his hips. Finally, Lex seemed to get the message as he started to move up and down. Hesitantly at first and then more surely when she started to moan around his shaft.

He groaned deeply as the noise vibrated along the length of his cock, her throat muscles constricting around the tip while her tongue rubbed along the underside at the base. The pleasure inside him grew stronger with every thrust into her wet mouth.

Her lips stretched taut around his cock, her cheeks hollowing out as she sucked him harder. She kept looking right at him as her head bobbed up and down in counterpoint to his hips.

“You look so fucking hot.”

He could feel the tension coiling low in his stomach, his climax coming on swiftly as Chloe pulled back and pushed her tongue into the sensitive spot just below the head of his dick. Lex's mind was starting to shut down, but he managed to keep it together long enough to tap her cheek and strangle out, “Going to...”

She sucked him harder and pushed the tip of her tongue into the slit, wiggling it back and forth.

Lex came with a shout as his body involuntarily jackknifed, almost curling double over her head as he came in hard spurts, intense pleasure knocking the air out of his lungs until he collapsed back against the pillow behind him.

“Damn.”

Chloe tended to Lex’s cock, cleaning him up and then slowly pulling him out of her mouth, before she could respond to his words.

Her own body was flushed and turned on by Lex’s display. But she didn’t need anything from him. She just wanted to enjoy Lex basking in an orgasm that she’d given him.

She ran her tongue over her lips, seeing that Lex was watching her from beneath one of his arms that was half way thrown across his face, and snagged a drop of his come from her lower lip. His taste was still strong in her mouth.

Smiling, she crawled up to lie down next to him. “Right back at you.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and ran her hand over his chest as his panting started to slow.

tbc

lj715
19th April 2008, 20:27
Wow, very hot. One of my favorite fics so I hope you can update soon. Love the way they are so open with each other.

dagney
19th April 2008, 20:59
I adore how you've written the emotional intimacy btw the two and how this enhanses their powerful physical desire dare i say love making. I enjoyed it all but esp loved the last bit:

She sucked him harder and pushed the tip of her tongue into the slit, wiggling it back and forth.

Lex came with a shout as his body involuntarily jackknifed, almost curling double over her head as he came in hard spurts, intense pleasure knocking the air out of his lungs until he collapsed back against the pillow behind him.

“Damn.”

Chloe tended to Lex’s cock, cleaning him up and then slowly pulling him out of her mouth, before she could respond to his words.

Her own body was flushed and turned on by Lex’s display. But she didn’t need anything from him. She just wanted to enjoy Lex basking in an orgasm that she’d given him.

She ran her tongue over her lips, seeing that Lex was watching her from beneath one of his arms that was half way thrown across his face, and snagged a drop of his come from her lower lip. His taste was still strong in her mouth.

Smiling, she crawled up to lie down next to him. “Right back at you.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and ran her hand over his chest as his panting started to slow.

Dagney

tatie87
19th April 2008, 21:20
Great chapter!!! I can't wait to see what happens when Clark comes back into the picture.

Kit Merlot
19th April 2008, 22:48
What an awesomely beautiful and smutty chapter!

I like how addicted Chloe and Lex are to each other--they have such an intense bond between the two of them that goes beyond sex.

Continued excellent work on this story:blinkkiss

hfce
20th April 2008, 00:52
DAMN!!! I am speechless that was some hot sex. I loved it and to bad Lex doesn't see Chloe is the one not Clark. Good job guys more please... :beg:

somethingeasy
20th April 2008, 17:10
Chloe wanted to stay like this forever. Damn the outside world. Their jobs, their friends, their families…they’d get along without them somehow. But Chloe knew it wasn’t going to happen. But, for now, at least, there was only she and Lex in her bed.

My guess is that Chloe is already (subconsciously) beginning to dread back the return to reality when she’ll have to let Lex go back ‘home to his lover’. I don’t think she’s fully digested and acknowledged the full implications of this ‘relationship’ where she’s being kept as a secret mistress on the side of Lex’s ‘real life’. Heh, I sense unpleasant things ahead. She might as well enjoy this day for all it’s worth.


Not that he minded. Nobody would see it. And it would be gone within three days at the most. He wished it would stick around longer. And wasn't that a surprising thought?

His head thumped back onto the pillow behind him and he let Chloe do her best. Judging by her wide open mouth, she planned for this to be the mother of all hickeys. Her breath fanned against his skin and the suction grew a bit stronger, sending Lex's mind into the gutter as he wondered what this would feel like on other parts of his anatomy. As long as she didn't use her teeth there.

I wasn’t surprised that Chloe likes the idea of being ‘marked’ by Lex. It makes sense that she would want SOME kind of reminder and physical evidence of this relationship that doesn’t really exist outside of this apartment. And by the same token, I can understand her reasons for wanting to mark HIM too. It makes sense that she would want him to remember here… even after he leaves their ‘sanctuary’.

But I WAS surprised that Lex didn’t protest being marked by his ‘secret mistress’, when it’s obvious that he has no intention of leaving Clark. Is he hoping that Clark won’t notice the hickey? That Clark won’t come home until the mark has disappeared? Or is Lex just ‘not’ thinking about the consequences of his ‘legitimate lover’ seeing a love-bite from Lex’s secret affair?

LOL! Perhaps the suction of Chloe’s mouth shut off Lex’s brain, and made it impossible for him to concentrate on anything except imagining how that suction would feel on ‘other’ parts of his body? LOL!


They were both already breathing heavily and Chloe wondered if they’d ever be able to take it slow and draw out their pleasure. She really did feel almost totally out of control when she was with Lex like this. It was too easy to lose herself in the feelings and not think about how to prolong them.

The action is heating up on screen. And this explains a lot about their complete lack of thinking about cost and consequences about carrying on an affair behind Clark’s back.


This position had always done wonders for her. Stimulation to her clit usually left her able to come numerous times so she’d use that to her advantage. She imagined Lex sitting in a chair as she rode him with her back towards him. That position was like heaven.

oooh, hot, HOT!!! Loved the way Chloe is visualizing some of the more exotic positions with which she and Lex and enjoy each other. After having Clark as a ‘phone it in lover’, Chloe is really going to rock Lex’s world.


Slowly, enjoying the feel of Lex sliding easily in and out of her pussy. She leaned forward a little to change the angle and yelped at the feeling of getting fucked as her clit dragged against his cock. Leaned down further in order to catch his lips.

They started to kiss. Hungrily and with teeth. Chloe waited until he seemed a little distracted. Then she used her internal muscles. Lex bucked and his teeth clamped down on her lower lip. She whimpered as she felt him break the skin and his cock slid further inside.

I loved the description on how hungry they are for each other. VERY hot stuff!


Lex kept his arms around her, hands moving and she rocked against him. She leaned down and kissed him slowly and thoroughly, leaving no part of his mouth untouched by hers.

Meanwhile, something was happening between her legs. It felt different than usual. A gradual, even build up. Nothing that seemed overwhelming but it was still incredibly pleasurable. She clutched at Lex with her pussy.

Was groaning and whimpering in his mouth. Pulled back. Arched her neck a little but kept looking at Lex. She saw that his hand started to drift between their joined bodies. But she knew she’d make it without that. Wanted to try at least.

Grabbed at his hand and laced their fingers. Squeezed it as she felt her body jerk and shake.

Eyes crashing closed, hips moving, pleasure released and diffused everywhere. Only a small “oh” drawn out of her mouth as she crested.

Wow! I LOVED the sudden change in mood, pace, rhythm, urgency that came with the change into this new position. It was beautiful to see Lex and Chloe taking it slow and easy as they ‘made love’ to each other in this gentle, slow, pleasant, easy kind of way. Hot, hard, frantic fucking is great, but it doesn’t have the same kind of connection and warmth that this kind of slow sex-play does.


In this position, he could go at it for hours. As far as he remembered. It had been over five years since he'd done it in any other position than missionary and riding. But now, that would change. Screw heroic callings and tragedies. Literally.

heh, I liked the idea of Lex being able to ‘go at it for hours’ in this position. Chloe is in for a fun time this afternoon, LOL! BUT, I finally saw a reference to Clark over here… and it wasn’t a good reference, because it seemed like Lex was enjoying the way that sex with Chloe was a way of proverbially ‘sticking it to Clark’… as if he’s using Chloe as a way to spite Clark and the way that the superhero doesn’t satisfy Lex’s needs. CHloe is getting a raw deal over here… Clark too for that matter.


She ran her hand over his shoulders and then down his sweaty back as much as she could. “When we were together last week?” She was going to tell him something that maybe she shouldn’t. “That was the most intense experience I’ve ever had.”

Chloe didn't look at him as she said it and her words were voice so low that someone who wasn't two inches away from her mouth probably wouldn't have heard them. But Lex had heard and he was struck speechless for a moment.

He was surprised that it had meant that much to her. He'd been so wrapped up in his own world, admittedly, a world that consisted of nothing but her, he'd never even thought about how she'd experienced their first time together.

And the way she buried her face in his neck, she probably didn't expect that he was on the same level with her.

Lex ran his hand through her hair and placed a kiss just above her ear. “Me too.”

I liked that Lex’s silly, random question led to this kind of a confession from BOTH of them about how they feel about the sex with each other. Perhaps admitting that it’s the ‘most intense experience of their lives’ will make them admit that this is NOT the kind of relationship that should be kept on the side… hidden away from the world like a dirty secret.

Indeed, it would actually be dangerous to keep this kind of intensity hidden away, because the emotions involved can easily twist into intense resentment, bitterness and hatred… This is NOT the careless, simple, happy-go-lucky kind of affair that can be treated like a casual-fuck between friends.

Let’s hope the two of them realize this before they end up breaking themselves apart… heeee… OR we readers can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride of Lex screwing himself out of this WONDERFUL, stunning, intense relationship with Chloe because he’s not willing to give up his idea of the ‘Ideal Relationship with Clark Kent’. This is going to be FUN!!! Let’s bring on the misery!


It was comforting to hear that last week had meant a lot to him, too. She wasn’t alone in this thing. Lex felt that this was as right as she did. Even though he had…

She didn’t allow herself to continue on down that path.

Heeee… it’s started already… Chloe is already beginning to form some form of resentment against Lex about how he’s disregarding aside the intensity between them to return to Clark. Granted, she’s trying to shove away the resentment, but how much longer can she manage to do that?


Chloe gave his shoulder a half hearted smack. After what they’d just done she didn’t have much energy or feel much like arguing with Lex. She felt like cuddling and asking him how long he could stay. “I’d think that, from one genius to another, you’d cut the man some slack.”

ROTFL! I wonder how Lex feels being compared to the ‘genius’ who created the awful painting in Chloe’s bedroom, LOL!


“Like Hagen Daaz?” He smirked as he trailed his fingertips back and forth over her shoulder. “I still remember the time I caught you with your face in the tub, trying to lick the last scraps from the bottom. Now that's an ice cream addict if I ever saw one.”

Lex chuckled as he called up the memory, watching in his mind's eye as Chloe's tongue stretched and curled to reach every bit of ice cream left in the large carton. “Hmm, to be that ice cream,” he murmured under his breath.

His mind immediately started to conjure up different images, far less innocent ones. Women were really unfair to blame guys for their fixation on oral sex. They were the ones who kept licking things in plain sight so it was only natural that a man would start to wonder and inevitably end up thinking of a blow job. There were just some things a tongue could do for you that other body parts couldn't.

ROTFL! Is he really trying to blame men’s fixation on oral sex on women? ROTFL! I love how he’s getting turned out remembering Chloe once going hog-wild with a tub of Hagen Daaz ice-cream… but he should know that woman take their Hagen Daaz pint tubs VERY seriously. I hope he didn’t ask her to do something silly like share? LOL!


She moved her body so it would be easy to slide down Lex’s. Working her way from his neck down to his collar bones she said, “I usually don’t miss dinner for anyone.” He’d joked with her about her apparent never filling stomach. “You’re very special.”

*snorts and rolls eyes* yee-huh! Soooo special! Let’s see if you can still say THAT with a straight face when you’re leaving her apartment to return to your BOYFRIEND, you selfish, double-dealing, two-timing prick!

Hmmm, that sounded a little cynical! But honestly, I can’t help but stare in wonder at Lex’s sheer audacity at wanting to keep Clark while STILL enjoying an intense sexual relationship with his best friend on the side. How stupid is that man to think that he can keep this going long term? He’s going to end up destroying BOTH the relationships in his life, and end up alone (as he deserves!)


“Lex,” she kissed the skin next to his hickey. “Do I ever do anything that I don’t want to?” Once he answered in the negative, she kept going. “Yes, I’m hungry but it can wait. I want to watch as you lose control because of me.”

Chloe started to move her wrist. “I want to feel you in my mouth.” Again, she doubted that Lex got any of this talk from his boyfriend. “I want to do things with you that I’ve only ever fantasized about.” While she was sexually adventurous there had always been trust issues with her other partners.

She could feel him getting harder in her hand and saw his breathing pick up. “Now, will you shush and let me show you how good this can feel?” Sure, he’d probably had this done before Clark but he might have forgotten about the others and what they’d done to him. At least they’d be dimmed in his memory. His boyfriend usually did a quick and perfunctory job. Another nip to his chest before she looked at his face.

It was really sweet, wonderful and HOT to see Chloe being so generous and ‘in charge’ at the same time. I’m sure she’s going to pull out all the stops to make this memorable and mind-blowing for Lex…

BUT, I can’t help but see that Chloe seems to be doing this because she wants to prove that she’s BETTER than Clark in every way possible. She’s already throwing herself in competition with Lex’s ‘other lover’… trying to compete for his attentions. How much longer is she going to keep feeling like a second-rate standby, fighting for Lex’s attentions, until she just says ‘enough!’?


Lex couldn't help but grin at her bold statement. “I do know how good this can feel, you know? It's not like...” He cut himself off before he could finish the sentence, the grin gone from his face. Clark had no place here. Neither past nor present.

He moved his hands to comb the hair out of her face and brushed his thumbs over her cheekbones. “I'm at your mercy, do what you will with me.”

His eyes searched her face and he knew that she was well aware of what he'd almost said. But she didn't call him on it and he was glad for that. This was about them and they'd both have to try to avoid bringing up things, or people, that had no right to interfere with this.

Oh Lex, you stupid, STUPID man! He completely missed how Chloe was trying to ‘prove herself’ as the better giver of blowjobs. He practically told her that he’s NOT lacking when it comes to oral sex because Clark already satisfies him in that regard. He didn’t say it outright, but he cut himself off before he could finish the statement, and I’m sure that’s the implication that Chloe picked up.

Poor Chloe… she’s trying so HARD to shove Lex’s remark out of her head, as well as the reminder of the huge ‘Clark Kent Issue’ that’s sure to crop up sometime or another. I wonder how long they both can keep dancing around THAT cape-wearing pink elephant?


This would be slow. As slow as she could go without it being comically slow. She wanted to show Lex what it was like to be with someone who actually cared about how they made you feel. Both physically and in other ways.

It definitely sounds like Chloe is viewing this as a competition, with Clark as her rival. She has grown up so much since Smallville, but she’s returned to allowing herself being treated as the back-up girl again. What a damned shame and a waste!


Her hands ran up his upper thighs as she tried to get her own breathing under control. He was laid out for the taking and it had to be one of the most erotic things she’d seen in her life. “No idea what you do to me,” she murmured.

It was hard to keep his eyes open when all he wanted to do was let them drift shut and enjoy the sensations she was creating with her lips and fingers. Lex forced himself to look at her face and was rewarded with the sight of her mouth slowly lowering over his cock and her tongue flicking out to circle lightly over the crown.

He hissed in a breath and groaned as wet heat closed over the head of his dick and her wicked tongue flitted over his sensitive slit. Her fingers circled the base of his cock in a firm grip, pumping slowly up and down as she focused her attention on the tip.

Lex forced his hips to remain on the mattress, letting her have her way and do things on her own pace. He let the pleasure suffuse his body, heat spreading slowly through his entire body.

“So good,” he murmured as his thumb brushed over her cheek again.

wow! Despite the twisted feelings of rivalry, insecurity and competitiveness that’s underlying this whole blowjob, it sounds really HOT and intense. And it sounds like Lex is getting an amazing experience… Perhaps Chloe is succeeding in ‘outdoing Clark Kent’… for now at least. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to be the victorious one at the end of the day.


The whispered words of encouragement, while not needed, pleased Chloe. It was obvious from the tightness of his body and its involuntary reactions that Lex was enjoying this. Chloe wanted to give him that. Give him pleasure that wasn’t demanded or given grudgingly.

All this ‘Clark-bashing’ going on in Chloe’s head really disturbed me. It was as if Chloe is putting some serious effort into making sure that she performs better than Lex’s lover. She’s already resenting the situation she’s in, even if she’s focusing her anger on Clark rather than Lex… for now


She hummed around his throbbing dick and worked at his balls a little more forcefully. He jerked again and her head moved in counterpoint to his hips. Finally, Lex seemed to get the message as he started to move up and down. Hesitantly at first and then more surely when she started to moan around his shaft.

He groaned deeply as the noise vibrated along the length of his cock, her throat muscles constricting around the tip while her tongue rubbed along the underside at the base. The pleasure inside him grew stronger with every thrust into her wet mouth.

Her lips stretched taut around his cock, her cheeks hollowing out as she sucked him harder. She kept looking right at him as her head bobbed up and down in counterpoint to his hips.

“You look so fucking hot.”

wow! This blowjob sounds AMAZING! And I think Chloe has won this round on ‘who gives better oral sex’. Beautiful, HOT description, BlueSabby! Actually, the whole chapter was very, VERY sexy, and I loved reading it.

I actually loved reading it more for the angst, hostility and conflict that I can see being built up, oh so slowly and sneakily! Excellent work, BlueSabby. The intensity with which Lex and Chloe are enjoying each other is only going to heighten the intensity of the HATRED that will ensue when they finally have their argument about Lex two-timing both Clark and Chloe so that he can selfishly satisfy himself with everything BOTH of them are giving him. Lex is going to pay later for his self-absorbed, oblivious attitude, and I look forward to seeing the angsty explosions when they finally come about.

Oooh, I Love, LOVE the irony of Lex repeating Clark’s mistakes of being a self-absorbed, selfish prick who believes himself to be God’s Gift to his lovers. Isn’t it going to be FUN to see how this turns out! Good luck and best regards!

alexiel
20th April 2008, 19:00
I love this story. And that chapter was so soft and so cute and so hot !

lilinny
23rd April 2008, 05:03
What beautifully written raunchy smut!!! I love it! Can't wait for more!

SVfan1286
25th April 2008, 17:43
Another fabulous chapter ladies... Hot & incrediably sexy as usual! I can't wait for the shit-to-hit-the-fan when Clark comes back home!

PolarThestral
25th April 2008, 18:28
Huh. Just started reading this one all in one go and I have to say I'm agreeing with somethingeasy completely. Lex is being a really selfish ass. Even when the relationship wasn't sexual, Lex was using Chloe. Almost every conversation they had together revolved around Clark. Sure, it was bitching about Clark but anyone who's ever had a friend like Lex knows what it's like to be used as a sounding board and then dismissed when everything is sunshine and roses. Been there and am currently over empathising with your incredibly accurate portrayal of Chloe falling into her self-destructive pattern again.

Lex is her new Clark. Clark who used to talk about Lana in a similar way. *shudders* I grant you that Lex seems to have no idea what he's doing but he's still doing it. He feels unsatisfied and alone in his relationship because he isn't Clark's top priority. Damn that superman for saving the world. But Lex loves that superhero and his all those qualities that make him treat Lex like an afterthought. So instead of doing the less pathetic thing and actually breaking up with Clark, he decides to get emotional satisfaction by leeching it from someone else. That way he can be happy when Clark comes home instead of frustrated. He can have his cake and eat it and no one gets hurt.

Oh yeah. Except Chloe is all used up at the end of the day with no one to comfort her.

I'm glad you've both written this in a way where all three characters can be considered jerks to some degree. Clark isn't even the biggest villain of the three at the moment. It is human to reach for comfort where we can, human to use people we claim to love...but it's very easy to get angry when seeing it happen to people or characters we care about. I'm really looking forward to seeing Chloe snap her spine back in place once the hormone drive daze has subsided (like when Clark returns and Lex jumps back into bed with him and she's alone for a couple of nights).

I hope Lex will regret using her intentionally or not. I hope Chloe realizes that by letting him do it she's destroying their friendship just as much as Lex is. Because there's no way she can avoid either turning bitter with resentfulness, or becoming as pathetically needy as Lex in the first chapters of this story. Then what? Is she going to use someone else to bolster her confidence too? Is that kind of "sharing" okay with Lex? Maybe they can make a monkey chain of hot sex and split dependence. Whoo!

The thing that really threw me was that Lex said nothing when Chloe said she'd be willing to share him. The fact she jumped in with that offer before Lex could assert any intentions of his own beyond desire, is telling of her self confidence. I would not be surprised if she'd spent so many years having casual sex after Clark because he left her feeling so hollow, unattractive and unworthy that she doesn't think she deserves a real relationship. Now Lex, purported to be her best friend, has now reinforced all those self doubts by lining her up against the man that caused many of her insecurities (or at least always enflamed them). He's lined her up and found her wanting because she's the guilty pleasure on the side, the dirty secret, the one he won't kiss in public.

I'm ashamed of all the characters but I love that you have the courage as writers to take them all to such a dirty, human place. I also trust that Lex is going to go down in flames eventually and have to claw himself back in one or both of these relationship (if that's even possible). If I didn't trust that these issues are going to explode in a delicious and exciting way, I'd probably stop reading. I really don't want Lex to get away with this, no matter how much I love Chlex and think the sex scenes you've written between them are AMAZING. I still want him to go down! :p

squeezumstang
9th May 2008, 01:41
ladies,

i know you are very busy, but may i put in a request for an update on this fabulous story? kaithankxbye.

susan

BlueSabby
9th May 2008, 20:15
A/N: Blue: Some good food and some good fun!
A/N: Sabby: As always your reviews bring up interesting points and are much appreciated. We hope the direction this story is taking won't disappoint. Enjoy!

After eventually making it out of bed, they'd showered and gotten dressed. When Chloe's fridge hadn't offered anything worthwhile, they'd decided to go out for an early dinner. Which was how they found themselves sitting across from each other at a cozy table in a nearby Italian restaurant, just down the street from Chloe's apartment.

Lex dug into his fettuccine, for the first time in days actually feeling hungry. There were more shrimp on the dish than he'd expected and instead of cutting them into bite sized pieces, the chef had left them whole.

Plucking one of the delicious morsels from the mass of curling pasta, he offered it to Chloe.

“You've got to try those, they're great.”

Shrimp were a tricky thing to get right, and these were perfect.

Lex was surprised at his own good mood but he vowed to hold on to it for as long as possible. As long as he didn't think too long or too hard about it, he could enjoy this day for all it was worth. He knew that Chloe still had some things to get done for school on Monday, but he'd try to convince her to procrastinate those a little longer in favor of going to the movies or something.

Chloe took the piece of shrimp from Lex and smiled back at him. She’d seen his teeth more times in the past 30 minutes or so than she’d seen of them in the past two years. His good mood was infectious.

He was right. The meat was succulent and it didn’t taste too much like the salt water it had come from. She hmmed around the treat and watched as Lex’s grin slowly faded. His face transforming into an expression that he shouldn’t be looking at her in public with.

“Down boy,” she murmured.

Lex chuckled and then went to take her hand that was on the table. Before he could reach it, she retracted it. “We can’t,” she shook her head. “Not out here.”

The expression left his face, replaced by a sour one. It wasn’t like she didn’t want to touch him in public but…

“People still watch your every move. It’s not a good idea.”

This sucked. Yes, she loved the crazy sex they’d partaken in, was hoping for more of it later, but they couldn’t really ever be together. Chloe needed to get used to that. She was the other woman. Lex loved Clark and would stay with him. She’d get Lex when Clark was away, maybe when they could meet up without his lover knowing. They were having an affair.

And couldn’t hold hands in the light of day.

Her reaction to a simple touch that was not even meant suggestively was like a blow to the gut. Bringing home the fact that what they were doing was not right. They had an illicit affair that they needed to hide from the public because otherwise it would be all over the newspapers and... Lex swallowed...Clark would find out.

The angry, resentful part of Lex was railing inside him, shouting that 'so what if he finds out? Do you actually still care?' while another part of him, one that Lex couldn't even define anymore was cautiously reminding him that it would destroy Clark to be betrayed like that.

His appetite was gone and he folded his hands over the napkin.

What Chloe was suggesting was that he stop touching her in public, to hide the fact that they had any kind of affection for each other so the newspapers that might need a filler for page seven wouldn't catch an innocent touch and make up the farfetched, but completely correct assumption that they were having sex.

Lex could see the reason in that.

But then something unexpected happened.

His newly rediscovered selfishness kicked in and he moved forward, closing his hand over her wrist before she could pull away.

“No,” he said succinctly as he traced his thumb over the back of her thumb, not letting her retract her hand again.

“I'm not going to stop touching you in public just because the press might catch a shot and plaster it across the society pages.”

He could see Chloe was about to protest, but he continued flawlessly, the arguments for some reason already there in his head without having to think about them or having to make them up.

“We've always touched, no matter if in public or private, because we are friends. I don't see why that would stop now. And even if the press 'caught' us touching and made up their own story, as long as we don't do anything overtly sexual, Clark wouldn't believe it.”

Lex didn't want to tell her just why Clark would never believe that there was anything untoward between them, but if she prodded for it, he'd be honest. It would hurt her, but in the end it would just add up to the resentment she already felt towards Clark and on the other hand show her that there was no reason to be afraid of being caught because of something as simple as holding her hand in a restaurant.

The reaction had surprised Chloe. But only because Lex, for the first time in a long time, seemed like his old self. Yes, it was just a flash of it but it was a start.

The old Lex wasn’t a man who would idly sit by and watch as things happened to him. It wasn’t in his genetic makeup. But he’d lost that somewhere along the way.

He’d become someone who, it seemed to Chloe, was only along for the ride in his relationship. He didn’t make any decisions other than the one that was the most crucial. To stay with a man that took him for granted.

She should tell him no and explain that it would be a dangerous thing. Chloe liked touching him. She was a touchy person and that could get them into trouble later.

“Ok.” She wasn’t going to ask him if he was sure. He was. Besides, she was a selfish bitch and wanted as much of him as she could get. His hand relaxed and she linked their fingers.

Chloe’s gaze stayed on their hands as she spoke again. “Besides, you’re right, Clark would never think that you’d sleep with me.” She smiled ruefully. “He doesn’t think I’m your type.”

She looked up at him and he looked a little taken aback. “Yeah, he said that to my face.” She tried to conjure up the words he’d used. “I’m not, what was it?” She paused again.

All she could remember was how much she’d hated him in that instance. Perhaps she’d already been thinking about Lex in not so friendly terms. It had smarted and Clark didn’t even seem to realize that he was being an asshole.

The words finally came back to her.

“I’m not as high a performance vehicle as you’re used to driving.”

Lex's brows arched. “He used a car analogy?” He snorted and shook his head. “Clark doesn't know jack shit about cars. And even less about women.”

He gave Chloe's hand a squeeze before he released it, glad that he'd gotten his way in this discussion. He hadn't even remembered how good it felt to do things his way until now. There was definitely some advantage to being selfish every once in a while.

His hunger returned and he picked up his fork to take another bite of his fettuccine. The cream and cheese blended perfectly with the pasta, delicious taste exploding all over his tongue.

He chewed with gusto and swallowed slowly, clearing his mouth with a swig from the white wine before he spoke again.

“And just for starting that argument, you'll have to go out with me tonight. I'm thinking movie and after that the club you dragged me to last time.”

This time, he'd be able to appreciate it fully though, no second thoughts or bad mood allowed.

Chloe laughed for a good twenty seconds. Lex’s tone was very resolved and he seemed even a little miffed. They’d hardly had an argument but Chloe realized it for what it was. Lex wanted to be with her in the outside world for a few hours and had seen his chance to ‘make’ her agree.

Thankfully he didn’t know the truth. She’d pretty much do anything for him.

She was so fucked.
~~
A few hours later, Chloe was moving to the beat of techno music and had forgotten all about her earlier epiphany. She pulled Lex a little closer, but not too close, and jerked her hips like an epileptic.

She fit in with everyone around them.

Her outfit and makeup were perfect for this place. It wasn’t a club she frequented often but the bouncer had remembered her so she and Lex had gotten waved in with little fuss. Of course, maybe he’d recognized Lex.

No matter. Being that they didn’t have to pay a cover, there were more drinks for the taking. But Chloe wasn’t drunk. She wasn’t going to get drunk.

She wanted all her wits about her when she took Lex home.

He’d gone and bought new clothes instead of going back to his place.

He looked edible and she saw the constant attention he got from both men and women alike. Lucky bastard. Though, she had seen a fair share of men checking her out.

One of her acquaintances had shown up about a half hour ago and she and Lex had hooked up with her group. Fewer suspicions would be raised if they were in a group.

Her friend Michelle danced over to them and Chloe relinquished Lex to her. She spun around, directly into the chest of Ricardo, Michelle’s boyfriend.

They danced for a while before she felt Lex’s arm wrap around her waist.

Michelle appeared in her view and claimed her man. Chloe turned around and started dancing with Lex again. She ground against him a little and could feel the effect it had on him.

Lex grinned down at her and moved his leg between hers to make the grinding look a bit smoother. That and to enjoy the friction of her thigh against his groin.

He'd always enjoyed dancing, regardless whether his partner was male or female. There was something about moving in rhythm with another person, grinding together or moving further apart only to come together again. With a good partner, it was like foreplay.

“Enjoying yourself?” He had to shout the words into Chloe's ear to be heard over the pounding music.

She nodded and grinned back at him, grinding a little more suggestively against him.

His cock was half hard, had been ever since they'd started dancing close enough, but Lex didn't mind that. He knew he wasn't going home alone and there was no need for instant gratification.

Her friends were nice too, and he wondered where she'd met them. They weren't teachers at her school he knew that much. Chloe always complained about her mostly stuffy colleagues. Michelle was a pretty thing. An interesting mix of Asian and African American. If it wasn't such a hopelessly cliché pickup line, he would have asked her if she'd ever done some work as a model. She definitely had the face for it.

“Yeah baby!” Chloe did an over the top impression of Austin Powers and got the reaction she was hoping for. He was so hot when he laughed. And when he danced. And, really, when he breathed.

Chloe placed her hands on Lex’s chest and took a half step back from him. While holding his gaze, she shimmed down his body, dragging her hands over him, and then back up again. Her kick boxing class had given her incredibly strong leg muscles and she used that move as often as possible.

Once she was back on her feet, their faces were close together and Chloe knew he wanted her as badly as she wanted him. But she could wait. Not much longer, if she was honest with herself, but another hour, at least.

Michelle had asked if she’d come with Lex and Chloe made sure to school her face properly. She’d then made a lewd joke at the awkward sentence and her friend had rolled her eyes. Chloe explained that, yes, they’d come together. Lex had given her a ride. She was proud that she hadn’t laughed, outing them.

She linked her arms around his neck and leaned up. To anyone else it would look like she was just trying to have a conversation. In a place like this you had to practically crawl on top of another person if you wanted them to hear you.

“I’m especially enjoying the fact that I know you’ll be in my bed tonight.” She nipped his ear quickly and then took a step back from him and continued dancing.

Lex shook his head and smirked. The nip on his ear had sent a pleasant tingle down his spine and, needless to say, the words had done the rest to make his cock perk up into full hardness.

He pulled their hips together and let her feel what her little maneuver had done, mouthing 'Bitch' at her before he smiled.

She laughed and gyrated her hips until he forcefully shifted their positions to reduce the contact and friction on his cock.

If things kept going like this, they'd have to tell her friends goodbye sooner rather than later. He wanted her again and it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep his hands off her, figuratively speaking. Her outfit was just sexy enough to draw the attention to her breasts and knowing what was beneath that swath of red fabric made it all the harder to look away.

Bringing one hand up to the back of her neck, he pulled her closer until his mouth was directly next to her ear. “The moment we get home, I'll bend you over your couch and fuck you so hard your eyes will cross.”

He pressed a kiss to the spot just under her ear before he released her and moved his hand back down to her waist.

Damn him. And damn her sensitive neck, too, while you were at it. Chloe was wild. But she’d never really wanted to have sex on a dance floor, seriously rip the other person’s clothes off and mount them, until this very moment.

“Can it be a bar stool instead?” She gestured over to the bar and Lex had the decency to pretend to consider it for a second before shaking his head.

“Spoilsport.” That word she could yell. Lex laughed at her again but she didn’t mind. She lightly hit him on the shoulder and watched as Wendy, Michelle’s uber slutty friend, approached them. She’d been eyeballing Lex all night.

Chloe had heard Michelle tell her that Lex was involved. With a guy. Wendy had decided to try and ‘turn’ Lex before the night was over.

“Try not to get the clap while I’m gone.” A person over Lex’s shoulder looked comically over at them and Chloe smiled at him. Wendy was too far away to hear her dig, though. “I’ll be at the bar whenever you can make it.”

Lex was looking at her oddly. But then again, he had no idea what was coming his way.

A hand touched his shoulder and Lex turned around, expecting to see Michelle, but got an armful of Wendy instead.

“Hey,” she shouted into his ear, then pulled back to bat her lashes at him.

Lex nodded and placed his hands on her hips, making sure to keep a bit of personal space between them as he started to dance.

Wendy was pretty, if a bit too heavy on the make up. She'd smiled at him pretty much from the moment Chloe and he had joined the table of friends and tried to start a conversation earlier that had been a bit stilted what with having to shout things back and forth three times before one could understand a full sentence.

She’d watched Lex. He was a good dancer. Wendy had grown up in Metropolis so she was well aware of the comings and goings of the whole Luthor clan. Sure, Lex was with a man now but she doubted he only went one way.

It was too bad that he’d come with Chloe but she could work around that. It wasn’t as if they were really together.

Talking was always hard in situations like this so she used her body to communicate what she wanted.

Chloe had pulled off an impressive move before, sinking almost to the ground, so she’d have to step it up.

Unless…

Maybe direct was the way to go.

She leaned up and placed her hand on the back of Lex’s neck, pulling him close to her so he could hear her.

“I know you’re with someone and I respect that.” She did, being in a relationship was tough. “But I also know he travels a lot.” Someone had told her that his boyfriend was an investigative journalist. “I want to take you home with me tonight and show you a very good time. Interested?”

Lex's brows furrowed as he assembled the partial sentences he'd actually heard into a coherent whole. So little Wendy wanted to fuck. He'd wondered what was up with the constant smile and attempts at 'conversation'. He'd definitely been out of the game for a long time.

Licking his lips and suppressing a laugh at the fact that she thought she could get him into her bed like that, he shook his head and shouted in her ear.

“Sorry, you're about five years too late. I don't do meaningless fucks anymore.”

Before Clark, he would have picked her up on her offer and been the one to show her a damn good time before leaving her fucked out in bed in some upper-class hotel. But not anymore.

Things had changed and he'd irrevocably changed with them. Not that he was a beacon of morality now, but...

No use dwelling on these things. He was here to have a good time.
~~
Chloe had watched Lex and Wendy with something close to glee. She was the one that got to go home with him. Got to be naked with him. Got to feel him and hear him. And, damn, she loved it.

After Wendy had left him, Lex had turned in the direction of the bathroom. Chloe had finished her drink and then excused herself.

“No luck,” she asked Wendy as the two of them passed each other.

Wendy gave her the thumbs down and Chloe shrugged as she continued walking.

Now, she was lying in wait. She peeked out from where she was standing. Right now, she was between a wall and one of the weirdly random placed beams that seemed to be all over the outskirts of the dance floor.

This particular beam was very close to the men’s room.

She just hoped that no one came out right after Lex.

After another few moments, she saw Lex exit the bathroom and, thank the heavens, no one was following him.

Chloe reached out and grabbed his hand. She used his surprise to her advantage and sort of slung him between the beam and wall. His shoulders touched both, it was a snug fit, but he had plenty of room in front of him. Which was where her body slid into.

She didn’t bother with pleasantries, just started kissing him.

Chloe could still hear the music and her tongue and hips moved in the beat of it.

Lex’s hand came up to fist in her hair and he started grinding against her.

Chloe broke the kiss and gasped when Lex fastened his mouth onto her neck. “Take me home,” she panted out.
~~
Her hand had been on his cock the entire way back to her apartment and Lex was hard and aching for it by the time they finally made it up the stairs and to her door.

He barely waited until they were inside and the door had closed behind them with a bang before he swung her around and devoured her mouth with his.

They stumbled blindly towards the couch and Lex pushed his hands into the waistband of her pants, popping the button and sliding the zipper down. When he shoved his hand into the open slit, he noticed that she was naked underneath the tight fabric of her pants.

He unlocked their lips, breathing heavily as he looked down into her wide blown pupils.

“No panties?”

His fingers teased through her slick folds, feeling how wet she was for him. She was clinging to his shoulders as she shook her head and humped against his fingers.

“Slut,” he teased before taking her mouth in another brutal kiss.

His pulled his hand away and grabbed the waistband on both sides, pushing the pants down until they got stuck around her knees. Chloe's hands ran down his chest and grabbled at his own waist, trying to remove the belt and get his pants open.

She was taking too long with it, so Lex took hold of her elbows and pushed her away, turning her around in a quick move so she was facing the back of the couch.

“Remember my promise?” he asked as he moved one hand up to the back of her neck, not pushing just resting there.

“Like I could forget that.” Her voice sounded breathless but she didn’t really care. They’d fuck each other into exhaustion. The need for anything and everything, including food and water, took a backseat to sex with Lex.

His thumb was running over the base of her neck and her body shuddered in response. Her pussy throbbed, reminding her that it needed some attention ASAP.

Chloe got as close to the couch as she could, Lex following her, and then bent over it. She could only still stand because of the high heels that she was wearing. Her ass was pitched up in the air.

She rested her forehead on the cushions and spread her legs wider. “Fuck me.”

“Please. Need you.” She heard him unzip his pants. Then she felt his cock running over her cunt, teasing her. She wiggled against him. “Lex, god. Please.”

He bit his bottom lip harshly, trying to hold back any involuntary noises that she was provoking with her plaintive begging and the feel of her slick pussy against the length of his dick.

With a deep breath through his nose, he guided his cock to her entrance and thrust in hard and deep. Chloe reared up and he could hear her nails scratch into the fabric of the couch. He shifted his grip to her hips and set up a hard and fast rhythm, getting lost in the feel of tight slick heat around his cock and the smacking sound of skin on skin as he fucked her.

“Feels so great,” he groaned despite himself as her muscles clenched around him.

Lex leaned over her back and shoved his hands under the flimsy shirt, palming her breasts before kneading them roughly with his fingers. He loved her breasts. They filled his hands just right, soft, and pliant and so fucking sensitive to his touch.

Chloe stretched her arms out in front of her and was able to grab at the edge of the couch with her hands. She felt more anchored now. She pushed her breasts into Lex’s hands. He’d mumbled something about perfect as he’d been tweaking and massaging them.

Broken noises kept getting ripped from her mouth as he pinched and worried her nipples between his fingers. There was a definite connection between the sharp zings of pleasure she felt at her chest and the deep buildup between her legs.

She swore the couch was moving a little as Lex kept up the brutal pace of his hips. Chloe let him fuck her for a few moments. Wanted to feel his cock pitching in and out of her cunt, his body’s basest urge being met, before she moved against him.

Chloe concentrated on the feel of his cock parting her lips and hitting her deep inside over and over again. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she moved back against him.

The intensity of pleasure between her legs instantly picked up and Chloe said his name. Actually, she screamed it. Fairly loud.

“Thought you weren’t a screamer with me.” Lex’s voice was at her ear, amused but clearly on the edge himself.

“Was wrong.” As their bodies rocked together, Chloe tried to lever her hips up even more. She loved him deep. Wanted him as far inside as possible when he came. Maybe if she…

It took a few tries, mostly because of Lex’s weight on her, but she was able to lift her left leg and prop it up on the couch.

What a difference.

Chloe’s head jerked up and she started yelling, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” over and over again in time with Lex’s cock plunging inside of her.

They’d found a very good spot.

“Happening,” she groaned out.

Lex’s hands kept working at her breasts as his hips pistoned forwards.

He groaned as the muscles around his cock seized and then started clenching and releasing spasmodically, keeping him trapped inside her as she shuddered and screamed her way through orgasm.

He wished he could see her face.

That was his last coherent thought before her muscles relaxed and he continued his thrusting, three hard fast pumps taking him over the edge and into sweet oblivion for a long moment

When the pleasure finally released him from its grip, Lex slumped forward over her back. He mouthed her neck, nuzzling his nose against her sweaty hairline as his heartbeat slowly went back to normal. His hands were still cradling her breasts, feeling them move against his palm with every deep breath she took.

Pressing a kiss to her shoulder, he moved one hand out from under her shirt to brush her hair back from her face.

“Just out of curiosity,” he muttered, “did I only make you scream, or did you actually go cross-eyed?”

Chloe chuckled. “You wish.” But some of the sting was taken out of her words by the whispery tone of her voice.

She stayed where she was for the moment, enjoying the sensations she was still feeling. Could still feel Lex’s lips on her skin and his hand on her breast…which were throbbing pleasantly.

Then there was her pussy. Small tremors still working their way through. And Lex’s cock still imbedded in her.

His hot come warming her inside.

Knew logically that they should use protection but she liked this feeling too much.

Chloe squeaked a little when he pinched her nipple and she said, “You do have to admit that the screaming was rather impressive, though.”

She pushed up a little and Lex moved with her until they were both standing, his hands still on her breast. He went to pull out but she reached her hand behind his body and grabbed at his ass. “Stay. Wanna feel you a little longer.”

Chloe turned her head and Lex’s mouth met hers in a languid, wet kiss. She hummed in the back of her throat, remembering what his tongue could do to her body.

Lex slung his other arm around her waist, holding her to him as their mouths moved over each other, tongues tangling and exploring. Teeth and lips coming into play as the kiss drew out.

His dick softened slowly and slipped out of her, but he didn't move away, just tightened his hold around her to keep her where she was.

The angle of the kiss was awkward, both their legs were tangled up in their pants, the cold air caused goosebumps on his naked ass and they probably looked ridiculous standing in the middle of her living room like this.

It felt perfect.
~~

karila
9th May 2008, 21:15
This story is still great.
I can't believe Clark, how could he compare women and cars?!! His annalogy was really horrible!
Concerning Chloe and Lex I don't know how they will continue their "affair". It seems a little complicated. And I think that Chloe will suffer if she is the woman that Lex have to hide.

Kit Merlot
9th May 2008, 21:25
An excellent update!

The Chlex smut was gorgeous as always, and I love how happy Lex and Chloe are with each other, but I think he needs to completely break up with Clark. Chloe is too awesome of a person to be "the other woman" and Lex should be able to openly show his affection towards Chloe.

And I really want Clark to find out about Lex and Chloe, because he needs to feel some of the emotional pain he's put both Chloe and Lex through.

smithers
10th May 2008, 00:17
This is such a great storyline, in a setting we've never read before. I can't wait for Lex to get back to his usual self and stop being so hopeless. Then he can realize that Chloe is the one for him.

hfce
10th May 2008, 00:39
Man that was HOT!!!!!!!!!!! :drool2: I love Chlex smut. As for the affair Lex has to choose. It is clear who makes him feel and it is not Clark. Chloe is his soul mate who he belongs with. Chloe said it best : Thankfully he didn’t know the truth. She’d pretty much do anything for him.

She was so fucked.

Yes Chloe you are so fucked. :rofl:

SVfan1286
10th May 2008, 01:58
OMG that was smokin Hot!!

I feel for Chloe though for being 'the other women' and now she's in way to deep with Lex to even leave or stop their affair. She's right though, she's fucked. But I truly love the angst. *g* I look forward to reading the next chapter to this incrediable story!

tatie87
10th May 2008, 02:03
HOT HOT I love this story. I can't wait for more.

lilinny
10th May 2008, 03:41
Fantastic!! Love the smut. You ladies are the smut queens. Can't wait for more.

dagney
11th May 2008, 02:59
I'm enjoying this story very much i liked the insightful comments made by Westingwolf. I 'm curious to see how this play out. As an adoring fan I know you ladies excell with the sex but I also know you both are heart wrentching with the angst. I'm hooked on this fic. Dagney

lj715
11th May 2008, 12:13
Great update but I don;t understand why Chloe & Lex insist on tip-toeing around Clark....is he so fragile that he couldn;t accept the truth? The way he treats Lex it doesn't seem as if he cares very much. I also don;t like CHloe content to be the other woman in this relationship no matter how low her self esteem is. They are so truthful in other areas of their relationship but so dense in this one aspect.

Goldielocks
11th May 2008, 17:42
Wow this is one hottttttttt fic. I just found it and im already hooked, u guys are doing an amzing job.

somethingeasy
11th May 2008, 20:24
I have to admit, I’m really beginning to HATE Lex in this fic. I started off this chapter hating Clark for the way he was neglecting his boyfriend, but now I’m beginning to see all new shades of despicable behaviour in the ‘victimized’ character, Lex Luthor. I LOVE the way you’ve made ‘everyone’ a villain as well as a victim in this story, BlueSabby. I think PolarThestrel stated it best in HER review earlier…


Lex is her new Clark. Clark who used to talk about Lana in a similar way. *shudders* I grant you that Lex seems to have no idea what he's doing but he's still doing it. He feels unsatisfied and alone in his relationship because he isn't Clark's top priority. Damn that superman for saving the world. But Lex loves that superhero and his all those qualities that make him treat Lex like an afterthought. So instead of doing the less pathetic thing and actually breaking up with Clark, he decides to get emotional satisfaction by leeching it from someone else. That way he can be happy when Clark comes home instead of frustrated. He can have his cake and eat it and no one gets hurt.

Oh yeah. Except Chloe is all used up at the end of the day with no one to comfort her.

------

The thing that really threw me was that Lex said nothing when Chloe said she'd be willing to share him. The fact she jumped in with that offer before Lex could assert any intentions of his own beyond desire, is telling of her self confidence. I would not be surprised if she'd spent so many years having casual sex after Clark because he left her feeling so hollow, unattractive and unworthy that she doesn't think she deserves a real relationship. Now Lex, purported to be her best friend, has now reinforced all those self doubts by lining her up against the man that caused many of her insecurities (or at least always enflamed them). He's lined her up and found her wanting because she's the guilty pleasure on the side, the dirty secret, the one he won't kiss in public.

This was a brilliant assessment of the situation! You’ve basically covered everything that I was ranting about in earlier reviews, but you stated it SO much more beautifully and coherently than I managed. Excellent analysis and review, PolarThestrel!


“Down boy,” she murmured.

Lex chuckled and then went to take her hand that was on the table. Before he could reach it, she retracted it. “We can’t,” she shook her head. “Not out here.”

The expression left his face, replaced by a sour one. It wasn’t like she didn’t want to touch him in public but…

“People still watch your every move. It’s not a good idea.”

This sucked. Yes, she loved the crazy sex they’d partaken in, was hoping for more of it later, but they couldn’t really ever be together. Chloe needed to get used to that. She was the other woman. Lex loved Clark and would stay with him. She’d get Lex when Clark was away, maybe when they could meet up without his lover knowing. They were having an affair.

And couldn’t hold hands in the light of day.

This left a very sour taste in my mouth. It’s bad enough that they both agreed to this whole, distasteful arrangement in the first place… but it’s somehow worse seeing Chloe treating it as the dirty, filthy, guilty secret she knows it to be. She feels scared about being found out about her actions because she KNOWS that what she’s doing is wrong… so how much longer until she starts loathing herself (and Lex) for this situation?


Her reaction to a simple touch that was not even meant suggestively was like a blow to the gut. Bringing home the fact that what they were doing was not right. They had an illicit affair that they needed to hide from the public because otherwise it would be all over the newspapers and... Lex swallowed...Clark would find out.

The angry, resentful part of Lex was railing inside him, shouting that 'so what if he finds out? Do you actually still care?' while another part of him, one that Lex couldn't even define anymore was cautiously reminding him that it would destroy Clark to be betrayed like that.

*raises eyebrow sceptically* yee-ahhh RIGHT! So the best way to protect Clark is to carry on a secret, sordid affair behind his back? I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at this twisted form of Luthorian logic. But sadly enough, I get the feeling that this is precisely the kind of rationalization that ‘RL cheaters’ use when THEY commit adultery.

Heh… so it’s just been driven home to Lex that this secret affair is something ‘dirty’ and to be ashamed of and hidden away from the public? It’s interesting how Chloe was the one who grasped the full implications faster.

I LOVED the idea that this affair had SOME kind of consequences for Lex, and was already making him ‘suffer’ by robbing and depriving him of one of the aspects that he USED to enjoy with his friend, Chloe. I was hoping that this was the beginning of Lex realizing the damage that was being done to their friendship because of this added strain that has recently been set on it.


His newly rediscovered selfishness kicked in and he moved forward, closing his hand over her wrist before she could pull away.

“No,” he said succinctly as he traced his thumb over the back of her thumb, not letting her retract her hand again.

“I'm not going to stop touching you in public just because the press might catch a shot and plaster it across the society pages.”

oh damn! I was hoping that Lex would accept and acknowledge that this affair was causing some costs and consequences that will need to be paid and dealt with… Instead Lex is willing to add on extra risk for both himself and Chloe for his added pleasure. So he decides to be ‘noble and self-sacrificing’ with Clark, but a selfish and self-absorbed brat with Chloe?

Does anyone ELSE feel the urge to hurt him? Break his nose? Shatter open his head? Wring his neck? ANYTHING to get that smug, arrogant expression of entitlement off his face?!??


Lex didn't want to tell her just why Clark would never believe that there was anything untoward between them, but if she prodded for it, he'd be honest. It would hurt her, but in the end it would just add up to the resentment she already felt towards Clark and on the other hand show her that there was no reason to be afraid of being caught because of something as simple as holding her hand in a restaurant.

This part sent a nasty, cold shiver down my spine. There was a note over here about how Lex is actively plotting and planning out ways to increase Chloe’s resentment of Clark so that she would CONTINUE with this arrangement on Lex’s terms. It seems like Lex has (subconsciously?) figured out that directing all of Chloe’s anger, resentment and bitterness towards Clark is the best way of deflecting all these negative emotions away from himself? This way Chloe will continue blaming (and hating) CLARK for this situation instead of herself and Lex.


The reaction had surprised Chloe. But only because Lex, for the first time in a long time, seemed like his old self. Yes, it was just a flash of it but it was a start.

The old Lex wasn’t a man who would idly sit by and watch as things happened to him. It wasn’t in his genetic makeup. But he’d lost that somewhere along the way.

He’d become someone who, it seemed to Chloe, was only along for the ride in his relationship. He didn’t make any decisions other than the one that was the most crucial. To stay with a man that took him for granted.

It’s very interesting… Chloe knows that Lex is taking charge of the situation. But somehow she’s fluffing over the fact that he SHOULD be taking charge of his life and choices concerning Clark. I wonder how much longer she’s going to continue to excuse his cowardly behaviour with regards to his boyfriend.


“I’m not as high a performance vehicle as you’re used to driving.”

Oh dear GOD! I was aghast with appalled shock hearing about how Clark had used such crude, stupid and cruel words against Chloe. The worst this is that I agree with Chloe that he probably didn’t realize how arrogant, hurtful and cruel he was being. How DARE he!! He not only told Chloe that she wasn’t ‘good enough’ for Lex, but he even implied that HE was a ‘better lay’ than Chloe… that HE was the ‘high performance’ vehicle that would satisfy Lex is ways Chloe couldn’t even imagine. That horrible, cruel, arrogant bastard!!!

No wonder Chloe has such horrible self-esteem issues. This certainly explains a LOT about why hasn’t been in a steady, stable relationship ever since Clark dumped her. She probably never figured any guy would actually want her for ‘only’ herself.


He gave Chloe's hand a squeeze before he released it, glad that he'd gotten his way in this discussion. He hadn't even remembered how good it felt to do things his way until now. There was definitely some advantage to being selfish every once in a while.

aaargh! And now here’s yet ANOTHER line in a long string of men who selfishly USE Chloe for everything she has to offer, and tell her it’s not ‘good enough’ to completely satisfy them. My heart is breaking for her. And I really, REALLY want to hurt that selfish, blind bastard, Lex for doing this to her. PLEEASE make him suffer and do some heavy duty grovelling later!!!


Thankfully he didn’t know the truth. She’d pretty much do anything for him.

She was so fucked.

*disappointed sigh* I think Lex has already picked up on that fact, Chloe. In fact, you YOURSELF told him that you were willing to do anything to please him when you offered to become his mistress in the first place. Chloe really fucked herself there.


Lex grinned down at her and moved his leg between hers to make the grinding look a bit smoother. That and to enjoy the friction of her thigh against his groin.

He'd always enjoyed dancing, regardless whether his partner was male or female. There was something about moving in rhythm with another person, grinding together or moving further apart only to come together again. With a good partner, it was like foreplay.

Woah! HOT! It really DOES sound like foreplay, BlueSabby! And I have to say that Lex and Chloe make a VERY sexy picture out on the dance floor against each other.


Chloe placed her hands on Lex’s chest and took a half step back from him. While holding his gaze, she shimmed down his body, dragging her hands over him, and then back up again. Her kick boxing class had given her incredibly strong leg muscles and she used that move as often as possible.

Once she was back on her feet, their faces were close together and Chloe knew he wanted her as badly as she wanted him. But she could wait. Not much longer, if she was honest with herself, but another hour, at least.

Heh.. I guess if Chloe is going to be throwing away her integrity, dignity and self-respect… she might as well do it for a man who is seriously too hot to resist. I could practically feel their blood boiling as they damned against each other. This was amazingly HOT!


“I’m especially enjoying the fact that I know you’ll be in my bed tonight.” She nipped his ear quickly and then took a step back from him and continued dancing.

Lex shook his head and smirked. The nip on his ear had sent a pleasant tingle down his spine and, needless to say, the words had done the rest to make his cock perk up into full hardness.

He pulled their hips together and let her feel what her little maneuver had done, mouthing 'Bitch' at her before he smiled.

They both are actually being playful and having such sweet FUN with each other. It’s such a shame that this playfulness is tainted. Why, oh WHY is Lex such a cowardly, selfish, STUPID bastard! Enjoy yourself while you can, Lex? The lovely relationship you’re enjoying with Chloe right now will only make it more painful[/I[ when this relationship is destroyed later.


“Sorry, you're about five years too late. I don't do meaningless fucks anymore.”

Before Clark, he would have picked her up on her offer and been the one to show her a damn good time before leaving her fucked out in bed in some upper-class hotel. But not anymore.

Things had changed and he'd irrevocably changed with them. Not that he was a beacon of morality now, but...

ROTFL! I LOVED the irony here about Lex actually having the nerve to consider himself ‘moral and upstanding’ because he refused to engage on meaningless sex to cheat on his boyfriend AND his mistress, ROTFL! He honestly does NOT get the double-standards of him using the ‘higher moral ground’ to reject this woman. I LOVED the irony you set up and illustrated in this situation, BlueSabby.

Hmmm, but it DID make me wonder about what happens when another ‘more tempting’ offer comes along. Chloe knows that Lex is already cheating on Lex with HER. So how big a leap could it be for her to start suspecting that he’s carrying on affairs with other women (and men) on the side as well. In Chloe’s eyes, Lex has been established as a unrepentant cheater… so it makes sense that she would soon start freaking out about him being with OTHER people besides her.

And how about Chloe? Is Lex going to demand that she remain ‘true and faithful’ to him while he’s juggling with another man on the side? The situation is cocked ready to explode in ALL kinds of nasty ways… heeeee!!! This is going to be FUN!!!


They stumbled blindly towards the couch and Lex pushed his hands into the waistband of her pants, popping the button and sliding the zipper down. When he shoved his hand into the open slit, he noticed that she was naked underneath the tight fabric of her pants.

He unlocked their lips, breathing heavily as he looked down into her wide blown pupils.

“No panties?”

His fingers teased through her slick folds, feeling how wet she was for him. She was clinging to his shoulders as she shook her head and humped against his fingers.

“Slut,” he teased before taking her mouth in another brutal kiss.

heh… HE of all people should not be throwing that particular word around… not even in teasing, LOL! Good thing Chloe is not in any mood to start mocking him about the pot calling the kettle black. This was a REALLY hot, arousing scene. I might be outraged about the affair, but I can’t complain about the actual sex, LOL!


With a deep breath through his nose, he guided his cock to her entrance and thrust in hard and deep. Chloe reared up and he could hear her nails scratch into the fabric of the couch. He shifted his grip to her hips and set up a hard and fast rhythm, getting lost in the feel of tight slick heat around his cock and the smacking sound of skin on skin as he fucked her.

“Feels so great,” he groaned despite himself as her muscles clenched around him.

wow! It certainly [I]sounds like it feels great. The smut is really intense! I guess they can carry themselves on the high of this kind of sex for a LONG time before they start noticing the inherent problems in their arrangement.


Lex leaned over her back and shoved his hands under the flimsy shirt, palming her breasts before kneading them roughly with his fingers. He loved her breasts. They filled his hands just right, soft, and pliant and so fucking sensitive to his touch.

LOL! So I take it that Lex has really missed breasts during his time with Clark? ROTFL! It’s honestly as if he’s re-discovering them all over again.


It took a few tries, mostly because of Lex’s weight on her, but she was able to lift her left leg and prop it up on the couch.

What a difference.

Chloe’s head jerked up and she started yelling, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” over and over again in time with Lex’s cock plunging inside of her.

They’d found a very good spot.

“Happening,” she groaned out.

Lex’s hands kept working at her breasts as his hips pistoned forwards.

Chloe certainly is elastic! I was glad to see that (this time) neither Lex nor Chloe were thinking of Clark during sex in any way. But I do wonder how much Lex is going to be thinking of CHLOE next time he’s in bed indulging in boring, passionless sex with Clark…?


Knew logically that they should use protection but she liked this feeling too much.

oh dear heavens, they’re really NOT thinking, are they?!?? :eek:
This is appalling! And I feel outraged on Clark’s behalf now. Not only is his lover cheating on him, but he’s not even being careful with protection. Chloe is probably on birth control, but even that fails from time to time… Again there are SO many nasty consequences that could happen because of this negligence and carelessness.


Lex slung his other arm around her waist, holding her to him as their mouths moved over each other, tongues tangling and exploring. Teeth and lips coming into play as the kiss drew out.

His dick softened slowly and slipped out of her, but he didn't move away, just tightened his hold around her to keep her where she was.

The angle of the kiss was awkward, both their legs were tangled up in their pants, the cold air caused goosebumps on his naked ass and they probably looked ridiculous standing in the middle of her living room like this.

It felt perfect.

This loving bonding between them would have been been wonderful, sweet and heartwarming… if only…

Well, we’re covered all the ‘if onlys’, haven’t we? LOL!
As it is, I can sit back and enjoy the lovely scenes between them two of them, knowing that everything is headed towards pain, jealousy, misery and disaster.

I look forward to seeing how future chapters turn out. Good luck with your writing.

TheAmazingApe
14th May 2008, 00:31
I've been away for a bit, so I didn't know there were so many lovely updates.

I've said it before, but I really do love this fic. There are so many role reversals from actually Smallville. Except that poor Chloe becomes the sidebag again (with added sex, so it does take the sting away). But you're telling a great and engrossing tale, here. I can't wait to see where it takes us.

PolarThestral
15th May 2008, 16:50
Yeah....I take back my thoughts on the previous chapter that Lex had no idea he was using Chloe in the same way Clark had. He totally knows which makes Chloe's situation even more perilous considering how ruthless Lex can be when he wants his own way and nothing else matters. Lex's thoughts in this chapter, especially during their lunch, made it obvious that he is using Chloe to find the selfish side of him. Meaning he isn't looking for equality in this relationship, he isn't even telling himself that. He's positioning Chloe, like Clark positions him: as the less important member of the couple.


I love that you aren't trying to excuse his twisted rationalizations in this situation. Sure, it makes me want Chloe to kick him where it hurts (and cringe when she only enthusiastically responds) but I am looking forward to when everything starts to fall apart and eveyone...well, gets what they deserve. As you tend to in these messy situations.

Putting aside the cheating and general asshattery of your trio of characters...the thing that still nettles me is that these two were supposed to be such good friends. Yet neither of them is honouring that friendship at the moment. They are destroying it in sexy little increments - carelessly - I mean, not even using protection??? Utterly reckless. Lex doesn't even seem to take into account Chloe's massive self esteem issues which, as her friend, he should be so aware of since Clark was all they seemed to talk about in the first chapters. In fact, he's taking advantage of those massive weaknesses. He is intentionally bringing Evil!Clark up to keep her feeling protective and warm toward Lex, feeling better about her own sins against her friend, and casting him in the position of bad guy.

Lex is officially worse than Clark. Because Lex knows what he's doing. He's doing it intentionally so he has the power in this triangle, tenuous though it may be. I actually like the issue of power in these relationships because Lex hasn't had it for such a long time, that I can really believe he'd get drunk on a sudden rush of it in this situation. Drunk at the wheel and Chloe's in a great position to become roadkill.

Clark insulted Chloe horribly but in that brutal childlike way like he has no idea he's crossing lines that shouldn't be crossed. Plus, if Clark is so horrible - the way to punish him is to dump him, not to use Chloe for comfort and keep going back to him. Lex is only punishing Chloe, exploiting weaknesses Chloe revealled in confidence so he can get what he wants for longer. That's .... that's what will destroy their friendship, the sex is just a symptom.

I do find the smut really hot but since it's tainted I feel like I'm jumping up and down in my seat, waiting for Clark to rejoin this black little party of two. It's a little Jerry Springer of me but I'm kind of more excited for the scratching and bitch slapping than I am for the sex (*is blasphemous*). Maybe because I'm so desperate for a sex scene in which I'm not just dying inside on behalf of Chloe. Especially when the vulnerable/powerful dynamic in their sexual relations feels so uneven at the moment.

I think the dinner scene and the dancing scene...it goes to show that these two don't need little pockets of guilty, private pleasures to sort through their issues. They need Clark to be there or their hand won't be forced to come to the realizations and make the decisions that matter.

BlueSabby
1st June 2008, 20:45
A/N: Blue: More muddled waters and a fun phone call.
A/N: Sabby: I have nothing to say on this chapter, so let's use this space to say thanks to all you readers who regularly leave us the feedback we crave. We love to read your thoughts on our stories and that you get so engaged with the characters, whether in loving or hating terms. We hope you won't be disappointed with the direction this story takes. There's more hard times up ahead and a lot of facets to explore.


Chloe sat up and stretched her arms above her head as she swung her legs off of the bed and onto the floor. The sheets and comforter slipped down to her waist and a slight chill ran through her body. She was just about to get up when she felt a pair of warm, strong arms wrap around her and pull her back to the mattress.

“Lex,” she groaned, “it’s almost one o’clock.” She couldn’t believe that they were being so slothful. Sure, they’d had sex three times already since waking up but that didn’t count for some reason. Chloe was sticky and yucky and needed a shower and some food. But Lex was having none of that.

He’d dragged her back to his side of the bed and was nibbling on her neck. Adding more bruising to his hickey, no doubt.

“I’m hungry,” she pouted a little. “And you can’t be ready again to…” But he was, she could feel him starting to get hard behind her. “Lex, no more pussy for you until I get some food.”

His whole body shook as he laughed.

Shaking his head against her shoulder, he wrapped both arms around her to keep her in place.

“What can I say you're just too tempting, I can't help myself.”

Which was true, concerning he couldn't remember the last time he'd had been interested enough in anyone to have sex with them three times before noon. But it wasn't just the gluttony for sex. It was plain old greed to have her right there and not going anywhere. And the fact that he was capable of actually keeping her where she was.

“Are you really that hungry?” he asked with a nip to the sensitive lobe of her ear.

Not that he was adverse to the idea of food. He wasn't a breakfast person in general, but it was also way past usual breakfast time. Okay, maybe he could use a bite to eat, too.

“We could have breakfast…well brunch in bed.”

“You and the bed,” she murmured. She hadn’t expected Lex to be like this. Yes, she knew his reputation. But that was before…

Nope, she wasn’t going to think of that. But, really, they’d had sex every few hours since they’d been together. If they weren’t sleeping, that was. Not that that was something to complain about. In fact, Chloe knew that she was probably grinning from ear to ear.

It had been a long time since she’d had a man in her bed that she wasn’t anxious to show the door. She wasn’t good at sharing her space. But didn’t mind that Lex was trying to crawl into her skin. Well, maybe not her skin.

Chloe turned over in his arms. “I suppose you could entice me to come back here with you after our shower.” Oh, yes, Lex looked interested in that little activity. “As long as you don’t put on a stitch of clothing for at least another two hours.”

Her eyes roamed down his body. He was really well put together and obviously took care of himself. Then there was a certain other body part. “And, I’m mad at you, by the way. You didn’t warn me about that. It was quite shocking, I could have fainted dead away.”

For his body size, Lex was rather, well, huge.

Lex caught the direction of her gaze and started laughing again. “Would you have believed me if I'd warned you before you saw it?”

It had always been a source of amusement to him when she'd complained about some of her lover's 'false advertisement' as she called it. Of course he'd never seen a reason to share this tidbit of information about himself, considering that he'd never thought of her that way before…

He pushed the thought away and kept the grin on his face as he raised himself on his elbow. “And you didn't complain about it this morning. Or last night, or the week before.”

In fact she'd been wonderfully enthusiastic about everything they did together. Sex with her was an experience completely different from any he'd had before. It was fun and hot, intense and incredibly addictive.

“And if you want me to run around in the nude for the next two hours, you know that the same goes for you, right?”

She heard the question he was asking but was a little preoccupied by his dick. Chloe wanted to reach out and stroke it but she knew that she shouldn’t. It was wrong. They needed to get out of bed.

Plus, she knew that Lex was watching her ogle him.

“I’m not technically complaining,” she said, still not looking at his face. “Just telling you that the non warning could have been a catastrophe. Actually, it was a very nice surprise.”

Chloe finally tore her eyes away and looked at Lex’s face. “I can work with being naked. But, can you resist the urge to ravish me for that amount of time?” She was feeling a little mischievous and it would be fun to test their self controls. Neither of them really had any by now.

“Do I have to?” He made his voice sound as plaintive as he could and looked at her from beneath his lashes.

Of course he didn't do coy very well, but it was meant more as a joke anyway.

It was hard to resist, and there was no reason to resist her, really. They had all the time in the world today and Lex didn't want to go out yet. So if they ended up having sex a few more times what did it matter?

“I mean, breakfast is not going to take two hours, is it?”

“No, I suppose not.” Though, the prep time might be a lot. She wanted omelets and toast and bacon and sausage and all sorts of fattening things. Maybe some waffles, too. Chloe liked cooking breakfast.

And before they ate she had to take a shower. It was a must. And Lex was going to join her so it would probably take longer. He was going to be hard to resist in the shower, though. Water cascading down his edible, suckable, fuckable body.

“Ok, new plan. We take a shower and have our evil ways with each other.” That sounded very good. “Then we eat and see who can hold out the longest. The winner gets to be in charge the next time.”

She was feeling immature and wanted to run with it. “Deal?”

Lex grinned and finally sat up. “Sounds like you have it all worked out.” He nodded. “Deal.”

Of course they both were competitive as hell, so this could get interesting, and possibly take longer than two hours. Unless of course they both resorted to dirty tricks, in which case this would be over very soon after breakfast.

“What are we having for breakfast anyway?”

Chloe sat up and scooted over to Lex. “We are having omelets.” She kissed his shoulder. “Waffles.” She kissed his other shoulder. “Sausage.” Ran her hand up his leg to his cock. “Bacon.” Encircled his flesh and started moving her hand up and down. “Toast. And whatever else I can find.”

He watched her working at his cock. “Now, let’s go and clean up.”
~~
As it turned out, they'd ended up back in the shower less than a half hour after breakfast.

They'd teased their way through breakfast and ended up doing it right on the table, between waffles, strawberries and bacon and eggs.

Despite the fact that they'd planned to stay naked for the next two hours, the apartment had cooled down a little and Lex decided it was ridiculous to stay out of their clothes when they were just going to lounge on the couch anyway.

He went to her dresser and routed around until he found a shirt and sweat pants for her.

“Change of plans,” he said with a grin as he tossed the garments her way.

Then he pulled on the sweat pants she'd borrowed him earlier. “You didn't by any chance keep another shirt from one of your other guys?”

Chloe put on the clothes he’d thrown her way and then sauntered over to him. “You can’t even leave me that to ogle?” Lex chuckled and shook his head, looking very serious.

“Fine,” she mock pouted. “I may have something around here that would interest you.”

She crawled over the bed, she’d have to change the sheets and wash the others that had sex stank all over them, and looked through her closet.

“Aha.” There it was. It was actually a t-shirt of Lex’s that she had for…she couldn’t even remember how long. And she hadn’t stolen it. It had been given to her.

She’d been at Lex and Clark’s place. With Clark, actually, for some reason. They’d been in the kitchen and grape juice had gotten on her shirt. Clark had brought a t-shirt down for her.

After looking at it, she knew it was Lex’s. Warrior Angel. It depicted the first cover of the series. She’d taken it and had never got back to returning it. For some reason.

“Ta da!” She turned around and unfurled the shirt, holding it up against her body.

Lex face registered shock and then anger. “Lex?” Her voice was tentative.

The moment he recognized the shirt, he couldn't believe it. “Where the hell did you get that?”

That was his favorite shirt. His favorite shirt that had disappeared over a year ago. “I've been looking all over for it.”

One week it had been there, and the next it was gone. He'd asked Clark about it, when he was around to be asked. He'd gone through their closets, dressers, their hamper, everything. For months he'd tried finding out how his favorite shirt could have just disappeared.

He snatched the shirt from her hand and put it on. It was still as comfortable as he remembered, the edges a little frayed, but it hadn't shrunk, thankfully. Still fit him like a glove.

His voice had gotten colder and he’d given her a scathing look. He’d grabbed the shirt out of her hands like a two year old whose toy had been stolen.

Clark had obviously not told Lex that he’d given it to her. For a about a year. And she knew that Lex had probably asked after it. Clark was such a complete asshole.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” She shook her head. Had she’d known that it was obviously his favorite she never would have accepted it. She vaguely remembered Clark saying that Lex had so many clothes that he wouldn’t even notice it was gone. Clark hadn’t known better but she should have.

“Clark gave it to me when I spilled something on my shirt. I didn’t know that you were looking for it.” She watched as Lex took in the information. Knew what he must be thinking. That Clark hadn’t put two and two together when Lex had asked about it. That he hadn’t really cared all that much so had probably just said he hadn’t seen it. “I’m sorry.” This time the words were softer.

He looked good in the shirt but the expression on his face ruined the picture. Not thinking about it, she walked over to him and hugged him. Chloe held him tightly to her body and ran her hands over the soft cotton. “It suits you.”

Lex was too caught up in his anger to react at first. The fact that Clark had completely disregarded something that meant a lot to him, yet again. It made him want to get to the phone, call him and take a strip out of his superhuman hide.

Finally, he noticed that Chloe wasn't letting up on the hug. Instead, she squeezed him tighter.

He brought his arms up and returned the hug, slowly, but earnestly.

“It's okay,” he said and exhaled a deep breath. “You couldn't know. It's not your fault.”

And it wasn't. Chloe couldn't have known that it was his favorite shirt. Even if it had a Warrior Angel print on it, he'd given up his obsession with the comic book a long time ago. And the shirt was obviously worn and faded. How could she have known that it was his favorite?

Chloe sighed. This sucked. They’d been having an amazing weekend. And, without even being around, Clark had gone and fucked it up. “I’m still sorry.” She knew that it drove her crazy when she couldn’t find something that she wanted. Even if it wasn’t her favorite thing.

“I should have known. I mean, I knew that you were obsessed with it, I should have…”

“Chloe, don’t.” His voice had an air of finality to it. She’d have to let this one go.

“I took good care of it,” she volunteered. “Didn’t spill anything on it and no one else wore it.” She remembered that some guy had tried once. It hadn’t ended well. “Someone once tried to wear it. I threw a shoe at him.”

Some of the tension left Lex’s body. Chloe moved a little away so she could look up at him but she still held him close. “But now you’re together and all is right with the world.” She smoothed down the shirt and then rose up on her toes.

Lex met her halfway. She kissed him gently, almost tentatively, a few times before settling herself back against his body.

She’d missed this. A sense of closeness. A feeling of actually being with the person who was holding you. Of trusting him. Of caring for him. Even if he was someone else’s boyfriend.

~~
There was definitely something to be said for a lazy Sunday afternoon on the couch. Lex had spotted the newspaper on the coffee table and snagged it, interested to see what was going on in the world of politics and economy, and curious if there was anything good going on in Metropolis' cultural scene this week.

After all, besides work, he had nothing to do and planned to spend as much time as possible distracting himself. Hopefully with Chloe by his side.

Of course he'd barely had the paper in hand when Chloe made him surrender the news, sports, society and comic section.

While he swung his feet up on the coffee table, Chloe stretched herself out on the couch with her feet in his lap and disappeared behind her pages.

He frowned at the latest development in environmental politics and skimmed the article about the minister of defense's trip to Japan.

“Lowell is visiting Japan again, as if we haven't made enough of a joke of ourselves with our foreign policy yet.”

Chloe's reaction was a little different from what he'd expected. She giggled madly and he thought he even heard a snort in there.

There was nothing funny about the fact that the secretary of defense had about as much knowledge of the Japanese culture and traditions as a nun about sex. So he wondered what had caused the spontaneous outbreak of laughter.

He flipped down his pages and looked at her with an arched eyebrow.

Lex was talking about something that held no interest to her. Chloe knew that she should care about both foreign and domestic policy but it was just so dry. Plus, all of it could only be understood if you knew the history of the countries involved. So, first you had to catch up on thousands of years of history and then you had to read the current events. It was far too much work for her.

He was looking at her with a combination of amusement and questioning. She should be used to that look by now. “Sorry, I know you were saying something terribly important about the state of the world but sometimes the things that come out of the latest blonde celebutant cannot be ignored.”

The young woman was complaining about her privacy being invaded. Never mind the three sex tapes of her that appeared on the internet. Those were fine. She was actually bitching about her real weight being released. Priorities.

Lex wondered for a moment what exactly a celebutant was, but knew it had to be some sort of word blending that was only known to those who read the society and entertainment pages. “Right, as long as they're not showing pictures of what is going in, because nobody should be subjected to that.”

He couldn't blame Chloe for not being interested in politics. It was a futile undertaking these days in any case and caused nothing but headaches and rising dentist bills because your teeth were ground to dust.

Turning the page, he flipped to the culture and arts section. “Oh look, the Metropolis zoo is opening their new…”

He trailed off as the phone rang, looking between it and Chloe.

She picked it up and looked at the display before a grin appeared on her face and she pushed the talk button.

“Hey, slut, what’s up?” It was her usual greeting for Lois. It was an old joke between them. When stuck in Smallville they’d both been mostly ignored and chaste. So, Lois was slut and she was the Big Easy. No idea why they still did that.

“Nothing much, Big Easy, just haven’t talked for awhile.” Lois missed her cousin. Usually when she had something good to dish. “Can’t a cousin miss her blonde counterpart?”

Lois was going through her closet at the moment. She’d be going out tonight and wanted to look her best. She needed some sex, ASAP.

“I suppose,” Chloe said, fitting the phone into the crook of her shoulder. Lex was looking at her, amused. Again. “So, what are you up to?”

“Trying to find something halfway slutty to convince a man that he can’t live without me for a few hours. What about you? Have any good orgasms lately?” This was how they started their conversation before getting to the real stuff.

Except Chloe gave her an unexpected answer.

Chloe looked over at Lex. “Oh, yeah.”

Lex raised a brow at that particular tone of voice coupled with the look she was shooting him. He was tempted to ask who was on the other end of the line. Obviously, it had to be a female friend.

Lois had one hand still in her closet and gaped. “Yeah? Just Yeah? Who, when, how? And don't tell me that this Ted, Tom, Tony guy you went out with the last time we talked gave them to you, because I remember you telling me he sucked in bed.”

She discarded her search for clothes in favor of getting herself a snack. Pre date prep was taxing and she needed something to boost her energy.

“Nope, none of them.” Lex had now put his paper down and was blatantly watching her and eavesdropping. But it wasn’t really that being that she wanted him to hear. “Someone new. Someone much better. And someone much, much bigger.”

“Your little cousin hit the below the belt jackpot.”

She let her eyes wander over Lex’s body. “Above the belt ain’t too shabby, either.” She took her legs out of Lex’s lap and then scooted over to him.

Chloe wasn’t about to tell her who. But, other than that, she didn’t mind dishing on the details unless Lex cared. She held her hand over the receiver. “You mind a little girl talk?”

He was far too amused and well, her compliments were quite frankly stroking his ego. As long as she continued in that vein and didn't mention his name, she could talk about it all she wanted.

“Go for it,” he said in a low voice, “but if she asks for a name, call me Joe.”

Lois was staring at her own receiver, wondering if the connection had broken for some reason.

“Hello? Helloo-oo.” Then she heard rustling and Chloe saying 'okay' to someone. “Hey, you can't just tell me something like that and then just...oh god, he's still there, isn't he? You're telling me all this when the hunk of goodness is sitting right next to you?”

Lois couldn't believe it. Especially considering that neither of them usually kept their lovers around long enough for something like this to happen.

The guy wouldn't mind listening of course, nor the talking about it, since this would majorly boost his ego. “You sure you wanna give the guy a big head?”

Chloe giggled. “I doubt he needs it anymore. What with the way that I’ve been in bed. I think he knows how much he pleases me.” She took Lex’s hand and laid a kiss on the back of it.

“He’s very inventive.” The position that had built up her arousal slowly yet steadily came readily to mind. “Oh, and you’ll like this. I usually come so hard that I can’t even make a sound. It’s, Lois, it’s the most intense sex I’ve ever had.”

While she spoke to her cousin, she kept looking over at Lex. Even though they were close, he was her best friend, it was easier to tell him these things in this manner.

“Ever?” Lois heard her voice rising but couldn’t help it. That was a bold statement to make. “Like ever ever?” Then she remembered something Chloe had just said. “You can’t even make a sound?”

She knew she was repeating herself but it was a lot to take in.

Lex let her play with his hand as he listened to her side of the conversation. He'd finally found out who the person on the other end was, but that didn't matter so much anymore. Much more important was what Chloe told her.

So, he was the best she'd ever had. Wow, now that was a compliment worth hearing, because he'd heard the stories, knew of her sexcapades and had listened to both the bad and the good. And there had been a few that sounded like they were positive masters in the sheets.

He smiled and let her pull his hand into her lap as he leaned more comfortably into the couch. Thankfully, Lois was one of the extremely curious kind. The gene probably ran in the family.

Lois was still trying to take in the fact that someone had literally fucked her very vocal cousin into complete silence. “Wow, I mean, how, I mean…What the hell can this guy do that others don't? And would you share?”

She needed a good orgasm. Hadn't had one in way too long and if Chloe was hoarding prime material then life really was an unfair bitch.

“No,” Chloe responded immediately before she had a chance to think about it, “he’s mine.” Her hand had tightened around Lex’s. She tried not to think about the fact that she was a liar. Lex wasn’t even remotely hers. He belonged with Clark. And the damn fool didn’t even appreciate him.

“Which is why I won’t be telling you who he is.” That had, at least, been played perfectly.

Chloe knew that Lex’s eyes were boring into her. He’d probably been affected, in some way, by her possessiveness. She knew that he could hear Lois’s voice because the apartment was so quiet. Plus, whether she’d meant to do it or not, the phone was angled so he could hear her, too.

Lex pulled his legs off the table so he could shift a little closer to hear both sides of the conversation. The fact that Chloe had just gone all only-child defending the favorite toy made him smile. Even if it was just a joke between girls, it still gave him a good feeling to know he was wanted that much.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when Chloe continued to speak, her voice less intense now.

“As for what he can do,” she said, getting on safer ground, “well, it’s more of a matter of what he can’t do. I have yet to find that out.” She looked at Lex and ignored the expression on his face. Instead she leaned over and gave him a quick, soft kiss.

“He’s amazing,” she said, looking directly at him. The intensity of his eyes made something skip in her chest. “I’ve already come,” she counted up in her head, “nine times in the last 24 hours.”

“NINE TIMES!”

The extreme volume of the outburst made both Chloe and Lex pull away from the receiver.

Lex had a grin on his face now that couldn't be erased if he tried. He hadn't actually counted how many, but he knew he was good. And he'd been woefully out of practice, considering she was the first woman he slept with in over five years. He didn't allow himself to think about why he was out of practice.

He was much too proud of himself for managing to regain his status as official sex god. Bisexual or not, he was still a guy and it always felt good to know you still had what it took.

“He made you come nine times and hard enough that you couldn't make a peep? Damn. Life is just not fair at all, I don't even know if I'll get sex, let alone an orgasm from this date tonight and you had nine in 24 hours. I quit. Obviously, I've accumulated some damn bad karma and life is dishing it out through my sex life.”

Now that she'd gotten that rant off her chest, she took a deep breath and calmed down. “Okay, details. What does this sex god look like, where did you meet, where can I find the likes of him and Jesus just tell me everything!”

Lex had a hard time not to laugh at the rant and subsequent demand of information. He could hear the frustration in Lois' voice and wondered for a moment how she'd react if she knew it was him. He didn't know if Chloe had ever talked to her cousin about their friendship, or if Lois just knew the things that had once been splashed all over newspapers when he was younger and much more important.

Of course that would be insane. It was good enough to be the anonymous sex god for now. He waggled his eyebrows suggestively at Chloe, still grinning and well, just a little full of himself at the moment.

Chloe was enjoying the way that Lois was obviously dying for the information. It’s just a shame that she couldn’t share any of it. She badly wanted to. Another part of this that sucked.

“Don’t you think you should be paying more attention to getting ready so you can get an orgasm tonight rather than talking about my nine?” Chloe paused for a second. “Oh, sorry, I forgot one. It’s ten.”

The squawk that came over the phone did not sound human. Chloe laughed and Lex did the same. But she knew that if she didn’t give Lois something that she was libel to drive all the way across the country to give her the 12th degree in person.

“I didn’t exactly find him, more like,” how to describe this? “I just saw something that I hadn’t considered before.” Lois would never guess Lex. In her head, Lex was gay. Besides, she had tons of male friends that she could be talking about.

“Something I’d thought about before but had discarded.” More and more, she thought about what Lex had said. How different would their lives have been had she taken a chance with him when they were younger?

“He’s tall.” She looked over his form. “I need to practically jump all up on him to kiss him but it’s worth it. And he’s got really nice hands. And eyes. And he’s well muscled, like a cougar.”

Lex laughed again. “You hear that? Isn’t that just wet pantie inducing?”

Lois listened to the sound of a typical guy laugh. Nice baritone voice, from what she could tell, but nothing that would really set her panties on fire. But what ever floated her cousin's boat, right? “Okay, uhm, muscled like a cougar? Is he a runner or something? Swimmer?”

She was trying to get a mental picture in her head, but couldn't quite figure it out. “Blond or brunet and talking about eyes, what color?”

Maybe if she got a little more detail she'd be able to build together this guy that could give a woman ten fucking mind blowing orgasms. The fact that he was tall enough that her cousin had to jump didn't really say much, considering Chloe was about half a foot shorter than her and had to jump to reach the cookie jar on top of her fridge.

“He runs.” Though she hadn’t known that until recently. “But he probably does some sort of weight training, too.” She pulled up his shirt after letting go of his hand and ran her palm down his abs. “Nice six pack.”

Her fingers went lower and she peeked under his sweatpants. “As for the hair, I’d go with auburn.”

She was glad that he didn’t mind the treatment she was giving him at the moment. “The eyes are blue. Or blue-gray. Or some crap like that.”

“He’s not your type,” she admitted. “But I know you’d find him attractive.” Lois had told her so back in Smallville. “You’d be so jealous of me that you’d scratch my eyes out.”

Lois stared at the receiver, trying to figure out what that was supposed to mean. Why would she scratch Chloe's eyes out because of a guy who wasn't her type? Why would she be attracted to a guy that wasn't her type in the first place? Chloe just plain made no sense at all.

“So it's true what they say about red-heads, hm?” There were various rumors of course, but Lois was always and only interested in the ones that had something, anything really, to do with sex. And there was that one that went natural red-heads were naturally kinky and talented in bed.

“Did you get kinky with him yet? Or did he actually manage to blow your mind vanilla style?”

Lex raised a brow at that one, wondering what Lois Lane considered kinky and for that matter, what constituted kinky in Chloe's mind. She'd confided in him enough to admit there were some things she wanted to try that she just didn't trust her one-night stands enough for, but when he'd tried to prod she'd always veered off the subject. And he'd of course let her, being that he didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

“Not yet,” she admitted. “It hasn’t been going on all that long.” And Chloe didn’t want to start to ask Lex about his fantasies just yet. She thought it would be better to ease him into it. This was already delicate enough without brining in ball gags, whips and/or chains.

“But, I’m sure we’ll get there.” She was confident that they would. For Chloe, sharing her body was easier than sharing what she was thinking or feeling. Lex wasn’t the only one who was fucked up in this…whatever it was.

“I already told him that I’d do pretty much anything he wanted.” Chloe knew that Lex’s kinks wouldn’t be anything that she couldn’t handle. At least, the ones she’d read about hadn’t seemed all that bad. She’d been around the block, numerous times, but hadn’t actually tried out all that much.

Lex took hold of her hand again and linked their fingers. The fact that she trusted him enough to give him carte blanche was getting to him in a bad/good way. Of course he still had no idea what she considered kinky and there was a lot of room for misunderstandings, but he was pretty sure he could get her to talk enough to get an idea about what she wanted to try and what not.

Lois flopped down on the couch, not quite believing what she was hearing. She'd actually meant the last question as a joke. She knew that her cousin didn't go kinky with her one night stands. Then again, her cousin also didn't keep her one night stands around long enough to hear a phone conversation where she extolled their sexual prowess. Which could only mean one thing. This was more than a one night stand.

“Wow. This thing's pretty serious huh?”

Lex had heard the comment, and noticed the confused and slightly awed tone in Lois' voice. How did Chloe's cousin get that idea when all they'd talked about was sex? There was nothing in the conversation that suggested anything about deeper feelings, was there?

He looked at Chloe, scrutinizing her face to see her reaction. His brows furrowed when she didn't immediately respond. They really couldn't afford to slip up now. Of course what they had was more than a one night stand. It was an intimate affair between friends that needed to be kept secret because one of said friends was still in a relationship with someone else.

Lex squeezed Chloe's fingers and waited for her to finally answer. He didn't even know what he wanted her to say at the moment, just hopefully not something that would let Lois know who he was.

She knew that both Lex and Lois were waiting for an answer. But she didn’t really have one. The question had gotten to her. Chloe had an inkling that her feelings for Lex weren’t what they should be. That they hadn’t been for a few months. But that was because she didn’t have anyone else in her life. At least that’s what she told herself.

But Lois asking her that, directly, had made Chloe repeat the question to herself. Yes, it was serious. But it would never get any more serious. Lex was with Clark. They were practically married.

“I’m not already showing him the door, if that’s what you mean.” It was the best she could do. But she’d expand on her words a little bit. “He’s going to be around for awhile, yeah. I don’t think I’ll have to have another one night stand for quite some time.”

“Now,” she said, sitting up straighter, “if that’s all for now, I really should go. I do, as we’ve discussed, have a dastardly sexy man in my apartment and I have a feeling he was about to make me do the crossword puzzle.” That’s why she’d taken as many sections away from Lex as possible.

He loved those things and would make her help him. She’d tried telling him, over and over, that she didn’t know anything but he never accepted that as an answer. She’d forgotten where it was in the paper but figured it wouldn’t be in the business section.

Lex accepted the answer as it was, surprised that it was for some reason not what he'd expected. He didn't know what he'd expected, but that wasn't it. Casting the thought aside, he tuned back into the conversation, only to hear that Chloe was wrapping it up.

“That's okay, oh, but before I forget. I'll be coming over soon.”

She'd promised Chloe for ages that she'd take a vacation and visit her back in good old Metropolis, Kansas. Of course it had taken months to get her boss to finally give in and give her more than a measly three days off. She'd managed to wrangle a full two weeks out of him.

“Two weeks vacation, starting on the 28th, and I plan to occupy your living space the entire time, what do you say?”

“I say that that is awesome.” She missed seeing Lois. The phone was all well and good but in person was so much better. “Now, you go and try to get lucky.”

She and Lois said their good byes. Addressing Lex, she said, “I’m still not doing the crossword puzzle, just so you know.”

Lex grinned back at her and slowly picked up his newspaper again. He wasn't quite done with the cultural section yet anyway. She was protesting now, but she had to go to the bathroom some time, and then he'd just snag the crossword and she would inevitably end up joining him anyway.

His eyes fell on the article about the new zoo house he'd meant to tell her about before the phone rang.

“Wanna go to the zoo with me some time this week?”

bklyangel
1st June 2008, 21:48
When will Clark find out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't wait for the showdown.

Kit Merlot
1st June 2008, 21:59
A wonderful update!

I liked the Chloe/Lois conversation, and Lois' awed jealousy over Chloe's fantastic sex life:D

However, I am bothered that Lex wants to have Chloe and Clark both, especially after realizing that Clark cares so little about his feelings.

This story continued to rock--keep up the great work.

lj715
1st June 2008, 23:57
Great update but I think it's time for Lex to decide who he wants. Can;t wait for more.

summer_enchanted
2nd June 2008, 00:07
Great new chappie, can't wait for more :)

dagney
2nd June 2008, 01:36
I continue to enjoy this fic and I'm thinking of helping Chloe out. I'm sure that after 10 mind blowing big O's with Lex and his extra large sized dick, she must be mighty sore, so I'll sacrifice myself and fill in for a bit.

Thanks Ladies
Dagney

lilinny
2nd June 2008, 02:29
Great banter with Chloe and Lois. I can't wait until they go to the zoo. I wonder what kind of mischief they'll get into there.

hfce
2nd June 2008, 04:28
It is time for Lex to get off the pot. This is not fair to Chloe or that dumb butt Clark. It was a lovely chapter as always ladies. :D

SVfan1286
2nd June 2008, 13:01
Fabulous chapter! I really do love this story. I hate that Lex is using Chloe, for his emotional and sexual needs. Being with her while still in a relationship with Clark is wrong on so many levels... but it's also Chloe's fault too, she knew when they started sleeping together, that Lex was with Clark and was not planning on breaking up with him anytime soon, and she still decided to be with him anyways. I just feel bad for her because most likely she's going to get her heartbroken. Hopefully Lex will eventually will see the light and do the right thing!

Ladies you're doing an amazing job on this story and I look forward to reading more!!

somethingeasy
4th June 2008, 18:05
“I’m hungry,” she pouted a little. “And you can’t be ready again to…” But he was, she could feel him starting to get hard behind her. “Lex, no more pussy for you until I get some food.”

His whole body shook as he laughed.

Shaking his head against her shoulder, he wrapped both arms around her to keep her in place.

“What can I say you're just too tempting, I can't help myself.”

Which was true, concerning he couldn't remember the last time he'd had been interested enough in anyone to have sex with them three times before noon. But it wasn't just the gluttony for sex. It was plain old greed to have her right there and not going anywhere. And the fact that he was capable of actually keeping her where she was.

Heh… I liked the beginning showing how greedy and ravenous Lex still is for Chloe. He’s actually outlasted her stamina and sex-drive, which is saying quite a lot considering how starved she is for Lex-orgasms.

I wonder whether Lex is so hungry for Chloe because he knows that this is not something that’s going to last for long. Judging by his behaviour, I’d say that he’s put an expiry date on this ‘arrangement’? He’s hoping to use her and fuck her ‘out of his system’ before going back to his ‘legitimate relationship’ with Clark? What a bastard!


Her eyes roamed down his body. He was really well put together and obviously took care of himself. Then there was a certain other body part. “And, I’m mad at you, by the way. You didn’t warn me about that. It was quite shocking, I could have fainted dead away.”

For his body size, Lex was rather, well, huge.

Lex caught the direction of her gaze and started laughing again. “Would you have believed me if I'd warned you before you saw it?”

*rolls eyes* ye-huh! Let’s blow up his ego a little bit more. That’s exactly what he needs…. MORE arrogance and self assured smugness about how irresistible he is for Chloe. I just find it so depressing that Lex’s ego is getting a huge stroking from this affair while Chloe is coming closer to having her heart and spirit utterly devastated. I’m honestly cringing at how I’m imagining this will end. Poor Chloe is going to be destroyed! And the worst thing is that she did it all to herself!


In fact she'd been wonderfully enthusiastic about everything they did together. Sex with her was an experience completely different from any he'd had before. It was fun and hot, intense and incredibly addictive.

*disappointed sigh* It’s SUCH a pity that Lex doesn’t understand that the ‘reason’ the sex between them is so amazing, incredible, intense and ‘different’ is because of the connection they share. Instead he only thinks of it as fun and ‘addictive’… a habit that will eventually be broken once he’s had his fill.


“Ok, new plan. We take a shower and have our evil ways with each other.” That sounded very good. “Then we eat and see who can hold out the longest. The winner gets to be in charge the next time.”

She was feeling immature and wanted to run with it. “Deal?”

Lex grinned and finally sat up. “Sounds like you have it all worked out.” He nodded. “Deal.”

Of course they both were competitive as hell, so this could get interesting, and possibly take longer than two hours. Unless of course they both resorted to dirty tricks, in which case this would be over very soon after breakfast.

Ooooh, a competition of the sexual power-play variety? Heh, sounds like great fun. LOL! I see dark times ahead, but at least they’re having a fantastic time enjoying themselves in the ‘here and now’.


His voice had gotten colder and he’d given her a scathing look. He’d grabbed the shirt out of her hands like a two year old whose toy had been stolen.

ROTFL! ‘only child syndrome’, huh? Doesn’t play well with others, doesn’t like sharing and definitely doesn’t like other people touching his stuff without his knowledge or express permission, LOL!


Lex was too caught up in his anger to react at first. The fact that Clark had completely disregarded something that meant a lot to him, yet again. It made him want to get to the phone, call him and take a strip out of his superhuman hide.

Finally, he noticed that Chloe wasn't letting up on the hug. Instead, she squeezed him tighter.

He brought his arms up and returned the hug, slowly, but earnestly.

“It's okay,” he said and exhaled a deep breath. “You couldn't know. It's not your fault.”

It was very interesting getting this look into another one of the ‘little ways’ that Clark is basically a sucky, unworthy, inconsiderate and HORRIBLE boyfriend. And it’s ALSO interesting that Chloe basically consoled and soothed Lex out of his temper, so now we know that Clark is probably NOT going to hear a word about this because Lex has already ‘vented’ and received comfort. It’s ironic, but Chloe is actually the biggest enabler in this horrible Clex relationship. If she wasn’t around to provide Lex with whatever emotional support he needed, he probably would have broken off with Clark a long time ago.

Wow! Chloe has been part of a Clark/Lex/Chloe threesome relationship for a long time now, even if she didn’t realize it. The problem is that she’s been the one that’s always been getting the ‘emotional dumpage’ by Lex while Clark has been reaping the benefits of Lex’s devoted attention. Chloe has been fulfilling all of Lex’s deep emotional needs, so Clark never needed to give any of himself into the relationship. How sad is that?!??


Chloe sighed. This sucked. They’d been having an amazing weekend. And, without even being around, Clark had gone and fucked it up. “I’m still sorry.” She knew that it drove her crazy when she couldn’t find something that she wanted. Even if it wasn’t her favorite thing.

heh… I can see that Clark is still getting all the blame for ‘spoiling their good times’. I suppose it’s STILL too soon for Chloe to start wondering why LEX doesn’t take the initiative to make some changes in a life that’s making everyone miserable.


She’d missed this. A sense of closeness. A feeling of actually being with the person who was holding you. Of trusting him. Of caring for him. Even if he was someone else’s boyfriend.

oh this is bad, Bad, BAD!!! Chloe is falling for Lex, faster and harder all the time. She’s devoting her whole self to him, even though she KNOWS that he’s refusing to give back all but a fraction of what he’s receiving. I’m beginning to get really scared that Chloe might end up broken at the end of this affair.


Lex was talking about something that held no interest to her. Chloe knew that she should care about both foreign and domestic policy but it was just so dry. Plus, all of it could only be understood if you knew the history of the countries involved. So, first you had to catch up on thousands of years of history and then you had to read the current events. It was far too much work for her.

heh, I was rather disconcerted by the idea of Chloe not being interesting in politics and current affairs. I guess she really HAS completely separated herself from her former ambition of being a reporter.

LOL! I can completely empathize how it usually gets SO frustrating to play ‘Spot the Lie’ whenever you’re seeing two countries interacting with each other on any level. It’s difficult even if you DO know their histories, much less if you have no idea about where they’re coming from.


“Trying to find something halfway slutty to convince a man that he can’t live without me for a few hours. What about you? Have any good orgasms lately?” This was how they started their conversation before getting to the real stuff.

ROTFL! I loved the initial greetings of the conversation between Lois and Chloe. The two of them were adorable… in their own vulgar kind of way, LOL! I loved the feel of the close cousinly bond that the two of them obviously shared. Well done, BlueSabby!


He was far too amused and well, her compliments were quite frankly stroking his ego. As long as she continued in that vein and didn't mention his name, she could talk about it all she wanted.

oh dear… I’ve already commented about how disturbed I am about how Lex is getting a huge ego-boost from his affair with Chloe? He’s using Chloe to re-build his sense of esteem and self-worth (especially as a dominant, masculine sexual being). I think it’s good that he’s getting some form of therapy after the ego-beating that Clark has given him, but Chloe is devoting her whole being and her whole self into building him up without giving a second thought for her OWN needs and ego. At the rate this is going, Lex could exit this affair with a brand new sense of purpose and self, while Chloe is going to feel like a worthless, valueless, used up tool.


“He’s very inventive.” The position that had built up her arousal slowly yet steadily came readily to mind. “Oh, and you’ll like this. I usually come so hard that I can’t even make a sound. It’s, Lois, it’s the most intense sex I’ve ever had.”

While she spoke to her cousin, she kept looking over at Lex. Even though they were close, he was her best friend, it was easier to tell him these things in this manner.

‘You’re amazing, Lex! You’re incredible and the best sex anyone could ever have!’
‘Why thank you, Chloe. Now I think I can go back to Clark with this newfound sense of esteem and power.’

How can Chloe NOT see where this is leading?!?? It’s really sad to see how she’s wilfully blinding herself to the situation as it stands now.


“No,” Chloe responded immediately before she had a chance to think about it, “he’s mine.” Her hand had tightened around Lex’s. She tried not to think about the fact that she was a liar. Lex wasn’t even remotely hers. He belonged with Clark. And the damn fool didn’t even appreciate him.

heh… I can see the roots of the possessiveness starting now. Even if Chloe is trying to remind herself that Lex is actually NOT hers, I think it’s going to become more and more difficult for her to heed that reminder as time goes by. It’s only a matter of time before the news that she’s ‘sharing Lex’ with someone is something that will strike her with heartbreaking, appalling horror.

It’s just so fascinating that Chloe is STILL only harbouring anger towards Clark for not having Lex ‘all to herself’. As if it was Clark was part of the decision making process to keep her as a secret mistress on the side.


Lex pulled his legs off the table so he could shift a little closer to hear both sides of the conversation. The fact that Chloe had just gone all only-child defending the favorite toy made him smile. Even if it was just a joke between girls, it still gave him a good feeling to know he was wanted that much.

heh… just a joke between girls, huh? Lex has NO idea about the genuine, heartfelt feeling of longing that went into that statement Chloe made. The bastard is only enjoying the ‘feel good’ emotions of being wanted so desperately by someone. It’s giving him quite a powerful thrill. Bastard!


Lex had a grin on his face now that couldn't be erased if he tried. He hadn't actually counted how many, but he knew he was good. And he'd been woefully out of practice, considering she was the first woman he slept with in over five years. He didn't allow himself to think about why he was out of practice.

He was much too proud of himself for managing to regain his status as official sex god. Bisexual or not, he was still a guy and it always felt good to know you still had what it took.

It really struck me here that Lex is getting a HUGE, pleasure-filled ego-boost from regaining his ‘sex-god’ status. It’s obvious that being with Clark probably made Lex feel, not only powerless and emotionally neglected, but also undesirable. This affair is going a long way to restoring Lex’s dominance, power and ego.

Hmmm, I’m beginning to think that, even if Chloe had the sense of break it off with Lex right here and now, there’s a good chance that Lex will probably go looking for this ‘validation’ from other sources. If he didn’t break up with Clark, there’s a VERY good chance that he’s going to go scouting for OTHER women (and/or men) to have sordid side-affairs with. At this point in his life, and considering the relationship he’s in… this kind of validation is something that Lex NEEDS, and if he couldn’t find it with Chloe, he would go looking for it elsewhere from other people.


Lex raised a brow at that one, wondering what Lois Lane considered kinky and for that matter, what constituted kinky in Chloe's mind. She'd confided in him enough to admit there were some things she wanted to try that she just didn't trust her one-night stands enough for, but when he'd tried to prod she'd always veered off the subject. And he'd of course let her, being that he didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

hmmmm… now I’M also intrigued and curious about what Lois Lane and Chloe Sullivan would consider too kinky for a one-night stand. I guess there is a LOT of interesting experimentations in the future for our ‘we love to hate’ couple, huh? LOL!

I rather enjoyed how Chloe kept on boasting and gloating about the ‘fine catch of a human vibrator’ she’s managed to land. Granted, it was giving Lex a huge stroking to his already massively puffed up ego, but Chloe was having so much fun, it was difficult to not enjoy it alongside her. ROTFL! And I definitely loved how Lois was turning nearly green with envy at the descriptions she was getting about the TEN orgasms delivered by the beautifully built man her cousin was bonking.


Lex took hold of her hand again and linked their fingers. The fact that she trusted him enough to give him carte blanche was getting to him in a bad/good way. Of course he still had no idea what she considered kinky and there was a lot of room for misunderstandings, but he was pretty sure he could get her to talk enough to get an idea about what she wanted to try and what not.

squeee!!! Experimentations ahead… oh this is going to be GOOD! As long as you’re having a nasty, sordid affair… might as well make it as nasty as possible, right? LOL!


He looked at Chloe, scrutinizing her face to see her reaction. His brows furrowed when she didn't immediately respond. They really couldn't afford to slip up now. Of course what they had was more than a one night stand. It was an intimate affair between friends that needed to be kept secret because one of said friends was still in a relationship with someone else.

Lex squeezed Chloe's fingers and waited for her to finally answer. He didn't even know what he wanted her to say at the moment, just hopefully not something that would let Lois know who he was.

She knew that both Lex and Lois were waiting for an answer. But she didn’t really have one. The question had gotten to her. Chloe had an inkling that her feelings for Lex weren’t what they should be. That they hadn’t been for a few months. But that was because she didn’t have anyone else in her life. At least that’s what she told herself.

I really, REALLY appreciated this question from Lois, BlueSabby! It really helped how in what different places Lex and Chloe were with regards to their thoughts, ideas and feelings about this ‘arrangement’ between them. Lex sees it as a plain affair… something that’s ‘fun on the side’ of his serious committed relationship. It’s intense, but also fleeting and transient to him.

Chloe however is in way over her head, because she’s not only falling in love with Lex (if she hasn’t fallen in love already) but she’s even admitted to herself how intensely she feels for him. This arrangement is a huge, serious thing for her, even though she knows that it’s a ‘fun fling’ for Lex.

Oh that foolish, FOOLISH girl. Poor thing!

Thank you SO much for clarifying exactly what they think about their current situation, BlueSabby. It’s much appreciated.


His eyes fell on the article about the new zoo house he'd meant to tell her about before the phone rang.

“Wanna go to the zoo with me some time this week?”

The zoo? Is that a date? Or one of their ‘friends only’ outings as usual? Sheeesh! Lex is really enjoying himself with this ‘double benefits’ arrangement, isn’t he? He gets to enjoy having Chloe’s body at his disposal, AND he also keeps her companionship as his best friend… and all this by stringing her along in a non-committed relationship where he sets the pace and marks off the time until it’s over.

The worst, WORST thing is that he doesn’t even realize what an injustice he’s committing. It would be one thing if he did all this to a person he despised, but he’s actually doing all these horrible, despicable things to a person he loves and admires? Lex SO deserves every bit of suffering and misery that he has coming to him. EVERY little bit of pain that he inflicts on Chloe will be returned to him a hundred fold!!! (at least I hope so)

This was a great chapter, BlueSabby. I loved the layers of ‘unreleased misery’ being built into this fic. It makes me drool to imagine all the anguish that’s going to be visited on our characters eventually. Good luck with future plotting.

Dominique
5th June 2008, 04:04
Fantastic update. Loving the bond C/L but I am curious with the whole Clark situation and how they're going to handle him.

BlueSabby
20th June 2008, 19:59
A/N: Blue: Just when you think things are complicated enough....you get an update!
A/N: Sabby: More quality time for the couple you love to hate, or is that hate to love?




Not touching Lex had been more of a problem than Chloe had thought it would be. It wasn’t like she wanted to lick his face in public or anything, but she had to remind herself not to hold his hand for too long. Or look at him in a certain way.

It didn’t appear as if people were watching them but they couldn’t really take the chance. So instead of him having his arm around her, they walked side by side back from the Sushi place that was down the block form where she lived.

Lex had made her try some stuff that she hadn’t wanted to. Some of it was awful and other things were less than awful. But, it had made him happy. He really was gorgeous when he smiled.

When they approached her building, she noticed that Lex hung back near the street. She looked over at him questioningly and then she got it. He was leaving.

It made sense. He needed to get back to his home. He didn’t have any clothes there and they both had work the next day.

Yes, it made sense but that didn’t mean that Chloe had to like it. “This sucks.” She hadn’t meant to say it out loud but she couldn’t help it.

“Do you have to…” She knew the answer and was being a baby. “Sorry, I know you do.”

Lex nodded, not really happy about the fact that he had to leave, either. He dreaded going back to the empty apartment, the place felt too surreal, unwelcoming when he was alone. Never mind that it gave him too much time and space to brood when that was the last thing he wanted to do.

But they both had to go to work in the morning. He couldn't stay here, being that he didn't have a respectable change of clothing, nor his laptop or briefcase with him.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up at her. He really didn't want to leave.

The thought struck like someone hitting him in the back of the head. “You could come with me.”

They were standing right in front of her apartment; her material for classes tomorrow had been sorted into a neat pile before they left for dinner. All she had to do was grab it, a change of clothes and she could come with him.

Now that she knew what was happening with her, she had to protect herself as much as possible. Her feelings for Lex, and she knew she had them, could be controlled at this point. But she didn’t know how long that was going to hold true.

But when Lex looked at her like that, so earnest and open and hopeful and wanting her just as much as she wanted him, she couldn’t say no to that. It was physically impossible for her to do so.

“Okay, I’ll just be a minute.” The street wasn’t very crowded so she walked over and kissed him. “Thank you for asking.”

She kissed him again and then turned to go back inside and get what she needed for her day tomorrow.

On an impulse, Lex called after her. “Pack more if you want to.”

When she turned around and looked at him with surprise, he couldn't blame her. He was surprised at himself. If it was anyone else, he wouldn't have allowed himself to show that much desperation. Or at least he hoped so.

“There's no reason for you to leave tomorrow,” he added with a shrug.

There was also no need to say why there was no reason. They both knew why she could pack clothes and working material for the entire week and still not have to worry about getting home before...

He looked up at her and waited for her answer.

She’d booked her one way ticket to hell. How had it come to this? Both she and Lex willing to do this to his relationship. More than willing, actually. Needy and eager to do it. Feeling like it wasn’t wrong.

In for a penny…

“Ok.” And then talking to herself, “Ok.” She fished around in her pocket for her keys and then separated the one for her place from the one to her car. She threw her car keys at Lex and he caught them. “Garage across the street. I’ll be down in five.”


~~
Lex woke up from the incessant noise coming out of his alarm clock and slammed his arm backwards to hit the damn clock on the spot that made it shut up. It took three tries, but he finally managed and rolled back over into his previously comfortable position.

Curled around a warm lump of cotton pajama Chloe with his nose in her hair.

She made a grumbling noise and Lex huffed in agreement. It was far too early to get out of bed. 5:45 in the morning, to be specific.

“Morning,” he mumbled into her neck, not inclined to get a move on just yet.

“It appears so,” she mumbled. She hated the mornings. Couldn’t believe that she’d picked a profession where it was required to get up this early. But then again, she did get out really early. It was a fair tradeoff, she supposed.

She reached around for Lex’s arm and wrapped it further around her. “I hate Mondays. And Tuesdays. Wednesdays are a little better. Is it Saturday yet?”

Chloe knew she sounded like a grump but she didn’t care.

“Mm-mm.” The non verbal answer was muffled by her hair, so Lex elaborated, “Still Monday morning and the ass crack of dawn.”

He'd get up in a minute. They both had to get going and get ready for work. Lex had a meeting sometime around nine that he hadn't really prepared for yet and if Chloe was late for her class the kids would probably take it upon themselves to destroy the earth in five easy steps with the help of glue and ice cream sticks.

“Okay, let's fight the sloth.” He pried his eyes open and realized they hadn't even bothered to close the curtains last night. “I'll go make coffee and you can get a shower, then I'll go take a shower while you have whatever breakfast you can find in the fridge.”

And it would really help to back up his statement if he was actually moving.

“Sure thing.” Chloe had vaguely heard something about shower and coffee. It sounded good but the warm bed full of Lex sounded even better. “I know it appears as if I’m not moving. However, I’m actually moving so fast that I did all you just said and am already back in bed.”

Then the covers disappeared. “Lex!” The nice warmth was gone and Lex was standing at the foot of the bed. “Meanie.”

She grumbled and tried to get comfortable again. But then she felt Lex physically removing her from the bed. “Brute.” He deposited her carefully on her feet and Chloe stood there for a moment, brushing her hair back with her hands and staring at Lex without even seeing him.

“Fine. I’ll go shower.” She stripped off her shirt and turned in the direction of the bathroom.

Lex shook his head at her and turned to make his way into the kitchen. He'd thought he wasn't much of a morning person, but that was nothing in comparison to her. He made a mental note to not even try getting her out of bed without an offering of coffee tomorrow morning. That should keep the insults to a minimum.

He started the coffee machine and had a look into the fridge to figure out if there was anything edible for breakfast. Not being a breakfast person, he had very little in the form of food around at any given time when he was on his own.

Eggs, bacon, cheese and toast would have to do. Nowhere near the lavish brunch they'd had yesterday, but they also didn't have that much time today.

Lex took out the food and placed it on the counter, then went about scrambling the eggs as he waited for the only thing he truly wanted to finally be done.

He remembered the coffee machine to be much faster than this. It was probably purposely making him wait this morning for some nefarious reason only known to karma.

Chloe felt much more human after her shower. She’d been such a beast that she hadn’t even given Lex a proper kiss good morning. And all he was trying to do was help. She could try and promise herself that she’d be better tomorrow but knew it was a lie.

The smell of food and the coffee percolating was a godsent. Lex was looking at the machine, probably willing it to work already.

“Hey,” she said. He turned in her direction and offered her a tentative smile. “I promise not to bite.” She sidled up next to him. “Too much. C’mere.”

His smile widened before Chloe closed her eyes. She was surprised at the intensity of the kiss.

“Hmmm, every morning should start like that.” Lex leaned down again and Chloe sighed into his mouth. Once Lex was done ravishing her, Chloe tipped her head to the side. “Is it obvious?” She’d put cover up over the hickey but thought it was still very visible.

He brought his hand up to tilt her chin a little more, examining the camouflaged hickey. It wasn't all that obvious unless you knew it was there and were looking for it.

“If you're worried about it, you could just wear a silk scarf or something.” Not that he was too happy about the fact that she covered it up in the first place. “Scared you'll get teased at work if someone sees it?”

After all it was just a love bite. It wasn't like his name was written in glowing red ink on her neck.

He looked down at his own naked chest where the hickey had already faded significantly.

Sometimes his accelerated healing really was a nuisance. But then, he couldn't complain about it whenever his life was in peril and it helped him to stay alive.

The coffee machine finally signaled that it was done tormenting him and would now surrender the coffee. With a sigh of relief, Lex turned around and pulled two mugs out of the cupboard above the sink and placed them on the counter.

Chloe had seen the pout. Both when he looked at her neck and his chest. So, he didn’t like it that she had covered up the hickey. And didn’t like that his was gone. Well, both of those things could be rectified rather easily.

She walked over to the sink and turned on the water. When she had the temperature just right, she got a little closer to the sink and was able to get some water on her neck. She did her best to get the makeup off but wasn’t sure that she’d done that great a job. She ripped off a paper towel and dabbed at her neck.

Lex was looking at her like she was a crazy person. “Oh, don’t even, I saw that pout and I know what it meant. Now, get your cute ass back over here. I’ve got plans for that chest of yours.”

His brows furrowed as he put his much cherished first cup of coffee down and walked back to her. “I do not pout.” That much was for certain.

And he hadn't really expected her to show up at work with a hickey that would probably be the cause for a lot of teasing, possibly even from her students. However, he had to admit that he was still rather proud of his work.

And amused that she planned on refreshing his hickey in the middle of the kitchen, before breakfast. She'd clearly lost her mind, but in a very funny way.

Resting his arms on her shoulders, he looked at the love bite on her neck again. She'd gotten most of the make up off. He used his thumb to wipe away a remaining smudge. Wouldn't do to have her running around with a half covered hickey and give people the wrong idea about her competence or intelligence.

“I'm not sure I should offer you a bite out of me before you've had breakfast. I've seen you when you're hungry.”

“You most certainly do pout,” she said with certainty in her voice. He did do that. Not often. But when he did, she had to admit that he looked damn cute. But he wouldn’t appreciate that sentiment either.

“I think it’ll be ok. Plus, I don’t think that you mind so much when I bite.” He always loved it when she got a little rough with him. She knew that her balls to the walls attitude towards sex didn’t bother him in the slightest.

She wrapped her arms around his waist. She’d have to move this along because he still needed to get himself together for work.

Chloe ran her tongue over one nipple and then the other before turning to the skin that she’d marked on Saturday.

Her teeth and tongue did their thing as his hand came up to rest on the curve of her head. She ran her hands lightly over his back as she applied some pretty serious suction. When she finally pulled away, she was rather proud.

“There you go.” He was all bruised again. “Now, get your butt in the shower.” She gave it a slap for emphasis.

Lex resisted the urge to roll his eyes and snagged his coffee cup from the counter. A shower was not an option before he had his coffee. “You can smack me all you want, but I'm not moving before I'm done with this.”

Taking a healthy gulp from the hot liquid, he closed his eyes in appreciation of the fuel that started his engine in the morning. Usually, he didn't rush this much, but considering he had a meeting in 3 hours and an hour drive to get to said meeting, it was probably better to shift into a higher gear.

A few more gulps and his cup was empty. “Okay, now I'm going.”
~~
After a quick shower, Lex had changed into his usual business suit of armor and went back to the kitchen to find breakfast all set out on the table and the morning newspaper, already divided by sections into two piles, on the counter.

He sat down with a smirk and poured himself a second cup of coffee. He wasn't hungry, but there was enough time to settle down and watch her devour the goods on the table while he enjoyed his drug of choice.

“You know, if you weren't such a breakfast person, we could have stayed in bed for at least another half hour.”

“Yeah, I’m sure it would have only been another half hour.” They were both obsessive and greedy by nature. If one of them had even done something that the other found remotely arousing, pretty much a given based on their past history, they’d still be in bed. And would probably never get out.

Besides, Chloe really did need to eat. She’d discovered that when she started working at the school. Yes, she had a lunch hour but sometimes things didn’t go according to plan. And the kids sucked the energy out of her. She loved her job but, on some days her students looked less like little kids and more like incubi and succubi.

There were just so many of them that needed attention. And it was always right now. Kids didn’t get the whole, hold on until I don’t have glue in my hands theory of life. She hoped hers would be different. If she had any.

Lex was giving her an ‘oh really’ look. “Please, like I’m the only one in this room who can’t control themselves.”

He chuckled and went back to reading his paper. Chloe waited for another few moments before speaking. She’d been thinking about this since last night but wanted to bring it up in the light of day. And when they didn’t have a chance to get distracted. Lex had a meeting and she had a classroom full of kids so they most likely wouldn’t get derailed.

“Lex?” He looked up at her. “You remember what I told Lois about wanting to try things with you?” He put the paper down. Then nodded.

“Is there anything, in particular, you’d like to try?”

He pursed his lips and picked up his coffee cup, pondering that question for a moment. There were quite a few kinks he'd tried and some he held somewhat of a favor to, but he had no idea what she'd think of some of them. He had no doubt she'd heard of at least one or two of the more outrageous things he'd done through the newspaper gossip column, but had no idea what her reaction to those were.

“Interesting question for a Monday morning breakfast conversation,” he said with a smirk, “and I'm sure you know at least some of my kinks, given the omnipresence of the media in my life during my wilder years.”

He cocked his head to the side and watched her intently. “What about you? Are you finally willing to share the particulars of the 'stuff' you wanted to try and haven't gotten around to because of the trust issues with your boy toys?”

Lex could see that she didn't like his non-answer. She'd obviously hoped for a direct response on his part. But he really wanted to know what she liked and was a bit doubtful if she'd share her own kinks if he just gave her a satisfactory answer.

“Make you a deal, show me yours and I'll show you mine.”

The frown on her face increased and Lex sighed. “You've not exactly been informative about the things you'd like to try before, and I just don't want this to be a one sided thing because you're too embarrassed or something to tell me what you'd really like.”

Chloe could see his point, she really could, but she still wasn’t 100% pleased with his response. She’d given Lex her trust a long time ago but it wasn’t exactly reciprocated apparently. Yes, she’d sort of been vague when they’d spoken about fantasies and the like before. But that was different.

They hadn’t been sleeping together at the time. And, besides, if Lex had previously discussed what he liked in bed before, she knew he’d be doing it with Clark. And that was just a little too weird for her to wrap her mind around before.
Maybe if she made the first move he’d believe that she was serious about not holding back from him. “I’d like to be tied up.” She knew her voice was a little lower than before but she couldn’t help it. Chloe had wanted to try that for awhile but it took a lot of trust to let someone do that to you.

Sure, she’d had guys that had asked for it but she’d always told them no. It put her in a vulnerable position where it would have been far too easy to take advantage of her like that. Or hurt her.

Lex was holding himself straighter and she could see that he’d leaned towards her a little more. “Maybe even blindfolded.” It came out as more of a question than a declarative statement.

She cleared her throat. There was one other thing. Something that she wasn’t sure he’d give her. She didn’t know if it was something that he only did with Clark now.

“I’ve also never had anal sex.” Again, a trust issue. Every guy tried to convince her that it would be so good, baby. But she hadn’t really believed them. They were selfish lovers and would have probably discounted her discomfort.

“But I’m not sure if you want to do that with me. Or if that’s something that is only for, you know, something you only do in a relationship.” A real relationship, she reminded herself. Not some affair that was going to crush one of the participants later.

The last statement took Lex by surprise more than the previous two. For one, because he'd been pretty sure that Chloe had tried it before, judging by the nonchalant way she'd talked about it before they'd started this. But then, it had never been her ass that was the subject matter.

The other surprising part was the one where she considered anal sex to be something he only did in a relationship, inherently asking if he wanted to keep that as something he only did with the man he was not going to think about right now.

“We can try it, if you really want to. But if we do, we'll take it slow. It could turn out you don't really like it once you've tried.”

After all, women weren't equipped with the handy little thing called prostate that made the experience worth it if the person fucking you knew what they were doing.

“And your other kinks mix well with mine,” he stated over the rim of his coffee.

She'd put a lot of trust in him, sharing that without waiting to get on safe ground first and hearing out his kinks. So it was time to give her a clear idea of what was and wasn't true about the rumors of the gossip mill.

“Don't worry, I'm not really into the hardcore whips and chains.” He didn't want her to think that his kinks surpassed a bit of harmless bondage.

“I do have a thing for role play and dressing up though,” he admitted, “which the media somehow turned into cross dressing which is not true, by the way.”

They'd backed it up with a photo of him where he'd worn a long haired curly wig as a joke. He wasn't even dressed as a girl, but that didn't seem to matter to the press. Lex remembered his father going ballistic, which was why he'd never refuted the claim in public.

He'd also liked the occasion threesome back in the day, but that wasn't really something that floated his boat anymore.

“And I love fucking in water. A pool, a lake, the bathtub, any body of water large enough to hold two people will do, really.”

There was just something about the water surrounding you, the almost weightless sensation of movements when you were submerged in it. Every movement slower and more graceful underneath the surface.

His mind trailed off into a fantasy of seducing Chloe in the large indoor pool of the mansion, water lapping at their bodies as she clung to him, heated kisses that grew more passionate as they grinded against each other...

The effect was immediate and Lex jerked himself out of his thoughts before it could get worse. She'd really chosen the worst time for this discussion. They had barely ten minutes left before she had to leave for school and he didn't have much more time either if he wanted to make it to his meeting on time despite rush hour traffic.

Chloe could see Lex’s mind wandering down the dirty, naughty path. She was glad that he didn’t mention anything that seemed too crazy. In fact, hers were probably considered more hard core. Maybe he’d gotten all of that out of his system.

“That sounds really fun.” And erotic. But she could actually see them doing everything he suggested. Sure, they’d have to find a pool or something. The bathtub in either of their places probably wasn’t big enough. Unless he was lying down and she was on top. Riding him and taking control, her hips jerking and shimmying and Jesus she had to stop thinking about that now.

She reached over and took his hand. “You a cheerleader type guy or what?” Chloe wanted to know what sort of costumes got him off. And he’d talked about role playing. “Maybe a wench or schoolgirl who shares her first time with you?”

Yes, she could definitely get into this. She knew, exactly, where there was a great costume store around. It was helpful to know that sort of stuff when you taught young kids who were so into Halloween that it bordered on psychotic. She could pass by there today and they could start tonight.

Lex grinned as he noticed she really got into the idea of role playing. It was comparatively a tame kink, yes, but only if you lacked the imagination to make it work.

“I'll take pretty much anything,” he said as he linked their fingers and thought about it a little more. He hadn't had the opportunity to do this in so long, he didn't know where to start. “Classics like the schoolgirl, cheerleader or nurse are good, but if you want something more out there, that could be fun too.”

There was only one thing that he didn't want to see. Being that he had to live with it and did not want to be reminded of it. “Just, uhm,” he shifted his gaze downward, knowing that he was bringing up yet again the subject that shouldn't be part of their time together. “No superhero costumes. Of any kind.”

The Suit was the reason that his relationship was at a point where nothing could really salvage it, and he held on to it for the sake of reasons that had nothing to do with reason anymore. The Suit was the perfect symbol for everything that was wrong and everything that stood between something that could have been great. If burning it would have done any good, Lex would have done so years ago.

He pulled his hand back and wrapped both fingers around his coffee, feeling cold again all of a sudden. He didn't want to think about this, didn't want to deal with it and most of all didn't want to feel that strange emptiness and pathetic loneliness when he thought about Clark or the ruins that was their relationship.

Chloe could see Lex retreating into himself again. Shutting down and shutting off. She hated to see him like that. She rose out of her chair and walked over to him.

Time and time again she’d told him that his life didn’t have to be about someone not being around. But she couldn’t be the one to make that decision for him. Maybe what he got with her, from her, could show him that. It might not benefit her, probably wouldn’t, but maybe the seed would be planted and Lex would, some day, realize that he didn’t have to stay.

She leaned down and kissed him. It was an awkward angle but she took care of that by changing the angle of her head and pulling him closer. Once they parted, she looked down at him, her eyes searching his face. “I’ll be everything you’ve ever wanted or needed tonight. I promise.”

Her words usually had little effect on what Lex thought. Her actions would have to show him what trust, affection, fun and closeness really were.

He wished he could believe her words, but it wasn't that easy. Mostly because he didn't even know himself anymore what he wanted or needed. Not on a grander scale of things and definitely not where his relationships were concerned. He was fucked up beyond all recognition.

Just take this affair, for example. How could something that was so completely wrong in every sense of the word feel so completely right? And how could it be that something that should feel right, like kissing the man you had been in love with for five years feel wrong? Things had just stopped making sense to him.

And maybe it was time he really stopped thinking.

“You'll be late if you don't go now.”

She nodded minutely. She wanted to know what he’d been thinking but knew she shouldn’t ask. “Ok.” Chloe ran her thumb over his cheek and kissed him on the forehead before walking out of the kitchen.

Lex was broken. Her only hope was that she had enough metaphorical duct tape, glue and rope to put him back together without totally destroying herself.

tbc

karila
20th June 2008, 20:50
I still love this story.
It's interesting to see how they act like a real couple.
The wakening was really fun.
Just one thing, I really don't understand why Lex is still with Clark!

dagney
20th June 2008, 22:21
I too am continuing to enjoy this story. I like how brave Chloe is and that she sees that Lex is really more insecure and that he feels broken. I think that may be why he still is with Clark. Clark represents goodness and heroics. So if Clark loves him he must be good and worthy and also pardoxicaly him not feeling worthy is why he puts up with Clark being an a -hole. That's my thought, but I worry about Chloe and how important both these men are to her and what the fall out of this will be. PS I looking foward to the sexy fun and games. Dagney

hfce
20th June 2008, 22:44
What a great update but sort of sad. I feel bad for Chloe because she is setting herself up for a fall. I also feel bad for Lex because he truly is at the bottom not knowing how to climb out of it. In a funny way this affair might get him out of the whole he is currently in. ;)

SVfan1286
20th June 2008, 22:45
Another amazing chapter!

I can't believe Lex asked Chloe to stay with him in the penthouse that he shares with Clark... and even worse, Chloe agreed too, even knowing how wrong it is. *shakes head* I know Clark's supposed to be gone for awhile, but to have their affair (having sex) in the penthouse Clark lives in, is sooo asking for trouble. Maybe in some weird way they want to be caught by Clark?

I fear for Chloe and her heart. She is giving so much to this 'relationship' with Lex and not getting anything in return, except sexually but not emotionally. The worse part is she knows it, and is doing nothing about it.

Loved the chapter... love the story. I look forward to the next chapter!!

tatie87
21st June 2008, 00:39
FABULOUS. I love Chloe and Lex in relationship behing Clark's back. I can't wait to see the drama when Clark get's home and the hotness of their kinks. Can't wait for the next chapter.

lj715
21st June 2008, 00:46
Great chapter.

lilinny
21st June 2008, 17:24
What a fantastic chapter! But it takes balls to spend the week at Lex's penthouse while Clark is away.

I can't wait to read what happens when they get caught.

I also dying to read what kind of kinks they have in store for each other.

Love it. Write more very, very soon.

somethingeasy
21st June 2008, 17:59
heh. I see what you mean by more complication and a further update on the people that we all love to hate. You’re really not going to let up on Chloe and Lex piling on one humungous mistake after another in this arrnagment that have.


Lex had made her try some stuff that she hadn’t wanted to. Some of it was awful and other things were less than awful. But, it had made him happy. He really was gorgeous when he smiled.

hmph! I think this sums up their relationship perfectly. Chloe keeps getting pushed into things that she doesn’t really want to do, and that she knows she’ll regret later… but does it anyway to keep Lex happy. And Lex just accepts her acquiesce to his demands as his entitled due. The bastard!


Now that she knew what was happening with her, she had to protect herself as much as possible. Her feelings for Lex, and she knew she had them, could be controlled at this point. But she didn’t know how long that was going to hold true.

But when Lex looked at her like that, so earnest and open and hopeful and wanting her just as much as she wanted him, she couldn’t say no to that. It was physically impossible for her to do so.

Oh, this was such a bad, BAD idea! It’s one thing to carry on a nasty, sordid, adulterous affair outside of Lex’s established relationship, but now they’re bringing it into his home? Into the home he shares with his partner? There is something so repulsive and despicable about that. I don’t care how bad a boyfriend Clark is, THIS crosses a reprehensible line.

Not to mention that it’s blurring the lines for poor Chloe too. She’s getting drawn deeper into a fantasy that she and Lex are really ‘legitimate lovers’ instead of cheaters. And when she’s devastated once the bubble is broken, it’s going to be all the harder for her to put back all the pieces back together again.

Poor Chloe even realized what a bad, BAD idea this is… but the girl doesn’t have the backbone, will power or grit to say ‘no’ to Lex. As always… they always end up following his way!


“Okay, I’ll just be a minute.” The street wasn’t very crowded so she walked over and kissed him. “Thank you for asking.”

aaargh! Not only did she ‘not’ say ‘no’ to him, but she even thanked him for forcing her hand into this choice? Lex is being an oblivious bastard, but Chloe is contributing to the problem because SHE can sense the problems that lie ahead, but she’s choosing to put them aside for his temporary happiness.


“There's no reason for you to leave tomorrow,” he added with a shrug.

There was also no need to say why there was no reason. They both knew why she could pack clothes and working material for the entire week and still not have to worry about getting home before...

He looked up at her and waited for her answer.

She’d booked her one way ticket to hell. How had it come to this? Both she and Lex willing to do this to his relationship. More than willing, actually. Needy and eager to do it. Feeling like it wasn’t wrong.

In for a penny…

Oh, that is so, SO wrong! Now Chloe’s lost all resolve to even distance and protect herself from the worst of the damage… she’s ready to throw herself headlong into whatever disaster this affair is going to bring, without even trying to alleviate the worst of the damage. But I guess I can understand her reasoning. She’s going to end up hurt anyway, so might as well accept that the pain will be horrific and enjoy the bubble while it lasts.


“Okay, let's fight the sloth.” He pried his eyes open and realized they hadn't even bothered to close the curtains last night. “I'll go make coffee and you can get a shower, then I'll go take a shower while you have whatever breakfast you can find in the fridge.”

And it would really help to back up his statement if he was actually moving.

“Sure thing.” Chloe had vaguely heard something about shower and coffee. It sounded good but the warm bed full of Lex sounded even better. “I know it appears as if I’m not moving. However, I’m actually moving so fast that I did all you just said and am already back in bed.”

ROTFL! I always suspected that Chloe was a slothful, beastly monster in the morning before she had her coffee fix. And it’s fun to see that Lex shares her distaste for mornings too, LOL! Does it make a relationship easier or harder to have BOTH people not ‘morning persons’?


Lex shook his head at her and turned to make his way into the kitchen. He'd thought he wasn't much of a morning person, but that was nothing in comparison to her. He made a mental note to not even try getting her out of bed without an offering of coffee tomorrow morning. That should keep the insults to a minimum.

heh… I wonder if Lex realizes that he’s begun thinking of this affair as a long-term thing when it’s obvious ‘not’. *sigh* if only he realizes that there’s a choice to be made, before it’s too late and all his choices are taken away from him.


He remembered the coffee machine to be much faster than this. It was probably purposely making him wait this morning for some nefarious reason only known to karma.

bad karma? *rolls eyes* gee, I wonder where THAT came from!


He looked down at his own naked chest where the hickey had already faded significantly.

Sometimes his accelerated healing really was a nuisance. But then, he couldn't complain about it whenever his life was in peril and it helped him to stay alive.

The coffee machine finally signaled that it was done tormenting him and would now surrender the coffee. With a sigh of relief, Lex turned around and pulled two mugs out of the cupboard above the sink and placed them on the counter.

Chloe had seen the pout. Both when he looked at her neck and his chest. So, he didn’t like it that she had covered up the hickey. And didn’t like that his was gone. Well, both of those things could be rectified rather easily.

Hmmm, isn’t that fascinating? I commented earlier about how Chloe felt a primal urge to mark Lex because she knew that she couldn’t keep him, so she wanted SOME kind of a sign on him that proclaimed he was hers… even if it was a lie. Isn’t it interesting to see that Lex ALSO wants her mark on him? This is a very contrary attitude to most cheaters who never wants any signs or evidence of cheating. Either Lex is in denial, or perhaps he’s deduced that there’s no danger of Clark seeing any marks since he’s NOT going to be around, so any love-bites are safe to administer and wear.


“Yeah, I’m sure it would have only been another half hour.” They were both obsessive and greedy by nature. If one of them had even done something that the other found remotely arousing, pretty much a given based on their past history, they’d still be in bed. And would probably never get out.

I liked the note about both of them being greedy and obsessive. I guess it’s true that both of them have very passionate and addictive personalities. They tend to het completely wrapped up and obsessed with anything that interests them, to the point where reason, logic, common sense and even basic survival sense is thrown out the window… and this affair is no exception to that rule.


Besides, Chloe really did need to eat. She’d discovered that when she started working at the school. Yes, she had a lunch hour but sometimes things didn’t go according to plan. And the kids sucked the energy out of her. She loved her job but, on some days her students looked less like little kids and more like incubi and succubi.

ROTFLMAO! That’s not an entirely unaccurate assessment of kids actually, LOL! Little buggers KNOW what they’re doing too, and just wait for the chance to tire out the adults so they can get to real mischief!


Maybe if she made the first move he’d believe that she was serious about not holding back from him. “I’d like to be tied up.” She knew her voice was a little lower than before but she couldn’t help it. Chloe had wanted to try that for awhile but it took a lot of trust to let someone do that to you.

Sure, she’d had guys that had asked for it but she’d always told them no. It put her in a vulnerable position where it would have been far too easy to take advantage of her like that. Or hurt her.

Wow! Chloe has HUGE trust issues… or really sucky taste in sexual partners if her primary concern was always that they would take advantage of her and hurt her if she placed herself in too vulnerable a position. Clark really played havoc on her self-esteem if she lowered her standards to dating/fucking such complete assholes. Which makes it all the more incredible that she’s willing to place herself in such a position with Lex. I wonder if he realizes what an honour that is.

Squeee!!! Tied up and blindfolded sex coming up soon? Awesome!


“But I’m not sure if you want to do that with me. Or if that’s something that is only for, you know, something you only do in a relationship.” A real relationship, she reminded herself. Not some affair that was going to crush one of the participants later.

The last statement took Lex by surprise more than the previous two. For one, because he'd been pretty sure that Chloe had tried it before, judging by the nonchalant way she'd talked about it before they'd started this. But then, it had never been her ass that was the subject matter.

The other surprising part was the one where she considered anal sex to be something he only did in a relationship, inherently asking if he wanted to keep that as something he only did with the man he was not going to think about right now.

I remember how anal sex was handled delicately and tastefully (and hotly) in Private Conversations. I enjoyed it then, and I’m sure I’ll love the way BlueSabby handle it in this fic as well :D

Hmmm, it was very interesting seeing how they both made an oblique reference to Clark and the fact that Lex is actually committed to another prioritized relationship whereas THIS is just a side fling. They touched on this, but didn’t really think too deeply on it. Idiots!


After all, women weren't equipped with the handy little thing called prostate that made the experience worth it if the person fucking you knew what they were doing.

It’s a good thing that Lex recognizes how a man (like himself) can find anal-sex enjoyable while a woman will not. It means that he won’t be pushing her beyond her limits figuring ‘if I can take it, so can she, in fact, she can probably take it better’. I get the feeling that most other bi-sexual men (like Clark) would probably have seen it from the more selfish point of view.


They'd backed it up with a photo of him where he'd worn a long haired curly wig as a joke. He wasn't even dressed as a girl, but that didn't seem to matter to the press. Lex remembered his father going ballistic, which was why he'd never refuted the claim in public.

heh… well that certainly explains why Lex was so shy about admitting his kinks to Chloe. He’s probably been burned by past exes who spilled all his bedroom whispers to tabloid newspapers. Oooh, dress up and role play? That’s a new one! And it sounds EXCELLENT!!!


There was just something about the water surrounding you, the almost weightless sensation of movements when you were submerged in it. Every movement slower and more graceful underneath the surface.

That was a beautiful description of water-play sex! It was lovely, erotic and sensual. I can see why Lex got so hot and bothered if he thinks about it in these visceral, sensualist terms. ROTFL! I loved the idea that he got worked up to nearly uncontrolled levels of arousal simply by imagining indulging in this particular kink.


Chloe could see Lex’s mind wandering down the dirty, naughty path. She was glad that he didn’t mention anything that seemed too crazy. In fact, hers were probably considered more hard core. Maybe he’d gotten all of that out of his system.

I’ll admit, I also enjoyed the irony of the idea that debauched, billionaire I’ve done everything twice over Lex Luthor’s kinks are actually ‘tamer’ than Chloe’s secret fantasies. It IS rather surprising, but I loved that idea!


“I'll take pretty much anything,” he said as he linked their fingers and thought about it a little more. He hadn't had the opportunity to do this in so long, he didn't know where to start. “Classics like the schoolgirl, cheerleader or nurse are good, but if you want something more out there, that could be fun too.”

ooooh, naughty school girl, naughty nurse! DAMN, I want to see all those soon! I honestly can’t tell WHICH kink I want to see tried out first! Bondage? Anal-sex? Water-sports? Kinky costumed role-playing?!?? kinky costumed role-playing actually shoots to mind as a topper… perhaps because I’ve never actually read one before?


There was only one thing that he didn't want to see. Being that he had to live with it and did not want to be reminded of it. “Just, uhm,” he shifted his gaze downward, knowing that he was bringing up yet again the subject that shouldn't be part of their time together. “No superhero costumes. Of any kind.”

The Suit was the reason that his relationship was at a point where nothing could really salvage it, and he held on to it for the sake of reasons that had nothing to do with reason anymore. The Suit was the perfect symbol for everything that was wrong and everything that stood between something that could have been great. If burning it would have done any good, Lex would have done so years ago.

Ouch! I could tell that was a stab through the heart for Lex. It’s interesting to see that he doesn’t blame Clark so much as Superman for his relationship problems. Is that why he keeps forgiving Clark and clinging to him despite the misery? Because he honestly thinks of them as two separate people? One person hurts him, and the other person is his beloved Clark.


Time and time again she’d told him that his life didn’t have to be about someone not being around. But she couldn’t be the one to make that decision for him. Maybe what he got with her, from her, could show him that. It might not benefit her, probably wouldn’t, but maybe the seed would be planted and Lex would, some day, realize that he didn’t have to stay.

She leaned down and kissed him. It was an awkward angle but she took care of that by changing the angle of her head and pulling him closer. Once they parted, she looked down at him, her eyes searching his face. “I’ll be everything you’ve ever wanted or needed tonight. I promise.”

Oh dear… So Chloe has adopted Lex as a ‘project’ that she needs to fix at any cost? Even at the expense of her own heart, happiness and state of peace? It’s wonderful to be generous and self-sacrificing… but Chloe is being really blind and STUPID ignoring her survivor’s instinct, and choosing to prioritize Lex’s well-being over her own. It’s such a pity that she can’t figure out that, even though she would be partially for the damage to herself, she will end up hating Lex for the inevitable heartbreaking agony he puts her through. In the long run, even her attempt to ‘heal’ Lex will end up hurting him all the more… when he loses her friendship.


Just take this affair, for example. How could something that was so completely wrong in every sense of the word feel so completely right? And how could it be that something that should feel right, like kissing the man you had been in love with for five years feel wrong? Things had just stopped making sense to him.

And maybe it was time he really stopped thinking.

This is the time to stop thinking? Don’t flatter yourself, Lex! You shut your brain off the moment Chloe proposed that she’d be willing to share you with your boyfriend. The only thing that probably went through your mind since then was ‘Chloe will do whatever I want? Yayyy!’

aaargh! He’s not GETTING that there’s a choice to be made… and by ‘not choosing’ he’s actually deciding to shove aside all ties with Chloe in exchange for keeping ahold of Clark. Moron! I can’t wait to see his anguish and heartbreak when he realizes what an idiotic FOOL he’s been.


Lex was broken. Her only hope was that she had enough metaphorical duct tape, glue and rope to put him back together without totally destroying herself.

heh… yeah-huh RIGHT, Chloe! I really don’t see that happening. You’re already in too deep. If Lex broke it off tomorrow, you’d be devastated and broken. And every day that passes by is only going to increase the ensuing hurt that follows. Poor foolish kids! It’s so CLEAR to see the path they’re headed towards, that it’s a little frustrating that we’re not able to reach through and shake them out of their complacency!

Heh… this was an excellent chapter, BlueSabby! More boundaries torn down, and new lines crossed. I look forward to seeing where the next couple of chapters take us. Please update soon.

BlueSabby
28th June 2008, 19:09
A/N: Blue: Domesticity ahead! And stupidness. Enjoy

A/N: Sabby: Life is a zoo. Humans are clearly primates.


Work had been the same as every day. He'd made it to the meeting on time, drummed some sense into the man who had hired him as an advisor for another sixteen months and managed to make the man a couple millions in the process. Then he'd conferred with the team of finances and planning and basically done all the work that the so called 'magnate' should be able to do himself and finally been able to leave the offices at around four in the afternoon.

Chloe had arrived not long after him and after a quick dinner they'd decided they might as well go to the zoo today. The new jungle house was supposed to be even more impressive after nightfall.

And Lex had to admit, it was pretty impressive. They had gone all out on arranging the plant beds and exotic trees to resemble a real jungle as much as possible. Even the floor had been covered with packed dirt so the atmosphere wasn't disturbed by concrete. The safety glass cages were quite large and placed against the walls of the dome shaped building. It was probably an architects dream cum nightmare in steel and glass.

Looking up past the light fixtures, one could almost imagine the stars. They weren't really visible under the cloud cover, but maybe during winter they would be.

“They've really outdone themselves,” he commented as he looked around and at the reactions of the other people in the building.

His gaze turned to Chloe and he smiled at seeing that she had pretty much the same awed look on her face as everyone else.

“You can say that again.” She wondered how much money had been sunk into the project. There were a number of different sections. They mostly separated the types of animals. There were educational plaques all over the place. But they didn’t disturb from the aesthesis of the place. Not an easy feat to accomplish.

When she looked back at Lex she could tell that he was amused by her. Probably because her mouth had been hanging open as so looked at the canopy of leaves above them.

“This was a good idea,” she said as she took his hand.

He had seemed pretty run down when she’d gotten back to his place. Which was why she’d hidden the garment bags that she’d picked up after school.

She’d hit paydirt at the costume place. Now her naughty gear was stowed very far back in the part of Lex’s closet that he’d allocated for her stuff.

A bunch of kids ran by them followed by a harried looking man who was telling them to slow down.

“It would be totally awesome if the school could scrounge up enough dough to send the class here.” Yes, she worked in a prestigious school. However, they were tightwads with money when it came to class trips.

“Hmm,” Lex hummed in agreement, but didn't say anything on the subject matter.

He could see that the kids in Chloe's class would enjoy this. Fieldtrips were something that didn't happen a lot, as she'd told him and this might actually be a pretty good place for the young ones to learn something without feeling bored out of their mind.

Lex made a mental note to take care of the monetary issues that stood in the way of that.

Ambling along, he looked into one of the cages, not really reading the engraved plaque at the bottom. It was an ocelot, and a rather handsome one, too. The brushes on the ears and the poufy tail looked a little funny, but when the animal yawned, the visibly sharp teeth definitely made up for that.

“You'd think they'd go crazy, being caged in like that, but every single one of them just looks bored to me.”

And who could blame them, with nothing to do but people watch and wait for the food to be delivered two times a day by some person in green overalls. Some of them at least had the company of a mate, but most were alone in their cages.

“Someone should get them cable TV.”

“Hello kitty,” she said. The cat blinked back at her. “Are you terribly bored?” She laughed when he yawned again. “I know. I’m sorry about that. Maybe you could try stalking us?”

He really shouldn’t be tired because the animal was, after all, nocturnal. The animal sat down and began to give himself a bath. “The TV might not be a bad idea,” she said, walking on.

The kids made a loop back in their direction and Chloe let go of Lex’s hand so they wouldn’t clothesline them. “Sorry,” the man following them chirped out as he passed.

Lex took her hand again and she leaned a little more into his body. She saw that they were relatively alone so she turned her head and pressed a kiss into his chest.

Then she saw where he was taking her. She tried to get away but his arm appeared around her waist and he dragged her into the semi darkness.

They were now in insect central. “Lex,” she whined, “you know how I feel about these things.” She made a face as she saw a dung beetle crawling across a branch.

“I know,” he grinned a little and pulled her further into the extra display. “But you know the kids will want to see this, so there's no time like now to conquer your fears.”

And of course there were no people in here other than them right now, so he might get away with a little more than hand holding in the safety of darkness. She was already moving closer to him and clinging to his arm like she wanted to climb on him to get away from the harmless insects.

“The dangerous ones are all behind glass,” he said in a comforting tone as he wrapped his arm around her. “And I think the brochure said something about lightning bugs, nothing wrong with those, is there?”

“No.” She strung the word out. Probably the same way a little kid would. Chloe couldn’t help it. She hated bugs. Hated mostly everything about them. Especially hated when they touched her. She shivered at the thought and Lex’s arms came around her.

When she looked up at him to speak, she noticed that he’d turned her so her body fit into the spot where two of the walls met. His face was also rather close. “The ones with light up butts are ok.”

She looked a little to her right. Big mistake. Beetles. Crawling all over the place. “Oh, god.” She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against Lex. “They’re so disgusting.” Her voice was muffled against his shirt.

Lex tried to suppress a chuckle. She really was cute like that. “I could do something to help you ignore them.”

He slowly coaxed her face out of his shoulder and tilted her chin up until she was looking at him. Then he lowered his mouth and pressed it to hers, kissing her slowly, just lingering brushes of his lips for the moment, waiting for her reaction.

His arm went back around her waist to hold her close, enjoying the feeling of warmth that immediately started soaking into him where she as pressed against him. Her hands came up and for a moment, he thought she might push him away, but instead she grabbed on to his lapels and deepened the kiss.

Lex wanted to smile, but his mouth was otherwise occupied. Tasting her, tracing the slightly uneven row of her upper teeth, meshing their tongues together and exploring the roof of her mouth. He loved kissing her, and taking his time about it.

She couldn’t believe that she and Lex were making out in the insect habitat. She loved it. It was surprising and highly enjoyable. Plus, she forgot about whatever it was that she’d just seen.

As she tried to get closer to Lex, she wasn’t wearing heels so she had to arch her body upwards, her hands slipped between his jacket and shirt and she pulled him closer. Apparently, she was a little too enthusiastic about it as it caused her to loose her balance.

Lex’s arms came up around her and she felt his body shaking with laughter. “Sorry, I think we need an apple box or something.”

Once she was steady on her feet, she pulled his face back down to her level. Instead of diving right in, she sucked his lower lip into her mouth. Her hand wandered under his shirt and she placed her palm right about where she thought his hickey was.

She started kissing his chin and then made her way down his throat. Chloe was sucking on his Adam’s apple when Lex grabbed her by the arms and disentangled her mouth from him. She squeaked in protest.

He was breathing a little heavier now, incredibly turned on by her still relatively innocent moves. He didn't even want to know what would have happened if he'd let her continue her explorations unchecked. Right now, all he wanted to do was go back to kissing her properly.

“Still in public, remember?” he muttered before he wrapped his arms around her again and bent down for another kiss.

He hadn't even planned on making out with her here, it wasn't the smartest thing to do and he would stop in a moment, but right now, it felt too good and the chance that they'd get caught here was relatively low anyway.

“You can explore all you want when we're back home,” he muttered in her ear after he finally tore himself away from her mouth and regained some semblance of control.

When they got back home…

That phrase was unsettling to her. They didn’t have a home. He had a home and she did. Two separate places. This wouldn’t last. But she would enjoy it while she could.

“That a promise,” she asked. She liked being with Lex like this. Silly and relaxed and doing things that normal people did. Not worrying about heroes and villains. More than anything that’s what she wished for Lex. A sense of normalcy instead of the doom and gloom that seemed to hang over him these days.

He nodded and she said, “Well, I suppose I can control myself until then…if you buy me one of those huge pretzels we saw when we were coming in.” Zoo food was expensive and held little to no nutritional value. Which was why she loved it.

“Whatever milady desires,” Lex said as he executed a mock bow.

If only that were true. She tried to shake off her mood by taking Lex’s hand and leading him out of creepy bugville.
~~
Chloe felt something crawling up her leg and she quickly started batting at it. She threw the covers back and looked down at her lower body. There was nothing there. Like there hadn’t been anything there the last three times.

Lex put the blanket back over her and pulled her back to his body. “Get it this time?” The humor was clear in his voice.

“It’s not funny.” She hated bugs. Hated them. And now, thanks to their little zoo visit, she thought she kept feeling them on her body. She was never going to get to sleep tonight. Maybe if she put some clothes on it would help.

But the closet was all the way over there. Away from Lex’s warm body. It was too far. She’d never make it. “This is all your fault, I hope you know that.”

Lex chuckled and rubbed his hand down her leg to the spot where she'd smacked herself. “Sure, I'm the cause of your ridiculous phobia and then I put something into your drink to cause the hallucinations of bugs in the bed. Tell me, how did you ever manage to drive a VW beetle without going insane?”

His hand moved back up her leg, over her butt and to her back, stroking soothingly even as he kept making fun of her. “You practically fled for the shower once we got back here, you spent the next half hour scrubbing every part of your body squeaky clean to the point you almost looked like a lobster. Trust me; there are no bugs of any kind anywhere in this apartment.”

“Didn’t hear you complaining about the length of the shower when we were in there,” she muttered. Chloe tried to relax but she really, really, really, honestly, couldn’t stand the thought of a bug touching her. And she kept remembering all of the creepy crawlies behind the glass.
Even though Lex’s hands were now running all over her body, she still shuddered at the thought of one of those things touching her. “I just need to get to sleep. It’ll be ok once I’m unconscious.” Or, at least she hoped. God forbid she had a nightmare involving those monsters.

She sighed and took one of Lex’s arms and wrapped it around her. “Stop with the petting. Just hold on, ok?” Being anchored to him would make her feel better. Having something real to focus on instead of the imaginary bugs.

Lex smirked at her childish antics, but did as she asked anyway. He tightened his arm around her a little and shifted closer, practically gluing his body to her back. Burying his face in her neck, he felt her wriggle against him to get more comfortable, her warm butt pushed against his lower stomach.

He inhaled her smell deeply, and exhaled with a contented grumble. She felt so damn good like this, fit right into every nook and cranny of his body like she was making herself at home there. And he didn't mind. It wasn't awkward, or too close, or stifling. He didn't feel trapped or chained in this position.

Nuzzling into her neck, he moved the arm around her slowly, until he could cup her breast in the palm of his hand. “That okay?”

“Perfect.” She murmured. “Could stay like this forever.” Stay in the warm bed behind closed doors that shut out the outside world. Shut out the reality in which they both lived. That she couldn’t stay there forever. Wouldn’t get to stay much longer.

Lex’s boyfriend would come back and things would return to what they all found normal. Not right, but normal. She placed her arm over Lex’s and steadied her breathing.

She thought that Lex fell asleep before she did. Chloe felt the slackening in his arms and the way that he leaned against her more. When her mind finally shut down, she slept.
~~
Lex flipped the omelet in the pan and took another swig from his coffee, watching the breakfast on the stove with one eye, while his other scanned the business section of the Planet.

He'd gotten to the newspaper first this morning so it was still in one piece, he probably wouldn't have time for the crossword, but it was the principle of the matter.

They'd woken up a little later this morning, still wrapped up in each other but their positions had changed. Sometime during the night Chloe had ended up rolling onto her back and Lex had woken up on his stomach with his nose between her breasts, their legs tangled together and his arm tucked under her shoulder.

He'd disentangled himself ruefully to shut off the alarm and not even tried waking her until the coffee was ready.

With a smile, he shut down the stove and transferred the omelet to a plate. He carried the plate over to the table he'd set for little Miss 'I can't survive the day without breakfast' and went back to retrieve his newspaper.

He heard the clacking of heels and looked up to see Chloe entering the kitchen, completely dressed and with an overly classic hairstyle. “Trying to convince the vultures today that the kids really deserve a trip to the zoo?”

The board of her school was a bunch of annoying old misers who were big on hoarding the money, but notoriously uptight about spending it on anything that didn't benefit the school itself. Dressing up as sensibly and classic as possible was a good move on her part to assure she'd at least be taken seriously by the stuffy old men that ruled the board.

Chloe walked over to Lex and gave him a quick kiss. “You bet. But I can’t decide whether this is the best idea or if wearing something low cut would get the job done quicker.” She tried to smoothly take the paper out of his hands but he held tight to it. “You’re no fun whatsoever,” she pouted.

“But at least you’re sexy.” She gave him another quick kiss. “Thoughtful.” She kissed the frown off of his lips. “And a very good cuddler.”

She turned back to the table and yelped when Lex swatted her ass. She rubbed it before sitting down at the table. “Oh, and did I mention wonderful for making me breakfast?”

After taking a sip of her coffee and digging into the omelet, Chloe said, “If they say no I’ll just launder the money.” She snagged a strawberry from the dish of fruit. “That reminds me. How does one launder money? Do you know?”

Lex arched a brow at that and put a finger into the folds of his newspaper to mark the spot. Usually to launder money, you had to have money in the first place that you invested into the production of goods which you then sold legally or illegally on a market and the money that was returned to you as pay for the goods had all the markings of a legal transaction.

Which, needless to say, didn't help Chloe in the least because she didn't have the money in the first place.

“I usually do it by forgetting to check my pants before I put them in the washer.” He said with a smirk.

He'd already made the decision to spring the money should the board refuse to pay for the trip. Of course he'd do it anonymously, no need to make a big deal out of it when it really wasn't. He might have left behind a lot, but his money was not one of these things and he'd always been excellent with financing.

“That’s so not helpful,” Chloe said as she rolled her eyes. “But this,” she pointed at the omelet with her fork, “almost makes up for it.” She liked being taken care of. After all, she’d done so much for other people throughout the course of her life that she was long overdue for some reciprocity.

Lex went about reading the paper and Chloe did her best to not harangue him about eating something. It wouldn’t get her anywhere. She went over her spiel in her head a few more times. She’d given it to Lex last night before they’d gone to bed and she kept his points in mind.

When she looked up at the clock she realized that she had to leave. Chloe wanted to get in a little earlier to practice in her empty classroom. “Do you need anything dropped off at the dry cleaners?”

She put her dishes in the sink and went about cleaning them. Working with kids made the trip to the cleaners an almost weekly thing for her. They were always putting their dirty mitts on her.

“No, but I've got a few things to pick up, so you can leave yours and I'll bring it over later, you need to get going.”

He'd noticed her hurried look at the clock above the fridge and knew she had to get going. “You could drop by that sushi place on the way back though, do they do take out?”

Finishing his coffee, he got up and held the cup under the faucet to wash it out before he placed it on the drying rack. “And you know you don't need to do the dishes, there's a perfectly operating dishwasher right there.”

He took the plate from her hands and put it into the sink, then shut off the faucet and kissed her cheek. “Now get going or you'll be late. And good luck with the old geezers.”

“Thanks. I look ok?” She smoothed down the skirt she’d chosen and waited as Lex’s eyes trailed up and down her body. Did he have to do that now? “Lex,” she started, a warning clear in her voice.

“You look perfectly respectable. I’d give you the money.” Good, that was what she’d needed to hear.

“Ok, great.” She reached over and straightened his tie slightly. “I’ll pick up dinner. You be home around six?” She’d noticed that he’d come home around that time since she’d been staying with him. He nodded.

“I’ll see you then.” Chloe gave him another quick, but firm, kiss on the mouth. “Have a good day.” She smiled at him and then left the kitchen to grab her stuff and go.

Lex looked after her and shook his head at himself. Even as he heard the front door close he didn't move from his spot. It all felt so oddly normal again. Like they'd done this every day for years. Like it was perfectly usual for them to start the day together, take care of each others everyday things and make plans for dinner.

But it wasn't. It shouldn't be.

This wasn't normal, it was spectacularly fucked up. And he knew it. He shouldn't be playing at being a couple with Chloe. He was part of a couple with someone else. All he had to do to remind himself of that was step into the living room and look at the photos on the mantel. Or go into the bedroom and open the closet doors. Or into the bathroom and open the left side of the mirror.

“Fuck, what am I doing?”

He sat down hard on the kitchen table and stared at the phone on the wall. For a moment, he actually deliberated calling Clark and confessing. Telling his significant other that he'd cheated on him with their best friend. God, Clark would never forgive him that. He'd go ballistic and do heaven only knew what in reaction.

Lex couldn't risk that. Couldn't do that. It was one of the reasons he couldn't bring himself to leave Clark, too.

Despite the fact that their relationship had been going down the drain ever since Clark had started wearing the suit and joined this ridiculous league of super freaks who took it upon themselves to be the heroes of a world that had done well enough without them for eons.

The anger returned and Lex got up from the table decisively. He wouldn't call Clark. And he wouldn't stop seeing Chloe, either. She was the only thing in his life now that felt normal. The only person he could rely on when it came down to it. There was no way he'd let go of this for any reason.

~~
Chloe did her best not to slam the door when she got home. But it was a very near thing. Her meeting with the board had not gone well this morning. They’d told her that while they admired her enthusiasm, it was one of the reasons that they’d hired her and wanted to keep her on as long as was possible, it just wasn’t ‘economically feasible’ to allow her class to go to the zoo.

They’d blathered on for a few more minutes about what the school was investing in, shit she really didn’t care about, and then the meeting was over. She’d thanked them for their time instead of clawing their eyes out. All in all, a moral victory for her.

She had a new plan, though. Some of the kids’ parents were rich. She’d just hit them up for some money. Or maybe contact the companies in the area and see if they were interested in sponsoring the trip. Sure, the kids would probably have to wear a t-shirt with the company logo, be walking billboards and what not, but at least they’d get to go to the zoo.

It would work out, she’d see to it. Chloe placed the bag with their dinner on the table and then efficiently took out the various containers. She’d probably bought too much food but it had all looked so good.

She had already set the table and changed out of her work clothes when she heard the door open and close. Chloe smiled to herself. Lex was home. Back, Lex was back. Well, technically he was at his home.

She shook herself a little, getting out of that mindset. Lex was hanging up his jacket when she came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hey, you’re home early.” It was barely past five.

“Yeah, the last meeting got cancelled, so I got the hell out of dodge.” He leaned back into her embrace for a moment, soaking up the warmth she emanated.

Maybe there was something wrong with his blood pressure that he always felt the difference in temperature when she got close to him. He should get an appointment with a doctor one of these days.

He picked up the dry cleaning bag and turned around. “I dropped your things off and they said it should be done by tomorrow, but they can't guarantee they'll get and I quote 'that dark green stain of unknown origin' out of your grey blazer.”

Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her lips then sniffed the air when that unmistakable smell of Asian food hit his nose. “It smells like you bought out their entire kitchen, what did you get?”

“Oh, four from column A and six from column B.” She walked back into the kitchen with Lex at her heels. As he looked down at the food, she wrapped her arms around him again. When he tilted his head towards her, she said, “Hi,” before brining his mouth down to hers.

Chloe didn’t know why, but she needed him like this right now. Maybe it was because she’d had a rejection or maybe it was because she’d missed him. She didn’t know. Could have been a combination of the two. She only knew that it felt like heaven when he wrapped his arms around her and returned her kiss.

Their tongues dueled and she found herself clawing at his back a little before they eased off from their embrace. She rested her forehead against his chest. “Sorry, don’t know what got into me.” She ran her hands over his back.

“You hungry?”

Lex wondered what was going on with her that she acted like this. It was a little surprising that she needed him like that, when he was admittedly the desperate one in this affair. But he didn't mind in the least, it made him feel a little better that he could give her something in return for everything she did for him.

“Did it look like I was complaining?” he asked with a smirk.

He looked at the mounds of food set out on the table. “And yea, I'm starving actually.”

His gaze went back to her and he tried to figure out what had brought this on. She looked a little tired, but not much different than she had this morning. What could have happened to cause the odd shift in mood and the craving for him and an inordinate amount of Japanese food?

Then it hit him. The meeting with the vultures. If it had gone well, she would have been all over him and he probably wouldn't have gotten a word in edgewise before she'd told him all about it. The fact that she hadn't said a word about it yet made it pretty clear that things had not gone according to plan.

“The board shot down your suggestion, didn't they?”

Lex wished he could say he was surprised, but he'd already expected it from the money-mongers. Why invest in anything that didn't benefit their school? Idiots.

Chloe shook her head and still didn’t release Lex. “No, they said that they appreciated what I wanted to do with the kids but it didn’t make any sense. Economically, of course. Who cares that we’re a school and that the kids come there to learn when…”

She cut herself off. The rest of their evening would not be spent with her ranting about the unfairness of life. Especially not with Lex.

Chuckling, she said, “I didn’t do a very good job of hiding it, did I?” Lex could always read her like a book. Once she’d gotten past the fact that it was a little embarrassing, she’d never given it another thought. Mostly because it went both ways.

Lex was more complicated than she was, no doubt, but she had a pretty good handle on him by now.

When she saw his frown, she sighed. “I just don’t want to talk about it now.” Their whole relationship, both in the past and currently, was based on honestly. It was the reason that they clung to one another so much. They could be totally and utterly themselves with no fear.

“I’ll bitch and moan about it enough for the next week. I’ll ask you to help me steal the purses of blue haired ladies. But, for now, I just wanna eat dinner. Is that ok?”

If Lex really wanted to talk about it, she wouldn’t deny him.

Lex looked at her and tried to judge if she meant it. He could tell when she was evading a subject and right now her face was open and honest when she offered to talk about it another day. “Alright, we can talk about it later, just don't bottle it all up or one of these days you'll snap and jump over the table and try to strangle one of those people who annoy you.”

Chloe had the habit of keeping things inside until they drove her mad, it was something they had in common. Only Lex had tried to work on it and moved to the stage where the only problems he bottled up where those that didn't have a solution.

He released her from their embrace and went to get forks and napkins from the drawer near the sink. Looking at the food again he shook his head. “It's a good thing I'm starving or we'd never be able to eat all that.” And sushi was not something that tasted good the second day around.

She tilted her head, considering what Lex had said about her meeting. “You know, that whole jumping over the table thing might just have worked.” He laughed and shook his head at her.

Once again, she felt a wave of tenderness for the man. He was so battered by life yet still standing. In a cheeseball way, he really was her hero. Lex showed her, time and time again, that when you got knocked down, you got back up, brushed yourself off…and then grabbed life by the throat.

Now, if only she could get him to see himself in that way.

He looked over at her and caught her staring.

But he didn’t question her about it. They quietly each did the little tasks to get their dinner ready for consumption.

lj715
28th June 2008, 19:51
Great chapter but I wish they would make a decision on what's going to happen already. Either be together or apart.

Cassandra Jean
28th June 2008, 22:42
Yet another great chapter. I just wish that Lex would confess to Clark already so they can end their relationship (might I just say that Clex is wrong!) and Lex and Chloe can be together.

Tanschana
29th June 2008, 00:32
Very interesting story!
Can#t wait to see how it goes on!

dagney
29th June 2008, 00:47
I chuckled at Chloe's bug phobia. and I want to know What in the closet? Dagney

hfce
29th June 2008, 02:45
I loved this update but I want to beat Lex to death. He is so stupid for not seeing Chloe is who he belongs with. This line has me shaking my head:


“Fuck, what am I doing?”

He sat down hard on the kitchen table and stared at the phone on the wall. For a moment, he actually deliberated calling Clark and confessing. Telling his significant other that he'd cheated on him with their best friend. God, Clark would never forgive him that. He'd go ballistic and do heaven only knew what in reaction.

Lex couldn't risk that. Couldn't do that. It was one of the reasons he couldn't bring himself to leave Clark, too.

For a smart man he is really stupid. :wth:

tatie87
29th June 2008, 06:33
This was a sweet chapter. I loved the Chloe/Lex went to the zoo. They were normal for a minute. Can't wait for the drama that is bound to start with Clark's return. Please uodate soon.

somethingeasy
29th June 2008, 18:01
Work had been the same as every day. He'd made it to the meeting on time, drummed some sense into the man who had hired him as an advisor for another sixteen months and managed to make the man a couple millions in the process. Then he'd conferred with the team of finances and planning and basically done all the work that the so called 'magnate' should be able to do himself and finally been able to leave the offices at around four in the afternoon.

It was pretty interesting getting some details about the kind of work that Lex does now. I suppose it’s possible that he likes no longer being in charge of a huge behemoth of a multi-billion dollar corporate empire… perhaps he LIKES being able to come home at reasonable hours after an easy, non-stressful day of work. But I couldn’t help but pick up a thread of resentment from Lex about not being ‘his own boss’ anymore… about having to take orders from someone who is less intelligent, savvy and skilled than he is. Does Lex long for the days of being the CEO of LuthorCorp? Before he was forced to give it all away for Clark’s sake?


“You can say that again.” She wondered how much money had been sunk into the project. There were a number of different sections. They mostly separated the types of animals. There were educational plaques all over the place. But they didn’t disturb from the aesthesis of the place. Not an easy feat to accomplish.

That was a lovely description of the zoo, and it was delightful imagining a place that can awe even cynical, jaded people like Lex and Chloe. It looks like they really chose a perfect place for their ‘date’.


He had seemed pretty run down when she’d gotten back to his place. Which was why she’d hidden the garment bags that she’d picked up after school.

She’d hit paydirt at the costume place. Now her naughty gear was stowed very far back in the part of Lex’s closet that he’d allocated for her stuff.

ROTFL! I have to admit, ever since I read this sentence, I was fairly panting for THIS sex session to start. I was dismayed when I got to the end of this chapter and found out that I’m going to have to WAIT for another update or so before I see this kinky scene played out :(


When she looked up at him to speak, she noticed that he’d turned her so her body fit into the spot where two of the walls met. His face was also rather close. “The ones with light up butts are ok.”

She looked a little to her right. Big mistake. Beetles. Crawling all over the place. “Oh, god.” She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against Lex. “They’re so disgusting.” Her voice was muffled against his shirt.

Lex tried to suppress a chuckle. She really was cute like that. “I could do something to help you ignore them.”

ROTFL! So Lex is in the stage of infatuation where he finds everything about his ‘crush’ to be irresistibly cute, huh? LOL! but it IS rather cute seeing Chloe’s unexpected phobia of bugs… not to mention seeing Lex taking such naughty pleasure in watching her deal with her phobia… by crawling into his clothes, LOL!


“Still in public, remember?” he muttered before he wrapped his arms around her again and bent down for another kiss.

He hadn't even planned on making out with her here, it wasn't the smartest thing to do and he would stop in a moment, but right now, it felt too good and the chance that they'd get caught here was relatively low anyway.

“You can explore all you want when we're back home,” he muttered in her ear after he finally tore himself away from her mouth and regained some semblance of control.

When they got back home…

That phrase was unsettling to her. They didn’t have a home. He had a home and she did. Two separate places. This wouldn’t last. But she would enjoy it while she could.

Sheesh! This was such a lovely couple’s outing, with both Chloe and Lex enjoying each other’s company just like a ‘legitimate’ pair of companions. And the kiss was so sweet, heartwarming, hot and beautiful!!! And then it was all ruined by a nasty dose of cold reality. Once again, Chloe and Lex have to remind themselves that they’re NOT a ‘sweet little couple on a date’… they’re actually a pair having a dirty, secret affair that should NOT be revelled and indulged in while in public.

Why do they keep on building up illusions for themselves when it only hurts more whenever reality sets in. And Lex’s casual description of his and Clark’s home as ‘their home’…? Didn’t he see how WRONG that was, on so many levels? Idiot!


“Whatever milady desires,” Lex said as he executed a mock bow.

If only that were true. She tried to shake off her mood by taking Lex’s hand and leading him out of creepy bugville.

Bastard! Suuure! Give Chloe whatever she wants as long as it doesn’t ‘inconvenience’ you personally! What a shallow, superficial kind of affair this is… one where they don’t dig too deep into emotions for fear of disturbing the ‘tranquillity’ of their ‘fun time’ together.


Chloe felt something crawling up her leg and she quickly started batting at it. She threw the covers back and looked down at her lower body. There was nothing there. Like there hadn’t been anything there the last three times.

Lex put the blanket back over her and pulled her back to his body. “Get it this time?” The humor was clear in his voice.

ROTFLMAO! Oh that was really hilarious, and I loved the description on how intense Chloe’s bug phobia really is… Even after she obsessively scrubbed herself raw, she STILL imagines that some beetles followed her home, LOL! Poor Chloe. And it’s rather cute how Lex is taking such delihted amusement in her frenzied search for the bugs. Even if she’s disturbing his sleep, he thinks it’s adorable! LOL!


Lex smirked at her childish antics, but did as she asked anyway. He tightened his arm around her a little and shifted closer, practically gluing his body to her back. Burying his face in her neck, he felt her wriggle against him to get more comfortable, her warm butt pushed against his lower stomach.

He inhaled her smell deeply, and exhaled with a contented grumble. She felt so damn good like this, fit right into every nook and cranny of his body like she was making herself at home there. And he didn't mind. It wasn't awkward, or too close, or stifling. He didn't feel trapped or chained in this position.

Nuzzling into her neck, he moved the arm around her slowly, until he could cup her breast in the palm of his hand. “That okay?”

“Perfect.” She murmured. “Could stay like this forever.” Stay in the warm bed behind closed doors that shut out the outside world. Shut out the reality in which they both lived. That she couldn’t stay there forever. Wouldn’t get to stay much longer.

Oh dear, this is bad, bad BAD! It’s horrible enough when Chloe (and Lex) indulge in this affair while they’re aware of its temporary state… but these self-deluding illusions are REALLY dangerous, and it’s going to end up emotionally cutting them apart inside unless they get a hold on themselves. It’s really SUCH a crying, tragic shame seeing how well they fit together, and knowing that neither of them is brave or sensible enough to make this a permanent arrangement.


The board of her school was a bunch of annoying old misers who were big on hoarding the money, but notoriously uptight about spending it on anything that didn't benefit the school itself. Dressing up as sensibly and classic as possible was a good move on her part to assure she'd at least be taken seriously by the stuffy old men that ruled the board.

BlueSabby, I think it was a great idea for Chloe to be inspired by her zoo trip and want to share it with her students. It really shows how passionate she is about her job and her children. She really loves her work, and I really hope she can derive some comfort in this aspect of her life once the nasty, heartbreaking Chlex break-up takes place. I still have the horrible suspicion that Chloe is going to be a lot more broken after it than Lex is, and I like the idea of her having a passionate professional life to bury herself in to get past the pain.


Lex arched a brow at that and put a finger into the folds of his newspaper to mark the spot. Usually to launder money, you had to have money in the first place that you invested into the production of goods which you then sold legally or illegally on a market and the money that was returned to you as pay for the goods had all the markings of a legal transaction.

ROTFL! I probably shouldn’t judge Lex. I’m sure every CEO in the world knows the basic mechanics of ‘laundering money’ even if they don’t actually do it. LOL! So I shouldn’t automatically assume that Lex is speaking from actual experience rather than dry knowledge. Right? …. RIGHT?!?


He'd already made the decision to spring the money should the board refuse to pay for the trip. Of course he'd do it anonymously, no need to make a big deal out of it when it really wasn't. He might have left behind a lot, but his money was not one of these things and he'd always been excellent with financing.

ROTFL! As if Chloe won’t be able to figure out who is responsible for the ‘anonymous donation’ for a class trip to the zoo. But it’s a sweet gesture from Lex. He might be a self-absorbed bastard, but he ‘does’ have his moments.


Finishing his coffee, he got up and held the cup under the faucet to wash it out before he placed it on the drying rack. “And you know you don't need to do the dishes, there's a perfectly operating dishwasher right there.”

He took the plate from her hands and put it into the sink, then shut off the faucet and kissed her cheek. “Now get going or you'll be late. And good luck with the old geezers.”

The intimate domesticity of the scene comes so naturally and flows so beautifully. It’s quite extraordinary to imagine that all of this is tainted. I can see why Chloe and Lex tend to lose themselves and forget the sordidness of the truth of their situation.


Lex looked after her and shook his head at himself. Even as he heard the front door close he didn't move from his spot. It all felt so oddly normal again. Like they'd done this every day for years. Like it was perfectly usual for them to start the day together, take care of each others everyday things and make plans for dinner.

But it wasn't. It shouldn't be.

This wasn't normal, it was spectacularly fucked up. And he knew it. He shouldn't be playing at being a couple with Chloe. He was part of a couple with someone else. All he had to do to remind himself of that was step into the living room and look at the photos on the mantel. Or go into the bedroom and open the closet doors. Or into the bathroom and open the left side of the mirror.

“Fuck, what am I doing?”

YES! Up till now, I’ve felt it’s been mostly Chloe who has been experiencing the nasty, cold shocks of reality whenever she stops and thinks about the situation as it really is. Lex has been enjoying himself in a lustful, fun filled, carefree haze where he hasn’t really allowed himself to think about what he’s doing… to himself, to Chloe and to Clark. So it was really satisfying seeing him getting a momentary ‘rude awakening’ that cut through his haze and hit him HARD!


He sat down hard on the kitchen table and stared at the phone on the wall. For a moment, he actually deliberated calling Clark and confessing. Telling his significant other that he'd cheated on him with their best friend. God, Clark would never forgive him that. He'd go ballistic and do heaven only knew what in reaction.

Lex couldn't risk that. Couldn't do that. It was one of the reasons he couldn't bring himself to leave Clark, too.

Despite the fact that their relationship had been going down the drain ever since Clark had started wearing the suit and joined this ridiculous league of super freaks who took it upon themselves to be the heroes of a world that had done well enough without them for eons.

The anger returned and Lex got up from the table decisively. He wouldn't call Clark. And he wouldn't stop seeing Chloe, either. She was the only thing in his life now that felt normal. The only person he could rely on when it came down to it. There was no way he'd let go of this for any reason.

Oh, Lex! You Moron! I actually feel sorry for the stupid, STUPID short-sighted selfish bastard! He being a self-absorbed prat who wants everything… he wants Clark AND Chloe, wants to enjoy the feeling of having them both in his life as his extraordinary lovers, without acknowledging how unfair he is being to them in his selfishness. Worst of all…. He doesn’t see that, in wanting and taking both, he’s going to end up losing them, and ending up with no-one by his side. I’m looking SO forward to the time when his bubble pops and he realizes how fundamentally he screwed up his life.

Just ONE scenario would be one where he dumps Chloe and goes back to Clark… only to have Clark realize what happens who then proceeds to (justifiably) dump him… And I really don’t see a heartbroken Chloe taking him back after she finds out that she’s the back up ‘rebound’ for Clark’s dumped goods.

This is one of the worst case scenarios, but there are hundred of other variations, and very few of them have happy endings. All I can hope for is that LEX ends up hurting more than anyone else.


She had a new plan, though. Some of the kids’ parents were rich. She’d just hit them up for some money. Or maybe contact the companies in the area and see if they were interested in sponsoring the trip. Sure, the kids would probably have to wear a t-shirt with the company logo, be walking billboards and what not, but at least they’d get to go to the zoo.

heee!!! Good for you, Chloe! It’s great to see that she has some back-up plans in mind after rejection. We know that eventually she’ll be able to find funds for her trip. In all universes and all jobs… Chloe Sullivan is NOT the type to take ‘no’ for a final answer (not in her professional life at least… her personal life is sucky in most universes) :P


Lex wondered what was going on with her that she acted like this. It was a little surprising that she needed him like that, when he was admittedly the desperate one in this affair. But he didn't mind in the least, it made him feel a little better that he could give her something in return for everything she did for him.

hmmm, so Lex IS a little aware of the one-sidedness of their affair. That he’s usually always on the ‘take, take, take’ side of the relationship while Chloe’s scraping herself hollow giving him whatever he wants and needs to build himself up again. He probably doesn’t see it as starkly and harshly spelled out like that, but he IS affair that he’s getting more than he gives. I suppose that’s a good starting point for full-awareness.


Then it hit him. The meeting with the vultures. If it had gone well, she would have been all over him and he probably wouldn't have gotten a word in edgewise before she'd told him all about it. The fact that she hadn't said a word about it yet made it pretty clear that things had not gone according to plan.

It was good to see Lex managed to deduce what Chloe was hiding under her cheerful exterior. He might be a self-absorbed bastard in many ways, but he DOES care about her. It was sweet of him to offer himself as a sounding board for tonight.


When she saw his frown, she sighed. “I just don’t want to talk about it now.” Their whole relationship, both in the past and currently, was based on honestly. It was the reason that they clung to one another so much. They could be totally and utterly themselves with no fear.

*snorts* based on honesty? Does she really believe that? Especially considering the circumstances? Their whole relationship has become a huge friggen LIE, and she still tells herself it’s all based on honesty? *shakes head in disbelief* Her delusions astonish me!

Not only that, but she’s insisted on hiding her pain, doubt and fears from Lex ever since the beginning of this affair. It really didn’t surprise me that she was trying to hide away her dejection from the Board’s refusal of her proposal… because it’s what she DOES all the time. She hides away her own pain and fears while swallowing whatever he wants to vent and spew out at her. This is the FIRST time that I’ve seen Lex making a token offer of offering emotional support, which is a good start, but it didn’t surprise me that Chloe refused his offer and decided to internalize (as usual). It wouldn’t surprise me if she never brought it up again actually.


Chloe had the habit of keeping things inside until they drove her mad, it was something they had in common. Only Lex had tried to work on it and moved to the stage where the only problems he bottled up where those that didn't have a solution.

A problem that didn’t have a solution? Is THAT his weak, lame justification for his cowardice and laziness? He tells himself ‘there’s no possible solution’, so he doesn’t bother to even TRY to change himself, Clark or the miserable situation he’s in? Stupid! Lazy! Cowardly! Aaaargh!!!


Once again, she felt a wave of tenderness for the man. He was so battered by life yet still standing. In a cheeseball way, he really was her hero. Lex showed her, time and time again, that when you got knocked down, you got back up, brushed yourself off…and then grabbed life by the throat.

Now, if only she could get him to see himself in that way.

*sigh* don’t worry, Chloe! At the rate that you keep offering your worshipful heart on a silver platter to Lex… it’s going to strengthen up his ego and self-esteem in no time. Granted, you’re going to be scraped hollow of your own confidence, esteem and sense of self-worth… but as long as LEX is all right, it’s all good, right? Poor Chloe!

This was a great chapter, BlueSabby! I loved the layers being explored and revealed in this VERY interesting twist of a Chlex relationship. It’s fascinating, and I love seeing the very interesting themes being explored here.

LOL! Not to mention I’m looking forward to seeing a new kind of kink-smut explored later. I don’t remember EVER reading any kind of costumed role-playing smut in ANY fic that I’ve read, and I look forward to seeing what you do with that :D Please update soon!

lilinny
29th June 2008, 18:49
I love this sweet chapter. But let's get back to their naughty sexplay!!

SVfan1286
3rd July 2008, 08:34
Another interesting chapter! The zoo sounded like fun, if they were a normal couple and not having an affair, it would have been a lovely date... well except for the bugs...

It's sad to say that I have the same phobia of bugs that Chloe does... God do I hate bugs. It's not a laughing matter people! Lol

Lex and Chloe have an absolutely wonderful friendship in this story, and by having this affair they will ruin it by being cowards and not going after what they really want, each other.. or in Lex's case holding on to someone, that doesn't even make him happy. Both of them are idiots!

I look forward to reading the next chapter!!

BlueSabby
6th July 2008, 19:13
A/N:Sabby: Here's where the little role playing and dress up happens. Enjoy the fun while it lasts *G*.

A/N: Blue: Role Play Alert! Hope you enjoy it as much as they do. Well, ok, that's impossible but still...

They’d almost been successful in eating everything Chloe had brought. There had been a few spring rolls left but nothing more. And Lex had ‘insisted’ she finish them. That had consisted of him backing her into a corner and trying to get her to open her mouth to eat it.

Needless to say, he hadn’t been successful much to his chagrin. The tussle had come to an end when she’d gotten the attachment from the sink that sprayed water in her hands. He’d dropped the food and held up his hands.

Because she had won, according to her definition, she got to take a shower while Lex cleaned up.

However, she was lying to him. She wanted him downstairs while she got ready. They were going to start fulfilling one of his fantasies tonight.

Chloe practically ran up the stairs. She found the outfit she was looking for and stripped off her clothes.

Then, she put on a pair of simple, high cut underwear. A plaid, short skirt that barely covered the panties.

The blouse was white and was going to be very tight because she was busty. She didn’t even bother with a bra. She put it on and then tied the loose ends in a knot that exposed most of her torso. The knot rested just below her breasts. Her nipples were already tight. And she was breathing heavily from anticipation.

Once she stood in front of the mirror, she adjusted her breasts in the blouse and fiddled with the buttons. They looked ready to spill out. Chloe picked up her brush and divided her hair into two sections. After another few minutes, she had two pigtails which rested on her shoulders.

She went back to the bag which she’d hung over a chair and took out the knee high white socks and mary janes.

Once she fully looked like a naughty school girl she climbed into the bed. Chloe lay down on her stomach, her head facing the doorway, and started to read a book. Then she started to wonder just how long it would take Lex to come and find her.

When she remembered the finishing touch, she quickly got out of the bed, grabbed the piece of bubble gum, shoved it in her mouth and then went back to her former pose.

Lex had finished with the kitchen and settled down on the couch to flick through channels, looking for anything halfway decent to watch.

After ten minutes of that, he'd wondered what was keeping Chloe in the shower for so long. That question had led to his imagination suggesting various lewd scenarios involving her naked and wet, pleasuring herself as the water cascaded over her body.

Another five minutes later, curiosity was killing him and he turned off the TV to go looking for her. As he jogged up the stairs onto the second floor of the apartment, he listened intently. The shower wasn't going anymore, which meant she was already out of it.

He opened the bedroom door and stopped dead in the doorway as his eyes fell on the bed. Or more accurately, on what was on the bed.

Chloe was lying on her stomach, knee sock covered lower legs dangling in the air with her ankles crossed, cute little maryjanes covering her feet.

His eyes ran up the exposed thighs to the indecently short plaid skirt that barely covered her ass, over the tautly stretched white blouse. Her breasts almost spilled out of the lapels that were held together solely by a knot.

He blinked and hoped he wasn't gaping. She was the perfect incarnation of a naughty school girl, right to the pigtails and the chewing gum in her mouth that she blew an enormous bubble with before snapping it loudly.

That jerked him out of his trance and he smirked at her as he stepped closer and closed the door to the bedroom behind him.

“Well, hello there,” he said with smile as he raked his gaze over her again. “And who might you be?”

Chloe looked up from her book. It was a trashy romance novel that seemed to fit the mood. She did a good job at not purring in delight when she saw how Lex looked. But she had to get into character.

“Who am I,” she asked, snottily. “I live here.” She looked him up and down, pretending not to be impressed. “You the Jacuzzi guy? The guy my dad hired to fix the damn thing?”

Lex stared at her. She rolled her eyes and snapped her gum again. Then she pulled herself up so she was resting back on her knees. Her legs were wide and she knew that Lex could see her panties like this without even trying.

She rested her hands on her thighs. “Well? Do you need me to go get my dad, he’s just downstairs.”

He cocked his head to the side and pretended to think about it for a moment, while looking at the small slip of white panties he could see between her legs. “No, I don't think I'm going to need his help here.”

Moving his eyes slowly back up the length of her body he locked their gazes, “So, what happened to that Jacuzzi that it broke?”

Lex casually went for the buttons of his shirt and started to undo them, preparing to take off the piece of clothing.

“You need to take off your shirt to fix our Jacuzzi?” She made sure to not answer his question first. She remembered how obstinate she was when she was 19. And that’s what she was playing. Spoiled, rich, virgin girl home from boarding school.

“I don’t want to get wet,” Lex simply explained. “How’d it break,” he repeated.

Chloe looked down. “I, uh, was in it…and…” She trailed off, trying to remember an embarrassing situation so her blush would be real. “I think I used the jets a little too much. Like they may have overloaded.” As if she didn’t realize she was doing it, Chloe moved one of her hands to the inside of her thigh. She ran her finger over the soft skin.

She continued to chew on the gum as she looked back up at Lex. “Do you know if that happens a lot?”

Lex finished taking off his shirt and threw it on the corner of the bed in front of her. He wondered how she'd managed to conjure up a blush but it made her look perfectly like an innocent, embarrassed school girl who was trying not to admit that she'd used the Jacuzzi to get herself off.

He grinned and stepped a little closer. “Happens all the time. Electronics can only take so much before they give out. But usually it's bored housewives not young girls like you, how old are you anyway?”

The story was just as fun as the dress up when it came to role playing. He wondered how far she'd take it before she jumped his bones. His eyes trailed down to her thigh were she was still running her fingers back and forth over the soft skin almost absently.

“I’m 19.” She stuck out her chin stubbornly. Nobody under the age of 21 liked to be called young. “I wouldn’t consider that so young.”

“How old are you?” She let her eyes run over his chest and she didn’t have to fake the excited reaction. Lex’s body made hers sit up and take notice without any additional histrionics.
He smiled and sidled closer until he could lean against the bedpost and look down at her. “34,” he answered honestly. “And you're right, nineteen isn't so young, it's definitely old enough to figure out how to use the Jacuzzi to get your jollies.”

Lex tried not to laugh and pulled off a pretty convincing leer, raising his eyebrows at her for effect. “What's the problem, your boyfriend not good enough in the sack?”

If he was going to play the frisky sanitarian, he might as well amp it up and go for lewd. His eyes traveled over her body again, lingering a little longer on her ample chest before they trailed down between her legs. The book she'd been pretending to read earlier lay in front of her open with the cover on top. He almost burst out laughing as he saw that it was one of those tawdry romance novels.

“And what do we have here,” he snatched the book and held it up for inspection. “The Passionate Prince,” he read aloud with a flourish and turned it to look at the cover. “Maybe it's not the boyfriend after all that made you overload the jets.”

Chloe did her best at faking indignant. And also how a 19 year old would play at being self assured in the situation. “I’ll have you know that I don’t have a boyfriend.” She snatched the book out of Lex’s hands and held it between her breasts.

She let her eyes travel down his body, trying to make it look like she wasn’t even aware she was doing it. Chloe popped her gum again. “I go to an all girls boarding school. Not any boys there.”

Her eyes snagged on the bulge in Lex’s pants. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip and then swallowed heavily. “And how do you know that I wasn’t using the jets on a sore muscle? You’re just assuming something untoward.”

Hands on her hips, she looked up at Lex, a challenge in her eyes. “Maybe it’s the 34 year old that can’t get any.”

He laughed at that and rounded the post to get right in her face. “I can assure you, kiddo, I get plenty, and if it was something as innocent as a sore muscle, you wouldn't have blushed so prettily when I asked you how they broke in the first place.”

She was feigning outrage and shock so perfectly that he had a hard time keeping himself in check from just grabbing and kissing the living daylights out of her. Instead, he reached up with a finger and closed her jaw, turning the touch into a lingering caress before he pulled his hand back. “You're cute when you're dumbstruck.”

His cock was pushing uncomfortably against the fly of his pants by now and he wondered how he could speed this up a little. Push a little further towards the inevitable outcome of the game.

“All girls school, hrm?” he pulled back a little to give her some room, and a good look at what she was doing to him. “Surely you've found a way around that problem though, haven't you? Pretty girl like you, I bet there's enough boys around that you don't have to rely on just the Jacuzzi for a little lovin’.”

Chloe’s eyes drank in his sleek chest and got stuck on his hard cock. When she spoke, she was still looking at it. “My name isn’t kiddo.” This girl hated it when people called her that, or sweetie, or anything of the like.

She wanted to be treated like an adult and hated that her father had put her away in this boarding school. And just because he’d caught her with her pants down…with the gardener. It wasn’t any fair.

“It’s Candace.” That sounded rightly stuck up but yet not too crazy. “And there isn’t even a boy’s school close to ours.” She let a little bit of a whine into her voice. “So, we do what we can with what we’ve got.”
Lex’s eyes widened a little at that and she nodded. “I mean, it’s just not fair. I did one bad thing and got shipped off.”

Chloe widened her stance on the bed until she was resting on the mattress, her legs on either side of her in a sort of W formation.

She ran her hands from her knees up to her thighs and then back down again. Her eyes fluttered closed as she imagined what Candace had done. “He just wanted to make me feel good, that was all. And he did.” Her hips rocked slightly. She smiled a little and ducked her head. “We were outside, in the back yard. He took a break from trimming the hedges.” Her breath picked up.

“I remember how the sun felt on my skin. I was naked. It was just getting good when my dad caught us.” She opened her eyes and sighed. Then looked over at Lex. She let out a little ‘oh’ as if she hadn’t realized that she’d said it out loud.

His eyes ran over her body again, and the low and throaty voice she'd used to tell her imagined story had started his cock throbbing in his pants. “Such a naughty little girl,” he murmured then licked his lips. “And look at you, just telling that little tale has you all flushed again, and humping the mattress like a bitch in heat.”

Not that he wouldn't have done the same if he'd had anything to hump. Instead, he reached down and pressed his hand against the length of his cock, readjusting it and relieving a bit of the pressure.

“Not that I can blame you,” he continued. “I bet if I slipped my hand under your skirt now, my fingers would come away wet with your juices.”

“Oh, god.” Her voice was pitched low but it wasn’t really part of the game. She was wet. And needy. And trembling just a little. Thinking about being young and having sex upstairs with ‘the help’ as her rich dad was none the wiser on the first floor.

“Lock the door and I’ll let you.” A slow, naughty smile graced Lex’s lips before he nodded. She watched anxiously as he threw the lock and then sauntered back to the bed.

He placed his hands at the bottom of the mattress and then slowly crawled over to her. When he was next to her, she tentatively put her hand on his shoulder and then ran it down his chest. “What’s your name?”

Lex thought about it for a moment, then leaned in to murmur in her ear, “You can call me Joe.”

Perfectly average name for a perfectly average guy from the street who was about to seduce a naughty school girl.

His hand slid up the inside of her thigh, slowly inching closer to the center. “No backing out of that promise now.”

Her breath was puffing hotly against his ear and Lex bit down on the inside of his cheek to keep things nice and slow. She probably wouldn't mind too much if he toppled her over now and sped up the pace, but it would ruin the game.

His fingers slipped into the side of her panties and down, sliding easily through her wet folds. He started rubbing the flesh teasingly, pulling his head back so he could watch her face as he did it.

Chloe did her best to go back to when she was younger and what Lex was doing to her was new and odd and exciting. When she had been worried about her responses but then overwhelmed by the feelings. Or underwhelmed depending on who she’d been with.

Her head fell back and her right hand moved from being on his chest to clutching at his left shoulder. She felt her hand slip off twice before she got a good hold. And Joe wasn’t even really inside her now. She wondered what that would feel like.

The gardener, whose name she couldn’t remember at the moment, had basically stripped her and laid her out on the grass. His hands had been on her breasts but had never made it between her legs. And with how close her dad watched her, no other boy had had a chance.

Joe’s hand felt vastly different from hers. It could cover more ground and she had no idea what he was going to do. How he would move and what it would feel like. There was a sense of anticipation that she’d never felt before.

She was panting and her eyes had slammed closed. She felt herself shaking a little as she tentatively moved against his fingers. “Oh, god.” The words were low and strung out.

He loved how responsive she was, arching into his touch and clawing at his shoulder, trying to get closer. “Such a sweet girl,” he said in a low voice.

His fingers moved a little faster and he dipped the tip of his middle finger barely inside her before retreating again.

“I bet you taste sweet, too.”

He'd lied earlier when he'd told her he got plenty. It had been a while since this particular Jacuzzi guy had gotten any. And to have such a sassy young thing at his hands was just too much temptation to resist.

“Would you like it if I did that?”

His finger pushed into her again, a little further this time before it retreated and went back to rubbing in long strokes.

She let her forehead fall onto his shoulder and nodded furiously when he’d asked her the question. She really wanted that. The thought of someone doing that to her….

It had felt strange when he’d…he’d pushed his finger in there. But she’d noticed that her hips had bucked a little both times and she’d gotten wetter. She wanted to feel that again.

So probably his tongue would feel good, too. Candace was moving her hips constantly against him, hoping that he’d get the hint.

She was getting shy all of a sudden? That was cute. “What, can't say it? Tell me what you want. Don't pretend you don't know the words.”

Joe didn't get to feel this kind of power all that often and he loved having it now. Making this girl quiver with excitement. This was possibly the best duty call he'd ever had. He couldn't wait to fuck her into oblivion. Show her how good he could make her feel.

“Come on, say it.” He slipped his finger into her again, as far as it could go this time and started tapping against the sensitive wall. “What do you want, Candy?”

“That!” Oh, that was good. Like really good. Like better when she did it by herself. She started to move her hips and that indescribable feeling increased. She took her head off of his shoulder and then opened her eyes.

Candace looked at the older man who she was doing this with and her excitement increased. He really was very good looking. And he’d probably know what to do. And she was ready. Had been ready since the gardener.

But they’d have to be quiet. That’s what had tipped off her dad the last time. She’d been making noise. She couldn’t make any noise this time.

“I want you to have sex with me.” His fingers went a little deeper and she moaned and then bit down on her lower lip.

“And I want you to, oh, yeah, there, oh, like that.” Her eyes slammed shut again as he moved his fingers until they curved somehow inside.

She could feel that she was already sweating. “Want you to go down on me.” Her voice sounded weird.

He grinned at the expression on her face as he kept pumping his fingers inside her. “Get rid of your gum first, I don't want you to choke on it and spoil the fun.”

Curling his fingers, he put constant pressure on that certain spot, rubbing it slowly. She'd be a thrasher, he just knew it. So much better when they let go than all this restrained business that the occasional housewives he'd fucked put forth.

When he pulled his fingers out of her, she made a low whining noise and his grin widened.

“Gonna make you feel so good,” he promised.

For a moment, Candace couldn’t move. After having it feel strange to have his fingers inside it now felt strange to not have them there. And there was a definite throbbing between her legs.

She’d felt it before but not this strongly.

She crawled over to the side of the bed, took her gum out of her mouth and then threw it in the trash.

When she turned back to Joe, she gave him a slow smile and then took her time crawling back to him. She knew how good her breasts looked like this.

He looked down the ample cleavage of the shirt and licked his lips. “Those real?” he asked as he reached out with one hand and massaged one of the ample mounds, “or did daddy pay for them?”

Of course Lex knew that the flesh under his palm was real, but the pretence of not knowing gave Joe a reason to grope.

“You're not even wearing a bra,” he commented with arched brows. “Naughty girl.”

Shifting his hand to the center of her chest, he pushed her down onto her back then busied himself with opening the knot that held her blouse closed. After some pushing, it finally gave and he could part the fabric.

“Nice and plump, I like them.”

He swooped down and captured one nipple in his mouth, sucking on the soft skin and flicking his tongue over the stiff little bud.

Her hands flew to his head to keep him in place and he sucked a little harder then released the flesh with one last lick to make his way lower. His hands slipped under the short skirt again and found the waistline of her panties. Hooking his fingers inside, he started pulling them down.

He almost laughed as he got a good look at the simple white cotton. Perfect for an innocent schoolgirl, but completely incongruous with the naughty vixen that let a stranger fuck her silly while daddy was none the wiser downstairs.

“Everything’s real.” She was panting already. Candace was getting a little nervous now. She propped her head up and looked down her body.

Her breasts were rapidly moving up and down, one of them still a little wet from the man’s attention. Her skirt was still in place but it had been rucked up a little by their actions.

Joe was slowly sliding her panties down her legs. She helped him when they reached her shoes.

She was worried about her dad finding them. Either now or later. Worried about if it would hurt. Worried that she’d forget that after they were done he still had to fix the jet or her dad would be suspicious.

Thankfully, her father had just started a conference call only a few minutes before Joe had come to service the tub. He’d be at least two hours.

But she still wanted this. She looked at the bulge in Joe’s pants. Unconsciously, she spread her legs a little wider.

Millie had told her it didn’t hurt all that much. And Candace had ridden horses for years. Been in competitions and everything. Plus, Joe had to have done this before so he would know what to do.

He tossed the panties across the room and went back to looking at the feast before his eyes. “Your daddy's got a good reason to be so careful to keep you away from boys.”

Reaching for her breasts again, he kneaded them slowly before drawing his hands down to her hips. “If he didn't, they'd be all over you.”

Instead, Joe would be the lucky guy who got to enjoy this tasty little morsel.

He crawled a little lower on the mattress and made himself comfortable between her legs. “So Candy, did the gardener do this for you, too?” He'd almost bet the answer would be no. Probably a quick romp in the hay and the guy didn't get more than a few thrusts in before her daddy caught them with her skirt flipped up and her panties still around one ankle.

She tried not to squirm around too much but it was hard not to. She wanted this to start. Sure, she’d had orgasms but never with a real other person. The gardener had gotten her clothes off but that was mostly it.

Candace shook her head and she could feel her pigtails brushing against her shoulders. “No, he didn’t get very far.” She opened her legs a little wider and could see that Joe was looking at her there.

“I’m the only one who’s touched me down there.” When he was still silent she added, “Other than the Jacuzzi.”

“Really now?” So maybe she hadn't been caught with her skirt up after all. Unless the gardener had been pretty unconcerned about what she wanted and just shoved his way in. Hard to imagine that, considering how easy she was making it for him. “You'll like this.”

He brushed his thumbs over the inside of her thighs and urged her to spread her legs a little wider. “Just stuff something in your mouth if you're a screamer. I don't want to have daddy dearest knocking the door down in the middle of eating you out.”

With a grin, he slowly dove under the skirt and nosed his way between her wet folds then gave her a broad lick from bottom to top. She tasted clean and spicy and he could still smell the soap she'd used the last time she'd showered.

He hummed against her skin and heard a muffled noise above him. She'd probably taken to his suggestion and used something to keep the noise down. Chuckling, he lashed his tongue over the succulent flesh between his lips and slowly pushed it into her opening as far as it would go.

This was...was...

She'd be making a lot of noise if she hadn't put her hand over her mouth. Her shoulders were the only part of her upper body still in contact with the bed. Candace felt like she'd strain a muscle if she spread her legs any wider than they already were.

He was licking and sucking at her and then his tongue was inside. She could feel it fucking her. Her hips were bucking up a little but Joe held her down.

A part of her knew it was wrong. Knew that she shouldn't give this away to the person between her legs but she didn't care.

Besides, it felt...

“So fucking good.” She'd moaned the words as her upper body came back down onto the bed. There was a slow build up starting between her legs and she just went with it. Her hips stopped moving erratically, they found a rhythm.

Joe let up a little bit with the arm that was holding her down. Another low groan from her as his tongue flicked up inside. “Yeah. Oh.” Her hands were grabbing at the loose fabric of her skirt for something to hold on to.

Then they were at his head. “Eat me.” He was right, she was naughty. Saying the words sent another flare of arousal between her legs. She tried to imagine what they looked like. Her shirt open but otherwise still dressed, her hips pumping shamelessly, panties flung somewhere. A man she barely knew between her legs, his tongue inside.

He grinned and redoubled his efforts, thrusting his tongue in and out of her grasping hole before moving it up to her clit. He focused his attention on the little nub of flesh, licking, sucking and nipping on it as she thrashed like a mad woman under him. He'd been right, she was a thrasher.

Her nails started digging into his scalp and he pulled back with a hiss. “Watch the claws, kitten, or I'll restrain them.”

That gave Lex an idea. She'd said she wanted to be tied up. That she trusted him enough to try it with him. And here was the perfect opportunity. If she wanted to try it now, all she'd have to do was say so, or give him a sign. After all, this wasn't just about him.

The words broke through a weird sort of fog that was in Chloe’s brain. She realized that she really enjoyed this whole pretending to be someone else thing. The restraint thing….that was Lex. She knew that.

And she wanted that. Thought about being spread out on this bed with her hands tied.

She looked down between her legs. It was Lex. She didn’t know how she could tell but she could. It was almost as if he’d called time out in their game. Chloe placed her hands on his shoulders and nodded.

Then she started to think about being inexperienced again. Thought about having sex with her rich, business, almost uncaring, daddy downstairs none the wiser.

“I think…I think I may need that. If you can…just not too tight.” There. Candace was back.

He looked at her closely, trying to figure out if she was really sure or just going with it for the sake of the game. She seemed to be alright though, so he nodded.

“Take off your shirt and give it here,” he said in a firm tone and held his hand out to wait for the shirt.

She wriggled out of it and he licked his lips as he watched her pretty breasts bounce with the movement. She handed him the shirt and he took it from her. “Hold out your hands.”

The shirt wasn't really ideal for tying her up, but it was a good starter to get her used to the idea of it.

Even if he wound it tight in a figure eight around both hands, as he was doing now, she could still easily wriggle out of the restraint if she needed to do so. He tied a knot with the sleeves and pulled it tight.

“Now,” he drawled as he moved her arms up until she had to lie back on the bed again, “keep them up there and don't get any ideas about clawing at me again.”

She was looking at him with wide eyes and he couldn't resist giving her a quick peck on the mouth. “Good girl.”

Candace wanted more. She liked kissing and thought she was pretty good at it. But when she opened her eyes again, Joe had already slithered down her body. His hands had touched her everywhere before they were parting her thighs again.

She focused on the feel of the shirt that bound her hands together. It wasn’t too tight. Just a small reminder that she wasn’t allowed to claw at him. She tentatively moved her hands and found that there was a small amount of give to them.

Her hips were moving up, trying to get Joe to go back to what he was doing before. Candace blinked a few times before looking down to see what the hold up was.

Joe gave her a rakish smile, licked his lips and then lowered his head again. She thought maybe he wanted her to watch him do that.

His tongue went back to work and Candace started moaning again. But she was sure to be as quiet as she could be. Every now and again she’d curse fairly loudly. But that was followed quickly by whispered encouragements.

Candace liked to think that she was a proper woman of sorts. She’d had a coming out party and all but the words coming out of her mouth were hardly those of a high class person.

“Yeah, eat me. Oh, fuck, Joe. Like that. Don’t stop.” She could hear the wet sounds that his mouth made on her pussy.

There was no pattern to what he was doing but as he worked her over, Candace felt something rising in her body. Something that she moved into. Something that she thought was going to be very, very good.

She didn’t want to misspeak so she waited another few seconds. “Coming. Oh, yeah, almost there.”

Joe’s tongue was fucking her. She felt him pull it out and then his whole mouth fastened onto her clit.

The feelings were nothing compared to those she experienced in the Jacuzzi. Her whole body thrashed violently on the bed. She bit down on her lower lip so she wouldn’t cry out. She could hear a high pitched whining sound trapped in her throat.

He kept sucking and a second wave hit her. This time, she lowered her hands and placed them over her mouth. She opened it and screamed as her hips moved and moved and moved.

She arched up once more and then, panting, her body returned to the mattress as it quieted.

Joe came up for air, licking her taste off his lips as he moved up her body until they were face to face.

“That was quite a show,” he said with a grin as she moved her bound arms over his head to rest on his neck. “Told you you'd like it, didn't I?”

Before she could say anything, he closed his mouth over hers and let her taste herself on his tongue. She was hesitant at first, but then seemed to get over it and kissed him back fiercely, tongue exploring every crevice in his mouth until he wrestled control back and returned the favor.

His cock was throbbing in tune to his pulse, reminding him that he had yet to be taken care of. “Want to try something else?” he asked as he shifted his hips forward just enough to slide through the wetness between her legs.

dagney
6th July 2008, 19:32
This is so much fun and a bit kinky. I just had a bad feeling though that dear old dad may put in an appearance yet, well lets just hope Lex er Joe has his turn first. LOL Dagney

lj715
6th July 2008, 20:03
Wow! Can't wait to read more.

lilinny
6th July 2008, 20:44
Playing dress-up is fun!!! I can't wait til the next chapter!!

hfce
6th July 2008, 21:31
Wow that was amazing. :drool2: More please.. :drool2:

tatie87
8th July 2008, 02:36
That was such a fun chapter. Can't wait for more. I love that Chloe and Lex were playing dress up.

blackheart_me
8th July 2008, 08:40
WOW. You guys are such great writers I am such a big fan. It's taken me a while to read this one but it's just so GREAT! It's a bit bittersweet too with all the feelings Chloe has for Lex, yet knowing that apparantly Lex's heart belongs to Clark...who doesn't deserve it. This last chapter was just CRAZY GOOD! It's awesome the way you guys went into role playing and then at the same time with the tying of her hands ;). Hit two birds with one stone! I love this fic, you guys are amazing!:D

somethingeasy
8th July 2008, 14:49
They’d almost been successful in eating everything Chloe had brought. There had been a few spring rolls left but nothing more. And Lex had ‘insisted’ she finish them. That had consisted of him backing her into a corner and trying to get her to open her mouth to eat it.

Needless to say, he hadn’t been successful much to his chagrin. The tussle had come to an end when she’d gotten the attachment from the sink that sprayed water in her hands. He’d dropped the food and held up his hands.

Hmph! At least THIS time Chloe didn’t just roll over and let Lex do whatever he wanted just to please him!


Once she stood in front of the mirror, she adjusted her breasts in the blouse and fiddled with the buttons. They looked ready to spill out. Chloe picked up her brush and divided her hair into two sections. After another few minutes, she had two pigtails which rested on her shoulders.

She went back to the bag which she’d hung over a chair and took out the knee high white socks and mary janes.

Once she fully looked like a naughty school girl she climbed into the bed. Chloe lay down on her stomach, her head facing the doorway, and started to read a book. Then she started to wonder just how long it would take Lex to come and find her.

When she remembered the finishing touch, she quickly got out of the bed, grabbed the piece of bubble gum, shoved it in her mouth and then went back to her former pose.

ROTFLMAO! I was wondering what kind of shape and form the first role-playing game was going to take. Classic School girl and naughty repairman sounds like a oldie goodie, LOL! hmmm, but I thought the naughty school girl was supposed to be played against the lecherous professor…? LOL!

I loved the costume that Chloe had donned on. It sounded like she payed careful consideration to all the details. LOL! Right down to the bubble gum, ROTFL! Nice!


He blinked and hoped he wasn't gaping. She was the perfect incarnation of a naughty school girl, right to the pigtails and the chewing gum in her mouth that she blew an enormous bubble with before snapping it loudly.

heh.. it seems like Lex is very, VERY appreciative of the meticulous detail to costume, LOL!


Chloe looked down. “I, uh, was in it…and…” She trailed off, trying to remember an embarrassing situation so her blush would be real. “I think I used the jets a little too much. Like they may have overloaded.” As if she didn’t realize she was doing it, Chloe moved one of her hands to the inside of her thigh. She ran her finger over the soft skin.

She continued to chew on the gum as she looked back up at Lex. “Do you know if that happens a lot?”

Lex finished taking off his shirt and threw it on the corner of the bed in front of her. He wondered how she'd managed to conjure up a blush but it made her look perfectly like an innocent, embarrassed school girl who was trying not to admit that she'd used the Jacuzzi to get herself off.

Oh my! I wonder how much experience Chloe’s had playing dress-up before, because she’s proving to be very, VERY good at it. She not only compiled a perfect costume, but she even smoothly handled all the details of a back-story for her own character as well as Lex’s. LOL! I can’t believe that she even threw in a suggestion about the little school girl overusing the Jacuzzi jets to get herself off. I loved that Lex was enjoying the spinning of the story as much as the costume.


“I’m 19.” She stuck out her chin stubbornly. Nobody under the age of 21 liked to be called young. “I wouldn’t consider that so young.”

Nineteen is a little older than what I expected Chloe to choose. I was expecting sixteen… or eighteen at the most. I guess she didn’t want to take the chance of squicking Lex out by being ‘too young’ for him…?


If he was going to play the frisky sanitarian, he might as well amp it up and go for lewd. His eyes traveled over her body again, lingering a little longer on her ample chest before they trailed down between her legs. The book she'd been pretending to read earlier lay in front of her open with the cover on top. He almost burst out laughing as he saw that it was one of those tawdry romance novels.

“And what do we have here,” he snatched the book and held it up for inspection. “The Passionate Prince,” he read aloud with a flourish and turned it to look at the cover. “Maybe it's not the boyfriend after all that made you overload the jets.”

ROTFL! I can see Lex is also enjoying the added detail of her reading choice material. LOL! Did she buy this book especially for this game? The amount of detail she’s putting into this game shows she’s either had a considerable amount of experience in role-playing, OR she’s put a LOT of thought into setting up this situation for Lex. Whatever the explanation, I think it’s obvious that Lex is on for a good time tonight ;)

LOL! and I loved the way Lex was hamming up his role of the creepy, lech repairman by obviously leering over her body. He’s having a lot of fun already, LOL!


She was feigning outrage and shock so perfectly that he had a hard time keeping himself in check from just grabbing and kissing the living daylights out of her. Instead, he reached up with a finger and closed her jaw, turning the touch into a lingering caress before he pulled his hand back. “You're cute when you're dumbstruck.”

I also have to admit, Chloe was doing an excellent job in portraying all the outrage, shyness, brattiness, audacity and scandalized attitude of a virgin schoolgirl. She missed her calling as an Oscar Award winning actress… or as a porn star, LOL! I really liked seeing how much Lex was enjoying her performance and the character she was portraying. AND how he was keeping himself playing the game to deepen, prolong and enhance both of their fun and pleasure.


She ran her hands from her knees up to her thighs and then back down again. Her eyes fluttered closed as she imagined what Candace had done. “He just wanted to make me feel good, that was all. And he did.” Her hips rocked slightly. She smiled a little and ducked her head. “We were outside, in the back yard. He took a break from trimming the hedges.” Her breath picked up.

“I remember how the sun felt on my skin. I was naked. It was just getting good when my dad caught us.” She opened her eyes and sighed. Then looked over at Lex. She let out a little ‘oh’ as if she hadn’t realized that she’d said it out loud.

His eyes ran over her body again, and the low and throaty voice she'd used to tell her imagined story had started his cock throbbing in his pants. “Such a naughty little girl,” he murmured then licked his lips. “And look at you, just telling that little tale has you all flushed again, and humping the mattress like a bitch in heat.”

Oooh, hot! Chloe is really getting into her role. I could see that she half-believes herself to be Candace… the naughty little girl who ‘almost’ got bonked in the garden by the hired help. Her description of the event was very vivid, and rather beautiful too… as well as hot and sexy, LOL! Even if she’s no longer a writer, Chloe’s always going to have a talent for word-play. Heh… and I can see her description has effected Lex intensely!


He placed his hands at the bottom of the mattress and then slowly crawled over to her. When he was next to her, she tentatively put her hand on his shoulder and then ran it down his chest. “What’s your name?”

Lex thought about it for a moment, then leaned in to murmur in her ear, “You can call me Joe.”

Perfectly average name for a perfectly average guy from the street who was about to seduce a naughty school girl.

ROTFL! Joe Average! Perfect name for Lex to select!

Her head fell back and her right hand moved from being on his chest to clutching at his left shoulder. She felt her hand slip off twice before she got a good hold. And Joe wasn’t even really inside her now. She wondered what that would feel like.


The gardener, whose name she couldn’t remember at the moment, had basically stripped her and laid her out on the grass. His hands had been on her breasts but had never made it between her legs. And with how close her dad watched her, no other boy had had a chance.

Joe’s hand felt vastly different from hers. It could cover more ground and she had no idea what he was going to do. How he would move and what it would feel like. There was a sense of anticipation that she’d never felt before.

She was panting and her eyes had slammed closed. She felt herself shaking a little as she tentatively moved against his fingers. “Oh, god.” The words were low and strung out.

Wow! Chloe (or should I say, Candace?) is really losing herself into the fantasy. She’s honestly imagining those ‘memories’ as well as the feelings of being a nervous virgin to be ‘real’. LOL! I’m rather enjoying seeing her losing herself into her fantasy role.


He'd lied earlier when he'd told her he got plenty. It had been a while since this particular Jacuzzi guy had gotten any. And to have such a sassy young thing at his hands was just too much temptation to resist.

heh… even LEX is losing himself into the role that Chlo.. Candace created for him. He’s really enjoying himself too. I love it!


Joe didn't get to feel this kind of power all that often and he loved having it now. Making this girl quiver with excitement. This was possibly the best duty call he'd ever had. He couldn't wait to fuck her into oblivion. Show her how good he could make her feel.

“Come on, say it.” He slipped his finger into her again, as far as it could go this time and started tapping against the sensitive wall. “What do you want, Candy?”

heh… I should have guessed that Lex’s biggest thrill would come from having power and sexual domination in this situation. Not to mention the chance to corrupt an ‘innocent’, LOL!


But they’d have to be quiet. That’s what had tipped off her dad the last time. She’d been making noise. She couldn’t make any noise this time.

LOL! I love how Chloe’s lost herself so completely in the game that she’s even imagining the troubles of her fantasy to be real inconveniences and potential difficulties.


Curling his fingers, he put constant pressure on that certain spot, rubbing it slowly. She'd be a thrasher, he just knew it. So much better when they let go than all this restrained business that the occasional housewives he'd fucked put forth.

Lex is even making an imaginary backstory for Joe as he’s getting more into the game. I have to say, BlueSabby, that you took a VERY interesting, intriguing and compelling turn into portraying role-playing smut. I had no idea how you were going to go about putting what is essentially a ‘make believe fantasy within a make believe fantasy’, but you found a VERY interesting and entertaining solution to portray this particular kink. Well done :D


He looked down the ample cleavage of the shirt and licked his lips. “Those real?” he asked as he reached out with one hand and massaged one of the ample mounds, “or did daddy pay for them?”

Of course Lex knew that the flesh under his palm was real, but the pretence of not knowing gave Joe a reason to grope.

LOL! Lex is REALLY enjoying his role of corrupting the bratty, snobby, high-society young girl. He’s relishing the notion of being a ‘average working joe’ mocking and taking advantage of his social superiors.


“You're not even wearing a bra,” he commented with arched brows. “Naughty girl.”

Shifting his hand to the center of her chest, he pushed her down onto her back then busied himself with opening the knot that held her blouse closed. After some pushing, it finally gave and he could part the fabric.

“Nice and plump, I like them.”

He swooped down and captured one nipple in his mouth, sucking on the soft skin and flicking his tongue over the stiff little bud.

Oooh, hot, hot, HOT!


He almost laughed as he got a good look at the simple white cotton. Perfect for an innocent schoolgirl, but completely incongruous with the naughty vixen that let a stranger fuck her silly while daddy was none the wiser downstairs.

LOL! I think both Lex and ‘Joe’ got a kick out of this lady’s choice of underwear today.


She was worried about her dad finding them. Either now or later. Worried about if it would hurt. Worried that she’d forget that after they were done he still had to fix the jet or her dad would be suspicious.

Thankfully, her father had just started a conference call only a few minutes before Joe had come to service the tub. He’d be at least two hours.

I really LOVE the way that you’re making the fantasy so REAL, BlueSabby. It truly is a whole new smutty fic inside a smutty fic… with all new characters and situations to enjoy. I love it! I loved the way that Chloe is now so completely immersed in Candace that she even allows herself to feel worries and self-assured relief when considering the chances of ‘her father’ catching them.


Millie had told her it didn’t hurt all that much. And Candace had ridden horses for years. Been in competitions and everything. Plus, Joe had to have done this before so he would know what to do.

LOL! Candace had even come up with a reason about why she wouldn’t have a hymen, despite being a virgin, LOL! Nice!


He crawled a little lower on the mattress and made himself comfortable between her legs. “So Candy, did the gardener do this for you, too?” He'd almost bet the answer would be no. Probably a quick romp in the hay and the guy didn't get more than a few thrusts in before her daddy caught them with her skirt flipped up and her panties still around one ankle.

hmmm, I wonder whether Lex is getting as hot and bothered as I am imagining that little scenario. LOL! Any chance of them playing ‘virgin and gardener’ too, ROTFL!


Candace shook her head and she could feel her pigtails brushing against her shoulders. “No, he didn’t get very far.” She opened her legs a little wider and could see that Joe was looking at her there.

“I’m the only one who’s touched me down there.” When he was still silent she added, “Other than the Jacuzzi.”

heh… Chloe wants to keep herself a pure, (although not too innocent) virgin for Lex during this game, huh? LOL! I bet he appreciates it. All the dominating power of taking a virgin without any of the hassle has got to be a major turn-on for any guy, but especially for Lex, LOL!


He hummed against her skin and heard a muffled noise above him. She'd probably taken to his suggestion and used something to keep the noise down. Chuckling, he lashed his tongue over the succulent flesh between his lips and slowly pushed it into her opening as far as it would go.

This was...was...

She'd be making a lot of noise if she hadn't put her hand over her mouth. Her shoulders were the only part of her upper body still in contact with the bed. Candace felt like she'd strain a muscle if she spread her legs any wider than they already were.

He was licking and sucking at her and then his tongue was inside. She could feel it fucking her. Her hips were bucking up a little but Joe held her down.

A part of her knew it was wrong. Knew that she shouldn't give this away to the person between her legs but she didn't care.

Hot, hot… SO hot! I loved the sensual, vivid description! VERY nice!


Her nails started digging into his scalp and he pulled back with a hiss. “Watch the claws, kitten, or I'll restrain them.”

That gave Lex an idea. She'd said she wanted to be tied up. That she trusted him enough to try it with him. And here was the perfect opportunity. If she wanted to try it now, all she'd have to do was say so, or give him a sign. After all, this wasn't just about him.

The words broke through a weird sort of fog that was in Chloe’s brain. She realized that she really enjoyed this whole pretending to be someone else thing. The restraint thing….that was Lex. She knew that.

And she wanted that. Thought about being spread out on this bed with her hands tied.

LOL! Very nicely done, BlueSabby! You actually managed to combine TWO fantasy kinks together in one smutty session, ROTFL! Very efficient of you! I rather admire the way Lex was able to break in the suggestion of bondage in the middle of their role-playing game. It seems like it proved to be a good combination too :)


The shirt wasn't really ideal for tying her up, but it was a good starter to get her used to the idea of it.

Even if he wound it tight in a figure eight around both hands, as he was doing now, she could still easily wriggle out of the restraint if she needed to do so. He tied a knot with the sleeves and pulled it tight.

I liked the idea that Lex decided to go for a ‘low level’ bondage first by making the restraints semi-loose and therefore easy to slip out of if Chloe really felt uncomfortable in them. She’s still being given enough power and control in this situation to get herself out (without Lex’s help) if she really wants a sudden change. LOL! I noticed that Lex referred to these low-level restraints as a ‘good starter’? Which means he has plans to try out a more advanced version of bondage later in another sex-a-thon session? Well… we DO need something with blindfolds too, LOL!


His tongue went back to work and Candace started moaning again. But she was sure to be as quiet as she could be. Every now and again she’d curse fairly loudly. But that was followed quickly by whispered encouragements.

Candace liked to think that she was a proper woman of sorts. She’d had a coming out party and all but the words coming out of her mouth were hardly those of a high class person.

“Yeah, eat me. Oh, fuck, Joe. Like that. Don’t stop.” She could hear the wet sounds that his mouth made on her pussy.

hot, hot, HOT!!!
LOL! Even when she’s lost control of her ‘high class’ speech, Chloe is still careful to keep the illusion going. Perhaps she’s forgotten her Chloe identity? That actually might be a possibility considering how far she’s gotten into her role. ROTFL! I love how you set up and executed the fantasy role-playing kink, BlueSabby! Masterfully done! Above and beyond anything that I expected!


Joe’s tongue was fucking her. She felt him pull it out and then his whole mouth fastened onto her clit.

The feelings were nothing compared to those she experienced in the Jacuzzi. Her whole body thrashed violently on the bed. She bit down on her lower lip so she wouldn’t cry out. She could hear a high pitched whining sound trapped in her throat.

He kept sucking and a second wave hit her. This time, she lowered her hands and placed them over her mouth. She opened it and screamed as her hips moved and moved and moved.

She arched up once more and then, panting, her body returned to the mattress as it quieted.

Oh that was beautiful, erotic and SO hot! Very intense! I loved every second of this sex-game that Chloe and Lex have tried out. I want MORE role-playing games!!! Any chance of this couple trying out other scenarios? Or perhaps UE-Chlex can decide to get a little kinky with ‘naughty nurse and frisky doctor’ anytime? Virgin college student and the lecherous professor? Heh or perhaps LuthorCorp CEO and his ‘secretary’…? I don’t think UE-Chlex have enjoyed office-sex as yet, have they?


His cock was throbbing in tune to his pulse, reminding him that he had yet to be taken care of. “Want to try something else?” he asked as he shifted his hips forward just enough to slide through the wetness between her legs.

Awesome! It’s not over yet! I look forward to the next update, BlueSabby! Please update soon!

SVfan1286
12th July 2008, 22:54
Awesome chapter! The role playing is funny and really HOT! I love how into it Lex and Chloe have gotten. I can't wait for the next chapter and more kinky Chlex!!

BlueSabby
16th July 2008, 20:27
A/N: Who wants Candy? Get it? Candy! I'm so funny. Enjoy

A/N: Sabby: Do you see what I'm working with here? That's why we don't do humor fic. Cause unfortunately, I'm not a wink better.

She gasped and his grin widened. Oh yea, he'd show that young thing a good time. She could explain to her daddy later why she walked funny.

Her body had a mind of its own. It was moving wantonly and constantly against Joe’s. She couldn’t stop it, could only enjoy it. “Yeah,” she whispered. “Yeah, want that.”

She tried to pull him closer but she felt his body resisting.

When she opened her eyes, he was looking down at her humorously. But she could see the tenseness in his body. He needed this, too. It gave her a feeling of power unlike anything she’d ever felt. “Tell me what you want.” His voice was low and tight.

That she should have seen coming. He liked to hear her talk about what they were doing.

“I want you to fuck me,” she said clearly. “Want to feel your cock in my pussy.” The room was full of the sounds of their erratic breaths.

Should she tell him? She wanted to. Candace wanted to see the look on his face.

They’d been crude before and she kinda liked that. “I want you to be the one to break me in.”

His brows hitched up on his forehead. So she was a virgin after all, go figure. All talk and no action. Well, almost none, if you discounted the gardener. “I'll take your word for it. But better be sure now, cause I'm not gonna stop once I start.”

He moved his hands down to her legs and wrapped them around his waist. Her hips moved higher and he felt the head of his cock poke against her tight opening. Gritting his teeth against the need to just shove in, he cocked his head and looked at her for another moment.

“So which type are you, slowly peel the band aid or rip it off in one fast go? Your call.”

Candace let her legs relax as much as she could at the moment. She knew that tensing up would just make it worse. She hoped that it wouldn’t be too bad. “I’m the fast type,” she said.

Joe nodded. Resituated himself again and then….

His mouth covered hers, thankfully. She screamed into it as her legs clenched around his middle.

His cock was fully inside of her. She felt like he was too big. Like this wasn’t natural.

Candace focused on his mouth moving over hers not on the slight throbbing pain that was centered between her thighs. Whimpered into the kiss and unfisted her hands. Pulled a little at the shirt for something else to feel.

Joe’s mouth moved to lay kisses down her jawline. He sucked her earlobe into his mouth. Then his hips started to move.

He breathed heavily as he slowly started to pull out and push back inside. She was so bloody tight it felt like she'd clamped a vice around his dick. The muscles in her pussy seemed to suck him inside and trap him there whenever he pulled out even a little.

“Fuck, you've got the tightest pussy I've ever had,” he gritted out.

Bracing his weight on his arms, he moved his kisses down her throat and to her chest, pulling a nipple into his mouth to suck and lick on it as he tried to quicken the pace of his thrusts. Not easy, what with her muscles squeezing him like she planned to keep him stuck inside her forever.

She tightened the hold of her arms as much as she could with the shirt keeping her hands tied and pressed his face deeper into her chest. Joe sucked harder and was rewarded with a low throaty moan and a jerk of her hips.

Letting go of the skin in his mouth, he looked up at her and grinned. “That's right, move your hips Candy, it's gonna feel so much better if you work with me here.”

“Okay.” She was a little scared to do it but she’d at least try. She didn’t want to add to the pain. And, when she’d moved before, it had felt good.

Tentatively, she moved her hips up. Then her head fell back and she groaned. “Oh, fuck.” That had felt….

She did it again. This time harder. “Yeah, fuck, get it now.” Understood why everyone was obsessed with this.

Then Joe started to move with her. She gasped harshly and closed her throat. Candace didn’t want to scream. Her dad wasn’t the only one in the house. There was the help, too.

She imagined the butler finding them. Her virginity being taken right under her daddy’s nose.

Her eyes opened and she looked down at Joe. He was still kissing and sucking at her breasts. “So good,” she told him. She let her body relax even more. Moved her hips up and did what her friend had told her about. Squeezed his cock with her pussy.

“Fuck, yea.” Joe bit down on the flesh between his teeth and quickened his thrusts.

Nothing like an enthusiastic fuck. And he knew just what it took to make her even more enthusiastic. He managed to squeeze one hand between their bodies and moved it down to her pussy, searching with his thumb for the slippery little bud of her clit.

When she gave an extremely loud shriek of surprise, he knew he'd found it. “Thought I'd told you to be quiet,” he groaned.

Usually he didn't mind having a screamer under him, but fuck it if he wanted a confrontation with daddy dearest about this. The excitement about possibly getting caught only went so far.

Joe kept up his attentions on her clit none the less and pushed himself up on his other arm so he could look at her face.

She was flushed all the way down to her lovely breasts and her mouth was half open as she panted for breath, eyes wide open and staring right back at him.

“Fucking hot.”

Candace used her bound hands to bring Joe down for a voracious, sloppy kiss. She was close again. Really excellently close.

But she wanted it to last for a little longer.

Now that she wasn’t in pain and had found the rhythm…

Well, she fucking loved fucking.

As her enthusiasm increased, her lower body never ceasing its motion and her cunt gripping Joe’s cock, so did Joe’s.

They were rutting like animals and she was glad that she’d recently gotten a new bed. Her old one would have been making a racket.

His cock started driving into her harder and the pressure on her clit increased. She didn’t have time to warn him this time.

It was like getting hit upside the head. Except it felt so fucking wonderful that she wanted to die and instead of the back of your head the feeling spread throughout her whole body. She shouted his name into their kiss.

She broke their mouths apart as her orgasm washed over her and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Her toes actually curled up and her nails scratched both her hands and Joe’s skin.

Joe was still pumping away, animalistic grunts falling from between his slightly parted lips.

Candace had seen some porn and decided to try out a line. “Come in my cunt.” She squeezed both her legs and her pussy and then waited.

Joe snorted and fucked her harder. “Wasn't planning on pulling out.”

He was close, could feel it building, getting there. “Don't stop moving now.” He smacked the outside of her thigh where his hand had moved after she was done thrashing through her climax.

She immediately started rocking against him and the pressure in his lower belly grew, drawing his balls up tight until it finally exploded through his system in a wave of pleasure. His hips kept moving erratically as the incredible sensation rode him hard and put him away wet.

“Damn.” The word came out on a shaky breath as his body relaxed like someone had cut his strings.

“You're good at this for a rookie,” he commented with a grin as he pulled out and collapsed onto the mattress beside her.

Candace giggled. “Thanks.” She felt good. Really good. Sated and sexy. Her body was still humming a little. The only downside was the stickiness between her legs. But that could be taken care of easily.

“I’d tell you that you were really good but we both know I don’t have any basis for comparison.” But she still got the feeling that he was above average. “Though, I doubt the guys I used to go to school with could keep it together enough to get me off like that.”

She continued to stretch on the bed. It felt a little odd to have her hands tied, her skirt on, come between her legs and her socks shucked almost all the way down to her shoes from their exertion.

Looking over at Joe, she said, “How about you untie me and I’ll show you what’s wrong with the Jacuzzi?” He still had to fix the damn thing or her dad would be suspicious.

“I need a bath anyway,” she said, grinning at him.

~~
“I swear I’m not making it up.” Candace was naked in the tub. Her hair was still in pigtails and they were getting a little wet as she moved down a little to place her hand over the powerful jet.

She and Joe had come in here a few minutes ago. She’d sat on the edge of the tub as it had filled up and he’d taken off her skirt, shoes and socks. Her shirt had been taken off of her wrists in the bedroom. As she’d gotten in the tub, she’d taken a look at herself. She didn’t look any different. No neon sign over her proclaiming that she’d gotten fucked.

Now she was glaring at the jet that wouldn’t cooperate yesterday. It was her favorite to use because she swore it was the most powerful and it was situated in the perfect spot so that it wasn’t awkward for her to use it to get off.

Candace moved a little further back in the tub. “Guess you didn’t need to come out here huh?”

He looked at her with a smirk and shook his head. “Guess not, but I can't say that I mind. After all, I got to have fun with you and now your dad's going to pay me for just that, too.”

His hand dove under the water and felt for the jet. The pressure was strong enough that he wondered how she could stand it on a sensitive spot for longer then a few seconds. “So that's what you use to get off hm? Feels a bit rough if you ask me.”

Falling out of the game for a second, Lex wondered if she'd actually used it before. She didn't have a Jacuzzi at home, but she'd stayed over night here more than once and could have used it any time when she was left to her own devices.

His mind popped up with an image of Chloe in the tub, just as she was now, sneaking her hand between her legs and shifting until the jets hit just the right spot to do all the work for her. “Gonna show me how?”

He hadn't bothered to put his pants back on and could feel his cock brushing against the cold enamel of the tub as it rose in renewed interest.

“If you wanna see.” Candace liked that she could get him all worked up. Besides, she wasn’t opposed to having some more fun. And, she knew that some part of her was doing this as revenge against her dad. So, the longer Joe spent here, the more her dad would have to pay him. Which, as Joe had pointed out, he’d really be paying for her getting fucked.

Joe nodded and then moved back a little. All the better view to see her with.

This excited her. She leaned back and lay down in the tub for a few moments. Watched as her breasts peeked above the surface of the water. Then, she started to touch them. Felt their fullness and ran her thumbs over her nipples.

Candace was already aroused so she didn’t need to waste too long heating herself up. She took one of her legs and placed her heel on the edge of the tub, spreading herself wide.

“The first orgasm I had was in here,” she told Joe. “I got water all over the place.” She chuckled at the memory of her 15 year old self.

She had one hand on the inside of each thigh, running over the skin. She dipped one hand lower and started to fuck herself with three fingers. Candace could be a little louder in here and her moan reverberated across the walls.

Her body started rocking and the water moved over it. She started to toy with her clit. Her hips bucked up and she decided that was enough teasing.

She brought her leg back in the tub and then pushed herself back up onto her knees. Joe was sitting by the jet she was going to use. Before she got started, she pulled him in for another kiss.

Something was different. The way he kissed her. Gentler…more Lex than Joe.

When Chloe opened her eyes, Lex looked back at her.

“Hey,” she murmured before wrapping her wet arms around him and kissing him deeply. He pulled her as much against his body as was possible with her in the tub and him out of it.

As they kissed, Chloe moved one of her hands down her body. She thought Lex was fairly surprised when she gasped his name loudly as she pushed two of her fingers inside of her.

She could feel the jet on the back of her hand as she worked between her legs. Her other arm remained wrapped around Lex’s shoulder and she pressed her forehead against his. “Make me so hot,” she murmured.

Chloe pulled back from him and opened her eyes so he could see just what he did to her. What he reduced her to and what she’d do for him. Wanted him to see all of that. See everything inside of her.

Lex soaked in her intense expression before he cradled her head with one hand closed the small distance between them and kissed her thoroughly. She was incredibly sexy like this, honest and open like he'd never experienced it with anyone. There was no holding back in anything she did for him.

He pulled out of the kiss and pressed their foreheads together again, turning his gaze down to where her hand worked under the water. He couldn't see clearly through the bubbling water, but when his free hand slipped under the surface and down her arm, he could feel that she was using two of her fingers to fuck herself.

“I love the way you feel,” he whispered against her lips as his hand traveled on along her thigh and back up her body, stroking the soft wet skin from belly to neck wherever he could reach. “The look on your face when you're turned on.”

Chloe pulled back a little so they both wouldn’t go cross eyed as she spoke to him. “Love the way you make me feel.” And she wasn’t just talking about that tingling sensation that he’d created with his hand. “Can show you anything, do anything when I’m with you.” It was incredibly freeing. Never thought that she’d get to experience that with a man who she was sleeping with.

She felt safe and sexy and powerful and…..

Got distracted by the feelings between her legs. “Close already.” Her lower body thrashed around a little and she felt herself wanting to let go. But not before using the jet.

“Hold onto me. Please. Hold me.” It was going to be awkward but she wanted that. Wanted to come against him. She felt Lex’s arms wrap around her and pull her as close as he could. Her head dropped down to rest in the crook of his neck.

Chloe moved her body until the jets could hit right where she needed them to. Her fingers kept pumping and her voice rose higher and higher as she said Lex’s name.

The screaming was back.

Her voice echoed in her ears and she could hear the desperation and neediness in it.

Moved her hips closer and over and….

Bit Lex’s neck as her lower body jerked beneath the water, spilling some of it on the floor.

Felt her inner muscles spasm as Lex’s arms crushed her closer.

“So fucking hot,” he growled against her temple then pried her mouth away from his neck to lick and bite at her lips and push his tongue into her mouth to tangle with hers.

She was still jerking her hips, splashing more water over the bathroom floor. His neck throbbed where she'd bitten him and his cock was rock hard, clamoring for attention. “I want to fuck you so bad right now.”

He stood up and climbed into the tub, sloshing yet more water over the rim. They'd have to do some serious cleaning up after they were done here. The stream from the jet hit the small of his back and his eyes nearly crossed at the sensation before he shifted out of the way and sat down next to her.

“Feeling’s mutual,” she mumbled before her lips attached themselves to his. Chloe couldn’t get enough of Lex. It actually scared her a little when she stopped to think about it. Which was why she didn’t do that very often.

She slid closer to him and started to run her hands up and down his chest. She started to sling a leg over his body and his hands came up to her waist.

Chloe giggled as they tried to get themselves aligned as they slipped over each other. She finally got her hands to stay on his shoulders and felt his cock at her entrance.

“Never done this before,” she panted as she eased herself down. She whimpered a little at the penetration. “You get bigger?”

Maybe it was the position or something but Chloe swore she felt more of him. She felt the water lapping at her waist and gently splashing between them. It definitely added something new to the experience.

Lex chuckled and moved his hands to stroke soothingly up and down her back. “Not as far as I know.”

He closed his eyes and relaxed a little, enjoying the weightless feeling of the water and the tight warm sheath of her body around his cock. The urgency wasn't quite as strong now and he started rocking slowly. “Do you like it?”

Lex was a little surprised she'd never done it in the tub yet. For all the men she'd slept with there were definitely still many things left unexplored. Part of him took selfish pleasure in that, knowing that he'd get to be the one that she experienced these new things with.

Chloe hummed her answer as her eyes fell shut. It felt really nice and as relaxing as it could feel in her current state. She looked at Lex and smiled contentedly before bring her mouth down to his.
She kept up the easy motion of her hips as she ran her tongue against Lex’s. The jets were on high so the water churned around them constantly.

With one hand firmly planted on Lex’s body, she dipped the other below the water and splashed some water on her chest. Lex’s eyes crawled over her breasts as the beads ran down them. The weightlessness made it easier for Chloe to move and she felt supported by Lex and, strangely enough, by the water.

She changed the direction of her hips and then used her inner muscles to massage Lex’s cock. He jerked up a little and she gasped his name.

Her legs tried to get wider and she repeated the move, Lex bucking up a little. But he still wasn’t pounding away at her body.

The steady rocking was affecting her. Chloe could come already. Or she could wait. “Lex, wanna see me again?”

“Already?” He hadn't meant to say that out loud, but it was surprising enough that it had circumvented his brain to mouth filter.

Lex brought his hands up to her cheeks and held her in place as he kissed her soundly. He felt her muscles squeezing harder around the length of his dick and groaned into her mouth at the sensation. “Do whatever you want.”

He kissed his way down to her neck where she still displayed his hickey. Lex was tempted to refresh it, but he knew that she couldn't run around with the big purplish bruise for days on end without arousing suspicion. So he consoled himself with giving the bit of flesh a teasing lick and a small peck before moving on down her collar bone and to one of those lovely, full round breasts to suck on a ripe nipple instead.

“Can wait,” she panted out. She wanted to feel him lose it along with her. Especially now that he was exploring her body. The only bad thing about this position was that she couldn’t touch him as much as she wanted.

Chloe ran her hand from as far down on his back as she could reach up to his head to hold him in place. She kept using her cunt to work at his cock. But didn’t amp up the strength of her muscles.

“I get to explore later.” She leaned down and kissed the top of his head. “Run my hands all over your body. Make you as crazy as you make me.”

That sounded really good. “Take my time, too.” Kissed down the side of his head. “Have you naked and splayed out for me on the bed.” Her eyes fluttered closed as she imagined the delectable picture.

“Suck on those collarbones, and hipbones,” her mouth was by his ear now, “and then turn you over and suck on this,” her fingertips played over the bump on the back of his skull, “until the only thing you can remember is my name.”

Lex’s hands tightened on her hips. “Kiss you until our lips are good and numb. Keep you in bed for days.”

Her voice had turned all low and husky as she told him what she planned to do with him and Lex had no problem imagining any of it in vivid detail. “I'll hold you to that,” his voice was raspy with arousal and he could feel his climax inch closer with every roll of their hips and every squeeze of her muscles.

His mouth latched onto her other breast and he forced her deeper into his lap, tightening the hold around her waist. She cried out long and hard and Lex pulled his mouth off the flesh just long enough to say, “Now, Chloe, come for me.”

Lex's eyes squeezed shut as he felt his own pleasure crest and burst through his system as he spilled inside of her, warm water and even warmer skin around him and heat like fire inside his veins, wrangling a groan from his throat before he could breathe again, slowly calming down from the amazing feeling.

Chloe had managed to keep her eyes open as Lex had come. She’d watched his face and felt the heat as he finished inside of her. Her own orgasm had been really enjoyable. It had more eased over her body instead of snapping her in half.

Her cunt still milked at Lex’s cock and she rolled her hips until she knew he was done.

Her body fell forward a little, blanketing Lex’s. “That was…wow. Amazing.”

Who knew that dress up could be so fun and lead to something like this?

“Thank you for letting me into your fantasy.” She kissed whatever part of him she could get at.

Lex chuckled and relaxed back against the edge of the Jacuzzi. “You're kidding right? I should be the one saying thank you.“

He kept his arms in a loose hold around her waist, closing his eyes as he soaked up the nice feeling of the massage jets combined with the warm, slick feeling of a naked Chloe on top of him.

“How did you like your part of the fantasy,“ he asked in a low voice, “was being tied up like you expected it to be?“

Of course she hadn't really been captive. The shirt had been just firm enough to give her an idea of what it was like with the secure knowledge that she could get out of it at any point. Other restraints didn't come with that kind of easy out.

“Was nice. Weirdly freeing.” She tried to get closer to him. It was starting to get a little chilly for her. What with most of her body being out of the warm water. “Thanks for easing me into it. Next time, we’ll have to pick something else out for me. Something that holds me down a little as you have your wicked way with me.”

Chloe eased herself back and Lex dropped his arms down a little. He looked relaxed and happy. She grinned. “You look rather pleased with deflowering a 19 year old.”

He chuckled. “Well, next time I get to be the aggressor.” She’d already decided that they’d use the nurse outfit next. She’d ‘heal’ her paralyzed from the waist down patient with some naughty care.

“But for now, how about we start cleaning this place up?” She looked at the puddles on the tiles. “Guess that’s the price for amazing tub sex, eh?” Lex laughed and she bent down to kiss him one more time before she had to get out of the tub.


tbc

lj715
16th July 2008, 21:39
Great chapter...can;t wait to see if Clark finds out about this.

hfce
17th July 2008, 01:04
Wow as Paris Hilton the slut likes to say that was Hot.... :rofl: I need a cigarette after that. Good job girls. :drool2:

lilinny
17th July 2008, 05:20
I hope Clark never finds out.

Well, maybe until they go through as many role playing scenarios as possible.

Fantastic chapter.

somethingeasy
17th July 2008, 22:27
“I want you to fuck me,” she said clearly. “Want to feel your cock in my pussy.” The room was full of the sounds of their erratic breaths.

Should she tell him? She wanted to. Candace wanted to see the look on his face.

They’d been crude before and she kinda liked that. “I want you to be the one to break me in.”

His brows hitched up on his forehead. So she was a virgin after all, go figure. All talk and no action. Well, almost none, if you discounted the gardener. “I'll take your word for it. But better be sure now, cause I'm not gonna stop once I start.”

Heh, they’re both still lost in the illusion of their role-playing. LOL! I enjoyed how Lex even managed a semi-disdainful inner-sneer for the ‘virgin’ he was about to deflower. He’s completely changed his personality into this Joe character.


“So which type are you, slowly peel the band aid or rip it off in one fast go? Your call.”

Candace let her legs relax as much as she could at the moment. She knew that tensing up would just make it worse. She hoped that it wouldn’t be too bad. “I’m the fast type,” she said.

‘Candace’ is actually mentally preparing herself as if she really IS a virgin. Chloe’s really gotten completely immersed in her role, right to the point where she can recreate the nervousness and uncertainty that comes from one’s ‘first time’. Oh, the Oscar Academy has NO idea what kind of talent they missed out on when Chloe decided to go into school teaching rather than exploring her other natural talents. I couldn’t believe it when she even screamed and tensed up upon penetration like it was a first time. Amazing!


He breathed heavily as he slowly started to pull out and push back inside. She was so bloody tight it felt like she'd clamped a vice around his dick. The muscles in her pussy seemed to suck him inside and trap him there whenever he pulled out even a little.

“Fuck, you've got the tightest pussy I've ever had,” he gritted out.

heh… Has Lex lost himself so completely into the fantasy that he’s honestly imagining this is the tightest experience he’s ever had? Or is Chloe making a special point to squeeze extra hard to make it as real as possible?


Letting go of the skin in his mouth, he looked up at her and grinned. “That's right, move your hips Candy, it's gonna feel so much better if you work with me here.”

“Okay.” She was a little scared to do it but she’d at least try. She didn’t want to add to the pain. And, when she’d moved before, it had felt good.

Tentatively, she moved her hips up. Then her head fell back and she groaned. “Oh, fuck.” That had felt….

She did it again. This time harder. “Yeah, fuck, get it now.” Understood why everyone was obsessed with this.

Loved that! Loved the way that Candy was actually acting inexperienced, tentative and overwhelmed. As if it really IS the first time for her, and she has no idea what to expect or what to do to heighten her pleasure for herself. LOL! Good thing ‘Joe’ is being so helpful, LOL!


Her eyes opened and she looked down at Joe. He was still kissing and sucking at her breasts. “So good,” she told him. She let her body relax even more. Moved her hips up and did what her friend had told her about. Squeezed his cock with her pussy.

“Fuck, yea.” Joe bit down on the flesh between his teeth and quickened his thrusts.

Nothing like an enthusiastic fuck. And he knew just what it took to make her even more enthusiastic. He managed to squeeze one hand between their bodies and moved it down to her pussy, searching with his thumb for the slippery little bud of her clit.

When she gave an extremely loud shriek of surprise, he knew he'd found it. “Thought I'd told you to be quiet,” he groaned.

Usually he didn't mind having a screamer under him, but fuck it if he wanted a confrontation with daddy dearest about this. The excitement about possibly getting caught only went so far.

Oooh, HOT! I loved seeing the way Candy was getting into the rhythm of the act, and how Joe responded so enthusiastically to her. And I hate to admit it, but the way Joe was callously treating Candy like ‘a hole for his pleasure’ actually made the thing hotter.


They were rutting like animals and she was glad that she’d recently gotten a new bed. Her old one would have been making a racket.

His cock started driving into her harder and the pressure on her clit increased. She didn’t have time to warn him this time.

It was like getting hit upside the head. Except it felt so fucking wonderful that she wanted to die and instead of the back of your head the feeling spread throughout her whole body. She shouted his name into their kiss.

She broke their mouths apart as her orgasm washed over her and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Her toes actually curled up and her nails scratched both her hands and Joe’s skin.

Joe was still pumping away, animalistic grunts falling from between his slightly parted lips.

Hot, hot, HOT! Sizzling!


Candace had seen some porn and decided to try out a line. “Come in my cunt.” She squeezed both her legs and her pussy and then waited.

Joe snorted and fucked her harder. “Wasn't planning on pulling out.”

He was close, could feel it building, getting there. “Don't stop moving now.” He smacked the outside of her thigh where his hand had moved after she was done thrashing through her climax.

She immediately started rocking against him and the pressure in his lower belly grew, drawing his balls up tight until it finally exploded through his system in a wave of pleasure. His hips kept moving erratically as the incredible sensation rode him hard and put him away wet.

“Damn.” The word came out on a shaky breath as his body relaxed like someone had cut his strings.

“You're good at this for a rookie,” he commented with a grin as he pulled out and collapsed onto the mattress beside her.

I laughed at Candy actually using a line like that during the middle of sex, and I loved Joe’s wry response to her invitation, LOL! He was becoming more domineering as he came closer to coming, even to the extent of giving her a little spanking. I liiiked it, LOL!


Now she was glaring at the jet that wouldn’t cooperate yesterday. It was her favorite to use because she swore it was the most powerful and it was situated in the perfect spot so that it wasn’t awkward for her to use it to get off.

LOL! I can see Chloe’s put a considerable amount of thought into this. Did she imagine using Lex’s Jacuzzi for this purpose long before devising this fantasy?


He looked at her with a smirk and shook his head. “Guess not, but I can't say that I mind. After all, I got to have fun with you and now your dad's going to pay me for just that, too.”

heh… Joe’s a bit of a jerk, isn’t he? Lex likes the thought of behaving like a callous bastard to his chosen lady for the evening again? The again, Chloe was the one who chose this persona in the first place, and it was obvious that she didn’t have a ‘nice guy’ in mind when she cued Lex about his role and personality.


Falling out of the game for a second, Lex wondered if she'd actually used it before. She didn't have a Jacuzzi at home, but she'd stayed over night here more than once and could have used it any time when she was left to her own devices.

heh… I was wondering that earlier myself.


“If you wanna see.” Candace liked that she could get him all worked up. Besides, she wasn’t opposed to having some more fun. And, she knew that some part of her was doing this as revenge against her dad. So, the longer Joe spent here, the more her dad would have to pay him. Which, as Joe had pointed out, he’d really be paying for her getting fucked.

LOL! That’s a really screwed-up, messed-up mindset Chloe has devised for herself. I guess she’s fulfilling her fantasies of being the ‘princess’, but putting a sick, twisted twist on it, LOL!


Something was different. The way he kissed her. Gentler…more Lex than Joe.

When Chloe opened her eyes, Lex looked back at her.

“Hey,” she murmured before wrapping her wet arms around him and kissing him deeply. He pulled her as much against his body as was possible with her in the tub and him out of it.

I loved that Chloe was able to sense from the kiss that Lex had returned. It was so sweet that she even greeted and welcomed him with a ‘hi’ before continuing with the kiss. They really DID lose themselves in the fantasy, to the extent where it was a big deal for them to ‘return home’ again.


Chloe pulled back from him and opened her eyes so he could see just what he did to her. What he reduced her to and what she’d do for him. Wanted him to see all of that. See everything inside of her.

Lex soaked in her intense expression before he cradled her head with one hand closed the small distance between them and kissed her thoroughly. She was incredibly sexy like this, honest and open like he'd never experienced it with anyone. There was no holding back in anything she did for him.

Riiight! No holding back, no walls and no defensive barriers. Chloe is completely open and vulnerable for whatever it is you want to take from her, you stupid bastard! Heh… it seems like the return to Chloe and Lex has brought back my resentment for Lex again ;)


Chloe pulled back a little so they both wouldn’t go cross eyed as she spoke to him. “Love the way you make me feel.” And she wasn’t just talking about that tingling sensation that he’d created with his hand. “Can show you anything, do anything when I’m with you.” It was incredibly freeing. Never thought that she’d get to experience that with a man who she was sleeping with.

She felt safe and sexy and powerful and…..

Sexy, powerful and… cared for? loved? It seems like Chloe is beginning to lose herself in the illusion that there’s something ‘real and permanent’ between her and Lex. This isn’t good… she was initially managing to keep up some defensive barriers and a hold on realer when this started, but she’s started losing touch with the real situation ever since she moved in with Lex. She’s going to be devastated when Clark comes back.


He stood up and climbed into the tub, sloshing yet more water over the rim. They'd have to do some serious cleaning up after they were done here. The stream from the jet hit the small of his back and his eyes nearly crossed at the sensation before he shifted out of the way and sat down next to her.

LOL! Even Lex has gotten a taste of using the jets to get himself off now. Will he be using the Jacuzzi on a slightly more regular basis now?


“Feeling’s mutual,” she mumbled before her lips attached themselves to his. Chloe couldn’t get enough of Lex. It actually scared her a little when she stopped to think about it. Which was why she didn’t do that very often.

*snort* riiight, don’t think about it, and the problem will go away. That’s a healthy attitude *rolls eyes* How can someone so smart, savvy and sharp be so DIM?


Maybe it was the position or something but Chloe swore she felt more of him. She felt the water lapping at her waist and gently splashing between them. It definitely added something new to the experience.

Lex chuckled and moved his hands to stroke soothingly up and down her back. “Not as far as I know.”

He closed his eyes and relaxed a little, enjoying the weightless feeling of the water and the tight warm sheath of her body around his cock. The urgency wasn't quite as strong now and he started rocking slowly. “Do you like it?”

LOL! I just remembered that it was one of Lex’s fantasies to indulge in some water-sex too, wasn’t it? It seems like they’ve used this role-playing session to multi-task and touch on a LOT of kinks. Bondage as well as water sports. LOL! How very efficient!


Lex was a little surprised she'd never done it in the tub yet. For all the men she'd slept with there were definitely still many things left unexplored. Part of him took selfish pleasure in that, knowing that he'd get to be the one that she experienced these new things with.

hmmm, I can see how that would work. It’s kind of another way for Lex to leave his mark on Chloe. As if he’s not going to be inflicting enough emotional scars on her by the end of this affair.


With one hand firmly planted on Lex’s body, she dipped the other below the water and splashed some water on her chest. Lex’s eyes crawled over her breasts as the beads ran down them. The weightlessness made it easier for Chloe to move and she felt supported by Lex and, strangely enough, by the water.

She changed the direction of her hips and then used her inner muscles to massage Lex’s cock. He jerked up a little and she gasped his name.

Her legs tried to get wider and she repeated the move, Lex bucking up a little. But he still wasn’t pounding away at her body.

That was lovely and sensual. I loved this description of them gently thrusting against each other, as well as the description on how the weightlessness was enhancing Chloe’s pleasurable experience.


He kissed his way down to her neck where she still displayed his hickey. Lex was tempted to refresh it, but he knew that she couldn't run around with the big purplish bruise for days on end without arousing suspicion. So he consoled himself with giving the bit of flesh a teasing lick and a small peck before moving on down her collar bone and to one of those lovely, full round breasts to suck on a ripe nipple instead.

grrr!!! Of course, we mustn’t forget that this is a dirty, nasty, secret affair that can never be revealed to the public. I still find it mind-boggling that Lex doesn’t think that Chloe isn’t going to end up resenting him for treating her in such a shameful manner.


“I get to explore later.” She leaned down and kissed the top of his head. “Run my hands all over your body. Make you as crazy as you make me.”

That sounded really good. “Take my time, too.” Kissed down the side of his head. “Have you naked and splayed out for me on the bed.” Her eyes fluttered closed as she imagined the delectable picture.

“Suck on those collarbones, and hipbones,” her mouth was by his ear now, “and then turn you over and suck on this,” her fingertips played over the bump on the back of his skull, “until the only thing you can remember is my name.”

Lex’s hands tightened on her hips. “Kiss you until our lips are good and numb. Keep you in bed for days.”

LOL! I keep on forgetting the reasons why they’re acting so thoughtless, dumb, careless and dim. It’s because they’re just too far out of their minds to be able to think properly about what the future is going to bring. But it’s really a shame that they’re determination to keep pushing ‘the bad thoughts’ away only make the consequences all the nastier and more hurtful.


Lex chuckled and relaxed back against the edge of the Jacuzzi. “You're kidding right? I should be the one saying thank you.“

for so, SO many thing, Lex. You have no idea!
But it was hot nonetheless. At least the affair is quite erotic to read, even if it does tend to leave me with a bad aftertaste in my mouth.


“How did you like your part of the fantasy,“ he asked in a low voice, “was being tied up like you expected it to be?“

Of course she hadn't really been captive. The shirt had been just firm enough to give her an idea of what it was like with the secure knowledge that she could get out of it at any point. Other restraints didn't come with that kind of easy out.

“Was nice. Weirdly freeing.” She tried to get closer to him. It was starting to get a little chilly for her. What with most of her body being out of the warm water. “Thanks for easing me into it. Next time, we’ll have to pick something else out for me. Something that holds me down a little as you have your wicked way with me.”

That actually sounds like promising news. I’d like to see that kink worked out too. I look forward to it :D


He chuckled. “Well, next time I get to be the aggressor.” She’d already decided that they’d use the nurse outfit next. She’d ‘heal’ her paralyzed from the waist down patient with some naughty care.

ROTFL! Nurse and patient, huh? An oldie, but a fun goodie! And it would be interesting to see Chloe being the one to take charge during the next role playing game.

This was a fun, interesting couple of chapters, BlueSabby! Thanks for showing me the exploration of a new kind of smut-game in fanfic. It was fascinating, and most enjoyable. I look forward to seeing the other kinks worked out too :D

SVfan1286
9th August 2008, 03:15
I can't believe it, but some how I missed this chapter.. Whoops! The role playing is completely awesome and kinky. I loved how both Lex and Chloe got lost in their roles... it was so hot and I can't wait for more!

I'm loving all the kinky sex between Lex and Chloe, but I was just wondering when Clark will be back in this fic?

Anyways... Fantastic chapter... I look forward to reading more!!

BlueSabby
28th August 2008, 14:36
A/N: Blue: More calm coziness from our non couple.
A/N: Sabby: Once again, sorry for the long wait. We've got more coupley goodness before...well for now it's coupley goodness anyhow.


~~
The day had been rather surprising. And it had started right from the outset, too. It had been hard to say goodbye to Lex in the morning. She wanted to stay with him. Hugging and lightly kissing him. But she’d forced herself to tear herself off of him.

His hand had lingered on her hip before he’d let go. What were they doing? That thought had crossed her mind. Clark wasn’t going to stay away forever and once he came back…

She thought it was going to be one of those days when she got to her job. The principal had beckoned Chloe into her office. Never a good sign.

Then the woman started to speak. Apparently a donor who wished to remain anonymous had caught wind of Chloe’s idea to take the kids to the new and improved zoo and had paid a heap of money to have it done. The donation included passes for each child, chaperones, meal tickets and transportation fees.

Mrs. Lewis thought one of the parents had heard about it from the board and had stepped in.

Chloe’s heart constricted. She knew it hadn’t been a board member. Lex’s beautiful self had stepped in. God, the man made her weak in both the knees and heart.

She’d listened to the principal and then played dumb.

Her cell phone was out of her pocket even before she left Mrs. Lewis’s office. But, then she’d placed it back in her jacket.

Lex had surprised her so she’d return the favor.

At the moment, she was cooking him a highly fattening dinner that she knew he’d love. And that’s what tonight was about. Giving him his favorite things.

She’d used her lunch hour to get everything that was needed and hadn’t stayed after so there should be enough time to get everything ready. If everything went according to plan, Lex should get home, have time to take a shower and then be ready to sit down to dinner.

Fried chicken, potato and macaroni salad, collard greens, cornbread and apple pie were on the menu. She’d stopped at the liquor store and had gotten the requisite ingredients for her hard pink lemonade. Thankfully he had a huge kitchen and stove that went along with it.

Chloe had already showered. She was in her soft pajamas that Lex had commented on before. He liked to run his hands over the material. They had duckies on them but that couldn’t be helped. At least a tank top was paired with the long bottoms, though. Made cooking the stuff much less hot.

Her hair was free she wasn’t wearing any shoes. He liked her hair down and she knew that it did something to him to see how tiny she was.

In addition to slathering herself with the lotion that he loved, she’d also gotten the shampoo that had the same scent.

She’d gotten terrible, awful, horrible DVDs. The worst movies she could find. Ones she’d never heard of and the living room was already prepped. She’d changed the covers on the cushions from their usual material to a much softer one. He always complained that the thing came with “too many damn useless decorative pillows” so she’d taken some and stored them in the closet.

Chloe had placed candles in certain parts of the house. Lex had enjoyed a cinnamon one she had but said the smell was too strong. So, she’d placed them in the rooms one over from the living room where they’d rip the movies apart.

Lex’s clothes were laid out for him on the bed. The shirt that Clark had mistakenly and thoughtlessly given her and the pair of sweats he loved bumming around in.

She opened the stove and looked in at the pie. It was coming along quite well. As she closed the door, she couldn’t help but notice her hands. She didn’t often wear nail polish but she was now. They’d picked out a light color when she’d gotten a manicure and pedicure.

Her nails couldn’t be too long because she’d planned on giving Lex a massage later.

Lex came home after one of the most boring days possible. Everything had seemed to drag out forever and the only highpoint in his day had been lunch hour. And that was only because he became witness to a scene worthy of America's Funniest Home Videos when the waitress managed to trip and stumble over the leash of a little dog and dump a full tray with food and drinks on an unsuspecting costumer who jumped up and upended his table which lead to a chain reaction that missed Lex only by the barest margin.

He noticed the smell of food the moment he entered the apartment and smiled. It didn't smell like take out though, which meant that Chloe must have actually decided to cook something other than breakfast.

Dumping his briefcase on the hall table, he felt the ridiculous urge to drawl 'Honey, I'm home.' But he refrained.

Chloe came around the corner just as he was hanging up his coat and Lex's eyebrows immediately went up as he noticed that she was wearing his comfort pajamas. Her hair was falling loose around her shoulders and she was barefoot. Exactly the way she dressed when he most needed comfort. Added to that, she had apparently cooked dinner for him.

If it wasn't for the blinding smile on her face, he'd be seriously worried that she had bad news.

Lex cocked his head to the side and slowly walked up to her. "Hey," he said once he was close enough to pull her into an embrace and kiss her on the mouth.

"How was your day?" he asked when he pulled back to look at her.

“Wonderful.” She took Lex’s face in her hands and pulled him down for a longer kiss. She eased a little away from him and said, “Just like you.”

He blinked down at her. “Did you really think I wouldn’t know it was you,” she asked him, softly.

She saw the exact moment when he figured out what she was talking about. He immediately opened his mouth and she could feel him start to shake his head. “Don’t you dare try to tell me that it was nothing. Because it’s something to me.”

After kissing him again, she pulled him in for another hug. “I wish you knew how great you are.” She sighed and tried to get closer to him. “Really wish you did.”

Lex hugged her back, still wondering how exactly his comfort pajamas went along with her being happy about his little donation. Which was supposed to have remained a secret. "Who ratted me out?"

Of course he had had to give his name to the person who handled the donations at the school, but he had been very adamant about the fact that he was to remain anonymous. He wondered who had tattled to who that it ended up reaching Chloe's ears.

"And why are you wearing my comfort pajamas and cooking dinner?"

She chuckled against him. “So full of questions,” she murmured as she let her hands wander over his back. She turned her head into the center of his chest and took a deep breath. He smelled really good. So much like him. Which was a really dumb thought to have.

“No one ratted you out.” She didn’t bother to hide the smile on her face. “I complain that we can’t go to the zoo and then a magic fairy places tickets to it in the school’s hands? Not likely. Who else could it have been?”

“You’re not going to like the answer to the second question.” Lex was an odd duck. He did these great things and then got all weird when you tried to thank him. Well, maybe that was only with her. All hand wavy and not wanting to talk about it.

He was looking down at her and waiting for an answer. “I wanted to thank you for it. But the words aren’t enough. And not because of the cost. Because it was so thoughtful. I...I just wanted to take care of you tonight. Make you feel the way you’ve made me feel. Warm, safe and happy.”

Lex thought about that for a moment. It was a little odd to be in this situation, mostly because he'd rarely been in a situation similar to this. He inhaled deeply and noticed that she was also wearing his favorite scent. She was really going all out, and he didn't know what to say to that.

So he said something completely different.

"I'm not a fairy." Chloe smiled and it made the whole situation a little less odd. "But you're welcome."

Lex had gotten a little odd but at least he hadn’t tried to down play what he’d done. She’d take the baby steps when she could get them. She nodded once and then had to remind herself to let go of him.

“You should have time to take a shower before dinner’s ready.” Then something occurred to her. “You didn’t have a business dinner, did you?” Fuck, she’d forgotten all about those.

He smiled at her and said, “No.” She knew the look on her face must have been comical as she thought about what she’d come up with if he had.

“Good. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” She kissed his nose and then went back to work.

Lex watched her go and shook his head. A shower was in order then he'd see what else she'd planned for him. On the way up to the bedroom he noticed that the coffee table was stacked with DVDs. He smirked and walked on.

When he found the clothes she'd laid out for him on the bed, he laughed and figured she was really trying to hit all his favorites.

After a quick shower and changing into the sweats and his favorite shirt, Lex went back downstairs and joined her in the kitchen. His mouth watered at the sight of the delicious dinner and he wondered what he'd have to do to merit this treatment more often. Then he remembered that this was not a permanent thing. Chloe would have to leave again in a few short days. Because Clark would come back.

Lex tried to push the thought away and went to the fridge to get a drink. There was a pitcher of pink lemonade front and center. He ignored it in favor of a beer.

He felt a little cold, so he walked up behind Chloe, who was still puttering away on the stove and plastered himself against her back, waiting for the warmth of her body to sink into his skin.

"Dinner looks great," he said before placing a kiss on the top of her head.

“Thanks.” She leaned back into him and wrapped her arm around until she could pull him closer by his upper thigh. Lex wrapped an arm around her waist and she enjoyed the contact, warmth and solid feel of him behind her for as long as she could. But the hot stuff would soon get cold. If she left the chicken in the frying pan any longer it would burn.

“Go sit down. No helping.” If she was going to give him a good night, she didn’t want him lifting one finger.

Lex’s hand ran over her stomach a few times, causing her to gulp, before he listened. She smiled as she turned off the knobs and made a plan of attack for the huge amounts of food that would soon litter the table.

He pried himself loose and settled at the table, letting her have her way. It wasn't like he couldn't enjoy being waited on without protesting.

"So, what is the game plan after dinner? I noticed you got some movies. Anything else you hide up your no-sleeves?"

She put a full plate in front of him, followed by bowls and settings with the rest of the food she'd prepared. Chloe had cooked enough to feed a small army. And if he wasn't mistaken, there was still a pie in the stove for dessert.

Lex took a sip from his beer and decided to just go with whatever she had planned and enjoy the night.

Once everything was on the table to her satisfaction Chloe sat down. “That was pretty much it,” she admitted. “Just a relaxing night at home. Some snuggling on the couch as we tear apart the horror,” she put the word in air quotes because they were often far funnier than scary, “movies. Though, I do have something planned to cap off the night.”

She put her napkin on her lap and picked up a chicken leg. “You want it to be a surprise?” She was debating about how to do it at the moment. She sort of liked the idea of both of them relaxing in the tub with the oils she’d bought in the water and on his body as she worked at his muscles. His body cradled in front of hers. However, if that didn’t speak to him, there was the usual method.

"If it's anything like this, I'm sure I can wait for you to surprise me."

Lex usually didn't like surprises, but that was because usually they were bad ones. Being that all Chloe had in mind was meant for his enjoyment, he didn't think it would turn out to be a bad surprise in this case.

"So, did you tell the kids yet that they're going to go to the zoo?" he asked as he tucked into the food on his plate.

Chloe shook her head. “I have to talk to the parents first and get their permission.” She’d already spoken to most of them but there were a few outstanding ones. “And, speaking of surprises, I think I’m going to leave it as one for them. I cannot wait to see the looks on their faces.”

Lex’s smile widened as he speared some of the macaroni salad onto his fork. “And,” she paused, “you’re invited too.” He’d gotten plenty of tickets so that wouldn’t be an issue. He looked over at her, clearly he hadn’t been expecting the invite.

She licked her fingers off before speaking. “I’d like you to come and see how much they enjoy this. I know you did it for me, but…” How to tell him this? He gave plenty of money to charities but usually only went to the 1000 dollar a plate fund raisers. He never got to actually see what he’d done.

“I think it would be good for you to see just what you’ve given them.” Exposing kids to a number of different places or subjects made all of the difference in their development. She wanted him there really badly but didn’t want to push it. She thought seeing them prance and screech around would be good for him.

The added bonus was that she thought it would be put off until Clark returned. That meant it was an evening where they could be together even when he was around.

Lex wasn't sure this was such a good idea. Putting forth the money needed to arrange something like this, and actually getting in the middle of it where two very different things. And there was the fact that it might raise suspicions if the benefactor of this trip turned out to be the 'friend' of the teacher who had begged for the trip to happen in the first place.

"Chloe, I don't think it's a good idea."

There was also the fact that he didn't really see himself in the midst of a group of screaming, running and bouncing kids under the age of ten that probably had a thousand and one questions and wouldn't shut up for even one second.

"It's enough to know that they'll enjoy themselves, and that you are happy. And I don't think my nerves could deal with 20 screaming kids as well as yours do."

“OK,” she said, taking his hand across the table. “Whatever you want.” Chloe wasn’t going to force him to do anything he didn’t want to. That’s not what their…friendship was about. In fact, it was about quite the opposite.

After locking their fingers, she smirked, “Even though I still think you’re a closet kid person.” She ran her thumb over the back of his hand and then released it. She’d seen him with the random child or two and he was actually quite good with them.

Emphasis on 'closet', and not willing to come out just yet." He smirked and let her play with his hand for another moment before he pulled it back.

He was really satisfied with knowing that everyone had gotten what they wanted. And he was getting this night out of it after all. So all was good as far as he was concerned. "You can tell me all about it though when it's over. I'm sure the kids will manage to turn it into quite a story to tell."

Lex loved listening to the stories that Chloe brought back from school. Even when she was actually quite irate and not aiming for the amusement value. The trip to the zoo would probably be at least an hour's worth of ranting and raving.

"Any idea yet when the trip is going to happen?"

“A vague idea.” The passes included a variety of things the kids could do. She needed to look at all of them and decide what the kids would like best. After deciding, she wanted to talk to the guides that would take them around and ask what was on the tour. And there was always one damn parent who kept forgetting to sign the permission slip. She could just let that child stay at school but she wasn’t about to do that. She’d just wait it out. And keep up with the harassing phone calls.

“Hopefully within the next two weeks. It would fit in perfectly with my lesson plan in about a week and a half so I’m aiming for then.” That way she wouldn’t have to do any more work on her classes to fit it around the trip.

“And don’t worry,” she snorted, “I’m sure there’ll be plenty to tell.” Chloe just wondered if she’d get to tell him one on one or if there would be a bigger audience.

"I can't wait to hear it." He smiled at the mental image of Chloe talking a mile a minute and tucked back into his food.
~~
“And there she goes, running up the stairs when she really should get out of the house and into her car."

Lex shook his head sadly. "Rest in peace, Brandy."

His hand was running up and down Chloe's back and he could feel her snicker against his chest where she'd sprawled out after they'd started the first DVD.

The blanket that she'd insisted on was getting a little warm, but he didn't mind. At least this way he wasn't freezing like he usually did when he was alone in the apartment. Lex thought that he should really check out the thermostat since there had to be something wrong with it.

“But if she got into the car then we couldn’t make fun of her.” The movie was awesome. It was absolutely the worst piece of crap ever. It was more like porn with a horror element. The girls were half naked most of the time. And the acting…wow.

“So, it’s fine when they keep doing dumb things.” Her hands kept running over Lex’s body. Because she could do that now. She tilted her head up and kissed him just below his chin. Then snuggled back up against him.

He pulled her tighter and she wondered if he was yet working on a contraption that could fuse them together. It wouldn’t surprise her. They were both so touchy with one another. It was rather disgusting.

Chloe knew that if she had to watch them, as an observer, she’d be gagging.

“Oh, look,” she said, dryly, “another shower scene.” She started laughing. “They probably spend more on the water bill than anything else.”

Lex chuckled as he watched the peroxide blonde suggestively soap herself up, then try to act 'scared'. "I wonder what kind of instructions she got from the director. 'Make it look like you're scared, but sexy. Don't forget the sexy. And a little more suggestive.' And by the time he finished his sentence, she forgot all about the scared."

He slipped one of his hands lower and started rubbing it over her butt and the underside of her thigh, down and back up again. The soft flannel still felt nice under his hands and he had his favorite smell right under his nose. Give him a few more hours and another 'horror' flick and he could fall asleep right there.

Chloe’s body shook with laughter. The actress was bending down for the soap and, of course, of course!, the camera angle changed to show her ass. “How’s this Mr. Director,” she did her best husky, porno imitation, “is my butt out enough? Does it look scared?”

The missing soap was finally located and the girl went back to work on her breasts. “Oh. My. God. They are clean already.” She shook her head. “Where’s the killer? I’ve decided I’m rooting for him.” Then the music kicked in. “Oh, good, it’s the mayhem theme.”

She pressed herself more into Lex’s hand as it continued to move over her body. She pressed a kiss to his chest. And being that this woman was the main character that meant that the movie would be over soon. Which was sad because it was so bad.

Though, she’d picked out two more. “Once this is over do you want to watch another one or get your surprise?”

"Depends, do I have to move for the surprise?"

Because right about now, moving seemed like a pretty bad idea. He was comfortable where he was, and just soaking up the moment of fun and relaxation.

The actress on screen screamed, not very convincingly, and went through a bad imitation of the shower scene from Psycho. "Five bucks they're ending the movie with a shot of blood going down the drain."

Chloe groaned. “That would be so clichéd.” Which eas exactly what they went for. She put her face in her hand. “Have they no imagination?” She raised her head and leaned up to kiss Lex again. “You would have to move for the surprise.”

“It can wait until later.” She could easily give him his massage right before they went to bed. “Though,” she looked over at the TV, “one of us is going to have to move.” She pouted at how far the TV was. “Not fair.”

Lex chuckled and patted her butt consolingly. "And that from the woman who used to say 'You don't need servants, you're perfectly healthy, so take care of yourself'. I'm willing to wager my favorite car that right about now you'd love to have a servant to pop in the DVD and get something to drink."

She looked up at him with a fake glare and a pout and Lex laughed and pressed a kiss to the pouting lips. "You pop in the movie, I'll go get some more popcorn and get you a refill of that pink atrocity you call hard lemonade."

He'd found that out just before dessert and had stubbornly refused to try it. The color alone was girlish, and when she told him how much sugar there was in it he'd begged off for good.
~~
There was something immensely satisfying about hearing Lex groan. It meant that she was doing a good job. She hit another muscle and his head fell back against her shoulder. She ran her hands down his chest before returning them to his back.

They were in the bathtub, the lights were down low and the scent of the bath/massage oil filled the air. Her hands worked at either side of his spine before wrapping around so her fingers could play across his abs.

The jets were going full blast, churning up the water and helping his tense, overworked muscles.

"You could go professional with this," he muttered under his breath, inhaling deeply when she found another knot and worked it out gently but thoroughly. "But then I'd have to book every single appointment."

This was definitely a nice surprise. Nothing bad or unwanted about it. He could get used to this kind of attention. His hands ran up and down her legs as he relaxed into her prodding fingers, letting her smooth out his sore back. The Jacuzzi alone was a nice enough feel with the jets on full blast, but it was so much better shared.

"If I get this kind of thank you, maybe I should do you a favor more often," he mused.

“Such a silly boy.” Her voice was low as she ran her fingertips along his waist. “You want this? All you have to do is ask. I wouldn’t mind having every day end like this.” She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head briefly against his back.

Chloe turned her head and kissed the skin she found there. She moved her legs closer to Lex’s body to make things that much easier for him. Her hands moved from his torso, up to the muscles of his neck. His head dropped forward and she gently kneaded the muscles before kissing the bump at the back of his head.

"Wouldn't mind that either."

He got the silent hint and kept stroking her legs from knee to ankle and back up again. If one got to pick his own personal heaven after death, Lex would pick this. Surely you couldn't prune after you were dead and the water would never go cold.

Chloe was still placing random kisses over the back of his head. It felt nice, if a little odd. She seemed to have developed a fascination for the bump at the base of his skull. Lex closed his eyes and let her have her way.

"I'll return the favor when you least expect it," he promised and turned his head back so he could kiss her properly.

The angle was a little awkward, but that didn't matter. He was too lazy to turn.

They kissed each other slowly but thoroughly. A sort of humming warmth had spread through Chloe’s body and it only increased as their tongues explored and enjoyed. When they parted, she murmured, “Looking forward to it.” She didn’t bother to try to deter him, it wouldn’t do any good.

“Now, you have two choices.” She kissed her way down his neck and her fingers followed the trail her mouth had set. “I can keep on working at your back here,” she kissed one of the knobs of his spine and she’d really have to talk to him about eating more because it couldn’t be healthy for him even though he was nice and muscled and… “Or we can take this to the bed. And I’ll lay you out and work you from your top to bottom.”

Lex chuckled. "When you put it like that, it's incentive enough to get out of the bath."

Never mind that they were still very much alive and bound to prune up if they stayed in the water much longer. "So let's get dry. I look forward to seeing what you can do when you've got more room to work with."

However, he wasn't quite moving yet. He planned on moving though, in a minute.

Chloe absently kept her hands running over Lex’s body. His words and actions weren’t jibing as of yet but she didn’t mind in the slightest. She was relaxed and happy enough to stay in the tub with him for as long as it took him to actually move.

When he finally did, she dutifully followed.

~~
She’d prepped the bedroom before going into the bathroom. It had the same vibe. Muted lights, a candle or two that didn’t smell too strong.

The sheets had also been changed to a set that felt like the soft cotton of a well worn t-shirt. After drying Lex off, while kissing and rubbing him, he’d flopped himself face down on the bed and moaned.

“Like them?’

Lex nodded but didn’t do much else. Chloe knew that he was enjoying the attention. And that it probably wouldn’t be long until he fell asleep. Good, he didn’t get enough of that usually.

They were both still naked as she started to work on his feet and lower legs. She used his sounds as a guide as to what needed to be worked on most. “So tense,” she murmured. “I really may have to do this every night.” She watched as he nodded his head.

He was content enough to almost purr. No idea where she'd found the sheets, but they were perfect. The slick warm feeling of her hands rubbing their way up his legs left a pleasant tingling sensation behind. If she wasn't already a very accomplished and happy teacher, he would hire her right away as his personal masseuse.

Lex groaned into the mattress when she started in on his thighs and could feel his mind slowly drifting away from him. He tried to remember the last time he'd gotten a really good massage and couldn't come up with it for the life of him.

"You're hired," he muttered into the pillow as he felt all remaining tension slide away.

When she heard the way he was speaking she was glad that she’d thrown back the sheet before putting him in the bed. He’d be passed out soon and if she had to wrangle him around the covers he would probably wake up.

As she made her way up his body and stretched her arms out to reach his biceps, she said, “Silly, Lex, I wouldn’t accept payment from you.” She kept her voice low and soothing.

She placed a kiss in the center of his back before coming to rest on her knees so she could put some strength into her kneading. Lex grunted and then sighed deeply.

“Turn over.” This time she whispered the words.

He did so lethargically and she could see that he was struggling to stay awake. She gently smoothed her hands over his chest and his breathing deepened.

After another minute or so she quietly got off the bed and blew out the candles. The lights were turned off and she pulled the covers over Lex as she crawled into the space next to him.

The bed was huge but she, nevertheless, left barely any space between their bodies. Lex was warm and happy and she felt content. Chloe remembered to set the alarm and then scrunched up next to Lex again. After a few minutes, she was asleep.

~~
Lex hung up the phone and leaned back in his seat to stare out the window. His latest client had given him a temporary office for the duration of his stay and Lex enjoyed the small comfort. Especially since dealing with the man in question often took thorough preparation and a lot of nerves.

The office had come equipped complete with secretary and if he wasn't so all over the place in his new profession as consort, he would have tried to steal the woman from the corporation. But the truth was that he didn't really need a secretary on a daily basis anymore.

He turned his attention to his laptop and the first thing that caught his eye was the screensaver. It wasn't the one he usually used. Instead it was a series of comic strips.

Lex grinned.

Somebody had obviously taken the liberty to fiddle with his laptop and install a new screensaver.

With the thought of Chloe came thoughts of last night. She had actually managed to put him to sleep with her magic hands and Lex had woken up relaxed and happy six hours later to more stroking that had a completely different purpose behind it.

They'd managed to have sex twice before Chloe had to rush to get going. He wondered if she'd made it to school on time. He would find out once he got home, he guessed.

Though, he could call her now. School was over and she should be on her way home by now, if she wasn't already there.

Lex was just about to pick up the phone when his secretary buzzed in.

"Sir, there's a surprise visitor waiting for you here."

His smile widened. There was only one person who would pay him a surprise visit at his temporary office.

"Great. Send her right on in. And no calls for the next hour, Sally."

The secretary paused a moment before she answered. "Yes, sir."

Clark nodded at the woman and gave her a wide smile as she gestured to Lex’s door.

He didn’t want Lex to see him coming.

During the course of the time he’d spent away from Lex he’d made a decision to try harder to be there for his boyfriend.

So, he’d bidden everyone a premature adios and had come home.

Finding Lex’s temporary office hadn’t been too hard if you knew where to look.

He’d take Lex out for dinner, maybe a movie and he’d do whatever he had to in the bedroom to convince Lex that he loved him.

Words obviously weren’t working so he hoped this gesture would help.

Unfortunately because he’d left early, he couldn’t stay that long. Only a few days. But then he’d be gone only another week or so before coming back again.

Lex’s door wasn’t completely closed so Clark only had to swing it open. Before Lex looked up, Clark noticed that he looked more relaxed than he thought he’d ever seen him.

As Lex looked up, Clark’s frigging cell phone went off. He looked down at his pants, fished it out and quickly pushed the ‘silent’ button before he looked back up, blushing. “Sorry. And surprise.”

Lex had never been as glad about a fucking phone call as at that moment. When he'd looked up, he'd been so shocked to see Clark there he knew it must have been visible on his face. While Clark looked down to take care of his phone, Lex had composed his facial features to paste a smile on and relax his stance from the rigid posture it had taken on in shock.

"Clark, what are you doing here? I thought you were away on business."

He knew his voice sounded surprised and happy, even though his feelings were anything but. He was shocked, confused, scared and above all worried because he knew that Chloe might be at their place. And even if she wasn't, quite a few of her things were.

Lex forced himself to move out from behind his desk and embrace his boyfriend in greeting.

Clark returned Lex’s hug and held him a little tighter than usual. “I was but I decided to come back early.” He pulled back from Lex and looked at him seriously.

“I hear you, you know?” He didn’t want Lex to think that things went in one ear and out of the other. “I still have to go away again.” Being upfront. That was something else he wanted to work on.

“But I thought me coming back early was better than not at all.” He looked down. “It’s unfair of me to expect you to just hang around and wait until I can grace you with my presence.”

He and Grayson had discussed it a lot during their down times between sessions. It helped Clark to talk about it with someone else. And he liked talking to the guy, too.

“So, um, you want to go to dinner? My treat.”

Oh. God. Lex wanted to bang his head against the wall behind Clark's shoulder. He wanted to scream and hurl things across the room. All this time. All those fucking years and he'd given up. He'd given up that Clark would ever change and now here he was, having an affair with, fucking his best friend and Clark showed up and decided to try to change.

Lex looked into the guileless eyes and the winning smile and he felt like someone had turned back time on him and put him right back in that fucking room in the mansion just before Clark found out about the secret room. Oh god, what was he doing? What was he going to do?

He felt sickness rise inside him even as he forced a smile. "Right now good for you?"

Clark couldn't find out. He had to keep him away from their apartment long enough to inform Chloe so she could get her things and leave before Clark decided it was time to go home.

Oh god, this couldn't work. It would all blow up in his face, he just knew it.

Lex tried to keep his breathing calm and the happy and relaxed expression on his face while every muscle in his body was torn between fight and flight.

“If you’re done here,” he nodded. He was already starving. He just hoped that Lex wouldn’t pick one of those restaurants where Clark couldn’t identify half of the food.

Lex nodded but Clark could see the piles of papers on his desk. “I’ll be waiting out there. I know you can’t just shove all of that in a drawer.” He leaned over and kissed Lex gently. “Take your time.”

Lex smiled back at him and Clark went back into the secretary’s office. He knew that Lex wouldn’t be too long.

The moment the door closed, Lex practically collapsed against the edge of his desk. Clark's soft kiss was burning like acid on his lips and all he could think of was the fact that the world had once again fucked him over beyond all recognition.

And he had to call Chloe. Now.

This might be the only chance to tell her before Clark decided it was time to go home.

Lex's hand didn't shake as he pulled out his cell phone, but it was a close battle between his instincts and his self control. He dialed her number and waited for her to pick up the phone. With every tone that went unanswered, his anxiety got worse.

In the end, her voicemail picked up. Lex closed his eyes.

"Hey, it's me. Listen I..." He didn't know what to say, and he didn't have much time.

Suddenly a thought occurred to him. What if Clark was listening in on him? Trying to check how long it would take. Lex swallowed heavily and forced a cheerful tone back into his voice.

"I'm afraid we can't meet today. My boyfriend is back in town and has decided to whisk me off my feet. I'm sorry, but I'll call you back as soon as I can. Bye."

He disconnected the call and breathed, slow and steady, forcing himself to relax. He couldn't seem anxious and guilty in front of Clark, or his boyfriend would notice something was up. Especially now that he was actually trying to pay attention to him.

Oh god.

Lex closed his eyes and wondered if he was the only person who had to go through this kind of thing. This insane, painful, unbelievably overdramatic tragic thing that was the story of his life.

Why couldn't Clark have had a change of heart a month ago? Or several months ago? Or several years ago? Why did he have to decide now that he wanted to really try and be a considerate partner? Now that Lex had started betraying him with his best friend.

He placed the phone back in his pocket and got up from the desk, then stacked all the papers neatly and shoved them into the second drawer. He shut down his laptop and prepared to spend the rest of the day pretending to be happy and relaxed while secretly hoping that Chloe had gotten his message in time to remove all traces of their affair from the apartment.

lj715
28th August 2008, 19:16
Great update but , frankly, Lex is being a wimp . He's trying to have both relationships @ one time which I don't understand because he's much happier with Chloe. He's got to commit to Clark or Chloe. He can;t keep stringing CHloe along when he's lonely & then dump her when Clark comes around. Either Lex has to tell Clark he wants to be with CHloe or Chloe has to get some guts & tell Lex it;s her or Clark...no more of this bs. I hope Clark does find out sometime soon.

hfce
29th August 2008, 02:29
I loved the first half of this update. :D But the second half I wanted to kick repeatedly Lexis pee pee. Break it off you jackass it is Chloe you want damn!!! :wth:

somethingeasy
29th August 2008, 07:28
This was an AWESOME chapter, and it was well worth the wait. It’s the moment that I’ve been anticipating since the beginning of the sordid Chlex affair. The return of Clark AND the Chlex’s reaction to having our super-hero returning home again. I love that you had him returning home unexpectedly, BlueSabby, so we enjoyed the Lex’s shocked response, but you also didn’t resort to the old ‘he walks in on them while they’re in bed’ cliché. I highly approve :D

But first things first… let’s discuss the beautiful Chlex that took place in this chapter.

ROTFLMAO! I was really amused that Lex actually believed that he could arrange for some ‘mysterious, anonymous benefactor’ to give Chloe exactly what she wanted in her school, and not have her guess who was responsible for the stunning, startling and delightful surprise. Of COURE she’s going to realize who provided the financial backing for the zoo trip the moment she was informed about it. *rolls eyes* Lex, you’re such a silly dolt sometimes, LOL!

I was really pleased to see Chloe’s bubbling, delightedly enthusiastic response to the surprise. She was practically bouncing with happiness. And I really liked how she made such an extravagant plan to make sure that Lex was well-rewarded and properly thanked for his kindness and consideration.

I really liked Lex’s reaction to Chloe’s ‘Day of Pampering Lex’. It was really cute seeing how he was initially so disconcerted and uncomfortable to have someone making such a huge fuss over him. Of course, this discomfort is a nasty sign which proves how Lex is REALLY not used to being properly thanked, pampered and generally taken care of. He doesn’t know how to respond when someone places HIS needs at a priority, even if it’s just for an evening’s worth of fun activities.

LOL! I was ROTFLMAO at the part where Lex objected to the use of the word ‘fairy’, ROTLF! So cute!

At least he adjusted nicely to the concept of ‘Pamper Lex Day’. I guess he’s gotten well used to Chloe making a fuss over him, so it’s quite easy for him to accept all of her gestures without any feelings of suspicions or wariness or wondering when is the inevitable doom-bell going to ring.

Hmmm, although there WAS a moment where he remembered that this whole arrangement was only a temporary thing, and he would no longer have the privilege of such evenings once Clark returned home. The idiot simply cannot shift his mind into another gear of thought, can he? He’s STILL stuck on the habit of Clark, and doesn’t allow himself to even consider any other option. Idiot!

Anyhow, the dinner was wonderful. I liked how the menu featured all the ‘classics’ of an American home cooked meal, right down to the cornbread and apple-pie, LOL! I think Chloe made excellent choices, because Lex would have liked the warmth and wholesomeness or the menu as well as the actual filling taste of the meal itself. Very clever and insightful, Chloe.

LOL! And then it was a LOT of fun watching them both enjoying a mocking session of a horror movie marathon. ROTFL! The comments they both made were so cutting, nasty… and also FUN and hilarious to read. It’s nice to see them both playing and having a good time in a purely non-sexual way actually. It reminds a person on how they’re relationship was always about friendship first, before sex came in and complicated everything.

I think Chloe’s suggestion of Lex accompanying her and her class on the school outing was a GOOD one. I agree with her that it would have done him a world of heartfelt good if he could have seen firsthand the kind of happiness that his financial donations bring to others. I think he usually thinks of all his donations in terms of numbers and possibly tax-benefits… it would have been a lovely eye-opener for him to see the other side of what his money did.

Darn, it’s really such a shame that Lex’s brain worked so quickly to pick out all the reasons why it was a bad idea for him to accompany Chloe on the zoo-trip. Perhaps he was being paranoid, but there IS a chance that some eyebrows might have been realised if people realized that the ‘mysterious donor’ was a close and personal friend of the teacher who was benefiting from the donation. But then again, would people have really objected that she used her friendly contacts to score an outing for the students?

The massage session in the bath-tub was an amazing read. It was beautifully sensual, and I loved reading how Lex was enjoying the way every part of his body was being attended to. Not to mention how much pleasure CHLOE was getting from attending to him. It was pure sensuality without crossing over into lust, and I HIGHLY approved of that. This whole evening has actually been about highlighting all the ways that Chloe and Lex can be together without everything being all about sex. It’s GOOD to see them enjoying each other’s presence, company and bodies without being sidelined by orgasmic pleasures.

The session in the bathtub had a sensual slowness, and even though there was some kissing, it was more about enjoying each other’s bodies rather than seeking satisfaction for a lustful itch. And even when they switched over to the bed, the scene STILL didn’t take on the usual non-thinking kind of urgency that has regular practiced for both of them recently. It was as if they had finally reconciled their desire for each other with the friendship that they shared. They were no longer desperate to sate themselves using each other’s bodies, because they knew there were other pleasure to be enjoyed in a leisurely fashion.

Aaargh! I don’t think I’m explaining myself really well. But I hope I got kind of my feelings across :P

*sigh* it’s such a pity that it seems like Chloe is going to be gypped of the promise Lex made to ‘return the favour’ of the sensual massage… now that Clark had returned early from his… meetings and stuff.

ROTFLMAO! I rather suspected that it was Clark who was the surprise visitor the moment Lex’s secretary informed Lex that there was someone waiting for him, AND when there was a surprised pause from the secretary when Lex used the word ‘her’ in reference to the surprise visitor.

It was really fascinating and ironic that Clark has made a decision NOW to start being a ‘better boyfriend’. I loved the way that Lex was gritting his teeth keeping back the howl of outrage over the BAD TIMING of the whole situation. Clark chooses NOW of all times to promise to be a better, more considerate and attentive lover? After Lex had given up and had resorted to seeking his emotional satisfaction from other places?

I think I’d like to give Clark the benefit of the doubt, and believe that the boy has honestly seen how he’s been slightly neglectful and thoughtless, and he had genuine plans to make some changes in his behaviour. It certainly seemed like his top priority was making sure Lex felt cherished and appreciated. Of course, we have yet to see whether Clark is only making token gestures, and that he’s going to be slipping back into bad habits again, but I think I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I really liked how Clark has returned home, and it’s obvious that he’s not ‘the villain’ of the story. I loved how Lex took a look at him, and immediately flashed back to the lovely, charming young boy he had been such close friends with back in Smallville. The mysterious, heroic and wonderful boy that Lex had become completely obsessed with. It was made clear that Lex was nowhere ready to let go of his relationship with Clark, and that his only priority now was to make sure that Clark never, EVER found out about the affair.

That quick, curt message to Chloe made me grit my teeth in rage and grief on Chloe’s behalf. That message was really COLD! It was basically a ‘thanks very much for the fuck, now get out of my house’. It was the same kind of message that Lex is used to giving to all of his disposable one-night stands, and I have no doubt that it’s going to tear open Chloe’s heart to be treated like that.

DAMMIT Lex! It didn’t even OCCUR to him how that message is going to make Chloe feel. He didn’t consider HER state of mind, not even for an instant. His only thought for her was wondering whether she’d be able to get his message on time, and be able to clear her things out the way he instructed.

Whatever chance there might have been for the Chloe/Lex friendship after the end of this affair… I think the chances died with the delivery of this message.

Poor Chloe… I’m almost afraid to read the upcoming chapter, because I KNOW that her heartbreak with be a gut-wrenching read.

Heh… but I think I can bring myself to tolerate the angst ;) Please update soon!

lilinny
30th August 2008, 03:15
What a great chapter and well worth the wait.

But Lex needs to man up and break up with Clark.

And poor Chloe, what will she do?

tanza
1st September 2008, 22:17
Lex, honey, I love you...but be a man dammit! Hurry up and break up with the idiot and go be happy with Chloe.....stupid man.....*grumble grumble*

emmie
7th September 2008, 21:53
oookkkaaayyyy......now going to take a long cold shower.......please update soon!!!!!!:)

BlueSabby
11th September 2008, 19:33
Blue: A/N: Ok people, here's where things get even more interesting. And it just goes downhill from this point on, too. Yay misery!

A/N: Sabby: We're back again. And here is part of the fall out of the 'Clark's home' issue. But we're not done yet. Also, we have the return of the cousin.



Chloe’s phone was vibrating in her bag, reminding her that she had a message, but she couldn’t get to it as of yet. She was on the phone with the zoo. This field trip had been a bigger deal than she’d ever imagined.

“Yup, I’m still here.” She’d been put on hold. But now a real person was giving her the information she needed. “Uh huh, ok, yes, thank you.”

She already had herself together and just had to pick up her bag before leaving the teacher’s lounge.

As she made her way over to her car, she retrieved her cell phone. When she saw the number on the display it took her a moment to figure out that it must have been Lex who called.

She opened the door to her car and listened to the message.

Her bag dropped to the ground.

Unable to stop herself, she played the message again as her knees practically gave out under her as she sat down in the driver’s seat.

My boyfriend is back in town

Chloe pressed the end key and tried to think.

The little bubble that she and Lex had placed themselves in had just burst.

Clark was back. Who knew how long he would stay, but he was back.

Which meant she couldn’t go back to Lex’s place.

It also meant that if Clark saw her stuff at Lex’s…..

Chloe saw herself starting the car and racing to Lex’s place.

In actuality she just sat in the car. The door open and her bag still on the ground next to it.

Lex had sounded agonized. Not annoyed.

She’d never asked him to, couldn’t dream of doing it but it hit her now….Lex was never going to leave Clark.

And it wasn’t just sex for her.

This was neither the time nor the place for it but she couldn’t help it, either. She felt a strange noise rising up in her throat but she tensed the muscles. The tears had already started but she wasn’t going to sob.

There was no time for that.

She angrily wiped her eyes and reached for her bag. Once it was on the passenger’s seat, she got out her keys.

“Ok, ok.” She turned the engine over.

She’d go to Lex’s place and erase herself from there.

Erase the last few days.
~~
By the time she was done, her hands were shaking fairly badly. She imagined every sound was Lex and Clark coming back from wherever they’d been.

decided to whisk me off my feet

An intimate dinner and then sex.

That’s what that meant.

Clark touching Lex. Clark fucking Lex. Clark falling asleep with Lex.

She’d violently ripped the sheets off of the bed. They were now in a plastic bag. But she’d remembered to remake it. Everything had to be right.

She couldn’t fuck this up.

Like she’d fucked up everything in the past few days.

Her clothing, her candles, her books, her paperwork, her mail, her toiletries. Chloe fervently tried to remember what else she’d left.

The kitchen. Food that Lex didn’t eat.

It was another ten minutes before her car was packed up. She felt like a burglar or some other type of intruder. She didn’t belong here.

Chloe walked through the place one last time. It was as good as it was going to get. If Clark found her cleaning the place out that wouldn’t do Lex any good.

She locked the door but didn’t know what to do with the key. She couldn’t keep it. That much was sure. She opened the mailbox.

Clark never checked it. It was a pet peeve of Lex’s. So she took the key, opened a piece of mail addressed to Lex and did her best to reseal it. It was a bill so he wouldn’t throw it away.

Then, like the whore she was, she ran for her car before her lover’s boyfriend could find her there.
~~
Lex watched Clark's fifth trip to the bar, feeling like shit because he hoped that it wouldn't be the last one. It took a lot to get Clark drunk, but he was well on the way and if he continued, then maybe Lex wouldn't have to…

He cut the thought off and tried for the umpteenth time to relax. It hadn't really worked since the first time he'd told himself internally to do so.
Their dinner had been free of events, Lex sitting on pins and needles while he tried to make idle conversation about how his week had been. He'd mentioned meeting up with Chloe a few times without showing any outward signs that what they'd done was a lot more than friendly. He'd listened to Clark's vague-talk about business. Clark had gotten better about talking ambiguous over the years and could now talk about a secret Justice League mission and make it sound like a marketing conference.


After dinner, Lex didn't even have to suggest they go to a club. Clark had done that on his own and Lex had been immensely relieved and at the same time terrified out of his mind. Going to a club meant more time for Chloe to get his message and make sure that Clark didn't find anything suspicious in their apartment. But it also meant getting more intimate than they could in a restaurant.

Clark had of course chosen a gay bar. At least that ensured that Lex wouldn't run into any of the people he'd met through Chloe.

He watched as his boyfriend returned with a drink in each hand and swallowed as Clark veered around to come up behind him and encircle him with his arms as he set the drinks on the table.

“I got us two blowjobs.” Lex usually liked straight up alcohol while Clark liked the mixed drinks. He wondered if that made him gayer. He started to laugh. He felt gay now. Not that kind of gay. Not the having sex with Lex gay. The happy gay.

He sucked Lex’s earlobe into his mouth and then murmured. “Maybe we can each get one later, too.” He pressed his hips into Lex to show that he was happy. Not happy happy. Hard happy. Alcohol was good.

Lex wasn’t into public displays so after another nip to his man’s neck Clark downed the drink. As he’d waited at the bar he’d had an additional two. Men liked to buy him drinks. And he liked drinking them.

The stool tried to get out from under him as he sat down and he felt Lex’s arm on his. “I’m ok. It’s the thing’s fault.” He couldn’t remember the word now. But he’d just thought it.

He reached over and downed his drink. But he’d already had his. He’d had Lex’s. “Sorry I hogged your blowjob.”

"That's okay, I'll get one later." Lex managed to wink at Clark and kept his hand on his arm to keep the boy sitting upright.

And that was what Clark was at the moment. Nothing more than a tall, drunk boy who was happy to be drunk and at a club with his boyfriend.

Lex felt like shit. For what he'd done before Clark's return and for what he was doing right now. Pretending that everything was okay when in fact nothing was. That Clark was acting more affectionate than he'd had in the past few months only made things worse and Lex knew that there had to be a special kind of hell reserved for men like him.

Clark's arm clumsily wrapped around his waist and pulled him closer and Lex could smell the alcohol on Clark's breath. He hadn't had nearly as much to drink, mainly because he needed to stay in control and couldn't allow anything to loosen his tongue or lower his inhibitions.

When Clark leaned down for a kiss, Lex didn't pull away. He let it happen and closed his eyes and felt like apologizing when their tongues met and tangled. And he didn't even know who he wanted to apologize to for this. Clark, for betraying him. Or Chloe, for having an affair with her that would end up hurting all of them.

He could feel the cold and sickness rising in him again and slowly pulled back from the kiss, unable to meet Clark's eyes directly.

"I think after that kiss, I need another drink to cool me down," he lied as he loosened his grip on the back of Clark's shirt and stood up straighter.

“S’right,” Clark nodded. He’d done good. He thought. Lex looked happy. And when they got home, he’d show Lex a thing or two about blowjobs.
~~~
Lex walked around the apartment silently, taking note of all the small things that had vanished.

When he'd dragged Clark out of the elevator and up the stairs into the bedroom a few minutes earlier, Lex had been half afraid to find anything that might give away Chloe's place in his life.

Now that he was alone, he couldn't help feeling the loss at noticing that there was not a single thing left of her in the apartment.

The chill was back again and Lex went to the nearest thermostat to crank it up. Unexplainably it was set to 80 degrees already. Lex frowned and turned it up to 85.

His clothes reeked of alcohol and stale smoke and he had to take a shower. Wash the stench off him. Get clean again.

He snorted at the maudlin thought that he would never be clean again. Hadn't been in a long time.

Part of him wanted to call Chloe, apologize, figure out what to do now, and just plain talk to her and hope to make some kind of sense out of everything that was happening now. But he knew that it wasn't the right time to do so. Not while Clark was close enough to walk in or overhear the conversation.

All of Lex really wanted to have a strong drink, but he couldn't allow himself to let his control slip for even one second as long as Clark was around. Shit, he didn't even know for how long Clark would be around this time. He wondered if he'd still be there in the morning or if he'd sober up and leave in the middle of the night as was customary.

Lex shook his head and went up the stairs and straight through the bedroom into the bathroom.

After a long shower he faced the inevitable and crawled into bed on his side, lying down on his side to stare at the closed curtains across from him.
~~
When Chloe had gotten back from Lex’s she felt numb. She dropped the bags of her stuff right by the door and left them there. She methodically took off her clothes and then took a shower.

She started crying in the shower.

It continued as she dried herself off, climbed into her pajamas and then lay in bed.

She was so stupid.

She was pathetic.

She was the worst kind of whore.

The worst thing was that she kept looking at the phone, hoping it would ring.

As the numbers on the clock continued to change, Chloe imagined what Lex and Clark were doing.

At dinner. Someplace nice and quiet. Candles maybe. Hands touching.

She swallowed the lump in her throat.

Then later either back to the house or to a club.

If at a club, bodies grinding together, a preview of what would come later.

She willed the images to stop, closed her eyes and rubbed at her lids but she could still see them.

Kissing. Stroking each other’s bodies. Taking each other’s clothes off.

The movie kept playing. Saw them in their bed. The bed she’d been sharing with Lex only this morning. He’d rolled over, kissed her good morning gently and then smiled sexily at her.

Giving Clark the same smile before kissing his well defined abs and then going lower.

Chloe sat up in bed.

She kicked the blankets off of her. She wasn’t going to do this. It was barely dark out. She wasn’t going to cry herself to sleep now. Wasn’t going to be a wreck in the morning.

She knew this was going to happen at some point. It had just come sooner rather than later. She’d signed up for this and now she had to be a big girl and take it.

She was only sharing Lex. He didn’t belong to her. He didn’t want to. He wanted Clark. Loved Clark.

She would clean her apartment. It was filthy.

So, she spent some time on her hands and knees in the kitchen. Cleaning between the tiles. Then the sink. Then went through the cabinets.

The living room was next. Then the bathroom.

By the time she got back to the bedroom, the clock told her that it was time for her to get ready for work. See, she’d be on time. No one would know that anything had happened.

When she looked in the mirror she knew that she’d need more makeup than usual.

Lex hadn’t called.

Nine hours later, Lex still hadn’t called.

Her day had gone fine. Everything was fine. She was fine.

Crying on the way to and from work. Well, that was to be expected. She was upset. But this wouldn’t break her. Lex was only a man. She’d survive this.

Could always go out that night and find another man to share her bed with.

No messages on the machine at home.

She needed groceries. She’d go to the store.

Bought all of her favorites and was now ready to make something. Something that she’d enjoy. Something that wouldn’t taste like cardboard like everything else had.

The place was so quiet and empty without someone else.

At a club now. Still no sleep.

Sandwiched between two handsome men. Flirting and touching. But still feeling cold even while sweating.

One of them reaching down to kiss her. Feeling it but not feeling it. Closing her eyes, screwing them shut, had to go through with it.

Lex and Clark together in their apartment.

Pushing away and running for the bathroom.

Then, at home again.

The phone finally ringing.

Should have checked caller ID.

“Hey, Big Easy.”

“Hi, Slut.” Inflecting her voice with humor. Already wanting the conversation to be over.

Lois blinked twice, not sure if she'd heard right. That greeting had sounded rather on the forced side of cheery. Maybe she'd imagined it.

"What's up in your part of the world? How are things going with the 'best sex ever'?"

They hadn't spoken in a few days now, and Lois wondered if by now Chloe had chained the hunk to her bed and decided to make him her permanent toy. Her own date that evening had gone rather mediocre and she had been on the prowl again ever since.

“We played dress up,” she supplied. She knew that Lois would be able to run with that. She’d pepper her with dozens of questions so they’d be able to have a whole conversation without Chloe having to deal with with what was happening now.

“I was the naughty, 19 year old virgin and he was the older Mr. Fix it type.” She heard her cousin whistle and Chloe was grateful that she and Lois could talk about sex for hours at a time.

"Nice," Lois drawled while her mind was already whirring. They talked about sex a lot, but usually it took at least 20 minutes of good natured ribbing and back and forth before Chloe was ready to give up the goods. Take for instance their last conversation.

The fact that she was dishing out the dirt without even having to be prompted was odd. "So you decided to keep him around? I mean, as a permanent fixture, so to speak."

Or maybe she hadn't kept him around and that was why it was so easy for her to just spill the good stuff without even having to be nudged. "Or did you give him the boot for some unknown reason and giving me the final resume now?"

Couldn’t Lois just ask for an orgasm count? Or a position checklist or something? She didn’t want to talk about this. Didn’t want to think about it.

“I wouldn’t give him the boot,” she said, honestly. “He fucks too good for that.” She knew she was being crude but she didn’t care. Maybe that would help her. Boil it down to interconnecting body parts.

Forget about the sheer intensity of the moments they shared together. What it felt like to lock eyes with him and know that she was the only person on the face of the planet that he was thinking about.

“He finally got me to scream, too.” Think of it like two characters in a story instead of remembering his cock inside of her. Chuckled. “Pushed me over the back of the couch and went to town.”

Lois frowned. Something was fishy in Finland or however Hamlet had put it. Usually it was Lois who nagged for the details, and Chloe who gave them little bits at a time. While Chloe complained that Lois was too nosy and Lois countered that the love stuff was too mushy to talk about. Now Lois was trying to figure out if something serious was going on while Chloe kept pushing towards the sex talk. Something fishy in Finland indeed.

"Wow, that must have been some intense session. What was the occasion?"

Maybe if she lulled her little cousin into a sense of security she'd be able to weasel her way in through the backdoor and find the fishy.

“No occasion,” Chloe shrugged. “We’d been at a club. Teasing each other all night.” Which wasn’t exactly right. They couldn’t put their hands all over each other because of their situation but, well, yes, there had been teasing.

“So when we got home, neither of us could take it anymore. He didn’t even take my pants off. Or his. Just got them out of the way and then got inside of me.”

It was just incredible sex between best friends. That was all.

Lois snickered a little. "Sounds like a real sex fiend. Just what the doctor prescribed. You have to tell me where you found that so I can get one of my own."

She needed to figure out if sex was all there was. Maybe it wasn't and that was what had her little cous' go all odd. Maybe it was and it shouldn't be. Maybe it wasn't for him, but Chloe wanted it like that. And maybe birds in China chirped in Mandarin but as long as she didn't have any evidence she couldn't come up with a reasonable theory. So, how to get the info she needed?

Chloe had successfully evaded the question of how serious this thing was during their last conversation, but maybe she could trick her into answering somehow.

“I could tell you…but then I’d have to kill you.” It was always a good answer for when you didn’t want to answer something. “So, still no luck in finding a man to satisfy you?”

Lois was always complaining about the men in her life. Chloe figured that was good for another 20 minutes of conversation. “Or are you asking me all of this for the vicarious thrill?”

Lois rolled her eyes and waved her hand, despite the fact that Chloe couldn't see it. "Eh, mediocre dates all over. Really, I want some of what you have." She sighed with a little emphasis.

"I mean, seriously great sex with a seriously great guy? Who wouldn't seriously want that?"

Okay, maybe that was one too many suggestive seriouses in there, but well, she hadn't been prepared for a covered op phone call. This was all off the cuff.

All of the sudden Chloe got mad. And she decided she was mad at Lois. “Seriously, can you just cut the bullshit? Things aren’t fine and you know it. Things are a mess. I’m miserable. He lives with someone and they came back yesterday. We had sex twice in their bed in the morning and then I get a voicemail that he’s been swept off his feet.”

Chloe sat up in bed. “Covert talk for ‘you need to clean my place out ASAP’ and I haven’t heard from him since then.”

Great. Now she was crying too. Chloe covered her mouth with her hand as she tried to get a hold of herself. “I’m a serious slut and seriously fucked up.”

Oh wow. This was bad. And totally not even near the thing she'd expected. Like, not even in the same universe as the possibilities that Lois had in mind. Her little cousin was having an affair with a married man? That was absolutely not like her. It went against every moral in Chloe and it was just wrong on so many levels. They used to shake their heads on women who did that. Now Chloe was a woman like that.

"But...why?"

Why would she do that? Why would she put herself in that position? For a fuck? That wasn't like her cousin at all. Sure, they both loved their thrills, loved to date and have fun and have sex with half-strangers occasionally. But a guy who was taken? Never.

"Chloe, why would you do something like that? You didn't know, did you? The bastard fucked you and didn't tell you about the little wife until she was coming back from her beauty farm or whatever and then he called you and told you his..."

Except. Wait a moment. Something hit her upside the head with a proverbial two by four. he's been swept off his feet. Women didn't sweep people off their feet. It was the guy doing the sweeping and the girl was the one who was swept. Something in connection with that old carrying over the threshold tradition on the wedding night. Which was a mystery in and off itself, because it didn't really serve any purpose, but she was digressing. Men swept women off their feet. That was the point. Men doing the sweeping. And Chloe's man had been swept, not done the sweeping as he was supposed to. So that could only mean one thing.

"You did it with a gay guy? A not so completely gay guy with a secret boyfriend?"

Lois was just making her feel worse. Feel like the horrible person that she was. “I knew,” she said, meekly. “I knew…and I didn’t care. I, Lois, I wanted him so badly.” She shut her eyes. “Want him so badly,” she corrected.

“His boyfriend isn’t secret by any means. I knew and I still did it. I knew and I told him…” If she was going to share this with her cousin, she was going to tell her everything.

“I told him that I would share him.” Quietly, she went on. “After the first time it happened. I told him that I would be willing to do that. And we had a couple days together that were pretty close to perfect and then, yesterday….”

Chloe didn’t know what else to say.

"Chloe, I" Can't believe you would do something like that. Didn't ever think you'd be capable of putting yourself in that position. "Don't know what to say."

This was beyond bad. Her cousin had known. She'd willingly hooked up with a guy who she knew was in a relationship with someone else. "God, what am I supposed to say? I mean, you know this is wrong. It's a bad situation and it doesn't sound like it's going to get better."

Chloe had put herself in a position where she had basically no rights to say or demand anything. She'd willingly made herself the second woman and didn't even bring up the fact that this couldn't be a permanent thing. Cheating was wrong on all accounts. If you wanted to be with someone else, then you owed it to the person you were with to tell them. And being with two people at the same time, well that was only okay if everyone involved knew.

And why would Chloe just settle for sharing? Like it was a fucking object she was talking about. "You can't honestly want this."

“I don’t know what to tell you, Lois. Anything I’ll tell you is some cliché that we’ve both made fun of in the past.” And it was true. She’d become something that disgusted her.
“I knew he was with someone. Know his boyfriend. And I didn’t care. When it happened,” she shook her head, “neither of us were thinking. I…we…” She shut her eyes. Confession was supposed to be good for the soul.

“We didn’t even use anything. That’s how much I trust him. Lois, it was the single most intense experience of my life.” She sighed. “And then in the morning. We both…both knew it was wrong. And hated ourselves.”

“But we couldn’t stop. And now I have no one else to blame for this. And it hurts more than I thought it would.”

Oh boy. This was worse than anything she ever had to deal with. Lois wasn't good with stuff like this. She couldn't give the right advice or say the right things. Fuck, she was having a hard time still grasping the concept of her little cousin being 'the other woman'.

How the hell could it have come to that point? And what was she supposed to do now? What was she supposed to tell Chloe? "This is killing you, and don't try to tell me it isn't so."

The answer that 99% of Lois were screaming inside her head was obvious and sensible and probably the worst thing she could say but it had to be said anyway. "Chloe, you can't keep doing this. You have to break it off."

“It’s Lex.” She couldn’t not say it anymore. “Lois, it’s Lex.”

“He’s my best friend. I can’t stop seeing him. I just can’t.” Chloe held her breath as she waited for Lois to speak.

tbc

kimmie
11th September 2008, 20:06
I. HATE. CLARK. The big oblivious fool, can't he tell when he's so obviously not wanted.

I feel so bad for Chloe, she's so in love with Lex how the hell is she gonna cope with seeing him with Clark (yuck!)

Please get rid of Clark again and give us fluffy smutty chlex back!

Kimmie

tanza
11th September 2008, 20:29
God, I really want to punch Clark...and Lex right now! Poor Chloe!!!

hfce
12th September 2008, 00:06
Damn that was intense! Oh Chloe girl you knew this would happen. I am sorry she is feeling the pain. It is time for her to tell Lex to put up or shut up. He has to choose. :wth: Great update by the way. ;)

Kit Merlot
12th September 2008, 03:23
This was quite the angsty chapter!

I hate that Chloe is in such emotional pain over Clark's coming back into Lex's life, but I'm glad that she is confiding in Lois. Hopefully her cousin will help Chloe from falling completely a part.

lj715
12th September 2008, 03:47
I really don;t understand this @ all. Lex & Chloe are giving up their happiness together so Lex can be with Clark who doesn;t make him happy @ all. Isn't Lex the one who goes after what he wants @ all costs?

tatie87
12th September 2008, 04:32
This chapter was just depressing. I don't want Clark and Lex. Lex needs to put either get rid of Clark or break-up with him. Can't wait for the next chapter!!!

somethingeasy
12th September 2008, 06:27
Angst, torture, anguish, hurt, pain, self-loathing and all the other lovely emotions I’ve been waiting for since the beginning of this affair :D What a lovely chapter!

I loved the way the chapter began, first showing Chloe still enjoying her ‘normal life’ as a woman having a secret affair with the man of her dreams… and then suddenly crash landing! She went into complete SHOCK listening to that message. Very similar to the kind of reaction one would get after getting shot, or perhaps after hearing about the death of a loved one.


She’d never asked him to, couldn’t dream of doing it but it hit her now….Lex was never going to leave Clark.

I think it was a death she was mourning. I didn’t imagine that Chloe actually harboured a hope that Lex would actually leave Clark for her. I guess she herself didn’t think she was fanning this inner-hope, but it was obviously there, because the fact that Lex was happily going back to settle back home with Clark as surprising and shocking as well as devastating to her.

I loved the choice of the words ‘erase herself from Lex’s life’. How SAD is it that:
a) Chloe thinks herself so easy to be forgotten and erased from a person’s life and mind
b) she’s trying to forget everything that she and Lex shared because it’s actually painful to remember it now.


An intimate dinner and then sex.

That’s what that meant.

Clark touching Lex. Clark fucking Lex. Clark falling asleep with Lex.

Oh Lex, you utter BASTARD! Of all the choices in word to utilize, he used these. He could NOT have designed a voice-message crueller than this one. I didn’t know whether to be aghast with horror or awed with admiration the way that Chloe managed to pull herself together to follow Lex’s coded ‘orders’ to clean out the apartment and erase all trace of her from it.

Dear GOD! The knife keeps digging and twisting deeper. It’s not enough that she’s going to have a hard enough time trying to erase it from her own mind, but she had to go through Lex’s penthouse one last time to personally make sure it was ‘cleaned of her’. As if she was a dirty, tainted spot and needed to be rubbed out of the pure and clean Clex home. It was AWFUL seeing her put herself through that, BlueSabby. (and I loved every torturous moment, lol!)


Clark never checked it. It was a pet peeve of Lex’s. So she took the key, opened a piece of mail addressed to Lex and did her best to reseal it. It was a bill so he wouldn’t throw it away.

Then, like the whore she was, she ran for her car before her lover’s boyfriend could find her there.

Oh Chloe! The poor girl! Anyone else felt like giving her a desperate, soothing cuddle? She not only cleaned herself out of Lex’s apartment, but she also gave up access and invitation to his home. I actually found myself hoping that her leaving the key behind symbolized a clean break. That Chloe had decided to give herself some time away from Lex… enough time to recover and get over the affair before she saw him again.

Seeing her walking out of the apartment feeling like a dirty whore made me want to cry. Chloe is the cleanest, purest, most generous, loving, giving person in this universe… and the fact that she’s using the word whore on herself… it’s unspeakably wrong!

The worst part is that there’s a good portion of truth in that self-assessment. Damn it! Damn everyone!

When we switched over to Lex, I was all riled up and ready in a mood to loathe and despise him! LOL! And I was granted full opportunity to do so. The bastard was only focusing on ‘me, me, me’. His ONLY concern was all about preserving his secret affair and making sure Clark remained oblivious to despicable behaviour behind his back. The ONLY time Lex thought of Chloe was wondering whether Chloe had cleaned out the apartment, AND wondering whether there was a chance of meeting with Chloe’s friends at the bar.

He was being a self-absorbed, selfish ass! Every character in this story carries more than their share of faults, but Lex is truly the most outstanding when it comes to weak, self-absorbed selfishness.


The stool tried to get out from under him as he sat down and he felt Lex’s arm on his. “I’m ok. It’s the thing’s fault.” He couldn’t remember the word now. But he’d just thought it.

LOL! Clark is a pretty adorable drunk. I didn’t know it was possible for Superman to actually get drunk. How many of those cocktails did he have anyway? LOL!


When Clark leaned down for a kiss, Lex didn't pull away. He let it happen and closed his eyes and felt like apologizing when their tongues met and tangled. And he didn't even know who he wanted to apologize to for this. Clark, for betraying him. Or Chloe, for having an affair with her that would end up hurting all of them.

I was glad to see that Lex was feeling positively sick with guilt. Most of the guilt was over what he had done to Clark, but there was also a small, vague amount of guilt over Chloe too. Does this mean he’s beginning to acknowledge that he wronged her as well as Clark?


Now that he was alone, he couldn't help feeling the loss at noticing that there was not a single thing left of her in the apartment.

The chill was back again and Lex went to the nearest thermostat to crank it up. Unexplainably it was set to 80 degrees already. Lex frowned and turned it up to 85.

Oh this was GOOD! I loved that Lex misses Chloe sharply already… even if the dumb jerk doesn’t fully understand why he feels a chilled sense of loss not feeling her presence in his apartment. It’s GOOD to know that Chloe’s self-loathing, desperate, frantic cleaning is upsetting Lex a little bit too. Not as much as he deserves as yet… but there’s still time to build up the momentum on his suffering.

I liked that he at least went to sleep wishing he could call Chloe. *rolls eyes* although, I noticed that he didn’t wish it hard enough to actually confess to Clark, take the consequences and then call up Chloe to apologise and check on her.

Nope… instead the bastard took the weak and easy way, and went straight to sleep. I hope he has nightmares!!


She was so stupid.

She was pathetic.

She was the worst kind of whore.

The worst thing was that she kept looking at the phone, hoping it would ring.

Poor Chloe. I winced while she applied such hateful, ugly words to herself, and the wince was all the more pronounced because I knew that these words were somewhat accurate. I don’t know whether it’s worse hearing her denounce herself like this, or imagining Clark using such hateful terms to her in a fit if rage. He could do it too… if he decided to get nasty about what Chloe had done to HIS boyfriend behind his back.

As painful as the name-calling was the way that Chloe couldn’t stop herself from imagining scenes of Clark and her beloved Lex touching, kissing and loving each other, JUST like the way she and Lex had been intimate this morning.

I hated her imagination for imagining all the special looks and caresses that Lex showed to her being used on Clark now. What’s more… Clark has more of a right to those touches, looks and caresses. He can actually be with Lex in public, without the pall of a ‘secret, sordid affair’ hanging over them.

Wow! I loved the way that Chloe suddenly felt the urge to clean her apartment. It was so pitiful and tragic! It seems like showering herself wasn’t enough to make her feel clean and untainted, she ALSO had to obsessively go over her apartment with a toothbrush in a pathetic attempt to make herself feel like less of a dirty, clingy whore.

Actually I loved the whole quick rundown of the ways that Chloe tried to distract herself. There were only quick flashes of her evening out, as if to show how dazed and shocked she still was. It’s probably a VERY good thing that she didn’t pick up any guy, because Chloe didn’t seem like she was in any state to make a good decision, and sex with a stranger would have been so, SO bad for her.


"Nice," Lois drawled while her mind was already whirring. They talked about sex a lot, but usually it took at least 20 minutes of good natured ribbing and back and forth before Chloe was ready to give up the goods. Take for instance their last conversation.

The fact that she was dishing out the dirt without even having to be prompted was odd. "So you decided to keep him around? I mean, as a permanent fixture, so to speak."

I was SO glad to see Lois giving a call at this time. It might not have been what Chloe wanted, but it WAS what she needed! She needed a loving relative, whose first priority and concern was for Chloe rather than himself or his boyfriend. Chloe needs to feel like what it’s like to be first priority for someone. She needs to have her sense of self-worth seriously bolstered back up again.

I liked how Lois immediately sensed that something was ‘off’ about her cousin. Not only that, but she managed to deduce quite a lot of what might have wrong on very few clues too. AND she did a pretty good job in coaxing Chloe into revealing more and more details until she finally broke and revealed ALL the nasty, ugly details of the affair and how broken it has left her now.


All of the sudden Chloe got mad. And she decided she was mad at Lois. “Seriously, can you just cut the bullshit? Things aren’t fine and you know it. Things are a mess. I’m miserable. He lives with someone and they came back yesterday. We had sex twice in their bed in the morning and then I get a voicemail that he’s been swept off his feet.”

Chloe sat up in bed. “Covert talk for ‘you need to clean my place out ASAP’ and I haven’t heard from him since then.”

Great. Now she was crying too. Chloe covered her mouth with her hand as she tried to get a hold of herself. “I’m a serious slut and seriously fucked up.”

It was a nasty, ugly speech! Quite honestly, I wouldn’t like to experience this in the real world personally (either as the speech giver, or the speech receiver). But I cheered when Chloe finally broke down and gave this short rant of a full-disclosure. FINALLY! Now she doesn’t have to deal with this alone, and let’s hope Lois can say something brilliant and save her cousin from sinking in even DEEPER than she’s already sunk into the muck.

I loved how Lois’s automatic reaction was to first give the best possible spin in Chloe’s favour after this rant… that Chloe had been a naïve but innocent dope who had been duped by a married man who claimed to be single. That is an infinitely better picture than seeing Chloe as the fully aware woman who agreed to be the mistress on the side… for a gay man no less!

Oh… and I really liked the way that Lois managed to deduce, from merely an odd choice in phrasing, that the man Chloe was involved with had been swept off his feet by his gay lover. I love seeing Lois as a smart, insightful, hard-edged reporter… with a compassionate side hidden away beneath the brashness.


This was beyond bad. Her cousin had known. She'd willingly hooked up with a guy who she knew was in a relationship with someone else. "God, what am I supposed to say? I mean, you know this is wrong. It's a bad situation and it doesn't sound like it's going to get better."

Chloe had put herself in a position where she had basically no rights to say or demand anything. She'd willingly made herself the second woman and didn't even bring up the fact that this couldn't be a permanent thing. Cheating was wrong on all accounts. If you wanted to be with someone else, then you owed it to the person you were with to tell them. And being with two people at the same time, well that was only okay if everyone involved knew.

And why would Chloe just settle for sharing? Like it was a fucking object she was talking about. "You can't honestly want this."

I loved Lois’s outrage and indignation over here… not so much over Chloe as much as on behalf of Chloe. While Lois acknowledged that Chloe HAD landed herself in this horrible, self-compromising, humiliating position, she was also outraged about how Chloe was allowing herself to be treated. Lois loved her cousin, and she can’t stand when someone doesn’t give that cousin the value that she deserves, especially when it’s her cousin de-valuing herself.

I wonder whether Lex is going to be getting an enraged and furious brunette reporter visitor soon? Someone who will knock him into a wall and rant at him about the indignities he’s been inflicting on her family…? Lex certainly deserves a hard knockdown by someone for his behaviour… not only for what he’s done to Clark, but ALSO what he’s done to Chloe.


The answer that 99% of Lois were screaming inside her head was obvious and sensible and probably the worst thing she could say but it had to be said anyway. "Chloe, you can't keep doing this. You have to break it off."

“It’s Lex.” She couldn’t not say it anymore. “Lois, it’s Lex.”

“He’s my best friend. I can’t stop seeing him. I just can’t.” Chloe held her breath as she waited for Lois to speak.

aaargh! Chloe’s pathetic, pitiful, WEAK answer made me want to shake her until her brain was rattled back into proper working condition. Grow back your spine, Chloe! Stop being such a whiny, pathetic, clingy MISTRESS to a (practically) married man.

Heh… my whole rant seems pretty harsh, and I can imagine it’s NOT the proper thing to say to Chloe in her current state. If Lois was to rant like this, Chloe would immediately shut down and stop talking to her cousin. Nope… Lois has the VERY difficult task of getting this whole message across in tactful terms. Poor Lois! … Poor Chloe! … heck, poor Clark too!

Lex is a bastard, and doesn’t deserve sympathy! :P

I look forward to the next chapter. I hope Lois manages to inspire Chloe into growing a spine. I’m not expecting instant healing, but perhaps there can be the beginning of a recovery process where Chloe decides to separate herself from Lex cold-turkey to sweat him out of her system. She HAS to heal herself of this dysfunctional, soul-sucking affair.

lilinny
13th September 2008, 14:50
This is just too sad!! What will Chloe do now? As much I want to blame Clark for this...What about Lex?

Lex, leave him already!

PolarThestral
14th September 2008, 15:20
It's strange. I've read a lot of stories where I've had sympathy with cheaters. It's a common device in romantic stories. I know it. I know it happens and generally all people involved get hurt, even if they act like they were entitled and the other person deserved it (even if it's TRUE they still damage themselves by recognizing the deceit they are capable of). For some reason, in this story, I just don't care how neglected Lex felt. I don't care that Chloe thought Lex deserved better and that she deserved whatever small affection Lex would give her - thus she'd be there for him, in whatever capacity he allowed. My gut reaction, the subconscious, gutteral, instantaneous feeling I have when I read this story is that Lex and Chloe deserve every bad feeling they get, every reaction provoket by their actions.

Merciless but true.

I loved your writing, as usual, the description of Chloe's semi-catatonic state. Her collapse into robotic momentum, going through the motions of a life she once believed she enjoyed: club life, work etc. But I just wasn't upset for her. I think I was experiencing that horrible sensation you sometimes have of a reader of being on top of the world and looking down on creation. I was immensely GLAD on a narrative level that these characters were at the edge of their eventual collapse. That all this tension that has been building, all the sex, all the betrayal is about to explode in their face. It would be catharsis for me, I needed that to happen and I think it'll have to get a lot worse for me to actually start caring about Chloe's pain. And even longer in terms of Lex.

This is one of those stories with a premise so controversial that it really holds up a mirror to the reader, lets them know where they stand. I feel a bit heartless, but I didn't care at all that Chloe was devastated by Lex dismissing her for his boyfriend. I thought Lex was a manipulative cake-eater, and Clark annoyingly oblivious and Chloe....getting what she had reaped. I think I dislike Lex the most out of them because he is Chloe's best friend, perfectly aware of all of her insecurities, and he took advantage of all of them - even encouraged them - so that he could have sex with her. He took total advantage of a humiliatingly powerless Chloe, prostrating herself for a scrap of affection. It was kinda disgusting and made him unattractive...bizarrely. Considering I am a chlexer and it's hard to do that...but there it is. I actually found it difficult reading the sex scenes, no matter how light hearted they were in the moment. I was completely out fo them, thinking of Clark and waiting for the explosion and feeling very emotionally disconnected form what was, admittedly, very hotly written sex.

I sympathized mostly when she was accepting fault, noticing she had set herself up in a powerless position - owning what she did. But she still did it and it's just hard for me to li{e her at this point even though I realize that's very judgemental of me. I just can't get on a high horse with her and hate Clark (even though I understand it seems to be the predominant response and that's undestandable).

I wouldn't be friends with someone as thoughtless as Clark, but then I don't know if Lex has values at this point I'd appreciate either. Plus, if I felt that holier than thou about Clark's thoughtlessness as Chloe seemed to be in earlier chapters, I probably wouldn't be friends with him any more. It makes her a huge hypocrite. I love the complexities of her character but it's hard wrapping my mind around the idea of them as friends or that because Clark deserved to lose Lex (which he absolutely did) that he deserved THIS done to him.

It's one thing for me to agree that Clark deserves to be dumped, another for me to agree that he deserves the man who "loves" him to fuck his former best friend in his bed and then intentionally make him trunk so that he may not notice any evidence accidentally left behind. That flips everything around and makes Lex the ultimate bad guy to me. Manipulating both Clark and Chloe so that the situation doesn't blow up in his face (I can't wait to see how it does though because in this situation it's bound to).

The person I loved the most was Lois. She refrained from judging (which would be so hard) and hqd a big heart, she tried to believe Chloe was ignorant - that Chloe would never knowingly enter into such a poisonous arrangement. Then she tried to support her even though she seemed wonderfully lost for words. I liked Chloe's explosion too when the grading, bawdy talk got too much for her. I also like that you wrote she was angry at Lois but it sounded like she was just pissed at herself and it was almost like she needed to fight with Lois to get perspective on what she'd done. Like she could tell herself it was wrong but she still had so many feelings of RIGHTNESS from their moments together that she needed an external reality check. I wonder if that's why she went the step further of admitting it was Lex (although, Lois could have probably deduced that from the facts eventually...)

This was the most pathetic line (in terms of Chloe's self esteem) of the whole story:

“He’s my best friend. I can’t stop seeing him. I just can’t.” Chloe held her breath as she waited for Lois to speak.

The breathless anticipation of Lois's response is something I shared. But damn girl. Your best friend0is dead. If the guy who manipulated you into such a powerless position is your best friend then we need to talk about what friendship is all about. He screwed her over by taking advantage of the self esteem issues his boyfriend created. Issues he was familiar with, intimately, issues she had confided in him. He used her pain and selfishly didn't try to say the situation wasn't fair to her because that's all he'd been willing to give and he preferred it that way. So fuck Lex.

It's also sad for CHloe on another level. She knows that the friendship she had with Lex is over forever. Whether this does turn out well and she is with Lex in the future, that he does choose to try a real relationship with her. They'll never be friends in the same way again. IF they try and be platonic - the hot sex will always be there and they'll never be as casually physical or affectionate again without fearyng a lapse or what Clark might see. It's over. I DID feel sorry for her then because it's clear that before this situation started, Chloe felt Lex was the closet person to her in her life and if she loses that all she has left is Lois (who is AWESOME but not enough).

I'm glad Chloe is not alone in this now and is a little less powerless for the perspective Lois can offer her, the guidance and the unconditional support.

I still want to punch Lex in the face though, or at least see him admit what he did to Superman and watch him duck those laser eyes. lol

(PS - I sound a little ranty on the subject of Lex and Chloe but it's probably because I love the characters more than I love Clark. I have no expectations of Clark, I could care less about him. I think this situation reflects on the character of Lex and Chloe and I worry more about that element than how hurt Clark will be,)

BlueSabby
28th September 2008, 21:08
A/N: Blue: The Mess continues...

A/N: Sabby: So we have several things happen here, none of which are particularly good. Still, enjoy if you can. Peace out!

Lois was not only struck speechless, but also breathless. She stared at the phone in complete disbelief, holding her breath until she couldn't take it anymore and it rushed out with an incredulous, "What?"

Lex. Lex Luthor. Lex, Smallville's boyfriend Lex. Lex the guy who'd had probably endless opportunity to cheat, had been propositioned by every female and half the males this side of the Mississippi and said 'No' to all of them. Chloe's best friend Lex who had been fifty percent of the perfect gay couple for the last five years.

Back in Smallville, Lois hadn't believed at first that The Lex Luthor could not only be gay, but also faithful in a relationship. But there'd been not a single scandal after the big blow up with his father. Lex had disappeared quietly into anonymity, as much anonymity as a Luthor would ever be allowed. Hell, the man hadn't been seen in a club for years.

Until recently, it seemed, when he went to a club with Chloe and took her home to fuck her over her couch in her seedy apartment while Clark was...Well where was Clark when that happened? Wouldn't the man wonder that his significant other didn't come home all night? Wouldn't he have worried and tried to call Lex and possibly called the cops or something? Smallville had always been very protective of his own.

"How could this happen? Why...how...Please, explain it to me because I can't see why Lex would ever cheat on Smallville, or why you would do it with him. I thought Smallville was your friend, too."

“Not really anymore,” she said as she pulled her knees to her chest. “I can’t even remember the last time that Clark and I had a conversation that didn’t revolve around Lex.”

“He’s never around, Lois.” She heard Lois make some sort of disbelieving noise. “He’s not. Clark’s job is very important to him. He leaves at a moment’s notice and constantly just expects Lex to understand that.”

“I don’t know how to explain it and it’s like we didn’t even notice it because it was gradual. And, he doesn’t even know anything about Lex anymore. It’s like they’re roommates instead of a couple.”

“Their apartment is practically a hotel to Clark. He blows into town for three days at a time and then out for weeks on end. Lex drinks until he forgets how miserable he is and I go over there and try to tell him that he deserves better.”

She could hear some of her anger returning. But now it was directed at someone who deserved it. “For the past few months, I’ve been over there more than he has. And that was even before this happened. I had to watch Lex drink himself into a stupor more times than I could count and listen to him muse about how his life is a tragedy all the while trying to convince him that he deserves better.”

Chloe still thought that. Maybe what they were doing would help to push Lex to believe it.

“So, I’m sorry that you’re disappointed in me. And I can’t blame you for that. But you haven’t been here. You haven’t seen it.”

“That morning, when it happened,” she shook her head, “was no different than any other one when I stayed there. We slept together and barely touched one another but then something, well, shifted.”

“And saying this may damn me to hell even more, but it didn’t feel wrong at the time.”

Summing it up, she said, “Clark doesn’t hit him, Clark doesn’t talk down to him, he just ignores him and expects Lex to take it. That’s not what I call a relationship.”

Lois was blown away by the information that Chloe had just dumped in her lap. She'd never been close to Lex. And aside from the little bit that Chloe had told her back in the day, she hadn't known much about him. Not after she'd moved to the east coast at any rate. But back then, Lex and Clark had been a sickeningly great couple.

What the hell had changed since then if things had really turned as bad as Chloe described them? "If it's that bad, why doesn't Lex just leave him? It's not like he can't find ten people on each hand who would immediately take Smallville's place." Chloe included, obviously.

It just made no sense. She couldn't imagine Lex Luthor sitting around pathetically and drinking himself into a stupor over a boyfriend that wasn't behaving properly. Hell, the guy had two divorces under his belt before he hooked up with Clark.

Chloe sighed. “It’s not that simple. He thinks that Clark would have some sort of meltdown. He’s worried about what it would do to him.”

“It’s like he’s stuck in this rut and doesn’t know how to get out of it because he’s convinced that it can only end badly with Clark getting torn to shreds.” Never mind that Lex was losing his mind and slowly becoming a different person.

“He’s miserable 90% of the time but is so used to that, that,” she shrugged, “I don’t know. Maybe he can’t see anything other than that. I’ve suggested that he leave. I’ve suggested that he tell Clark he needs a break. He won’t do either of those things.”

Lois shook her head at that logic. Since when was Lex Luthor altruistic to the point of self destruction? It didn't mesh with the man she remembered at all. And Chloe was playing right into it with offering herself as a sacrifice. "And you let him drag you down. Offering yourself up as some kind of what? Safety blanket? Comfort food?"

It wasn't right. If the man couldn't make a decision that was one thing. But for Chloe to put herself in a position where she let herself be used like that just wasn't on. "Why do you accept that? I mean..."

Words failed her. How could she explain that this was not something friends did to each other? That they didn't use you for sex and comfort when it did nothing but hurt you.
“Lois, I don’t expect you to understand. Hell, I don’t understand how I got here and what the fuck I’m even doing anymore. All I can tell you is, and it sickens me to say this, that it doesn’t feel wrong when I’m with him.”

“Only now, when reality sets in, does it. But this might be a conversation we didn’t need to have.” She sighed again. “Clark came home yesterday and I haven’t even heard from Lex since then. I guess that tells me all I need to know.”

“Hmm." What was she supposed to say to that? Should she console her cousin? Show her sympathy? Tell her that it would be okay, and that surely Lex would call and that rainbows and puppies were in their future because surely Lex would think better about it and leave his boyfriend for her?

She couldn't say any of those things, because obviously they would be a blatant lie.

So Lois sighed and shook her head. "I'm sorry but, I don't think I can deal with all this right now. I just...it's a little too much to wrap my brain around."

She had to think, and think really hard. And come up with a battle plan. And possibly visit a therapist to get some insider info. Something. But right now, she was at a complete loss.

"We'll talk about this next week, okay?"

Lois had a week to wrap her mind around this before she went to visit her little cousin. That was not what she had wanted for her vacation, but apparently that was what she was going to get. Two weeks away from her front page news to prevent her cousin from becoming front page news. Wonderful.

“Ok,” Chloe said, tiredly. “Thanks for listening. I know it’s not easy to hear.” She smiled ruefully. “But it helps to say it.”

She paused. “I love you.” Lois didn’t like much emotion. “So I’ll see you in a week.”

Lois was craving a cigarette. She'd quit smoking and now her cousin did something like this. Not very supportive. "I love you too," she mumbled.

And she did. It was just a little harder when Chloe did stupid shit like this. Lois was supposed to be the one who did stupid shit. She was the official black sheep of the family damnit. "Bye."

She hung up and wondered what had gone wrong with the world that shit like this happened.

~~

Lex paced back and forth between door and desk, trying to calm down. He felt like shit and wanted to retreat into a corner and nurse a scotch. But even more than that, he wanted to finally reach Chloe and talk to her.

Yesterday had been hell. It had started with the fact that Clark had still been there in the morning, taking over most of the bed and decided that Lex should make breakfast for both of them so to start out a day together. Those words had made Lex's blood freeze and he had brought up work as an excuse to get away.

Of course Clark had taken him by the proverbial balls and insisted with doe eyes that if he could take a day off from the Planet and Superman duties, surely Lex could do the same at his job. Right, of course.

That was the second step back into old Clark behavior Lex had noticed. More had followed during the course of the day, when Clark had insisted they couldn't watch TV, couldn't go out, couldn't do anything that would be done in public because he would just feel too bad neglecting his duty if they were out there and something happened.

The longer they spent together, the more Lex became aware that nothing had changed. Clark didn't ask what he'd done during the time they were apart. He hadn't even brought up Chloe in any way. They had talked about Clark's job, Clark's time in Africa and Taiwan, Clark's special op with the Justice League. Clark's everything.

And by the end of the day, Clark had casually mentioned that a friend from the League was coming over to crash at their place for a night, because he didn't know anyone else and didn't want to stay at a hotel which might compromise his cover.

Lex had had to ask twice and insist on his right to know who was going to be spending the night at their place until Clark had finally revealed the name of this so called 'buddy' from the League. Dove, known in real life as Don Hall, the peaceful half of a team of brothers that was more crash commando than actual heroes.

When Clark had gone to take a shower, Lex had left the apartment and tried to call Chloe the first time. The busy signal had lasted for 20 minutes and Lex had given up and returned to their place.

Thankfully the night had ended with an emergency conference for Lex that he'd been extremely thankful for after spending a full day cramped up with a Clark who hadn't changed in the least, despite his proclamations to the contrary only 24 hours prior.

By the time Lex had returned to the apartment in the early morning hours, Clark had been fast asleep and taking up so much space in the huge bed that Lex had given up and spent the night on the couch. Clark hadn't asked about it this morning, hadn't even seen anything amiss and had wolfed down breakfast like it was the most normal thing in the world to be completely self absorbed.

Lex had tolerated the kiss goodbye as he'd gone off to work and started calling Chloe from the moment his car hit the interstate.

So far, she hadn't answered, despite the fact that he'd already left five messages on her voice mail and answering machine. He knew that she had to work, but it was damn 3 pm and she should be home by now.

He paced the length of his office again and was not far from throwing things in frustration.

Why the hell wasn't she answering her phone? What the fuck kept her from answering his messages?

A niggling part in his mind told him that he knew very well why she wasn't answering. His first phone call to let her know that Clark was back. The fake cheer in his voice and the choice of his words.

But she couldn't seriously have believed that, right? She knew him better than that, didn't she? She wouldn't seriously think that he had been happy about Clark's unexpected return?

And Lex had to admit at that point that he wasn't happy. He was not happy at all with this situation and even when Clark had sworn to do better as boyfriend, there hadn't been the slightest ounce of happiness in the mixed feelings. And now Clark was back to his old self, promises forgotten and everything was just as it had been before.

Except that Chloe wasn't answering his phone calls.

He moved back to the desk and picked up the phone, dialing her cell phone number by heart.

After a second or two…

"The service you have tried to reach is not available at present. Please try again later."

Lex slammed the phone down in frustration and dialed her home phone.

It rang once, twice, thrice, four times. Then the answering machine picked up again.

"Hey, this is Chloe. I'm not home right now, but if you leave a message I'll call you back later. Bye."

"God fucking..." Lex took a deep breath to rein in his frustration and clenched and unclenched his hands several times. He really wanted to hit something. No, preferably he wanted to hit Clark for his fucking awful timing.

But first he had to get to Chloe. She would be home. There was no reason she wouldn't be.

Another deep breath and he pressed the button on the intercom that connected him with his secretary.

"I'm leaving. If anyone calls, tell them I'm in a meeting, including my boyfriend. If Tad wants something, tell him to call my cell, but before you do, assure him that everything is taken care of and tell him I'm dealing with a family crisis so it better be really important or we can take care of it tomorrow."

Without waiting for an answer, Lex pushed the disconnect button and put his things together. Grabbing his jacket from the hanger at the door, he left the office without a word and on the way to Chloe's apartment within minutes.

~~

The banging at the door drew Chloe out of what she was doing. The zoo had provided her with name tags for the kids. She was now placing a variety of sticker animals on them just to make them a little snazzier.

She knew who was at the door and was deciding whether or not to answer it when a voice wafted in from the hallway. “I know that you’re in there so you might as well open the damn door.”

Oh, so he was mad at her? Where in the hell did he get off? She momentarily reflected that this was more like the old Lex than the dick whipped one he’d become over the past few years.

Chloe took a few deep breaths before walking over to the door.

She had wanted some time to think about what she was going to say to him. That’s why she was ignoring his calls. Chloe had thought a lot about what Lois had said…and what she’d left unsaid.

Chloe had never thought that she’d be the other woman. That she would walk with her eyes wide open into such a mess.

But she had. And now she had to determine if she wanted out of that mess or if she was going to allow herself to slide deeper into it.

She opened the door and tried to ignore the way that Lex’s eyes looked over her body. Resting in certain places that it wasn’t decent to. She was in her comfort clothes already and thought that it might have been better to at least grab a robe before going to the door. She was perfectly presentable…for anyone who wasn’t Lex.

“Did it ever occur to you that there was a valid reason that I was ignoring your calls?”

Lex moved past her into the apartment, not willing to have this discussion in the hallway. "Yes, it occurred to me that my message might have come across wrong over the phone."

She looked like hell. Not only was she wearing her comfort clothes, but they were wrinkled, giving him a good idea that she'd been wearing them for longer than just today. Her hair was a mess and even if he didn't know what she looked like when she hadn't slept, it was plainly visible for a blind person.

"And I'm sorry for that. Clark steamrollered me with his presence and I had to..." Lie, pretend, play the happy boyfriend when he wanted to jump out of the window.

“There’s no need to apologize,” she said, tiredly. “Your boyfriend came home and you have to spend time with him.” She shrugged.

“It’s not like we didn’t know that Clark was going to come back.” She walked around his body and then sat down on the couch. She looked at her hands as she tried to formulate words.

“I don’t know if I can do this anymore, Lex.” She looked up at him. “And I’m not sure that we should.” It hurt her to say that. Because she wasn’t exactly telling him the truth. She shook her head. “You’re with someone. You and Clark live together.”

“If the laws allowed it, I know that you’d be married to him.” She sat back in the couch. “We’re both basically good people. Maybe we just got carried away. I’ve been lonely and so have you. We let it control us instead of our brains.”

Lex looked at her and felt something tug inside him. An uncomfortable pull like someone tried to rip something out of him. He crossed his arms over his chest, trying to fight off the chill. She must have turned down her thermostat to near fifty.

"Are you telling me you don't want to see me anymore?"

He hoped that wasn't it. Over the last few days, he'd found something that he thought he'd never see again. It wasn't even about the sex. He loved sleeping with her, their connection was intense and fun and hot and everything sex should be, but it wasn't the main reason why he wanted to be near her.

“I honestly don’t know,” she murmured. But when she thought about cutting Lex completely out of her life she realized that it wasn’t possible. She should do it, was probably the best thing in the long run for both of them. But she was a selfish bitch.

She didn’t know who she’d call when she had a story about one of the kids doing something ridiculous. Or when she needed to vent about how much was taken out of her paycheck for taxes. Or who she’d drag to a godawful movie.

Lex was so ingrained in her life at the moment that she couldn’t imagine it without him. “No,” she said. “I’m not saying that. I don’t think….” She shook her head. “I can’t do that.”

“You’re still my best friend. A girl can’t just cut her best friend loose.” Even though it would be the right thing to do. “But, um, I think we have to stop having sex.” She couldn’t keep her feelings out of it. And that was the most dangerous thing of all at the moment.

Lex nodded and finally allowed himself to step closer and sit down on the coffee table across from her. "That's okay, that's...more than okay. Shit, Chloe."

He reached out but stopped his hand at the last moment and pulled it back to himself. "I...It was stupid of me to push you into this. And please, believe me, it's not...I didn't come to you just to sleep with you. I want to spend time with you, just be with you and watch horrible movies, or have breakfast with you because you actually appreciate it, or go out and have fun with you."

Chloe was his best friend, and his only confidante. She understood what he was going through and supported him. She cared. As much as he cared about her. And that was a rare thing.

“I know that.” She’d seen him reach out for her and stop himself. He was already trying to play by her rules. But it wasn’t a no touching rule. She reached out and covered his hands with hers. “I know I’m not just some piece of ass to you.”
“I can’t explain how much you’ve meant to me, mean to me. This is a fucked up situation that we both are to blame for.” She squeezed his hands. “And we’ll find our way out of it. I have every confidence in that.”

If only she didn’t want to lean over and kiss the living daylights out of him. Maybe taking it further, maybe not. But having him kiss her like he always did. Whether it was gentle or rough, there was always some sense of urgency coupled with the fact that they couldn’t believe they were actually doing it whenever their lips met.

Lex turned his hands so he could take hold of hers. "I know we will. It's going to be fine."

He only wished he could believe that. He was afraid that Chloe would start to pull away. She'd reached out to him now, but what about tomorrow? Or the day after that? Or what if he made a stupid fucking mistake and kissed her? Like he wanted to right now. She was biting on her lower lip like she always did when she was nervous and all he wanted to do was close the distance between them and coax that lip out from between her teeth.

Lex pulled back a little and righted himself up. "I'm still sorry about the message. I had to think on my feet, but I was so fucking shocked."

He looked down at their intertwined hands and started stroking her fingers. They were a little sticky and Lex noticed that there was a whole stack of animal stickers lying around that she was sticking to some name tags.

"I thought it was you. When the secretary said that someone was waiting outside, I thought it was you."

Chloe had to snatch her hands away from him. And she would…in a second. But it felt good to have him touch her. But that wasn’t the real problem

The real problem was his voice. She could hear how disappointed and regretful he was that it hadn’t been her. Instead it was Clark who’d come to surprise him.

And what did that say about his relationship with his boyfriend.

Chloe could feel herself about to do something dumb.

So instead of leaning over and grabbing him by the back of the neck and pulling him in for a kiss, she linked her fingers with Lex’s. “So, you want to help me make name tags?”

“It’s thrilling.” She smiled over at him. “I mean, it’s possibly the most exciting thing I’ve ever done.” But then she thought of something. “Oh, unless you and Clark have plans….”

Lex shook his head. "He's got a friend from the League coming to stay overnight. They want to go out so I'll call him later and tell him I'm helping you with a school project."

And he wouldn't even have to lie to his boyfriend. Because that was all they would do. Work on the name tags and then talk about school and the upcoming trip to the zoo and that would be it.

Clark wouldn't mind. Hell, Clark wouldn't even care. His good intentions of being a better boyfriend had lasted exactly 16 hours and once he'd gotten up the next morning, things had been exactly the same as they'd ever been.

Lex would probably have to play nice with a drunk boyfriend and an equally drunk Justice League hero that he didn't know much of anything about. Wonderful.

He moved off the coffee table and settled on the floor next to Chloe's feet. Picking up the first sheaf of stickers, he noticed that they were all animals. "For the zoo trip?" he asked.

“Yup,” she said, hunkering down next to him and then pulling the table a little closer. “Now, you have to use your eye for fashion with these.” She picked up one of the tags.

“You see how the stickers only enhance the name? Not distract from it. That’s the look I’m mostly going for.” Chloe was happy that she’d kept a straight face throughout her little speech. “I’ll let you try one on your own, so go to it.”

Lex gave her a skeptical look. Animal stickers to enhance the name? She was totally bullshitting him. He picked up one of the name tags.

"Jeffery, he's the one who offers part of his own organs to sick amphibians, right?" Lex shuffled through a few sheaves until he found one with a little green frog on it.

He stuck the picture to the corner of the name tag and showed it to Chloe. "There you go, enhancing the name."

~~
By the time Lex got home it was nearly one in the morning, but he didn't mind. That heightened the chances that both Clark and their houseguest was asleep already and he could just sleep on the couch and be up before the Justice buddy noticed anything was off.

However, that plan was spoiled when he stepped into the living room and found said guest on the couch, zipping through channels on the TV.

He was a little younger than most other members that Lex knew of. Sandy blonde hair, baby face, didn't have the average bulky build either. If he had to judge from physical shape, Lex would have figured him for a runner.

But looks were deceiving, at least Lex had learned that much. Clark hadn't even informed him what special power this friend had. What if he was a fire starter or an ice breather, or something else destructive and dangerous?

None the less, Lex had to be polite. This man, Don, was a friend of Clark's so he had to trust that his boyfriend wouldn't bring home a threat.

"Hello, Don, right?"

“Yes,” he stuck out his hand and shook Lex’s. Clark had provided him with his boyfriend’s name but not much else. Which was why when he’d mentioned that he and Lex had been together for five years, he was shocked.

Clark didn’t talk much about Lex. And even though Clark had told Don that he’d come back specifically to work on his relationship with the bald guy who stood in front of him, Clark had insisted on taking Don out. And now Lex was coming home really late.

After only a few hours, it was clear to him that they were like ships passing in the night. It was very sad. When he’d pressed Clark for more information his friend had mentioned that Lex wasn’t too happy with the way that things were at the moment.

Don honestly couldn’t blame him. That’s why he could never keep a relationship going for five days. Never mind five years.

“Thank you for letting me stay here. I really appreciate it. I offered to go to a hotel but you know Clark.” His friend had insisted he stay with him. Again, weird being that he was supposed to have come home for Lex.

Lex blinked, but didn't show any other outward reaction that would reveal his surprise. "Of course, he'd never let a friend stay in a hotel when we have enough space to house at least a dozen people."

However, he would tell his boyfriend that it was the friend's wish to stay with them and that he'd simply yielded to be a nice guy. How...typical.

"So how do you like Metropolis so far? Did Clark show you around a bit?"

They'd spent most of the day together, while Lex was at work trying to contact and reconcile with Chloe. Lex wondered what they had done with all that time. Hopefully, Clark had been a good host if he couldn't keep at being a good boyfriend for more than a few hours in one stretch.

Don nodded. “Yeah, he took me to all of the hot spots that you hear about when the town is mentioned. I’m trying to come up with a theory about why that globe on the Planet has to be so big. But they’re all dirty.”

Lex chuckled. It was strange how he didn’t seem put off to come home to Clark already in bed and some strange guy watching his TV. But, then again, Don did know a little something about Lex Luthor. Even if he was annoyed, Don would never know it.

“I’m sort of surprised that you didn’t come and hook up with us.” When he’d mentioned to Clark that it would be fine with him to invite his boyfriend, Clark had waved him off. Which again struck him as odd.

And now here he was sitting with Lex. And he hadn’t asked after Clark yet. Don got the idea that they were in more trouble than Clark knew. Or maybe wanted to see.

Being that he worked with the guy, he’d seen this happen numerous times. Clark didn’t deal with problems head on. He sometimes just kept on trucking, hoping that things would resolve themselves.

“Ah, a friend of mine needed help with something, and I've seen it all, so it's not a big deal."

Never mind that he would have felt stuck and put on the spot having to play the perfectly happy boyfriend not only in front of Clark but someone who seemed to be looking at things a little more closely. "I guess Clark didn't tell you why I couldn't come, he's a little...forgetful at times."

Ignorant as shit was more like it, but here Lex was, again making excuses. Because that was his job, as long as this relationship was supposed to last. He wondered how long he could keep doing it before it sent him to the loony bin.

“I guess forgetful is the nice way of saying it. No disrespect to Clark but I’ve noticed that his “forgetfulness” impacts a lot in his life.” He genuinely liked the guy. Which was why he didn’t get why he acted that way.

“You’re not alone in thinking that.” And what was also odd was that Clark hadn’t been concerned that he hadn’t heard from Lex. Had told Don he was probably at work. Or something. Or something. Maybe they just had that type of come and go relationship. But if Clark had come back specifically because there was trouble…well, he didn’t seem to be making a huge effort in that respect.

Shouldn’t he have cared where Lex was? And gotten worried when he wasn’t back? Hell, that’s partly why Don was up. To make sure Lex got in ok. He shouldn’t be the one doing that.

"Well." Lex's smile froze in place and he shrugged one shoulder in perfect dismissal. "He makes up for it in other areas when he's here." Not that he ever did, but Lex wasn't going to open his heart to some superhero cum therapist.

Even though a small part of him was relieved that he wasn't the only one to think that things weren't okay the way they were. It helped to know that. Chloe had told him the same, but she wasn't an objective observer.

“I’m sure he does,” Don said, nodding. Not sure at all. In fact, pretty sure that Lex was lying to him. Not that he could blame him. Lex didn’t know him at all. But, he didn’t know, maybe it would help him to know that he wasn’t the only one who thought that about Clark.

He knew people might find it difficult to rag on their S.O. if they were off saving the world. “You want me to clear out so you can watch some TV? Clark set up the guest room.” Actually, he’d done it but Clark had shown him where it was.

Lex wanted to say yes more than anything, but he knew what it would look like to the other man if he took the offer. "No, that's alright. I'll just be going to bed."

He moved away a little, then turned around. "Is Clark going to leave with you tomorrow?" Lex wouldn't be surprised if the answer was 'yes'. What scared him was that there was a glimmer of hope inside him at the prospect that Clark might be gone by tomorrow.

Don wasn’t going to jerk the guy around. “Yes, he is.” What was even worse was that Lex didn’t look surprised. Clark’s relationship was in a ton of trouble. Maybe he’d tell him he didn’t need to come back with him. They probably could handle stuff without him for another week.

“I’m sorry,” he said, softly as he stood up. “Again, no disrespect but Clark should have told you himself.” He clicked off the TV anyway. He didn’t feel much like watching it anymore. “Clark took me to some frou frou fancy place where the food was good but about this big.” He held his thumb and index finger about two inches apart.

“Could I interest you in some take out? My treat?”

Lex thought about it for a second. On the one hand, it looked like Don was a little too curious for everyone's good. But on the other hand, Lex did not want to go up to the bedroom yet and spend the next seven hours or so staring at the curtains across from his side of the bed and waiting for Clark to just leave already.

He'd eaten at Chloe's, but that had been a few hours ago.

"Sure. We have a good service in the neighborhood, you like Asian?"

Only after the fact did he realize that the place he was talking about was the one that Chloe and he frequented. Lex didn't know if Clark even had heard about it.

“I’ll eat anything. But, I am warning you,” he said as he walked out of the room, “I am a horrible snob when it comes to Asian food. The last time I was in Taiwan, I almost got arrested for shaming the cook at this little…”

dagney
28th September 2008, 22:02
Oh man everyone is hurting except Clark, Lex needs to end things with Clark, but his insecurities much like Chloe's have led him to this point. Something got to give. Dagney

lj715
28th September 2008, 22:17
Ugh, all three of them are idiots .

tatie87
29th September 2008, 01:27
This chapter had some great character development. Can I just say that I'm so torked at Lois for not supporting Chloe and Clark for being selfish. I'm so happy u finally updated this story. I can't wait for the next chapter. I hope it isn't as long for the next chapter.

lilinny
29th September 2008, 02:18
I love how you've thrown Don into the mix.

Wonder what his story is.

As always a fantastic chapter.

hfce
29th September 2008, 02:30
Ugh!!! Clark needs to die already. That seems the only way for Lex the idiot to finally leave his triffling ass. :wth: But good update. ;)

somethingeasy
30th September 2008, 21:34
Back in Smallville, Lois hadn't believed at first that The Lex Luthor could not only be gay, but also faithful in a relationship. But there'd been not a single scandal after the big blow up with his father. Lex had disappeared quietly into anonymity, as much anonymity as a Luthor would ever be allowed. Hell, the man hadn't been seen in a club for years.

It was very interesting taking a look at the Clex relationship as it’s presented to the outside world. It seems like, outside of the ‘scandal’ of a high profile gay couple lifestyle, Lex and Clark are considered as partners in a model relationship. Faithful and loving towards each other, and really quite ‘ordinary’ as far as couples go.


“He’s never around, Lois.” She heard Lois make some sort of disbelieving noise. “He’s not. Clark’s job is very important to him. He leaves at a moment’s notice and constantly just expects Lex to understand that.”

Oh Chloe, no… NO!! You’re trying to blame your extra-marital affair with Lex on Clark?! Clark is the wronged party here. It doesn’t matter if he’s a sucky, neglectful, self-absorbed excuse for a boyfriend. The important thing is that he is Lex’s boyfriend who fulfils most of the explicit promises that people in a relationship make to each other (to be non-abusive (physically), faithful and loyal… although he misses out on being ‘supportive’ but only because he’s not aware of his negligence in this area).

But I can certainly understand why Chloe is trying to shift the blame of this affair onto Clark. After all, the alternate is to blame either herself or Lex… and Chloe is not yet ready for that.


She could hear some of her anger returning. But now it was directed at someone who deserved it. “For the past few months, I’ve been over there more than he has. And that was even before this happened. I had to watch Lex drink himself into a stupor more times than I could count and listen to him muse about how his life is a tragedy all the while trying to convince him that he deserves better.”

Chloe still thought that. Maybe what they were doing would help to push Lex to believe it.

Oh Chloe! The poor, pathetic wretch of a girl. She’s actually harbouring hope that her ‘sordid, secret affair’ will actually turn into something open and legitimate. She’s fallen straight into the trap that ALL the most pitiful of mistresses fall into… hoping that the husband would ‘realize his passionate love for his mistress’ and leave his wife and kids for her. It very seldom happens, Chloe!

It was also very sad seeing Chloe describing herself as the emotional crutch for Lex for ALL this time. Chloe, you’re worth so much more than to settle for being a side mistress and a CRUTCH for anyone. You should be the centre of someone’s world!

They have been carrying on an emotional affair LONG before the relationship turned physical. Which is probably why it turned into a physical affair so naturally and easily.


It just made no sense. She couldn't imagine Lex Luthor sitting around pathetically and drinking himself into a stupor over a boyfriend that wasn't behaving properly. Hell, the guy had two divorces under his belt before he hooked up with Clark.

Chloe sighed. “It’s not that simple. He thinks that Clark would have some sort of meltdown. He’s worried about what it would do to him.”

“It’s like he’s stuck in this rut and doesn’t know how to get out of it because he’s convinced that it can only end badly with Clark getting torn to shreds.” Never mind that Lex was losing his mind and slowly becoming a different person.

I’m glad to see that Lois is asking some of the same questions that the readers have been asking too. Why doesn’t Lex just LEAVE Clark if he’s so damned miserable with him. But what Chloe said about Lex being ‘stuck in a rut’ makes sense. And it’s also possible that Lex is actually addicted to misery by this point. There are lots of people who feel a sense of superiority knowing that they’re ‘suffering’ so much more than the average person. It’s insane, but it’s surprisingly common! Perhaps that’s part of the problem with Lex? In which case, Chloe had better cut herself loose, because such people cannot be helped unless they WANT to help themselves first.

As for Lex’s fear that Clark will ‘fall apart’ after a break-up…? That sounds completely ridiculous. Clark doesn’t seem to rely on Lex for anything. His pride will probably be hurt, but other than that, he probably won’t notice the difference in his life.


She had to think, and think really hard. And come up with a battle plan. And possibly visit a therapist to get some insider info. Something. But right now, she was at a complete loss.

"We'll talk about this next week, okay?"

Lois had a week to wrap her mind around this before she went to visit her little cousin. That was not what she had wanted for her vacation, but apparently that was what she was going to get. Two weeks away from her front page news to prevent her cousin from becoming front page news. Wonderful.

I was, at first, a little disappointed in Lois about telling Chloe that she’ll ‘talk to her later about this’. But in retrospect, it sounds like a good idea to get some perspective first before starting in on the support and advice on how the handle the situation. Chloe doesn’t need platitudes and clichés, she needs some real, hard-core GOOD ADVICE, and hopefully Lois will find something stunning to knock Chloe to reality. If anyone can do that, Lois can!


That was the second step back into old Clark behavior Lex had noticed. More had followed during the course of the day, when Clark had insisted they couldn't watch TV, couldn't go out, couldn't do anything that would be done in public because he would just feel too bad neglecting his duty if they were out there and something happened.

The longer they spent together, the more Lex became aware that nothing had changed. Clark didn't ask what he'd done during the time they were apart. He hadn't even brought up Chloe in any way. They had talked about Clark's job, Clark's time in Africa and Taiwan, Clark's special op with the Justice League. Clark's everything.

This was a real shame and a pity. I found myself hoping that Clark really DID experience some form of a habit changing revelation which would lead him to becoming a better person all around. Instead, it seems like he’s slid right back into his old bad habits again. Not only that, but he slid back so quickly and easily that it’s embarrassing and pathetic to watch.

Lex is really not doing Clark any favours enabling this kind of behaviour. I think Clark has an inkling that he’s doing wrong… he only needs to be given specifics about WHAT he’s doing wrong exactly, and how he’s hurting the person he claims to love.


Why the hell wasn't she answering her phone? What the fuck kept her from answering his messages?

A niggling part in his mind told him that he knew very well why she wasn't answering. His first phone call to let her know that Clark was back. The fake cheer in his voice and the choice of his words.

But she couldn't seriously have believed that, right? She knew him better than that, didn't she? She wouldn't seriously think that he had been happy about Clark's unexpected return?

I LOVED seeing Lex going insane as he couldn’t get in touch with Chloe. It’s very interesting that he’s not noting how he doesn’t get even HALF as upset whenever Clark goes missing for weeks at a time. It’s true that he gets moody, broody and depressed with Clark’s absence… but when Chloe goes out of touch for a day, Lex’s world goes into meltdown. There’s no comparison!

*rolls eyes* is the idiot really dismissing Chloe’s distance as a response to the curt abruptness of his message? Don’t you think that the contents of the message, and the reality check it slapped into Chloe, might also be contributing to her pulling herself away from this mess, Lex?!?


And Lex had to admit at that point that he wasn't happy. He was not happy at all with this situation and even when Clark had sworn to do better as boyfriend, there hadn't been the slightest ounce of happiness in the mixed feelings. And now Clark was back to his old self, promises forgotten and everything was just as it had been before.

Except that Chloe wasn't answering his phone calls.

Heh… GOOD! Let’s see how Lex manages to ‘enjoy the misery’ in his life now that he’s lost his emotional crutch! Seriously, it seems like a part of Lex is revelling in having Clark return and bringing back the misery with him… because he simply can’t WAIT to start unloading all his woes on Chloe’s sympathetic, trapped ear. Perhaps it’s time to find yourself another target willing to listen to your whining, Lex?


"I'm leaving. If anyone calls, tell them I'm in a meeting, including my boyfriend. If Tad wants something, tell him to call my cell, but before you do, assure him that everything is taken care of and tell him I'm dealing with a family crisis so it better be really important or we can take care of it tomorrow."

Without waiting for an answer, Lex pushed the disconnect button and put his things together. Grabbing his jacket from the hanger at the door, he left the office without a word and on the way to Chloe's apartment within minutes.

Heee!!! It was damned fun to see Lex turning on his ‘Luthor commander mode’ and deciding to go chasing after what he wants. Granted, what he wants is to go get Chloe, and suck her back into being his emotional tissue box again, but at least he’s showing SOME aggressive initiative. Now if only he starts showing a little of that same ‘get up and go’ attitude with Clark too.


Oh, so he was mad at her? Where in the hell did he get off? She momentarily reflected that this was more like the old Lex than the dick whipped one he’d become over the past few years.

squeee!!! I was glad to see that Chloe had passed the stage of being a weepy, despairing mess, and was actually feeling angry about her situation. I did find it funny to see her also observing how Lex has gotten his balls back.


Chloe had never thought that she’d be the other woman. That she would walk with her eyes wide open into such a mess.

But she had. And now she had to determine if she wanted out of that mess or if she was going to allow herself to slide deeper into it.

Awesome! I was SO glad to see Chloe had regained a substantial portion of her spine as well as her survival instinct. She wouldn’t be able to survive for long if she continued to be ‘the other woman’ in any relationship… much less a Clex relationship. So it was great to see that she has made a resolve to get herself OUT of that. I don’t know how long she’s going to hold onto that resolve, but hopefully she’s hang on long enough to drive Lex absolutely crazy with want, and FORCE him to admit that he wants Chloe fully and completely… and to hell with Clark.


“If the laws allowed it, I know that you’d be married to him.” She sat back in the couch. “We’re both basically good people. Maybe we just got carried away. I’ve been lonely and so have you. We let it control us instead of our brains.”

Lex looked at her and felt something tug inside him. An uncomfortable pull like someone tried to rip something out of him. He crossed his arms over his chest, trying to fight off the chill. She must have turned down her thermostat to near fifty.

"Are you telling me you don't want to see me anymore?"

He hoped that wasn't it. Over the last few days, he'd found something that he thought he'd never see again. It wasn't even about the sex. He loved sleeping with her, their connection was intense and fun and hot and everything sex should be, but it wasn't the main reason why he wanted to be near her.

Oh? Then what IS the reason, Lex? Think long and hard about this! It’s about time that you put some friggen thought into what motivated you into being faithless on your boyfriend, while simultaneously taking advantage of your best friend’s generous, giving nature as well as her insecurities to fuck her.

Did that hurt? The ripping sensation when Chloe told you she wanted ‘out’? GOOD! I hope it hurts for weeks after this!!

Sorry about the bitterness. I was just so ANGRY seeing Lex storming into Chloe’s apartment, actually having the nerve to demand that she explains herself. Clark returned, their bubble shattered, Chloe was devastated, and all Lex can think about is how to return the situation back into the ‘lovely solution’ where Lex’s superpowered boyfriend remains oblivious to the fact that Lex is fucking his best friend.


“I honestly don’t know,” she murmured. But when she thought about cutting Lex completely out of her life she realized that it wasn’t possible. She should do it, was probably the best thing in the long run for both of them. But she was a selfish bitch.

I wouldn’t call it selfish exactly. Perhaps weak, but not really selfish. Selfishness wouldn’t bring her such unhappy results. LEX is the one being a lot more selfish, wanting to have both Chloe and Clark without either of them objecting to his attentions being shared out between them.


He reached out but stopped his hand at the last moment and pulled it back to himself. "I...It was stupid of me to push you into this. And please, believe me, it's not...I didn't come to you just to sleep with you. I want to spend time with you, just be with you and watch horrible movies, or have breakfast with you because you actually appreciate it, or go out and have fun with you."

Chloe was his best friend, and his only confidante. She understood what he was going through and supported him. She cared. As much as he cared about her. And that was a rare thing.

It mollified me a little bit to see Lex agree quite quickly to Chloe’s new rule of ‘no sex’. AND he apologised and admitted that he had been selfish and stupid. He also made it clear that it wasn’t ‘just’ the sex that made his days with Chloe so wonderful… that it was her company and presence that always has been the most wonderful part of their relationship.

But hopefully, Lex will have become a little more sensitive, and will friggen STOP WHINING about Clark all the time. It would be plainly moronic as well as cruel for him to start crying to Chloe about his relationship problems AFTER everything that had happened between them. I guess we’ll have to wait and see whether Lex figures out that every mention of Clark, from here on in, would be like a dagger through Chloe’s heart. JUST like the times when Chloe’s heart kept breaking every time Clark incessantly talked about LanaLana LANA!

It would be cruelly moronic… but then again, this Lex doesn’t seem all that bright, does he?


He only wished he could believe that. He was afraid that Chloe would start to pull away. She'd reached out to him now, but what about tomorrow? Or the day after that? Or what if he made a stupid fucking mistake and kissed her? Like he wanted to right now. She was biting on her lower lip like she always did when she was nervous and all he wanted to do was close the distance between them and coax that lip out from between her teeth.

This was GOOD! It seems like Lex has acknowledged that the affair put his and Chloe’s friendship in serious danger of breaking. Now that he’s had that horrible scare, he’ll definitely think twice before acting to his libido’s urges again. Hopefully he’ll think twice ;)


“You see how the stickers only enhance the name? Not distract from it. That’s the look I’m mostly going for.” Chloe was happy that she’d kept a straight face throughout her little speech. “I’ll let you try one on your own, so go to it.”

Lex gave her a skeptical look. Animal stickers to enhance the name? She was totally bullshitting him. He picked up one of the name tags.

"Jeffery, he's the one who offers part of his own organs to sick amphibians, right?" Lex shuffled through a few sheaves until he found one with a little green frog on it.

He stuck the picture to the corner of the name tag and showed it to Chloe. "There you go, enhancing the name."

I’m still angry about these two people agreeing to maintain a friendship, even though it’s CLEAR that it’s a recipe for disaster. I don’t care how big a heartbreak and scare Chloe and Lex have respectively had, there’s NO WAY these two are going to be able to stick by their resolve of ‘no sex’. Sooner or later, someone is going to slip, and someone is going to end up hurt (probably everyone).

But all that being said, it was nice enjoying a sweet platonic moment between the Chlex. Mostly because you know it’s not going to last :P

I loved the idea that Lex actually knows all about Chloe’s students by their individual names and personality. I thought that was really sweet and wonderful, and it speaks a lot about how in-depth involved he is with her life if he knows THIS many details about her. LOL! Or perhaps Chloe is basically like a proud parent who can’t ever shut up about her children, and Lex had no choice BUT to memorize their names and personalities, LOL!


But looks were deceiving, at least Lex had learned that much. Clark hadn't even informed him what special power this friend had. What if he was a fire starter or an ice breather, or something else destructive and dangerous?

LOL! As long as he’s not a psychic, Lex should be fine. But I seem to vaguely remember this guy from the JL animated series… no super-powers that I can recall…?


After only a few hours, it was clear to him that they were like ships passing in the night. It was very sad. When he’d pressed Clark for more information his friend had mentioned that Lex wasn’t too happy with the way that things were at the moment.

Don honestly couldn’t blame him. That’s why he could never keep a relationship going for five days. Never mind five years.

I have to admit, I was quite impressed with Don’s sensitivity and insight. He managed to get a VERY good overview of the Clex relationship with relatively few clues about their lifestyle arrangement and interactive dynamics. It was interesting that Superman, in this world, doesn’t inspire the same kind of worshipful awe (even from other ‘lesser’ JL members) that I have seen evident in comic books and the animated series.


However, he would tell his boyfriend that it was the friend's wish to stay with them and that he'd simply yielded to be a nice guy. How...typical.

*rolls eyes* you want to know what else is typical? You can bet that Lex is NOT going to mention a word about Clark’s double-dealing to Clark. He’s only to internalize his resentment and anger, swallow it whole and smile pretty to Clark… and then off to Chloe to vent. Will you PLEASE start complaining to the right person, Lex!!!


Being that he worked with the guy, he’d seen this happen numerous times. Clark didn’t deal with problems head on. He sometimes just kept on trucking, hoping that things would resolve themselves.

That sounds like a pretty good analysis of Clark. I guess it makes sense that Clark has learned to run away from problems that make him emotionally uncomfortable. Physical threats… he faces those head on with an inspiring form of bravery... but emotional problems are swept under the rug in the hopes that ‘if you ignore them, they’ll go away’.

This is a problem of Clark’s, but Lex (and Chloe too for that matter) have added to the problem by being enablers who make it easy for Clark to get away with this kind of behaviour. If Lex vented to Clark the same way he vents to Chloe, Clark might actually have made a genuine effort to dealing with the problems in his Clex relationship. But Lex remained silent, so Clark remained blissfully oblivious.


Lex thought about it for a second. On the one hand, it looked like Don was a little too curious for everyone's good. But on the other hand, Lex did not want to go up to the bedroom yet and spend the next seven hours or so staring at the curtains across from his side of the bed and waiting for Clark to just leave already.

He'd eaten at Chloe's, but that had been a few hours ago.

"Sure. We have a good service in the neighborhood, you like Asian?"

Only after the fact did he realize that the place he was talking about was the one that Chloe and he frequented. Lex didn't know if Clark even had heard about it.

“I’ll eat anything. But, I am warning you,” he said as he walked out of the room, “I am a horrible snob when it comes to Asian food. The last time I was in Taiwan, I almost got arrested for shaming the cook at this little…”

After seeing a chapter seeing the characters making all manners of mistakes, I was delighted with this ending where something went RIGHT! I think Lex’s new friendship with Don will be a great thing. It already seems like Don is a really lovely, sympathetic and insightful man… who has a lot of choice words to be imparted to Lex. Hopefully he’ll help Lex sort out a lot of the confusion in his life and help him figure out what’s the best move to make to get him out of this miserable existence he’s trapped in right now.

I look forward to more conversations between Don and Lex… not to mention Chloe and Lois… Heck, I also want some more Lex and Chloe, because no matter how stupid they act, I STILL want to see more of them together, LOL!

This was a great chapter, BlueSabby. I look forward to more. Please update soon!

Kit Merlot
9th October 2008, 23:35
A wonderful update, but I wonder why Lex allows himself to be treated so horribly by Clark? They supposedly love each other, but they don't act like it. Lex has a much more loving and supportive relationship with Chloe--doesn't he want that full time? I hope Lex comes to his senses and dumps the BDA--Clark is not worth all of this misery and pain.

Continued excellent work on this fic:grin3:

BlueSabby
11th October 2008, 21:23
A/N: Blue: Well, yeah, here's another chapter. Read, discuss, yell at characters. Enjoy!!!

A/N:Sabby: You know what they say about good intentions, right? And everyone knows that interior design is the devil's playground.



~~
At the moment, Lex was staring at one particularly horrible specimen with black and orange stripes, rather inaptly called 'Tiger', because it had nothing in common with the actual animal.

"What surprises me is that people actually buy this."

After Clark had left, Lex had spent a short day at work and left to see Chloe shortly after noon. She had surprised him with the announcement that she needed new furniture, more specifically, a new couch.

So that was how they found themselves in one of the major furniture stores in the city, looking at what had to be the most atrocious choices in living room furniture on the market.

Chloe loved it when Lex was a snob. It was so very endearing. But he was right on this one. It was absolutely horrible. But she wasn’t looking at it for the colors, she was putting her butt on every couch in the place in order to find the most comfortable one.

After her bed, the couch was the most important thing to her. She wanted furniture that she could slump, sit, lounge and be slothful in while being totally comfortable.

She sat on it and slumped down. “Pretty good,” she muttered. “Get your bony ass on it. I need a second opinion.”

Lex continued to stand above her. “Come on,” she whined, “it’s not like anyone else in the world will know that expensive suit touched tiger print.”

"You're not going to even think about thinking about buying this one." And he wasn't even contemplating sitting down in it, because heaven forbid it turned out to be comfortable and he'd have to admit it. Then she'd be halfway to buying it and that was not an option.

"Come on, there's got to be a couch in this place that is comfortable and not a complete eyesore."

He reached his hand down to help her up from the 'Tiger that swallowed the blonde, but instead found himself yanked down to land next to her.

"I wish I could say I can't believe you did that."

He could feel his entire system start to reject the couch under his butt as he shifted in his seat. This was not good. It wasn't comfortable either.

"Don't tell me you think it's comfortable."

Chloe moved around a little more, trying to get her body in a comfortable position. “It’s ok,” she said. “Not great.” She looked over at Lex and laid her ankles over his knees.

“And we’re merely looking at comfort, not style.” She ran her hand over the couch. “Not even I would consider buying this.”

She saw a sales associate coming their way. “Look alive, we’ve got to go unless you want them ‘helping’ us.”

Chloe preferred wandering around and then asking for help if she needed it.

Lex swung her ankles back down from his lap and was out of his seat and helping her up before the salesman could get too close. The last thing he wanted was some slimy little git with a fake smile trying to talk them into buying something which would result in an argument and spoil the whole day.

"How come when you don't want them, they crawl up your ass, but if you're looking for one, it's like they're all on strike?"

He put his hand on the small of Chloe's back and guided her in the directly opposite direction from the associate.

They passed a few truly horrible 'art deco' style couches, and Lex didn't even give them a second glance. "And it's a good thing you have me if you're not even thinking about style."

He realized he'd just opened himself up to a slew of gay jokes, but that would be too easy an opening for Chloe to even consider taking.

She looked up at him and smirked before speaking. “I’m looking at comfort first. Seeing which ones are the most comfortable and don’t look hideous. Then I’ll buy it and live in it. Oh! Pretty!”

Chloe made her way through the maze of couches and flopped down on a deep blue one. It felt really good. She let out a low moan. “Yeah, now that’s what I’m talking about.”

The cushions had plenty of give but she didn’t sink down too much. It could seat at least four people comfortably and was a good color. She was in love.

Lex smirked as he finally caught up with her. How she'd even seen this one from where they'd been standing before was beyond him.

But he had to admit it didn't look like a bad choice. The color was nice, only two pillows that looked like they could actually be useful for more than decoration, plenty of space. But not too big to fit into her living room.

Chloe was stretched out fully, and there was still place for another person to sit comfortably. Then again, Chloe was short.

Lex sat down next to her feet and leaned back. "Okay, you've got my full support on this one. The backrest has just the right height. Plenty of room to get comfortable."

It was almost better than his own couch at the apartment. "It'll fit nicely in your living room. And you won't have to get a new table, cause the one you've got matches."

He turned a little to the side to look down at Chloe, who was going through different slouching positions to test the comfort factor. "How the hell did you see it from all the way over there?"

“I’ve got sloth radar,” she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. She sighed and then eased back into the couch more. She smiled over at him. “Thanks for coming with me.”

She poked his leg with her foot. “Told you you’d have fun.”

Lex sniffed at her and then started to move his body around.

Chloe was looking at the couch a little more carefully. The living room would look better with it in there if the walls were a different color. Well, she could always paint…

“Lex, what are you doing tonight?”

He settled on one comfortable position, looking down at her with one leg up underneath her feet on the couch.

"You know as well as I do that my social life is in a desolate state. So I guess I'll be doing whatever you're trying to win me for right now."

He had no idea what was going through her brain, but he was pretty sure that whatever it was would be fine with him. The awkwardness that had been between them earlier seemed to have vanished after the twelfth or thirteenth couch and he didn't feel odd anymore just being with Chloe.

Lex was even pretty sure that he'd be alright with spending time in private. They'd been just this before. Best friends who hung out and were close and did things together. He felt alright with being that again, as long as she was there.

~~
Chloe felt more liquid drip onto her forearm and she had to admit, internally at least, that Lex had been right. It probably wasn’t a good idea to paint from this angle using the brush.

He would have to do it. Damn him and his long legs and limbs. When she turned around to tell him that, he was already there. Arms crossed over his chest and smirk out in full force.

“Eat me,” she said as she handed him the roller with the long, but still not long enough for her to reach the corners, handle attached.

He took the roller from her and went to finish the job that she'd started. "No thanks, I don't relish the taste of paint."

They'd gotten the paint after they'd left the furniture store and Chloe had sent him home to change, insisting that she could set everything up on her own. It was a good thing that the couch wouldn't arrive until the day after tomorrow, because the floor had already suffered in the spots that hadn't been covered with tarp or old newspapers.

"You can do the bottom, since you're already covered in paint anyway."

“I am not covered in paint. Just because I’m not a baby,” she said, looking over him, “about getting a little paint on me does not make me covered in it.”

It was also that she’d rather get paint on her than totally mess up the walls.

Lex barely had any of the light yellow stuff on him. Bastard. But Chloe wasn’t about to start a paint fight. That would be taking things a little far. Even for her.

She pointed over at him. “Just don’t kick me while I’m down there.” He’d “accidentally” done that about twenty minutes ago when she’d made a comment about his designer jeans. Honestly, who wore those to paint?

"Wouldn't dream of it," he answered with a smirk. "Unless your mouth happened to run away with you, again."

He watched as she squatted down to cover the areas that he'd missed with the roll earlier. The result of their work so far didn't look too bad. The light yellow color would give the whole room a friendly look and it was a perfect match to offset the dark color of the couch.

Lex moved over a little, drawing the roll smoothly along the wall until the paint was spread evenly, then lowered the handle to pick up some more.

Soon enough, he had to take a step over Chloe to get to the space above her. With both legs bracketing her crouching body, and her crouching between, it was just a little too tempting not to do anything.

So he tightened his legs and jostled her a little, causing her to loose her balance and place her hand right in a nice big blotch of paint to brace herself.

"Oops, sorry." He grinned down at her as she glared up.

“Someone is cruising for a bruising,” she said in a low tone of voice. His grin grew exponentially. She moved a little and placed her yellow hand on Lex’s expensive, new, black sneakers.

“Oh, oops,” she said, widening her eyes and looking up at him. “I promise I’ll be sure to not replace them.”

She turned her head and went back to paining near the floor. She wondered how long it would be until Lex got his revenge. Even though he had started it.

Lex looked at the tip of his shoe, then at back at Chloe who was still crouching in place and painting the bottom of the wall.

He took a step back and then brought his foot up to wipe the paint off...on the seat of Chloe's old jeans.

"I'm sure you don't mind. Those were meant to get dirty after all, right?"

Now she had a wide yellow streak running up the crack of her butt. Lex was trying hard to keep a straight face, but he could feel it crumbling as laughter pushed its way up.

Being that she could get up from under him, she did so. “Course they were. That’s why we wore these clothes, right?”

She pulled her shirt down, took a step and then “stumbled” into Lex. In the process, she happened to take her brush and run it from the collar of his t-shirt all the way down to the hem. She thought she even got a little of the dark, fake stonewashed jeans.

“See, no harm right?”

Lex looked down at his shirt, then back up a little to look at her face. She obviously thought she'd won this little game already.

"Absolutely not, but so nice of you to worry. Such a sweetheart." His voice was dripping with false sincerity as he pulled her into a hug, making sure to press her tightly against his chest so she would get at least some of the paint on her own shirt while his free hand tried to wrestle the brush from her.

Chloe fought back though, wriggling against him like an eel and keeping a grip of steel on the damn brush getting both of their arms covered in more paint in the process.

The wrestling turned into laughing and ended in a stalemate with both of them unable to get anywhere unless they admitted defeat and let go.

Lex was still laughing when he moved his head back just enough to look down at her.

"I believe we are at an impasse," he said with a believable Spanish accent.

“Using Princess Bride lines isn’t going to make me go any easier on you, buddy.” She tried, in vain, to get loose from his arms. “You can’t hold out forever,” she grunted.

“I’ll worm away from you and then dump a can on your beautiful, bald head. That’s a promise.” He pulled her a little closer and her cheek bumped against his chest, getting paint on her face. “Jerkwad.”

She didn’t expect his next move. He released her so quickly that she barely had time to grab onto him to steady herself. She dropped the brush in the process.

Lex laughed at her and slowly bent down to get it. It was the laugh that did it for her. When he straightened up, before he could start with the speechifying, she leaned up and kissed him.

And not a friend kiss.

The brush hit the floor again as Lex’s arms came to wrap around her.
He hadn't seen it coming, couldn't have prevented it and much less stop himself from reacting instinctively.

By the time his brain finally engaged once more, his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist and shoulder holding her to him and his tongue was in her mouth, meshing with hers with a sense of urgency that shocked him.

Lex's eyes flew open wide and he forced his hands to move so he could take hold of her arms and pull her out of the kiss.

"Chloe."

He wanted to tell her that this was wrong. That it was a bad idea to do this again. That they really shouldn't be doing this and forget it had happened. He wanted to stop things before they got out of control and they made another mistake that would end up hurting all of them.

But then he looked at her face and down her paint smeared outfit and instead of saying any of the reasonable things that he'd meant to say his brain went on hiatus and his hands moved up to capture her face.

Another heart beat and he was kissing her again, thumbs tracing the paint smudged cheekbones as his teeth caught her lower lip, tongue tracing the plump flesh before he released it to delve into her mouth.

Chloe was glad that Lex hadn’t said anything past her name. She knew what he was going to say. She just didn’t care about it anymore. She wanted him. It was wrong and it was selfish but it was also honest.

Leaning up to get at him more was a very good idea. But she was wearing old, ratty sneakers with no lift to them. She arched herself into his body, took another step closer…and promptly slipped in a puddle of paint.

They both almost went down this time and now Chloe’s forehead was smeared with yellow. She started to laugh against his shoulder.

“Can you imagine if we had to go to the hospital and explain?” She brushed some paint caked hair out of her face and looked up at him.

Lex chuckled. "I don't think they'd even ask for an explanation." Covered in paint from head to toe, it was pretty self-explanatory what had happened.

He brought his hand up and tried to wipe off the smudge on her forehead, but all it did was get his thumb covered in paint and Chloe's face smeared even further.

"Yellow suits you." Lex grinned and leaned down for another kiss. When he pulled back again he was still grinning.

"How come you're always at your sexiest when you're covered in god only knows what?"

This time it was paint, the last time it had been glitter and glue, before that it had been bright red playdoh. He wondered what it said about him that he found the disheveled teacher or paint disaster look so appealing.

“I don’t know,” Chloe said, grinning. “Though maybe we’ve discovered a new look. We’ll be rich, rich I tell ya!” She laughed and pulled Lex down for another soft kiss.

“You can design the covered in muck chic wear and I’ll model it.” Her hands made their way under his shirt and she let them play over the muscles and warm skin that was now open to her exploration.

Making sure she was on steady feet, she went about thoroughly attacking Lex’s neck. “You’re sexiest when you’re laughing.” A kiss below his ear. “And breathing. You look really good breathing too.” She felt his body shake against hers.

It felt good to touch him like this. Yes, they were both well and heated up. The inevitable was going to happen. But it wasn’t as heavy as it was before.

“If you’re very nice, I may even share the vat of turpentine I bought just in case something like this happened.” Not something like them going at it on a tarp in her living room. No, in case they got paint all over them. Which was going to happen once they went at it.

She rubbed against him and kissed him lazily until she felt him start to grab more urgently at her body. She didn’t want either of them to get to a point where they couldn’t take it anymore. She broke their kiss and then got down on the floor.

Chloe spread herself out in an over the top way and then said, “You ready to get burned by the sun baby?” She inflected her voice with a sultry tone and was barely able to keep herself from laughing.

Lex laughed and just looked at her for a second, covered in paint, sprawled in yet more paint, and beckoning him to join in the mess. "You think one vat of turpentine is going to be enough to get all this mess off?"

He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it onto one of the tarps covering the floor along the walls.

"I'm seeing half a dozen showers in our immediate future."

Dropping to his knees between her legs, he lowered himself slowly on top of her, feeling some of the still wet paint smearing onto his chest. It was an odd feeling, but not entirely unpleasant. "Not that that sounds like a bad thing."

Her shower wasn't as spacious as his, but that didn't matter when the plan was to get as close as possible anyway.

"So go ahead, baby, burn me."

Her giggle shook her entire body, pushing her breasts against him and smearing more paint between their bodies. Lex buried his nose in her neck and kissed the few patches of skin that had escaped the yellow mess so far. His hands pushed under her shirt and smoothed up over her belly to cup her bra covered breasts.

The fabric felt like simple cotton. Curious, he pulled back a little and started tugging her shirt up.

She sat up a little to help him pull it off and he tossed it on top of his own shirt before turning back to get a look at her choice of bra.

It was a simple white, soon to be yellow, bra with little flower applications at the bottom of the halters and clasped in the back. "Now if that doesn't scream sexy vixen," he said with a smirk.

“Don’t get so smug.” She smiled up at him and wrapped an arm around his waist. “We’ll see what you’ve got under those jeans soon enough. For all I know you could have bunny boxers on.” She found one of the loops and tugged at them before pulling him down on top of her.

The floor was a little cold but Lex’s heat made her very warm. “And if you think I’m sexy like this,” she said between kissing and groping him, “maybe we’ll just have to grout my bathroom next week. And then caulk my windows the week after.”

Her hands ran up his chest and she ducked her head so she could watch it getting yellow, too. She laughed when Lex hit a ticklish spot at her side.

Aside from the ringing laughter, hitting that spot had made her jiggle in all the right ways as she tried to get away, so Lex found the spot again and attacked it with his fingers. She giggled more and fought harder, but she was no real match when it came to sheer strength, so Lex held her down easily and dove down to blow a raspberry on her stomach, forcing more helpless laughter out of her.

"You know, I can see the appeal of laughter now," he said with a grin as he finally let up on the tickling and kissed his way up her chest. "Definitely a turn on."

To emphasize his point he shifted a little higher so he could push their hips together and let her feel what she did to him without even trying.

Chloe had sort of almost forgotten why they were on the floor. She liked being with him so much in any and every way that she usually got distracted by him…even when she was focusing on him.

“Is that a roller in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Lex laughed and she joined him. Until she gasped when he pressed his hips harder into her.

He felt her legs snap around him and lock behind his ass, keeping him trapped right where he was.

"Nice reaction time." Lex tried to wriggle around a little in the tight hold and both of them groaned at the friction. "Trying to lock me in place?"

Lex could feel his cock throbbing against the inside of his jeans demanding some attention. He could live with delayed gratification, though.

"You know, I should make you wash your hands, because otherwise my dick might just end up looking like a roller," he mused as he picked up one of her paint smeared hands and linked their fingers.

Chloe looked at their hands. “I think it’s mostly dry,” she said, honestly. “You really want me to scour them with turpentine and then touch you?” That sounded like a very bad idea to her. “Ouch,” she said, as she made a face.

“And I don’t want to keep you here,” she squeezed her legs a little tighter, “forever because that would kinda get in the way of what I have planned.”

She smiled up at him and traced the pointer finger of the hand that he currently didn’t have over one of his cheekbones. It had paint on it but, as she suspected, none of it came off on him.

“Besides, you think I really relish having your paw prints all over my breasts?”

Lex's brows arched as he looked down at her. "You don't? Too bad, but okay."

He pulled back a little and braced on his elbows to show her his free hands. "Look, no hands, ma."

Chloe rolled her eyes and he leaned down to tug at the seam of one of the bra cups with his teeth. "Of course that makes getting you out of your clothes a little difficult," he lisped around the fabric between his teeth as he managed to pull it down and free her breast.

"But I love a good challenge."

With a grin he swooped down again and repeated his efforts on the other cup. Once he had both of her breasts free, he nuzzled the soft mounds and latched on to one perky little nipple, licking and sucking at it.
Chloe’s head lolled back and hit the floor as her eyes closed. “And I love being a good challenger.” Her hands came up to fasten onto his bare shoulders. She looked down at them and made sure that she wasn’t leaving any paint on them.

When she was sure, she moved them to the back of his head. Chloe felt her hips arching up and the jolts of pleasure that his mouth was evoking in her body. “Can’t wait until…Lex!” He’d hit a really good spot and teethed at it.

Once she got herself back under control, she continued her line of thought. “Can’t wait until you try to get your pants off with just your….”

Trailed off again and moaned when he moved to the other breast. “Teeth,” she finally finished.

Lex looked up from his spot and shook his head. "Sadly, I'm not that bendy. But I can do yours."

He kissed his way down her stomach and shoved his tongue under the fold to get at the little catch of the zipper. Once he had it caught between his teeth, he started to pull down slowly. He'd learned that trying to do this part fast usually got the zipper stuck halfway down.

Chloe actually helped by pushing her hips up and he got the zipper down all the way. Then came the part with the button. A little more complicated, but still manageable.

Lex licked his lips and set to work, using his tongue and teeth to get the button through the hole. At least the jeans were old and worn, so the hole was a little loose already.

"Hah. There you go," he proclaimed triumphantly once the pants were open. He could see the triangle of her panties through the open flaps and grinned. "Oh, look, different décor downstairs." Unlike the bra, the panties were a bright red.

Chloe had watched Lex work with amusement. And she had to admit she was impressed by the little show he’d put on. She nodded at his words as she continued to let her hands play over his skin. She’d found some random birthmarks that her fingers ran over.

“Wore the bra because it was supportive and didn’t want to be flashing you. Keeps the puppies in a little more.” He chuckled against her skin and she groaned.

His mouth was now kissing her over the panties. “And these,” she arched up, “were all I had. Laundry.” Between painting she’d gone down to the basement to get her clothes out of the dryer.

Doing her best not to kick at him, Chloe toed off her shoes. “Get up here and I’ll see about your pants.”

Lex braced himself on his hands and made his way back up her stomach, dipping his tongue into her belly button on the way and getting a little distracted again as he made it to her breasts. Nipping at one nipple, then sucking it into his mouth and soothing the sting of the bite with his flat tongue.

Her hands tightened around his shoulders and he felt her nails scratch him a little. He released the flesh between his lips and moved back a little. "Think you can do it without hands?" His mind provided an instant image of Chloe's face pressed against his crotch, using her talented mouth to open his jeans and pull down his boxers.

Lex was glad he didn't even own 'bunny' shorts.

“I can try,” she said. But she knew that she would have a much more difficult time. Lex’s jeans were new, unlike hers, and they would have much less give to them. She’d have to work on them for a longer period of time and the material above and surrounding the button would get wet.

“Roll over.” Lex started to do just that but she pulled him down for another kiss before he could go very far. “Sorry, changed my mind about you going anywhere. I’m good now.” He grinned down at her and then got onto his back.

Chloe briefly stood up and took her socks off before shimmying out of her jeans and panties. She reached around her back and undid her bra. It hit the floor, too.

She settled herself between Lex’s legs and started kissing and nipping at his collar bones. She worked her way down his chest until she found the spot where she’d marked him before. She used her teeth harder there and only left the skin when she was sure that she’d done some damage.

Keeping her hands flat on the floor was really hard. But only because she wanted to touch him so bad. “Maybe I’ll give you another massage after we’re done. A little token of my gratitude.” She murmured the words against his skin.

When she looked up at him, his eyes immediately sought hers out. His pupils were blown wide and he was already panting. “I’ll try to hurry.” This wasn’t about teasing him needlessly. She scooted further down.

Lex moved his hand to comb through her long tresses. She'd even gotten paint in her hair. "No need to hurry on my account. I like the view."

He smiled and bent one knee to get a little more comfortable. Chloe smiled back at him before she lowered her head and he felt her nose starting to push against the line of his zipper before her entire face pressed against his groin as she tried to get at the catch.
The heat from her breath soaked through the fabric of his jeans making his cock twitch. His eyes closed halfway as he watched her work on his pants. He noticed that she kept her hands pressed to the floor beside him.

Lex used the hand that wasn't holding her hair back to pick up her hand and place it on his chest. Her nails dug in for a moment, making him hiss in pleasure. Her other hand came up without needing invitation and he felt the zipper lower as her hands skated over his chest and stomach.

Chloe made sure to go slow with the zipper. She didn’t want to catch anything in it. She could feel just how ready he was for her and she tried to avoid brushing up against him too much. But she couldn’t help teasing him just a little.

Her tongue poked through the open slit in his pants and she ran it up the part of his cock she could reach. Knowing how Lex would react, she already had her head out of his crotch when his hips surged up.

“Almost there,” she assured him. She placed her mouth over the button of his jeans and, as she suspected, it wasn’t as easy as it should have been. Lex wasn’t the only thing stiff at the moment.

She tried to distract him a little with what her hands were doing. Running over his chest and randomly scratching and rubbing his skin.

Using all of the strength in her tongue was necessary to force the button through the hole. She grabbed the edge of the flap of his jeans with her teeth and got a look at his boxers. Green ones. Nothing to write home about.

She ran her tongue over the edge of his boxers before going back to work at his jeans. Getting them down to anywhere that would be helpful was going to be very hard. She started on one side and Lex raised his hips up.

Chloe wasn't getting anywhere in pulling the jeans down and Lex forgot about the part where there was no need to hurry, because her chin kept brushing against his dick and balls as she tried to wrestle the unyielding fabric down his hips.

"Forget about the no hands." His voice came out low, and a bit pressed with urgency.

Both of their hands went to his waistband at the same time and started pulling and shoving until the jeans were stuck around his knees. "C'mere."

Lex hooked his hand behind her neck and pulled her up into a kiss even as he contorted to get his shoes and socks off so they could wrestle the jeans down the rest of the way. "Maybe you were right about the designer jeans," he growled into her neck.

He hardly ever wore them and they were tailored to his ass, which made them just too difficult to deal with if you wanted to get out of them fast.

Chloe nodded against him as she started to grope him. “Make your ass look really nice, though.” She’d noticed that earlier when he bent down to pick something up.

She let her hand drift down to his dick and she ran her hand up and down the shaft a few times. Grinning over at him, she made her way back down his body. “I want you inside now,” she murmured, “but let me give you a little preview of what I intend to do to you later.”

A small laugh came out of her mouth when she heard Lex groan and then his head hit the floor. She ran her tongue from the bottom to the tip and then swirled her tongue around the crown before starting to really work at him.

Chloe had to remind herself not to get too crazy at the moment. She’d meant what she said. She wanted Lex inside of her when they came. She bobbed her head a few times, being sure to get as far down as she could and then swallow, before dragging her lips off of him.

Lex's hands tightened into fists at his sides and by the time she pulled off his dick, he was breathing heavily again.

"Damn, you can do that any time you want."

He unclenched his hands and took hold of her shoulders to pull her up into a kiss. Their tongues tangled leisurely as he smoothed his hands down her back to grab that pretty ass. He felt the inside of her legs slide against his thighs as she repositioned herself and groaned into the kiss when she took hold of his dick again.

His fingers tightened reflexively when she positioned herself and slowly sank down on his length. Damn, he'd missed this. It wasn't the only thing that made it so perfect to be with her, but fuck it was probably one of the best parts.

Because they’d done this before, Chloe thought it shouldn’t be so overwhelming. But it was. Maybe it was the time that they’d been apart affecting her in some way. She reminded herself that it hadn’t even been a full week since they’d done this.

However, after another moment, most of the actual thoughts in her head went flying out of it. “And you can do this anytime you want.” She stayed still for a few seconds trying to get herself under some semblance of control. If she didn’t she just might fuck Lex right into the apartment below her.

She rolled her hips and gasped his name. “No idea what you do to me,” she murmured. Her eyes were clenched shut and she could feel her nails digging into his shoulders.

Lex groaned and pushed his hips up, trying to encourage her to move. The plastic tarp was sticking to his back, the paint starting to crack and peel on his skin and he couldn't care less about that because Chloe started to rock her hips and he felt her muscles clench around the length of his dick and...

"Wish I could do this all day, every day." Maybe stop occasionally to eat and sleep, but other than that he couldn't think of anything else he wanted to be doing.

His hands moved to her hips, holding her steady as she rode him, increasing the rhythm and squeezing around him every once in a while.

"Feel so good," he murmured as his palms trailed up her sides and to those gorgeous full breasts, cupping and kneading them, feeling their weight in his hands and tweaking her nipples.

The paint from his hands chipped off and when he moved them away to cup her shoulders, flecks of yellow remained on the cream colored skin. It looked like yellow beauty marks.

Lex chuckled. "You're spotted."

“You’re beautiful,” Chloe countered. She knew that it wasn’t an appropriate response but she said it anyway. She gazed, yes, she was gazing and she knew it, down at him and smiled as she continued to pump her hips.

“Can stay here tonight and do it over and over.” Sounded like a pretty good plan to her. “Tomorrow, too.” But after that, Lois was going to be in town. God, Lois, she would have to tell her about this slip up. And that Lex had stayed with her for two days after the slip up. Because she knew he was going to accept.

“Break in the new couch.” Chloe leaned back a little and looked at him through her semi lowered lids. She wasn’t the only one who had paint on her. Lex’s chest was criss crossed randomly with the splashes of color.

She let her head fall further back as she picked up the pace with her hips. “Missed this so much. God, missed you.” She changed the direction of her hips and Lex groaned beneath her.

Her body was tingling from where his hands had run over her skin. Hands that were now at her hips guiding her and holding her as he thrust up.

Lex used his hands on her hips to tilt her forward until he could rear up to meet her for a passionate kiss.

He'd stay as long as she wanted him to. There was nothing that pulled him back to his own apartment. Breaking in the new couch sounded perfect and they could christen the rest of her apartment while they were at it.

Her hips moved faster and Lex could feel his arousal coil tight in his lower belly. He moved one hand across her belly and down, brushing his thumb through her folds to find her clit.

When her hips jerked like she'd been hit by an electrical jolt, he grinned into the kiss and kept rubbing the slippery bit of flesh under his thumb. Chloe squeezed her muscles tight around him and Lex's hips jerked up, losing the rhythm for a moment before he found it again, hard and fast.

Their lips parted, both panting harshly in each other's face as their bodies ground together.

"So fucking sexy," he whispered against her mouth before going in for another kiss.

Chloe held on to Lex for dear life as her body took over. There wasn’t any thought behind the movements she made. Thrusting down hard so Lex’s thumb would hit her clit just right. Tongue marauding through Lex’s mouth. Hands scratching and pulling him closer but never close enough. Hips circling until the inevitable…..

Lex’s free hand came up and tangled in her hair, holding her at his lips as she screamed into his mouth. She jerked against him erratically as his thumb kept working at her clit, prolonging her pleasure.

When his hand loosened in her hair, Chloe broke their kiss and groaned a “Yeah,” when she felt his hot come stream into her body. She felt her pussy milking him and she bit down on her lower lip as she kept moving her hips.

She watched Lex as his eyes finally opened. When she saw that he was focusing on her, she swiveled them one last time.

He groaned and she giggled before leaning down to kiss him. “Hope you had your Wheaties this morning, there’s plenty more where that came from.” Instead of feeling sleepy and lethargic, Chloe swore she could feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins.

She rested her forehead against his. “I don’t want to give this part of us, up, either. That ok with you?” She knew it would be being that she was the one who had made the no fucking rule. And had been the one to not only cross but trample that line.

He wanted to ask her if she was sure. Meant to caution, now that his brain was back on track, that this was not a smart thing to do. Thought about telling her how stupid they were to keep crossing the line when it wouldn't help either of them.

But then he looked into her face and saw that smile and her eyes fucking sparkling with happiness.

"Okay."

Lex nudged her with his nose and brought their lips together again in another kiss. Less urgent than the ones they'd shared before, but just as intense. He'd missed this part, too.

"No giving up any part of us, promise."

~~

tatie87
11th October 2008, 21:47
I loved the paint scenario. Chloe and Lex r just so freaking cute. I knew they wouldn't last long as just "friends". Can't wait for the next chapter.

lj715
11th October 2008, 22:44
This was a great chapter, very hot smut. I just wish they'd tell Clark already .

hfce
12th October 2008, 00:49
Damn that was hot sex!!! But those two need to be hit! Lex needs to break it off with Clark. Chloe needs to let Lex know to choose. If he can't then it is over. :wth: Good update though.

ChloeLovesLex
15th October 2008, 03:54
*whew* Finally all caught up on this one. Goodness Lex and Chloe have certainly found themselves in a pickle haven't they? I mean clearly this goes far beyond being best friends. They are miserable without one another.

Somebody smack them. They are in love dammit.

Now if someone would please reattach Lex's balls so he can just tell Clark and get it over with we can have some smut without the plaid avenger screwing up their bliss. ;)

somethingeasy
17th October 2008, 18:58
ROTFLMAO! I get the feeling, BlueSabby, that you’re enjoying your readers going insane and screaming obscenities and warnings to your main characters. In fact, I felt sorely tempted to only ‘coo’ at the characters in this review just to frustrate and bug you.

LOL! However, I couldn’t bring myself to do that… especially not in this chapter where I saw two such intelligent, wonderful, passionate people making such a stupid, STUPID, horrible mistake.


Chloe loved it when Lex was a snob. It was so very endearing. But he was right on this one. It was absolutely horrible. But she wasn’t looking at it for the colors, she was putting her butt on every couch in the place in order to find the most comfortable one.

I really loved the beginning of this chapter… with Chloe and Lex indulging in such a ‘couply’ kind of thing… buying furniture together. It’s absolutely delicious, but also frustrating seeing them both so oblivious and unaware about how they’re both acting JUST like a happily involved couple in practically every way possible.

LOL! And it’s not every ‘girlfriend’ (or even life-partner) who can force Lex into taking a trip through a furniture warehouse store… where they stock tiger print covers and synthetic fabric. Lex would ONLY do this for someone he was well and truly crazy about.


"How come when you don't want them, they crawl up your ass, but if you're looking for one, it's like they're all on strike?"

LOL! You think that’s bad… you should really come over and visit the UK sometime. *beams with pride* The rudeness of our sales and services force will put make most disgruntled salesperson seem like a happy commercial personality by comparison. But on the plus side… our salespeople never EVER stalk us around the store, LOL!


He turned a little to the side to look down at Chloe, who was going through different slouching positions to test the comfort factor. "How the hell did you see it from all the way over there?"

“I’ve got sloth radar,” she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. She sighed and then eased back into the couch more. She smiled over at him. “Thanks for coming with me.”

She poked his leg with her foot. “Told you you’d have fun.”

Lex sniffed at her and then started to move his body around.

Yayyy! It was actually a LOT of fun seeing them both finding ‘the perfect couch’ after all that work and searching. I liked that BOTH of them approved wholeheartedly of this piece of furniture. LOL! It seems like Lex’s presence in the store was a little superfluous though… his input wasn’t really required at all. But it was fun to have him there with Chloe ;)


He had no idea what was going through her brain, but he was pretty sure that whatever it was would be fine with him. The awkwardness that had been between them earlier seemed to have vanished after the twelfth or thirteenth couch and he didn't feel odd anymore just being with Chloe.

Lex was even pretty sure that he'd be alright with spending time in private. They'd been just this before. Best friends who hung out and were close and did things together. He felt alright with being that again, as long as she was there.

What a lovely sentiment. Too bad it’s not going to last. After this chapter, we’re going straight back to guilt, awkwardness, trauma and agony again. What a damned shame. But then again… we’re rather enjoying the trauma, aren’t we? LOL!


Lex barely had any of the light yellow stuff on him. Bastard. But Chloe wasn’t about to start a paint fight. That would be taking things a little far. Even for her.

She pointed over at him. “Just don’t kick me while I’m down there.” He’d “accidentally” done that about twenty minutes ago when she’d made a comment about his designer jeans. Honestly, who wore those to paint?

"Wouldn't dream of it," he answered with a smirk. "Unless your mouth happened to run away with you, again."

LOL! Oh those two! You can tell that they’re barely inches away from a full fledged paint fight. I really liked the visual of Lex Luthor actually accommodating Chloe to the extent where he helps her fix up her apartment… There’s NO other person in the world that Lex would be willing to use paints and rollers and don on the role of a handyman for. He’s really such a sweet friend… when he’s not being a self-absorbed shmuck that is.


Soon enough, he had to take a step over Chloe to get to the space above her. With both legs bracketing her crouching body, and her crouching between, it was just a little too tempting not to do anything.

So he tightened his legs and jostled her a little, causing her to loose her balance and place her hand right in a nice big blotch of paint to brace herself.

"Oops, sorry." He grinned down at her as she glared up.

LOL! I think we can say, quite confidently, that LEX was the one who started the paint fight, ROTFL! But honestly, it could just as easily have been Chloe too. The situation demanded a paint fight! But I like that Lex was the one who started it… it’s fun seeing his immature, silly, playful side come out. He’s been a broody, moody mess for so long… that it’s NICE seeing him acting happy and giddy.


“See, no harm right?”

Lex looked down at his shirt, then back up a little to look at her face. She obviously thought she'd won this little game already.

"Absolutely not, but so nice of you to worry. Such a sweetheart." His voice was dripping with false sincerity as he pulled her into a hug, making sure to press her tightly against his chest so she would get at least some of the paint on her own shirt while his free hand tried to wrestle the brush from her.

I was enjoying the silliness of the situation. But I also found myself getting more and more worried about how this bit of play-acting was brining them both into danger zones of close proximity again. I kept waiting for the scene to take a sudden, fast heated turn as they both realized how close they were to each other… wriggling and wrestling against each other no less.

Be strong, Chlex! Just say ‘no’!


Lex laughed at her and slowly bent down to get it. It was the laugh that did it for her. When he straightened up, before he could start with the speechifying, she leaned up and kissed him.

And not a friend kiss.

The brush hit the floor again as Lex’s arms came to wrap around her.
He hadn't seen it coming, couldn't have prevented it and much less stop himself from reacting instinctively.

By the time his brain finally engaged once more, his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist and shoulder holding her to him and his tongue was in her mouth, meshing with hers with a sense of urgency that shocked him.

*shakes head and sighs* I wish I could say I was surprised… but that wouldn’t be true. I was expectingsomething like this to happen since the last chapter when they agreed to remain friends, despite the obvious fact that it was NOT going to stay that way. But I confess, I was surprised about how damned quickly they lost the battle to stay friends, and immediately jumped at each other again. I was expecting at least a few days of maintaining before they fell.

I guess they have even LESS strength of will that I gave them credit for :P

I did however think it was interesting that Chloe was the one to re-initiate sexuality back between them. She was the one who ended up with the most horrible wounds after their ‘break-up’, so it’s really startling to see that she’s the one opening herself up to yet another round of heartbreak again.

I’d say Chloe most definitely shows signs of masochism. For heaven’s sake, Chloe! You deserve to be HAPPY! Stop throwing yourself away on meaningless one-night stands and sordid affairs.


He wanted to tell her that this was wrong. That it was a bad idea to do this again. That they really shouldn't be doing this and forget it had happened. He wanted to stop things before they got out of control and they made another mistake that would end up hurting all of them.

But then he looked at her face and down her paint smeared outfit and instead of saying any of the reasonable things that he'd meant to say his brain went on hiatus and his hands moved up to capture her face.

I had a moment of approval for Lex as he noted that this was a bad, BAD idea… and seemed on the verge of telling Chloe that they shoulnd’t do this. But then he completely lost all good intentions and resolve when he looked at her. Actually, although I still think he was making a huge mistake, I kind of like the fact that looking at Chloe’s paint-smeared face overwhelmed his senses and struck him brain-dead.


Chloe was glad that Lex hadn’t said anything past her name. She knew what he was going to say. She just didn’t care about it anymore. She wanted him. It was wrong and it was selfish but it was also honest.

honest?!? Oh dear heavens, I didn’t know whether to laugh or scream at the idea of Chloe referring to any part of this sordid affair as honest! I wonder whether she’s ever going to appreciate the irony of that feeling later in retrospect.


It felt good to touch him like this. Yes, they were both well and heated up. The inevitable was going to happen. But it wasn’t as heavy as it was before.

I was angry at the two of them committing this horrible mistake, but I ALSO found myself charmed and impressed by the tone of the re-started affair. It’s not as frantic as the start last time… this time, they both are enjoying each other’s company as much as the sensuality of each other’s bodies. It makes me want to knock their heads together to somehow force them to see how they both are acting like a matched pair in a beautiful, stable, strong and HAPPY relationship. This is the kind of relationship that should NOT be twisted and forced into the category of a ‘sordid affair’, dammit!!



The floor was a little cold but Lex’s heat made her very warm. “And if you think I’m sexy like this,” she said between kissing and groping him, “maybe we’ll just have to grout my bathroom next week. And then caulk my windows the week after.”

Her hands ran up his chest and she ducked her head so she could watch it getting yellow, too. She laughed when Lex hit a ticklish spot at her side.

Aside from the ringing laughter, hitting that spot had made her jiggle in all the right ways as she tried to get away, so Lex found the spot again and attacked it with his fingers. She giggled more and fought harder, but she was no real match when it came to sheer strength, so Lex held her down easily and dove down to blow a raspberry on her stomach, forcing more helpless laughter out of her.

"You know, I can see the appeal of laughter now," he said with a grin as he finally let up on the tickling and kissed his way up her chest. "Definitely a turn on."

I loved the way they were teasing each other, BlueSabby (verbally as well as physically). But it’s really so tragic seeing them both giggling, laughing and having such beautiful, lighthearted fun… while the whole thing is tainted by the fact that it’s a distasteful cheating affair.


Chloe had sort of almost forgotten why they were on the floor. She liked being with him so much in any and every way that she usually got distracted by him…even when she was focusing on him.

So, SO tragic. I HATE the fact that the Chlex relationship has taken on such ugly overtones now. It’s especially tragic because I can see how pure is Chloe’s affection, love and desire for this man. She loves Lex… completely, unreservedly and unselfishly… and Lex is abusing that love so that he can provide himself with a bit of an ‘escape’ from his ‘legitimate relationship’s’ problems.


Chloe looked at their hands. “I think it’s mostly dry,” she said, honestly. “You really want me to scour them with turpentine and then touch you?” That sounded like a very bad idea to her. “Ouch,” she said, as she made a face.

LOL! That would be a pretty interesting sight to see actually. LOL! Definitely a very unique way of mixing together pleasure and pain? ROTFL!


“And I don’t want to keep you here,” she squeezed her legs a little tighter, “forever because that would kinda get in the way of what I have planned.”

erm… it’s really NOT a good idea to start throwing around words like forver, Chloe! Not even in jest. It will only remind you exactly how unstable and temporary this arrangement really is.


Trailed off again and moaned when he moved to the other breast. “Teeth,” she finally finished.

Lex looked up from his spot and shook his head. "Sadly, I'm not that bendy. But I can do yours."

He kissed his way down her stomach and shoved his tongue under the fold to get at the little catch of the zipper. Once he had it caught between his teeth, he started to pull down slowly. He'd learned that trying to do this part fast usually got the zipper stuck halfway down.

I didn’t want to enjoy the smut, because it was wrong and stupid! But damn, how can a person resist the hotness between them? Especially when they’re being so playfully creative in their foreplay? Lex was really being wonderful in the show he was providing Chloe… HOW can this man be so wonderful, generous and giving… and also so damned selfish, self-absorbed and stupid at the same time?!?


“I can try,” she said. But she knew that she would have a much more difficult time. Lex’s jeans were new, unlike hers, and they would have much less give to them. She’d have to work on them for a longer period of time and the material above and surrounding the button would get wet.

LOL! I liked that little note about how Lex’s very expensive designer jeans were most probably only very recently purchased specifically for this pain job. LOL! Trust in Lex to buy himself a new set of jeans for messy, handyman projects… that ridiculous man, LOL! I ALSO loved the cute note about how Lex’s new jeans weren’t as flexible and ‘giving’ as a worn, broken in pair of jeans. LOL! One of the problems of new clothes that no-one really considers, huh? ROTFL!


She settled herself between Lex’s legs and started kissing and nipping at his collar bones. She worked her way down his chest until she found the spot where she’d marked him before. She used her teeth harder there and only left the skin when she was sure that she’d done some damage.

I see Chloe has returned to her habit of marking Lex, huh? But this time, Clark is home, and would be present to see the mark. But neither Chloe nor Lex seem to be unduly worried about that.

Quite honestly though, I don’t think Clark would notice the hickey. But I actually think there IS a chance of the superhero guest (Dove?) noticing it.


Chloe made sure to go slow with the zipper. She didn’t want to catch anything in it. She could feel just how ready he was for her and she tried to avoid brushing up against him too much. But she couldn’t help teasing him just a little.

Her tongue poked through the open slit in his pants and she ran it up the part of his cock she could reach. Knowing how Lex would react, she already had her head out of his crotch when his hips surged up.

“Almost there,” she assured him. She placed her mouth over the button of his jeans and, as she suspected, it wasn’t as easy as it should have been. Lex wasn’t the only thing stiff at the moment.

Damn, that was HOT! I have to admit, I was VERY pleasantly surprised by the tone of this re-start of the affair. I knew that it was inevitable, but I had imagined that it would be a hard, desperate, frantic coupling. Instead we get this slow, playful love-making. It’s amazing, and fantastic to read… not to mention horrifying because of that damned TAINT over this whole love-making session.


Lex hooked his hand behind her neck and pulled her up into a kiss even as he contorted to get his shoes and socks off so they could wrestle the jeans down the rest of the way. "Maybe you were right about the designer jeans," he growled into her neck.

He hardly ever wore them and they were tailored to his ass, which made them just too difficult to deal with if you wanted to get out of them fast.

ROTFLMAO! Not only designer jeans… but especially tailored designer jeans?! ROTFL! Oh that elitist snob! But at least now I know that these jeans are quite honestly ‘the oldest pair of jeans he owns’, LOL!

I also liked that Lex broke first and dismissed the ‘no touching with hands’ rule. I LIKE him breaking first in any challenge, LOL!


His fingers tightened reflexively when she positioned herself and slowly sank down on his length. Damn, he'd missed this. It wasn't the only thing that made it so perfect to be with her, but fuck it was probably one of the best parts.

The smut was hot, hot, HOT! I loved the way that it was slowly building up. And I felt like screaming at Lex when he noted how ‘perfect’ he and Chloe are together. If you both are so perfect together, dumbass, then why aren’t you with her?!?

It’s really amazing to see how the two of them are so overwhelmed by each other… even though, as Chloe noted, they haven’t been apart for even a week. But perhaps it’s because they’re bodies have still not cooled down from their last coupling together. Perhaps some more time apart would have taken off some of the overwhelming edge? Or perhaps not.


"Wish I could do this all day, every day." Maybe stop occasionally to eat and sleep, but other than that he couldn't think of anything else he wanted to be doing.

I was lividly disappointed in Chloe, hearing her proclaim that Lex can ‘do this to her anytime he likes’. Once again she’s handing herself on a silver platter for Lex to consume, abuse and use according to his convenience. And I was furious at Lex for having the NERVE to say he ‘wished’ he could do this all the time, when we all know that it’s his own choice the disables him from enjoying Chloe openly and ALL the time in the status of a legitimate relationship.


“Can stay here tonight and do it over and over.” Sounded like a pretty good plan to her. “Tomorrow, too.” But after that, Lois was going to be in town. God, Lois, she would have to tell her about this slip up. And that Lex had stayed with her for two days after the slip up. Because she knew he was going to accept.

oh this is BAD! Not only did Chloe make a huge mistake in kissing Lex and inviting him back into an affair with her, but now she’s compounding her mistake by extending their sordid session to a two day weekend sleepover. How the HELL are you going to recover from him leaving you again after the weekend, Chloe?!?

I liked how Chloe maintained enough sense to acknowledge that this was a horrible mistake that she didn’t want to discuss with, or even to admit to Lois. But I hope she doesn’t internalize this latest lapse and keep it a secret. It would be awful for her to deal with this alone when Lex leaves again!


He'd stay as long as she wanted him to. There was nothing that pulled him back to his own apartment. Breaking in the new couch sounded perfect and they could christen the rest of her apartment while they were at it.

*rolls eyes* riiiight he’s stay for ‘as long as she wanted’? How DARE he say that?! Chloe wants him as a permanent, legitimate part of her life… and she’s being forced by HIM to be content with snatching moments with him. She wants him to stay forever, but he’s not willing to do that! Bastard!


"So fucking sexy," he whispered against her mouth before going in for another kiss.

Chloe held on to Lex for dear life as her body took over. There wasn’t any thought behind the movements she made. Thrusting down hard so Lex’s thumb would hit her clit just right. Tongue marauding through Lex’s mouth. Hands scratching and pulling him closer but never close enough. Hips circling until the inevitable…..

Lex’s free hand came up and tangled in her hair, holding her at his lips as she screamed into his mouth. She jerked against him erratically as his thumb kept working at her clit, prolonging her pleasure.

Despite everything, there’s no denying that the sex between them is irresistibly hot. In this sense, it’s easy to understand why the two of them can’t stay away from each other.


She rested her forehead against his. “I don’t want to give this part of us, up, either. That ok with you?” She knew it would be being that she was the one who had made the no fucking rule. And had been the one to not only cross but trample that line.

He wanted to ask her if she was sure. Meant to caution, now that his brain was back on track, that this was not a smart thing to do. Thought about telling her how stupid they were to keep crossing the line when it wouldn't help either of them.

I rather enjoyed (in a sadistic kind of way) the way that that you could SEE both Lex and Chloe acknowledging what a horribly BAD idea this was… but neither of them willing to admit it out loud. It was as if they thought that ‘if they ignore the problem, it will go away’. Even now that they’re senses are (kind of) beginning to return, they STILL can’t bring themselves to discuss all the reasons why this shouldn’t happen.


Lex nudged her with his nose and brought their lips together again in another kiss. Less urgent than the ones they'd shared before, but just as intense. He'd missed this part, too.

"No giving up any part of us, promise."

aaargh!!! Not giving up on any part of us?!? The idiots just don’t see how they’re proactively destroying their relationship! Are they really so deluded that they think that continuing the affair will make their friendship stronger and ‘better’ somehow? It’s tainted! And the taint will seep into every aspect of their relationship… including the parts where they can enjoy each other purely platonic company in the lovely, light, playful way that they do right now.

They didn’t know it, but they were very fortunate after the first ‘break-up’ that neither of them ended up feeling hurt, bitter and resentful about the situation. That they both wanted and loved each other despite the horrible circumstances of the break-up… but if they continue, their whole friendship is going to disintegrate into something hateful and hostile.

Poor things… I want to look away… but I can’t! Like watching a train wreck happening right in front of me.

This was a great chapter, BlueSabby! I look hugely forward to the next one. Please update soon!

BlueSabby
23rd October 2008, 21:00
A/N: Blue: Hurricane Lois makes landfall. Enjoy!
A/N: Sabby: Here it is, the long awaited visit of Lois. We'll see if she can live up to your expectations.



~~
Chloe was nervous. Lois was finally settled in and she knew what was coming. The interrogation. They’d made small talk in the car when she’d picked her up from the airport but Chloe wasn’t an idiot. She’d watched Lois watching her.

Lex and she had barely slept or eaten over the past two days. In fact, they’d had a quickie against the wall, her car keys in her hand and her jacket on, right before she’d gone to pick up Lois at the airport.

It had been beyond wonderful to have him in her place for two days. Yes, his was more spacious but they didn’t really need that much space. Being that they were either literally or almost attached to one another.

For a few hours, she’d only used her mouth on him and had refused any attention from him. Watching him get off as she denied herself, well, she never knew that that could be fulfilling.

The shower, the new couch, the kitchen table, the floor, even the damn closet. She wondered if Lex’s healing ability had anything to do with the fact that the man was ready barely 15 minutes after they were done.

Chloe couldn’t take it anymore. “For god’s sake, just say something. You’ve been looking at me like that for over an hour now.”

Lois arched one perfectly sculpted eyebrow and flicked a speck of nonexistent dirt from her dress skirt before she spoke.

"Did you break it off with him?" That was the most important question going through her mind.

The moment she'd embraced her cousin at the airport she had smelled it. Not offensive and hidden beneath perfume but definitely there. Sex smell. So unless Chloe's immediate response to this first question was no, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who the lucky guy had been.

And Chloe took a long time with her answer.

"You didn't. I can't believe it! Why are you still doing this? Why is Lex doing this? Why are the both of you doing this together?"

It was like something out of a bad soap opera, too fucking ridiculous to even believe it because in real life best friends didn't go behind a third friend's back to fuck each others' brains out. It just didn't happen. And it didn't happen to her cousin who'd always been a good girl. Someone with integrity and morals, someone you could count on.

Chloe could hear the exasperation in Lois’s voice. “I can’t explain it anymore than I already have. We…it’s…” How was she supposed to explain this to her?

“He’s my best friend.” That was a good place to start. “I can’t cut him out of my life. I can’t.” She looked over at Lois. “You talk to me at least once a week, has there been any conversation that we’ve had over the past year that didn’t include Lex?” She didn’t wait for Lois’s answer because she knew what it would be.

“So, fine, don’t cut him out, you’ll say. Just stop fucking him.” Lois was nodding. “I did. For a few days.” Lois rolled her eyes.

“But then he was here and we were painting and I kissed him and I didn’t want to stop.” She had better get it all over with. “And I’m not going to. I already told him that. I want him as my friend and I want him in my bed.”

"And it doesn't matter in the least that he has a boyfriend. That he's in a committed relationship with someone else who by the way used to be your friend, and not just any friend, but also your ex-boyfriend."

She'd never thought of it from that angle. "Is this some sick and twisted revenge on Clark?" Not that she thought Chloe would be able to do something like that. But then, she'd also never believed that Chloe would be capable of having an affair with a married guy. And Lex was nothing if not the poster case of married guy.

"Seriously Chloe, you have to give me a better reason than 'just because', cause you're fucking Clark's boyfriend and you're telling me that you're not even going to ask Lex to leave Clark, so what am I supposed to think here?"

Lois stood up from the couch and paced the living room. She was far too agitated to sit still and she needed a cigarette.

She stalked over to her purse and upended the large bag on the table until she found her half empty pack all the way on the bottom.

“What are you doing?” Chloe was on her feet and across the room in an instant. She grabbed the pack out of her cousin’s hand and crumpled the box. She knew that she had just pissed her off even more but she didn’t care. “You quit,” she reminded Lois in a not at all gentle tone.

“And I’d like to say that I don’t care what you think. But we both know that I’d be lying.” She sighed. “You know how I jump from man to man? All about the fun and the orgasms?”

Lois nodded.

“I don’t need that when I’m with Lex. He makes me happy. And he knows me. I can’t tell you how it feels when we’re just here or at his place watching TV. When he has his arm around me. That feeling is better than every orgasm I’ve had with other men combined.”

“This isn’t about Clark.” It wasn’t. Never had been. “It’s not revenge or anything like that. I know that we’re being horrible when I look at this from the outside. But when we’re together, it doesn’t feel like that.”

Lois looked at her cousin for a long silent moment. She knew what she was hearing, knew what she was seeing and it didn't suit her one bit. It was probably the worst thing her cousin could have ever fucking done and she was probably not even aware of it.

And on top of that, Chloe had crushed her remaining five cigarettes and that just pissed her off beyond belief.

"I can't fucking believe it," she hissed through her teeth. And because it bore repeating she said it again. Well, yelled it, actually. "I can't. Fucking. Believe it!"

She snarled and grabbed her wallet from the mess of her things on the table, then stormed towards the front door.

"You're possibly the most...Argh...And I want you to know that you are the reason that I started smoking again. I could deal with my boss being an asshole, fine, I could bare with the astounding ignorance of the general populace, no biggie. I could even deal with what was possibly the worst sex in my life with a guy who then had the guts to call me 'BAMBI'. That was close, but I dealt with it."

She was at the door and swirled around on her heel to look her cousin in the face.

"But what I can not deal with, under any circumstances, is the fact that my cousin is in love with Lex fucking Luthor and intentionally making her life hell because of it."

She took a deep breath and wiped an annoying strand of hair from her face.

"And now, I'm going to go and buy a pack of cigarettes and I am going to smoke at least five of them before I come back."

With that, she threw the door open and left her cousin behind for the moment. She could not deal with this without her trusty sedative nicotine swapping through her system.

Chloe just stood there for a moment. Lois had said so many things that were causing a reaction in her that she couldn’t even pick one to focus on at the moment.

But, of course, there was one that loomed larger than anything else.

Lois thought that she was in love with Lex.

Chloe swallowed the lump that had appeared in her throat. And she couldn’t feel her legs, either.

It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be. Because then she’d be fucked beyond compare. She couldn’t love Lex like that because he wouldn’t love her back. And then she would lose him.

She sat down.

More like slid down being that there was no chair under her. Instead, she leaned against the table.

She couldn’t handle being in love with Lex. Wouldn’t survive being rejected like that a second time around.

“No,” she whispered the word as she shook her head. It couldn’t be true. Lois was overreacting.

She didn’t want to, but she started to think about how Lex made her feel. What she felt when she was with him.

A few times, her mind had strayed down that path but she’d stopped it.

“Please, no.”

Chloe wasn’t sure who she was talking to anymore. Herself, a higher power, Lois…

It couldn’t be true. But it was.

~~
Lois returned, as she had promised, an hour and five cigarettes later.

She'd calmed down considerably and felt ready to face the consequences of her outburst. They would talk and then she'd figure a way out of this mess and somehow they would fix it. Of course she might need a few more cigarettes along the way, because just the thought of what mess exactly her cousin had gotten herself into made Lois' head spin and her blood pressure rise.

When she opened the door and strode into the apartment, she almost stumbled over Chloe before she saw her. Sitting on her living room floor, crumpled against the table and staring blankly at the wall.

"Shit."

Lois hadn't stayed to watch the impact of her rage, but she'd never expected Chloe to just break down. They'd had massive blow outs before, but neither of them had ever just collapsed like this. At least, as far as Lois knew neither of them had.

"Chloe, I'm back." She moved slowly closer to her cousin and reached out to touch her shoulder.

“So I see.” Chloe couldn’t fight with her at the moment. She wasn’t strong enough to come up with witty retorts or make logical arguments. Not now. Not when she’d just realized what she was doing.

“I’m in love with Lex.” The words came out of her mouth but they sounded weird. It wasn’t a sentence she ever thought that she’d say.

“And…and I don’t know what to do about that.” She stared at the yellow wall in front of her. “I can’t tell him. He’ll never leave Clark. But I can’t just cut him out of my life.” Now she looked over at Lois.

“What am I supposed to do? He wants to meet you for dinner. He wants me to help him iron out one of his presentations. How can I do any of that when I’m in love with him?”

She’d never felt so lost in her life. She prayed that Lois would have the answer. She’d do whatever her cousin told her.

Lois chewed on her bottom lip, keeping in the litany of curses that ran through her brain. Lex wanted to meet her? Great, how was she supposed to keep her mouth shut? Was she even supposed to keep her mouth shut? And why the hell hadn't Chloe even noticed that she was in love with Lex? How could she not have noticed?

Her mouth obviously had a better idea than her brain did.

"One step at a time. How about you get up off the floor and sit on the couch, and then I'll make tea. Tea is good in times of stress. A few million Brits can't be wrong. And then we're going to figure out what to do."

She helped Chloe off the floor and positioned her on the couch, then walked into the kitchen, still at a loss of what exactly they could or should do now.

"Okay, dinner with the enemy." And when had Lex become the enemy? He wasn't really the evil mastermind in this whole thing, and he hadn't done anything enemy-ish, so he couldn't be the enemy. But he certainly wasn't a friend either. "Dinner with the problem then."

Cause that was what he was. The problem in a fucked up situation that needed a solution, somehow.

Lois picked out the teabags and started water in the boiler.

Option one. They had dinner, Lois told Lex that Chloe was in love with him, Lex was completely shocked and ended the affair right then and there, deciding they couldn't see each other at all anymore, and breaking Chloe's heart completely.

Option two. They had dinner, Lois did not tell Lex that Chloe was in love with him, Lex remained oblivious and continued the affair until he realized at some not further defined moment in time that he couldn't do this anymore and ended the affair right then and there, deciding they couldn't see each other at all anymore, and breaking Chloe's heart completely.

Option three. They had dinner, Lois kept her mouth shut and observed what was going on between Lex and Chloe, Lex would cotton on and she'd stage a minor fit over their affair. Lex would not break off the affair and remain oblivious to Lois ulterior motives and she would judge by Lex's reactions what had to be done further.

"Option three it is then."

The boiler made an awful whistling noise, signaling that the water was ready and Lois transferred the teabags into two oversized cups and finished preparing the tea.

She returned to the living room with the two cups and pushed one into Chloe's hand. "Careful, it's hot."

Settling down beside her cousin on the couch, she nodded to herself, once again going over her plan for tonight.

There was another part that was crucial to it. Lex could not find out about Chloe's feelings.

“We will have dinner here tonight," she announced. "You'll cook, we'll eat. We'll have a pleasant conversation and neither of us will tell Lex of your feelings."

Lois was shocked to realize she sounded like her snobby, socialite mother who put appearances above everything.

She needed a cigarette and about three Caipirinhas to get over that.

“Ok.” Chloe nodded. She could deal with that. She could do that. “He knows that you know by the way.” She looked over at Lois. “I told him that I told you.”

Lex hadn’t really had a reaction. Merely nodded and then kissed her. He didn’t seem upset by it so she supposed that was a good thing. She hadn’t questioned why he wanted to meet Lois for dinner.

But she was now.

“Do you think it means something that he wants to meet you? I hadn’t thought of that until now.”

"I don't know. He probably just wants to threaten me into keeping my mouth shut."

She had no idea why Lex would want to meet her, but it was very convenient for her plan. She'd have to be on her toes though. If Lex perceived her as a threat it would be all the more difficult to sound him out about his intentions.

"We'll figure out how to get you through this in one piece, okay?"

She blew a little cold air into her own cup of tea, not sure yet that there even was a good way out of this. But if there was one, she would find it.

"I'm still angry, and disappointed, and annoyed that you made me pick up smoking again, but I'll help you find a way out of this mess."

Chloe took a sip of the tea and then placed it on the table. “I’m sorry I disappointed you. And made you start smoking again. And ruined your vacation.” She looked over at Lois.

“I’m really sorry.” She saw that she was now making Lois feel bad. “And now I’m sorry for making you feel bad.”

She gave her a weak smile. “If there’s not a way out of this, I can always move away and change my name.”

Chloe moved closer to Lois and rested her head on her shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here.”
~~
Even though she told herself to stop being nervous it didn’t happen. Lex was coming over for dinner. Her supposedly gay, married lover was coming over to eat with her and her disapproving cousin. What a great night it was going to be.

Oh, and let’s not forget the tiny tidbit of information where she was in love with him. Couldn’t forget that.

Lois had behaved herself for the most part. Chloe knew that she was probably pressed up against her bedroom door every time she spoke to Lex but that couldn’t be helped.

She hadn’t told Lex much about Lois’s reaction to them but she knew that he had to know that her cousin wasn’t happy about it.

Lex had heard all about Lois when they were just friends. That she supported Chloe fucking as many men as she wanted. But once she got serious with a guy, Lois’s claws came out.

There was a soft knock at the door and Chloe went to answer it. Lois was in her room still getting ready.

Chloe remembered to breathe as she looked up at him. She so loved him. How could she not have known?

“Hey,” she said softly and then looked curiously at a box he was carrying. “I did tell you that I’m cooking, right?”

"Hey," he echoed as he stepped inside and leaned down to place a soft kiss on her cheek. "And, yea, I know." His gaze followed hers to the box. "This isn't food."

He wasn't sure if her school would spring for extras, despite the hefty check he'd written them, so he'd made a little detour on his way to work this morning and again on his way back.

Lex could see that she was ready to rip the box out of his hands and find out what was inside, but he was a little too preoccupied with something else. His eyes scanned what he could see of the apartment, looking for Chloe's cousin.

The door to Chloe's bedroom opened, and he immediately recognized the woman stepping out from the pictures Chloe had shown him.

Lois was ready. She was dressed to kill, figuratively, calm and composed, at least outwardly, and she could deal with this like a responsible, reasonable adult. It would mean acting a lot like her mother, but she could do it.

"Hello, Lex." Her smile wavered a little until she had it stuck firmly in place.

"Hello, Lois." Lex tried to give her a friendly smile, but he knew that all was not well.

If there was one thing he'd learned to recognize it was thinly veiled anger behind a polite mask. But he appreciated that she made an effort. It was less than ideal that she knew in the first place, so now all he could do was try and work on damage control.

The tension in the air was so thick that Chloe almost felt like she was choking on it. She knew that Lois would behave but she also knew what Lois thought about the situation.

She appreciated her cousin even giving this a chance.

“So,” she said, turning to Lex, “not to get all Brad Pitt on you but what’s in the box?” Lex had brought it into the kitchen and placed it on the table.

The box seemed to have some weight to it and it was a little open. But not enough for her to be able to really peek in and see.

Lois stood in the doorway and Chloe couldn’t help but feel like she was under the microscope a little.

Lex could already feel the heavy gaze on him. But that was nothing he wasn't used to. Lois was watching him, trying to figure him out. That was fine by him. Up to a point.

"It's nothing special," he said as he leaned against the side of the table. "Nowhere near as cool as a decapitated head, or anything." He shared a grin with Chloe over the second 'Seven' reference. It was one of the few actually good movies they'd watched together. "Go ahead, open it."

Lois's brow arched and she stepped a little further into the kitchen to see just what Lex had gotten her cousin as a present. The box was pretty big, so the possibilities were numerous. Her gaze jerked back up to Chloe's face, and then to Lex's when she caught Chloe's initial reaction to opening the box.

The man looked completely different when he smiled. Kind of strange.

Chloe shook her head at Lex’s generosity. “I’d say I didn’t believe it but…”

She trailed off. In front of her was a box full of official zoo shirts. Kid sized, of course. First Lex had gone and paid for the trip and now he was outfitting her whole class.

“You’re really too much, you know that don’t you?” Lex just shrugged and continued to smile down at her. His grin widened. “What?”

“What?” She elbowed him. There was clearly something that she was missing.

She turned her attention back to the box. “What did you do….”

Chloe laughed when she came upon the one adult sized shirt. It had a huge beetle on it. “Thanks,” she said, faking enthusiasm, “it’s just great.” Then she muttered the word “Jackass” under her breath.

Lex laughed. "Consider it a first step in confronting your fear."

The beetle wasn't even realistic. It was one of those brightly colored almost cartoonish beetles with a friendly face.

Lois's brows went even higher. First smiling, now laughing. What next? Would Lex Luthor break into song and dance ala Fred Astaire?

She nearly choked on her own spit when Lex leaned over and kissed her cousin. On the cheek, but still. Kissing! In front of her!

Lex ran his hand down Chloe's back and pulled a little away after he'd kissed her. "You know you love it."

Lois pressed her lips together tightly to keep from making a comment. If she hadn't known before, she knew now that Lex was completely oblivious to Chloe's feelings towards him.

The real question was still out there, though. What were Lex's feelings concerning Chloe?

She had a couple hours to find out, and she would. Somehow. From that little present she could only tell that Lex cared enough to know about Chloe's school projects and support them in a way that was, well, typically Lex Luthor, based on money.

Chloe focused on the shirt instead of the feelings churning up inside of her. “That remains to be seen,” she murmured as she looked at the shirt. “Though, the kids will definitely think I’m cool for having this plastered across my chest.”

She looked over her shoulder at Lois. Who looked deep in thought. She wanted to tell her to be careful and not strain something but that would be too obvious.

Chloe held the shirt against her. “What do you think? Fashionable enough for a zoo trip?”

Lois brought the smile back to her lips and nodded. "I'm sure it'll be snug as the proverbial bug, too."

She had to admit it was kind of cute though. If you liked things like that. Chloe hated bugs. Lois wondered what the story behind this one was exactly.

Her gaze cut over to Lex. "You know she hates bugs, right?"

The smirk she got for that comment was familiar. Something she'd seen on hundreds of newspaper pictures. Something she could gauge. Or at least, recognize.

"Yeah, but that's the point." He sounded so fucking smug that Lois had to resist punching him in the face.

But then he turned his head towards Chloe and did that smiling thing again and Lois felt the urge to knock herself out. Because this, she could absolutely not reconcile with anything she knew about the public Lex Luthor.

Sure, she'd read about martyr Lex. Knew the sordid story about how Lex had taken a step way back in his career to be with Clark. So of course there'd have to be a more human side to the guy. And Chloe was his best friend. Her cousin didn't befriend monsters. But still.

Still.

This was just so out of the realm of normal.

"If you say so." And that was possibly the worst come back in come back history. "Just don't be surprised if she gets her revenge at some point or another."

Though, with the new situation, not even Lois could say what Chloe would do. Hell, Chloe hadn't even had time to deal with the fact that she was in love with the guy. This was a disaster waiting to happen.

"If you'll excuse me for a moment, I need a cigarette."

Lex's brows furrowed. "Chloe told me you'd quit some time ago."
He was honestly surprised, so he hadn't thought to keep his mouth shut. When Lois's eyes narrowed slightly, despite the smile that was still plastered on her face, Lex knew that he shouldn't have commented. Knew that the news of Chloe and him were what had caused the return of Lois's addiction.

"I recently picked up the habit again."

Lois turned her back and left the kitchen with her head high. She hadn't been kidding when she said she needed a cigarette. This entire situation was nerve wrecking.

Once Chloe was sure that Lois couldn’t hear them anymore she said, “Well, that went well.” She didn’t bother to hide the sarcasm.

But she couldn’t be mad at Lois, either. Her cousin was just worried about her. And rightly so. Lex wasn’t going to leave Clark. She was in love with Lex.

You didn’t have to be a student at M.I.T. to do this math.

When she glanced at Lex she could see that he was uncomfortable with what was going on, as well. They all knew that things were fucked up yet they couldn’t discuss it.

She must have looked worse than she thought because he gently pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head.

Chloe relaxed into his body…forgetting that Lois would have to pass them in order to get to the door to leave the apartment.

Lois stalked past with her pack of cigarettes in hand, intent to get to the door as fast as possible.

And stopped dead in her tracks at what she saw in the kitchen.

Chloe was practically shrouded in a cloak of Lex, but what was the most disturbing about it was the expression on the man's face.

She only had a moment to see it before he turned to look at her, but she'd totally seen it. Right there.
This was too fucking much.

Lois lit her cigarette right where she stood and fled from the apartment. She needed to think. And she needed to be outside so she could pace a little, and maybe kick a few garbage cans while she was at it.

She rumbled down the stairs, three-hundred dollar heels be damned and burst out of the door into the small, grassy quadrangle between the risers of Chloe's apartment complex.

And there were the garbage cans, ripe for the kicking.

"I don't fucking believe this."

She jammed her heel hard into the metal and relished the resounding hollow bang it made.

What she'd seen up there? That was so not a friendly embrace. And it wasn't a friends with benefits embrace either.

Lois hadn't seen Chloe's face, being that it was buried in Lex's chest, but she didn't need to see that to know what it looked like.

She'd very well seen who was holding on to who though. And the fact of the matter was that there was equal holding going on. The pair had been clinging to each other like...things that clung together very tightly. She wasn't a metaphor kind of girl.

And then there was Lex's face.

The guy who usually didn't do facial expressions had picked that moment to show the worst one imaginable. Until he'd noticed Lois had caught him, at least.

His eyes hadn't even been open, and that was possibly worse than if they'd been, and he'd looked all serious and broody and woe-be-gone and totally fucking remorseful all at once and without even moving.

So, yea, this wasn't a case of 'use best friend for sex without conscience'. She didn't know exactly what it was yet, but she had a suspicion. And she had no idea what to do with that suspicion except to follow it through until she got proof.

And if she got proof that led to confirmation?

And if she got proof that led to the contrary?

And if she thought about this for one second longer, she was liable to ruin her Jimmy Choo's on that garbage can.

She kicked the metal with a vengeance and turned on her heel to stalk the length of the quadrangle.

She lit another cigarette on the one she had barely finished smoking and tried to be rational about all this.

Fact was that Chloe was in love with Lex and that Lex had no clue about that whatsoever. Fact was that he definitely wasn't using her cousin for a 'friends with benefits' thing, but fact was also that Lois had no idea exactly what Lex's feelings towards Chloe were.

So, back to square one.

Well, one and a half.

tbc

lj715
24th October 2008, 02:00
Who would have guessed that Lois would be considered the smart one here. (lol). Thanks for the update.

slayer44
24th October 2008, 03:45
Nice update :) Why is Lex fooling himself? He doesn't love Clark, he's in love with Chloe!!! At least she has come to realize her true feelings...he needs to tooooo!!!

hfce
24th October 2008, 06:15
Wow that was a lot to digest. Lois is a trip but right. I wish Lex would leave Clark already!!!! :wth:

dagney
24th October 2008, 11:37
Very nice update. I'm glad Lois is there to do an intervention. she needs to sit them both down and help em see what's what. Dagney

lilinny
24th October 2008, 16:01
Somebody needs to do something here. I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

As always a fantastic chapter.

somethingeasy
24th October 2008, 17:04
For a few hours, she’d only used her mouth on him and had refused any attention from him. Watching him get off as she denied herself, well, she never knew that that could be fulfilling.

The shower, the new couch, the kitchen table, the floor, even the damn closet. She wondered if Lex’s healing ability had anything to do with the fact that the man was ready barely 15 minutes after they were done.

Aaargh!!! I hated, hated, LOATHED getting the details on how Chloe was so giddily high from her weekend with Lex. It was disgusting to see that she was completely oblivious to the damage she was doing to herself, Lex (and also Clark) because she couldn’t bring herself to see how WRONG this whole affair is.

*rolls eyes* and the part about her finding fulfilment in putting Lex’s pleasure before her own…? Well there’s nothing new about THAT, is there? Throughout their entire friendship Chloe has always been placing Lex’s needs, comforts and pleasures before her own… first by being his dedicated sounding board for all the whining he did, and then later, his emotional AND intimate support to shore up his problems with Clark.


"You didn't. I can't believe it! Why are you still doing this? Why is Lex doing this? Why are the both of you doing this together?"

It was like something out of a bad soap opera, too fucking ridiculous to even believe it because in real life best friends didn't go behind a third friend's back to fuck each others' brains out. It just didn't happen. And it didn't happen to her cousin who'd always been a good girl. Someone with integrity and morals, someone you could count on.

I was really, REALLY happy to see Lois make her appearance. Especially during a time when Chloe obviously needs some sense slapped back into her. I was glad to see that Lois realized straight off that Chloe had NOT broken things off with Lex… so there was no time wasted with trying to pry into the truth… instead we got straight into the ‘Chloe, you’re such an idiot!’ phase of the conversation.

I liked how it was illustrated here how incredibly, intensely disappointed and disillusioned Lois was with Chloe. I liked how Lois has always held Chloe’s ethics, morals AND common sense in the highest regard… only now she’s seeing her beloved cousin acting like a stupid, selfish moron.


"And it doesn't matter in the least that he has a boyfriend. That he's in a committed relationship with someone else who by the way used to be your friend, and not just any friend, but also your ex-boyfriend."

heh… it all sounds even more twisted when stated bluntly like that. And it was a VERY interesting thought that perhaps Chloe and Lex were carrying on their affair because it was all about Clark… they BOTH had good reasons to hurt him, and what better way to do that than fucking like bunnies behind his back?


“And I’d like to say that I don’t care what you think. But we both know that I’d be lying.” She sighed. “You know how I jump from man to man? All about the fun and the orgasms?”

Lois nodded.

“I don’t need that when I’m with Lex. He makes me happy. And he knows me. I can’t tell you how it feels when we’re just here or at his place watching TV. When he has his arm around me. That feeling is better than every orgasm I’ve had with other men combined.”

Personally, I think the reason why Chloe kept on jumping from one man to another was partially because she didn’t value herself as a person. She never believed that any guy would want her for very long or for any reason beyond the purely shallow and superficial. So she flitted across shallow, meaningless fuck-session with one guy after another, never truly believing that she could find anyone who would want her for ‘something more’.

And now that same inferiority complex is the driving force in her affair with Lex too. Where she’s convinced that he’ll NEVER leave Clark for her, because she just isn’t worth the time and attention for a dedicated, prioritized relationship. Damn it, Chloe! You’re settling for a few crumbs of affection from Lex, just like you used to settle for the few minutes of pleasure from all those meaningless ‘fun guys’ you used to go out with.


“This isn’t about Clark.” It wasn’t. Never had been. “It’s not revenge or anything like that. I know that we’re being horrible when I look at this from the outside. But when we’re together, it doesn’t feel like that.”

Hmmm, and I’m not entirely convinced about her claims that this isn’t at least a ‘little bit’ about Clark either. I’ve seen her reaction to Clark whenever his name is brought up whenever she’s with Lex… and she hates the man. She despises the sucky, unreliable boyfriend he is (and always was) and she hates how Lex Luthor is being made to feel like a worthless piece of ugly furniture in the Clex home. There IS a tiny bit of ‘punishment for Clark’ in this affair.

But, to be fair, it’s probably mostly because Chloe is stupidly high whenever she’s with Lex.


"You're possibly the most...Argh...And I want you to know that you are the reason that I started smoking again. I could deal with my boss being an asshole, fine, I could bare with the astounding ignorance of the general populace, no biggie. I could even deal with what was possibly the worst sex in my life with a guy who then had the guts to call me 'BAMBI'. That was close, but I dealt with it."

I didn’t include Lois in the list of people who are being hurt by the Chlex affair. But it seems like Lois has ALSO earned herself a place on that ‘list’. She’s actually hurting seeing her beloved cousin inflicting damage on herself in this stupid, careless manner. She hates that she can only stand by and watch Chloe ruining her spirit, integrity and life.

I was glad that Chloe brought Lois into her confidence so she doesn’t have to deal with this along, but it’s also rather cruel to bring Lois into this and forcing her to just watch this destruction happening without being able to help or change anything.


She couldn’t handle being in love with Lex. Wouldn’t survive being rejected like that a second time around.

“No,” she whispered the word as she shook her head. It couldn’t be true. Lois was overreacting.

She didn’t want to, but she started to think about how Lex made her feel. What she felt when she was with him.

A few times, her mind had strayed down that path but she’d stopped it.

“Please, no.”

Chloe wasn’t sure who she was talking to anymore. Herself, a higher power, Lois…

It couldn’t be true. But it was.

Are you kidding me, Chloe?! You truly didn’t realize until NOW that you were in love with Lex?!? Of course I knew that Lex was not yet ready to admit to the intensity of his feelings for Chloe, but I thought that Chloe at least was aware that she was crazily in love with Lex.

Heh… but I guess now… which makes it friggen fantastic that she knows now, because perhaps this is what’s required to slap her back to reality again, and make her understand that this sordid affair is not all ‘fun and games’ like she initially tried to convince herself. Perhaps now she’ll start seeing the consequences that come with throwing your whole heart into an affair with a man who essentially can’t be trusted to stay and be faithful to anyone, much less a mistress on the side.


Lois hadn't stayed to watch the impact of her rage, but she'd never expected Chloe to just break down. They'd had massive blow outs before, but neither of them had ever just collapsed like this. At least, as far as Lois knew neither of them had.

I loved Lois’s reaction when she came back to the apartment and saw the state that Chloe was in. I can sense that she was irritated as hell at Chloe’s earlier blinded, giddy attitude, but I think she would have preferred that state to this shattered, pathetic heap that Chloe has broken into. But, as sad as it is to see now, this painful state is actually much better for Chloe than that stupid, wilfully blind high she was coasting on earlier.


“I’m in love with Lex.” The words came out of her mouth but they sounded weird. It wasn’t a sentence she ever thought that she’d say.

“And…and I don’t know what to do about that.” She stared at the yellow wall in front of her. “I can’t tell him. He’ll never leave Clark. But I can’t just cut him out of my life.” Now she looked over at Lois.

aaargh! Chloe! You’re not only suffering major inferiority complexes about our sense of self-worth, but you’re also weak and pathetic! Or perhaps both things are related? Perhaps she weak because she doesn’t think she’s worth the effort to be stronger and more conscious about self-preservation? Its still so damned depressing seeing Chloe completely dismissing the idea of Lex EVER choosing her as ‘first’, yet also being unable to say ‘no’ to any of the demands that Lex makes of her.


She’d never felt so lost in her life. She prayed that Lois would have the answer. She’d do whatever her cousin told her.

LOL! If only it was that simple. Lois has already given very plain, direct advice…just stop fucking him… but Chloe’s not about to listen to the obvious solution, is she?


"Okay, dinner with the enemy." And when had Lex become the enemy? He wasn't really the evil mastermind in this whole thing, and he hadn't done anything enemy-ish, so he couldn't be the enemy. But he certainly wasn't a friend either. "Dinner with the problem then."

Cause that was what he was. The problem in a fucked up situation that needed a solution, somehow.

I really liked the fair-minded way that Lois categorized Lex as more of a ‘problem’ rather than an enemy. In many ways, it would have been so much easier if Lex’s motivations were purely selfish and malevolent. Lois could have hated him, and plotted against him with a clear conscience. Instead, the problem is that Lex is simply stupid and self-absorbed, but still essentially a good person. How can Lois battle an ‘enemy’ like that to protect her cousin?


Option three. They had dinner, Lois kept her mouth shut and observed what was going on between Lex and Chloe, Lex would cotton on and she'd stage a minor fit over their affair. Lex would not break off the affair and remain oblivious to Lois ulterior motives and she would judge by Lex's reactions what had to be done further.

"Option three it is then."

I rather admired the way that Lois outlined a strategy in her head about how to deal with this situation. It was good, because it was obvious that Chloe is in no state to start planning for herself… and neither is Lex actually. Someone needs to start thinking clearly about how to find a solution to this problem, and since Lex and Chloe have proven that they have AWFUL life-management skills, I guess Lois has been voted supervising director of this situation, LOL!


“We will have dinner here tonight," she announced. "You'll cook, we'll eat. We'll have a pleasant conversation and neither of us will tell Lex of your feelings."

Lois was shocked to realize she sounded like her snobby, socialite mother who put appearances above everything.

She needed a cigarette and about three Caipirinhas to get over that.

LOL! Poor Lois! Don’t worry! I’m sure get used to the management of other people lives sometime soon. Perhaps you’ll even begin to enjoy it? ROTFL!


"I don't know. He probably just wants to threaten me into keeping my mouth shut."

She had no idea why Lex would want to meet her, but it was very convenient for her plan. She'd have to be on her toes though. If Lex perceived her as a threat it would be all the more difficult to sound him out about his intentions.

I’m not sure what Lex wants to meet Lois for either, but I think that Lois is hitting close to the mark with her guesses. He probably wants to scope out the situation (just like Lois) and then decide whether extreme measure are needed (again, just like Lois).


Chloe took a sip of the tea and then placed it on the table. “I’m sorry I disappointed you. And made you start smoking again. And ruined your vacation.” She looked over at Lois.

“I’m really sorry.” She saw that she was now making Lois feel bad. “And now I’m sorry for making you feel bad.”

awww, I liked how Chloe is beginning to feel a little guilt-stricken for dragging Lois into this sordid affair. Lois doesn’t even have the orgasms to compensate for the helpless ‘dirtiness’ she feels about being involved in this. Perhaps the guilt will help provide Chloe with an incentive to break it off soon?


She gave her a weak smile. “If there’s not a way out of this, I can always move away and change my name.”

heh… the way this situation is turning out, that MIGHT end up being the only solution in the end.


Lex had heard all about Lois when they were just friends. That she supported Chloe fucking as many men as she wanted. But once she got serious with a guy, Lois’s claws came out.

This paints Lois in a bit of a harsh and unfair light. It makes it sound like Lois likes Chloe staying in a steady stream of shallow one-night stands, and gets bitchy whenever Chloe gets ready to move on for a serious relationship with any person. As if Lois doesn’t really have Chloe’s best interest and happiness as a prioritized concern. Is this what Lex really thinks of Lois?


If there was one thing he'd learned to recognize it was thinly veiled anger behind a polite mask. But he appreciated that she made an effort. It was less than ideal that she knew in the first place, so now all he could do was try and work on damage control.

LOL! It seems like the lines have been drawn quite clearly now. Lex knows that Lois Does. Not. Approve! Of course Lex would have been an idiot if he had managed to convince himself that Lois would be, in any way, happy about Chloe involved in an extra-marital affair, LOL!

But he also knows that she’s willing to not make a scene about this, and is determined to put on ‘a civil face’ in support of her cousin.


Lois's brows went even higher. First smiling, now laughing. What next? Would Lex Luthor break into song and dance ala Fred Astaire?

She nearly choked on her own spit when Lex leaned over and kissed her cousin. On the cheek, but still. Kissing! In front of her!

Lex ran his hand down Chloe's back and pulled a little away after he'd kissed her. "You know you love it."

It was VERY interesting seeing Lois’s flabbergasted reaction to Lex acting like… well… a human being. Or more specifically a happy and playful human being. I guess she had an image in her head of Lex being an automated robot 24/7, huh? Even Chloe’s assertions about Lex’s sense of humour and sweetness had not been enough to convince Lois that Lex possessed human-like qualities. I can see why this evening is going to be a huge eye-opening experience for her.

I loved the present that Lex brought over for Chloe. LOL! A beetle shirt? ROTLFMAO! That silly bastard! It was fun seeing Chloe and Lex bonding over a sweet, silly, funny gift like that… but also so sad because that damned taint is still all over everything. I don’t think I’ll be able to enjoy any wholeheartedly sweet moments in this entire fic without remembering the whole ugly picture. Or the nasty, bitter, ugly ending that’s on its inevitable way.


But then he turned his head towards Chloe and did that smiling thing again and Lois felt the urge to knock herself out. Because this, she could absolutely not reconcile with anything she knew about the public Lex Luthor.

Sure, she'd read about martyr Lex. Knew the sordid story about how Lex had taken a step way back in his career to be with Clark. So of course there'd have to be a more human side to the guy. And Chloe was his best friend. Her cousin didn't befriend monsters. But still.

Still.

This was just so out of the realm of normal.

LOL! I was really enjoying Lois’s absolutely dumbfounded state seeing this new face of Lex Luthor. She’s completely blown out of her mind, ROTFL!


Lex's brows furrowed. "Chloe told me you'd quit some time ago."
He was honestly surprised, so he hadn't thought to keep his mouth shut. When Lois's eyes narrowed slightly, despite the smile that was still plastered on her face, Lex knew that he shouldn't have commented. Knew that the news of Chloe and him were what had caused the return of Lois's addiction.

Heh… nice, Lex! He actually picked up quite quick that it was his and Chloe’s affair that made Lois start blackening her lungs again for stress relief. Will he feel any of the guilt that Chloe is stricken with over Lois’s disgruntled, tense, stressed-out state?


The guy who usually didn't do facial expressions had picked that moment to show the worst one imaginable. Until he'd noticed Lois had caught him, at least.

His eyes hadn't even been open, and that was possibly worse than if they'd been, and he'd looked all serious and broody and woe-be-gone and totally fucking remorseful all at once and without even moving.

So, yea, this wasn't a case of 'use best friend for sex without conscience'. She didn't know exactly what it was yet, but she had a suspicion. And she had no idea what to do with that suspicion except to follow it through until she got proof.

I really loved the interesting expression that Lois caught on Lex’s face. It was not only very revealing to her, but to the readers as well. I had seen how Chloe seemed a little lost in the giddy haze of being with Lex again… until she realized that she had fallen in love with a married man. So it was interesting to see that Lex is not as lost in his own giddy haze… or perhaps seeing disapproving, frowning Lois is bringing home the cold reality of the situation to ‘harsh his high’?

Whatever the case, it was GOOD to see repentant emotions reflected on his face. It’s good to see that he does realize what a colossally bad idea this whole thing is… even if he’s not doing anything to stop it or extricate himself from it.

Heh… it’s going to be interesting to see what other kinds of revelations Lois manages to derive about Lex’s motives, rationalization and feelings as the evening wears on. I’d like to see her give LEX a huge ranting lecture similar to the one she gave Chloe this morning… only one a lot more harsher because her lecture to Lex will be in pure defence of her emotionally abused and exploited cousin.

I look forward to the next update. Please post soon!

emmie
25th October 2008, 03:32
I love this story......and the characterization of Lois is great.....the show never seems to give portray her as an intelligent adult........great job....can't wait to see more.

Kit Merlot
25th October 2008, 19:43
This was an awesome update!

I love an over-protective Lois Lane, and she is truly worried that Lex is going to break Chloe's heart. Chloe and Lois are both afraid that if Lex finds out that Chloe's in love with him, he'll break off their relationship.

But maybe that is just the push he'll need to get out of the destructive cycle that he is in with Clark. Maybe Lex's knowing that such a great woman loves him will force him to see what he's missing while staying with Clark.

I am forced to question why both Lex and Chloe have such low opinions of their own self-worth. Is it the portion of their lives that they spent around Clark that have ruined their self-esteem?

Can't wait to see what happens next--keep up the great work with this fic:D

BlueSabby
9th November 2008, 16:01
A/N: Blue: The mess continues.

A/N: Sabby: That thing they do...




~~
When Lois had left the apartment, Chloe wasn’t so sure her cousin would come back. She’d heard the way Lois had stormed out of the apartment. The slamming of the door and the rumbling down the hall a clear indication that she wasn’t happy. Maybe this had been a mistake.

She’d tried to extricate herself from Lex’s arms in order to go after her but he’d held on tight. “Let her go. Give her some time.”

Chloe had sighed against him and hadn’t moved. Because she was weak and wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to keep doing this with him. Sooner or later Lex would put a stop to this.

After another few minutes of hugging and petting, they’d let go of one another.

Chloe had busied herself in the kitchen and Lex had stayed with her to help.

However, his ‘helping’ mostly consisted of him touching and kissing her as she tried to prepare their food.

He had her pressed in the corner of where the fridge met the counters when she heard the door open and close. “You’ve got to stop that,” she whispered before getting some space between them.

She went back to the sink where she’d been using the salad spinner. She heard Lois’ footfalls proceed into the kitchen.

Chloe spoke over her shoulder. “You two can sit down. Everything’s ready.”

Lex nodded and carried the bread basket and bowl of curry rice to the table before he sat down.

Lois sat down opposite Lex. Her gaze went from the man to the food on the table. Garlic bread and mixed veggies. Now, if her smell didn't deceive her, and it never did, the remaining part of their dinner was roasted cheesy chicken.

Chloe had cooked her favorite meal. Like that was going to make a difference.

Lois put her smile back on and looked at Lex.

"So, what are you doing these days," Other than sleeping with my cousin behind your boyfriend's back. "Are you still into the whole money business?"

Lex leaned back in his chair a little and looked placidly back at Lois. He'd known he'd be in for an interrogation during this dinner.

"Yeah, but not as deep as I used to be. I gave up the seventy hours a week job of C.E.O. in favor of telling other C.E.O.s how to do their job."

He smirked and cocked his head. "And what about you? Chloe told me you've moved to the east coast to become a journalist."

She'd also told him that nobody had seen that coming. Back in Smallville, Lois had been the 'worst possible journalist' according to everyone who knew her.

"Yeah, I've cracked down and learned how to spell properly, then had a couple success stories about the Justice League, and before you could say 'Front-page Headline' I got an offer in Philadelphia."

Lex tried to keep his expression in check. Her careless mention of the League had brought up thoughts that he didn't want to have at the moment.

Crap. Lois probably thought she was discussing safe topics. But had unwittingly stumbled upon the worst one of them all. But Chloe didn’t think she could tell Lois that Clark was Superman. She didn’t think that her mind could handle that on top of everything else she’d shoved into the organ as of late.

“Philadelphia’s great,” Chloe said as she quickly placed the chicken on the table. Instead of talking about Lois’ job it seemed more prudent to talk about where she lived.

Lois was giving her a look. Probably because Chloe hadn’t visited her there yet.

“Or so I hear from Lois,” she said as she sat down at the table.

Lois’ brows furrowed at the rather quick change in topic. And the fact that Chloe had sat down next to Lex like the chair was the last in musical chairs. It was also quite noticeable that her cousin's hand went under the table to grip something. She just hoped that it was Lex's hand and not something else.

The billionaire himself was looking a little uncomfortable, though you had to look very close to see it.

Okay, she'd obviously stumbled onto something. The only problem was that she had no idea just what she'd stumbled on.

"It's dirty, noisy, full of criminals, and the air is so bad that you want to hold your breath," Lois said with a smile. "I love it."

Lex gave Chloe's fingers a squeeze under the table before pulling his hand away to place it on top of the table.

"Doesn't sound any different from Metropolis. You probably didn't even get home sick."

Lois snorted. "Are you kidding? I'm an army brat. 'My home is where my bunk is'." She made little air quotes around the last part.

"I'm still surprised that neither of you ever made it out of Kansas. I mean, there's a whole world out there and if I can do it..." She shrugged.

It wasn't a safe question, but not too blatant either. The matter of the fact was that Lois had no idea how to do this pleasant idle conversation thing. She was a truth-teller. She called things as she saw them. Just like her dad. Sure, she and her dad didn't get along, but they both had the same sense of 'no bullshit' and both hated traipsing around an elephant in the room when they could as well shoot it and put it to rest.

Chloe smiled a little at Lois’ last words. The woman was always sending her contacts in the Philly school system. “You just want people you know to move out there so you can start some sort of smart ass sarcasm gang,” she said as she pointed her fork in her cousin’s direction.

By way of explanation, she looked over at Lex and said, “Lois is still trying to convince me to go out East with her. In very unstealthy ways, too.”

Her nose wrinkled as she remembered one ploy that had backfired horribly. “She sent me a cheese steak. That got lost in the mail for two days.”

"Hey, I made up for that by sending another one via UPS. And I specifically asked for a cute UPS guy to deliver it."

Apparently the subtle approach had been totally for naught. Fine then. She'd have to try it some other way.

"But anyway, you should at least come visit me. You're the person with the most vacation time out of everyone at this table, so there's no excuse not to."

Lex smirked at the brunette's persistence. He knew that tone from Chloe. She wouldn't give up until she got her way.

"I'm starting to see the family resemblance." Physically, the two were nothing alike, but they seemed to share the major character traits.

Lois arched a brow at Lex and leaned forward in her seat. "Really? Well then you won't be surprised to hear that neither of us likes coming second."

She paused for a second for maximum effect of ambiguousness before she continued. "So, surrender the chicken."

Lex had frozen for a moment, perfectly understanding the message and waiting for her to start laying into him about what they were doing. With one sentence, she had brought home what he knew to be true.

That he was using his best friend. Forcing her to stand by and pick up the shards every time his so called boyfriend shattered him to pieces with his careless attitude.

Lex knew it wasn't right, and he knew that there was no feasible explanation or excuse for what he was doing. He didn't know how to answer that comment.

He was relieved and at the same time ashamed when Lois abruptly dropped her attack and asked for the chicken as if she'd never meant her comment to be anything else than a joke.

Pasting a smirk on his face, he reached over and handed Lois the bowl she'd asked for.

"Thank you." Lois smiled sharply and took the offered bowl from Lex to put a healthy helping onto her plate.

She didn't have to look at Chloe to know that her cousin was glaring at her. But Lois didn't care. What was much more important was the expression she'd caught on Lex's face when she made that comment. Mister Poker Face had lost his impassiveness there for a whole two seconds and there might as well have been a stamp on his forehead proclaiming 'GUILTY' in big red letters.

So, he did know that what he was doing was wrong. Well, it was a start. Maybe if she appealed to his conscience a little more, she'd figure out how to stop this nonsense. One way or another, depending on Lex's feelings.

How to figure out if those feelings were just friendship or something more though? Sex, kisses and longing looks alone weren't solid enough as evidence.

Chloe couldn’t believe that Lois had just done that. Her cousin had promised to behave. If she knew that this was going to happen, she would have never agreed for the three of them to have dinner.

Sure, Lois was trying to couch her comments in safe terms but that still didn’t change the fact that they all knew what she was talking about.

Well, if Lois didn’t care about being polite neither did Chloe.

She kicked her cousin under the table. Not hard. Just enough to remind her that there was supposed to be an agreement between them.

Lois glared at her and Chloe glared right on back.

She picked up the bowl that Lois had put down and placed some of the piping food on her plate. This had been one awful idea of Lex’s.

Chloe was surprised that the man hadn’t called her cousin out. But she thought that was because he was actually trying to behave.

“He wasn’t that cute,” she said, picking up their other conversation. “The UPS guy,” she helpfully supplied for the rest of the table.

“Had that body building on roids feel to him.”

"Right," Lois said with a particularly wide smile for her cousin.

Her reaction had sounded completely different three months ago when she'd called Lois to thank her for the sandwich.

"But you can't say anything bad about the steak."

This conversation would come to a stop very soon.

The problem was that the one topic she wanted to address couldn't be addressed. And while Chloe was too busy trying to keep Lois from addressing the topic, Lex was taking the 'don't speak unless spoken to' approach.

Now she knew why she'd avoided all those stupid parties her mother had tried to drag her to before their parents had gotten divorced.

"It has even replaced this as my favorite food. Nothing like a change of flavor when something gets old, right?"

Her gaze flicked from Chloe to Lex and she pulled her legs safely out of kicking range this time.

As far as Lex was concerned she might as well have spoken the actual words behind her innuendo. She clearly thought that he was with Chloe just because he'd gotten bored of Clark.

"Not really," he said slowly. "The only reason for me to give up on my favorite would be if the recipe was changed and made it completely unpalatable."

This wasn't a flight of fancy, or something he did out of boredom. He didn't expect Lois to understand what was happening, and he knew that it was wrong, but goddamnit he needed this. Needed Chloe so he’d be able to deal with the steaming pile of shit his life had become.

Lois leaned back in her seat. O-kaaay. So his relationship with Smallville had become 'completely unpalatable'. And heaven only knew what that meant. Luthor speak wasn't easy to decipher at the best of times.

She didn't get it.

The last she knew was that they were a happy couple and Chloe never mentioned much to the contrary until their last phone conversation two weeks ago. What could have happened to rupture the poster couple for gay love and drive Lex into Chloe's arms?

And if it was that bad, why the heck was Lex still with Clark?

All questions that she couldn't ask right now, because she'd promised Chloe to be good. And she was already pushing the boundaries.

"What is your favorite food anyway?"

Lex chuckled, though he was still not in the least comfortable. He wondered what had ridden him to decide he wanted to meet Lois.

"Good old fashioned home cooked meal. Fried chicken, potato and macaroni salad, collard greens, cornbread and pie for dessert."

Lois’ jaw actually dropped. "You're shitting me."

Lex shook his head.

"I thought you'd say something like...Well, something fancy and foreign, and completely unpronounceable for a normal person."

He laughed and leaned back in his chair. "What can I say, I like to be unpredictable."

"Yeah." Unpredictable. Like starting an affair with his best friend after five years of being faithful despite offers from every woman in Metropolis and almost as many men.

Chloe was so mad that she was practically shaking. That Lois would even suggest that Lex was fucking her because he was bored with Clark…

It spoke to a sort of utter disrespect of her that Lex would never have.

And then, asking his favorite food. Was Lois trying to ask him if he preferred men or women?

They were both guests in her house and she had half a mind to throw Lois out because of the way she was treating Lex.

The only thing that kept her from doing so was the knowledge that Lois was acting this way in what she thought was Chloe’s best interest.

But it was still highly annoying.

Chloe took a long sip of her drink and tried to reset her mood. She had half a mind to just talk about this stuff out in the open but that would probably lead to yelling and throwing of food. The three people sitting at the table all had volatile tempers.

“You know, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that neither of you have groveled at my feet for this succulent meal yet.” She clucked her tongue. “Very poor manners, both of you.”

Lex smiled sideways at Chloe, appreciating her effort to pull the conversation back onto safe topics every time her cousin made an innuendo laden comment. Of course that would probably not deter Lois from keeping at it.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to be rude. It tastes wonderful."

Lois stifled a snort and an eye roll. Of course he could bring out the charm at the drop of a hat.

"Yea, cuz, the food is great. You've come a long way from macaroni and cheese."

Back in college, Chloe had been bad at cooking. So bad that there'd even been one or two cases of food poisoning. But somewhere along the line, she had devoted herself to fixing that problem in true Sullivan fashion and managed to become a really decent cook.

“Thanks for the high compliments, Lois.” She shook her head at her cousin. The woman really was never going to change. But she supposed the same could be said about her.

Chloe just hoped that the rest of the dinner would pass without one or all of them walking out of the room at some point in time never to return.
~~
Lex briskly walked down the hallway, counting off the numbers on the cheap wooden doors as he went. Three, five, seven, nine.

Chloe had sent him a text message half an hour ago with her plan, and another one ten minutes ago, letting him know the room number and floor.

The guy at the information desk hadn't even noticed him as he stalked past and Lex wondered what a paid by the hour motel was doing anywhere near a private school. Not that he really cared about it much.

This was risky, but he couldn't say no when she said she wanted him, couldn't wait, and planned to have her way with him during lunch break.

Her place would have been close enough to make it in time, but Lois was still there, so it wasn't an option. Especially not after the dinner two days ago. Chaos hadn't broken out and things had ended as civil as possible, but Lex knew that Lois neither condoned nor accepted their relationship.

Lex stopped in front of room eleven and knocked on the door.

Chloe walked over to the door and quickly opened it. She couldn’t believe that she was doing this. And part of her knew that she was doing this because it was something that she usually wouldn’t do.

Meeting the guy she was having an affair with at a motel? Who did that?

But she’d woken up this morning after a very erotic dream involving Lex and she couldn’t get him out of her mind.

She wanted to be with him again.

They had some time but not a lot. After her lunch time she had another 40 minutes free before the kids showed back up. She figured they had at least an hour before they had to part ways.

“Hi,” she said, looking him up and down, “come in.”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the room.

It had a queen sized bed, a chair, and dresser with a mirror attached to it. High class all the way.

"Hey," he said as he closed the door behind his back and followed her all of three steps into the middle of the room.

"Care to tell me what has you so eager that we have to meet here?"

She hadn't given him much detail on why they were here, except for the fact that she wanted sex. It was definitely flattering, and a turn on if he ignored their surroundings, but still not something he'd have expected.

“Not really,” she admitted. “I just wanted you. Had this dream and…” She shook her head because there wasn’t really much more to explain. Maybe it also had to do with the fact that they hadn’t been able to talk, touch, kiss or hang out in a few days. She was going through serious withdrawal.

“Figured this was the closest place. And…” Again, they’d already done so much together that she supposed it wasn’t totally outside the realm of okness to tell him a little more of what she was thinking.

“I’ve never been fucked in a seedy motel.” Hard to believe with her track record but it was still true.

“Ah, so you thought it was time to fill that gap in your resume." He grinned and brought one hand up to play with the top button on her blouse. "And how, pray tell, do you want to go about that?"

The idea was appealing, unlike the bed behind her. There was no way he'd actually take off his clothes and let his skin get in contact with that.

He hoped she could come up with a better scenario. This was her gig after all and he was just happily along for the ride.

As he started to undo her shirt, Chloe’s hand went to his pants.

The place was filthy so the least amount of contact with things was probably best. Which fit in with the plan she’d just formulated quite well.

“Being that the quality of this room is questionable,” Lex was now parting her shirt and her hand was making its way inside his pants, “I was thinking that we should limit the contact we have with it.”

She started to stroke his cock. “So, either I ride you on that chair, or,” she gave him a wicked grin, “you can throw me up on that dresser and have your way with me.”

Pulling Lex down for a kiss, Chloe could feel that she was already ready for him. “We have about an hour,” she told him.

“One more thing,” she murmured against his neck, “in my dream, I was totally naked except for my heels and you had all of your clothes on as you pushed into me from behind, front and every other way. I’d like to try that.”

Chloe's words caused an instant porn movie to run through his mind. His cock was rising fast at the idea and he grabbed her by the back of the neck to haul her into a hard kiss.

He felt her hips start to grind into his as he pushed the blouse down her shoulders and went for the button and zipper on her skirt with both hands. The fabric fell to the floor with a soft swishing noise and he waited for her to step out of it before he moved on to get rid of her panties as she unhooked her bra.

Lex pulled out of the kiss when she was completely naked and grinned as his eyes slid down her body. "I think the dresser is the right idea."

He gave her another fast and hard kiss, then stepped behind her and pushed her towards the dresser. His hands wandered all over her body, watching her reflection in the mirror gasp and bite her lips as he cupped her breasts and pinched the perky little nipples.

The dresser was about waist high, perfect for what they were going to do. "You're gorgeous like this," he murmured and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

Chloe watched as her image pushed her breasts into Lex’s hands and gasped again at the contact. She let her eyes slide over her body. She was flushed all over and having Lex fully clothed behind her made the reflection all the more erotic.

“If we’d done it before, I’d let you have this.” She wiggled her butt against Lex’s body and felt that he was already hard for her. “Wanna try it soon,” she said, catching his eyes in the mirror. She watched as his breathing deepened.

Then she leaned forward and placed her hands flat on top of the dresser. Her breasts jiggled as she positioned herself. Spread her legs nice and wide, opening herself up for Lex to take.

Her body felt like a live wire. She was jumpy and overheated. She needed Lex.

“Baby, please,” she begged.

Lex bit down on a groan and moved his hands away from her body only long enough to open his pants and pull out his cock.

His eyes never left Chloe's reflection as he positioned himself behind her, one hand holding her steady at her hip as the other guided his cock into her pussy.

She squeezed down on his length immediately and Lex growled as he slammed his hips forward.

He set up a hard and fast pace with his hips while his hands roamed over her body, stroking and scratching at her soft skin, cupping and kneading her breasts, sliding up to her shoulders to pull her back into his hard thrusts.

Pressing his lips tightly together, he kept his noises down so he could fully enjoy the sounds Chloe made as she moved with him. His eyes remained fixed on the reflection of both of them in the mirror.

"So fucking hot, look at us."

Like a scene from a particularly good porn movie, one of his large hands clamped down on her shoulder as his other hand held on to her hip to guide her movements. Her breasts bouncing with every thrust, mouth open and face tight with building pleasure.

Chloe moved her head up and took in what she saw. Her mouth was slack and her lips were moist. Animalistic grunts coming out of it between her begging for more.

Her body devoid of a stitch of clothing as Lex rammed into her from behind.

This was what she needed.

Needed it just to be about sex. Just fucking in a seedy hotel room. Nothing more.

A true affair. No emotions. Body parts meeting and retreating and muscles clamping down.

When she looked at Lex, their eyes locked and he delivered a vicious thrust to her body. Then, she watched as his eyes sought out where they were joined.

“Yeah.” She swiveled her hips and watched them in the mirror. “Fuck me. Hard. Do it.”

Locked her elbows so she could push back against him. Squeezed herself around his cock. Saw him wince and heard him groan. The first sound he’d made. “Like that? Wait until I suck you off.”

Chloe wanted to be on her knees next. Where she belonged. She was a whore and she couldn’t stop. Couldn’t stop wanting him. Couldn’t stop loving him.

"God."

Lex moved his hand from her shoulder down her back and around. He could feel his own arousal building fast and furious and if she kept talking like this it wouldn't take much longer.

His fingers slid over the slippery flesh, unable to focus on one particular spot with her hips moving wildly. He kept his hand between her legs, pressing the heel of his palm against the skin to give her something to rub against as they kept fucking.

This felt different from their other times, somehow. Couldn't place it, couldn't tell exactly what, but different. Arousal climbing hard and fast, but without the same intensity that left him voiceless.

"Need you." He leaned over her and placed a kiss on her shoulder, never letting up on the speed of his thrusts, "Want you." Mouthed along her shoulder to her neck. "So fucking good."

Felt it coming on hard, couldn't hold back, hips pumping furiously and orgasm slamming through him in the middle of a breath, choked shout as pleasure raced through his body like wildfire.

Coming back down and feeling Chloe's hips still moving frantically, milking him dry even as she frantically rubbed against his hand, still trying to get there.

Lex managed to get his bearings enough to bring his hands to her hips to still her movement and pull out of her. Turned her around and wrapped one arm around her shoulder to hold her against him. Leaned down and captured her mouth in a passionate kiss as his other hand went back between her legs.

Chloe didn’t want to come like this. This wasn’t the plan. They were supposed to be two separate entities using each other for pleasure. Not this. Not him kissing her, feeling like she was getting devoured whole by him, as he worked to bring her off.

For a moment, her body tensed up, readying itself to struggle against him. But then his fingers slipped inside of her and she gasped his name.

It didn’t matter that she’d tried to make this about Lex being anyone. Make it into some cheap lunchtime quickie. It was him and it was her.

She fervently kissed him back and rocked against his fingers and his body.

Felt her head roll back and him hold her tighter. Knew he was watching as she came undone from his attention.

As usual, she didn’t scream. Jerked and whimpered as her pussy clenched and relaxed around his fingers. One of her hands clawing at his shoulder as he continued to draw her pleasure out. She could feel her legs shaking as she came down.

Lex watched her bask in the aftereffects of her climax and smiled down at her. He had to use both his arms to keep her upright, because it looked like her legs had turned into jelly, or she was just too lazy to hold herself up.

There was a blissful expression on her face, her eyes still half closed as she let him hold her for a moment, completely trusting him to not let her fall.

"So gorgeous like this," he murmured and lowered his head to place a kiss on her jawline.


tbc

dagney
9th November 2008, 17:06
Lois is a riot. Chloe is desperately trying to talk herself out of being heart broken and out of love but its a battle she may loose. When oh when will Clark find out and I'd be a bit worried about how well he handled it. Dagney

hfce
9th November 2008, 17:22
Man what a great update! I wish Lois would have come right out and tell them the what for. They need a reality check. Lex needs to choose this is not right. ::/: But the hot dirty motel sex was great! It is cracked me up how she tried to make it just sex when at the end it was making love just hotter. Lex seemed to miss the love and connection part as well. It is funny the only way he feels connected is to make eye contact with her. It is so obvious he is in love with her. I wish he would do the right thing! :rules:

lilinny
9th November 2008, 17:54
Hopefully, there could be a few more kinky encounters, then Lois telling Chloe again to get out before it's too late, then dropping the bomb when we least expect it.

Only my opinion!

As always a fantastic chapter.

tatie87
9th November 2008, 18:38
WOW!!!! and more wow. That was pretty steamy. Chloe and Lex having lunch time tryst in a seedy motel. Chloe was struggling so much to seperate her feelings from Lex to just animal sex. I can't wait for more. This story is really starting go get good. Please update soon.

Kit Merlot
9th November 2008, 21:45
An awesome update!

I loved how Lois' questions were probing enough to get a reaction from both Chloe and Lex. She now knows that Lex does feel guilty about the affair and for hurting Chloe, but Chloe's anger made me laugh slightly. She's outraged at Lois for implying that Lex is having sex with her because he's bored? I think Lois was right to question his intentions, and I hope she's able to talk some sense into the pair of them.

And can I say, I love that Lois is now living in Philly?!:D


"It's dirty, noisy, full of criminals, and the air is so bad that you want to hold your breath," Lois said with a smile. "I love it."

It's true about the dirt and the crime, but the air quality isn't that bad;)

I also loved that Chloe was trying to keep that their sex was just going to be cheap and easy, but then both of their emotions got in the way. I wonder, will she blurt out that she loves him?

This story continues to rock--keep up the great work:D

lj715
9th November 2008, 22:19
Thank God for Lois. Thanks for the update.

somethingeasy
11th November 2008, 16:02
Chloe had sighed against him and hadn’t moved. Because she was weak and wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to keep doing this with him. Sooner or later Lex would put a stop to this.

Aargh! I don’t know whether I want to scream at Chloe to STOP having such a lot opinion of her self-worth, or to throttle Lex for taking advantage of Chloe’s self-esteem issues to keep her in what seems to be a dead-end affair. It’s just so tragic seeing Chloe trying to resign herself to the fact that she’s going to end up broken-hearted and alone as soon as Lex… gets tired of this affair and moves on from her? And I loathe Lex for not having the balls or the sense to just pursue Chloe in earnest instead of keeping her in this state of limbo with this sordid affair.

Heh… hopefully Lois will have a few choice words for both of them that might prick through the bubble that they’re created for themselves over here.


Chloe had cooked her favorite meal. Like that was going to make a difference.

LOL! I really enjoyed seeing how Lois entered this dinner in a vicious state of mind… from the very beginning deciding that she wasn’t about to be placated or soothed by any well-intentioned gestures from Chloe. She’s ready to tear into Lex tonight… excellent!


"Yeah, but not as deep as I used to be. I gave up the seventy hours a week job of C.E.O. in favor of telling other C.E.O.s how to do their job."

Here’s yet another one of the many accommodations that Lex made for his relationship with Clark. I know that he’s miserable not having anything of a work-life to ‘escape’ to from his abysmal personal life. Actually, if only Lex still had a seventy hour working days, then he wouldn’t have felt *quite* as lonely, unfulfilled and miserable as he did. He would have had an intense (but hopefully satisfying) working keeping him busy and filling in the void in his life.

Hmmm, a void that he was initially trying to fill with Chloe’s emotional support as his friend, and then later with physical pleasure with that same source of emotional support. Chloe is basically a ‘filler-upper’ to Lex, isn’t she? Damn it!


Lois’ brows furrowed at the rather quick change in topic. And the fact that Chloe had sat down next to Lex like the chair was the last in musical chairs. It was also quite noticeable that her cousin's hand went under the table to grip something. She just hoped that it was Lex's hand and not something else.

The billionaire himself was looking a little uncomfortable, though you had to look very close to see it.

Okay, she'd obviously stumbled onto something. The only problem was that she had no idea just what she'd stumbled on.

Heh… I completely forgot about the fact that Chloe and Lex happen to be ‘in’ on a HUGE ‘other secret’ that Lois has no notion of. Although, this is a secret that is not really their right to share, so let’s hope that Lois doesn’t go digging too deeply into what she’s just sensed in the undercurrent just now.


It wasn't a safe question, but not too blatant either. The matter of the fact was that Lois had no idea how to do this pleasant idle conversation thing. She was a truth-teller. She called things as she saw them. Just like her dad. Sure, she and her dad didn't get along, but they both had the same sense of 'no bullshit' and both hated traipsing around an elephant in the room when they could as well shoot it and put it to rest.

I love this trait of Lois’s actually. Her complete tactlessness might be embarrassing and obnoxious at times, but sometimes it’s exactly what’s needed in certain situations. Certain situations like THIS one, without a doubt. Chloe and Lex needs some serious direct talk to bring home the dangerous sordidness of what they’re doing. It’s not only presenting a danger of hurting Lex’s relationship with Clark (whatever that might be worth at this point), but ALSO of hurting and permanently damaging/maiming the Chlex friendship too.

Bring it all out, Lois!!! Don’t hold back!


Lois arched a brow at Lex and leaned forward in her seat. "Really? Well then you won't be surprised to hear that neither of us likes coming second.”

Oh YES, Lois!!! I love how she managed to bring out her loathing, contempt and disapproval of the situation in a carefully phrased sentence here. She’s actually managed to be ‘subtle’ in her attack too… it’s not a headlong, direct, attacking accusation; but it’s clear to everyone exactly what Lois is saying over here.

I understand that she can’t really give out any direct attacks, because then she’ll end up sending Lex walking out AND alienating Chloe. So her attacks HAVE to be subtle and low-toned to a certain extent. But of course it just wouldn’t be in Lois’s nature to just sit back and say *nothing at all* during this dinner.


That he was using his best friend. Forcing her to stand by and pick up the shards every time his so called boyfriend shattered him to pieces with his careless attitude.

Lex knew it wasn't right, and he knew that there was no feasible explanation or excuse for what he was doing. He didn't know how to answer that comment.

Heeee!!! I loved, LOVED Lex’s ‘deer caught in headlights’ moment over here. It was AWESOME!!! It was also fantastic as well as intriguing seeing these sudden revelations driven home to Lex as if he’s never even thought of them before.

*contemptuous snort* yeah… Niiiice, Lex! THIS is the first time that you’ve actually spent some time considering Chloe’s side of this situation?! The fact that you’re using her in order to shore up your own emotional (and now physical) needs?? It probably didn’t seem that big a leap to Lex because he never saw how he’s been using Chloe for YEARS as his emotional crutch… so it was only a natural thing for their emotional affair to suddenly take on a physical form. It would have been sooo nice to see Lex trying to stammer out an answer for that comment… and then see him running out of the apartment because he didn’t HAVE an answer. It’s almost a shame that Lois dropped the subject when she saw him floundering.

But I think just *asking* the question is a great start… at the very least, it’s got Lex thinking beyond his own self-absorbed needs, right? Perhaps just for a moment?


She didn't have to look at Chloe to know that her cousin was glaring at her. But Lois didn't care. What was much more important was the expression she'd caught on Lex's face when she made that comment. Mister Poker Face had lost his impassiveness there for a whole two seconds and there might as well have been a stamp on his forehead proclaiming 'GUILTY' in big red letters.

So, he did know that what he was doing was wrong. Well, it was a start. Maybe if she appealed to his conscience a little more, she'd figure out how to stop this nonsense. One way or another, depending on Lex's feelings.

How to figure out if those feelings were just friendship or something more though? Sex, kisses and longing looks alone weren't solid enough as evidence.

Heh, wasn’t it FUN seeing Lois ‘catching’ Lex with that very revealing expression on his face. I can see she was having a highly satisfying moment catching Lex with his defenses leveled down from a single sentence no less, LOL!

It’s pretty interesting that Lois seems open to the idea of a relationship between Chloe and Lex… a legitimate relationship! She’s not stuck on the idea of this man being unreliable, untrustworthy and generally unworthy of her cousin. She just thinks the circumstances of their relationship is not suitable. So, if the circumstances change, Lois will be in favour of Chloe pursuing a proper relationship with this man? A man who’s actually been proved unfaithful in a previous serious relationship as well as inconsiderate of Chloe’s feelings as a cherished and valued person?


Chloe couldn’t believe that Lois had just done that. Her cousin had promised to behave. If she knew that this was going to happen, she would have never agreed for the three of them to have dinner.

It was damned frustrating to see that Lois’s biggest obstacle in looking out for Chloe and protecting Chloe is Chloe herself! Lois has made a very legitimate and necessary comment over here, and all Chloe can think about is making sure LEX is kept in an easy and comfortable state during dinner. Damn it, Chloe! Why can’t you make the situation just a LITTLE bit tougher on Lex, instead of rolling over and giving him whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Is she really so insecure about her place in Lex’s life that she’s sure he’ll walk out the moment the situation becomes a little ‘uncomfortable and complicated’ for him?!? Is that truly what she thinks about Lex’s sense of loyalty towards her?

I guess so. What a damned shame!


“Had that body building on roids feel to him.”

"Right," Lois said with a particularly wide smile for her cousin.

Her reaction had sounded completely different three months ago when she'd called Lois to thank her for the sandwich.

Heh… it’s pretty interesting to see how Chloe’s tastes have changed recently. Now she prefers someone ‘lean and smooth’ as compared to the heavily toned and strongly built guys who had her drooling before, huh?


The problem was that the one topic she wanted to address couldn't be addressed. And while Chloe was too busy trying to keep Lois from addressing the topic, Lex was taking the 'don't speak unless spoken to' approach.

Heh… don’t speak unless you’re spoken to? Or in other words… the cautious, cowardly, avoidance approach, huh? *rolls eyes in contempt* WHY am I not surprised?!?


As far as Lex was concerned she might as well have spoken the actual words behind her innuendo. She clearly thought that he was with Chloe just because he'd gotten bored of Clark.

"Not really," he said slowly. "The only reason for me to give up on my favorite would be if the recipe was changed and made it completely unpalatable.”

This wasn't a flight of fancy, or something he did out of boredom. He didn't expect Lois to understand what was happening, and he knew that it was wrong, but goddamnit he needed this. Needed Chloe so he’d be able to deal with the steaming pile of shit his life had become.


And if it was that bad, why the heck was Lex still with Clark?

Heh… that was pretty much the answer I expected from Lex… that he was with Chloe because he ‘needed’ to be with her as a ‘break’ from the miserable event that his legitimate relationship had been reduced to. And I loved, LOVED that Lois’s mind went immediately to the thought that has been driving the viewer’s crazy since the beginning of this affair. If life with Clark is so damned miserable and ‘unpalatable’, then why the HELL is Lex still with him?!? It’s driving us INSANE wondering, not only why isn’t Lex asking himself this question, but why isn’t anyone else asking this of him either.

In fact, why didn’t Lois ask it out loud just now?!?? Aaaargh! I guess she felt it was still too soon to start pushing for unanswerable questions? Chloe’s lack of asking frustrates me more actually. Why the hell is she making things so easy for Lex?!? Why isn’t she nagging him to cite a reason why he can’t leave Clark for her? Why isn’t she asking him to make a choice…?



Oh yeah… I forgot… because Chloe is certain that, even thought life with Clark makes Lex miserable, lonely, unfulfilled and unhappy; Lex would STILL choose Clark over her. *sigh* I really can’t wait to see the day when Chloe finally gets back her backbone as well as her actual deserved sense of self-worth. Clark and Lex have really done a number in demolishing her sense of value and worth in herself, haven’t they? The bastard/s!


"I thought you'd say something like...Well, something fancy and foreign, and completely unpronounceable for a normal person."

He laughed and leaned back in his chair. "What can I say, I like to be unpredictable."

"Yeah." Unpredictable. Like starting an affair with his best friend after five years of being faithful despite offers from every woman in Metropolis and almost as many men.

It was definitely fun seeing Lois giving Lex a third degree interrogation. And rather bemusing to see that she managed to be quite vicious even though she was swallowing back about 95% of the real vitriol that she wanted to spout at him.


Chloe was so mad that she was practically shaking. That Lois would even suggest that Lex was fucking her because he was bored with Clark…

It spoke to a sort of utter disrespect of her that Lex would never have.

*raises eyebrow* Are you serious, Chloe? You really think that, right now, Lex keeping you in a side-affair is a sign of respect?!? My god, she’s really sunk herself into one ‘interesting’ state of delusion, hasn’t she? She has already accepted that Lex is keeping her on as a secret mistress in a sordid affair behind his husband’s back, AND that he only sees this as a temporary thing until he works out his problems, OR until he works her out of his system. But she’s still trying to convince herself that Lex still holds her with the highest regard and respect? I don’t care what he FEELS towards Chloe… because perhaps he DOES respect her highly. But what matters to me is how he treats her… and this is not the way a good, decent man treats a women he respects. A good man does NOT turn his highly regarded friend into a ‘booty call’!


They were both guests in her house and she had half a mind to throw Lois out because of the way she was treating Lex.

*rolls eyes* oh dear. Is nasty, vicious Lois bothering the great and exalted Lex Luthor? Is she making widdle lexy feel uncomfortable with her probing questions? I just wanted to SHAKE Chloe for the way she was, yet again, giving into the impulse to give that indulged spoiled brat everything he wants as if it’s his entitled right. Let him at least mount up his own defense and explanation over here, Chloe!

It’s really a pity, but I get the feeling that Chloe is not going to be inviting Lois over to her apartment again for a long time. Not until this affair inevitably shatters, and Chloe is left in some severe need of comfort while she’s picking up the pieces of her self-esteem, heart and soul.


Chloe walked over to the door and quickly opened it. She couldn’t believe that she was doing this. And part of her knew that she was doing this because it was something that she usually wouldn’t do.

Meeting the guy she was having an affair with at a motel? Who did that?

Niiiice, BlueSabby! You’re evil and vicious, and I LOVE it! I love how you have reduced Chloe to such a clichéd action during her affair. Actually getting a cheap, disgusting motel room for a quick half hour romp during her lunch break? That was awesome! And I loved how Chloe was semi-ashamed of being reduced to such a horrible, cliché of an action. LOL! I’m sure that inner-writer within must have been cringing at the triteness and unoriginality of the scene.

I wonder whether a part of Lex was ALSO cringing at participating at the cliché of the action. Or was he focusing too much on the basic riskiness of meeting with Chloe on short notice in the middle of the working day? Hmmm, I wonder where is Clark today…?


“I’ve never been fucked in a seedy motel.” Hard to believe with her track record but it was still true.

Ye-ah! That’s exactly what every girl dreams of doing at least once in her life. Honestly, Chloe! LOOK at what you’ve been reduced to! Fucking in a motel room, and pretending it’s a turn-on? Pitiful!


“One more thing,” she murmured against his neck, “in my dream, I was totally naked except for my heels and you had all of your clothes on as you pushed into me from behind, front and every other way. I’d like to try that.”

Chloe's words caused an instant porn movie to run through his mind. His cock was rising fast at the idea and he grabbed her by the back of the neck to haul her into a hard kiss.

He felt her hips start to grind into his as he pushed the blouse down her shoulders and went for the button and zipper on her skirt with both hands. The fabric fell to the floor with a soft swishing noise and he waited for her to step out of it before he moved on to get rid of her panties as she unhooked her bra.

Dammit! Wouldn’t it be so much easier if the sex wasn’t so darned hot, HOT! The smut IS pretty damned irresistible, and I can see why Chloe has so much trouble saying ‘no’ to it. Hopefully she’ll gather up the will to eventually say ‘enough is enough’? Heopfully? Maybe? Possibly? OR she’ll just end up with a broken heart when Lex eventually dumps her.


“If we’d done it before, I’d let you have this.” She wiggled her butt against Lex’s body and felt that he was already hard for her. “Wanna try it soon,” she said, catching his eyes in the mirror. She watched as his breathing deepened.

Oooh, I actually find myself looking forward to THAT particular bit of kinkiness, LOL! I forgot that they wanted to try out anal sex. It should be interesting. Although, I can’t help but wonder whether either of them will have ANY thoughts of Clark while Lex is lubing himself up for that.


Like a scene from a particularly good porn movie, one of his large hands clamped down on her shoulder as his other hand held on to her hip to guide her movements. Her breasts bouncing with every thrust, mouth open and face tight with building pleasure.

Chloe moved her head up and took in what she saw. Her mouth was slack and her lips were moist. Animalistic grunts coming out of it between her begging for more.

Her body devoid of a stitch of clothing as Lex rammed into her from behind.

This was what she needed.

Needed it just to be about sex. Just fucking in a seedy hotel room. Nothing more.

A true affair. No emotions. Body parts meeting and retreating and muscles clamping down.

This scene here was really hot… and also really, VERY intriguing and fascinating (and tragic) in terms of what Chloe was thinking. So she’s now trying to emotionally distance herself from Lex by trying to make their affair a purely physical thing, huh? It sounds like a good idea in theory, and I think Chloe’s even had some practice with maintaining meaningless, purely physical affairs with a variety of men… BUT it’s far too late for her to try and do that. She’s already crazily, madly in love with Lex, and quite honestly, she doesn’t stand a chance to try and withhold the emotional part of herself from him NOW.


Chloe wanted to be on her knees next. Where she belonged. She was a whore and she couldn’t stop. Couldn’t stop wanting him. Couldn’t stop loving him.

This was really tragic and disturbing. Chloe wanting to emotionally distance herself was one thing, but now she’s actually focusing a good portion of loathing at herself for being so ‘weak’. Granted, she IS a little weak for Lex, and she needs to gather up some backbone and a sense of self-preservation, but she doesn’t deserve to have this amount of loathing and contempt directed in her direction… especially not from herself!!

Chloe, if you’re going to hate someone for this situation, then focus your hate where it belongs
*Chloe looks at Clark* NO! Not Clark, you idiot!
*Chloe looks at Lois* NO!!!! not there either! Oh you’re hopeless! I give up!


This felt different from their other times, somehow. Couldn't place it, couldn't tell exactly what, but different. Arousal climbing hard and fast, but without the same intensity that left him voiceless.

Wow! Wasn’t that so fascinating?! I loved the idea that Lex somehow sensed that this coupling was ‘different’ from all the other times they have fucked each other. He’s actually able to tell the difference between Chloe ‘just fucking him’ and Chloe ‘making love’ to him. He can sense it, and he doesn’t like it.

I should have known that Lex would never, EVER have given Chloe a chance to emotionally distance herself in a manner appropriate to self-preservation. He’s been sucking her dry emotionally for YEARS now, and there’s no way he’s going to be able to let go of THAT privilege. He’d sooner stop fucking her than stop connecting and clinging to her emotionally.


"Need you." He leaned over her and placed a kiss on her shoulder, never letting up on the speed of his thrusts, "Want you." Mouthed along her shoulder to her neck. "So fucking good."

Felt it coming on hard, couldn't hold back, hips pumping furiously and orgasm slamming through him in the middle of a breath, choked shout as pleasure raced through his body like wildfire.

Coming back down and feeling Chloe's hips still moving frantically, milking him dry even as she frantically rubbed against his hand, still trying to get there.

Wow! That was damned hot, Hot, HOT!!! I loved the visual of Lex coming against his will inside Chloe. Even before he’s gotten a chance to get HER off first. LOL! You can really tell that Lex is crazy about a woman he’s fucking when he orgasms prematurely.


Chloe didn’t want to come like this. This wasn’t the plan. They were supposed to be two separate entities using each other for pleasure. Not this. Not him kissing her, feeling like she was getting devoured whole by him, as he worked to bring her off.

For a moment, her body tensed up, readying itself to struggle against him. But then his fingers slipped inside of her and she gasped his name.

It didn’t matter that she’d tried to make this about Lex being anyone. Make it into some cheap lunchtime quickie. It was him and it was her.

Heh… so much for that plan. There wasn’t really a chance of Chloe pulling it off, but she gets points for top effort in trying. She even made sure that the affair FELT as cheap, shallow and sordid as possible… insisting on a cheap motel room during an hour long lunch fuck-date, and ALSO insisting on just a brutal fucking without her being able to see his face. She set the scene up perfectly for a shallow fuck, but she STILL ended up with Lex making love to her, and her unable to resist that.

It didn’t work… so does this mean that Chloe gives up trying to distance herself? Or save herself?

Heh… yet another evil, EVIL update, BlueSabby! I think you’re enjoying the hate-sessions that your readers experience whenever we come into contact with these hopeless characters. I’ll admit, it’s kind of fun shouting and screaming abuse at them for being unfaithful, betraying, stupid, inconsiderate, weak… and all the other qualities that we love to hate about them, LOL!

I look forward to the next update. Please post soon!

angelslady
11th November 2008, 19:33
Oh wow, just been catching up with this story, love it can't wait for the next chapter. :)

BlueSabby
16th November 2008, 16:41
A/N: Blue: Lois' visit continues.

A/N: Sabby: Another day, another dinner. And our lovely Lois is back.


~~
By the time Chloe had come back into her own head and gotten Lex to agree to sit in the chair, it was almost time to go. But not quite yet.

He wanted to do 69 but she said that there wasn’t any time to get her off again. Besides, there was nothing to cover the bed with.

Lex was sitting on his suit jacket and was just going to burn it later.

She was fairly certain he wasn’t thinking about that anymore what with his cock all the way down her throat.

Chloe was still naked save for her shoes and she could feel the cheap rug biting into her knees. But she kept up the fast motion of her head.

She had told Lex to fuck her mouth like he’d fucked her pussy but that wasn’t working out too well.

Maybe because he wasn’t used to getting head anymore. He mostly let her do what she wanted to him.

His taste was strong in her mouth and she knew that he wasn’t going to last much longer. She pulled off of him, briefly.

“Lex, fuck me.” She licked her lips and then went back to work. He thrust up into her mouth a few times…but then she thought he got distracted by running his hand through her hair while the other soothed over her back.

He had no idea why she was trying to convince him to fuck her mouth, but he just didn't want to. It had been way too long since he'd gotten a blowjob like this, from someone who didn't only know what they were doing but did it with a passion that left him at the same time boneless and tense in expectation of the oncoming climax.

"Don't need to," he rasped out as he combed back her hair to see her face. "So good, please don't stop."

Lex didn't know how much time they had left but he wanted this to last almost as much as he wanted to come. Wanted to feel this for hours and soak in the sensations that her talented mouth and hands were creating.

"Love..." A particularly strong suck trapped the words in his throat for a moment before he could continue. "This."

Chloe shook free of his hands and closed her eyes. For a second, just one, she thought he was going to tell her something else. It fucked with her. Hard.

She started to hollow out her cheeks as she went for his balls. She started to gently pull at them as she groaned around him.

His hands were in her hair, she knew he was trying to see her face. But he shouldn’t have to. He knew what she looked like and it didn’t matter. He should be happy to have anyone do this to him, it didn’t have to be her.

Before he could get her hair pushed back, she found that spot just past his balls and applied pressure to it.

He jerked above her and she started to swallow him down. His hands dug into her shoulders as she kept up the suction.

His come spilled down her throat and she could feel a throbbing between her legs. But that couldn’t be taken care of.

She gently pulled away from him and ran her thumb along the bottom ridge of her lower lip as she looked over at the clock.

Lex was a limp noodle, in more ways than one, but she had to get moving. “I have to get back to work.” She stood up and started to dress herself again.

He started to stir. “No need to move right now. We have to leave separately anyway.”

She walked over and tucked him back into his pants before finishing getting dressed. When she put her panties back on, she smiled down at him. “I’ll feel you for the rest of the day.” As usual, they hadn’t used a condom.

“Call me when you can.” She leaned down and gave him a small kiss. “Bye, Lex.”

Lex grabbed her arm before she could draw back fully and pulled her into his lap. Even if she had to go now, one more minute wouldn't make things worse.

"Thank you," he murmured as he brought his hand up to smooth down her hair. "I was thinking we should have dinner together again. If you can make it."

He didn't want to cut in on her time with Lois, especially considering that the other woman didn't approve of their relationship. Lex didn't want to be the reason for a rift between the cousins who were more like sisters.

Lex really was her Achilles heel. She knew that she should tell him no. If she was going to survive this, she would have to try and make it about the orgasms. Not stuff like this. But it would be a weaning process.

“I’ll talk to Lois about it.” She knew what her cousin would say. Or maybe more like she knew what sort of face she would make.

“But I have to go now.” Chloe kissed him with a little more feeling this time. She leaned her forehead against his briefly before getting back to her feet and leaving.

~~
“Listen, I told you that we could have said no, so please behave yourself for once.” Chloe and Lois were standing at Lex’s door.

They were there for dinner. With Lex and Clark.

The invitation had been accepted before any of them knew that Clark was whooshing back into town.

Lois had originally given the ok because she wanted to check out the “love nest” as she so wonderfully called Lex’s place.

And she wouldn’t let Chloe cancel, either. She said that she was looking forward to seeing Smallville again. As Chloe knocked on the door she wondered just how badly this was going to go.

After a few moments Lex answered the door. Chloe knew that there was something wrong immediately.

His face was tight and he looked like he was trying to look ok.

“Come in and let me take your coats.” She watched him carefully as Lois slithered out of her multicolored trench coat to reveal a low cut and short dress. Chloe was convinced that she was doing some sort of sexuality experiment with both of the men.

Lois noticed that Lex wasn't looking at all. Not even a little, and she'd made sure to wear a knock out dress. If she didn't know better, she'd believe he was a hundred percent gay.

Her gaze wandered around the room as far as possible from the moment she stepped into the apartment. The first thing she noticed was the very male décor. It looked like it was taken right out of some catalogue for 'fashionable living without estrogen'. Not very homey.

"Hello, Lex."

"Hello, Lois," he echoed. "Why don't you two get comfortable on the couch? Dinner's almost ready."

Since Lois had ambled right past him, he could only greet Chloe properly, but Lex didn't mind that.

He leaned in for a short hug and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'm glad you came."

Lex knew that she hadn't wanted to, especially with Lois still there. And when Clark had breezed back into town yesterday, he'd been sure she would back out, not able to face him. Well, she would be glad to hear that she didn't have to.

Lois walked through the extensive living room, sparing a passing glance for the half open chrome and marble kitchen.

Something didn't feel quite right about this 'modern living' apartment. She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something missing that would give the place a more lived in feel.

Something else was missing too, or rather someone. And the absence was rather obvious.

She turned on her dangerously high heel to face the man of the house. "Where's Smallville?"

When she saw the look on Lex’s face when he heard Lois’ question, she knew the answer.

“He’s not here,” she paused, “is he Lex?”

She reached for his hand and held it tightly. She couldn’t believe the fucking asshole. This time he’d stayed less than 24 hours. Did he think that this was a fucking hotel? Chloe wondered if he tipped Lex for making up the bed.

Lex’s jaw clenched and Chloe knew that she was right. “Unfortunately, no.” Lex’s voice sounded off to her. She wished that Lois wasn’t here. She couldn’t react the way she wanted to with her cousin standing ten feet away.

He cleared his throat. “He was called away…”

“Unexpectedly for business.” Chloe’s voice joined Lex’s. She’d heard the excuse almost a hundred times over the past few years.

Well, damnit if Lois wasn’t going to have to deal with feeling a little uncomfortable. Chloe reached up and put her hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry.”

Lex nodded and then stepped away from her. “So it’ll just be the three of us for dinner.”

He didn't want this. Not in front of Lois. This wasn't the first time Clark had done something like this and it wouldn't be the last time by far. Lex had learned to deal with it in one way or another, depending on how many people were around him.

Now that there were curious eyes, judging him for every reaction, he would be damned if he showed any weakness.

"Does either of you want something to drink?" he asked politely as he stepped in the direction of the kitchen.

Lois furrowed her brows, not sure what to make of that little interplay. But she could see that Lex wasn't exactly happy with the situation.

"I could use a glass of wine, if you have it," she said neutrally and looked at Chloe.

"A margarita, but only if..."

Lex interrupted her by holding his hand up. "Chloe, I think I'll be able to manage a margarita without problem."

He retreated to the kitchen, thankful for a small respite from Lois' watchful gaze. Of course he didn't delude himself into believing that she would keep her mouth shut on the issue, but he hoped that she'd at least have the decency to wait until he had a few drinks in.

Lois waited just long enough to watch Lex disappear into the kitchen before she turned on her cousin.

"Business? He's away on business?" She wanted an explanation and she wanted it now. "His job is more important to him than dinner with us?"

Chloe walked over to Lois and grabbed her by the elbow. She forcefully dragged her out of the room, her cousin’s legs might be longer but the ridiculous shoes were slowing her down. Her cousin kept yammering but Chloe ignored her.

She pushed Lois into the hall bathroom and then shut the door behind them. “Stop with the questions.” It wasn’t any of Lois’ business. And Chloe didn’t know how she was supposed to juggle an upset Lex and an inquisitive Lois at the same time.

Taking Lois by the shoulders, Chloe looked her square in the eyes. “It happens all the time. You’re upsetting him even more.” She tilted her head towards the closed door. “Lois, I know that you’re mad and disappointed and worried about the situation but, please, for now, please just stop.”

Damn, even the guest bathroom looked like one in a standard issue five star hotel. There even were the little towels that had 'guest' stitched on them.

Lois shook her head and got back on track. More important than her cousin asking her to stop was that other little tidbit she'd revealed. "When you say 'all the time', do you mean recently or..."

She trailed off, knowing from the look on Chloe's face that it wasn't all that recent. "I don't get it."

Lois really, really didn't understand how someone could just abandon their partner like that when they knew that friends, or well, friend plus one were coming over for dinner. Not even her Dad had been that cruel to her Mom. The two had fought like cats and dogs before the divorce, but if her mother had invited people for dinner, her Dad had been there at eighteen hundred sharp, as he called it.

"For at least two years." Chloe's voice was downright frosty when she said that.

"Oh."

There was really not much more she could say to that right now, except maybe a slew of curses and insults because that was just...She would have dumped his sorry ass after the third time he'd stood her up. Why the hell would Lex live with shit like that for two years?

"Okay, I guess I'll drop the questions for now." The ones pertaining to Clark at any rate.

There were still a few things she needed to figure out that only had a secondary relation to Clark. At least if you squinted really hard and looked at them only from the corner of your eye. Then, Clark was very secondary in the questions she had about the relationship between Chloe and Lex.


"Thank you." Chloe sounded sincerely relieved and Lois almost felt guilty. Almost being the operative word.

"No problem." She shrugged and looked around the bathroom again. Something was still niggling at her.

"But...does he always get like this?"

She couldn't exactly define 'this', just that it was untypical and in a way glaringly there as opposed to the not there-ness of it during their last dinner. Sure, he'd had a moment, when she'd brought up Clark, but then it had been gone and it was nothing like this.

Chloe looked at the closed door. “Now he does,” she admitted. “But the first time…”

She shook her head.

“The first time it happened, he went crazy.” She remembered the frantic phone call. The speedy drive over here. The calls to Clark’s cell phone and the rest of the members of the League.

They’d heard nothing for almost a full day. “He thought Clark was dead.” She remembered how scared Lex had been. He’d actually vomited because he’d been so worried and keyed up.

“I did, too,” she admitted. “We stayed up all night.”

She started laughing mirthlessly. “And then he came home like nothing happened.” She saw Lois’ eyes widen and Chloe nodded. “Just waltzed in the door as if he hadn’t been missing for a day.”

“Lex was…”

She could only shake her head. Indescribable.

“Clark didn’t even explain?” Lois had dropped all of her tactics. Chloe knew that was because Lois probably couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Chloe’s voice became hard. “A mess at work.” She shrugged one shoulder. “No time to call.”

"That's it?!"

Lois could barely stop her jaw from dropping to her chest. She knew her voice had probably been too loud with that last question, but she didn't care. This was ridiculous, and disrespectful, and if Lex had been a chick, everyone would have told her, him, would have told him to dump that sorry ass.

Chloe nodded again. "Yes. So now when this happens he gets..." She gestured to the door again. "Quiet."

Lois snorted. "Quiet is an understatement."

Lex had barely said the words that were necessary before he'd asked for an excuse to go into the kitchen.

"It's like the temperature dropped and he just..." She waved her hand around, looking for the right words. "Went into hibernation."

Chloe didn't agree verbally, but Lois knew that she'd hit the nail on the head when her cousin went on to defend Lex a little more. Something she'd gotten used to during her stay here.

"So if he's short with us, that's why."

Lois crossed her arms over her chest and huffed a breath. "Okay, I won't hold it against him."

"But you know what?" She needed to say it because if she kept bottling it up now, she was likely to say it to Lex. And that wouldn't go over well. "If it were you, I'd tell you to dump his sorry ass and get on with life."

She felt sorry that Lex had to deal with shit like this and somehow wished she could do something about it, too. If he was a chick, she'd have offered ice cream or a movie with Vin Diesel. Then again, that might still work for Lex.

"Does Lex like Ben and Jerry's? I mean, he's half gay. He has to like it, right?"

“Half gay?” Chloe didn’t even know how to respond to that lunacy. Lex was bisexual. You couldn’t be half gay like half Irish. But she knew that Lois was just trying to help.

“And I have told him,” she said. “He worries about what it would do to Clark.” She tried not to sound bitter as she spoke the words. She thought it was asinine that Lex still even considered Clark’s feelings in the situation when he clearly got no reciprocity.

Lois rolled her eyes and Chloe couldn’t blame her. If she didn’t know what Clark was capable of, she’d do the same thing. “Who cares what it would do to Clark? What's the worst the farmboy could do?”

Blow up the world, Chloe answered silently. But she let Lois work off some steam.

“Go crazy and run home to torture the cows?”

Chloe had no idea how to answer Lois. She couldn’t tell her about Clark…she supposed. But she felt no loyalty to the man at this point in time.

“He could go into self destruct mode and damage himself and everyone around him.” And blow up the world.

Lois frowned. She really couldn't see how that could happen. Or at least, not on the scale that Chloe made it sound like. They were talking about Smallville after all. "You give that boy way too much credit."

She really didn't see how anything that the guy could do would damage 'everyone around him'. "So what if he starts a couple brawls?" She shrugged and made a disinterested noise. "He'll get his ass kicked nice and hard, and that'll be that."

Come to think of it... "I know a few guys who'd..." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Ya know, if it came to that."

Chloe shook her head and smiled bitterly. "Trust me when I say it's not that simple."

Lois sighed. Apparently, Lex was not the only one who'd gotten some ridiculous notions in their head about the capabilities of one Clark Kent, bumbling idiot extraordinaire. Maybe if she exaggerated a little, Chloe would see the light.

"The way you talk, you make it sound like he'll buy a nuclear weapon on the black market and make the world go boom." Something that Clark lacked as well the resources, mental and otherwise, as the money for.

What Chloe said next made her brows raise high. "Lois, Clark is special." Then higher. "Like meteor rock special."

Oh. "Well fuck!" She kicked the small cabinet under the sink emphatically.

Chloe nodded in agreement. "So, it's delicate to say the least."

Lois was still not appeased though. They'd dealt with their fair share of meteor freaks back in the day. "Still, Lex should dump his sorry ass."

And who was to say that Clark would go ballistic, freak powers or not. "I mean, if shit like this happens all the time? Smallville probably won't even notice that Lex is gone."

Again, Lois was giving her good options if they were going to be logical. But logic and Clark didn’t go together anymore. The man was more self righteous than ever now that he’d actually saved thousands and thousands of people.

“He would notice but just because of the “principle” of the matter.” Lex had told her this over and over and she happened to agree with him. She just didn’t really care anymore.

“He would say that Lex doesn't understand his business and Lex knew what he was getting into when they started seeing each other.” Again, also true. But things had gotten worse and worse. Clark had stopped making any efforts where Lex was concerned.

“That’s just stupid,” Lois said, bluntly.

Chloe smiled weakly at her. “You see the world in which I live now.”

"Yeah." But Lois was not the least bit amused, and even less accepting of that world. It would have to change and she'd be damned if she didn't do her own part in changing it.

They both remained silent for a moment because neither of them knew what else to say. They were well and truly at an impasse and that damn line would always make her think of The Princess Bride. Well, if she had to be Inigo Montoya then she would go in with sword rattling to kill and avenge. Maybe not kill, but definitely avenge.

Chloe pulled her out of her thoughts when she spoke again. "So, I think we gotta go back now. We've been in the bathroom for quite a long time."

Lois nodded and ran her fingers through her hair, mussing it up a little and scratching her brain. That always helped her think. "Okay, let's go in there and have dinner and forget that Smallville even exists."

"Sounds good." Chloe smiled a little at that, but Lois couldn't find it in herself to do the same.

She motioned towards the door. "Lead the way."
~~
The dinner had gone relatively well. Except for the one comment that Lois probably couldn’t help but make.

When they had returned to the table, which already had food on it because they’d been in the bathroom so long, Lois had said, “Let's dig in. Someone who doesn't bother to show isn't worth waiting around for.”

Which actually didn’t make much sense being that they weren’t going to wait for Clark to start. But Chloe supposed it was Lois’ strange way of trying to make Lex feel better.

He’d only sent her cousin a cold look as she’d glared at her. But it didn’t faze Lois.

The conversation seemed to flow easier after a few minutes and the rest of the meal had passed without any more incidents.

Lois’ coat was already belted but she’d gone back into the living room to check out the pictures that Lex had on the end tables.

He helped Chloe into her coat. When she turned and looked up at him, he said, “Stay.”

Lois had returned from the living room just in time to hear that low comment. Lex was a sneaky one, but no one outsneaked her.

She hadn't been surprised when Lex hadn't offered her a tour through the apartment, so she'd had to be sneaky about that, too. When she'd excused herself to go to the bathroom again before dessert, she had silently made her way past the bathroom and rushed through as many rooms as she could before she had to get back to the table.

The results of her quick search had been disturbing to say the least.

And now Lex was asking Chloe to stay here. And Lois couldn't even blame him.

She watched as her cousin shook her head and declined Lex's offer with an apology.

Lois bit her lip and made a little more noise than necessary with her heels as she approached them in the hallway.

"Thanks again for dinner, Lex."

Lex pasted a smirk onto his face and nodded. "You're welcome, Lois." He hadn't been pleased about her not so veiled comment about Clark at the beginning, but after that she had been surprisingly polite and even friendly.

His eyes widened when she actually approached him and wrapped her long arms around his shoulders to awkwardly pat his back.

He returned the gesture at the small of her back and frowned over Lois' shoulder at Chloe questioningly. But Chloe looked just as surprised by this as he did.

Lois pulled back and straightened her hair. That hug had been an impulse that she maybe should have curbed, but Lex had looked so something that she hadn't been able to curb it.

"Okay then, good night."

Chloe watched as Lois walked through the door, leaving them alone.

Left alone with Lex, and with him looking at her like she’d just killed his first born, Chloe almost caved. But she couldn’t stay with him tonight. It wouldn’t be fair to Lois and, Chloe was starting to realize, she couldn’t be his crutch. Couldn’t be used as something for Lex to prop himself up with while Clark was gone.

Part of her was defending Lex, telling her that that was certainly not why he wanted her to stay. But Chloe was trying to be more logical. Salvage whatever she could of her heart.

She reached out and took his hand. “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’m sorry I just can’t,” shouldn’t, “stay.”

tatie87
16th November 2008, 17:59
I want to hit Clark with a kryptonite made baseball bat for what an ass he is in this story. I love that Lois is starting to see things from Chloe and Lex's side. I'm glad that Chloe wouldn't be Lex's prop, but I feel bad for Lex. Can't wait for the next update.

lj715
16th November 2008, 19:59
Thanks for the update.

hfce
16th November 2008, 21:11
Man that was deep. I feel bad for Chloe in this. Her heart is breaking. Lex needs to be choked to death. Just break the F up with that inconsiderate mother f'er. I am sorry but when Lex finally grows a pair then they can be together. :wth:

lilinny
16th November 2008, 23:43
Stay! Stay! The pull of Lex goodness will make her stay.

As always a fantastic chapter.

Kit Merlot
17th November 2008, 00:29
An awesome update!

I liked what Lois said about Clark's treatment of Lex: disrespectful. Clark has no more regard for Lex then the Man on the Moon, and Lois is right that Lex should just dump him.

This bit:


It wouldn’t be fair to Lois and, Chloe was starting to realize, she couldn’t be his crutch. Couldn’t be used as something for Lex to prop himself up with while Clark was gone.

is just wonderful. Good for Chloe for trying to maintain some semblnace of dignity. I have no doubt that Lex is hurting, but he can't keep leaning on Chloe this way. I hope this serves as a wake-up call for Lex to end this sorry excuse of a relationship with Clark.

As always, you are doing a beautiful job with this story, and I can't wait to see what happens next:D

somethingeasy
20th November 2008, 19:25
Chloe was still naked save for her shoes and she could feel the cheap rug biting into her knees. But she kept up the fast motion of her head.

She had told Lex to fuck her mouth like he’d fucked her pussy but that wasn’t working out too well.

I found it very interesting that Chloe declined Lex’s offer to do her as she did him. I think she wanted to keep the oral sex one-sided because she wanted to maintain perspective of the situation. If she only makes this about giving Lex pleasure… especially at the expense of her own… then it might be the first step in distancing herself from this affair. I noted how she also told Lex to ‘fuck her mouth’, basically making it as sexual and lustful as possible without bringing any gentleness, romance and connection into it.

Heh… Lex had no idea why Chloe was trying to convince him to ‘fuck her mouth’, but I think a few more sessions like this (where Chloe insists on taking straining out all the playful gentleness out of the sex) might eventually clue him in on what Chloe is trying to do. I can only imagine what a brutal slap in the fact THAT realization would be.


"Love..." A particularly strong suck trapped the words in his throat for a moment before he could continue. "This."

Chloe shook free of his hands and closed her eyes. For a second, just one, she thought he was going to tell her something else. It fucked with her. Hard.

Oh that was PAINFUL to read. So I can’t imagine how hurtful it was for Chloe. The poor girl! It must have left a gash on her heart to hear Lex use the word ‘love’, and then use it to describe the act she was doing rather than the intimacy, meaning and person behind the act. Dammit Lex! Be a LITTLE bit more careful about the words you throw around, you asshole!

Hmmm, perhaps a few more painful gashes like this will finally convince Chloe that this affair brings far too much pain in proportionate to the pleasure to continue…?


His hands were in her hair, she knew he was trying to see her face. But he shouldn’t have to. He knew what she looked like and it didn’t matter. He should be happy to have anyone do this to him, it didn’t have to be her.

Again! SO painful! I suspected that Chloe would eventually start thinking that, since Lex was seeking sexual solace from her, he could just as easily start seeking it from other people as well. After all, Lex has already proved himself to be unfaithful to one person… why the heck should he be trusted to remain ‘faithful’ to two people?


She walked over and tucked him back into his pants before finishing getting dressed. When she put her panties back on, she smiled down at him. “I’ll feel you for the rest of the day.” As usual, they hadn’t used a condom.

aaargh! That STILL makes me want to pull my hair out. The thought that Chloe doesn’t even insist on THIS basic barrier between both of them. It’s going to be mighty difficult for her to start ‘distancing’ if she can feel him for HOURS after every sex-session.


Lex really was her Achilles heel. She knew that she should tell him no. If she was going to survive this, she would have to try and make it about the orgasms. Not stuff like this. But it would be a weaning process.

“I’ll talk to Lois about it.” She knew what her cousin would say. Or maybe more like she knew what sort of face she would make.

I was surprised about the dinner offer Lex made. Not to mention that he willingly invited Lois along too?! It’s moments like these that BAFFLE me about how Lex can be so self-absorbed and oblivious about Chloe’s wounds when he’s OBVIOUSLY such a sweet, considerate and sensitive man in so many other ways. He invited Lois along because he didn’t want to alienate Chloe from her beloved cousin… even if he hates that cousin, and feels that she’s trying t o drive a wedge between him and Chloe.

Actually, I was glad to see Chloe accepting this invitation. It’s not like he’s inviting her to his apartment for another weekend stay over of sordid extra-marital affair sex. He’s inviting her, and her family for a quiet dinner of company and conversation.

I did appreciate how Chloe considered this to be dangerous though. She wants to start pulling herself away emotionally from Lex, but it’s not going to be easy if they continue to bond and communicate the same way they used to when they were ‘just friends’.


“Come in and let me take your coats.” She watched him carefully as Lois slithered out of her multicolored trench coat to reveal a low cut and short dress. Chloe was convinced that she was doing some sort of sexuality experiment with both of the men.

Lois noticed that Lex wasn't looking at all. Not even a little, and she'd made sure to wear a knock out dress. If she didn't know better, she'd believe he was a hundred percent gay.

ROTFLMAO! Very subtle ‘testing’, Lois. If Chloe saw through it, I’m sure Lex saw immediately what Lois was trying to do… or at least he WOULD have, if he hadn’t been preoccupied with his misery over the latest bout of neglect from his boyfriend.


Her gaze wandered around the room as far as possible from the moment she stepped into the apartment. The first thing she noticed was the very male décor. It looked like it was taken right out of some catalogue for 'fashionable living without estrogen'. Not very homey.

LOL! I didn’t try to imagine it, but I can imagine that the Clex apartment would be the quintessential picture of a ‘guy’s guy’ place. ROTFL! But I hope the place screams a little more of Lex’s sleek, smooth marbled style rather than Clark’s plaid, flannel and barnyard taste.


Something didn't feel quite right about this 'modern living' apartment. She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something missing that would give the place a more lived in feel.

hmmm, perhaps it didn’t have the ‘lived in’ look that a place acquires when TWO people share the apartment. There’s always a special kind of mess that is created from the mingled lives of two people that’s somehow different from the mess of a single person. Or was it something else…?


She reached for his hand and held it tightly. She couldn’t believe the fucking asshole. This time he’d stayed less than 24 hours. Did he think that this was a fucking hotel? Chloe wondered if he tipped Lex for making up the bed.

Ouch! Pretty harsh! But sadly, I can see where Chloe’s outrage is coming from. It IS a pretty shitty thing to do to one’s boyfriend. Clark is starting to treat his Clex home more like a stop-over in between trips rather than a shared residence. He’s treating it like a cheap motel room!

I can understand Chloe’s anger, BUT I didn’t like it. When Chloe gets angry over Clark’s latest act of neglect, then she tends to do stupid things like jump Lex in order to ‘comfort him’. Hopefully she’ll be able to restrain herself. OR Lois can pull her back by her collar.


He didn't want this. Not in front of Lois. This wasn't the first time Clark had done something like this and it wouldn't be the last time by far. Lex had learned to deal with it in one way or another, depending on how many people were around him.

Now that there were curious eyes, judging him for every reaction, he would be damned if he showed any weakness.

It’s pretty damned depressing seeing Lex trying to convince himself that he’s gotten used to this kind of behaviour from Clark, and it ‘learning to deal with it’, when he’s obviously NOT coping well with it. I HATED seeing him shutting down his emotions because he didn’t want to show weakness in front of strangers. It would have been so much healthier if only he could have allowed himself to scream, rant… or at LEAST make some snide, sarcastic, cutting comments, instead of playing ‘the good little host’.


Damn, even the guest bathroom looked like one in a standard issue five star hotel. There even were the little towels that had 'guest' stitched on them.

ROTFLMAO! Where does a person get towels like those anyway? Did Lex have to special order them? The snooty elitist wanted his guests to feel awe and amazed, even while they were washing hands in his bathroom? LOL!


There was really not much more she could say to that right now, except maybe a slew of curses and insults because that was just...She would have dumped his sorry ass after the third time he'd stood her up. Why the hell would Lex live with shit like that for two years?

"Okay, I guess I'll drop the questions for now." The ones pertaining to Clark at any rate.

Who would have imagined that Lois would be capable of this much sensitivity? Not only listening to Chloe’s urgent order to ‘keep her mouth shut’, but also understanding WHY this was a touchy ‘don’t ask question’s subject. I’ll admit, I categorized Lois in the same place as Clark when it came to sensitivity, tactfulness and empathy too… which is why it was very pleasant to see Lois acting almost as outraged as Chloe on Lex’s behalf. She understand what an awful big deal it is to have someone keep cancelling on you all the time without warning.


“The first time it happened, he went crazy.” She remembered the frantic phone call. The speedy drive over here. The calls to Clark’s cell phone and the rest of the members of the League.

They’d heard nothing for almost a full day. “He thought Clark was dead.” She remembered how scared Lex had been. He’d actually vomited because he’d been so worried and keyed up.

“I did, too,” she admitted. “We stayed up all night.”

It was GREAT getting the details of Lex’s reaction to Clark’s stupid behaviour during the days before Lex resigned himself to just ‘coping’ with it. He was really ANGRY, wasn’t he? It was actually a lot more satisfying seeing him crazy sick with rage and worry as compared to seeing the depressed, morose, miserable and pathetic state he gets into now.

He might not vomit anymore, but his reaction before was a great deal more healthier as compared to his resigned, semi-deadened state now. At least he acted passionate and ALIVE before!!


She started laughing mirthlessly. “And then he came home like nothing happened.” She saw Lois’ eyes widen and Chloe nodded. “Just waltzed in the door as if he hadn’t been missing for a day.”

“Lex was…”

She could only shake her head. Indescribable.

“Clark didn’t even explain?” Lois had dropped all of her tactics. Chloe knew that was because Lois probably couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Chloe’s voice became hard. “A mess at work.” She shrugged one shoulder. “No time to call.”

By the gods, that was a PATHETIC excuse Clark gave!! I can’t imagine the screaming fit Lex must have given to Clark when he finally returned home without a good explanation for his absence.

Unless Lex was too relieved JUST to get Clark home to yell at him? Did that first night set the precedent for their relationship? Clark disappears for days on end, and Lex only swallows his anger about that disappearance and only displays gratitude upon Clark deigning to return?


"It's like the temperature dropped and he just..." She waved her hand around, looking for the right words. "Went into hibernation."

wow! That was quote an apt summation actually. I think it’s a perfect description of Lex’s current numbed, deadened state of existence… Hibernation! Lois is showing her prowess as a writer now, LOL!

I wonder whether Lois is going to carry that thought a step further, and understand that Lex is using Chloe to ‘re-awaken’ himself, a little bit at a time. It’s damned frustrating to see he’s doing it so SLOWLY! It would have been so satisfying to have seen him woken up the whole way and become big, bad, ruthless, cunning, sharp Lex Luthor again… the Lex Luthor who would sooner shove a chunk of Kryptonite up Superman’s ass rather than allow Clark to keep treating him like this.

Or at the very least, have the balls to admit that he’s NOT HAPPY in this relationship, and he wants out!


Chloe didn't agree verbally, but Lois knew that she'd hit the nail on the head when her cousin went on to defend Lex a little more. Something she'd gotten used to during her stay here.

heh… I can sense Lois’s exasperated irritation at the predictable way Chloe keeps rushing to Lex’s defence. As if the guy is NOT a grown man who should be capable of defending and taking care of himself. What are you, Chloe? His mother?


“Half gay?” Chloe didn’t even know how to respond to that lunacy. Lex was bisexual. You couldn’t be half gay like half Irish. But she knew that Lois was just trying to help.

LOL! Actually, I think Lois coined a ‘special word’ JUST for Lex Luthor. Half-gay, half-faithful, half-loyal, half-trustworthy. Which pretty much means not any of these things, doesn’t it?
So, in summation, he’s a bisexual who happens to be faithless, disloyal, and untrustworthy.


Chloe had no idea how to answer Lois. She couldn’t tell her about Clark…she supposed. But she felt no loyalty to the man at this point in time.

I have to admit, I felt an actual ache seeing Chloe observing that she no longer felt ANY of her former loyalty towards her oldest friend. There’s something very tragic about the way that Clark is fast losing all of his friends, without being aware of it. I think he lost Chloe’s friendship a long time ago when he co cruelly and callously dumped her… and now he’s losing Lex’s support too. Clark seriously needs to wake up himself before he winds up alone surrounded by pissed off enemies on all sides.


Lois sighed. Apparently, Lex was not the only one who'd gotten some ridiculous notions in their head about the capabilities of one Clark Kent, bumbling idiot extraordinaire. Maybe if she exaggerated a little, Chloe would see the light.

"The way you talk, you make it sound like he'll buy a nuclear weapon on the black market and make the world go boom." Something that Clark lacked as well the resources, mental and otherwise, as the money for.

I can certainly see Lois’s point of view. It sounds pretty stupid seeing Chloe and Lex treating Clark with such fearful kid gloves when Lois can see nothing spectacularly intimidating about the guy. But I did NOT like the suggestion that one of the main reasons why Lex is sticking with the guy is because he’s afraid to leave?!?? My GOD, it really is just like abused wife syndrome!


What Chloe said next made her brows raise high. "Lois, Clark is special." Then higher. "Like meteor rock special."

Oh. "Well fuck!" She kicked the small cabinet under the sink emphatically.

Chloe nodded in agreement. "So, it's delicate to say the least."

Heh… that was a pretty neat way to explain the situation to Lois without letting out Clark’s secret outright. Nicely done, Chloe. JUST enough information for Lois to get the point.


And who was to say that Clark would go ballistic, freak powers or not. "I mean, if shit like this happens all the time? Smallville probably won't even notice that Lex is gone."

I agree with this assessment completely. Clark honestly will barely notice if Lex decides to leave him. He would be inconvenienced and his pride might be hurt, but I certainly cannot imagine Clark going on a devastated, enraged rampage because he lost Lex. He’ll probably take a week off to sulk and recover, and then go back to superheroing again.

Of course, it will be a completely different story if Clark finds out about the Chlex affair. THEN there’s a good chance that he WILL go on an enraged rampage. What the HELL are Chloe and Lex thinking?! They’re not willing to risk Clark’s wrath by dumping him, but they’re willing to take the ridiculous risk of being caught having an affair.

It doesn’t even have to be necessarily Clark with his super-senses who catches them. Lex Luthor is probably still a name that sells newspapers, and I’m sure lots of aspiring reporters and photographers would LOVE the chance to make a career based on a picture or a scandalous exposé.


“He would notice but just because of the “principle” of the matter.” Lex had told her this over and over and she happened to agree with him. She just didn’t really care anymore.

“He would say that Lex doesn't understand his business and Lex knew what he was getting into when they started seeing each other.” Again, also true. But things had gotten worse and worse. Clark had stopped making any efforts where Lex was concerned.

“That’s just stupid,” Lois said, bluntly.

That IS stupid! What the friggen kind of principle are we talking about here?! You’re not allowed to feel lonely, neglected and unhappy because you have an amazing super-hero for a boyfriend? Lex should just tell Clark to STOP telling him how he should feel, and just tell him that he’s had enough of this ridiculous one-sided relationship. It seems to me like all of Lex’s fears have been blown waaay out of proportion.

And Chloe has been spending too much time with Lex, because HER perspective has been skewed right alongside his.


"Yeah." But Lois was not the least bit amused, and even less accepting of that world. It would have to change and she'd be damned if she didn't do her own part in changing it.

Awesome! Time for some fresh perspective to be injected into this insular situation. Excellent! It seems like Lois might turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to Lex and Chloe.


When they had returned to the table, which already had food on it because they’d been in the bathroom so long, Lois had said, “Let's dig in. Someone who doesn't bother to show isn't worth waiting around for.”

Which actually didn’t make much sense being that they weren’t going to wait for Clark to start. But Chloe supposed it was Lois’ strange way of trying to make Lex feel better.

He’d only sent her cousin a cold look as she’d glared at her. But it didn’t faze Lois.

LOL! Lex might have been irritated and angry, but I appreciated the effort Lois made to ‘ease the situation’ with her sympathetic comment. It was actually very sweet of her.


He helped Chloe into her coat. When she turned and looked up at him, he said, “Stay.”

YIKES! I actually should have expected this. Lex is feeling levelled, and he needs some heavy, intensive emotional support as well as TLC (Tender Loving Care) right now. He needs Chloe to stay so that he can suck her dry of all her strength and care for himself. Say NO, Chloe! I don’t care how hard it is. FIND some way to say ‘no, No, NO!’

*phew* I felt like celebrating when Chloe actually declined his request. YAYY, Chloe!!! And I’m sure Lois was ecstatic as well. Granted, she could see WHY Lex needed her cousin this night, but I’m sure she was pleased to see her cousin not falling into that old ‘pity-trap’ again.


She hadn't been surprised when Lex hadn't offered her a tour through the apartment, so she'd had to be sneaky about that, too. When she'd excused herself to go to the bathroom again before dessert, she had silently made her way past the bathroom and rushed through as many rooms as she could before she had to get back to the table.

The results of her quick search had been disturbing to say the least.

Hmmm, I wonder what Lois say that ‘disturbed her’ in such an intense manner.


His eyes widened when she actually approached him and wrapped her long arms around his shoulders to awkwardly pat his back.

He returned the gesture at the small of her back and frowned over Lois' shoulder at Chloe questioningly. But Chloe looked just as surprised by this as he did.

Lois pulled back and straightened her hair. That hug had been an impulse that she maybe should have curbed, but Lex had looked so something that she hadn't been able to curb it.

Heh.. so Lex is gaining yet some more pity and sympathy from the Sullivan-Lanes tonight. I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that there’s a next to zero chance of Lex hitting up on Lois for sexual solace.

Seriously though, I was pleasantly surprised by the hug. It was very sweet of Lois. I think this evening went a long way towards building a bridge between Lois and Lex as well as Lois and Chloe.


Left alone with Lex, and with him looking at her like she’d just killed his first born, Chloe almost caved. But she couldn’t stay with him tonight. It wouldn’t be fair to Lois and, Chloe was starting to realize, she couldn’t be his crutch. Couldn’t be used as something for Lex to prop himself up with while Clark was gone.

Part of her was defending Lex, telling her that that was certainly not why he wanted her to stay. But Chloe was trying to be more logical. Salvage whatever she could of her heart.

She reached out and took his hand. “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’m sorry I just can’t,” shouldn’t, “stay.”

Heee!! I was so amazed and pleased by Chloe’s resolve. I wonder whether the session this morning has anything to do with Chloe being able to say ‘no’ right now. Perhaps hearing the word ‘love’ from Lex in completely the wrong context left a bigger impression on Chloe than I had previously imagined. Whatever the reason, I was VERY pleased to see Chloe exhibiting some self-protective behaviour… finally!

Sorry Lex… you’re going to have to deal with your issues by yourself tonight instead of using Chloe. Perhaps Lex will put some thought into WHY Chloe refused…? It might do him some good to understand the damage that is being done because of his insistence on using Chloe like a soppy handkerchief for his ‘emotional boo boos’.

This was a great chapter, and I look forward to events in future updates. Please post soon.

malugargula
22nd November 2008, 02:54
This fic is great
:)
I hate Clark, I feel bad for Chloe and Lex (especially for Chloe because Lex should have already dumped Clark) and I like Lois
Please more soon

emmie
27th November 2008, 06:34
I have to say......this story is fabulous. Although, a part of me wants to kick Lex's butt for not ending his relationship with Clark already.....but another part of me sympathizes with his situation.........Love the fact that Lois seems so much more mature in this story as opposed to the show. Can't wait for the next update!!!!!

BlueSabby
6th December 2008, 18:27
A/N: Blue: The drama continues! Which isn't new in this fic....and will never change.

A/N: Sabby: We spare no one in this patchwork quilt of human foibles and weaknesses. No one.



Lois frowned as she stared straight ahead out of the windshield.

The niggling at the back of her mind had started the moment Chloe and she had settled in the car and gotten worse with every passing minute. By the time they'd pulled onto the highway, Lois had started to feel like an ass.

And now she felt even worse.

Lex had looked so incredibly lost, and sad, and helpless. For Luthor standards, he had been begging Chloe to stay.

Then there was the apartment.

Even though she'd seen the thermostat and it had been set to a comfortable 80 degrees, the place had felt about as warm and welcoming as the freezer room in a slaughter house.

There had been zero personal touches. She'd found exactly one picture of Lex and Clark together and that picture had been taken back when Clark had still been in college, wearing jeans and t-shirts. The few other pictures that were around were staged portraits of either of them with about as much personality as a blank wall.

No personal touches, no random odds and ends that made you feel like you were at someone's home. Not even anything out of place. Not even flowers or candy on the tables. She hadn't made it to the upper level, but that was probably even worse.

The only room that had felt somewhat 'lived in' was a small den that had a blanket thrown over the back of a ridiculously expensive designer couch and a few DVD's lying still open on the coffee table. Lois had been somewhat surprised to find that one of them had been Chloe's favorite movie, which had made her look at the fluffy blanket with different eyes. She knew Chloe's little habits.

Worst of all was still Lex though. The look on his face when he'd asked Chloe to stay. And the visible shut down when her cousin had turned him down.

Lois was being quiet and that was never a good thing. It meant that she was thinking about something really deeply. And would soon unleash her untempered feelings on the subject. It was only a matter of time.

Chloe kept the speedometer at a steady, slow rate. She wasn’t looking forward to getting home. As she prepared for bed, she knew that she’d think about Lex, alone, in his own place.

She realized that it was his place. Not Clark’s. Clark used it as a storage facility for his stuff at this point in time.

When she looked over at Lois, she saw that her cousin had zoned out and wasn’t looking at one thing or another as she gazed out the window.

Yes, some definite mulling was going on in Lois’ head at the moment.

Lois started chewing on her bottom lip as she thought about the expression and then the complete lack thereof on Lex's face earlier. It made her feel even worse.

Made her feel like the kind of person that took a puppy 'on a drive' only to leash it to a pole at the side of the highway and abandon it there.

But she wasn't that kind of person. And Lex was anything but a helpless puppy. And that apartment wasn't anything like the side of a highway. There was no traffic, after all.

Lois huffed a breath.

Okay, so it was cold, and unfriendly, and left you feeling irritated and with the intense need to get away already, but...

Chloe had been right to turn Lex down.

What Lex and Chloe did was wrong.

At least until Lex finally found his balls and broke up with Clark.

Clark who was the one actually responsible for the puppy abandoning.

Not that Lex was anything like a puppy.

She chewed furiously on her lip, trying to get that image of him out of her head.

Lex Luthor was not a puppy.

And she had not been responsible for abandoning him in that apartment.

That cold, empty, lifeless, sucks the will to live right out of you apartment.

Oh god, she was a puppy abandoner. An evil person. She was Cruella Deville personified.

The car came to a stop and she noticed that they were actually back at Chloe's.

When Chloe was about to get out of the car, she grabbed her arm and kept her in place.

"We need to talk."

While Chloe had expected this, she had been hoping that she wouldn’t have to deal with it at the moment.

“OK,” she nodded. “But inside.”

She didn’t want to be screamed at in her car.

Lois nodded and they both silently made their way up to her apartment. Chloe flicked on the lights and threw her keys on the coffee table.

She was, all of the sudden, very tired. Of everything.

“If you’re going to yell at me again can it wail until tomorrow morning?” She looked over at her cousin. “I really don’t think I can take it right now.”

Because Lex’s face kept popping into her mind. How he’d looked in the small millisecond before he’d managed to try and hide his emotions from her.

It crushed her.

Lois shook her head. "I'm not going to yell at you." She'd made a decision and now she needed to convince Chloe that it was the right one, even though it was wrong.

"But did you see that place?!" Okay so maybe she would be yelling a little. "I mean, did you really look at it? It's dead. Dead."

Her hands flapped around in the air as she tried to encompass the deadness of the entire thing.

"Yes, Lois, I've seen that place."

Chloe's voice sounded a little odd, but Lois was still flapping and trying to emphasize her point. "You're the only living thing in that place! It's worse than my mother's Summer Residence in Aspen."

Her back was to Chloe so she didn't see the look on her face when she said. "I know, Lois." She heard the sigh though. "And you didn't even see the bedroom."

Lois pulled a face. Judging from what she'd seen of the lower level of the apartment… "I don't think I want to."

The whole place was bad but the bedroom was the worst. Maybe because it was the place that was supposed to mean the most to a couple. Or just because how sterile it had gotten. Any personal touches that had been in place over the past few years had slowly disappeared.

She imagined it right now. And couldn’t help but imagine Lex lying there alone and staring at the ceiling. Wondering where in the fuck Clark was and why he couldn’t be bothered to come home.

But now Lois was talking again. “Just…go back there.”

Chloe’s head swiveled up and her neck actually cracked because of the quick movement.

“What?” She had to have misheard. Lois probably had said, “Just don’t go back there.”

When she saw her cousin’s face, though, she thought she had been right the first time.

“Or bring him here,” Lois said.

“What?” Chloe literally couldn’t believe what Lois was saying. After everything that had happened, everything that they had discussed….

“I can get a hotel room and…”

“I thought you…”

They had both started to speak at the same time.

Lois held her hand up and answered Chloe's half spoken question. "Look, I don't like what you're doing."

She didn't. It would only end up hurting Chloe if the situation didn't change soon. "It's not right, but..."

There was no getting around the truth. A small voice inside was still calling her a 'puppy abandoner' and she had to do something about that. "If there's such a thing as wronger then Lex alone in that place is it."

Lois smiled when Chloe looked at her disbelievingly. "Are...are you sure?"

Of course this was quite a change of tune from what she had said even this morning, but her cousin didn't have to deal with her own conscience raving at her and making her feel like an evil woman with a bad hairdo.

Lois nodded. "Positive." She looked directly in Chloe's face to make sure her cousin believed her this time around.

Chloe nodded. "Okay." Then she nodded some more. "I think I'll stay there. I don't want to kick you out."

Lois got a mental image of Chloe and Lex sitting in that awfully catalogue living room and trying to find a little warmth when everything around them screamed impersonal chill. Like trying to get comfortable on a bed of nails.

"No, I think you should bring him here." She pulled a face again as she still fought the mental images. "I mean, the atmosphere in that place..." She shook her head. "It's no wonder he's trying to drink himself into unconsciousness."

She would have moved out, or at least tried to change something about the apartment. Let's face it, she would have strewn her clothes all over the place, just to make it look a little real.

Chloe was nodding along with Lois. She agreed. The ambience in that place made her want to crawl out of her skin sometimes. The times when she hadn’t been there in a while, more specifically.

When she’d stayed with Lex she hadn’t felt like that. But now…

“I don’t want to kick you out,” she said, forcefully. Lois was doing this amazing, wonderful thing and she shouldn’t have to suffer for it. “You can stay. We’re not going to…just because we’re together….”

“I don’t want to know,” Lois said, holding up her hand. “Just do something.” She shook her head. “Before…I don’t know, I just have a bad feeling about leaving him alone in that place.”

Chloe laughed a little. So she could see it. Lois could see it. But Clark remained idiotically blinded to it. “At least I’m not crazy then. It’s like a museum in there.”

“I am so going to rip Smallville a new one,” Lois muttered to herself. Then she looked up at Chloe. “And don’t laugh at my bad feelings.”

She held her hands out in a placating gesture. “No, I’m sorry. I’m just relieved that I’m not the only one who sees that.” She was hardly unbiased.

Lois huffed. "A blind person can see that." The only reason Smallville didn't see it was probably because he wasn't fucking around to see it. "So get your ass back in the car and get him here and I'll..."

Well she didn't know exactly what she'd do. Not sure if she should stay or better leave them alone. But it was probably better if she left them alone. Lex didn't need her around right now.

"Stay. Lois, you don't need to go." Chloe sounded so sincere, as if it was still about what Lois wanted too. "Unless it's too weird."

Lois shook her head. It was really better if she left the two alone. She had her Visa card and there was a nice hotel just a couple miles down the street. She'd be fine.

"Sweetie, he needs you."

Chloe interrupted her before she could finish what she'd been trying to say. "I know. But sometimes I wish he didn't."

Well, sometimes Lois wished that Manolo Blanick made shoes in size 11, but you couldn't always get what you want.

She ignored the comment and continued her line of thought. "He needs you now, and a place where he feels safe and grounded."

And she probably shouldn't have slept with that psychotherapist a few months ago, or she wouldn't be spouting quasi psychological philosophy, but that was a different matter entirely.

"What he doesn't need is the annoying cousin, who is also a virtual stranger to him, sitting on the couch and seeing him at his worst."

And that was that.

Chloe knew that Lois was right but she still felt awful for doing this to her. Lois had come here for a fun visit and instead had to deal with Chloe’s life self destructing in front of her eyes.

She crossed the room and tightly hugged her cousin. And she didn’t let Lois worm out of it, either.

“Thank you.” Chloe knew that Lois didn’t do well with emotion but she couldn’t help it.

She eased her grip on Lois and held her by the forearms. “I know you don’t want anyone to know it, but you really are a kind person.”

Lois scoffed at the thought and Chloe released her before she started all out crying. Chloe cleared her throat.

“Go to the Grand.” Lex had a tab there. “Tell them that Mr. Pedro Rhoden gave you use of his suite. They’ll take care of you.”

Lois' brows perked up. The Grand Hotel. Damn. "Pedro Rhoden eh? Nobody would ever guess that."

And she didn't want to think about what it meant that Lex Luthor trusted her little cousin so completely that he told her something like that.

"Okay then, you take care of Pedro, but no tequila for either of you."

She left Chloe in the living room to pack what she'd need for the night and tomorrow morning.
~~
Chloe didn’t call Lex before she showed up on his doorstep. She was too worried that he’d tell her not to bother. She knew how much it had stung when she’d told him no. Part of her couldn’t believe that he’d even asked her to stay.

Lex was a practical and rational person. He had to know that, logically, she couldn’t have stayed with him. Her cousin was in town, she’d driven her there, he knew how Lois felt…

But even after taking all of those things into account, he’d asked her to stay. He might as well have been holding up a sign that said, ‘I need you.’

And she’d turned him down. But what else was she supposed to do?

Lex wasn’t going to leave Clark for her. Things like that didn’t happen to Chloe. And she’d stupidly gone into this telling Lex that. That she would share him with the man he really loved.

Chloe tried not to think about all of that. Instead, she simply executed the moves that would get her car to Lex’s place, get her out of the car and have her knocking on his front door.

She rang the bell and waited. And waited. There were still lights on so she knew that he hadn’t gone to sleep yet. She rang the bell again. And then knocked on the door.

Chloe was getting more and more worried. “Come on, Lex,” she muttered under her breath. She didn’t have a key anymore so there wasn’t much else she could do but wait for him to open the door.

Lex had heard the doorbell. He'd heard the knocking too, but the truth was he couldn't be bothered to answer. Who would come to knock on his door at this time anyway? If someone wanted to warn him that the house was burning down, he'd smell it soon enough.

He ambled into the kitchen and poured another glass of scotch.

The knocking didn't go away. It only got more persistent.

Lex sighed and picked up his drink, then ambled slowly to the door. He flipped the chain and safety lock and opened it slowly.

Chloe was in understanding and supportive mode but that partially disappeared when she saw Lex with a drink in hand. She could tell that it wasn’t his first.

Before he could say anything, she reached over and plucked the glass out of his hand and poured the liquid into a potted plant to her right.

“You’re coming home with me.” Giving Lex an option wasn’t an option. Chloe knew that she had to be firm. Besides, Lex would want to listen to her. He needed her. That much was clear. Even though she didn’t want it to be true.

Lex blinked at her for a moment, not sure what to say. She'd been the last person he'd expected to see on the other side of the door.

Her statement explained why she was here, but it didn't even begin to explain how it was possible, or why she'd changed her mind. And how the hell did she think her cousin was going to take the fact that she brought him home?

"Why?"

Even though he wanted the answer, he wasn't sure he really wanted to look at her while she told him.

So he took the glass back from her and turned around to go back to the kitchen. He had to get a refill after all, now that she'd managed to poison his plant with the last glass.

So this was how it was going to go? Fine.

Chloe followed Lex back into his place and shut the door behind her. He was heading for the kitchen and, she guessed, a bottle of Scotch.

She pulled ahead of him and stopped short right in front of him. After taking the glass out of his hand, she threw it into the cold fireplace. “Because you need me now.”

“And this place,” she gestured around, “isn’t a good spot for you to be at the moment.”

“Go put some shoes on. I’ve still got some clothes of yours at my place.” No need to tell him that she sometimes slept in a t-shirt he’d left there.

Lex looked at the fireplace and smirked. "Very dramatic."

He shook his head and looked at her for a moment. "And what does Lois think of your plan?"

There was no chance that her cousin just accepted this. She might have been a little less on the chilly side towards the end of the dinner, but that didn't mean she thought any better of their relationship.

She'd start throwing a fuss the moment he entered the door of Chloe's apartment, and the last thing Lex needed right now was an argument with someone who didn't understand the first thing about his situation.

"I don't think she's going to like it." Lex’s tone was bordering on combative.


“It was her idea.” She thought this information was enough to throw him off his distancing game.

Her words did their job. She could see Lex taking a mental pause.

“She’s not blind Lex. And she’s not without feeling. She could see what this was doing to you and couldn’t just stand by and let it happen.”

“Lois told me to come here and bring you back. She even left to give us some space. Though, Mr. Rhoden may be getting the mother of all room service bills on his next statement.”

Chloe approached him cautiously. “So, I’ll say it again. You’re coming home with me.”

Lex couldn’t stay in this tomb tonight. Chloe wasn’t sure what she could do about tomorrow or the day after or the day after…

But she could take care of him tonight.

He was taken aback by the fact that the suggestion had come from Lois of all people. It made absolutely no sense. But Chloe didn't lie to him, so it had to be true.

"So, you set her up at the Grand?" Any bill was worth it if he didn't have to face an argument for taking Chloe's offer.

Even though it seemed to be more of an order than an offer.

"Alright." He nodded shortly and went to put on his shoes.

Truth be told, he was glad he wouldn't have to spend the night alone in this place. It wasn't just the perpetual chill that seemed to make the apartment feel like a goddamn meat freezer. It was also the fact that no matter how much noise he tried to create with the TV the stereo and any other possible device, it was always too fucking silent.

Lex picked up his jacket from the back of the couch and joined Chloe at the door.

"Lead the way then."



tbc

tatie87
6th December 2008, 19:52
Thank you Lois for not being a complete bitch and realizing how much Lex needs Chloe. I love that this story has such great shades of gray to it.

Kit Merlot
6th December 2008, 21:25
Good for Lois for recognizing just how empty Lex's life is and that Chloe is really all he has.

Now Lex just has to realize it, and dump the BDA.

Continued excellent work on this fic:D

lilinny
6th December 2008, 23:18
Good for Lois to stick by Chloe and Lex.

Will Lex ever leave Clark?

As always a fantastic chapter.

hfce
7th December 2008, 03:15
That was sweet of Lois. Did I just say that? :rofl: It is completely out of character but very nice of her. I am glad Chloe went to go get Lex. He needs to dumb Clark already. This is getting really stupid. ;)

malugargula
7th December 2008, 05:00
Great chapter.
Lex really really needs to dump stupid Clark
:)

somethingeasy
12th December 2008, 21:40
Lex had looked so incredibly lost, and sad, and helpless. For Luthor standards, he had been begging Chloe to stay.

Then there was the apartment.

Even though she'd seen the thermostat and it had been set to a comfortable 80 degrees, the place had felt about as warm and welcoming as the freezer room in a slaughter house.

Woah! The tone that this opening paragraphs set for this chapter took my by extreme shock and surprise. Granted, I was expecting a certain amount of sympathy from Lois for Lex, but it was a surprise to see the HUGE amount of empathy, pity and sympathy that Lois was feeling for Lex.

Although, I can imagine that seeing Lex’s life as reflected by the events of the evening as well as his apartment, would have inspired some deep feelings… but it was still a surprise to see this evening had swung Lois so completely over to the side of the affair.


The only room that had felt somewhat 'lived in' was a small den that had a blanket thrown over the back of a ridiculously expensive designer couch and a few DVD's lying still open on the coffee table. Lois had been somewhat surprised to find that one of them had been Chloe's favorite movie, which had made her look at the fluffy blanket with different eyes. She knew Chloe's little habits.

I really liked this description about how the only area of lived-in warmth in the apartment is the space that Chloe has ‘marked’ in the Clex apartment. Although, it’s pretty disturbing knowing about how long and deep this emotional affair has been carrying on even before it became physical. It used to be a pretty strong affair going on behind Clark’s back long before they started having sex.

Then again, I’ve been well aware of the fact that Lex has been using Chloe as emotional support to bolster his relationship with Clark for FAR too long… which is why it’s possible for him to continue doing the same now.


Chloe had been right to turn Lex down.

What Lex and Chloe did was wrong.

At least until Lex finally found his balls and broke up with Clark.

Clark who was the one actually responsible for the puppy abandoning.

Not that Lex was anything like a puppy.

She chewed furiously on her lip, trying to get that image of him out of her head.

Lex Luthor was not a puppy.

And she had not been responsible for abandoning him in that apartment.

That cold, empty, lifeless, sucks the will to live right out of you apartment.

Oh god, she was a puppy abandoner. An evil person. She was Cruella Deville personified.

Dammit, dammit, dammit!!! LOIS! You were absolutely right in your thinking that Lex is NOT a stupid, helpless, abandoned puppy. He’s a highly intelligent, ruthless and capable person! Underneath all the soppy, pathetic behaviour that he’s exhibiting, he’s actually the same strong, ruthless Lex Luthor he always was. He only needs to be stop coddled by Chloe to become that same strong person again!!!

It was teeth-grindingly frustrating to see Lois ALSO falling into the same ‘I have to protective sweet, helpless, puppy-Lex’ trap that Chloe fell into YEARS ago. He’s a grown man, people! He CAN take care of himself once he realizes that he can’t depend on others to ‘save him’. Chloe and Lois are actually emotionally crippling Lex, and turning him into a helpless victim by treating him like a victim.


"But did you see that place?!" Okay so maybe she would be yelling a little. "I mean, did you really look at it? It's dead. Dead."

Her hands flapped around in the air as she tried to encompass the deadness of the entire thing.

"Yes, Lois, I've seen that place."

Chloe's voice sounded a little odd, but Lois was still flapping and trying to emphasize her point. "You're the only living thing in that place! It's worse than my mother's Summer Residence in Aspen."

Her back was to Chloe so she didn't see the look on her face when she said. "I know, Lois." She heard the sigh though. "And you didn't even see the bedroom."

Lois pulled a face. Judging from what she'd seen of the lower level of the apartment… "I don't think I want to."

Aaargh! I can understand Lois being effected by what she saw during this evening… but I still say it’s NO excuse for her losing all common sense and integrity. Dammit, Lois! You’re supposed to be the voice of reason in this impossible situation!!! You don’t even have the excuse of having your brain cells rotted from an irresistible addiction to Chlexy orgasms!


“What?” She had to have misheard. Lois probably had said, “Just don’t go back there.”

heh… I can see Chloe was as shocked as *I* was over Lois’s sudden and senseless about turn attitude. Even Chloe knows that what Lois is saying is stupid and against the grain of common sense.


She didn't. It would only end up hurting Chloe if the situation didn't change soon. "It's not right, but..."

There was no getting around the truth. A small voice inside was still calling her a 'puppy abandoner' and she had to do something about that. "If there's such a thing as wronger then Lex alone in that place is it."

Dammit! Lois should have ended her thought process at ‘it’s not right’, period! But nooo, she HAD to add in the ‘but’. The Sullivan/Lane cousin are far too empathetic for their own good.

LOL! you weren’t kidding, BlueSabby when you mentioned this chapter was all about us beginning to hate ALL the character’s actions from this point onwards. You’re determined to not leave us with a single likable character in this fic, aren’t you? LOL!


She would have moved out, or at least tried to change something about the apartment. Let's face it, she would have strewn her clothes all over the place, just to make it look a little real.

heh… Actually, Lex would ALSO have done something like that; thrown some kind of a hissy fit or something, once upon a time… before he lost his guts and his nerves. Now he’s just been deadened! And the worst thing is that Chloe (and now Lois) are keeping him in that deadened state because of their misplaces acts of kindness.


“I am so going to rip Smallville a new one,” Lois muttered to herself. Then she looked up at Chloe. “And don’t laugh at my bad feelings.”

How and when is Lois going to get the chance to ‘rip Clark a new one’. Lois lives in San Francesco, right? Which means that she’s probably not really in touch with Clark anymore…? It would have been really convenient if only Lois still lived Metropolis, working at the Daily Planet… but that’s not the case. So how IS Lois going to catch Clark? And would be actually listen to anything this lady has to say…?


Lois shook her head. It was really better if she left the two alone. She had her Visa card and there was a nice hotel just a couple miles down the street. She'd be fine.

"Sweetie, he needs you."

*tries to repress urge to throttle Lois* aaargh!!! Lois is not only trying to convince Chloe to bring Lex over to their apartment, but she’s ALSO making herself scarce giving Chloe tacit permission to screw Lex’s brains out.

At the VERY LEAST, couldn’t Lois have stayed with Chloe and Lex to chaperone?! Surely it would have been possible to give Lex emotional support and comfort in a purely PLATONIC sense. WHY does Lois think it’s necessary for Chloe to fuck Lex’s brains out in order to make him ‘feel better’?!?? Has Lois completely lost her mind?!??


Chloe interrupted her before she could finish what she'd been trying to say. "I know. But sometimes I wish he didn't."

*rolls eyes* well, if you wanted him to stop ‘needing you’, Chloe. All you have to do is detach yourself away from him so that he can wean himself away from the addiction of your company and support. *frustrated sigh* instead, Chloe still provides Lex with all the ‘Chloe-fixes’ he needs for his junkie urges… and therefore keeps him dependant on her.


And she’d turned him down. But what else was she supposed to do?

Lex wasn’t going to leave Clark for her. Things like that didn’t happen to Chloe. And she’d stupidly gone into this telling Lex that. That she would share him with the man he really loved.

It’s still really depressing seeing Chloe stating all the reasons on why it’s a bad, BAD idea for her to go back to Lex and start this whole thing up again… and then shoving all of these good, valid reasons out of her head because she (and Lois) feel ‘too sorry’ for Lex to leave him alone tonight.

Lois, whatever happened to your resolve to protect your cousin?! Why the hell are you telling your cousin to place her emotional well-being in such horrible peril for the sake of a man that you’re not particular close to???


Chloe was in understanding and supportive mode but that partially disappeared when she saw Lex with a drink in hand. She could tell that it wasn’t his first.

Before he could say anything, she reached over and plucked the glass out of his hand and poured the liquid into a potted plant to her right.

Heh… I can see Lex was full-on indulging his extreme, broody, emo ‘I am completely useless and unwanted’ depressed mood. I truly felt like smacking him upside the head and yelling at him to do something a little more productive than just weeping into several glasses of scotch while he was so miserable. Instead, he was JUST miserable enough to present a pitiful picture to Chloe when she came to ‘save him’, but not yet miserable and low enough to be compelled to ‘save himself’!

Seriously, Chloe’s taking care of him is crippling Lex!!!


So this was how it was going to go? Fine.

Chloe followed Lex back into his place and shut the door behind her. He was heading for the kitchen and, she guessed, a bottle of Scotch.

*snorts in contempt* it seems to be like he was really determined to brood miserably… he should have been allowed to do so!


Lex couldn’t stay in this tomb tonight. Chloe wasn’t sure what she could do about tomorrow or the day after or the day after…

But she could take care of him tonight.

*rolls eyes in exasperation* yee-huh! Let’s focus on trying to help the symptoms and short term pains rather than force Lex to find some proper long-term solution to his problem.

Seriously, I’ve been thinking for all this time that Chloe has been the biggest loser in this affair, but I can see that Lex is ALSO getting some damage from this affair in a variety of unexpected ways. Just to make things clear, I STILL think the ‘biggest loser’ in this is Chloe!


He was taken aback by the fact that the suggestion had come from Lois of all people. It made absolutely no sense. But Chloe didn't lie to him, so it had to be true.

heh… I can see Lex is also taken aback by Lois’s sudden about-turn change in attitude. Although he doesn’t seem as aware about Lois’s reasons for withholding her approval of the affair as Chloe does. He doesn’t (or refuses to?) acknowledge the emotional and psychological damage that Chloe is sustaining because of this affair. I think Lex just told himself that all of Lois’s objections came from purely a moral standpoint.

*depressed sigh* so now we go back to Chloe and Lex re-starting their affair again… only this time it’s WITH Lois’s approval?! Aaargh!

I seriously think I’m angrier at Lois than I am at Chloe about this. Chloe is obviously blinded from her love for Lex as well as her addiction to Chlex orgasms… but Lois doesn’t have these excuses!!

Heh… you’re doing terrible, TERRIBLE things to all the characters in this fic, BlueSabby. I look forward to seeing the ways that you come up with for us to SCREAM at the characters in future chapters. Please updates soon.

BlueSabby
17th December 2008, 21:25
A/N: Blue: Prepare yourself to yell at the screen. Again. You know you love it.

A/N: Sabby: Look at them. Mr. and Mrs. Co-dependent.


The ride back had been relatively silent but Chloe knew it was because Lex was lost in his thoughts. How he’d gotten here, what he was supposed to do now, why Clark cared so little about being around. The usual stuff.

Once they entered the apartment, Chloe couldn’t help but smile. Lois had left out a stack of DVDs and some fluffy blankets. There was a note on the DVDs informing Chloe that there was also some Ben and Jerry’s now in the freezer.

Chloe felt her throat closing up a little because of Lois’ kindness. It struck her that while she never might get what she wanted from Lex, there was one person who loved her unconditionally.

When she looked over at Lex, she noticed that he was tense. She had to do something about that. She walked over to him and slipped off his jacket before pulling him into her arms. She waited for him to relax a little before speaking.

“Take a shower with me?” They both could use a good, long, hot shower to relax them. She knew that Lex wasn’t up for any hanky panky so she’d work at his muscles in the shower. Maybe give him another massage. Then they could cuddle up under the blankets on the couch and watch a terrible movie.

"Yeah, alright."

Lex didn't have it in him to argue with anything at this point. He felt marginally better now that he was away from the apartment but nowhere near settled.

Part of him was still angry that Clark had so blatantly made it obvious by his absence that he didn't give a shit. Which was nothing new when it came to just him, or even Chloe. But now there was yet another person who would look at him like a pathetic fool. Lois Lane, who had acted like a shrew from the moment she met him, until she'd figured out that he was just some poor loser who couldn't even manage to keep his boyfriend around.

He cursed himself too, for making it so obvious at the end of their evening. Instead of passing it off and acting as always, he'd been stupid enough to ask Chloe to stay. He shouldn't have done that.

When Chloe pulled back to look at him she could tell that his mind was buzzing away working at a problem. She took his face in her hands and tilted it down so he would be looking at her. “Hey, just you and me here.”

She wrapped one hand around the base of his neck and pulled him down for a soft kiss. Her other arm wrapped around his middle and pulled him as close as she could get him. “Just you and me,” she repeated. He was safe here.

Her hands went to the hem of his shirt and she dragged the material up and over his head with his assistance.

Chloe silently took his hand and led him to the bathroom.

~~
Being naked with Lex always made Chloe want him. But in different ways. At the moment, she didn’t want to pounce on him and fuck him until they both couldn’t move. No, she wanted to use her touch to get him to feel taken care of. And loved.

She was standing behind him, really close as her shower wasn’t all that large, and laid kisses on the skin that she’d just gently scrubbed with her loofah.

Lex was trying to push his morose thoughts away, but it wasn't as simple as that. The hardest part was coming to terms with the fact that yes, he was pathetic, and no, he couldn't hide it indefinitely from the world.

And he couldn't even give anyone other than Chloe a solid reason for the pathetic road he'd chosen, because they either wouldn't believe him or worse, they would believe him and run to the next newspaper to use the juicy bit of story that the truth entailed.

Chloe's arms came around him and he leaned back instinctively into the warmth he could feel emanating from her body. Her voice was in his ear again. "Just you and me."

He took a deep breath and expelled it slowly, forcing himself to let go of any and all thoughts. Just like meditating. He simply had to clear his mind and empty his head. He could do that.

Lex took hold of her free hand brought it up to press a kiss to the small fingers before he turned around.

"Want me to wash your hair?"

~~
After the shower, he found out that she'd kept more than a few clothes of his. He'd put on an old pair of sweatpants and a worn t-shirt as Chloe had changed into her night clothes. He wasn't surprised to see that she'd put on the comfort pajamas again.

Lex managed a small smirk when she practically dragged him back to the couch and proceeded to get both of them settled under a blanket with a movie in the DVD player.

"How bad is the movie?" he asked as his hand started stroking rhythmically over the worn flannel covering her legs.

“You can see the boom mic in about 80% of the shots,” she told him by way of explanation. “Plus, you can see the actors reading the cue cards. It’s really quite a find as bad movies go.”

Lois also liked horrible movies so when they’d found this one, Chloe knew that she had to show it to Lex, too. You had to share the badness with those you cared about.

Chloe leaned into his touch and briefly considered crawling into his lap. She knew that he wouldn’t protest
but it would be an odd move, even for her.

Instead she shifted closer and ignored the little smirk on his face. That, at least, meant that he was feeling a little more like himself.

“And plenty of boobies for you, too.” She ran her hand over his head. “See, I take good care of you.” She leaned over and kissed him gently but firmly before reaching for the remote.

Lex chuckled at her last comment. "Right, because boobs are essential to my happiness."

While she leaned forward to get the remote, he turned around and managed to get one leg behind her back so he could stretch out and lie down with his head on the comfortable throw pillow against the armrest.

They'd developed somewhat of a default movie watching position and he'd noticed that she wasn't perfectly happy with just squeezing herself as close as possible to his side.

"C'mere."

Chloe smiled at him. “Well, my boobs always seem to make you happy,” she pointed out as she climbed on top of him.

Lex brought his other leg back up onto the couch so her lower body rested between the V of his legs and her upper body used his chest as a pillow.

“But I can’t really blame you for that, they are spectacular.” She wiggled them against him in an over the top manner and she felt him laughing beneath her.

"Absolutely." He wasn't going to contradict her on that point. "Though they're not exactly multifaceted as far as their attributes go, so it's a good thing that you come attached to them."

A nice body to look at only got you so far, but it definitely wasn't enough to make you happy for more than a few hours at a time.

The movie started on a scene with three girls in scanty bathing suits on a beach. And already the mic was visible at the top right corner of the screen. It didn't take more than the first three lines of dialogue to see that the 'acting' wasn't all that either.

"And you're very lucky that you have other assets to fall back on, or you could have been one of them."

Lex chuckled as the camera went on a close up of one of the girls, cutting off half her head to make sure her boobs were still in the picture. "Then again, I have to admit I wouldn't mind seeing you in that kind of get up."

“Really,” Chloe said, stringing out the word. Because she actually had a bathing suit that was more like dental floss attached to swatches of material. She’d gotten it for the upcoming season a few months ago when she’d been recreationally fucking.

She loved the beach atmosphere. Chloe found it funny to try and watch the guys watch you in some sort of stealthy way as their tongues hung down to their collarbone.

“Because,” she said, resting her chin on his chest as she looked up at him, “that can easily be arranged.” He arched an eyebrow in her direction as he looked down at her.

Chloe nodded. “Blood red and comes off like,” she snapped her fingers, “that.”

Lex laughed and shook his head. "I don't even want to know why you bought it, do I?"

Of course he hadn't forgotten what Chloe's dating habits had been like before they'd started this. But it was still a surprise to hear how far she'd gone to catch herself a man.

That brought up a different thought however. One that he probably had no right expressing, since he didn't have any right to talk about commitment. Lex wasn't sure he really wanted to know either.

However, that didn't change the fact that he wondered if she was still seeing other guys when she wasn't with him.

Lex shook the thought off as best as he could and turned his attention to the movie again. The scene had shifted from the beach to a frat house party. It looked like the introduction of the male characters, but the scene was set so horribly that you couldn't tell who was important and who wasn't.

"What genre is this anyway?" There had been no ominous music so far, so the chance that it was another horror flick was slim.

Chloe looked up at him again. It was a little odd that he was asking her that. They didn’t watch chick flicks all that much and the naked women should have clued him to the fact that it was a horror movie.

Though, they were five minutes into the movie and no one had died yet. “It’s a horror movie. But one of those soft porn/horror movies.”

“And what else would I use a barely there bikini for other than snaring a man?” She watched as the camera perspective changed to someone watching the frolicking hard bodies from the bushes.

“Not that I’ve done that for the past few months,” she remarked. She was more talking to herself than to Lex.

She supposed it wasn’t surprising, really, being that she was in love with Lex and an idiot. Why find another guy when you had one all ready and set to break your heart?

Lex's breath stalled for a second and he felt an odd contraction in his chest before he released the breath. Great, now he was getting heart burn on top of everything else he had to deal with. An ulcer was probably just around the corner.

Chloe hadn't seen anyone else since they'd started. It was kind of a relief. A niggling little voice wanted to push further and ask her why she'd stopped dating other people, but it wasn't his place to ask that. And he really didn't want to put any ideas in her head.

So he just hummed in his throat and kept stroking over the soft cotton of her pajamas.

The kids in the movie were separating into pairs and the small scenes were interspersed with shots of the 'creepy unkown in the bushes' breathing like a pervert.

"Time to place the bets on who's going to die first," he said with a smirk. "I'm voting for the redhead and the jock. He goes first and she runs away and gets conveniently trapped somewhere so the killer can slash her to pieces."

“I’ve seen this movie before,” she informed him, “so it wouldn’t be fair for me to place any bets. But,” she paused, “I think you should wait and see all of the pairs of lovers before making your final decision.”

Chloe watched as two women started to make out on the porch and Lex groaned in disappointment. “Never underestimate the pull of lesbianism for men. And men are the target audience for these types of movies.”

The women started to undress each other and Chloe snorted at how not into it they looked. Especially since one of them consistently looked at the camera. One of her hands lightly ran over Lex’s bicep.

“It’s amazing to me that they really can’t find anyone better to put in front of the camera.” She shook her head. “Such poor production value.”

But Lex had a smile on his face and was relaxed. If badly acted about to be killed fake lesbians were what it took, so be it.
~~
He'd almost dozed off a few times during the movie, because it was just that boring on top of horrible and badly acted. Only the screaming of the one or other random victim had jerked him back into awareness and he'd looked up to see which one had died now.

"I think that's the worst one we've ever watched," he mumbled as he looked down at the top of Chloe's head.

She was picking at a random spot on his t-shirt and he was pretty sure she hadn't paid much attention to the movie anymore either.

He brought his hand up and combed it through her disheveled hair so he could actually see her face when she turned her head just enough to look up at him. Her eyes were a little sleepy too, and he smiled.

“I’d have to agree with you on that one.” It had been atrocious. But that was what Lex had needed, some distraction so he wouldn’t think about, well, pretty much anything in his life.

She realized that she was going to have to move or she’d fall asleep on top of Lex. And probably pay for it in the morning when her muscles screamed at her for sleeping in a weird position.

“Ready to turn in?”

It had been a long and tense day for both of them. Lex nodded. “Does that mean I actually have to move?”

He nodded again as he pushed some more hair out of her face.

"At least as far as getting up, because I don't think I can lift you from our current position."

She was pretty light weight but that didn't change the fact that there was no way he'd be able to get up with her on top of him.

Chloe groaned and let her head flop back onto his chest. "You can do it, I have faith in you."

For the time being, the position was comfortable, but her couch wasn't meant to be slept on. Both of them would pay the price in the morning if they didn't get up now.

With monstrous effort he managed to push both of them up so they were at least sitting. "Okay, I got you halfway there, now it's your turn."

Except she didn't do anything except shift her legs and wrap her arms around his shoulders so she could snuggle more comfortably against him. "Sloth."

“Why does it have to be that? Can’t it be that I really like being close to you?” Which she really did. He was warm and smelled familiar. Chloe tightened her hold on him and sighed. She really and truly did love him.

The thought still chilled her but she wasn’t going to keep thinking about it at the moment. It was futile.

She held on even tighter as Lex started to move beneath her. She started to laugh a little when he made small grunting noises. She was about to ask what he was doing when she felt his arm on her back and then Lex stand up.

There was a moment where their equilibrium was off and Chloe was convinced that they’d go crashing to the ground but Lex shuffled his feet and they were fine. “You’re perfect.” She kissed him below his ear and watched her apartment go by as Lex carried her to the bed.

"Yeah, you just remember that when I'm being a brat tomorrow because my back is killing me."

He kissed the top of her head and kicked the bedroom door shut behind them. What he didn't do for this woman, including throwing his back out. Well, it was all part of her slothly charms.

Lex put her down on her side of the bed and unwrapped her legs from behind his back. "You're going to have to let go for a bit so I can take off my shirt, think you can do that?"

When she grumbled he closed the few inches between them and kissed her, slowly and gently. Then he pulled back a little and smirked. "You'll get another one if you let go for a bit." Sure, she wasn't usually one for bribery, but he thought the offer was pretty good.

Chloe dutifully released Lex from her grip. She supposed that she should have been doing nice things for him rather than vice versa but she wasn’t stupid. She could see Lex’s grin and knew that he didn’t really mind carting her around. Too much.

She sat back on the bed a little and watched as Lex took off his shirt and pants, leaving him only in his boxers.

When he came back to her she spread her legs a little wider to make room for him. He crawled up her body and delivered on his promise.

Chloe knew that she was probably clinging to him but she doubted that he would mind. The kiss drew on and on but Chloe had to break it. Her body was starting to heat up in a certain way.

Lex could feel her starting to pull back a little and tightened his hold. "Hey, where're you going?"

The mood had shifted, and even though he was tired, he wasn't too tired for what they'd been heading towards.

He felt warm and content, and a little fuzzy around the edges but that wasn't unpleasant either. On the contrary it made him feel better than he had for most of the day.

But maybe he'd misinterpreted her mood and the little sloth wasn't feeling up to anything other than sleeping.

"Too tired?" he asked as he brushed his hand over her back.

“No,” Chloe said quickly. She shrugged her shoulders, “I just thought maybe you were too tired.” She leaned up again and kissed him lazily.

She drew him back down to her body and sighed when she felt his warm, solid weight settle on top of her. “Always want to, with you,” she told him.

But to actually do what they were talking about, she was going to have to move. At the very least, she’d have to give Lex some more breathing room in order for them to get naked.

Her body arched up as much as it could and Chloe started to rub herself against him, teasing both of them.

She kissed his shoulder and then her hands went to divest him of his boxers.

Lex helped her get the boxers down then moved back a little so he could pull off her pajama pants. He noticed they had a hole on the inseam of her thigh and stuck his finger through it to stroke over the soft skin underneath.

"We'll have to get you new ones," he muttered before he drew back his hand and pulled the pants down her legs. "Shame, cause those are my favorites."

He dropped them next to the bed before settling back down on top of Chloe, cradling her head between his hands and stroking her hair.

When he kissed her again, he felt her legs close around his waist and pull him closer as her arms wound around his neck. Lex stroked his thumbs over her cheekbones and let her explore his mouth with her lips and tongue.

Lex always stoked the flames of her desires and she really had to stop reading certain books if she was having a thought like that one. But this time it wasn’t as if she needed him inside of her now. She was glad of the chance to kiss him deeply as her hand played at his back.

She liked the feel of her naked skin rubbing up against his even if her legs couldn’t be the smoothest at the moment.

The warmth that she’d felt before had started to spread all over her body.

His hand covered her right breast and she moaned into his mouth at the contact while she pushed up into his hand.

Lex broke this kiss and she was about to protest but it died in her throat when she saw him start to kiss his way down the center of her chest.

A harsh gasp. That’s how she reacted to the wet suction of his mouth on her nipple over the shirt she still wore.

She arched into his mouth as he slid his hands under her shirt and smoothed them over her stomach and along her ribs further up to cup her breasts and gently stroke his thumbs over her nipples. Her legs tightened around his waist and he moved his mouth to kiss along the edge of the shirt. Dipped his tongue into the small indent at the base of her throat and sucked on that sensitive spot right above her pulse point.

Chloe moaned and he smiled against the spot as he felt her nails draw lightly down his spine. He pushed himself up on one hand and pulled her shirt up with the other until she got the hint and helped him remove it.

Once she was completely naked he looked his fill before he pushed his hands under her back and lowered his head to her chest. Inhaling deeply, he rubbed his cheek against the soft skin, picking up on her heart beat. Strong and steady, like the grandfather clock he used to have at the mansion. Soothing.

He felt her hand draw up his back and over his neck to gently cradle his head. He rubbed his nose over her skin and started to place small kisses all over her chest. Just indulging, taking everything he needed and that she offered him so freely.

Selfish. That’s what she was. Lex was here so she could take care of him. Not so he could do this to her. She should be the one doing it to him. Using her hands and mouth to drive him slowly but surely insane.

Her legs tightened around him once more before they loosened and gently fell to the mattress. When he did this, she could almost just close her eyes and imagine that he was truly hers.

The breathy moans that her mouth was supplying to fill the room seemed to serve as his guide. A weak, pathetic one got him to stay right where he was briefly before moving on while a louder, more forceful one made him stay put.

Chloe’s hands were at the center of his back and she could feel her nails lightly digging into his flesh. She babbled mindless encouraging words and compliments as he continued to explore his way down her chest.

Once he got past her belly button, she started to grab at his shoulders. She didn’t want that now. Really wanted him.

Lex smiled against her hip and kissed his way back up her stomach. He understood the message when she kept pulling him upwards until he was back at her neck. He nipped his way along her jaw line before he covered her mouth with his and kissed her slowly and languidly as his hands pushed under her hips to lift her up towards him.

His eyes fell closed and he felt the soft breath of air that carried his name against his ear as he slowly sank into her. Sensation like warm honey, surrounded by comfort and pleasant heat. Feeling her hand grip his and hold on, hold tight as they started to move.

Moving slowly and leisurely, sinking into the feel of velvet skin and the sound of soft, breathy words whispered into his ear. Letting the pleasure build slowly, quietly, spreading throughout his body.

Kisses like secret truths exchanged between them, no less intense for being tender and languid.

Lex knew he was slipping from reality again, could feel it happen, but he didn't care, let himself slip and fall into the place where nothing mattered except the way he felt when he was with her.

He should be hers. Nothing should have ever been able to take him, take them, from this. It wasn’t just that it felt too good for words. It was that it felt right like nothing ever had for her. But Lex was on loan to her.

Chloe cried out as he hit her deep inside and closed her eyes to let the feelings wash over her. And protect her from Lex seeing too much. He loved to watch her when she came undone and she feared what he would see in her eyes one day.

But, also, secretly wanted it to happen. Wanted him to realize that he didn’t just own her body at the moment.

She didn’t speed him up, Chloe gently rocked along with him as she got closer and closer and desperately closer to her orgasm.

Lex clumsily reached out and she felt him stoke his thumb over her cheekbone. She was such a fucking stupid, emotional mess. She opened her eyes and looked at him.

Her voice didn’t get any higher but it changed in texture. Whimpers and grunts until she felt that electric, kinetic feeling that she didn’t want to think she’d only experience with Lex. Until that, too, broke and her body shuddered as she broke out into even more of a sweat.

“Lex, god, baby,” as her hips still moved and she flexed around his cock.

Lex bit down on his bottom lip and kept moving, forcing himself to stay at the same slow pace and let it build slowly and steadily. The heat spread through him and intensified, muscles starting to shake with the effort of restraining his movements.

Release flaring like lightning, hands tightening on the sheet as his eyes lost focus, Chloe's face blurring and then disappearing as he squeezed his eyes shut and shivered through the intense pleasure, his body frozen in place buried inside her.

Exhaling a shaky breath and coming back to himself, looking down and seeing the intense, lost expression on her face that made him have to close the distance and kiss her again.

Chloe felt like she was drowning. In both the good and bad way. The experience that she’d just shared with him was on par with the first time that they’d been together.

But she also felt like she’d never get a toehold in controlling her life, too. Being with Lex was all consuming and addictive and she knew that, at some point, she’d have to give it up.

As their kiss ended, Chloe pressed her face against his neck. She couldn’t have him looking at her now. If he saw her face now, he’d know.

He was gently running his hand over her forehead and the top of her head. The motion was probably supposed to encourage her to tilt her head up to face him. But not now. She needed a few more seconds. A few more deep breaths.

When she was no longer panting and when she thought her face would no longer betray her, she tilted her head back and gave Lex a small smile. He was staring down at her but he didn’t say anything.

She was beautiful like this, relaxed and smiling. He stroked some sweaty hair back from her face and wished that he'd made different decisions years ago. But there was no use wishing, because nobody could turn back time.

All he could do was count the blessings he was given.

"Thank you," he said softly and brushed another kiss over her mouth.

He only pulled away far enough to move into a more comfortable position and kept one arm slung around her middle. Despite the fact that it wasn't so, he was feeling a little possessive at the moment. He couldn't understand what made him lucky enough to have her around, but he wouldn't let her get away for any reason.

Chloe didn’t say anything. She knew that she didn’t have to. She would have been glad for a little space between them. But Lex wanted her close.

He kept absently and gently touching her for the next few minutes. His hand stilled on her hip as he fell asleep. Usually she followed shortly after him. But not tonight.

She stared up at the ceiling for at least an hour before she finally passed out.

bklyangel
17th December 2008, 23:58
Is Clark having an affair?

malugargula
18th December 2008, 01:06
Lex really needs to break up with stupid Clark

dagney
18th December 2008, 02:29
Those crazy kids need to wake up to the fact that they love one another, the tenderness and love making was very beautiful, very nice job. Dagney

tatie87
18th December 2008, 03:02
I got such a kick out of Chlex watching a soft porn/horror movie. I just went gooey inside when Lex carried CHloe to her room. It was so sweet! The sex scene was pretty hot! I want Chloe and Lex to realize they belong together.

hfce
18th December 2008, 05:11
I want Clark to find them so this can finally end. This is the only way Lex and her can get together. Lex is to much of a wimp to do it the right way. I say let the dirty secret out. It is time for it to come out. :wth:

Julmeo
19th December 2008, 02:09
At middle of the chapter, I found myself crying...I so feel for Chloe, you just know that this bittersweet moments are about to end and Chloe would be left with nothing. I think Lex would have to Chloe, before he would realize, how impt. Chloe is.

slayer44
19th December 2008, 06:34
That was intense!!!! Damn Clark for putting Lex annndddd Chloe through this torture. He is definitely not worthy of a man like Lex. Please say that he will leave him soon so that Chloe and Lex can work on their issues with each other. :)

somethingeasy
19th December 2008, 12:01
A/N: Blue: Prepare yourself to yell at the screen. Again. You know you love it.

A/N: Sabby: Look at them. Mr. and Mrs. Co-dependent.

*blinks and then rolls eyes*
you know, it’s kind of disturbing how you both seem to take such gleeful delight in your readers verbally eviscerating your main characters! ROTFL! But if it thrill you, I guess I’ll oblige…


Chloe felt her throat closing up a little because of Lois’ kindness. It struck her that while she never might get what she wanted from Lex, there was one person who loved her unconditionally.

Granted, I’m glad that Chloe feels some form of ‘unconditional love and support’ from her cousin. But this is NOT support of any kind! This is enabling a dangerous addiction, and Lois should be ASHAMED of herself for being so friggen WEAK!


He cursed himself too, for making it so obvious at the end of their evening. Instead of passing it off and acting as always, he'd been stupid enough to ask Chloe to stay. He shouldn't have done that.

you’re right, Lex! It WAS stupid, but I think that Lex only sees this as a mistake as to how it effects HIM. The self-absorbed bastard is only mourning the blow to his pride, and not sparing a thought for how he pushed Chloe into a tight corner with his needy request. Oh, I’m looking SO forward to seeing him PAY for every single self-involved mistake that he’s committed!


Lex was trying to push his morose thoughts away, but it wasn't as simple as that. The hardest part was coming to terms with the fact that yes, he was pathetic, and no, he couldn't hide it indefinitely from the world.

aaargh! I honestly felt like wringing that man’s neck over here. Chloe is basically pampering the guy… bending over backwards to give him comfort, solace and everything else he might need. And the ONLY thoughts running through Lex’s heads is all about ‘Clark, me, Clark, oh poor me, Clark, CLARK!’

It was truly pathetic seeing Chloe giving so much of herself to Lex… and he barely seemed to notice her care. Heh… but that’s pretty much the story of their affair, isn’t it? Lex only notices Chloe when it suits him to do so.

I can’t believe Lois actually ordered Chloe to go back to this affair! The stupid, STUPID woman!


“But I can’t really blame you for that, they are spectacular.” She wiggled them against him in an over the top manner and she felt him laughing beneath her.

"Absolutely." He wasn't going to contradict her on that point. "Though they're not exactly multifaceted as far as their attributes go, so it's a good thing that you come attached to them."

A nice body to look at only got you so far, but it definitely wasn't enough to make you happy for more than a few hours at a time.

*sigh* so this is how awful I feel about their affair now. Now I can’t even enjoy what SHOULD have been a adorable conversation about Lex’s interest in ‘Chloe’s boobies’ as well as the mind and personality ‘attached to said boobies’. Instead, I find myself GLARING at the self-absorbed hypocrite for pretending to be so caring and enthralled when he’s clearly going to switch off to Clark the instant the boyfriend returns home.


“Really,” Chloe said, stringing out the word. Because she actually had a bathing suit that was more like dental floss attached to swatches of material. She’d gotten it for the upcoming season a few months ago when she’d been recreationally fucking.

She loved the beach atmosphere. Chloe found it funny to try and watch the guys watch you in some sort of stealthy way as their tongues hung down to their collarbone.

“Because,” she said, resting her chin on his chest as she looked up at him, “that can easily be arranged.” He arched an eyebrow in her direction as he looked down at her.

Chloe nodded. “Blood red and comes off like,” she snapped her fingers, “that.”

*rolls eyes contemptuously*
“oh yes, Lex”, Chloe simpers, “is there anything else I can do to entertain you with my companionship, wit and body? You want me to dress myself up like a bad movie porn star? How about Princess Leia? Pamela Anderson? Oh, anything to bring you pleasure, my love”
(ugh)


She supposed it wasn’t surprising, really, being that she was in love with Lex and an idiot. Why find another guy when you had one all ready and set to break your heart?

*rolls eyes again* well gosh darn, Chloe. Perhaps trying to find another man will help you get over this self-absorbed idiot who is sucking your heart and soul right out of your body?!


Lex's breath stalled for a second and he felt an odd contraction in his chest before he released the breath. Great, now he was getting heart burn on top of everything else he had to deal with. An ulcer was probably just around the corner.

Chloe hadn't seen anyone else since they'd started. It was kind of a relief. A niggling little voice wanted to push further and ask her why she'd stopped dating other people, but it wasn't his place to ask that. And he really didn't want to put any ideas in her head.

Bastard! I don’t think I’ve HATED this Lex as much as at this particular moment! I wanted to SCREAM at the bastard for his jealous, possessive feelings when he wondered whether Chloe was seeing other men ‘behind his back’. He was only a step away from asking Chloe to be exclusive, but I guess he’s not YET ready to descended to that level of hypocrisy as yet.

To make matters worse, he had the sheer nerve to try and pass off his jealousy, and then his reassurance upon hearing about Chloe exclusivity as ‘heartburn’?! it really boggles the mind on how much bullshit he can force his mind to swallow… especially since you can SEE him doing the whole repressing thing right in front of your eyes.

It was really sad seeing the banter between the two of them with regards to the AWFUL movie that they were watching… because the banter was really sweet and funny… and would have been so lovely if only they didn’t have this disgusting taint of a corrupted affair over-toning the whole situation. WHY couldn’t they have remained ‘just friends’?!?? Granted, it wasn’t a healthy friendship to begin with… with Lex treating Chloe like his personal emotional baggage handler, but at least that was loads better than THIS!


With monstrous effort he managed to push both of them up so they were at least sitting. "Okay, I got you halfway there, now it's your turn."

Except she didn't do anything except shift her legs and wrap her arms around his shoulders so she could snuggle more comfortably against him. "Sloth."

“Why does it have to be that? Can’t it be that I really like being close to you?” Which she really did. He was warm and smelled familiar. Chloe tightened her hold on him and sighed. She really and truly did love him.

yikes! Chloe is beginning to admit very casually about how much she’s in love with this man. It’s become an accepted and integral part of her life now… the fact that she’s in love with a man who basically uses her as his emotional balm during the days when he needs to feel better about himself.

And it’s so friggen tragic, because you can SEE how very sweet, intimate and beautiful their relationship could be… if only Lex managed to pull himself together and go for what he wants most instead of trying to get bit and pieces of everything.


He kissed the top of her head and kicked the bedroom door shut behind them. What he didn't do for this woman, including throwing his back out. Well, it was all part of her slothly charms.

*disdainful snort*
the things you ‘don’t do for this woman’ could fill one HELL of a long book, Lex! Stupid bastard!


Chloe dutifully released Lex from her grip. She supposed that she should have been doing nice things for him rather than vice versa but she wasn’t stupid. She could see Lex’s grin and knew that he didn’t really mind carting her around. Too much.

Was Chloe feeling a moment of guilt for ‘forcing’ Lex to do something nice for her instead of spending every one of her moments pampering his every whim? I honestly don’t know who I hate more!


“No,” Chloe said quickly. She shrugged her shoulders, “I just thought maybe you were too tired.” She leaned up again and kissed him lazily.

heh… I think that was the DEEPLY buried part of Chloe that’s actually devoted to self-preservation that’s trying to distance herself from (further) intimacies with Lex right now. Too bad that self-preservation instinct is so darned weak and under-developed.


The warmth that she’d felt before had started to spread all over her body.

His hand covered her right breast and she moaned into his mouth at the contact while she pushed up into his hand.

Lex broke this kiss and she was about to protest but it died in her throat when she saw him start to kiss his way down the center of her chest.

A harsh gasp. That’s how she reacted to the wet suction of his mouth on her nipple over the shirt she still wore.

She arched into his mouth as he slid his hands under her shirt and smoothed them over her stomach and along her ribs further up to cup her breasts and gently stroke his thumbs over her nipples. Her legs tightened around his waist and he moved his mouth to kiss along the edge of the shirt. Dipped his tongue into the small indent at the base of her throat and sucked on that sensitive spot right above her pulse point.

The smut is devastatingly written as always, BlueSabby! It’s very interesting to see how they both now take such sensual (but still intense) pleasure in each other, rather than just rutting into each other hard, fast and furious. It seems like their affair has moved onto the stage where they’re comfortable with each other’s bodies… even thought they know how WRONG and stupid this whole thing is.


He felt her hand draw up his back and over his neck to gently cradle his head. He rubbed his nose over her skin and started to place small kisses all over her chest. Just indulging, taking everything he needed and that she offered him so freely.

Just indulging and taking… yep, that very accurately sums up everything that is Lex Luthor in this affair. And describing Chloe as ‘offering so freely’… I couldn’t help but use other words to describe that… freely, easily… cheaply!! Cheaply underestimating her worth!

I wanted to scream at Chloe having the stupid, senseless gall to call herself selfish during this! What the F*CK, Chloe?!? You’re pathetic!


Kisses like secret truths exchanged between them, no less intense for being tender and languid.

Lex knew he was slipping from reality again, could feel it happen, but he didn't care, let himself slip and fall into the place where nothing mattered except the way he felt when he was with her.

Despite how I felt so angry throughout the smut, I have to admit that it was a beautiful rendition of comfort-sex. It was slow, soft, tender… and yet also intense and overwhelming. It was everything that comfort-sex should be, and it would have been perfect if only I felt that either one of these people deserved this kind of comfort.


He should be hers. Nothing should have ever been able to take him, take them, from this. It wasn’t just that it felt too good for words. It was that it felt right like nothing ever had for her. But Lex was on loan to her.

oh FINALLY! Is this the beginning of resentment at the situation? Ok, Chloe already felt a significant amount of resentment at the situation, and a certain amount at Clark as well… but I’m just waiting breathlessly for that resentment to be targeted towards the person who realy deserves it! WHEN are you going to start being angry at LEX, Chloe?!??


Chloe cried out as he hit her deep inside and closed her eyes to let the feelings wash over her. And protect her from Lex seeing too much. He loved to watch her when she came undone and she feared what he would see in her eyes one day.

But, also, secretly wanted it to happen. Wanted him to realize that he didn’t just own her body at the moment.

Oh for heaven’s sake! Now Chloe is protecting Lex even from her own feelings?! Because she doesn’t want him to feel guilty about using a person who loves him? I did like how a part of her wanted Lex to know… although it wasn’t as much to punish him, but because I can sense there’s still a sad, pathetic, hopeful part of Chloe that thinks that ‘if only’ Lex knows how she feels… then he’ll leave Clark for her.

Quite honestly, I don’t know what would Lex’s reaction be if he knew that Chloe had fallen in love with him… but he hasn’t really made ANY decent, good decisions throughout his entire friendship and affair with Chloe… so I’m not holding out hope for him doing the right and decent thing then either.


He only pulled away far enough to move into a more comfortable position and kept one arm slung around her middle. Despite the fact that it wasn't so, he was feeling a little possessive at the moment. He couldn't understand what made him lucky enough to have her around, but he wouldn't let her get away for any reason.

oooh, how I HATE HIM!!! I really don’t know what made you ‘lucky enough’ to have her in this position either, Lex. But I’m guessing that you’ve been subconsciously manipulating Chloe into this role since the beginning of your friendship with Chloe… which I HIGHLY suspect was marked by your start of estrangement from Clark…?


She stared up at the ceiling for at least an hour before she finally passed out.

*snorts*
not that it does much good for Chloe to be restlessly staring at the ceiling for a couple of hours. She can only focus on her pain and confusion without clearing her mind enough to think of some productive solutions!

Oh well… I guess a good long while more before everything blows to hell? I look forward to that! And now I want Lois included in catching some agonizing backlash for her stupidity in this too.

Kit Merlot
20th December 2008, 01:03
A very intense update!

The Chlex smut was beautifully angsty, and I'm torn between feeling compassion for Chloe and Lex's pain, and anger that they keep allowing Clark to dictate their lives.

I hope Lex comes to his senses and leaves Clark for good.

BlueSabby
23rd December 2008, 21:35
A/N: Blue: Another dinner but this time with an additional guest. Enjoy!

A/N:Sabby: You thought the first dinner was bad? Heheheh.

Also: We don't know if Clark is having an affair. We don't see him all that much, because he's not around.





Lois carefully applied her lipstick, appropriately called poisoned blood, and stared scrutinizing into the mirror. "Tell me again why exactly we're giving this dinner for four a second chance."

Chloe had told her two hours ago that they were going to have dinner with Clark and Lex tonight. At first, Lois had snorted because she'd been sure it was a joke. A bad joke, granted, but definitely a joke. But Chloe had been serious and that had forced Lois to leave the apartment and smoke half a pack of cigarettes because she had to cope with the stupidity of that idea.

And on the last night of her stay none the less. This was not how she'd imagined her vacation to turn out. Nope, sire Bob, not at all. Whoever had said that things ended with a whimper definitely hadn't had a Lois Lane in their life to tell them that was bullshit and that things definitely ended with a loud, painful BANG.

Chloe honestly didn’t know. Things between her and Lex had already crossed into a danger zone and she needed to pull back from him. But it was as if she was physically incapable of doing so. She had to have her head examined. And soon.

They’d both been quiet when they’d woken up this morning. But Lex had been peaceful whereas she’d been brooding over the whole situation.

A situation that was not going to change of its own accord.

When he’d called her and told her that Clark was back, her heart had sunk. Lex hadn’t exactly sounded over the moon about it, either. But he had told her that Clark wanted all of them to have dinner.

She didn’t ask Lex why he’d gone and told Clark that Lois was in town. Being that she was fucking Lex, she didn’t want to sit and make small talk with Clark. She was sure that he could see the A that she envisioned she already had on her chest.

“Because Clark is actually in town now,” she reported as she made a slow turn only a few miles away from Lex and Clark’s place.

Lois snorted and stabbed the pencil harshly into the bottle of mascara. 'Because he's in town' she mocked silently in her head.

She hadn't expected a logical answer anyway. She knew that Chloe didn't have one. And she didn't need to ask why Chloe had agreed to this nonsense, because she knew the answer to that question already. Because Lex had asked.
Her cousin was an absolute goner for the man and it was tragic on so many levels that it would have made Shakespeare wet his pants to get the rights to this story. And the worst was that neither of the protagonists seemed to be willing to do anything about it.
But of course, nothing ever worked out the way it was supposed to be. Why would it? Life would be oh so boring if it did. God, sometimes she wished life was as boring as a 1950's sitcom.
She growled under her breath as she applied the mascara with quick angry strokes. So, she was expected to play nice while sitting between the three of them, and act like she didn't know that the whole pleasantness was just a shabby, thin coating of bullshit over an ocean of lies, betrayal and more bullshit. Great.

She wasn't happy, so she stated at least part of her thoughts out loud while she still could. "You know, I'd hoped that I'd escaped this kind of 'appearances is everything' bullshit after my mother left."
So tonight she would sit opposite a clueless, ignorant fool and smile through her teeth at him while she had the visual of Lex and Chloe getting horizontal stuck in her brain. When she'd come home this morning Chloe hadn't even had to tell her that they'd done it. It had been written all over her face.

Her cousin was destroying herself because she'd fallen in love with the wrong guy all over again. Splendid.
Chloe was more than a little tempted to press the brakes hard as Lois slapped on the makeup. She’d known that dealing with her cousin wouldn’t be easy. And a part of her knew she deserved the treatment but it still pissed her off.

“Fine,” Chloe said, clenching her jaw, “I’ll turn around and drop you back at the apartment.” It was bad enough that she’d have to deal with Clark and Lex. If this was how Lois was going to be, she wasn’t going to make it.

While she didn’t want or need Lois to sugarcoat things and lie, it would have been nice for Lois to cut her a little bit of slack. Not expected or in character, but nice.

Chloe would just lie and tell them that Lois got sick on the way over to their place. It would explain her absence and Chloe’s lateness. Plus, she wouldn’t have to deal with her cousin all night.

Guilt was also making her snippy. She knew she shouldn’t be fucking Lex, shouldn’t have dragged Lois into this and shouldn’t keep doing self destructive things.

"Right because you really want to deal with the two of them on their own." Lois stuffed her make up back into her bag and shoved it between her feet.

This was a ridiculous situation all around and she knew that it wouldn't be pretty. But the fact of the matter was that she couldn't let her cousin go into battle alone. No matter what she thought of things, Chloe would need support.

"I'm expressing my general displeasedness with the situation now because I won't be able to do so once we step through their door. And you know you're going to need back-up because from what you've told me, and from what I've seen, Lex will make piss poor back up."

There was also the fact that Lois had to see things for herself. She'd been there and done with the hearsay stuff. These days, if she wanted info, she went to the source. And in this case, the source was watching Clark and Lex in interaction to see what was really going on.

She still wasn't sure about anything but she had a few theories that needed proving or disproving. So she'd put up with the bullshit for Chloe and to figure out what was really going on which was really just a sub-point of the first reason. Because once she knew what was going on, she would be better able to help Chloe get out of this, one way or another.

“Displeasedness isn’t even a real word,” Chloe pointed out. “And if I need backup from anyone, it’s from you.” She glanced over at Lois for a moment.

“You’re the only one out of the three of you that’s libel to actually up and hit me.” Clark was raised better than that and Lex would never raise a hand in her direction. But Lois didn’t share that sort of thinking.

But this whole conversation was a moot point because they were there. Not much could be done about anything now. “You ready to put on your happy face?”

Lois looked into the mirror one last time, placed one loose tendril of hair strategically to frame her face and broke out into her most convincing fake smile that got Senators to reveal their dirty secrets and housewives to want to share their family recipes.

She flipped the mirror back up and turned to Chloe. "I can hardly wait, I'm sure Clark has a lot of interesting things to tell, being that his work is so important and time consuming."

With that, she picked up her purse and got out of the car. She would get to the bottom of this and then she would fix things, whatever it took. And if there was slapping involved, it wouldn't be Chloe. Her cousin had slapped herself quite enough already, proverbially speaking.
~~
Clark smiled when the doorbell rang. He hadn’t seen Lois in he couldn’t remember how long. And she and Chloe together were always amusing. He felt a little bad that he and Lex hadn’t had much alone time today. But he’d make that up to him once his guests left.

Lex had wanted to have the dinner catered. But Clark had convinced his boyfriend that the veal marsala that Lex made would be more homey. And delicious. The house smelled great. And Lex had cleaned it up, too.

He’d been busy with a conference call with some League members. Clark really was lucky that Lex had finally joined the program, so to speak, and was now so understanding about things.

Lex was still in the kitchen, taking care of the last minute preparations, when the doorbell rang. He'd spent the better part of the day in the kitchen, neglecting his work to make sure the meal was ready and edible by the time their guests arrived. Clark obviously had no idea that veal marsala was not something you could just whip together on short notice.

He took a deep breath and adjusted his shirt, then his jacket, and at last his facial expression before he stepped out into the living room.

Clark had insisted that they invite Chloe to dinner, and when he'd made the mistake to mention that Lois was in town in the hopes that it would change Clark's mind, his boyfriend had instead insisted that he would love to see Lois and that it would be perfect to invite her to come too.

Lex was by now six glasses of scotch ahead of all of them. He'd bought red wine for dinner and would definitely indulge in more hard liquor once Chloe and Lois had left.

Clark opened the door with a big smile on his face. He took in Chloe’s appearance but almost immediately turned his attention to Lois. “Well, well, well,” he said as he sized her up. “Look who’s back and all grown up.”

Then he saw her shoes. Stilettos that weren’t very practical unless you were a streetwalker. “Sort of.”

“Do I want to take your coat,” he asked her as he shepherded the women inside, “or are you breaking indecency laws?”

It was good to see Lois. It reminded him of times that were much simpler. Before the world got messy and he felt like he was always letting someone down.

Lois kept her smile on her face, even as she turned her back to him. "I'm sure that's just jealousy speaking. After all, only those who have it can flaunt it."

Her gaze strayed to Chloe and it was so obvious how her cousin zoned in on Lex that she was surprised Clark didn't see it. Dressing up had definitely been a wise choice. She wondered how often she'd have to 'coincidentally' lean forward tonight.

Turning back around, she could see that Lex had made his way over and was giving Chloe a greeting that was toeing the line of friendly and too friendly to be anything but lovers. She could swear that Lex caressed her neck when he took off her coat.

"Hello, Lex," she said once his hands were off her cousin's body.

Lex stepped away from Chloe and went over to Lois to shake her hand. "Lois." His eyes moved perfunctorily over her dress. It looked like she was on a man-hunt rather than having dinner with two allegedly gay men. "Fashionable as ever. You can make a man feel underdressed."

For some reason it was easy to drop into the charade tonight. The alcohol had probably helped. He just couldn't think too deeply or everything would get difficult again.

He hung up Chloe's coat and tried to ignore the fact that Clark was still ogling Lois.

Lex was almost drunk. Chloe knew the signs well. But Clark, dunderhead that he was, seemed oblivious. He was already seeing Lois into the living room with Lex waiting for her to join him and follow them.

She couldn’t believe this. Clark had been home for a few hours and Lex was already back to his old drinking ways.

And, she couldn’t help but notice how handsy he’d been. It had almost distracted her from the fact that Clark was flirting with Lois. Almost.

When Lex put his hand on the low part of the small of her back which was practically the top of her ass, she hissed at him, “Stop it.”

Did Lex want to be caught? Was that what was going on here? Because if he wanted to out them, she could just tell Clark. It was much simpler than having Clark catch them and ask. Which he wouldn’t.

Lex arched a brow at Chloe, trying to figure out what she was talking about. He wasn't doing anything worth stopping, but she seemed so on edge it looked like she might start jittering any moment.

He moved his hand away from her completely and followed her into the dining room. Since Clark was, what a surprise, taking care of Lois, Lex held out the chair for Chloe and waited until she had sat down before he moved to away from the table.

"Dinner will be ready in a moment. Are both of you alright with red Zinfandel or would you like something else?"

Lois was glad she had gotten extensive training in keeping face. Lex was absolutely not Lex at all. He was the typical socialite pod-person, preprogrammed with the standard sentences and movements appropriate for a polite dinner. It was scarier than the near break-down she'd witnessed last night.

"So, Clark, Chloe told me that you get to travel in your business every now and again." One of the rules of polite conversation: understate wherever possible. "Sounds interesting. Want to tell me a little about it?"

Clark waved his hand in Lois’s direction as he sat down. He appreciated that Lex was taking care of everything. There had been a near hit with an asteroid yesterday so he deserved some down time.

“It’s really not as interesting as it sounds,” he assured her. Being vague now came naturally to him. “Yes, I travel a great deal but I don’t often get to see the fun parts of cities.”

He looked over at Chloe while she got herself settled in her seat. “It’s probably the same when people tell teachers that it must be an interesting job, right Chloe? Same shit, different day.”

“Actually,” Chloe said, putting her napkin in her lap, “the kids always keep me on my toes so most days are interesting.” Especially with the kids she taught.

“Fine, leave me hanging,” Clark said good naturedly. “And what about you, Lois, get any good scandals lately? Put any good stories to bed?”

Lois mirrored Chloe's actions with her own napkin and almost jerked when Lex appeared out of thin air at her side to pour the wine. Christ he even had the invisible thing down.

She smiled brightly at Clark and then purposely turned to face Lex. "Thank you. Oh, 1999. My compliments you chose an excellent vintage, Lex."

Lex smirked back as he straightened up and moved around the table. "I still keep a wine cellar, not as spectacular as the one in the old mansion, but I try."

He was a little disturbed by how polite the woman could be. As far as he remembered she had grown up an army-brat. Where had she learned to play the part of socialite? Lex cast that thought aside and decided to be grateful for small mercies. It made his act easier to have someone to play off of.

"I would love to see it later, if you don't mind," Lois answered as per unwritten script.

"Of course, it'll be my pleasure." Lex nodded and went back into the kitchen to get the veal.

He was now sure that he could survive this dinner in tact. Whoever had replaced the Lois he had met last night, he didn't mind as long as things kept going this smoothly.

Lois waited until Lex had returned with the food and until she had complimented him again before she finally answered Clark's question.

"I've turned away from purely investigative journalism actually. I found that digging in the dirt to appeal to the gossip hungry masses wasn't as appealing as thorough research on subjects that are globally important. Right now, I'm trying to find a way to contact the Justice League for an interview."

Lex swallowed. It looked like he had hoped to soon.

Clark didn’t bother to hide his surprise. But he didn’t think that would be a problem being that, “They don’t do interviews, everyone knows that.”

Chloe really wished that Lois had mentioned something about that tidbit before this very second.

“Who are you even in contact with about that,” Clark asked, sincerely curious. It’s not like they had a press agent. And all of their secret identities were just that, secret. So, how did Lois think she’d be able to ask any of them any questions?

Lois grinned her cat ate the canary and finished off the cream for dessert grin. "Oh, I have my ways. It would be unprofessional to reveal my sources, though."

If she had to throw herself off a building and scream for Superman at the top of her lungs, she'd do just that. But perhaps it would be easier to don a miniskirt and traipse around Gotham past midnight. Either way, she'd get her hands on one of the superheros and nail him good and proper.

"They're the most interesting subject to date in my opinion, because of the controversies that arise from their work."

Lex poked the veal on his plate and was already waiting for some kind of opening to change the subject. A sadistic part of him didn't want to change the topic though. If Lois was going where he thought she was headed, it was a subject he'd tried to bring up with Clark a long time ago. He'd had the same concerns regarding the League, but he'd refrained from bringing it up because it had been so important to Clark to be a member of the group.

"Controversies?" he asked in a low voice.

The part of him that was always trying to shield the relationship between him and Clark was cursing his foolishness while the small part that still wanted things out on the table and throw Clark's shortcomings in his face was rejoicing in the fact that Lois continued without missing a beat.

"Yes, controversies." Sure, a wide part of the masses saw the League as a universal blessing for what they did, but there were enough skeptics out there who were worth listening to. Lois belonged to these people.

"All heroics aside, they are undoubtedly vigilantes." She noticed that Clark frowned at the word and was already opening his mouth to retort, but she had valid points that she was going to make first.

"Nobody has asked them to do the work of policemen, firemen, or even the armed forces or even FEMA."

Yet they were out there, doing just that. Arriving before anyone else had the chance to even do something and making the official authorities look like bumbling idiots who couldn't do their jobs. "It's also very odd, to put it in mild terms, that none of them seems to have considered officially joining any of these authorities, thereby making their effort legal."

Clark was again opening his mouth while Chloe and Lex seemed to be almost suspiciously silent. Oh, well. Her point had not been fully made yet. She leaned forward and pinned Clark with her gaze.

"I'm positive they would be welcomed if they tried and I doubt that our government would have qualms about recognizing the Alien members of the league as legal citizens. I'm not going to sideway into the fact that all of them probably are 'legal citizens' anyway of course under the names of their alternate identities."

Now she'd sidewayed after all. Okay, back on topic. "The point is they're doing vigilante work. They ignore the laws of this country to apply their own sense of justice and that is essentially illegal. Added to that, they are equipped not only with paranormal powers, but they also carry an arsenal that makes the Army drool in envy. There is a lot of danger in that."

For some reason, Clark was turning red and he looked like he was angry. Ah, so the man was probably a blushing fanboy of one or more of the spandex wonders.

"Let's face it, they're armed and dangerous and employ methods that would fall under the definition of terrorism if they were following goals that didn't fall in line with what the authorities want. I want to know what guidelines they're following exactly, and why they won't cooperate with the proper authorities. What gives them the right to decide where and when to use excessive violence? In other words, what makes them different from any other illegal para-military troop?"

Chloe was holding her breath and hoping that Clark didn’t explode. Or accidentally set Lois on fire with his eyes. He was better at controlling himself now, a pro, but people didn’t often make him mad in his personal life so she was still a little concerned.

What Lois was saying wasn’t any different than what Clark had heard tons of times. But Lois didn’t have to walk around in his skin. Lois didn’t have super geniuses plotting against her. Lois didn’t grow up terrified about what would happen to her or her parents if her secret was found out by the wrong person.

He took a sip of the wine and sat back in his chair, thinking about what she’d said. “I disagree,” he said, quietly. “I fully appreciated the points that you’ve made. They’re really good ones that, at one time or another, other people have made. But, I guess I don’t have a problem with them because they seem to do good.”
“I would imagine that the reason they don’t fall in line and join some governmental agency is because of the way that they’d be stalled by that. You used FEMA as an example, FEMA sat by while Hurricane Katrina happened and people died. You’d rather have them in charge than a group of people that can fly and actually help?”

“And, even if you talked to one of them, is there anything that they could say to make you believe that they were altruistic?” Because words were cheap. “Knowing you, you’d find some way to make rescuing a kitten out of a tree a terrorist event.”

“Plus, you’re just talking about the stuff we know about,” he pointed out. “In my business I travel a lot, we all know that, and I’ve heard some things.” The general public didn’t know about the times when the planet had almost been blown to smithereens but had been saved by him and his friends. “Things about catastrophes averted that haven’t made it to the public eye.”

“Maybe you’re just pissed that they won’t give out their name, ranks and serial numbers. But, don’t you think that would endanger them and those around them?”

Chloe was more than happy to sit this one out but, at some point, this conversation was going to have to be stopped.

Lois shook her head. "I don't care about their names. What's in a name? For all I care, they can call themselves Superman M. Mouse. Or Martian C. Manhunter on their ID. What I care about is that they don't make an effort to integrate themselves into the mechanisms of a democratic society. They consciously stay out of it."

And Clark's point about kittens and trees was so ridiculous she wouldn't even go into that. Kittens and trees didn't figure into the same category as stringing a mugger up on a lamppost and letting him stew there until the police found him. Amusing, surely, but definitely not legal.

"What if one day they decide that since they're outside of legal judgment they might as well implement their ideas of right and wrong on the whole society who is so undoubtedly beneath them? The way you talked about FEMA just now, for example. What if one day the League decides that FEMA is an unnecessary organization because they're not efficient enough by League Standards? What if they decide that FEMA needs to be dismantled? Who could stop them?"

The scary truth was that there was probably no single Army on earth that would be able to stop a horde of rampant superheroes. The world would be thrown into a war of epic proportions that she didn't even want to imagine. "However, if they became part of the system the risk that they might start their own dictatorship would be much lower."

Lex cleared his throat and looked from under his lashes at Clark. These were all points that he at one time had made when his lover had first told him about the League. The sad fact was that Lex had resigned himself to accepting what he could not change.

He turned his gaze on Lois and smiled pleasantly. "You feel very strongly about all this, I'm sure the article that comes from this will be a very interesting read. I hope you will send me a copy."

Lois snapped her gaze away from Clark, surprised at Lex's sudden intervention. His very polite request reminded her that the horses had run away with her. "I'll be sure to. Like I said, it's still in the planning stages so it might take a while before it is published."

Lex smirked and nodded. "It's bound to become Pulitzer material." He raised his glass in Lois' direction. "Here's to responsible investigative journalism."

“Right,” Clark said sarcastically as he raised his glass, “and here’s to the ungrateful crowds.” He downed his drink and got up from the table. “If you’ll excuse me I have a call to make.” He didn’t really, but he felt like he was being ganged up on and didn’t appreciate it.

He and Lex had had this conversation more times than he cared to remember and to have Lois attack him without even knowing it too was a little much for him at the moment.

Clark placed his napkin on the table and quickly went up the stairs. He wondered how much of Lois’s rant, if any, would change if she knew who he was. And what was up with Chloe? She hadn’t even attempted to take his side? It wasn’t like her to stay quiet.

Lex watched his lover go and couldn't feel it in him to go after him. He knew what would happen if he did. Clark would go into one of his righteous rants and he would have to listen and agree for the sake of keeping the peace. Knowing that this would be happing one way or another, either now or after Chloe and Lois had left, he chose later.

Lois looked after the pouting behemoth with a suppressed snort and turned to Chloe the moment he had left the room. "Okay, which of the spandex wonders does he have the hots for?"

The question brought Lex's gaze straight to Lois, but he didn't let his surprise at the statement show. So Lois thought that Clark was a fan of the League. It was better than the truth in any case. She had no idea what she'd just caused, except for the fact that Clark was obviously insulted.

The irony would have been amusing if it didn't claim Lex as collateral.

“Well, maybe he’s got a pair of Wonder Woman Underoos. We can raid his drawers later.” She gave her cousin as much of a smile as she could muster. It was amazing how Lois had radar for the exactly wrong subject.

She knew that once she and her cousin left that Lex would have to listen to Clark bitch and moan about the conversation. And the fact that Lex had not stood up for him.

So, even with not doing much, Chloe was causing even more problems for them. As if she hadn’t already done enough. Fucking one half of what was supposed to be the perfect, longest lasting couple that she knew apparently wasn’t enough for her.

Lois looked a little concerned. “He’ll get over it,” Chloe assured her. It wasn’t as if Lois knew what she’d done. Besides, she was just expressing her honest opinion.

Lois sighed and took a healthy swig from her wine. Clark had reacted immaturely in her opinion. It wasn't her fault if the farmboy couldn't take a little heat. Her gaze slid over to Lex. The man still looked as blank as an empty ad-board.

"God, you're spooky like that."

Lex smirked a little and leaned further into his seat. "I'm afraid I have no idea what you are talking about."

Lois scoffed. "Please, you know exactly what I'm talking about."

His jaw ticked slightly as he continued to look at her and he forced himself to keep his hand around the wineglass absolutely still and not grip it tighter. What the hell did Lois expect? Was she trying to boycott his act because she didn't approve of Chloe and him?

That wouldn't happen. He would not let it happen. She'd already made things worse by starting her little rant on the Justice League and that was going to be hard enough to handle tonight.

Lois saw his jaw tick and his cheekbones become more pronounced. She was incongruously relieved by this display of anger. "That's good, anger is good. At least you look human now."

So far, all she'd seen was pod-Lex and immature Clark. They were nothing like the couple that had been splashed all over the newspapers. This was not a healthy relationship. And the fact that Lex remained at the table, seemingly unmoved while his boyfriend ran off like a prissy little girl spoke volumes.

“Lois,” Chloe started, but she didn’t know what else to say. She knew that Lois wasn’t used to seeing Lex like this and that was why she was reacting that way. Unlike Chloe, she hadn’t gotten accustomed to seeing him so beat down by his relationship. Or his poor excuse for one.

Lex took another sip of his drink and Chloe sat further back in her chair. Maybe she or Lois could fake an emergency. However, she knew that Lois probably wouldn’t go anywhere with her. Her cousin wanted to watch Lex and Clark together and see what they were like now.

So Chloe didn’t say anything more. Instead, she looked over at Lex. She was really tired of all of this. Tired of watching it happen and even more tired of Lex being too whatever to take care of it and dump Clark on his righteous, negligent ass.

“Forget it,” she said as she took another sip of her wine.

“Sorry about that,” Clark said as he came back into the room. He’d just taken a few minutes to calm himself down. He knew that some people thought that he and his friends were up to no good and had no right to do what they did. He just didn’t realize that all of the people he was dining with were in that group.

He sat back down and looked at everyone. He sensed that the conversation had died as soon as he’d left the room. “So, Lois, are you seeing anyone?”

Lois raised her brow at Clark. 'The prissy princess returns'. And he started right in on the personal questions, too. Well, she had nothing to be ashamed of.

"Not at the moment, no. I date here and there, but nothing too serious."

This was an ideal opening though to talk about relationships. And about one relationship in particular. However, judging by the looks on both Chloe and Lex's faces that she could glimpse in her peripheral vision, it looked like she'd have to pass this opening.

Fine, back to empty conversation.


tbc

malugargula
24th December 2008, 00:11
Clark is so stupid
;)

bunnylyn33
24th December 2008, 00:25
Clark may not be having an affair but he's just not out there saving the world! We all know how much he likes to play the hero but come on he should be there for the one he is claiming to love. The rat bastard! How can he not see how miserable he is making the one who loves him the most. Clarks nonaction at home is causing Lex to fall out of love with him.

As you can tell I'm not liking clark much in this story but am loving the story as a whole.

Lynn

somethingeasy
28th December 2008, 18:56
They’d both been quiet when they’d woken up this morning. But Lex had been peaceful whereas she’d been brooding over the whole situation.

Heh… and of COURSE Lex probably got up, dressed and ready for another round of sex without noticing AT ALL that Chloe was disturbed and brooding in the morning. Quite honestly, Lex is proving himself to be as sensitive and considerate as CLARK about the feelings, moods and desires of his lover.

I was actually glad to hear that these Clark was going to be joining in a more proactive role in this chapter. His absence is the whole point of the story, but it’s good to get input from him ONCE in a while. Besides which, I was dying to k now how Lois was going to behave on a double date dinner with Chloe, Lex and Clark.


Her cousin was an absolute goner for the man and it was tragic on so many levels that it would have made Shakespeare wet his pants to get the rights to this story. And the worst was that neither of the protagonists seemed to be willing to do anything about it.

I truly DON’T get where Lois gets the gall to continue complaining about Chloe not being willing to shove Lex out of her life when LOIS was the one to encourage Chloe to ‘go get him’ the previous evening. Chloe WAS trying to nudge herself out of this sick affair, Lois… but then YOU pushed her back in again because you felt friggen SORRY for that loser, Luthor! WHERE are your priorities?!??


While she didn’t want or need Lois to sugarcoat things and lie, it would have been nice for Lois to cut her a little bit of slack. Not expected or in character, but nice.

Chloe would just lie and tell them that Lois got sick on the way over to their place. It would explain her absence and Chloe’s lateness. Plus, she wouldn’t have to deal with her cousin all night.

Guilt was also making her snippy. She knew she shouldn’t be fucking Lex, shouldn’t have dragged Lois into this and shouldn’t keep doing self destructive things.

At least it’s good to see that Chloe is at least aware on how stupid and self-destructive she’s being. The first step in getting over an addiction is admitting that you’re addicted to something harming you. And I really don’t know what to make of these mixed signals that Lois keeps sending to Chloe. First Lois tells her that she’s stupid for having this affair… then she tells her cousin to spend the weekend with the guy because he looks so ‘sad and lonely’, and now she’s gone back to saying this affair is wrong, destructive and stupid?


"I'm expressing my general displeasedness with the situation now because I won't be able to do so once we step through their door. And you know you're going to need back-up because from what you've told me, and from what I've seen, Lex will make piss poor back up."

Heh… disregarding the mixed signals, Lois was actually quite nice in agreeing to accompany Chloe to the dinner party, because she wanted to play back-up and support to her cousin. And I LOVED what she said about Lex being ‘piss poor backup’… heee! It’s so, SO true! If Lex had been anywhere near dependable as ‘back-up’, be never would have invited Chloe over to this horrible, humiliating dinner in the first place. It’s pretty sad and horrible to imagine that he can’t be depended on to save anyone now, not even himself. Pretty pathetic!


Lex had wanted to have the dinner catered. But Clark had convinced his boyfriend that the veal marsala that Lex made would be more homey. And delicious. The house smelled great. And Lex had cleaned it up, too.

He’d been busy with a conference call with some League members. Clark really was lucky that Lex had finally joined the program, so to speak, and was now so understanding about things.

As I mentioned, I had been looking forward to seeing Clark’s POV again, mostly because I couldn’t stand the fact that I was only getting Lex’s and Chloe’s side of this nasty triangle affair. Clark does not really come across well over here. He sounds like the cliché of an over-bearing, negligent husband to his borne down housewife. He honestly expected Lex to be ecstatically happy and completely fulfilled taking care of an empty house and home for Clark whenever he happens to drop by.

I just cannot understand how a man as confident, ambitious and relentless as Lex allowed himself to be beaten down into such a weak version of himself. He doesn’t even try to argue anymore… and leaves Clark happily thinking that everyone is ‘happy with the program’. I really don’t know who is more to blame for the troubles in this relationship. Clark causes most of the damage, but Lex LETS it happen!!!


Her gaze strayed to Chloe and it was so obvious how her cousin zoned in on Lex that she was surprised Clark didn't see it. Dressing up had definitely been a wise choice. She wondered how often she'd have to 'coincidentally' lean forward tonight.

Turning back around, she could see that Lex had made his way over and was giving Chloe a greeting that was toeing the line of friendly and too friendly to be anything but lovers. She could swear that Lex caressed her neck when he took off her coat.

Heh… I was actually pleased to hear that Lex was nearly completely drunk by the start of the evening. I’m holding onto the hope that alcohol loosens up his tongue and sets him to saying something stupid… or something that SHOULD have been said a long time ago. Heh… at the very least, it’s certainly loosened up his hands! heh, LOOK at him blatantly groping Chloe right in front of his lover… while Clark remains trustingly clueless, poor guy!

Sheeesh! I noticed that Chloe slapped Lex’s hands away, while Lois decided then and there to try and keep Clark distracted from the two people who are so OBVIOUSLY carrying on an extra-marital affair behind his back. So now both cousins are on ‘duty’ to hide the affair, while Clark is oblivious, and Lex is too drunk to help. It seems like Lois was right in her assessment about Lex being ‘piss poor back-up’ when the chips are down.


She smiled brightly at Clark and then purposely turned to face Lex. "Thank you. Oh, 1999. My compliments you chose an excellent vintage, Lex."

Lex smirked back as he straightened up and moved around the table. "I still keep a wine cellar, not as spectacular as the one in the old mansion, but I try."

I cannot describe how creepy it was seeing Lex and Lois acting out the roles of polite, civil socialites. There was something so, SO disturbing about seeing them slipping on these creepy pod-people masks. It was even creepier seeing that Lex APPROVED of this highly frightening, disturbing and unnatural mask on Lois. For god’s sake, Lex! Can’t you appreciate the importance of reality anymore AT ALL?!??


Yet they were out there, doing just that. Arriving before anyone else had the chance to even do something and making the official authorities look like bumbling idiots who couldn't do their jobs. "It's also very odd, to put it in mild terms, that none of them seems to have considered officially joining any of these authorities, thereby making their effort legal."

Heeee!!! What an excellent and COOL topic for Lois to happen to hit on. I loved it! I loved that she brought up a really sore topic for all three of the people at this table, without even realizing it. LOL! Delicious! It was most definitely fun seeing Lois making her impassioned points, while Clark silently fumed and got angrier with every statement she made.

Lois did make some very good point… but so did Clark actually… about how the JL has a LOT of ‘projects’ that need handling that are quite honestly beyond the depth of the world’s government. Basically, they both had very good points during this debate… and I LOVED seeing their responses (especially Clark’s response) to this argument.

Actually Clark’s response struck me as a little too arrogant and condescending. As if he believes that his duties are faaaar beyond the comprehension of mortal men, and therefore not worth explaining to anyone. He might be doing wonderful work for the world, but he seems too full of himself… ESPECIALLY since it seems like he can’t take criticism?!? Superman is not supposed to be like that!!! Above all things, I remember Superman (from the comics) being a nice, decent, HUMBLE fellow, who always deferred to his elders and authorities unless they proved themselves to be untrustworthy somehow.

Lois’s points actually drove Clark to a temper tantrum, and it was pitiful seeing this grown man giving into a hissy fit over a simple debate over the issues. He lacks the power to see things through an objective point of view, and he really needs to get over that because otherwise it’s far too DANGEROUS for him to take things so personally that he irrationally loses his temper over them.


Clark placed his napkin on the table and quickly went up the stairs. He wondered how much of Lois’s rant, if any, would change if she knew who he was. And what was up with Chloe? She hadn’t even attempted to take his side? It wasn’t like her to stay quiet.

Eh? Clark expects Chloe to be on his side?!?? I kind of assumed that Clark was at least aware of the coolness of Chloe’s feelings towards him… but it seems like he believes Chloe is still the girl madly enthralled with him? Even AFTER he dumped her in such a humiliating manner?

I suppose I can understand Clark’s indignation about Lex not jumping to his defense, but it was a surprise to see that he expected Chloe to take his side over her cousin too.


She knew that once she and her cousin left that Lex would have to listen to Clark bitch and moan about the conversation. And the fact that Lex had not stood up for him.

So, even with not doing much, Chloe was causing even more problems for them. As if she hadn’t already done enough. Fucking one half of what was supposed to be the perfect, longest lasting couple that she knew apparently wasn’t enough for her.

*rolls eyes in exasperation* oh great, and now we’re starting on the self-loathing guilt trip again, Chloe? ‘Oh, I’m such an evil bitch who destroys everything she touches, boo hoo!’. Get over yourself, Chloe! OR stop yourself if you’re feeling so friggen guilty!


That wouldn't happen. He would not let it happen. She'd already made things worse by starting her little rant on the Justice League and that was going to be hard enough to handle tonight.

Heh… Chloe’s self-loathing was only a little but more irritating than Lex’s anger about how ‘Lois’ has spoiled his and Clark’s evening. Lex has some gall blaming Lois for revealing the cracks in a relationship that is breaking up as we watch. Oh yee-huh, Lex! It’s aaaalll Lois’s fault that you and Clark are going to have an argument tonight, and go to sleep resentful and unsatisfied. Idiot!


Lois saw his jaw tick and his cheekbones become more pronounced. She was incongruously relieved by this display of anger. "That's good, anger is good. At least you look human now."

So far, all she'd seen was pod-Lex and immature Clark. They were nothing like the couple that had been splashed all over the newspapers. This was not a healthy relationship. And the fact that Lex remained at the table, seemingly unmoved while his boyfriend ran off like a prissy little girl spoke volumes.

I’m still angry at Lois over her actions in the previous chapter… but I do like how she’s prodding for Lex to give into ‘reality’ now, instead of holding onto this scary, creepy pod-person persona. How about trying out something a little more proactive though, Lois? Such as grabbing your cousin’s hand, and running off, leaving Lex to sink on a mess of his own making?


So Chloe didn’t say anything more. Instead, she looked over at Lex. She was really tired of all of this. Tired of watching it happen and even more tired of Lex being too whatever to take care of it and dump Clark on his righteous, negligent ass.

Oh, oh, OH!!! Is that… I think it is… I think that’s Chloe actually getting ANGRY at her beloved Lex?!!!! :D squeee! Awesome! I’ve been WAITING for Chloe to get sick and tired of the sucky deal she’s got on this affair, and finally tell Lex to ‘shape up, or kindly fuck off’.


This was an ideal opening though to talk about relationships. And about one relationship in particular. However, judging by the looks on both Chloe and Lex's faces that she could glimpse in her peripheral vision, it looked like she'd have to pass this opening.

Fine, back to empty conversation.

Aaargh! Empty conversations? For how much longer?! Please say that Lois gives into the urge to blurt out SOMETHING! Or that Lex makes a drunken slip? OR Chloe finally explodes and tells everyone at this table why she’s sick and tired of their company?! Starting with Clark, and ending with Lex!!

hfce
29th December 2008, 03:59
All I have to say is YEAH LOIS!!!! That was the best dinner ever.:rofl: I am glad she put Clark in his place. If only she would out Chloe and Lex already. It would do them all good. It will be like ripping off a band aid really quick. It hurts real bad at first put the pain goes away. Rip that band aid Lois rip it. :blinkkiss

BlueSabby
10th January 2009, 19:06
A/N: Blue: Everyone get aboard the angst train. It's going full speed in this chapter.

A/N: Sabby: It's going to get Ugly...but not the way you think...

WARNING: At the end of this chapter there will be explicit sexual relations between two males. Also, an extra warning for dubious consent. If you are offended by this, please skip away when you hit the squiggly line.






She turned to Lex and smiled. "The veal is great, where did you have it delivered from?"

Lex raised a brow and smirked. He wasn't surprised that she thought the meal was delivered. Nor was he insulted because Lois knew him as the business man who spent at least twelve hours a day at work, not in the kitchen. "Nowhere. I cooked it myself."

Lois' jaw dropped. Not very lady like so she got it under control fast. "You're kidding."

This wasn't like whipping up macaroni and cheese or a quick stew or something. It took hours to get this together if you wanted the meat to be soft and tasty as opposed to dry and chewy.

"Wow, my sincere compliments to the chef."

The mental image she got from the knowledge that Lex had cooked this absolutely didn't fit in with...any and everything she knew of Lex. She was positive Bill Gates would never spend five hours in the kitchen to cook a meal for dinner with friends.

"Bet you were glad that Clark was around to help, eh?"

Back in the days, she'd seen Martha Kent give her son the cooking lessons, so it wasn't too far a thought that he had done some of the slicing and dicing to help Lex out.

Except, judging by Chloe's look, it was. And how would Chloe know?

Lois turned her gaze on Clark.

Clark cleared his throat. This was embarrassing. Because it was going to sound bad. And, well, Chloe knew how he and Lex worked but Lois didn’t. And he didn’t want her to get the wrong idea about them.

“Actually, you have Lex to thank for all of it.” Ok, that wasn’t so bad. If he just gave credit where credit was due there shouldn’t be a problem.

“He knows the kitchen backwards and forwards and I, well,” he paused, “don’t.” Clark wasn’t much of a cook. When he was home, Lex usually took care of that sort of stuff. “I would have probably done more harm than good if I had tried to help.”

This was why even if Lois got an interview with Clark as Superman that she would get nowhere. He was the King of Spin. Of course, everyone at this table knew that it was bullshit. But that didn’t mean that she could write that in an article. And not everyone would see it like that.

What Clark was really saying was that he hadn’t bothered to help Lex with the complicated meal. He’d probably been sleeping or on a call or watching TV or jacking off or whatever.

Lois' brow rose high as she kept looking at Clark. "Martha Kent's son can't remember his lessons? For shame."

Never mind that saying something like 'I don't know the kitchen' in your own home was a very apt statement on the fact how often you spent time there or at home in general.

She gave Clark a cattish smile and turned back to Lex. "In any case, you did a great job. I usually don't like fancy food, but this is perfect."

Lex smirked, an expression that seemed to be continuously stuck on his face this evening. "Thank you."

He knew what Lois was doing and he didn't like it. He wasn't sure if the question about help had been as innocent as it had sounded at first, but he was certain that she'd interpreted Clark's rather diplomatic answer in a way that much more resembled the truth. Her comment towards Clark just now was proof positive of that.

"You're welcome," she said with a smile that was a lot more real than anything she'd shown so far this night.

As she poked back into her veal, she ticked off the points that had been confirmed so far. One, Clark was a prissy princess who couldn't take it when someone didn't share his opinion. Two, Clark was very rarely home. Three, when he was home, he didn't lift a finger to help Lex. A lazy ass of a boyfriend then.

Looking at it from this perspective, she could understand why Lex wasn't happy with the relationship. What she couldn't understand was his refusal to kick Smallville out on his ass.

A silence fell over the table again and Chloe wasn’t going to be the one to break it. She and Lois were guests and it was the host’s job to entertain them. Of course, Clark was supposed to be the host so she’d just wait for him to stick his foot in his mouth again.
Really, asking Lois if she was seeing anyone after not seeing her for years. Though, she supposed it was a regular question. Chloe knew she was just oversensitive.

“Chloe,” she looked over at Clark when he addressed her, “Lex has been pretty mum about you lately.” Which was odd. Lex usually kept him apprised of what Chloe was doing. “Let me guess,” he leaned forward and grinned, “you’ve finally found someone who can keep up with you in bed?”

He and Chloe used to talk about her sex life all the time and he was always amazed at how much she had and with how many partners. And, he thought, that could be one of the only reasons why she hadn’t been around all that much.

Lex didn't stop his fork halfway to his mouth. He kept eating smoothly and he would let Chloe field this question. She could hold her own and lie with the best of them if she had to. His heart rate had sped up though and he needed to get that under control. The fact that Clark had even noticed that Lex had stopped talking about Chloe this much was almost surreal.

Lois kept her mouth shut as she looked back and forth between Chloe and Lex. On her part, she had several questions and a few rude comments stuck in her head. First of all, who the fuck brought up sex at the dinner table when the mode had been set to painfully polite from the start? That was so rude it was...Martha Kent would have washed out her son's mouth with soap had she heard this.

If Lex weren't the partner in question, Lois would have boomeranged the question right back at him to show him how inappropriate it was to ask something like that in polite company. Instead she placed her fork and knife rather loudly on the table and tried on her mother's 'You did not just do that you blithering idiot' look for size.

Clark noticed the look on Lois’s face first. “It’s ok,” he assured her. “Chloe and I talk about this stuff all of the time.” Well, actually, they used to. Not so much anymore. But, he thought that the fact that he was horny had to do with why he was asking.

He was hoping for some sort of trapeze sex kind of story.

“I think Lois is looking at you like that,” Chloe started to explain slowly, “because it’s not as if we’re at a bar, Clark. We’re sitting in the dining room of your home and it’s not polite to discuss who I’m fucking.”

She saw him flinch a little. “See?”

Ok, so it had been rude. “Sorry.” He said. “But you didn’t say I was wrong,” he pointed out.

Too bad she hadn’t been all wild and crazy when they’d dated. He thought that even though he was gay it still would have made things more interesting. Or at least given him some ideas to try out with Lex later.

Lex pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to will Clark to be less obtuse. Of course that would do as much good as willing him to be home more often, or willing him to show that he cared. A load of nothing.

Why did Clark have to bring up sex in the first place? It wasn't like there weren't a million other questions he could have asked her. He could have asked about her class, or maybe what she'd been doing lately in general. Not that most of what she'd been doing would be in any way good to bring up. But there had been plenty of pg-rated things going on in Chloe's life that he could have asked about.

"Clark, I think it would be best to change the subject."

Lois nearly choked on her own spit. Had Lex just politely requested Clark to change the subject? Good lord, these two were as good as divorced. Well, if they were normal they'd be as good as divorced. It looked like Lex insisted on going the saving face route and staying together for appearances sake. What a bunch of horse-hooey.

"Yes," she backed Lex up. "I was meaning to ask you anyway, what came in between last night? You missed a lovely dinner. Did you have to work overtime?"

She was waiting for him to lie. If he lied now she'd be able to tell and then she'd have her answer for sure. There was no way he'd shown up any earlier than late this morning and if he was going to tell the truth, she wanted to hear a damn good reason for why he had spent the whole fucking night somewhere else and not bothered to come home when he was close enough to be there the next morning.

“Unfortunately, yes.” There were always emergencies. And it was hard for him to turn down people who needed his help. “I was on my way back here but had to see to something else. I apologize for that, Lois, it was rude of me.”

He didn’t want her to think that he usually did that with guests. Because his mother had raised him better than that. “But that’s the nature of work, right? You just never know when you’re going to be needed.”

Chloe did her best not to roll her eyes. There were tons of superheroes. There was no need for Clark to handle everything that happened. But she held her tongue. She knew that Lois was just waiting to pounce.

Lois cocked her head at Clark. "Actually, I wouldn't know about that." She pretended confusion when in reality she was just waiting to find the ugly truth. Or at least discover a hint of it. "Did you change your profession? You probably did, I'm sorry I didn't ask."

Living halfway across the country sure came in handy sometimes. Because there was no way he could tag it on her that she had to be aware that he hadn't changed his job. "I mean, I don't remember having to blow off a dinner because I was strictly needed somewhere else in my entire career. So what is it you are doing these days that involves traveling and helping people?"

'See how you deal with that one.' What an ass. It wasn't like he was a doctor, or a fireman or something. Even those had regular shifts. She'd dated a doctor once and he'd stood her up for a heart-transplant. And then he'd still apologized for missing dinner and sent her flowers. Lois didn't see either a doctor or apologetic flowers anywhere in the apartment.

Lex filled his wine glass and took a healthy swig. He would need all the alcohol in his system to deal with the fall-out of what Lois was doing right now. Oh she was doing it in an entirely polite manner and no one could call her on being rude or intrusive. She knew what she was doing. However, the end-result would be still the same. Clark would be affronted and would spend half of the night complaining about Lois and then expect Lex to console him.

And for the sake of placating Clark, he would have to consol the man even though inside he agreed whole heartedly with everything Lois was saying.

He emptied his wineglass and got another refill, ignoring the look that Chloe was shooting at him from his right. She could go home when this was over. If she had to hang around, she would be drinking as much as possible, too.

Chloe was getting sick of watching Lex drown himself in the wine. He had a choice. He chose to stay because…well…because he feared what would happen if he didn’t. And she got that. But that didn’t mean that she had to like what he did to deal with it.

Besides, she’d already harped on his drinking enough. It wasn’t like she had a right to say anything. She wasn’t his girlfriend. She took another sip of her wine. She’d need it to get through Clark’s answer.

Clark sat back in his chair. All of the League members told the same story. “I work for a corporation that helps underprivileged nations.” They needed something that necessitated a lot of travel. “So, if I’m on my way home in this time zone and things are going to hell in another…”

He shrugged. “I usually have to deal with it. Along with the rest of the members of my team. Things can get pretty muddled. It’s rewarding, but difficult.”

"Ah." Lois narrowed her eyes a little.

If things went to hell in a handbasket in a different time zone, how the hell would Clark get there in time to do any helping? More importantly, how would he be able to get back within less than a day? Not at all, that's how. So he was lying. He was a fake ass faker who faked his way through life.

A part of her brain piped up, reminding her that they were living in the twenty-first century and there was such a thing as phone and internet to organize help missions. Thankfully, the exact same part pointed out that these media were available not only in offices but also at home, so no excuse to stay away from home the entire night.

"Sounds interesting. How long have you been working for them?"

Lex zoned out. At this point, Clark would get into his spiel, telling just enough 'truth' to be convincing and then making up a truckload of lies to make it look like an everyday thing and nothing that anyone needed to pay closer attention to, all the while making himself look more like the heroic martyr. Lex knew the song and dance, he'd started skipping it a couple years ago.

At least Lois was still eating while they talked, so he hadn't spent five hours in the kitchen for nothing. Chloe had barely touched her food. "I thought you liked veal marsala," he said under his breath.

Chloe only half listened as Clark explained how he’d gotten his current job and what he did. She had to admit that it was a good song and dance.

“I don’t have much of an appetite,” she replied smoothly. She looked at his plate. “Neither do you. But I think that’s because you’ve mostly drunk your dinner.”

Lois was now asking follow up questions.

When she looked over at Lex, she almost made a very bad mistake. She knew that she was slipping because she almost asked him to just leave with her. Fuck Clark. Come home with her. Stay with her. Be with her.

She started to shake her head. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

Lex's gaze flitted over to Clark. He was still immersed in telling Lois his story so it was safe to assume that he hadn't caught Chloe's comment. Still that didn't mean they could get into this discussion now. Not with him right there.

"Not now, Chloe." Seeing the stricken look on her face at his tone, he softened his voice. "Dinner will be over soon. You won't need to stay much longer."

He couldn't blame her. If he had any choice in the matter he wouldn't be here anymore either. But as it was, he didn't have a choice so he had to keep playing the part until Clark left again. The only mercy in this sick charade was that it wouldn't take long before that happened. A day at most. He could do this.

His eyes moved to Clark again. "Have you heard anything yet in terms of your next assignment?"

Lois couldn't believe what was happening in front of her eyes. Well, she didn't want to believe it, but it was true and happening all the same. Clark was going on and on about his supposedly 'unimportant' work and Lex had just asked him in a very thinly veiled form when he was going to leave again.

This whole relationship was a farce. One part was so immersed in his work that he didn't notice that the other part was slowly self-destructing in front of his very eyes. What the fuck was wrong here? And why the fuck did she feel like she was twelve again, watching her mother and father over dinner? Feeling the need to yell 'Just get a divorce already! Put me out of my misery!'

Clark looked over at Lex. He’d gotten so into what he was telling Lois that he’d barely heard the question. Lex didn’t look as mad as he usually did when he asked so Clark thought that they’d had a real break through. He was glad of it. And he’d make things up to him later.

“I’m not really sure yet,” he told the table. “I was working on something before I came home tonight and I’m hoping that it’ll keep for another few days but there’s no guarantee.”

Honestly, Clark thought he’d have to go back tomorrow evening but he could hope that he wasn’t right.

Lex had put her in her place. He’d dismissed her with three words like she was some child. Logically, she knew that it wasn’t true. But it still hurt. And pissed her off.

“If you’ll all excuse me, I need to use the ladies room.” She couldn’t breathe.

Clark stood up as he’d been taught as Chloe left the room.

Lois looked from Clark to Lex. Both had stood up but unlike Clark, Lex wasn't looking after her. And his total lack of facial expression told her that something was definitely not right. She had no idea what had happened while Clark had been blathering in her ear but it couldn't have been good. Or maybe it was just the fact that Clark had very dismissively talked about leaving again in a short time.

"Not to support a prejudice, but... Oh who am I kidding, I'll be right back. Excuse me, gentlemen."

She got up from her seat as well and followed Chloe to the bathroom. Knocking first, she slowly opened the door and stepped inside to find Chloe leaning over the sink.

"Okay, want to tell me what just happened?" she asked in a low voice.

Chloe shook her head. “Nothing that I shouldn’t expect.” She looked at Lois’s reflection. “I can’t take this for much longer,” she admitted. “He asked me why I wasn’t eating. As if everything is normal and natural and I can just sit next to him and his boyfriend….”

She trailed off because she really couldn’t speak anymore without starting to cry. Which was not something that she wanted to do.

Once the women were out of the room, Clark remarked, “Lois is looking well.” Then he let his eyes linger on Lex’s body. “But not as well as some other people. What do you say to a little fooling around once they’re gone?”

Lex couldn't believe these words had just come out of Clark's mouth. Chloe had been so obviously upset when she'd left the table and Lois had practically run after her. Lex wished that he had been able to do so but it wasn't his place. He stared perhaps for a second too long because it was just not fathomable how Clark could suggest sex with everything that was going on around them.

"Are you..." Completely fucking oblivious to anyone else but you? Of course the answer to that question was obvious. Lex reined in the biting words on his tongue and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Becoming confrontational would make things worse. Since he had begun to take this road, Lex had come to admire Gandhi probably more than anyone on this earth ever could. You couldn't know how hard it was to take the approach of least resistance until you'd taken it yourself.

"We'll see," he said noncommittally and managed to keep the smirk on his face. "Dinner isn't over yet and we have no idea how long they're going to stay."

Of course that was a lie. He knew that they weren't going to stay for very much longer, especially not now that he'd managed to upset Chloe by reminding her that they couldn't talk about the subject of their situation while the cause of their situation was sitting right across from them.

Oh, so Lex was playing coy now? Clark grinned. He could handle that. He was about to make another comment when the women came back into the room. He waited until they sat down before he did the same.

“Shall we have dessert?” That way, they could get the evening moving along and he might have some quality alone time with Lex.
~~
Once she’d gotten home, Chloe had taken a quick shower. She was exhausted and couldn’t wait to go to bed. That way this day would be over and she could put that damn dinner behind her.

There was a soft knock at the door and Chloe sighed. She wasn’t sure if she was in the mood for Lois’s honesty. But, it wasn’t as if she could pretend that she wasn’t in her bedroom.

“Come in, Lois,” she said as she fluffed one of her pillows and then climbed into bed.

Lois entered the room and sat on the edge of her bed.

“Can we agree that this was in the top ten of most horrible dinners, ever?" Lois pulled her favorite nightgown, an old football shirt, down over her knees and looked at her toenails. They needed some serious filing and painting.

On the way home, they'd both been silent. Chloe had still been angry about what had happened before she'd stormed off to the bathroom. Lois for her part had been mulling over everything she'd seen that night.

"It was like a bad flashback to my childhood, only that Mom was suddenly a big black haired farmboy and Dad suddenly, well slimmer and better at masking his facial expression." Her Dad had been at least halfway bald for as long as she could remember, so there wasn't really much that had distinguished him from Lex other than the face and his build.

Chloe nodded. “Yeah, they’re pretty painful to watch even if you aren’t in love with one of them.” She sighed as she remembered the first time that it had struck her that the twosome was in trouble. It seemed so long ago.

Probably because it was. She, now more than ever, was convinced that Lex had to get out of there. If he stayed he was dead.

“I’m sorry that I agreed to it.” She looked up at Lois. “You wanted a fun vacation and I dragged you in to my drama.”

Lois snorted. "It's not like you planned to do this." Trouble and pain had a way of magically finding and sticking to Chloe.

The important point was that things had to change. This wasn't a case of boredom making Lex seek out Chloe for sexual thrills. That the relationship between Clark and Lex was wrong became even more strikingly obvious when you knew the very different picture of Lex and Chloe together.

"And you know what I think? I think Lex is just hiding. He thinks he's got no alternative choice so he stays firmly stuck in the place he's put himself in. Or that Clark put him in, or whatever."


She was tired and her brain hurt from thinking too much. She'd meant to make a plan once she'd figured it all out but now that she had it sort of figured out, there was no plan forthcoming. Only an enormous headache. And she had to leave tomorrow because her boss was expecting her back at work. She didn't think: 'I can't come back because my cousin is in a mess that I have to help her get out of' would be good enough to convince him to extend her vacation days.

She just wanted to curl up right now and not think about all of it for a solid eight hours of sleep. That usually was enough to refresh her brain and helped her see things more clearly. She'd come up with a plan that was instigatable, was that even a word? Who cared. She'd come up with something that was instigatable over the phone from halfway across the country.

"Can I sleep here tonight?"

She felt ridiculous for asking, but having to go through all the Mommy and Daddy don't love each other anymore flashback had put her in a slightly traumatized place. And she was still worried about Chloe because they were nowhere near finding a solution to the problem that might very well tear her little cousin's heart to itty bitty confetti sized shreds for good.

Chloe was surprised by the question to say the least. She and Lois hadn’t shared a bed since they were kids. But she thought that they both needed the comfort. Her for obvious reasons. Her cousin less so.

She thought it might have to do with the fact that, even though her job was what it was, Lois liked to believe in the natural order of things. And that had been tanked tonight.

“Of course,” she answered.

Lois merely nodded and they both slipped under the covers and got comfortable. She thought it took each of them a long time to finally fall asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~


Lex had stalled as much as possible with eating his dessert and trying to wrap Clark up in small talk, but his significant other was typically single minded and unusually flirtatious. There was nothing he could do to avoid the inevitable and in the end, he had no reason to decline when Clark shifted closer and laid an arm around his shoulder, suggesting that they head into the bedroom. Retreating into the bathroom and taking his time could only postpone things for so long and Lex hadn't dared to mention a shower for fear that Clark would get it in his head to take it together.

At the moment, Lex was staring into the mirror above the sink, trying to get his act together and pretend that the idea of having sex with Clark didn't make him feel nervous, queasy and scared to death.

They hadn't had sex in months and even the last time that Clark had tried something, Lex had gotten the same uneasy feelings and prayed to a God that probably didn't exist that it wouldn't happen. Now, he knew it would happen and the certainty made things so much worse.

He felt cold and jittery and a part of him was frantically pushing at him to lock the bathroom door and make a quick escape out of the window, but he couldn't do that. He had to keep up pretences and make sure Clark didn't notice anything was wrong. He had to pull this off convincingly, and keep going and suck it up and face the consequences of his decision.

Part of him was infinitely sad that it had come to this. He'd loved Clark once; part of him still did and probably always would love the farmboy that used to be a small-town hero with the big heart and clumsy attitude. But there was not much left of that person. Not since Clark had put on the suit and gone out to save the whole world.

Lex swallowed, took a deep breath and turned towards the door. His hand was shaking a little as he reached out and turned the handle.

He pasted a seductive smile on his face and rolled his shoulders one last time before he opened the door and stepped out to face his waiting lover.

Clark had started to wonder what was taking Lex so long. Then he realized that he was probably just over eager. But he couldn’t help it. Lex was a hot piece of ass. And his. And Clark was horny as hell.

He’d read through some JL paperwork quickly and had immediately put it on the night stand when Lex came out of the bathroom.

Years ago, Lex had told Clark that he needed to be more passionate. Clark had thought he had the right level of passion. But in this moment, he knew what Lex had meant.

Clark usually spent a lot of time kissing and petting Lex. But only, sometimes, to stave off the real sex. Clark knew that part of him would always find what they did a little wrong. He couldn’t help it.

Right now, though, all he wanted to do was fuck Lex.

“Come here.” He crooked a finger in Lex’s direction. When Lex walked over to his side of the bed, Clark placed a kiss over the waistband of the sweatpants that Lex was wearing and then tugged them down.

“I want to fuck you.” During the beginning of their relationship, Clark hadn’t been comfortable with being on top. It was easier to let Lex do what he wanted. Then Lex had demanded that Clark at least try. He had and he’d enjoyed it.

After that, Lex had taken charge again and he was usually the one doing the fucking. But tonight he wanted Lex down on all fours as he rammed into him.

Clark started to caress Lex’s balls.

“Get in bed.”

Lex let Clark fondle him and it took conscious effort to lean into the touch. His body reacted on its own to the caresses and he was torn between feeling grateful for that and cursing the fact.

He stepped out of his sweatpants and reached out to brace himself on Clark's shoulder to climb onto the mattress behind him. Feeling Clark's huge hand stroking along the length of his body resulted in a shudder that had nothing to do with arousal.

Lying back on the sheets, Lex looked up at his lover with a small smile and held himself as open as possible to make Clark feel welcome. He wanted to close his eyes, but that would have meant losing all control if he couldn't see what was coming. Lex needed to know what would happen, he couldn't close his eyes from this.

Clark moved on top of him and he reached out to trace the broad chest and slide his hand up one of the arms that were strong enough to crush an entire building if the man ever lost his composure. He met Clark's gaze squarely and felt his body grow colder as his mind supplied him with rapid fire visions of the possible results should Clark ever believe that Lex wasn't one hundred percent behind him anymore.

"How do you want me?" he asked in a husky voice, waiting for Clark to call the shots.

Clark ran his thumb over on of Lex’s nipples. He was happy to see that Lex had picked up on the vibes that he was trying to set.

“On your hands and knees.” Clark was already hard and Lex was getting there. But he’d help him along.

He grasped Lex’s cock, which had always impressed Clark, and firmly stroked him up and down. “Then I’m going to fuck you into the mattress.” Once Lex was good and hard, Clark leaned away so Lex could get into position.

His body quickly shadowed Lex’s. The lube would come soon. But first he wanted to play a little. He rubbed his cock between Lex’s cheeks. “It’s been too long,” he told him as he kissed his way up Lex’s spine.

He reached around Lex’s body and started to stroke his cock, wetting his fingers with the pre come. Clark gently bit Lex on one shoulder as he worked the now wet fingers into Lex’s ass. He was nice and tight.

For a brief moment, Clark remembered the way that Chloe had felt and the noise she had made.

Pumping his fingers in and out of Lex, Clark soothed the bite with his tongue. Then he leaned over and reached for one of the drawers. Lex’s breathing had picked up but he wasn’t making much noise. Clark would redouble his efforts.

Lex tried to relax as much as possible. All he had to do was relax and let things happen but it had never been so difficult before. The fingers inside him felt strange and intrusive and Clark's attentions to his dick didn't do anything aside from the purely physical reaction. He still felt cold and jittery and it took all his will power to keep breathing evenly and let it happen.

He tried to remember the good times, tried to conjure up the memories of the times when he'd still been in love and enjoyed everything he and Clark did, from just kissing each other to making love.

Unbidden, a memory of Chloe flashed through his mind. Pressed together from head to toe, kissing passionately and touching every place they could reach on each other's naked body, sliding together and fitting perfectly as he pushed inside her welcoming heat.

Lex groaned as nausea rose in his stomach and pushed the thought away violently. Clark's hand was back on his body and he had only a second to prepare before the fingers left and he felt the intrusion of a heavy cock breaching his ass.

He bit down hard on his bottom lip to stifle the involuntary noise and sucked in a deep breath through his nose before he pushed back to take his lover all the way. The sooner Clark came, the sooner this was over. He wasn't sure how much he could take of this before he lost his mind.

“God, Lex, yeah.” Clark wasn’t the only one who needed this, apparently. Even before he’d lubed himself up and slid inside, Lex had groaned. Clark reveled in the noise.

He gripped Lex’s hips and pulled them back as he thrust forward. Soon enough, the sound of their flesh slapping together filled the room. Lex was pushing back eagerly and Clark smiled.

“Missed this, did you?’ With a nice, hard rhythm set up, Clark moved his lower body so it hovered over Lex’s.

Closing his eyes, he enjoyed the feeling of Lex’s body yielding to his. It touched something primal in him and he fumbled before his hand found Lex’s cock. He timed the stroking of Lex’s hardness to the thrusts of his own.

He braced his free hand on the mattress as he plunged over and over into Lex. Clark’s body was already tight and almost ready to let go.

Lex bit off a shout as Clark's hand closed roughly around his dick and started stroking him mercilessly. His body reacted in the way it was supposed to and beneath the cold and nausea he could feel the coil tightening, pushing his body toward release.

He wanted to curse his body for reacting like that, for enjoying what was happening even as the rest of him wanted to buck Clark off and rush into the bathroom to empty the contents of his stomach. He needed this to be over. Needed for it to stop. Needed to not be here anymore.

Clark was close, he knew it from the way he lost his rhythm and the hand on his hip clenched uncontrollably leaving bruises that would fade within a day or two. Lex gritted his teeth and breathed deeply, prepared himself to bring this to an end.

"Yes, Clark, come on, come for me," he barked out the words and pushed himself back, squeezing his muscles around the dick inside him. "Come on."

The hand on his cock lost its rhythm too and he was still urging Clark on to come as his own climax hit, fast and empty, spurting his come onto the mattress under him as his eyes squeezed shut for one short moment.

He felt Clark empty his load inside him and a moment later, his arms and legs almost buckled under the weight of his lover crashing down onto his back. When Clark nuzzled into his neck another shudder went through him and he had to force himself to not pull away from the touch.

Clark groaned as he pulled out of Lex. He was running one of his hands lightly up and down Lex’s arm. “We should do this every time I come back.” Because it had been amazing.

Pure and simple fucking did have an upside. Clark felt sated and like he didn’t have a care in the world. He kissed Lex’s neck.

“Maybe next time we can both last longer,” he chuckled. They’d been like a bunch of teenagers.

Too bad Clark had to go back tomorrow. Though, he might be ready to go again sooner rather than later.

"Hmm." Lex didn't manage more than that. He couldn't even think properly.

He felt dirty. Sick, cold, empty and used. Like nothing would ever be okay again. His hands were trembling, his whole body was starting to shiver. He turned on his side and curled up in a fetal position, pushing his hands between his thighs to keep them still. His gaze went to the window. Clark had drawn the curtains. He stared at the soft folds of fabric and shut his mind down.

When Clark moved behind him, he didn't react. When he felt his arm come to rest on his hip, he didn't move. When Clark started snoring into his ear, he was only half aware of it.

Lex's breath evened out as he stared at the shadowed creases, floating seemingly weightless in front of the window. After a while, he didn't even feel the cold anymore. And the fact that he was dirty didn't matter so much. Nothing mattered much, really.

Kit Merlot
10th January 2009, 23:50
Man, but this was a difficult chapter to read!

Good for Lois for trying to help Lex and Chloe as much as she can, but changing the situation is entirely up to Lex.


Too bad she hadn’t been all wild and crazy when they’d dated. He thought that even though he was gay it still would have made things more interesting. Or at least given him some ideas to try out with Lex later.

I could hit Clark for even thinking this--so Chloe wasn't fun and sexy enough for him when they were dating? I mean, in his mind, the fact that he was gay didn't play any part in their not having a very exciting sex life. What a jackass.

And I have to admit that these two lines worry me:


And for the sake of placating Clark, he would have to consol the man even though inside he agreed whole heartedly with everything Lois was saying.


Chloe was getting sick of watching Lex drown himself in the wine. He had a choice. He chose to stay because…well…because he feared what would happen if he didn’t.

Exactly what do Chloe and Lex think Clark will do? What kind of a hero do they think he is if they think he'll blow up half the world because his boyfriend breaks up with him?

I am truly worried about Lex's mental health in this fic.

Continued excellent work on this fic.

malugargula
11th January 2009, 00:57
Lex really should end this strange relationship
It's bringing just bad things, nothing good anymore
Is he afraid that Clark will kill him if he just dump him?

hfce
11th January 2009, 06:46
That was intense and just ugh. :wth: Clark needs some green rock up his ass. He makes me sick. That is the only way it seems for Chloe and Lex to get together. I wish the secret would come out. I rather deal with the fall out than this farce of a relationship one more minute. ::/:

dagney
12th January 2009, 00:14
This was sad and I hope a tipping point for Lex, as someone else commented his mental health is at risk and Chloe can't keep justifying her love for someone who doesn't love himself enough to stand up for himself although she does seem to suffer the same affliction. Dagney
PS could Clark really be any more clue less

lovechlex
15th January 2009, 01:21
i love how this story is playing out; it really delves into the emotions of the characters and gives us the perspective that relationships are never just black and white. can't wait for more.

somethingeasy
16th January 2009, 15:24
You weren’t kidding about this being an ugly, disturbing chapter, BlueSabby! It seriously sent chills up and down my spine (and not in the usual nice way either). But there was also a part of me that hoped that finally THIS would be the final straw that would push Lex towards plain, common sense self-preservation… but I’m not holding my breath on that.


Clark cleared his throat. This was embarrassing. Because it was going to sound bad. And, well, Chloe knew how he and Lex worked but Lois didn’t. And he didn’t want her to get the wrong idea about them.

It was very interesting that a part of Clark seems very aware about the despicable level of his behaviour. It seems like he knows that this kind of behaviour is something that needs to be rationalized and justified before it ‘sounds right’. This does NOT speak well of you, Clark!

It was good to see that Lois didn’t buy, even for a moment, into Clark’s self-depreciating excuse that he ‘doesn’t know his way around his kitchen the way Lex does’. Lois seems pretty disgusted with Clark’s ‘neglectful husband’ role to Lex’s ‘downtrodden housewife’.

The saddest thing was seeing that Clark thinks that he’s explained himself to Lois, and convinced her that it’s the most natural thing in the world for him NOT to have helped Lex preparing this meal… when in fact everyone at this table is eyeing him with barely concealed contempt for his behaviour AND his rationalization. Aaargh! It’s getting damned frustrating seeing EVERYONE biting off their tongues for the privilege of keeping Clark ignorant and happy.

WHY doesn’t someone call him up on his bullshit?!? … oh yeah! Because he’ll throw a massive hissy-fit. … ok then… so why doesn’t everyone in this room just walk out in disgust?! … heh, no answer forthcoming? It’s a pity no-one thought of doing that.


As she poked back into her veal, she ticked off the points that had been confirmed so far. One, Clark was a prissy princess who couldn't take it when someone didn't share his opinion. Two, Clark was very rarely home. Three, when he was home, he didn't lift a finger to help Lex. A lazy ass of a boyfriend then.

Looking at it from this perspective, she could understand why Lex wasn't happy with the relationship. What she couldn't understand was his refusal to kick Smallville out on his ass.

*frustrated sigh* you and EVERYONE who is reading this fic is wondering about that very thing, Lois!


“Chloe,” she looked over at Clark when he addressed her, “Lex has been pretty mum about you lately.” Which was odd. Lex usually kept him apprised of what Chloe was doing. “Let me guess,” he leaned forward and grinned, “you’ve finally found someone who can keep up with you in bed?”

*choke* *sputter* what? WHAT?! That is one HELL of a question for Clark to happen to land upon. ROTFL! Oh if ONLY he knew the right answer to this question… the right answer that popped into ALL of his dinner companion’s mind, no doubt!!! ROTFL!

I have to agree with Lois though that it was a HUGELY inappropriate question to bring up over dinner… especially with Chloe’s cousin (a mere acquaintance of Clark’s) at the table with them. Has Clark truly lost his mind?!


Clark noticed the look on Lois’s face first. “It’s ok,” he assured her. “Chloe and I talk about this stuff all of the time.” Well, actually, they used to. Not so much anymore. But, he thought that the fact that he was horny had to do with why he was asking.

He was hoping for some sort of trapeze sex kind of story.

Oh… ok! I get it! Clark was just being his typical self-absorbed, self-obsessed ‘me, me, I want, I WANT!’ kind of fellow, and just trying to steer Chloe towards telling porn stories to keep HIM amused… never mind that it’s horribly embarrassing for the rest of the dinner party (not to mention Chloe herself).


Ok, so it had been rude. “Sorry.” He said. “But you didn’t say I was wrong,” he pointed out.

aargh, Clark!!! What is WRONG with you?!?? Chloe basically cut you down for asking her such a question, and you ACKNOWLEDGED that it was rude, embarrassing and inappropriate… and yet you STILL tried to get her to answer you? Are you completely brain-dead?!?


Too bad she hadn’t been all wild and crazy when they’d dated. He thought that even though he was gay it still would have made things more interesting. Or at least given him some ideas to try out with Lex later.

Oh NO he didn’t! He did NOT just think that!!! That selfish, stupid, self-absorbed BASTARD! I can’t believe that he’s thinking of his former girlfriend in such derogatory terms. He truly thinks that she was too ‘prudish’ to keep him or something. He truly DOES believe he’s god’s gift to humanity! That is all just too pathetic for words. Forget his super-villain enemies, I seriously cannot imagine how Clark managed to keep his ‘friends’ from zapping and murdering him with Kryptonite.


"Clark, I think it would be best to change the subject."

Lois nearly choked on her own spit. Had Lex just politely requested Clark to change the subject? Good lord, these two were as good as divorced. Well, if they were normal they'd be as good as divorced. It looked like Lex insisted on going the saving face route and staying together for appearances sake. What a bunch of horse-hooey.

Heh… I wholeheartedly agree!!! I’m finding it harder and harder to muster up ANY sympathy for Lex in this miserable relationship he’s stuck in. For one thing, he’s refusing to even TRY to escape… so how can you feel sorry for someone who refuses to lift a finger to ‘save themselves’?


'See how you deal with that one.' What an ass. It wasn't like he was a doctor, or a fireman or something. Even those had regular shifts. She'd dated a doctor once and he'd stood her up for a heart-transplant. And then he'd still apologized for missing dinner and sent her flowers. Lois didn't see either a doctor or apologetic flowers anywhere in the apartment.

I found Lois’s questions interesting… and even MORE interesting was Chloe’s and Lex’s responses to this same question… that it wasn’t strictly right for Clark to keep dropping his inter-personal relationship duties, even if he DOES have that ‘I have to go save the world’ excuse working for him. It might work once in a while, but not ALL the time to the extent where Clark uses it.

It was also interesting seeing Chloe and Lex making these observations, but not saying a word about it to Clark. Instead they let Clark go off on his ‘I’m needed in other, more important, places’ spiel as if they completely agreed with him. With this distinct lack of opposing argument, is it really any wonder that Clark has become so self-absorbed and convinced of his eternal righteousness?

Lois has sensed that Clark is full of bull-shit… even if she doesn’t know the full truth of the situation.


When she looked over at Lex, she almost made a very bad mistake. She knew that she was slipping because she almost asked him to just leave with her. Fuck Clark. Come home with her. Stay with her. Be with her.

She started to shake her head. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

Lex's gaze flitted over to Clark. He was still immersed in telling Lois his story so it was safe to assume that he hadn't caught Chloe's comment. Still that didn't mean they could get into this discussion now. Not with him right there.

"Not now, Chloe." Seeing the stricken look on her face at his tone, he softened his voice. "Dinner will be over soon. You won't need to stay much longer."

oh my GOD! Are Lex and Chloe having a extra-marital affair discussion right in FRONT of Clark?! How brazen and stupid can that be? I loved seeng how Lois’s eyes nearly popped out of her head at their audacity… not to mention Lex’s sheer nerve in asking Clark when he planned to leave… so that he can go back to fucking Chloe again.

This is beyond pathetic! This is just… disgusting!! I liked how Lois’s attitude towards this situation has passed by contempt and into loathing now.

It was even more disgusting seeing how Clark noted a lack of animosity in Lex about that question about ‘his next assignment’ and assumed that they had just had a ‘breakthrough in their relationship’. He wouldn’t believe that Lex was just looking forward to getting rid of him.


Lex had put her in her place. He’d dismissed her with three words like she was some child. Logically, she knew that it wasn’t true. But it still hurt. And pissed her off.


Chloe shook her head. “Nothing that I shouldn’t expect.” She looked at Lois’s reflection. “I can’t take this for much longer,” she admitted. “He asked me why I wasn’t eating. As if everything is normal and natural and I can just sit next to him and his boyfriend….”

I really think the situation would get SO much better if only Chloe could work herself up to getting genuinely PISSED OFF at Lex. At the very least, her getting angry at Lex will make her cut herself away from him, and then save herself from this disastrous situation. Let Lex sink down on his own! Best case scenario would have Lex reacting badly to Chloe cutting herself away and FINALLY getting the kick in the balls needed to tell Clark to shove off.


"Are you..." Completely fucking oblivious to anyone else but you? Of course the answer to that question was obvious. Lex reined in the biting words on his tongue and pinched the bridge of his nose.

uh huh! Could you explain exactly WHY you needed to bite off your tongue over here, Lex? The path of least resistance, huh? It sounds very admirable in those terms… but I perceive this as plain, stupid LAZINESS!


Oh, so Lex was playing coy now? Clark grinned. He could handle that. He was about to make another comment when the women came back into the room. He waited until they sat down before he did the same.

oh dear… this does not bode well. Now their huge misunderstanding and miscommunication is spilling over in the worst way possible into their sex-life too?


"It was like a bad flashback to my childhood, only that Mom was suddenly a big black haired farmboy and Dad suddenly, well slimmer and better at masking his facial expression." Her Dad had been at least halfway bald for as long as she could remember, so there wasn't really much that had distinguished him from Lex other than the face and his build.

Chloe nodded. “Yeah, they’re pretty painful to watch even if you aren’t in love with one of them.” She sighed as she remembered the first time that it had struck her that the twosome was in trouble. It seemed so long ago.

*rolls eyes* nice, Chloe! So instead of extraditing yourself from this traumatic situation, you decide to drag your cousin along with you into it? Loyalty to a friend is very admirable… but NOT when it means that your masochistic I’m addicted to my pain and suffering friend is determined to drag you down with him to suffer too. It’s pretty much the same as becoming an alcoholic so that your friend won’t be stuck binge-drinking alone.


She just wanted to curl up right now and not think about all of it for a solid eight hours of sleep. That usually was enough to refresh her brain and helped her see things more clearly. She'd come up with a plan that was instigatable, was that even a word? Who cared. She'd come up with something that was instigatable over the phone from halfway across the country.

I still think the best and easiest plan would have been to encourage Chloe to get herself OUT of this unhealthy, sick, fucked-up situation while she still had a chance of getting out. *rolls eyes* instead, Lois, you practically PUSHED Chloe into dragging Lex back into bed, JUST as it seemed like she was getting herself set to distance herself. Nice work, cousin!

Still… perhaps all hope is not quite lost yet. Perhaps Lois WILL come up with some kind of brilliant, far-out, amazing plan to save the situation. Heh… I won’t hold my breath on that either though :P


He felt cold and jittery and a part of him was frantically pushing at him to lock the bathroom door and make a quick escape out of the window, but he couldn't do that. He had to keep up pretences and make sure Clark didn't notice anything was wrong. He had to pull this off convincingly, and keep going and suck it up and face the consequences of his decision.

This was really, seriously freaky, BlueSabby! I get disconcerted enough by explicitly written gay-sex (the details just squick me out), but to hear about rather unconsented gay sex…? That was horrible! And the most horrible thing was seeing one partner going through the motions as a form of masochistic punishment, while the other remained completely oblivious to his partner’s discomfort.

I think this was the first time that I grew trulymore angry with Clark rather than Lex. I’ve been mad at Lex for being Clark’s ‘enabler’ for all this time, and through all of their issues and difficulties… but THIS TIME, I cannot excuse Clark’s not noticing that his partner feels filthy, disgusting and violated from sex. That level of obliviousness is near unforgivable!


Part of him was infinitely sad that it had come to this. He'd loved Clark once; part of him still did and probably always would love the farmboy that used to be a small-town hero with the big heart and clumsy attitude. But there was not much left of that person. Not since Clark had put on the suit and gone out to save the whole world.

I agree that it IS a tragic situation, but it’s truly pathetic that Lex continues to stay with this man purely on the MEMORY of the feelings they used to share.


Clark usually spent a lot of time kissing and petting Lex. But only, sometimes, to stave off the real sex. Clark knew that part of him would always find what they did a little wrong. He couldn’t help it.

So I take it that on top of all his other issues, Clark happens to be a homosexual with some homophobic difficulties? Now that is truly messed up! At least that explains why he’s just so darned BAD at sexual relations with his partner. Hmmm… although… he used to have sexual problems with Chloe too, didn’t he?


Lying back on the sheets, Lex looked up at his lover with a small smile and held himself as open as possible to make Clark feel welcome. He wanted to close his eyes, but that would have meant losing all control if he couldn't see what was coming. Lex needed to know what would happen, he couldn't close his eyes from this.

The attitude of freaked out wariness that Lex is viewing this whole experience with… it’s extremely disturbing and frightening to read. And yet, despite his OBVIOUS extreme aversion to what’s happening, there’s not a single word of protest coming out from his lips. The stupid, masochistic moron!


He reached around Lex’s body and started to stroke his cock, wetting his fingers with the pre come. Clark gently bit Lex on one shoulder as he worked the now wet fingers into Lex’s ass. He was nice and tight.

For a brief moment, Clark remembered the way that Chloe had felt and the noise she had made.

Uh-huh! Is this a usual thing? For Clark to think about Chloe while engaged in foreplay with Lex? That is sick! And I suppose Clark also used to think about Lex while he was fucking Chloe during the ending of their relationship? I wonder whether Clark thinking about Chlow now signals that he’s ready to dump Lex and move onto another person (such as his ex-girlfriend? Which is disturbing on SO many levels)


Unbidden, a memory of Chloe flashed through his mind. Pressed together from head to toe, kissing passionately and touching every place they could reach on each other's naked body, sliding together and fitting perfectly as he pushed inside her welcoming heat.

Oh dear! This is really getting freaky! Now BOTH of them are thinking about Chloe during foreplay with each other!! *yikes*


He wanted to curse his body for reacting like that, for enjoying what was happening even as the rest of him wanted to buck Clark off and rush into the bathroom to empty the contents of his stomach. He needed this to be over. Needed for it to stop. Needed to not be here anymore.

I get the feeling that feeling some amount of physical pleasure at this near-rape actually makes it WORSE for Lex. It’s bad enough feeling your body used in a way you don’t want without having your body responding to the usage in a way that feels like a betrayal to you.


Clark groaned as he pulled out of Lex. He was running one of his hands lightly up and down Lex’s arm. “We should do this every time I come back.” Because it had been amazing.

*stares in aghast horror* And Clark didn’t even NOTICE anything ‘off’ about this sexual session?!?


He felt dirty. Sick, cold, empty and used. Like nothing would ever be okay again. His hands were trembling, his whole body was starting to shiver. He turned on his side and curled up in a fetal position, pushing his hands between his thighs to keep them still. His gaze went to the window. Clark had drawn the curtains. He stared at the soft folds of fabric and shut his mind down.

Sick and disturbing doesn’t even cover it, BlueSabby! I remember hoping that this latest horror in their relationship would give Lex the kick-start he needed to ESCAPE from this soul-killing relationship. Instead it seems like I’ve just watched yet another part of Lex’s soul, determination and sense of self-preservation wither and die in front of me. This ‘violation’ might end up dropping Lex into even MORE of a depressive cycle… and then he’ll end up dragging Chloe into it the moment they have ANY kind of contact after thing.

Chloe, just RUN! Accept that Lex is a far-gone, losing, dead case and just SAVE YOURSELF!

slayer44
18th January 2009, 07:21
wow that was hard to get through that Clark/Lex scene...since we all know they are not in the same frame of mind about their relationship. Lex just needs to take off the blindfold and realize that the perfect mate for him is his best friend!!!!! Chloe is sufferering so much because of this, its just tearing her down piece by piece.

Nimmie
29th January 2009, 05:28
Ok so you two just keep getting better and better, wow. This is wonderful, horrid poignant and addictive in one foul swoop. Read it all today and am amazed,

Thank you

BlueSabby
30th January 2009, 18:59
A/N: Blue:OK, guys, we're entering the home stretch. Gird your loins for it. Enjoy....in any way you can.

A/N: Sabby: Also, the worst physical part is over. But, well....




After three days of unanswered calls Chloe decided that enough was enough. She knew Clark was gone because she’d seen him on TV. So there was no reason for Lex not to call her. Which meant something was wrong.

She’d gone from pissed to scared very quickly.

And now that Lex wasn’t answering the door that sinking feeling was getting worse. She knew that he was home. He’d been working on one project for a month or so and she’d done some research and found the company. They’d informed her that Mr. Luthor was feeling ill and hadn’t been in for the past two days.

Chloe was figuring out what the best way to break one of the small windows by the door was when, on a whim, she tried the doorknob. It turned easily.

Lex hadn’t even locked the door.

Chloe found him in the living room. He was sitting on the couch nursing a drink. She didn’t want to know what number it was.

“Lex, what’s wrong?” This was bad. Lex was drinking and he looked like hell. “What happened?”

Chloe felt her blood turn cold. She didn’t want to imagine what had occurred to make Lex look and act like this.

Lex didn't turn around. He took another sip of his drink and wondered why it still tasted like nothing. He'd been drinking a lot in the past few days, going through all options available, but none of them tasted like anything. They didn't even burn going down his throat.

"Nothing."

He knew Chloe was there, knew she was going to start reprimanding him for drinking. She would be angry, and then she would start feeling sorry for him, and then she would try to make things better in her own Chloe way. Only, it wouldn't work, because such a thing as better or worse didn't exist.

Clark was gone. Again. Thankfully. He had left early the next morning, whichever morning that had been. The morning after. Lex hadn't slept since then. He'd scrubbed himself raw in the shower several times, but he still felt dirty. Stained.

He scratched at his hip where he thought he could still feel the bruises Clark's hands had left, even though they weren't visible anymore.

Chloe didn’t know why he bothered telling her that. Did he think that she would accept that and leave? Did he think that she was Clark? Because she wasn’t. Something was majorly wrong and she wasn’t going to leave before she found out what it was.

She sat down not on the couch next to him, he emanated needing space, but in one of the armchairs across from him.
“I have nothing better to do and no where better to be. So, I’m going to ask you again. What’s wrong, Lex? Please, tell me.”

She reached out to touch his knee and he flinched.

No. It couldn’t be.

“Did that fucker you?”

She’d kill him. She knew how.

Lex shifted away from her touch and turned his gaze up to look at her. "Clark would never consciously hurt me, we both know that." He was not a violent man by nature. Just someone who didn't know...couldn't judge his...just someone who did not see things that weren't feasible to him.

The truth was that what had happened should have been completely normal, should have been enjoyable even. And that it hadn't been either of the two was purely Lex's fault. He and his traitorous mind and body had brought it all onto himself. He'd chosen this and now he needed to learn to accept it and deal with it.

He scratched at his hip again and then at his neck, trying to erase the stain he could feel where Clark had touched him. He needed another shower. Who was he kidding? That wouldn't change anything.

Lex knocked back his drink and got up from the couch. He walked towards the small bar with perfect aim and reached for the bottle of vodka. Not the same color as his last drink, but that didn't matter when he couldn't taste anything one way or the other.

"Why did you come here?"

“How can you even ask me that?” She kept her voice low. Not because she was scared of yelling at him. No, because she was scared of losing it. This was the worst she’d ever seen him. And that got to her.

On top of that, he had the gall to ask her that question.

“I’ve been calling you for three days. Three days, Lex. You haven’t been to work in two and I can tell that your last shower was probably then. You’re drinking like a fish. You’re scaring me because something is so wrong with you and you won’t talk to me about it.”

But, she knew what it was. What it had to be. Clark had come home. Clark had been in a good mood. And now Lex was broken. They’d had sex. It had to be that.

“I came here because I couldn’t not come here. Talk to me.”

Lex shrugged and filled his glass then took a large gulp of the liquid. It didn't even have the subtle taste of water. Nothing. "There is nothing to talk about." He couldn't talk about it. He couldn't even think about it.

Thinking about it made his skin crawl and nausea rise inside his throat so fast he could barely swallow it down. Thinking about the way Clark had touched him, mounted him, whispered and grunted and panted into his ear and...

"I need a shower."

He emptied the rest of his glass in a long swig and placed it somewhat precariously on the edge of the bar, it fell down when he took his hand away but he didn't care. He was halfway towards the bathroom already because he needed to, had to...fuck his hands were shaking.

He couldn't see properly, maybe he'd had too much to drink. And he couldn't breathe right. He needed to breathe, he couldn't, god this was the worst possible moment to lose his composure, he couldn't think...he couldn't...where the hell was the bathroom?

Lex had always been very big about space. Giving him some, leaving none for others in a business arrangement and never encroaching upon his personal bubble. Chloe didn’t really care about any of that now. Something wasn’t just wrong. Something horrible had happened and he was pushing her away.

She didn’t make a decision to follow him. It was instinctive. While he had said he needed a shower, she found him in the middle of the hallway. And he was shaking.

It was hard not to touch him but she thought that would make it worse. “What do you need? How can I help? Please, Lex.”

So hard not to reach out to him.

He shook his head, tried to clear it. Chloe was still here. She was talking. Saying something, looked like a deer in headlights staring at him. Funny, when he was the one who couldn't think straight and was shaking like a fucking leaf.

"Don't be scared." He wasn't sure if he was talking to himself or to her.

He shouldn't be this much of a mess, shouldn't be totally fucking undone by the fact that something had happened and he couldn't control it. Shouldn't feel like he needed to scratch his skin off because he'd been touched by a person he used to love.

"I'm sorry."

Lex still had trouble breathing, like trying to get around a block of ice in his windpipe, not really helpful to calm down. Not helpful at all. Not like it should be. Nothing was like it should be. Why wasn't anything like it should be? Like it was supposed to be? Like it had been.

He leaned heavily against the wall and just let himself sink down, couldn't remember where he wanted to go, couldn't think clearly. Everything was such a mess, he was such a mess. What had he done? Why had he let it happen? Why couldn't he..."Be a man for Christ's sake."

It was just sex, nothing but sex. Sex with Clark. Nothing special. Nothing. Nothing. It was nothing. Didn't matter. Nothing mattered. Nothing.

His breathing started to even out and his gaze drifted to the wall in front of him. Still cold, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered. Nothing.

Chloe didn’t know if what she was doing was going to cause more harm but she couldn’t do nothing. Couldn’t watch the man that she loved beyond all of her good reason have a breakdown and not reach out to him.

He was curling himself into a ball on the floor, for god’s sake.

She reached out for him and pulled him to her, trying to comfort him in the only way that she knew how.

Lex pushed her off of him but she just waited for another opening and wrapped her arms around him. He fought against her a little, his elbow connecting a little with her chin, but she held on tighter.

“Lex,” she ran her hand over his back, “Lex, it’s ok. I have you. I have you.” He was making strangled sounds in the back of his throat.

Once, when she was just starting to drive, she’d hit a deer. Unfortunately for her and the deer, it hadn’t died outright. It had made sounds that Chloe didn’t think was possible.

She’d blocked that out. Hearing Lex now brought it all back and she felt tears prick at her eyes. “I’ve got you and I’m not going to leave.”

It was all so wrong. She shouldn't be here, shouldn't see him like this. She shouldn't...He shouldn't be like this. He should be stronger than this. He should be okay. Why wasn't he okay? What was wrong with him? It'd been his decision, he'd done it, he'd let it happen. He'd...

"God, why?"

Why had he let it happen? Why had he done this? He should have found a different way, maybe done something, said something, somehow used his brain or his body or something, anything to change things. And why was she here? Why was Chloe still here, why didn't she just go away? Why couldn't she be like everyone else? Why was she always there? Always there to pick up the pieces, always there to deal with the mess, always the one who stayed.

The trouble with breathing was back and he felt a huge lump inside him keeping him from taking a deep breath and his eyes were burning like mad and he couldn't push her away, couldn't pull himself together, couldn't even fucking think properly and he needed...for it all to go away. He needed for everything to just go away and not be there anymore needed a place to hide and somewhere, just somewhere to crawl and lick his wounds and Chloe was still holding on to him and he couldn't fight her anymore. Not the only one who was always there. Not her. Never her.

"I'm so sorry."

He fell forward and she caught him, just like always. Caught him and held him and let him hide, gave him that space to hide in and let him hold on and he couldn't explain this, could never explain this if she asked but she didn't ask anymore. She didn't expect anything and he held on tighter because she was everything at that moment. Everything he didn't have, everything he couldn't be and still she was here.

Chloe wouldn’t dignify his apology with a response. He had nothing to be sorry about. He shouldn’t feel that an apology was necessary in this situation. She didn’t care if he cried or screamed or threw things. The only thing that mattered was putting him back together.

Now he was holding tightly to her. That was progress. “Whatever it is, we’ll manage it.” She wasn’t going to tell him that they’d fix it because she didn’t know if that was even possible.

“I’ll stay as long as you want, baby.” She tried to get him closer. Hold him tighter. “If you don’t, or can’t, stay here, you’ll come to my place. Whatever you want. Whatever you need.”

Even in the midst of this, Chloe knew that there was no turning back for her. Before she’d walked in here, maybe, [i]maybe she would have been able to pull away. Save herself.

But that wasn’t possible anymore. She could no more walk away from Lex than she could cut off her right arm. He needed her. It was so fucked up but she wouldn’t leave him.
~~
Lex didn't look up as he took the glass that she offered him. From what he could tell it was just water, but he didn't care much. It wasn't like he could taste anything, anyway. At least his hands had stopped shaking too noticeably.

He still couldn't believe he'd broken down like that. The last three days had been bad, but he'd thought that with time, if he just had enough time, he could get over it. Could rationalize it all away and keep going and find a way to fix this. Somehow.

"I'm sorry," he said in a low voice. "I don't know why I ... I didn't mean to scare you."

He only had a vague memory of everything that had happened, but he could clearly recall the deer in headlights way she had looked at him. He didn't want her to be afraid of him. She shouldn't have to keep seeing him at his worst. Not after all she'd done for him, still did for him.

Chloe sat down next to him, but not too close. “You did scare me,” she admitted. “But not in the way you think.” She knew that Lex’s hobby was self-flagellation. “I’m scared for you, not of you. Scared of what happened that got you to this point.”

She didn’t want to push him but she knew that it was now or never. If she let too much time pass Lex just might pretend like this wasn’t a huge deal.

“Will you tell me what happened? Do you feel up to it?”

Chloe thought that she knew, but she needed to hear him say it. It would dig the knife a little deeper but she couldn’t be selfish at the moment. Lex needed her to be strong. She’d have her own breakdown on her own time.

Lex took another swig of the tasteless water and placed the glass onto the table. He wasn't sure he could talk about this without freaking out again. He wasn't sure he wanted to talk about this. There was no way he could explain it in any way that would make logical sense. "Clark…" He didn't know how to put it. "We had sex and it…was different than I'd expected."

That was the basic facts and he tried to keep them away from the memories. If he kept everything clinical and vague then maybe he could cope with it. As long as he kept anything emotional and his own feelings out of the deal. He needed to be rational about this.

Lex snorted. Way to be rational to have a breakdown in front of your best friend and become a complete pathetic mess. What the hell had brought him to this point? He couldn't even tell anymore.

Chloe wasn’t sure how to approach this. She didn’t want to push Lex more than was necessary.

“Did he try to do something different than the last time the two of you were together?” Maybe Clark had leaned some new sex thing and wanted to try it out on Lex. Not likely, but this wasn’t a situation that Chloe was used to navigating.

She had to focus on him. And not the dull pain that permeated her chest when he confirmed her suspicions. She was a bad friend. Lex was in pieces and she couldn’t help but be hurt that he’d slept with his own boyfriend.

Lex laughed hollowly. If it had been that, at least he would have had some logical explanation for his reaction to the whole thing. "No." He shook his head and pulled back further into the couch. He was feeling the cold again now that he was sobering up. "It wasn't anything that he did."

He couldn't explain it. How could you explain that sleeping with the man you were supposed to love had felt like a violation? How could you explain feeling repulsed to the point that the touch of that person evoked a sick, cold, dirty feeling that made your skin crawl just thinking about it?

Like it was crawling right now.

Lex started scratching at his hip and neck again.

Chloe had noticed that Lex kept touching and rubbing at his neck and his hip. She could see a bruise on his neck and would bet anything that there was another on his hip.

He was worrying at the spots where Clark had literally left his mark.

“Lex, this isn’t good.” It was the understatement of the century. “You shouldn’t feel like this after the two of you are together. You have to know that.”

Unless…..

No, that couldn’t be true. But she found herself asking anyway. Because if he’d ever felt like this after they’d…

“Do you feel like this after we….”

Lex's gaze flicked over to her sharply before it slid away again. He hadn't expected that question. "No."

He'd never felt like that with her. Like he was just a piece of flesh, used for someone else's pleasure. But that didn't change anything about the fact that he felt like that with Clark, when he shouldn't feel like that. Shouldn't react so strongly to it either.

“Ok. So it’s localized to Clark.” But she didn’t know what else to say. Because, well, there was only one solution to that. And they’d talked about it numerous times and she didn’t want to sound like a broken record.

“I don’t suppose you spoke to him about this.” Another sharp look from Lex. “I’m just trying to get all of the facts.”

Because Lex sure as shit wasn’t really talking about his feelings.

“Is it just when you have sex or is it whenever he touches you?” She could always suggest that he just kiss Clark. And never have sex with him again. Right. That was plausible.

This was a total and utter mess. And part of Chloe knew that she had made it worse. Maybe if she had controlled herself, kept her hands off of Lex, he wouldn’t feel this way. Or so strongly about it.

Lex shook his head. "Are you trying to give me therapy now?" This wasn't helping. It wasn't doing anything but make his skin crawl even more and set his nerves on edge to the point that he could feel his control slipping.

"Chloe, I don't know what you are trying to do, but..." He trailed off, took a deep breath. He didn't know what to say. Not really. Not in a way that would make her understand. And there was nothing she could do to help or change anything about the situation. "I just can't deal with this right now. I can't explain it, and I can't analyze it and I can't give you a fucking rundown of whys and hows or anything else that has reason at the moment."

He stared her down and pressed his lips tightly together. What the fuck did she expect him to say? What the hell was he supposed to do? "I just need ...fuck I don't even know what I need."

To forget, to get away, far away and not come back. Change his name, maybe and move to a place where people didn't recognize his face. Forget that he'd made a decision and that there'd been logical reasons behind that decision. Forget that a world outside himself existed.

She ignored his anger. It was a front that she could recognize well. “Lex, I don’t know what I’m trying to do. You tell me that having sex with your live in boyfriend is making you physically ill. Making you scratch at the places that he’s marked you like by doing that you could erase what happened.”

“I don’t know what to say other than what I’ve said in the past. I…I don’t know how to be here for you in this situation. I want to hold you but I know you don’t want to be touched.”

“I want to tell you that things will turn out alright but I don’t know that and I don’t want to lie to you.” Now that she was on a roll she couldn’t stop talking.

“I want to take you out of this tomb and back to my place so you don’t have to look at anything that reminds you of what happened.” She looked over at him.

“But I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do.”

Chloe wanted to say something else. She wanted to tell Lex to leave Clark. But not because it was right or because he’d die if he didn’t. No, she wanted him to leave Clark so they could really be together.

That, however, would probably kill Lex in his current state.

"Why not?"

It actually sounded good right now. It wouldn't change anything about the fact that this had happened and that it made him feel that way, but it would be away. Away from this place and away from everything that remotely had to do with it. It was safe there, calm. Warm.

He thought of the warm yellow walls, and the day they had painted them. Splashing color on Chloe and leaving a bright hand print on her butt. That day seemed ages ago right now. He thought about the couch and watching stupid, boring horror movies only to tear them apart with snide remarks. He thought of the cozy little kitchen and kissing her in front of the stove with the smell of breakfast in the air. He thought of the bedroom with the downy comforter and sleeping there with Chloe's cold feet stuck between his legs and her hair in his face because she was curled up under his chin.

"I want to go."

Chloe wished she wasn’t so weak. She should tell Lex that they couldn’t go. That it wouldn’t be right because it was only helping him to run away from his problems. Not to face them.

Her apartment was a crutch, a get out of jail free card that he had to stop using. And she had to stop letting him.

But he was broken. He’d been shaking and he was looking at her in a way she’d never seen before. He was desperate and he needed her to save him.

And she would. Even as the noose around her own neck pulled tighter.
~~
Lex moved behind her into the apartment, letting the welcoming warmth wash over him as he stepped into the brightly painted living room. He still felt like shit, but it was getting better already.

“Yellow was a good choice,” he said in a low voice as he walked towards the sofa.

He was just about to sit down when he noticed how filthy he looked. And he hadn’t even bothered to take clothes with him. He hadn’t taken anything with him when they left.

“Do you still have some of my stuff?” he asked towards the kitchen where Chloe was doing god only knew what. “I need a shower.”

While rummaging through her cabinets and fridge for something that would be quick yet tasty, Chloe threw the words over her shoulder, “Of course. Top drawer.”

Weirdly enough, his stuff sat next to her unmentionables. Or maybe it wasn’t weird.

She heard him get up and make his way to her bedroom. He’d long ago stopped using the hall bathroom.

Technically, Lex wasn’t sick. But Chloe still found herself pulling together the ingredients to her father’s chicken noodle and vegetable soup. She got the feeling that Lex had been drinking his meals since Clark’s departure.

Once everything was boiling and bubbling, she left the kitchen and wandered into the bedroom. She picked up Lex’s clothes and made a beeline to the washer.

Lex let the hot water crash down on him and grabbed for Chloe’s shower gel without thinking. Who cared if he smelled like a girl? He certainly didn’t. It was better than smelling like Cl…He wrenched his thoughts away from the subject and breathed deeply.

Lathering up, he tried to think of nothing much at all, but it didn’t work. As the water sluiced over him, his mind was pushing back to what had happened with masochistic tenacity. Lex felt his hands starting to shake and tried to take deep breaths and move through it.

Never again. Not going to let this happen again

He inhaled deeply through his nose and tried to find comfort in Chloe’s scent. It calmed him enough to clear his thoughts after a while.

“Not again,” he muttered to himself.

He couldn’t go through this again without losing his sanity. He had to find a way around it, somehow. No idea how, but he would find a way.

Lex finished the shower and stepped out. He rubbed himself dry with a short towel and slung it around his waist before he stepped into the bedroom.

In the top drawer of the dresser, he found the stuff she’d kept. Somehow, his favorite t-shirt had ended up here again. And she’d kept an old pair of his sweats. A few boxer shorts, socks. God, he hadn’t even noticed he’d left that much at her place.

He dressed quietly and went back into the living room.

Chloe knew that Lex’s favorite place in her domicile was on the couch. Ok, maybe second to her bed. Which was why she’d set up their food there.

She’d already eaten but she figured that he’d put up less resistance if she had a bowl for herself. She was worried that he would tell her that he wasn’t hungry, he’d already eaten, blah, blah, blah…

When he sat down to her, it was hard not to cuddle up next to him, it was instinctual. But she knew that he didn’t want to be touched. He’d let her know when it was OK again.

She gestured to the bowls of soup. “Just what the Doctor ordered.”

Lex didn’t feel hungry. He was still queasy and only just coming down from his drunk state. But he’d feel like an ass for refusing her right now. So he picked up the bowl and settled back against the cushions. It smelled alright, which was a sight better than smelling like nothing.

“Thank you.”

He lifted the spoon and blew on it, then took a tentative taste. Chicken, noodles, some chopped veggies. His sense of taste was slowly coming back. “It’s good.”

So he could smell Chloe’s shower gel and taste chicken and noodle soup. He was already feeling a lot warmer than he had in the apartment, too. It had been good to come here.

Lex closed his eyes and took another spoonful of soup.

“Thank you, for letting me come back with you,” he said in a low voice when half his bowl was empty.

Chloe didn’t know how to explain to Lex that it wasn’t really a choice for her. She was addicted to him, loved him and needed him. And she wasn’t strong enough to deny that anymore.

Again, she had to resist the urge to reach out and touch him.

“There’s no need to thank me. You are welcome here at any time. Promise me that you’ll come here if something like this happens again.” She couldn’t bear to think of him doing the same self destructing thing over and over again.

Before he could answer, Chloe stood up and walked over to the small table by the entrance way. She opened a drawer and took out a spare key that she’d had made a few weeks ago.

“Whether I’m here or not, promise me you’ll come here.” She held the key out to him. She knew that he didn’t have pockets, but the issue was whether or not he took the key.

Lex looked up at her and blinked slowly. He’d given her a key to the penthouse, but she’d put it back the first time that Clark had returned. Now she was offering him a key to her apartment. He wasn’t sure whether he should take it or not.

“It won’t happen again,” he said slowly. “You don’t need to do this for me.”

She’d done so much for him already and Lex was very aware of that fact. She’d given him more than he could have ever asked for and he felt like he kept taking without giving anything in return. “You’ve done so much,” he said in a low voice as he covered her hand with his own. “I'm sorry for…” Everything really. “putting you through all this.”

That couldn’t keep happening either. He realized that now. He couldn’t keep leeching off of Chloe like he had been ever since they’d ended up sleeping together for the first time.

“I know that I don’t need to do this for you,” she said, trying to get over the pain that she’d felt when he’d rejected the key. “I want to do this for you.” Because I’m an idiot and apparently can’t learn from my mistakes.

But she didn’t say that last part out loud.

Lex seemed torn. “And, just so you know, the only reason that I’m not reaming you out for apologizing to me for all of this, which is a totally ridiculous thing to do, is because you’ve had a rough few days.”

She turned her hand in his and linked their fingers. The key rested flat against both of their palms.

Chloe hoped that looking at him now wouldn’t be a huge mistake. But she couldn’t see any way around it. Locking their eyes, she told him, “You’re the most important person in my life and I need to know that, no matter what, you’re safe.”

Lex swallowed heavily and nodded. The way she said it, there was no doubt that she was sincere and he couldn’t even tell her what that meant to him. The taunting voice inside his head that sounded like a younger version of him whispered about what ifs but he cut it off and instead tugged at her hand.

She stumbled and he caught her and it felt good. It felt right to hold her like this and feel her close and smell her scent and know that she was there. He could touch her now, it was okay. It was okay to let go for now.

“Thank you.”

He just needed to find a way to make things change. She meant too much to him to keep using her like that. Even if she didn’t acknowledge it, he knew it wasn’t right. He’d have to…

Eventually he’d have to let go, but not now. Not right now.


tbc

Cassandra Jean
31st January 2009, 07:18
Another wonderful chapter. I am all with Chloe and wanting to do some serious harm to Clark...but I think I will settle with seeing Chloe and Lex together with out Clark in the picture.

dagney
31st January 2009, 14:45
So nice to have an update, Hopefully this is the point where Lex starts trying got take steps to get healthy and make changes in his life. Chloe also is going to have to look at her co dependency issues. Yikes this story continues to be emotional and gut wrenching on so many levels. Dagney

somethingeasy
31st January 2009, 17:16
wow! The emotional fall-out as recounted in this chapter was AS agonizing to read as the ‘violation’ session that took place in the last chapter. In fact, it might have been even MORE painful to read Lex’s state the morning after (or three mornings afters) rather than That Night.

I really appreciated the extremely vivid description of Lex still feeling filthy and ‘marked’ from the violation, even after three days. Even after his obsessive time in the shower scrubbing himself clean… and even after all the marks and bruises have faded away. It really shows how strong and powerful an emotional mark Clark left on Lex.

The worse thing was knowing that the ‘emotional mark’ was basically invisible (in terms of physical evidence). Even if Clark had stayed behind, he wouldn’t have noticed anything amiss… not unless he was willing to take a close look at Lex behaviour in the aftermath of the sexual session.

hmmm, then again, perhaps Clark would have noticed THIS, if he had stuck around to check out the aftermath…? Chloe was in front of Lex, and she knew within a millisecond, not only that something was very, VERY wrong, but she even guessed what had gone wrong. She guessed that Clark had hurt Lex somehow.

It actually made me wince a little bit to hear the hatred in Chloe’s voice when she asked Clark if ‘that fucker had hurt you’. Her voice was filled with such loathing hate… and it was sad to see how far hers and Clark’s friendship has deteriorated. She looked like she would have happily KILLED Clark if he had been there in front of her. In fact, I’m not convinced that she WON’T make a planned, pro-active effort into giving Clark some kind of lethal hit for what he did to the man she loves.


The truth was that what had happened should have been completely normal, should have been enjoyable even. And that it hadn't been either of the two was purely Lex's fault. He and his traitorous mind and body had brought it all onto himself. He'd chosen this and now he needed to learn to accept it and deal with it.

I really liked Lex’s sheer, bewildered confusion about WHY he felt like this. It certainly explains why Lex hasn’t yet run screaming out of the apartment. He’s probably spent the last three days trying to rationalize that there’s nothing really about this situation that should bother him like this. I think he’s spent the last few days trying to convince himself that he’s being hysterical and irrational.

This rationalization was something that took place between the bouts of numbness and unthinking staring at the walls of course. Poor, sick, deadened man!

It’s such a shame that Lex can’t see that it doesn’t really matter WHY he feels like this. What matters is how he feels, and he should start acting on whatever his instincts and impulses are screaming at him to do. Run, RUN, baby!!! As far and hard as possible!


Why had he let it happen? Why had he done this? He should have found a different way, maybe done something, said something, somehow used his brain or his body or something, anything to change things. And why was she here? Why was Chloe still here, why didn't she just go away? Why couldn't she be like everyone else? Why was she always there? Always there to pick up the pieces, always there to deal with the mess, always the one who stayed.

Chloe was a wonderful FOOL in her caretaking. I think that sums up her actions quite nicely… she was being a wonderful friend, but also acting incredibly foolish and weak-willed.

It’s such a shame that she visited the apartment. She should have just stayed away… especially since Lex was not answering her calls. That would have been the perfect (and last) opportunity for her to extradite herself from this whole mess. Now she’s stuck!

I really liked how Chloe herself acknowledged that it was a foolish, hopeless action for her to have visited Lex, because she’s lost her final chance at separating herself from him and saving herself. At least she’s well aware of her foolishness.

But, for all her foolishness, she was still amazing acting as Lex’ life-line. It was incredible seeing her holding Lex together in her embrace, as if she was keeping him from shattering apart through sheer force of will alone. And Lex acknowledged that! He KNEW that Chloe was knitting the shattered pieces of his psyche back together. I like that he was aware of that… that he acknowledged what a life-line and anchor Chloe has become to him. He knows that he owes her big time! Far beyond his ability to repay actually.


“Do you feel like this after we….”

Lex's gaze flicked over to her sharply before it slid away again. He hadn't expected that question. "No."

He'd never felt like that with her. Like he was just a piece of flesh, used for someone else's pleasure. But that didn't change anything about the fact that he felt like that with Clark, when he shouldn't feel like that. Shouldn't react so strongly to it either.

“Ok. So it’s localized to Clark.” But she didn’t know what else to say. Because, well, there was only one solution to that. And they’d talked about it numerous times and she didn’t want to sound like a broken record.

I liked how Chloe tried to get Lex to talk about what happened. She knew that it wasn’t good for him to keep his trauma bottled up inside, AND I can see she also wanted some definitive answers about exactly what Clark had done to Lex. It’s a pity that Lex really didn’t know how to express exactly what he found so sick and wrong about That Night… because I think it would have been very helpful for him to properly define exactly what the problem was.

Unfortunately, Lex is only stuck with a vague feeling of ‘sickness and wrongness’ without being able to explain WHY. Which means he’s probably going to tell himself that he’s ‘making a big deal out of nothing’, isn’t he? The idiot!

I liked how Chloe DID at least manage to pinpoint that Lex’s problem with sex was only ‘localized’ to Clark. It was a slightly cool way of looking at the situation, but I guess she sensed that Lex needed some rational coolness and objectivity about the situation, huh?

heh… I can see she also noted that Lex did NOT talk to Clark about this during the evening, OR the morning after. nope… it’s so much easier to just ‘sweep it all under the rug’, isn’t it, Lex?


To forget, to get away, far away and not come back. Change his name, maybe and move to a place where people didn't recognize his face. Forget that he'd made a decision and that there'd been logical reasons behind that decision. Forget that a world outside himself existed.

heh… the course of action he’s describing might sound a little on the ludicrous side, but it’s STILL a hell of a lot more practical and sensible as compared to maintaining the status quo as it stands now. Not that Lex is going to concede that!


Chloe wished she wasn’t so weak. She should tell Lex that they couldn’t go. That it wouldn’t be right because it was only helping him to run away from his problems. Not to face them.

Her apartment was a crutch, a get out of jail free card that he had to stop using. And she had to stop letting him.

heh… I really, REALLY liked how Chloe was well-aware that she’s basically giving Lex only a temporary means of escape, and a crutch, that allowed him to push his problems on the backburner. She’s NOT helping him find solutions; she’s only helping him stay in denial for a little while longer. I LIKED how she’s aware that she’s NOT really helping either of them being an enabler to him. *sigh* it’s such a damned shame that she can’t help herself despite this awareness.

At least Lex has the excuse where he doesn’t seem aware on how Chloe’s enabling is helping him avoid finding solutions to his problems. He only thinks of Chloe’s place as ‘a safe haven’, and not a place where he’s running away from his problems.


“Not again,” he muttered to himself.

He couldn’t go through this again without losing his sanity. He had to find a way around it, somehow. No idea how, but he would find a way.

well, well… will wonders never cease! So, does this mean that Lex will actually be looking for solutions to his problems rather than just denying their existence…?


She’d done so much for him already and Lex was very aware of that fact. She’d given him more than he could have ever asked for and he felt like he kept taking without giving anything in return. “You’ve done so much,” he said in a low voice as he covered her hand with his own. “I'm sorry for…” Everything really. “putting you through all this.”

That couldn’t keep happening either. He realized that now. He couldn’t keep leeching off of Chloe like he had been ever since they’d ended up sleeping together for the first time.

oooh, now this is VERY good progress (good progress for this clueless Chlex couple at least). Lex has actually admitted that he’s been leeching off Chloe for all this time? Excellent! I notice that he’s only admitting to leeching off her since their affair started. He’s not admitting that he’s been using her as an emotional sop for YEARS now.


He just needed to find a way to make things change. She meant too much to him to keep using her like that. Even if she didn’t acknowledge it, he knew it wasn’t right. He’d have to…

Eventually he’d have to let go, but not now. Not right now.

*frustrated sigh* despite Lex’s sudden awareness, the chapter didn’t end on a promising note. It seems like Lex has told himself that it will be necessary for him to ‘let go’ of Chloe at some point… but only when he’s ready. Which basically means that he won’t stop leeching off her until he feels he doesn’t need her as much anymore.

This is going to end BADLY! I can tell! Everything is going to explode, implode and shatter when LEX finally decides (in his own sweet time) to end the affair on his own terms.

heh… it was a devastating chapter as always, BlueSabby! But highly enjoyable!

hfce
31st January 2009, 17:39
Man that was painful to read. I want to hit and hug Lex at the same time. He knows what he has to do, break it off with Clark. If he does than his world will only change for the good. ;)

Kit Merlot
1st February 2009, 15:44
Man, but that was quite an emotionally painful chapter.

And judging by these lines:


He just needed to find a way to make things change. She meant too much to him to keep using her like that. Even if she didn’t acknowledge it, he knew it wasn’t right. He’d have to…

Eventually he’d have to let go, but not now. Not right now.

it sounds like out boy Lex is going to make the wrong choice. He's going to stay with Clark and push Chloe away because now he thinks he doesn't deserve any type of happiness.

I hope I'm wrong.

Continued excellent work on this fic;)

malugargula
6th February 2009, 04:23
Great chapter
:)

BlueSabby
6th February 2009, 19:57
A/N: Blue: Ok, people, we're getting towards the end. Some interesting developments in this chapter. Get prepared to yell!

A/N: Sabby: Since I have nothing important to say about this chapter, let me just suck up to all you readers and feedbackers out there. We love you and your continued interest in this story, and your heartfelt bitching and yelling and smacking. Continue to enjoy the Pathetic-fest of our characters.


When Chloe woke up alone it unsettled her a little. Usually when she and Lex spent the night together, whether or not they had been physical, he was plastered up against her. Or reading next to her. She’d never woken up alone.

As she threw back the covers, she could smell and hear breakfast being made. But the tightness in her chest didn’t loosen.

It only got worse when she saw Lex. He was already completely dressed. And not in his bedgear. No, in his clothes that had been laundered the night before.

Putting aside her fears, she cleared her throat. “Good morning, Jeeves. How nice to already have breakfast made for me.”

She started to walk over to him and then saw two plastic bags by his feet. The contents of which, she could see through the material, was all of the stuff he’d left at her place.

Lex turned around and pasted a smirk on his face that he didn’t feel. “It’s the least I can do,” he said neutrally as he pulled the eggs from the stove and prepared her plate. “Coffee’s ready, too.”

He’d made his decision late last night, or early this morning depending on the way you saw it. In a moment of perfect clarity, he’d realized what he needed to do.

No, not what he needed to do. What he wanted to do. Because sometime during the night, his survival instincts had finally kicked in. Tempered a little by his conscience, but loud enough to make themselves heard and get their way.

He’d had it. He’d tried to play the part, but he couldn’t do it. Lex wasn’t the martyr type. Not anymore. Perhaps, he never had been.

“How did you sleep?” he asked as he put the plate down in front of her.

“What the fuck are those?” She ignored his question and his fake chipper mood. Who the hell did he think she was? Clark? A dolt who wouldn’t notice his body language or the fact that he’d packed up his stuff.

When Lex saw what she was pointing at, he carefully put down the plate that contained her breakfast.

He looked as if he was choosing his words carefully. “Don’t give me your spin control, Lex. Tell me what is going on.”

But she knew. She knew what was happening. She knew it because it always happened. He was leaving her. But she needed the stupid ass to say it to her. She wasn’t going to give him an easy out. Not this time.

Lex gripped the back of the chair and looked down at her. This would be the first time he said it out loud and it was much harder than he had expected.

“I'm leaving Clark.” It came out smooth and strong, without a hint of doubt. That was good. “And then I'm going to leave this city, possibly the state as well.”

That was the decision he’d come to and he wouldn’t go back on it now. He’d tried living the life of a martyr, but some part of him had reached its limit that night with Clark and smacked him out of that idea. He would leave the man and let the Justice League deal with whatever happened as a result. If Clark wanted to go around the bend, Lex still had a large Kryptonite stash in secure places around the globe.

And he would leave the city to make it easier for Chloe.

He’d used her unscrupulously ever since she had reached out her hand to him and it had to stop. So it would stop, today. He loved her too much to keep doing it to her.

The realization that he loved her had been perhaps the most shocking one he’d had last night. It hadn’t slammed through him like a hammer, but it had compressed something inside him, making it hard to breathe as he lay awake, silently holding her against him as she slept.

“Leaving the city, possibly the state,” she repeated slowly.

She had no role in that. He was leaving Clark but he was leaving her as well. She needed to sit down. And then to vomit. And then to strangle Lex.

When she leaned her hands on the table and saw her breakfast, well, she didn’t even recognize the thought before she was doing it.

Chloe hurled the plate at Lex.

“You’re an even bigger asshole than he is!” And now she was screaming at the top of her lungs and pushing him.

The plate had hit him in the chest and shattered on the ground. She felt one of her feet getting cut by it but she didn’t care.

Once he was backed up against the counter, she could properly yell in his face. “I hold your hand, I fuck you, and I mean nothing to you!”

“You don’t even care, do you?” Her breath was hitching and she realized that she had started to cry. She also knew that he cared but it felt good to hurt him. To hurt him like he was hurting her. Would be her last chance to do so being that he was leaving the state

“You use me as a crutch. I fall in love with you and then you decide to leave. Fine.” She backed up a little, picked up one of the bags and threw it at him. He didn’t even defend himself. “Get out!”

Chloe turned around and made her way to the bathroom off of her bedroom. Her hands shook as she got out a box of band aids for her foot.

Lex stood paralyzed in the kitchen for a moment, incapable of moving as his mind raced. He hadn’t expected her to react like this. He hadn’t thought she would be happy, but he’d never even dreamed she would react so violently.

And she’d said…

No, he couldn’t have heard that right. But he was sure he’d heard it. She’d said that she’d fallen in love with him, between accusing him of being an asshole and telling him to get out she’d told him she was in love with him.

And she’d hurt herself with the plate.

He took a shuddering breath and vaulted himself into motion, following her into the bathroom. If she was hurt, he had to make sure she was okay.

She didn’t look up at him when he stepped into the doorway. The cut on her foot looked shallow and he breathed a sigh of relief.

“I'm sorry.” That wasn’t what he’d meant to say.

He’d meant to ask her if she’d really said what he thought she’d said. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. I didn’t think…” Well, he’d never thought for one that she might be feeling anything other than sympathy for her best friend. “I'm sorry.”

“Apology not accepted. Shouldn’t you be halfway across the state by now?” She focused on peeling back the piece of papers from the adhesive strip. “I’m fine. You can go.”

She turned around and refused to look at him. She’d humiliated herself…again. Instead, she gave all of her attention to her foot. Perched on the toilet, she placed it around her big toe where it was bleeding.

Once on her feet, she brushed past Lex and went about stripping the bed. She didn’t want to smell him tonight or any night from now on.

“No. You’re not fine,” he said decisively as he followed her. “And I can’t go,” he continued in a lower voice. “Not if you meant what you said.”

She was still exuding the harpy vibes so he didn’t get any closer. He hovered in the doorway between bathroom and bedroom, looking at her as she furiously stripped the bed. The longer he watched her, the more he was sure that he had heard her right.

“Did you mean it?”

“You don’t get to ask me that,” she told him. She wasn’t a fool. Lex, more than anything in the world, craved love. Some might think it was money and power but they were poor substitutes for what he’d been lacking in his whole life.

It was why he had stayed with Clark.

So, he’d want to hear that again. But once she admitted it, they’d have to talk about it. Before he left, that was. And she was done humiliating herself.

“It’s the end of the line, the buck stops here and whatever other lines you can use in this situation. You’re leaving. That was your choice before I said what I said. You didn’t take me into account then so you don’t need to do it now.”

She leaned over a little and picked up his…the pillow that he had been using and took off the case. Throwing it on the pile that she’d amassed, she told him, “Thanks for nailing me. At least I got some fun out of all of it.”

Her crudeness was a tactic and they both knew it. But she couldn’t stop it. “But, hey, at least we now know that you don’t just like the baton. Glad I could be of assistance in that one.”

Lex didn’t let the harsh words rile him up because he knew where they came from. And oddly, they even made him feel a little better because the more venom she spat at him, the surer he was that she had meant what she’d said.

“I took you into account,” he told her calmly as he pushed his hands into the pockets of his pants. “I thought about things a lot last night and you definitely played a major part in my decision.”

He took a deep breath and raised his voice when she started banging things around to avoid listening to him. “I realized that I couldn’t keep using you like I have been, and that the only way to stop me from doing that is to leave.”

She was banging around her dresser drawers now, trying to find new bed-sheets. “And the reason I can’t keep using you as a crutch is because I love you.” His last words hadn’t come out as loud as he’d hoped, but he was pretty sure she’d heard him anyway.

There was a reason that she’d opened this drawer. But, for the life of her, she couldn’t remember what it was. Not with what Lex had just said.

The only thing that she could feel was her body breathing. And she could hear Lex behind her, too, breathing.

“As a friend,” she said. “You love me as a friend.” Because that’s what he had to mean. “You love,” she shook her head, “loved Clark in a different way than you love me.”

“What we did,” she wouldn’t call it banging or nailing or fucking again, “was only comfort to you. Nothing more.”

Chloe wasn’t going to fall for this. Nope, not again. Another man thinking that he loved her. Not because he did but because he wanted to.

Lex didn’t bother to shake his head because she wasn’t even looking at him. “It was more than comfort.”

He stepped a little closer to her. “It felt right, and I’ve never felt something like it before.” He took another few steps closer. “Not even with Clark.” He was almost behind her, but kept two steps distance between them. “I feel safe when I’m here, with you.”

How could he convince her that what he felt was real? “I even feel warmer. At first I thought that it was just a fucked up thermostat or that maybe there was a draft in the penthouse,” he shook his head at his own stupidity. “But it isn’t. It’s you. Without you, I feel cold. But when you’re around, it’s like standing in front of a fireplace.”

He was running out of words, so he tried for a bit of caustic humor. “And it can’t be purely physical, because we both know that you’ve got ice cold feet.”

Lex didn’t know what else to say to convince her that he wasn’t deceiving her. He knew what he felt and it was vastly different from what he had felt for Clark, even back when things were good.

“It wasn’t just comfort,” he repeated more firmly. “I love you.” This time the words came out louder than before.

Chloe was now clutching the sheets to her chest. While her mind didn’t know why she was in the drawer, her hands had.

As she listened to Lex she began to hope. But she knew just how dangerous that could be. Lex would never lie to her. Not on purpose, that was.

But if he thought he was in love with her then it wouldn’t really be a lie.

How would she know it was really true, though?

She turned slowly and looked at him.

“You’re leaving him?” She asked the words quietly. She needed that confirmed for her.

Lex nodded.

“And, what? You’re ready to jump into something real with me? Already?”

Because this would be quick. Super quick.

Lex smirked and shrugged one shoulder. “Can you really say that what we have right now isn’t real? That it hasn’t been real from the beginning?”

Looking back he could see that the only delusion they’d ever been under was the thought that what they had was a simple affair. It had never been that. They had been stuck in limbo due to his guilt and fear, but they had never simply had an affair.

“I want to stay with you, if you’ll have me.”

This had been real to him?

Chloe realized just how fucked up she must be to not believe him. To actively be looking for proof that he was lying.

But she’d always trusted Lex with everything. Her secrets, her fears, and, recently, her body. He already had a hold on her heart so why not just hand it over?

“Ok,” she agreed, “but only if you clean up the kitchen. I was provoked into making a mess.”

Lex smiled a little even as relief flooded him like the Atlantic had the Titanic. He really sucked at analogies.

“I’ll get on it,” he said as he took the last two steps that separated them and slowly reached out to wrap his arms around her waist. When she leaned into his touch, his smile widened. It was only fair for him to clean up this small mess, considering how many of his very big messes she’d helped him clean up over the years of their friendship. “Do you want me to make more breakfast, too?”

It was so easy, stepping forward and into this. It felt like stepping into the living room yesterday. Warmth, brightness, and that sense of being safe, that things would be okay, no matter what.

She shook her head and clutched him closer. She breathed him in and shut her eyes. He was here. Or he would be once he got rid of the 200 plus pounds of dead weight he’d been carrying around for years.

“To steal from Bono, all I want is you.”

She moved back a little so she could bring his head down for a thorough, but gentle, kiss.

Rubbing her nose against his, she whispered, “You wanna make out?”

Lex grinned back at her and nodded slowly, rubbing their noses together again. “Hell yeah.”

The kitchen could wait a little while, and he would deal with Clark soon enough. Right now he wanted to just enjoy the moment and the feeling of being free in the safest place on earth. If someone had told him when he was younger that someday he would find that place and it would be an elementary school teacher’s apartment on the working class side of town he would have scowled at them and called them crazy.

Now, he couldn’t imagine any place he’d rather be. Not when he was kissing Chloe and could feel her hands working to tug his shirt out of his pants as they stumbled their way over to the bed.
~~
When Lex came back to the penthouse, he wasn’t surprised to find it empty. He didn’t know where Clark was and he didn’t particularly care anymore, either.

Lex went straight through to his home office and started packing up his things in a large cardboard box. He left the law books and everything else that didn’t have special value to him behind. All he would take with him were the most important things that he considered his own.

His office was packed up within fifteen minutes and he put the box outside the door to pick up once he was done in the bedroom. There were only two pictures in the living room that he would take with him. One had been taken years ago after High school Graduation and the other was one from a visit to a baseball game four years ago. Both had Chloe in them.

Lex was halfway through his second suitcase of clothes when he heard the front door open and shut. His heart beat faster for a moment. Clark was actually home now. Lex took a few calming breaths and kept packing. This was the moment and he was not going to go weak now. He would finish packing, tell Clark what needed to be said and get the hell out of here.

“Lex, I’m home!” Clark shucked off his jacket and threw it on one of the chairs in the kitchen. He didn’t get an answer.

Maybe Lex was in the shower. Clark ran up the stairs and stopped when he saw a box in front of the office. He peeked into the room and saw that the contents of the box used to be in the room. Lex must have made good on his threat to redecorate the place without him.

He heard some movement in the bedroom and walked into the room. He stopped and his eyebrows drew together. Lex was packing up all of his clothes. God.

Was there some vacation that they were supposed to go on and he’d forgotten again? Lex was going to kill him.

But Clark really thought he would remember that. He walked over to the armchair and flopped into it. “Where are you going, babe? Is there a last minute business trip?”

Lex heard the question and couldn’t even turn around. God, how could he have lived with this for five years? Clark had to have seen the box in the hallway. And he had to notice that Lex wasn’t just packing up some of his clothes. And he still was oblivious enough to believe he was just going on a business trip?

Lex shook his head and kept stacking the last few shirts into his second suitcase.

“I’m leaving you.” He slammed the suitcase shut decisively and latched the snap shutters then turned around to face Clark.

Clark looked all of fifteen at that moment, with his mouth hanging open and confusion all over his face.

He’d heard the words and got their meaning. But he had to have misunderstood. Leaving? For good? No, that was impossible.

Yes, things had been bad for awhile but the last time he’d been here they’d really reconnected. He blinked a few times. “What?”

His voice sounded weak. When Lex answered, he sounded very far away. Clark tried to concentrate on the words.

“I've given this relationship five years. Five very long years that I spent waiting for you to learn what love means. Five years most of which you were absent.” Lex kept packing, putting shirt after shirt after shirt in a third suitcase.

Clark sighed. “Lex,” he ran a hand over his face, “we’ve talked about this before. You know that I can't be here all of the time.”

“I know,” Lex agreed without looking up or pausing in what he was doing.

“It’s no reason to act rashly,” Clark said. “You know that I love you.”

Lex finished up with the last few socks and shoes, packing away the very last of his clothing. He was actually surprised that all it took was three large suitcases.

He turned to look at Clark again after closing it and shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants. “Well, it’s time for you to face that I can’t be here at all.”

He didn’t want to be nasty, but Clark had to understand that this was not a temporary thing. He’d had it and that was that.

“You want to move out and still see each other?” Clark asked with confusion still written all over his face. “You’re not making any sense.”

Lex sighed. Now was not a good time for Clark to be especially dense. “Listen,” he said slowly and clearly. “You’re a hero. Nothing more, nothing less. Your priority is the world, first and foremost.”

That was how it had always been, Lex just had a hard time accepting that he couldn’t change the fact. “And I’m done being second.” He’d taken all he could take before his survival instinct kicked in and now he was not going to push it down anymore.

Clark looked at him with a hint of pleading in his eyes. “Lex, come on, we can talk about this. We can work it out. I love you.”

Lex was surprised when he noticed that the words didn’t affect him anymore. There was no pain, no sympathy, nothing at all. It was well and truly over between the two of them.

He shook his head. “No, we can’t work this out,” he said calmly, “because I don’t love you. Not anymore.”

The rest of the weight that had been sitting on his shoulders since he left Chloe’s apartment seemed to drop off him like a heavy stone from his back and Lex took his first completely easy breath in years.

Clark started to shake his head. Lex had to be joking. Not joking. Just…something. They loved each other. Yes, it was hard and yes they fought but Lex couldn’t deny it.

“You don’t mean that,” he told him. “You can’t.”

In that same calm tone Lex told him, “I’m sorry, Clark.... We all have to make our choices at one point or another. You chose to be the hero.”

Clark got up and walked over to him. He was starting to get angry. He’d been born this way. Had been dropped on this planet instead of his own. His gifts weren’t his fault and he was sick of being punished for them.

“Lex, I didn't have a choice. Am I supposed to ignore what I can do?” Just let people die so he and Lex could be the perfect, suburban couple? “Lex, please stay, we can work this out. I'll be home more. We can talk to someone about this.”

God knew that they both needed therapy.

“No, we can't. Because I don't want to. Not anymore.” Lex didn’t even look upset by any of this.

“What is wrong with you? How can you mean that....” It didn’t make any sense. How Lex loved him one day and then the next….

His brain started to supply him with a way that that would be possible.

“Because it’s true.” Clark barely heard the words.

He locked gazes with Lex. “Is there someone else?” That would be par for the course. While he was out saving lives Lex was bedding some hard body that he met at work or something.

Lex sighed. Of course it would come to this. And Clark would never understand it any other way. But he had to try to make Clark see what the reason for their break up was. “If that makes it easier for you.”

Clark’s eyes actually flashed red, but Lex wasn’t afraid. Clark would never physically hurt him. That wasn’t his style. “Is that a yes?” he asked as he crossed his arms over his impressive chest.

It was a typical gesture for his spandex clad alter ego and just confirmed Lex’s opinion that his ex-lover had stopped being ‘just’ Clark a long time ago.

“Clark,” Lex said calmly, “I’m not leaving you because someone else is better in bed, or anything like that.”

“But you are leaving me for someone.” He wasn’t going to let Lex weasel his way out of this one. If he was fucking someone else, Clark wanted to know.

“I am leaving you for love.”

It was so unlike Lex that Clark actually snorted. He couldn’t believe that the man had just used that line. But Lex kept talking.

“Not the great intangible idea of love.”

“So, let me get this straight, you’re telling me that you don't love me but you love someone else?” Great, just great.

“Let me guess,” Clark went on, getting madder and madder, “you love someone because they know how to suck you off just right. I never did get that down exactly right.”

He paused. “Who is it?” He had to know. Had to know who this guy was that Lex thought was better than him.

“Clark,” Lex said, tiredly, “it doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me. Where did you meet him?”

Lex wasn’t going to lie when it came right down to it, but he would keep Chloe out of this for as long as was possible. She wasn’t to blame for what had happened between Clark and him, but Lex knew that his ex-lover would lay the blame squarely at her feet when it came down to that.

“It’s not a man.”

“What?!” That seemed to shock Clark more than the thought that Lex was with someone else.

It actually amused Lex. Had Clark completely forgotten what his life was like before they’d started dating? Lex had always been bisexual, and rather indiscriminate about that fact. He liked women as much as he did men for very different reasons. Clark was the one who couldn’t deal with the fairer sex.

“You’re leaving me for a woman?” Clark sounded so much like a seven year old, Lex waited for him to start using the phrase ‘girl cooties’.

And Lex knew that Clark wasn’t going to accept the idea that Lex was leaving him because of what Clark had done. So if this helped him understand better, then so be it.

“I’m leaving you for the woman,” he corrected Clark as clearly as possible.

Chloe was the one he’d been looking for ever since he’d been old enough to actually know what to look for. That was what set her apart from every other person he’d ever attempted a relationship with.

This had to be a joke. Lex with a woman? Yes, he’d been with them before but he hadn’t so much as looked at one in years. When they used to go out they’d talk about other men, but a woman?

And not just a woman. Lex seemed to think that this was his one true love.

“Oh, excuse me, the woman,” he bit back sarcastically. “I give it two months.”

“Sarcasm won’t change anything Clark.” Lex looked like he was getting a little more emotional, finally. “And if it makes you feel better, you can think whatever you want. The fact is that this relationship would never have lasted.”

“Well, no, it wouldn’t have. Not when you’ve been fucking someone else. That has a tendency to torpedo any relationship.”

“Five years, Clark. I gave you five years to show me that you love me. I gave up my career, my life, my freedom, my sanity, my pride and everything that made me me. And you didn't even notice it.”

Clark threw his hands up. “And now you're giving up on us. I never asked you to give up your career and now you're just being dramatic.” This was the first he’d heard about Lex resenting him for the way things had gone. He wasn’t a fucking mind reader.

He stepped even closer. “Did this woman tell you to leave me? That she’ll be there for you. That she knows you? No one knows you better than I do, Lex.”

That Clark called him dramatic, he could have gotten away with, but the fact that Clark acted as if he was the one being wronged from the start and on top of that insisted that he knew Lex better than anyone just flicked a switch.

“Really,” Lex drawled the word out as he looked at Clark through narrowed eyes. “What’s my favorite movie, Clark?” he shot the question out with an expectant look and wasn’t surprised to get no answer except a stupefied look.

“My favorite shirt?” He knew that Clark didn’t know the answer to that one. He’d fucking given away the shirt without a second thought. His only luck was that he’d given it to Chloe who’d kept it. “How do I take my coffee in the morning?” Even the barrister in the coffee store around the corner knew that one. But Clark again didn’t seem to know the answer. “What boxers did I wear last week?” These were ridiculously easy questions, and if Clark couldn’t answer those, where the fuck did he get off thinking he really knew him?

Lex could tell that Clark was getting more and more frustrated and stopped his barrage of questions with a pitying snort.

That got Clark on the defensive. He made some sort of frustrated noise and gripped his hair in his hands. “I’m not talking about a list of questions, I mean what you’re like.”

Oh this was getting better and better. Clark really didn’t get it. He assumed he knew Lex when he’d never even bothered to look at the surface things, let alone deeper than that.

“What I’m like?” Lex asked with an incredulous laugh. “Do enlighten me.”

Clark felt like yelling and throwing things. But that would only make thing worse. He needed to breathe so he could answer Lex’s question. And he needed Lex to listen. To realize that no one else would love him and put up with his shit.

“You’re complicated,” Clark said. “And you need your space.” He’d learned that one the hard way. “You have to know how to navigate that.”

Lex jumped in. “You mean by patronizing me.”

“I do not patronize you!”

Lex gave him a look and then gestured between the two of them. “Case in point.”

“But you’re impossible to deal with directly,” Clark said defensively.

“No,” Lex said, “I’m not. I’m just not simple”

“Please, it’s like a minefield.” And it was. No one else could even deal with Lex. “Who can deal with you besides me and Chloe?” He knew that Lex would be hard pressed to come up with names. They didn’t know all that many people.

Ironically, Lex could answer that question without having to think about it for longer than a second. “Beth and Michelle spring to mind.” They were just two of Chloe’s friends that he had gotten to know the night that Chloe had dragged him out so he wouldn’t sit alone at home in a complete funk. The night before things had started between them.

Of course, Clark wouldn’t know about these two, but Lex didn’t give a damn.

“Who are Beth and Michelle? I’ve never heard you mention these people.”

Well, if Clark had ever bothered to ask what he’d been doing when he was home once in a blue moon, he would have known who these two are.

But even now, Clark didn’t seem to really care because he waved off his own question and plowed right on. “Listen, if you need to go and do this, be with a woman…” The look of disgust on Clark’s face almost made Lex laugh. Almost. “Well, I don’t like it, but if you need that it doesn’t mean we can’t still be together.”

Lex shook his head. He couldn’t believe Clark was patronizing him, even in this. Well, it wasn’t going to happen.

“Clark, I’m not asking for a ‘break’. I’m leaving you. It’s over. I won’t come back.” There, he’d phrased it in a way that even Clark had to get it through his thick skull that there was no discussion on this matter.

Clark ground his teeth together and set his jaw. “Fine.” He spit out the word. He couldn’t make Lex stay if he didn’t want to. But the other man should know what he was getting into. “It won’t last,” he told him. “No matter what you think.”

Lex shook his head. Not at what Clark was saying, Clark knew that, but at him.

“These Beth and Michelle people can’t really know you.” He’d never heard of them and here Lex was saying that they were good friends that got him. Really, how did Lex think he would react to that?

“It doesn’t matter if they do,” Lex said as he put his suitcase on the floor. “The person that matters knows me. Better than you ever could.”

Clark shook his head. “That’s patently not true! It’s me and Chloe. And she’s isn’t good enough for you!” Really, who was this woman that Lex professed to love?

That shot Lex’s calm right out of the window. How could Clark dare to say something like that? After everything Chloe had done for both of them.

Clark continued without even missing a beat or noting his reaction. “And if you had bothered to open up to me this wouldn’t have happened. But I’m sure you open up like a flower for that special person, don’t you?”

Lex could feel the temperature dropping around him as he faced Clark and forced his voice to remain calm.

“One,” he gritted through his teeth as he raised a finger in Clark’s direction. “Chloe is the best person both you and I ever had the grace to meet. And two,” he continued as he raised his second finger, “I have flayed myself open for you until I bled but you ignored it.” Just like Clark was ignoring everything he said at that very moment.

Clark actually had the balls to snort at that. “You think complaining every time I come home is opening up?” He shook his head at it and kept right on pushing. “And Chloe is a basket case. No wonder why you two get along so well.”

Clark knew that this wasn’t him. And he heard what he was saying and hated it. But he couldn’t stop it. The crap that he was spewing was the only thing that got an honest reaction out of Lex.

“She goes from one fuck to the next and doesn’t even respect herself anymore!” And how was it that they’d come to argue about Chloe in all of this?

They needed to talk about them. Not someone who had nothing to do with anything.

“I know that a punch won't hurt you,” Lex’s voice was low and cold, “but, by God Clark, if I hear one more slant against Chloe coming out of your mouth... I know what can hurt you. I know what can kill you.”

For a moment, Clark couldn’t say anything and it felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Then he laughed. It was ludicrous.

“Are you going to defend her honor and challenge me to a duel?” He shook his head. “Why would you…”

Then it came to him.

For fuck’s sake.

“It’s her,” he whispered.

“You’re fucking her.” And this time it was his voice that got lower. “Jeez, Lex, I guess I should have known. You always did like the town bicycle types.”

Lex was beginning to see red. He didn’t care anymore what had been between them or what the results would be if this turned ugly. He’d listened long enough to the shit Clark was spouting and he wasn’t going to tolerate it for another minute.

“Clark, we were enemies once before, do you really want us to be again?” All it would take was one wrong word from Clark right now, and Lex was ready to break out his kryptonite stash and declare war on the fucking alien. He knew all of Clark’s secrets and more than enough of the Justice League to make their lives extremely miserable.

And he didn’t feel an iota of sympathy or regard for anyone other than himself at the moment.

Something must have finally penetrated through Clark’s skull to make him take a second look and pause in his tirade. “No,” he said in a dull voice. “That’s not necessary.”

Lex nodded slowly and picked up his suitcases from the bed.

“Go be with Chloe, have fun.” Lex managed to ignore the jibe.

“But it won’t last,” Clark continued. Lex should have figured that the clarity wouldn’t last long enough to shut up until he was gone. “You’re both too fickle for that. One of you will get bored.”

Clark was following him out into the hallway by now, but Lex had closed his ears to whatever he was saying.

Knowing it was a bad idea, Clark followed Lex. He was still processing this, was hurt, was angry and so many other things that he couldn’t even name. “Though, I suppose that this is some sort of poetic justice. I was her first man and you were mine. Some kind of symmetry in there.”

Lex seemed uninterested when he asked, “When did you become the one lashing out indiscriminately in this relationship?” That’s when Clark knew he was getting to him. Good.

It wouldn’t accomplish anything and he would hate himself later. But, for now, it gave him some comfort.

“When I found out that my boyfriend was fucking my ex-girlfriend. I'm sorry I can't be supportive.” Lex stopped and turned to look at him.

“So, go. Enjoy your time between her legs. If memory serves, it wasn't all that bad.” Lex’s fists tightened at his sides and his mouth drew in on itself. He was in a rage.

Clark wanted to push him even further. Maybe if Lex hit him, Clark would feel better.

Lex took a step forward and then stopped. “This isn’t even worth it.” Clark knew that meant that he wasn’t worth it. “It’s not about the sex, Clark.”

He snorted. “Course it’s not. You love her for her.”

“I do,” Lex said.

“And you just realized it after knowing her for over a decade. Mazel tov.” He waved his hand in Lex’s direction. “So go and live happily ever after.”

He knew that it was the end. There was no question in his mind. God, he’d lost the only person he’d ever really loved. How fucking trite.

“I’ll try,” Lex said.

“I’ll move my shit out this week and leave the key in the mailbox.” He had to move out. Had to find a place to stay. Where was he going to put everything? How could this have happened? How did he let this happen?

Lex shook his head. “Take your time. I won’t come back here.” There was nothing in this place worth coming back for. Everything he needed was either in suitcases or in a small apartment across town.

He put his suitcases down and somehow managed to get the box on top of them and make it stay there.

This was it. He was going to walk out of this door and never look back.

Something made him turn around though and look at Clark one more time.

He could see the defeat in the other man’s eyes and knew that this had hit Clark hard. But there was nothing Lex could do about that anymore. He’d been oblivious for years and hadn’t done anything to change his ways, so this was how it had to be.

“For what it’s worth, I hope that you’ll find someone again. Someone who doesn’t need to be first priority to feel loved.”

That just wasn’t Lex. He’d tried but it hadn’t worked. It had damn nearly brought him to the brink of insanity.

Clark didn’t even meet his eyes. He just waved it off and retorted with an answer that made him even more like the teenager he had been what seemed like ages ago. “Whatever. I’ll let you know when I’m out.”

Lex nodded and left it at that. He picked up his suitcases again and left without looking back.

tbc

malugargula
6th February 2009, 21:12
YAY!!! Now Lex is being the Lex we all know and love instead of a poor victim of stupid Clark
:)
I can`t wait to read more

glista
6th February 2009, 21:50
i can't wait for more..........:drool2:

Kit Merlot
7th February 2009, 02:20
This was an awesome chapter!

I am very proud of Lex for realizing that he needed to break up with Clark, and that he loved Chloe too much to keep hurting her.

But I do have to admit that I don't think it's a good idea for them to get together right away. Everything seems to raw for either Chloe or Lex to be going into any type of longterm relationship just yet--they both need some time to heal from the Clex fallout,

The things Clark were saying about Chloe were just hateful and I'm glad that Lex didn't lose his cool. I wonder if Clark will show up at Chloe's to give her a hard time--I hope she has some Kryptonite handy.

Keep up the gorgeous work on this fic:D

20thC
7th February 2009, 03:49
Loved the latest chapter. Clark just can't quite grow up yet, but I'm glad to see that Lex took back his balls. I can hardly wait for the next chapter.

dagney
7th February 2009, 03:59
Fantastic update, I like that Lex finally realized what he needed to do, I glad Chloe had a hissy fit and she was right in that he made the big decision w/out talking to her about it. The moving in together might be a bit quick they still need time. The scene with Clark, whoo hooo I'm kinda surprised Clark finally figured out it was Chloe he has his head so far up his ass lol. That he was so nasty about Chloe he's such a hypocrite Dagney

planetcal
7th February 2009, 07:28
I'm glad Lex finally left Clark! Can't wait to read more soon!

somethingeasy
7th February 2009, 07:48
We’ve finally got the chapter that I’ve been waiting for since the beginning of this fic. Lex finally got his backbone back! :D


No, not what he needed to do. What he wanted to do. Because sometime during the night, his survival instincts had finally kicked in. Tempered a little by his conscience, but loud enough to make themselves heard and get their way.

He’d had it. He’d tried to play the part, but he couldn’t do it. Lex wasn’t the martyr type. Not anymore. Perhaps, he never had been.

heeee! This was awesome news. I was afraid that coming back to Chloe’s apartment would have Lex falling back into the lazy, comfortable pattern of denial, martyrdom, etc.

Instead, it seems like being given a ‘comfort zone’ gave Lex exactly the kind of space he needed after his trauma to come up with some MUCH NEEDED epiphanies and self-realizations. First and foremost, it was awesome seeing him finally acknowledging that he was basically behaving like a stupid, useless, gutless martyr… and that he should bloody well STOP himself from that kind of behaviour!


He’d used her unscrupulously ever since she had reached out her hand to him and it had to stop. So it would stop, today. He loved her too much to keep doing it to her.

The realization that he loved her had been perhaps the most shocking one he’d had last night. It hadn’t slammed through him like a hammer, but it had compressed something inside him, making it hard to breathe as he lay awake, silently holding her against him as she slept.

I ALSO loved the second and third epiphany… that he was using Chloe… to near unforgivable levels. AND that he’s in love with her. What a wonderful set of realizations to come to in the course of a single evening. wow! He spends about five years shuffling around like a half-asleep zombie, and then in the course of ONE NIGHT, he wakes up and achieves more for personal happiness in a few hours than he has for the past 1,825 days. Excellent! And also about time!! LOL!


“You don’t even care, do you?” Her breath was hitching and she realized that she had started to cry. She also knew that he cared but it felt good to hurt him. To hurt him like he was hurting her. Would be her last chance to do so being that he was leaving the state

“You use me as a crutch. I fall in love with you and then you decide to leave. Fine.” She backed up a little, picked up one of the bags and threw it at him. He didn’t even defend himself. “Get out!”

I was glad to see Lex making some pro-active decisions to create a better life for himself. Even if one of his decisions was to move out of the state, it was a lot healthier than any decisions he’s been making since the beginning of this fic.

yeeouch! I could practically see Chloe reeling from the news of Lex moving away from Metropolis (and her). And I loved seeing her getting upset and MAD about it. It’s about time that we saw her finally expressing some angered resentment towards her beloved Lex. She’s been holding it inside of herself for far too long, and I’m glad that she had a chance to vent… just a little bit before Lex pulled the rug out from under her with his ‘I love you too’ proclamation, LOL!


“You don’t get to ask me that,” she told him. She wasn’t a fool. Lex, more than anything in the world, craved love. Some might think it was money and power but they were poor substitutes for what he’d been lacking in his whole life.

It was why he had stayed with Clark.

So, he’d want to hear that again. But once she admitted it, they’d have to talk about it. Before he left, that was. And she was done humiliating herself.

heh… it’s nice to see how fundamentally thoroughly Chloe understands Lex. She knows that he’s basically a ‘love junkie’, and that he’ll go through near anything in order to feel he’s loved and accepted by anyone whose opinion he trusts.

I’m actually a little surprised that Chloe didn’t assume that it was her proclamation of love that suddenly convinced Lex that ‘hey, I’m in love with her too’. That Lex’s ‘sudden love’ wasn’t simply a reaction to her words. That he craved the idea of being loved by anyone so badly that he was willing to convince himself that he is, He is, HE IS in love with Chloe Sullivan!

But, then again, I can see she WAS suspicious. Why else would she be throwing such crude words in his face unless she wanted to drive him away before his addition for love got the better of his common sense.


She was banging around her dresser drawers now, trying to find new bed-sheets. “And the reason I can’t keep using you as a crutch is because I love you.” His last words hadn’t come out as loud as he’d hoped, but he was pretty sure she’d heard him anyway.

heee! Isn’t that nice? Both of our loathed characters are finally saying ‘I love you’ to each other, LOL! I was REALLY glad to see Chloe was being so insistent that he only meant he ‘loved her’ as a friend only… OR he was only clinging to her out of a need and appreciation for the comfort she provided.

Lex’s words describing his feelings in her presence were lovely. Although it was really funny hearing Lex describing Chloe’s company as ‘a comforting, roaring fire’… and that he’s been dismissing those feelings as a ‘fucked up thermostat’ in her room? ROTFLMAO! Oh dear me! What a DIMbulb! I really hope Chloe teases him about this for… well… forever! LOL!


“And, what? You’re ready to jump into something real with me? Already?”

Because this would be quick. Super quick.

I was just thinking this myself. It would probably be best for them both to take a break from each other for a little while before going public with their new Chlexy relationship. Otherwise Chloe is going to be mocked as being ‘the rebound’ for the newly broken up Lex Luthor. OR she’s going to be condemned as the home-wrecker for the perfect gay relationship.

heh… but I guess both of them have waited long enough for this relationship to finally reach the place where it has gotten to in this one morning (before breakfast, no less! LOL!). I guess Chloe and Lex are not in the mood to keep hiding their love in the shadows for very much longer.

But it just doesn’t seem right or healthy to me to have them jump immediately into a relationship fresh on the heels of Clark’s and Lex’s break-up. For one thing, how would Chloe know for SURE that she’s NOT the rebound for Clark?

And also, the Chlex affair has been a rather twisted, unhealthy thing… with Lex taking and taking from Chloe, never even noticing the pain she was going through; and Chloe basically being Lex’s doormat, giving him whatever he wanted under whatever circumstances, terms and conditions he desired.

It hasn’t been a healthy relationship for a long time, and it became worse when they started sleeping together. It’s just not a good base to start a stable, long-term relationship on.


“I've given this relationship five years. Five very long years that I spent waiting for you to learn what love means. Five years most of which you were absent.” Lex kept packing, putting shirt after shirt after shirt in a third suitcase.

oh YES! I’ve been waiting for this moment forever! And now it’s finally here!! I thought it was a nicely done Bad Break-Up. Both partners are being quite cruel and vicious in their parting shots (and parting thoughts) to each other.

The beginning set the tone with Lex condemning Clark for NOT realizing that the packed boxes meant that Lex was actually moving out of their relationship. To be fair, Lex stopped complaining about their relationship a while ago, and this would seem like it came out of nowhere for Clark. Of course he’s going to try and find alternate, ‘reasonable’ explanations for the boxes (vacation trip? charity event?) before hitting on the drastic realization that his relationship is basically over.


Lex sighed. Now was not a good time for Clark to be especially dense. “Listen,” he said slowly and clearly. “You’re a hero. Nothing more, nothing less. Your priority is the world, first and foremost.”

That was how it had always been, Lex just had a hard time accepting that he couldn’t change the fact. “And I’m done being second.” He’d taken all he could take before his survival instinct kicked in and now he was not going to push it down anymore.

Clark looked at him with a hint of pleading in his eyes. “Lex, come on, we can talk about this. We can work it out. I love you.”

This is the first time that I’ve seen Clark really expressing true need[I] for Lex. He always used to treat Lex as well-worn furniture in their home, but now I’m finally seeing Clark actually trying to [I]make things work between them. It’s a pity that it’s far too little, and far too late… but I do wonder whether Clark and Lex might have been able to make things work if Lex had threatened to move out earlier into their problems.

As things stand now, nothing Clark says or offers to do is going to change Lex’s mind. I liked how Lex has come to yet ANOTHER epiphany that he doesn’t love Clark anymore. heh… it seems like the most obvious realization in the world now, Lex, doesn’t it? Don’t you feel like a doofus for taking so LONG in realizing this? ROTFL!

Poor Clark! I can see he was quite devastated by those words.


“Lex, I didn't have a choice. Am I supposed to ignore what I can do?” Just let people die so he and Lex could be the perfect, suburban couple? “Lex, please stay, we can work this out. I'll be home more. We can talk to someone about this.”

God knew that they both needed therapy.

“No, we can't. Because I don't want to. Not anymore.” Lex didn’t even look upset by any of this.

Hmmm, I’m still not sure about whether Clark and Lex could have worked things out if Lex HAD confronted Clark in this drastic manner earlier into their relationship. Clark is STILL justifying his reasons for prioritizing hero-work over his relationship, but he IS offering to try out therapy to make things better between them. heh… but Lex is not in the mood to out some more effort into this, so I guess we’ll never know.


Lex sighed. Of course it would come to this. And Clark would never understand it any other way. But he had to try to make Clark see what the reason for their break up was. “If that makes it easier for you.”

I’m pretty sure that Lex lost all credibility as ‘the injured party’ when he admitted he started fucking around outside of his relationship. I’m sorry, Lex, but there’s no way that Clark is going to believe that it was HIS fault that the Clex relationship broke up… now that he knows you were being unfaithful to him.


“I’m leaving you for the woman,” he corrected Clark as clearly as possible.

Chloe was the one he’d been looking for ever since he’d been old enough to actually know what to look for. That was what set her apart from every other person he’d ever attempted a relationship with.

This had to be a joke. Lex with a woman? Yes, he’d been with them before but he hadn’t so much as looked at one in years. When they used to go out they’d talk about other men, but a woman?

And not just a woman. Lex seemed to think that this was his one true love.

“Oh, excuse me, the woman,” he bit back sarcastically. “I give it two months.”

Seriously, I don’t blame Clark for not putting much credence into the idea that this ‘extramarital affair’ is going to last for long. He knows that Lex was unfaithful, which has pretty much established him as the fickle, dishonest bastard… AND he knows that this woman was fucking around with a man currently involved with someone else, which doesn’t speak well of HER personality either.


That Clark called him dramatic, he could have gotten away with, but the fact that Clark acted as if he was the one being wronged from the start and on top of that insisted that he knew Lex better than anyone just flicked a switch.

I understand that the end of the Clex relationship was because of the inherent problems between Clark and Lex. The affair was a symptom of their problems rather than the cause of their break-up. But there’s NO WAY that Clark is going to believe any of that. Clark is suffering heartache as WELL as a huge blow to his pride and Lex has lost all credibility. These are not circumstances that would lead to a mature, effective discussion. So anything that Lex tries to tell him about their personal problems is just going to be ignored from this point onwards.

ouch! Even those humiliating questions Lex threw at Clark that were just impossible for Clark to answer didn’t make an impression. This is not the right time for either of them to listen to each other. Perhaps once Clark gets some time away from Lex and has time to think the situation over, THEN he might understand the point Lex was trying to make…?


“Please, it’s like a minefield.” And it was. No one else could even deal with Lex. “Who can deal with you besides me and Chloe?” He knew that Lex would be hard pressed to come up with names. They didn’t know all that many people.

ouch! Now that was just a nasty thing to say. I was actually more offended by THIS nasty, petty statement as compared to anything else Clark said throughout this chapter. I seriously do NOT like his attitude. Does he really think he’s doing Lex a huge favour by ‘deigning’ to be with him, even though he’s clearly so impossible to relate to and unworthy of loving attention? It’s clear that Clark always considered him to be the ‘upper-class citizen’ in their relationship, and even this impending break-up hasn’t changed that view.

Nope… I guess I know for sure that things would never have worked out between them. Clark just doesn’t have the right attitude for a relationship between equals.


Clark shook his head. “That’s patently not true! It’s me and Chloe. And she’s isn’t good enough for you!” Really, who was this woman that Lex professed to love?

Wait, what? What?!? Did Clark just say, so casually and dismissively, that Chloe was not good enough for Lex?!? Oh my GOD! Isn’t Chloe one of the closest friends that Clark and Lex have got? Is THIS truly how Clark truly regards all the people that he’s closest to? As second and third class citizens in his magnificent presence?

Clark Kent has a SERIOUS attitude problems when it comes to dealing with people in general. I wonder whether he thinks (and behaves) the same way around his JL colleagues.


Clark actually had the balls to snort at that. “You think complaining every time I come home is opening up?” He shook his head at it and kept right on pushing. “And Chloe is a basket case. No wonder why you two get along so well.”

Clark knew that this wasn’t him. And he heard what he was saying and hated it. But he couldn’t stop it. The crap that he was spewing was the only thing that got an honest reaction out of Lex.

“She goes from one fuck to the next and doesn’t even respect herself anymore!” And how was it that they’d come to argue about Chloe in all of this?

I was wondering about that same thing myself. Why is Clark so determined to slam Chloe… even before he knows that she’s ‘the other woman’?! His argued comments about her are just beneath him. He’s being so petty and nasty, and for what reason?!? This ‘discussion’ is going downhill very, VERY fast.


“It’s her,” he whispered.

“You’re fucking her.” And this time it was his voice that got lower. “Jeez, Lex, I guess I should have known. You always did like the town bicycle types.”

NOW Clark’s nasty comments would make sense. NOW he has a reason for wanting to lash out at ‘that bitch who had a sordid affair with MY MAN’. But I can’t forget that Clark started slamming Chloe even before he knew about her being the other woman. I really don’t understand why he did that, or how he could have such a lowly opinion of what should be one of his oldest and closest friend.

Has Clark been subconsciously jealous of, or intimidated by Chloe for all of these years? Where did all of that resentment come from?


“Clark, we were enemies once before, do you really want us to be again?” All it would take was one wrong word from Clark right now, and Lex was ready to break out his kryptonite stash and declare war on the fucking alien. He knew all of Clark’s secrets and more than enough of the Justice League to make their lives extremely miserable.

And he didn’t feel an iota of sympathy or regard for anyone other than himself at the moment.

Something must have finally penetrated through Clark’s skull to make him take a second look and pause in his tirade. “No,” he said in a dull voice. “That’s not necessary.”

heh. I was glad to see that Clark managed to slap himself to sense and stop his mouth… even if it was just for a moment. I guess he finally understood that all those ugly comments about Chloe were truly uncalled for? OR perhaps he just understood that there were consequences to saying everything he believed about her…?


Knowing it was a bad idea, Clark followed Lex. He was still processing this, was hurt, was angry and so many other things that he couldn’t even name. “Though, I suppose that this is some sort of poetic justice. I was her first man and you were mine. Some kind of symmetry in there.”

Lex seemed uninterested when he asked, “When did you become the one lashing out indiscriminately in this relationship?” That’s when Clark knew he was getting to him. Good.

It wouldn’t accomplish anything and he would hate himself later. But, for now, it gave him some comfort.

I did like how you made it clear that this wasn’t really Clark speaking, but more like Clark’s anger, heartbreak and wounded pride lashing out at Lex. He needs to HURT Lex, make some kind of an impression on the man who so blithely announced ‘I don’t love you anymore, I’m leaving, bye!’.


“And you just realized it after knowing her for over a decade. Mazel tov.” He waved his hand in Lex’s direction. “So go and live happily ever after.”

heh… this was the ONLY good and valid point Clark has made throughout his rant. It IS pretty ridiculous thinking about how it took a decade for Lex to realize that Chloe is ‘the true love of his life’ for him. In fact, it’s pretty ridiculous that it took so LONG into their affair for Lex to realize that.

I’m still not sure that Chloe is going to be convinced that he’s not going to quickly change his mind after coming to this realization so abruptly and suddenly. How would Chloe be able to trust Lex considering the twisted circumstances under which they came together?


“For what it’s worth, I hope that you’ll find someone again. Someone who doesn’t need to be first priority to feel loved.”

That just wasn’t Lex. He’d tried but it hadn’t worked. It had damn nearly brought him to the brink of insanity.

I did like Lex’s parting comment to Clark. It seemed like a good bit of advice to leave Clark with. That he and Lex were just never meant to be because they weren’t compatible in what they wanted out of their relationship. BUT Lex is assuring Clark that there ARE people out there who might fit into his needs.

Of course Clark is not in the mood to listen to any of this right now. But perhaps later, when he’s had a chance to get over the traumatic emotional upheaval, he’ll get the chance to contemplate over the words?

heh… so that’s how the Clex relationship died, huh? I’d say it was with more of a pathetic whimper rather than spectacular fireworks… which is only fitting. I look forward to seeing where Chloe and Lex go from here. AND I wonder whether Clark is going to be paying Chloe a visit about her involvement in the break-up of his ‘wonderful relationship’.

I wonder whether SHE might be able to make him understand the inherent problems that his relationship was suffering long before she came into it. I doubt it, but perhaps she might be able to get him to absorb some points about himself.

I look forward to the next chapter.

Cassandra Jean
7th February 2009, 08:19
AWESOME!!!!

Go Lex...not only have you finally managed to find that backbone of yours and dump Clark on his ass, but you told Chloe how you really feel about her!

gecko
7th February 2009, 17:33
great work, can't wait for more!