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For Chloe, holidays were a double-edged sword.
Especially the Christmas season.
Perhaps it would be easier if the Christmas season was made up of a mere week or two, but it seemed to her as if the season grew longer and longer every year. And now, what used to be a whirl-wind of excitement had faded into a jumble of incessant nuisances.
I really liked Chloe description of Christmas holidays, and how what was once a lovely and eagerly anticipated holiday turned into a week filled with regret and bitterness. You really started in strong with your character version of Chloe. I got a good sense of her personality from the very beginning.
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Because being an unconscious oversight was better than being blatantly unwanted. Even if it meant she would never really know her mother.
This paragraph struck me as unbelievably sad and tragic. Talk about grasping at straws for attention and affection.
And THANK you for providing a more realistic reaction of Chloe to the constantly changing backstory of her life and family. I always found it so irritating that the authors of smallville changed everything (history, personalities, motivations) about the characters without ever taking into account cost or consequences. Watching Chloe trying to deal with the ever-changing background history… it was heart-breaking, and made me want to KILL the smallville authors for putting this poor helpless character through so much strife and uncertainty.
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Unfortunately, there was always a consequence for every action, and the changed truths had created a real rift in her relationship with her father. She didn’t appreciate being lied to and the fact he did it more than once made it even worse. She managed to keep her angst to herself for quite a while, but eventually they’d had a heated falling out and they’d barely spoken in recent years.
Actually, if she was really honest with herself, they’d barely spoken in more than a decade. She’d moved out at an early age, either living on her own or staying with friends. She typically spent holidays with the Kent’s, having been around so long they considered her one of the family.
Besides showing some much needed off-screen reaction to the changing history, it was also fantastic to see an actual explanation about why Gabe wasn’t being shown on Smallville anymore. This explanation makes perfect sense, and fits in very well with canon as well as with the Chloe-character you’ve created.
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She’d spent years being too angry to understand the long-term repercussions of her bitterness.
Now she was almost thirty-one years old, and sometimes she still felt the pain of a lonely little girl.
Occasionally, Chloe thought about trying to reestablish a relationship with her father, but deep down she knew she wasn’t ready, and trying to force the issue would only make things worse.
She also knew that she was fighting the clock on reconciling, her father was getting older, and with every passing day the odds of his outliving her resentment grew worse. She hoped she’d be able to put it behind her before it was too late, but not enough to try to rush her acceptance of his betrayal.
Unreasonable or not, that’s just the way it was.
Again, this part struck me as so tragic. Chloe is miserable and lonely, being separated from her loving parent. And the worst part is that she KNOWS she is lonely and miserable and wants her daddy. But she simply cannot forgive him, so she cannot have him back in her life… no matter how much she wants or needs him there.
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That’s why she often wondered how she ended up here – mixed up in all she was mixed up in.
Ooooh, sounds intriguing. I wonder what kind of a mess Chloe ended up in after Lucas revealed himself to be a complete bastard asshole. I get the feeling this is going to be very interesting.
THANK you for making such a substantial plot for such a short fic.
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She’d just left Lex Luthor’s office after another altercation that concluded with Lex insulting her dating choices. Or in her case, lack of dating choices. She finally figured out that he only used that line as a last resort, defense mechanism, but at the time she’d always become unreasonably infuriated by it. Had always wanted to punch him in his arrogant face.
I liked Josi’s explanation about why Lex uses the tactic of making fun of Chloe lack of a personal life. It truly is pathetic behaviour, and I never understood why a brilliant strategist like Lex would keep using such a shallow, pathetic, small-minded and PETTY line of insults against Chloe.
Josi explaining that Lex only fell back on this tactic as ‘last line of desperate defence’ made perfect sense. AND it fit in very well, taking into consideration that Lex had and lost Chloe… I’m presuming he ‘lost’ Chloe someway or another, and he keeps harping on and obsessing about her love life because he cannot let go of the idea that he can’t touch her anymore.
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Said the first thing that came to mind, “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
His eyes widened and he smirked at her pleasantly, “Well, that’s certainly good news – for me.”
She frowned, muttered, “I’ve never really had one at all.”
He raised a brow at her, “Why not?”
“Because they always end up trying to kill me.”
“Then going without seems like the best choice to me.”
He smiled down at her and she smiled back. Was an instant goner.
This really was a VERY sweet beginning. I couldn’t believe Lucas turned out to be such an ass later. But after this exchange, I really thought he was a sweetheart who ‘might’ actually be worthy of Chloe’s attentions.
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She hadn’t planned on waiting so long. In fact, she’d fully intended to give him more than a taste that very first night. She was no virgin and she had no reason to feign anything of the sort.
But that had been the turning point in their relationship. He’d called her every night and they’d gone out several times a week until Chloe finally reached a point where all she could think about was getting him naked and fucking the daylights out of him.
It didn’t take them long to accept that nothing would ever be easy for them.
When Chloe propositioned him on the way to dinner.
Lucas ended up with food poisoning.
When Lucas whispered lewd debauchery on the dance floor.
Chloe tripped and sprained her ankle.
They finally gave up and started ripping off clothes as soon as they got in the limo.
Some fucking asshole ran a red light and t-boned the limo, putting both of them in the hospital overnight.
This whole part was HILARIOUS! I couldn’t stop laughing at the thought of these two consenting adults being unable to enjoy carnal pleasures because of a series of zany mishaps. Brilliant writing, Josi!
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She stood in front of him, reveling in sight of him, panting, sweating slightly, his eyes glowing hotly in the dim light. She stepped between his legs, ran her fingers through his hair, gripped, pulled, forcing his head back as she bent down.
She licked his bottom lip then took it between her teeth and pulled gently. He groaned, tried to capture her mouth, but her grip on his hair prevented him from moving too far. She teased him mercilessly, her tongue dancing along his lips, dipping inside his mouth only to retreat before he could retaliate. He bucked in the chair, and the words that fell from his lips were that of a desperate man.
She released his hair, pulled back. Stood up tall and admired what she’d done to him.
He looked like he was going to snap at any moment. Kind of wanted him to. Wanted to watch him break.
I usually like to watch Lex lose control during sexcapades. But watching Lucas lose all sense of self and logic was also VERY satisfying. And it was fun to read about Chloe taking naughty pleasure in making him ‘break’.
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He picked her up, laid her out on her desk, the fabric of her fitted skirt ripping as he spread her legs. He bent over her, nuzzled the slickness between her legs, his lips and tongue immediately focusing on her throbbing clit.
She arched back on the desk, her legs hooking over his shoulders and urging him closer. Her hands gripped the back of his head, her hips pumped wildly, rubbing her swollen sex on his face.
His hands gripped her hips, his fingers digging in painfully as he tried to hold her down. He exhaled sharply, his breath hot and cold on her wet, heated flesh, and the sensation sent a chill up her spine.
Of course, Lucas might not have Lex’s extreme need for control and power, but he’s a Luthor nonetheless, and there was no way he was going to let Chloe get away with taking control of the situation. Lucas managed to re-establish dominance here in a particularly exquisite way.
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She shook her head, muttered, “Wait.”
He paused, looked down at her questioningly. His nostrils flared, the hot look in his eyes sending an answering chill down her spine.
She shivered with excitement, reached down, opened the top drawer of her desk, and took out a condom. Handed it to him, reclined on the desk and watched him roll the latex on.
I can’t believe they came so close to having sex without protection. Thanks Heavens Chloe remembered in time. But it was still scary that they came so damned close to forgetting about condoms.
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He stepped between her spread legs, gripped her hips and pulled her off the desk. He turned her around, pressed a kiss to the back of her neck then bent her over at the waist until her elbows were resting on the cool wood of the desk.
This was unexpected, but still undeniably hot. I actually liked the little touch here about how Lucas kissed the back of Chloe’s neck in such an intimate way as a means of reassuring her before actual penetration.
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She felt like she was falling apart, like she was going to burn up right there on her desk.
Amazing line here. I could almost feel how overwhelmed Chloe felt having Lucas behind her and inside her.
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Her head fell back, but she forced her eyes to remain open. She wanted to watch him, wanted to watch his reaction to her body, her voice, the tight heat around his cock.
Really just wanted to remind herself which Luthor she was fucking.
As if her body didn’t know the difference.
THIS line made my eyebrows shoot up! Chloe has fucked more than one Luthor?! I assumed it was Lex she meant, although Lionel was a possibility, but not a very likely one.
And I was actually outraged that she was comparing Lucas to Lex even as she was fucking him. At this point in the story, I thought Lucas was a really sweet and considerate fellow, who was deserving of Chloe’s affections and attentions.
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She took a deep breath, focused on the throbbing pleasure coalescing at her center. Reached her hands up, gripped his waist and held onto him. Urged him faster, deeper, harder.
He was coming undone, that much was evident in his heavy-lidded gaze. The sudden irregularity of his thrusts. The iron grip of his hands on her hips.
She wedged a hand between their bodies. Rubbed her clit in fast, tight circles. Almost immediately fell into her climax, her body quaking and shuddering around him.
WOW! Hot ending to a VERY steamy bout of smuttiness.
Wondered if he’d look that smug if he knew exactly what she’d been thinking
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right before she came. Wondered if he’d be jealous or angry. Smirked at the thought.
And this part made me angry at Chloe again. It seemed like she was USING Lucas as a means of getting back at Lex. At this point, I really believed Lucas deserved better than to be someone’s rebound guy… or the hapless half of a revenge-fuck.
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He walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her. His heat felt nice, took the chill off her skins as well as her thoughts. Wondered if she was going to Hell for being such a manipulative shrew. Had to be a little grateful that it would be warm there.
But it seems like Chloe had some idea about how despicably she was acting, and although she felt guilty about it, she certainly didn’t feel bad enough to stop using Lucas.
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His eyes lit up. Men were all so easy. They were so intent on believing themselves to be sex Gods, they couldn’t see when they were being duped.
Poor Lucas!
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Not that she’d been totally lying. She really had come harder than she normally did. Very rarely had she ever came harder. Except for that one time, which didn’t even count because she refused to think about it.
Much.
Poor Chloe too! She might be using Lucas, but it seems like she’s only doing it as a means of dealing with Lex using HER. It certainly seems like, whatever Lex did, it left her feeling used, discarded and disposable.
I wonder what happened between Lex and Chloe. I guess I’ll have to wait to find out. Please update soon!
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Later that night, she’d taken him to task for breaking into her apartment, and warned him he’d best not ever do such a thing again. Then immediately gave him a key. Just in case.
Things had gone on from there. They had a pretty normal relationship. Sometimes they got along well, other times one of them wanted to strangle the other. Different opinions, different perspectives – that’s just the way it worked.
And most of the time she considered herself to be really, really happy.
Despite how she ‘might’ have been using Lucas as a substitute for Lex, it seems like she was genuinely happy with him… And given enough time, she might have been able to completely get over Lex to form a lovely and happy life with Lucas.
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But now, sitting at a festive table with Lionel and Lex Luthor, and once again in the company of Lana Lang, she felt a strange kind of twinge in her chest and for the first time in a long time, she really missed her father.
I wonder what this strange of collection of people were doing gathered together at a single table?
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She turned to Lucas, wanting a little bit of reassurance to temper her sudden nostalgic turmoil.
Was instantly annoyed to find Lucas openly inspecting Lana, his eyes roaming freely, his fingers gripping his almost empty glass so tightly his knuckles were white.
She grimaced, surprised at how unsurprised she really was. Everyone always ended up leering at Lana. It was inevitable. She should be used to it by now.
But that didn’t stop her from having a momentary daydream about smashing both their heads.
Lucas was eyeing LANA???!! Ewwwwww! My opinion of Lucas immediately took a nosedive after hearing about this. I have to wonder whether or not Chloe told Lucas about her own insecurities and concerns regarding the vapid Pink!
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She started to smile at the thought, quickly schooled her features, bent toward him and whispered, “Please stop leering at Lana.”
He turned his head and looked at her with a somewhat vacant expression, squinting slightly as he pondered her words. She knew that look and held her breath. Hoped he wouldn’t do or say anything stupid.
Knew she’d be disappointed as soon as he opened his mouth.
“Why should I,” he sneered loudly. “You’re in love with my brother and you don’t see me whining about it.”
This SHOCKED me! Not just the revelation that Chloe ‘might’ be harbouring secret feeling for Lex, but also that Lucas had revealed himself to be such a cruel bastard!
It’s possible that Lucas was just lashing out after being painfully wounded and humiliated by the knowledge that the women he was in love with was using him as a substitute for his brother. I actually HOPE this was the case, because I cannot stand the thought that the past few (weeks? Months?) spent together with Chloe was just him putting on some kind of a ‘nice guy’ act.
I wonder how he found out about Chloe’s feelings, and how long he was waiting to hit her with this knowledge.
I wonder whether the Lana-leering was just an act designed to provoke Chloe into giving him the opening he needed to deliver that cruel blow.
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Lana was staring at her accusingly, but she kept glancing at Lucas with intent interest. She was scheming. Chloe could smell it and it made her insides pulse with rage.
Ewwww! I really hate this version of Lana. I guess you’re going with the complete villainess version of Pink?!
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Lionel was frowning slightly, his gaze on the table in front of him. He looked like he’d rather be anywhere but here. Chloe really couldn’t blame him for that.
Interesting reaction from Lionel. I would have actually expected amusement, and perhaps a conspiring smile?
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Lex, though – Lex looked amused – his lips quirked and he smirked at her, one eyebrow raised mockingly. He gave her a significant look, licked his lips – probably intentionally.
That BASTARD! He’s just been handed a beautiful weapon to be used against Chloe courtesy of his brother, and I get the feeling he’s going to relish using it against her. Any hopes I had of Lex harbouring secret feeling for Chloe immediately plummeted after I saw how smug and superior he was acting.
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She wished she could reach across the vast expanse of mahogany and slap the arrogance from his face.
Wished she could simply snap her fingers and make him vanish from the Earth forever.
Was infuriated that what she really wanted to do was leap across the table and sit on his face.
Even as Lex is smirking in such a horribly smug fashion at her, Chloe STILL wants him??!! She really is a gone case! Lex is going to have a field day with this newfound knowledge of his.
Unless it’s not really newfound. Was HE the one who told Lucas where Chloe’s affections really lie?
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Chloe glared at Lex. Turned her gaze on Lucas and wished him many nights of blue balls and impotence. Hated for that childish prick to be right.
Wanted to run away and never lay eyes on the Luthor’s ever again.
Sounds like a good plan! I vote for Chloe running and NEVER looking back ever again.
Of course that’s not going to happen. This is a Josi-Chlex fic, and there is NO way Chloe is going to do anything sensible like completely cut tie with anything associated with Luthors in all sizes, forms and ages.
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And it was still three days until her birthday.
I look forward to seeing how the rest of the three days continue. I get the feeling things are only starting to get interesting, and I’m a little scared about the roller-coaster ride I have just sat myself down in.
Please update soon.
