The Myth (NC-17) Updated 7th November 2015

The Myth

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I don’t own Smallville, hence the lack of Chlex action in the series.
Spoilers: Possibly throughout all of the series although it is set in the first two.
Warning: I changed this story completely because it wasn’t working, the prologue is similar but after that it gets a little ‘different’. Whilst it will be Chlex it will also contain other Chloe and other characters and be a little uncomfortable at times. So, you have been warned.
Summary: Chloe and Lex meet under unusual circumstances.

Prologue

“My God you’re gorgeous”.

His voice was thick with emotion as he stood, transfixed in the door way.

He had had an awful day, only made worse by his returning to the family home. The dark dreary mansion flanked by gargoyles and crowded with dusty relics, bad memories and resentment was enough to suck the joy out of the sunniest soul, and his was already murky. But then, there was her: a gleaming ray of light. She would make it better, she always did.

There, reclining in the roll top bath, lay a vision of loveliness to put his father’s stolen art collection to shame. Her golden tresses were pulled back into a messy bun, several tendrils framing her angelic face. Her head was laid against the side of the tub, her eyelids closed and an expression of complete and utter peace on her sweet, captivating features.

A soft, sleepy sigh escaped her lips as her head rolled slightly to the side, drawing his attention to her soft, pliant mouth where he detected the briefest hint of a smile. He smirked; she had heard him, she knew that he was there and exactly what she was doing to him.

“Good evening, my dear”, he drawled.

She acknowledged his greeting, fluttering her eyes open and revealing her brilliant green eyes to him as if she had just been stirred from sleep. She smiled coyly as she sank a little lower into the water so that only a few inches of her swan like neck were revealed.

Her meek actions and expression were at odds with the sparkle in her eyes, which travelled up his suave figure before resting on his classically handsome features. The tip of her link tongue pocked out, as if unbidden, and licked her lips.

He got the distinct impression that she wanted to eat him up and groaned.

She blushed and lowered her eyes meekly as she began to wash herself slowly and deliberately, apparently unaware of the image she was presenting or the effect she was having on him.

He watched as the ivory bar slid along the warm, wet skin of her arms, across her neck and down between the valley between her breasts as she leant back. Her innocent act was ruined when she couldn’t resist glancing up at him. She swallowed as she caught the look, pure, predatory hunger.

With the grace of a jungle cat, and the same amount of barely leashed power, he moved across the room, the door closing behind him, to stand over her. He stared down at her. Straining against his desire he sank down to perch on the side of the tub and took his time, allowing his fingers to sink into the steaming hot water and part the bubbles enough to tease himself with a glimpse of her sumptuous flesh. His digits skimmed back across the surface of the water, until they could wind around the back of her neck.

Her head titled back eagerly as his descended. He teased her, pressing first one gentle, annoyingly chaste, kiss to her mouth then another one, before nibbling the licking her full, lower lip. She groaned, grasping the back of his neck and almost pulling him down into the water with her, so desperate was she to taste him.

With a rich, warm laugh he released her and braced himself against the tub, kissing her passionately once more only to pull away at the last second before she could yank him into the soapy water.

“Tease”, she pouted.

“You’re one to talk”, he smirked down at her, trying to keep his ardour in check. “Tell me, am I invited to join you in my bathtub?”

“Certainly … if you promise to make it worth my while”, she smiled seductively up at him.

A slow, sly smirk took hold of his features as he began to strip off.

She giggled, as she rested her head on her arms on the side of the tub so that she could enjoy the show properly. He was beyond perfect, sleek bald head, lithe well-muscled body with feline grace and not a trace of body hair. Unable to resist, she began to hum some strip tease music for him and to her surprise he actually played along, swinging his pants around once before tossing them into the hamper. She loved it when he was like this. But then again, she always loved it and everything about him – even his neat freak tendencies.

Before another thought could enter her hazy mind, his was naked and climbing into the tub. Resisting the urge she always felt to blush and hide her face like a school girl, she reached around for the soap.

He swam over to her, his large hands tangling with her delicate ones before bringing them up to his lips. He kissed each taper finger making her squirm and flush slightly.

“Shy all of a sudden?”

“Don’t count on it”, she bit back, although honestly she was a little. She always got like that with him in the beginning. The excitement, the anticipation, the adrenaline, the fluttery feelings in the base of her stomach, every time was like their first time.

“I thought that you weren’t into water sports”, he referred to the set up.

“What’s the matter Luthor, not up to it?” She chose to provoke him rather than divulging her motives.

He arched an eyebrow at her. She was hiding something from him, he knew that he should pursue it rather than allowing it to fester but he couldn’t bear to lose this opportunity with her. “I’m up to anything you can do”.

“Glad to hear it”, they slid back until he was pressed against the tub and tried to position her in his lap as they began to caress each other, both anxious for the warmth of human affection after the days that they had had, ready to forget everything around them for this time together. It wasn’t healthy, it sure as hell wasn’t sane, but neither of them could stop.

“God I’ve missed you”, he growled, holding onto her tightly, desperately, crushing her body against his.

“I missed you too”, she wrapped her arms around his neck, desperate to remain as close as possible as she slid onto him. Their limbs locked around each other, their lips caressed and they rocked together, relishing in the closeness.

“As much as I am an enjoying this”, he spoke after a while, interrupting the sound of the gentle waves breaking against the sides, “do you need …”

She nodded, cutting him off. She loved being so close to him and the feel of him inside her, but she really needed to come now. With a groan she slid away from him and tried to position herself on her knees only to realise that she would probably end up either cracking her skull open or drowning.

“No”, he agreed, seeing what she was trying to do and the potential difficulties. “That’s not going to work”. He leapt out of the bath and helped her to do the same, steadying her when she almost slipped.

He felt his breath catch his in his throat as he saw her standing there, naked and glistening. He grabbed a stack of towel and threw them on the floor, unable to hold off for long enough to get her to the bedroom.

“How romantic”, she quipped, as he wrapped his arms around her, caressing her bottom as he nuzzled her neck, his hard member pressing hard against her stomach.

“We can always go to the …”

“No, we can’t!” She couldn’t wait. They were on the floor in seconds, grinding together in a fit of animal passion. Their flesh slapping against each of their, their blood pounding in their veins, the heat rising until they thought that they might explode. Everything forgotten in their delight and burning desire to be together until their saw fireworks. Finally they both collapsed onto the floor, still panting and drenched with sweat but both sated and grinning like fools.

For several long minutes the only sound was their erratic breathing and their heart thumping, as they cooled down and regrouped.

“Well, that was”, a slow smile spread across the blonde beauty’s face, “relaxing”.

“I’ll say”, he pulled himself onto his side and placed his hand on her stomach. A few seconds before he had thought that he was spent, but observing her glowing face and delicious body he felt himself stir again. “Want to relax a little more?”

He wasn’t doing anything special. His hand was just lying there, warm and substantial against her skin, yet she was powerless to refuse him. “Yes!” They scrambled to their feet, their fingers intertwining as they dashed to the bedroom, until he came to a stop, pulling her back with him.

“This isn’t right”.

“It isn’t?” She asked nervously, trying not to let her pain or panic show. It was always hanging over their heads, the fact that their relationship simply shouldn’t be. Half of the time she was convinced that she had to break it off, but then she saw him and she couldn’t do it. She knew that one day and one day soon it would have to end, but not this night. Not now.

“No”, he swooped down and lifted her into his arms so that he could carry her bridal style through the doorway, “you deserve some romance for once”.

“Yes, I do”, she agreed with a cheeky smile as she stroked his cheek. She didn’t say that she loved him. She never did. He couldn’t complain, he had never said the words either but sometimes he longed to more than he wanted to keep breathing. He wished that he had the courage to utter that one sentence which could change both of their lives.

He lay her down on the bed and took a step back to admire her. She was taking her hair down, allowing the golden strands to spill out across the pillows, her alabaster skin glowing in the pale moonlight, her pupils so far dilated that he could barely make out the bands of green surrounding them. He could feel his body instantly responding to her.

He moved up the bed, crawling to her, pausing as something caught his eye. His throat tightened, he saw her rings lying on the bedside table where they always were so that she didn’t forget them, he couldn’t help but look down at his own bare hands and be reminded that she wasn’t his. Not really. This was just a distraction for her and he would never allow her to know that this was so much more for him. His hands clenched into fists as he reminded himself that he should just let her go, this wasn’t healthy for either of them but then he looked at her again. He couldn’t let her go. It would kill him.

He crawled up her body, hovered over her for a second, staring deep into her eyes before devouring her.

She had come to him that night, she wanted to be with him that night, so she was his … for that night.

More. All I can say. I want more! :D But really, I accidentally took a peak at the last line and saw that it had her last name as Luthor. So I automatically thought of Lex, didn't even think of Lionel! You have me hooked now, please continue! :)

I'm already hooked. I've always been really interested in the weird Lionel/Chloe/Lex triangle. There is just something about those three sharing space. I can't wait to read more!!!

A new story! Can you hear me squeaking with excitement! And a lex/chloe/lionel mix which is my fav! Please please continue!

What? What?!
Chloe and Lionel?! Please, tell me there is some reason for this. He must've forced her through blackmail. He must've.
But I loved the naughty description.

After all, I've already read through Lionel/Chloe sex in Terza Roma written by Zannie, so nothing will shock me:(

TrinityR: Hello! *waves* There is a reason for this but you will have to figure out what it is for yourself ... until it is revealed in a chapter or two. ;) Glad that you liked it and thank-you for reading.

Kaw: Yes, I can hear you. :D I hope that you like it. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Tatie87: Yay, my first reader! Glad to hear it. :D

Loved this chapter!! There was a heck of a lot going on. I don't think Chloe is going to be able to stall Lionel for long. Due to him wanting to impregnate her and all.

Chloe, Chloe, if you have heavy periods just start taking birth control pills and there would be no actual period, just a little bleeding once in 28 days!

Ok, one thing: Lionel is definitely NOT handsome, so why the heck would Chloe say that?
Just thinking about pregnancy is making me nauseaus, because I , sorry, don;t want to have a child and... possibly being pregnant with Lionel? Disgusting!

Don't get me wrong, I don't mean that this is a bad story, I just comment on Chloe's thoughtsP and others:D

The story is good and I am curious to see how long Chloe will be able to resist and please, please, make her and Lex get closer in that few days she has the period and then make Lionel come on to her with force and Lex saving her!!
(and possibly hitting his father in the jaw!!!)


I'm currently writing like 5 stories, but one if Chlex, called Zombie. You can check it out if you want. Nothing disgusting, zombie just mentioned, it's more a romance during the apocalypse. It;s also fine if you don't. I just thought I should say I write something after my big break:)

i looking forward to see how long chloe can hold out.

Brilliant chapter! I may be weird but I find lionel to be rather attractive I an evil kind of way! Can't wait for chapter 2!

I have to admit that I always thought Lionel was oddly attractive, so you're not the only one :D I'm officially hooked, can't wait for the next chapter :)

I love it! I can not wait to see the reason behind the whole Chloe/Lionel relationship...he has to have something on her. Hopefully Lex can find out the purpose behind his new step-mommy.

Update soon.

Poor Chloe! Now if only Lex could help her find a way out of this...

Wee Hee!!!! Look at all of the pretty reviews! *clasps hands together* Thank-you, this makes a really sucky day so much better. :D

Skyblue78: Yep, I hope that he will too.

Cassandra Jean: You are sort of right, although maybe even worse than you think ... *evil smile*

Kaw: Thank-you. I feel the same way.

Cbrunberg: Quite a while! I won't give too much away but it is going to be 35 chapters - or there abouts - with a tiny sequel called "The Legend".

TrinityR: Who would pay for those? They are in the States and have you heard her Daddy mentioned so far in this story? Or her age? Did you like those hints?

Two reasons, first of all he is not really bad looking if you look at him objectively and second of all because she is trying to convince herself that things aren't so bad. I didn't want it to be the typical "evil husband is out and out even and abusive, old, fat and ugly" vs his son "golden blonde hair, handsome, perfectly well adjusted and always calm". Lionel is evil and clearly obsessed with her but in a more cultured way than normal and there is no sense in trying to make things worse for herself. Did that answer some of that point?

Yeah, I think that Chloe feels the same way about being pregnant with Lionel's child.

Don't worry, I know what you meant and I like to hear what you think.

Quote:

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The story is good and I am curious to see how long Chloe will be able to resist and please, please, make her and Lex get closer in that few days she has the period and then make Lionel come on to her with force and Lex saving her!!
(and possibly hitting his father in the jaw!!!)

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That was my original plan, but I won't tell you if that is still what is going to happen. :D

Oh cool, I am up to my eyeballs in work at the moment but the second that I get a chance I will check it out.

Tatie87: Thank-you and glad to hear it. I know, I am worried about that too ...


Oh, and has everyone seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPn5v2JvKvw

It might just be me, but I'm really digging being able to see what a relationship between Chloe and Lionel would look like. I'm curious about why Chloe thought she could be out of her predicament by the time her period was done. Can't wait to read more!!!!

I am loving your quick updates! I think it might be Lucas?! How very wonderful if chloe was Lucas' girlfriend, got forced to marry lionel (and have hot chlionel sex) to save him from something and then ends up loving lex! Though frankly, however you write this story I will love it as you are such a good writer. In response to trinity r asking how anyone can find lionel attractive, I don't think it's his looks do much as the air of danger and power and self confidence - all powerful athrodisiatcs.

Kaw: Glad that you like them, I am trying my best. Ohhh, that is a much better idea than mine and has given me an idea for sub plot for the series I am going to start working on next year. Yep, those things are certainly hot and I can see Chionel in a different world.

Tatie87: Yay, happy to see that no one is throwing up. There is a reason ... I just can't tell you yet. :)

Sorry, didn't want to spoil your story.
Poor Chloe, I would throw up if I woke up in Lionel's arms;/

Thanks for the new chapters.

Is there something wrong with Gabe? Is that what the check to the hospital was for, and why she agreed to marry Lionel?

Another great chapter!!! We had commentary from the SV peanut gallery which was fun.

Tatie87: Yes, I thought that I shouold bring them in at some point what with it being set in Smallville and all. Thanks for reviewing.

Cassandra Jean: You're welcome. Maybe ...

TrinityR: Don't worry about it, you didn't. ;) And you know that I love reviews. I don't think that I always would, but in those circumstances I don't think that I would want to be pinned like that by anyone not even Lex!

Oh, and don't forget to check out The Camping if you were reading that.

Wow, just got a chance to catch up with all the Chlex stories and I am so glad I found this. Can't wait for more.

Lex is getting closer to the truth. I'm a big fan of the Lionel character, but him licking period blood off his fingers made me cringe. He was kind of creepy in this chapter.

I leave the fandom for a few months and I come back to awesome fics :)))))))

At first I thought Lionel was obsessed with Chloe, but now I'm wondering if he's planning to use her against Lex?

great chapter please update soon.

I'm with Skyblue78. I think Lionel is using Chloe to get at Lex because he just found his weakness. Can't wait to see what happen next.

I had a feeling that there was something wrong with Gabe, and that was what was Chloe's motivation in marrying Lionel. Hopefully Lex will figure it out and find a way to save her.

i agree with cassandra i definitely think something is wrong with gabe. chloe would do anything to help her father.i hope lex figures it out soon.

Another couple of fab updates! Glad I have inspired a new story idea and look forward to reading it! I think we are due a new chapter on this one too please!

Oh, look at all of the pretty reviews! *feels loads better*

Kaw: Glad that you liked them.Yes, you are. :D

Cbrunberg: Indeed she would, all will soon be revealed.

Cassandra Jean: Bingo!

Trckyrcky: Yep, partially! He also likes Chloe. :)

Starmoon: Thank-you. :D

Skyblue78: It did start out as an obession with Chloe, her potential ability to destory Lex is just a bonus as far as Lionel is concerned.

Bklyangel: Welcome back! :D But I have written better, have you seen The Accident?

Tatie87: Yep, that is what I was going for. I wrote it another way before but then I almost fell for him for a second so .... vampire. :D

Loving it! So glad Lex knows the truth. Can't wait for the next chapter :)

Ooo sprung by Lionel?! Poor Chloe and her dad!

Eww, Lionel is so creepy! Chloe and Lex need to start plotting soon. Is Chloe going to have problems earning Lex's trust?

Another fab chapter! I would have commented on the previous chapter sooner but NS kept crashing :-( I love where the story is going and can't wait for Lex and Chloe to start plotting! Bring on the smut!

the need to start soon plotting.lionel very creepy.can't wait for next chapter

To celebrate Friday I do believe an update is required....please!!!

Please update! Please?

Oh no, I hope Chloe goes Lex ad tell him what Lionel is up to so they can work together and bring him down.

Hello, nice to see that people still want an update. Sorry that the next update has taken so long, I have written the first paragraph about 10 times but never seem to be able to get any further but don't worry I am working on it inbetween PhD studies, funding, stupid meetings, health checkups and my original novel. I just wanted you to know that I do appreciate the loyalty and that I am working on it. :D Hopefully I will have something up by the end of this week.

upss... I missed a lot:D:D Sorry, been busy.
What is happening here... Lionel is getting creepy

If you write it I will read it. Not to sure if I'm going to like it though. Lionel is very creepy . I think your doing a great job . More please.

lionel is getting really creepy.

Eww, seduction lessons from Lionel, yuck!

Yeah, Lionel is getting too creepy. Hopefully Chloe won't have to endure him much longer.

Lionel needs to die already. I am so tired of him.

Yay you updated! Looking forward to the chlex smut!

I hope Lionel burn in hell for what he is making Chloe do.

great updated can't wait to lionel burn and chlex smut

At least Lex is in on Lionel's twisted plan. I'm curious to see what will happen between Lex/Chloe and Lionel/Chloe now.

Loving this story, would really love an update! :)

Lionel is very creepy and perverted... pore Chloe! At least Lex is on her side! Loving it! Cant wait for more!

What an amazing fic
I'm really happy Lex saw the truth and now Chlex will destroy Lionel and bring back Chloe's family
Lionel is a creepy bastard lol

So, anyone who is still interested in this fic might have noticed that I have been having problems writing it. It sort of went massively off plan and then I couldn't get it back on plan and well, it was all just a big mess. Then I had an idea. It is now planned out until chapter fifty and I think that it will work. So, I have started again. If you go back to the first page then you will see the new prologue, then I have deleted the chapters after that and will start from chapter one which I will hopefully be able to post below this later today. I hope that some people are still around and will read it and hopefully tell me their opinions. Thank-you for all of the reviews and support so far. :D

Definitely please continue. I am still enjoying the fic and I will come back and check on updates whenever I get a break from school and work. Love you for coming back.

I've loved this fic since you started it, subscribed to get updates, and would really like for you to continue. Read the new prologue, and really love it so far. So will Lionel be in this story alot? Is that who Chloe is married to? Can't wait for the first chapter! :)

Hey! I'm totally interested
Please please please give us more :)

Malugargula: Hello. Will do, just please don't hate me once you have read it.

Jessicakadie: Yay, thank-you for sticking with it, it means a lot to me. Ummmm ... yes, he will be in it quite a lot.

Trckyrcky: That's great, it will be here whenever you are ready. School can be hard!

Chapter One

The pale mid-morning light streamed through the stained glass window, casting a kaleidoscope of colours across the antique filled library and one lone figure. The fair young woman was sat in the centre of the room, back straight, hands folded in her lap, staring straight ahead, not at the antiques or the books but at the individual dust particles which danced before her. The room was filled with treasures of every description, and yet she continued to stare as if memorised at the only imperfection which even this house could not control.

Her presence was known, there was a spread of food and drink at her elbow along with adequate reading material and a bell if she wanted anything and yet there she sat alone, waiting, her only companions the sound of the crackling of the fire and the seemingly interminably slow ticking of the grandfather clock.

Her face was a perfect mask of composure, a young lady without thoughts or emotions without … Her breathing began to accelerate slightly, the only indication that there was something going on below the surface, but she focused more intently on the movement before her and returned to normal. Once again she was the perfect image of everything she was supposed to be. As hollow and fragile as a china doll.

The clock continued to tick, the fire continued to crackle and the specs continued to dance.

The door swung open sending a burst of chill air across the room destroying the mesmerising display before her. She shivered and her head snapped to the side a startled look capturing her features as she was struck by the image of the man standing there. He wasn’t the man she had been waiting for.

He couldn’t have taller than 6,1 or 2 but he seemed to fill the entire double door entrance. Clearly, he was not a man to be trifled with: confidence and presence did not merely ooze from him, they radiated and slammed into her as viscerally as a fist. She swallowed, but refused to lower her gaze.

There was no light in the hallway and darkness clung to him even as he stepped into the library. It gave him a decidedly sinister aspect and made it impossible of her to study his features, but even with shadows partially shrouding his face, she recognised him. Everyone knew who he was.

He strode into the room, with a purposeful measured tread, and his eyes locked on hers.

She titled her head up, her spine straightened even further, and her hands remained clasped in her lap. The outward picture of compose as she strove to control her desire to run out of there screaming.

“Who are you?” His voice was calm, but held the ring of authority. It was clear that the habit of command was so deeply entrenched in every fibre of this man’s being that he could not rid himself of it, even had he wished to. Yet, now that she could see his green eyes, they did not seem to be particularly unkind at that moment, more vexed. Even so, she could not quite control the tiny spasm of her hand which his question elicited; she knew this man’s reputation and that they were not destined to be allies.

Upon noting that she did not immediately jump to answer his question, he looked mildly disapproving and opened his mouth again only to close it a second later as another occupant entered the room. Another shiver ran across her flesh, although this time it had less to do with the chill draught, as she managed to cast a small, polite smile in the newcomer’s direction.

He was an excessively attractive man with a lure which only seemed to have grown in his fifty odd years on the planet. His thick mane of chestnut hair was only just beginning to grey at the temples and his still lithe form was shown to advantage in a dark suite which probably cost a normal person’s monthly earnings. He was only fractionally shorter than his younger counterpart and was in possession of the same presence, control and barely leashed touch of danger.

“Alexander, nice to see that you have finally seen fit to haul yourselves back from cesspool you call a life in Metropolis”, he smirked, “I only had to demand your presence five times upon this occasion, what’s the matter? Do you need me to bail you out of another mess?”

Lex’s jaw clenched, his eyes hardened. “Dad”, he replied civilly, barely resisting the urge to refer to him instead as Lionel (the most respectful of the other replacements for Dad that he had come up with over the years). “Was there something in particular you wanted or do you just enjoy making people jump through hoops?” He had long since become accustomed to his father’s games and tests, not to mention his put downs. What he could never become inured to was for others to witness his humiliation. For this woman, to witness such a scene between father and son, rankled him more than he cared to admit.

He was intensely proud, and had honed his skills in every aspect of business, determined to one day out do his father. He was constantly scouring every situation for details and slivers of information that someone else might have missed and turning them over in his brain (sometimes almost obsessively), until he had a more complete picture and knew how to work it to his advantage. It had taken him but a few seconds to realise that the young lady was waiting for someone, apprehensive and stiff backed. Probably extremely proud and definitely somehow involved with his father. She almost had the air of a socialite, but not quite and, more to the point, he did not recognise her. Unless she was foreign she was not one of their set, which made her presence there a mystery. Still he continued to study her. The slight quirks which she might have been able to disguise from others were as clear as day to him. His keen eyes had detected a flicker in her expression (upon hearing how his father had spoken to him), whether from mirth or condescension he knew not. He did not care. Both were equally abhorrent to him and began to erode his previous ambivalence towards her. She should not have been there.

His father laughed, “Ah, so bitter for one so young”, he strolled over to the young woman and said “I see that you have met Chloe”, as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

The young woman tensed slightly, obviously disliking his father’s touch, only to turn actually flutter her eyelashes at him when Lionel stared at her with an expression that Lex was appalled to see verged on smitten.

“You’re latest secretary”, he would have made air quotes had they not been so beneath him. He summed up their relationship in a second; she was one of the reams of women trying to catch themselves a rich lover, preferably a Luthor. She might be able to wear the clothes and effect a touch of class in her baring but she was nothing more than a whore. It was a shame, he had thought that there might be something more there but apparently not and she would soon be shocked back into reality when she realised that Lionel was just playing with her as a cat did with a mouse. That ‘look’ had to have been for her benefit; his father did not have sentiments.

She sniffed and shot Lex a look of her own which demonstrated just how little respect she thought him and that idea worthy of. He raised an eyebrow and recalculated. She wasn’t the run of the mill whore, she had some education and a good opinion of herself and yet she was still deliberately trying to entice his father although she seemed almost worried about it. For a brief second the thought flashed through his mind that she might be an educated employee that Lionel had taken an interest in and that she thought that she needed to play along to keep her job, only to have it disappear again. Her eyes were too knowing for that. Besides, as she continued to stare at him with the barely concealed contempt his desire to make excuses for her died away and he labelled her as another simpering, superficial, socialite snob. Or a want-to-be socialite snob, at any rate.

Lionel smirked. “No, the newest member of the Luthor family”.

“She’s a bit old for you to adopt, isn’t she?” Lex asked pleasantly, assuming that this must be one of his father’s ruses. He studied her closely. Her golden was hair tied back into an efficient bun with only a few tendrils framing her face, her face was almost free from make-up and extremely symmetrical with porcelain skin, straight nose, rosebud mouth, and large green eyes. The only jewellery which he could observe was a silver cross necklace of greater elegance than expense which was at odds with her dark blue designer dress and stiletto heels. The overall effect was one of a woman in her early twenties, just stepping out into the working world but her face told a different story. Dispassionately, he determined her to be around eighteen, just with a great deal of poise.

“Lex, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to my new wife, Chloe Ann Luthor. Chloe, my darling, meet my son and heir Alexander Luthor”.

A snort of laughter escaped the Luthor scion, “Good one Dad”, he wasn’t buying that for one second. Lionel had always had an eye for the ladies but there hadn’t been one since his mother (God rest her soul) who could actually capture his interest let alone stir the least inclination in his father to marry. In his father’s mind there were very few reasons to get married (money, power, connections and the provision an heir, being the key ones) all of which his mother had combined but which this young woman seemed to be entirely lacking.

Still, he found his eyes travelling back down to her fingers to discover that her hands were still folded in her lap, right over left, obscuring his view. It had to be a joke. It explained everything. Lionel had found some poor girl to come along and play a trick on him, it was why she seemed nervous, why she didn’t like to be touched but then tried to look in love, why his father simpered, and why she had looked so truly and rightly indignant at the insinuation that she might be a highly paid hooker. It was all just one of his father’s little games.

Chloe bristled and fixed him with a look which clearly stated that she thought that he was nothing and he found himself reconsidering. She could be one of their set quite easily, maybe one of the less attractive ones who had recently undergone surgery.

“Now now Lex”, Lionel tisked, “you will make your new mother think that you have absolutely no manners”. He lifted Chloe’s left hand to his lips and displaying the same exquisite sapphire rings which had once adorned Lillian Luthor’s hand. It couldn’t be a joke, even Lionel would do something like that as a joke.

Lex felt as if all of the air had been knocked out of his lungs. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. The only thing which kept him from screaming was the strict training had had as a Luthor and the sight of his mother’s portrait which still hung above the mantel piece in the library.

“She”, his eyes darkened, “is not my mother. If you feel the need for a midlife crisis then get a new car to ride”. With that bon mot he turned and made to leave. The very idea that he would bring that proud, conceited, insignificant little slip of a girl into the family home (the one where his mother had lived) and imply that she could ever compare to his saintly mother, was disgusting. The fact that he had given her those rings, her rings. Lillian had taught him never to hit a woman, never to touch one with anything but kindness, and that was the only reason why he had not ripped them off her unworthy hand.

She had clearly known who he was, what she was doing to him, that was why she had been so nervous. She had to have known who was in the painting above the fire, had to have seen the rings in the image and known that they were the same ones on her hand and yet she had just sat there, she had let his father … Lex felt as if he might actually explode with fury. She was a manipulative bitch and deserved to rot in hell alongside his father.

Lionel’s eyes crackled dangerously, “Come back and shake Chloe’s hand”, he ordered.

Lex’s merely shook his head in disbelief and to walk away, unable to even begin to process what was going on in his father’s head. He couldn’t know how close Lex was to flooring the bastard. Forcing his feet forwards, rather than back into a confrontation (afraid that he would go too far, and make himself unworthy to be his mother’s son) he made it all of the way to the door when Lionel’s slow drawl reached him, “You think that I don’t know about those charities of yours?”

“They are good for our image and are tax deductible. By all means cut them off, but the media will …” He didn’t get to finished explaining what it was exactly that the media would do to him as his father broke in.

“No, not those ones”.

Lex stopped dead in his tracks. Feeling as if his father’s power were wrapping around him. He wanted to break free of it, he could break free of it. He could storm out of there, he did not need to allow himself to be so humiliated especially not in front of this woman but then those children … He clenched his jaw and his fists before turning back around. He strode over to the blonde woman and held out his hand. “Mrs Luthor!” he said with a sneer, “what an elevation for you”.

In spite of his attempt at civility, she refused to take his hand as if she were the one who had been insulted. Lex glanced over at his father, waiting for him to put his wife in her place only for Lionel to laugh.

The sound of it rang through the room and down the corridor, pursing Lex as he left slamming the door behind him. It was only with great purpose and self-control that he resisted the urge to go back in in there and slam his fist into his father’s nose. Their relationship had never been precisely amicable, but this was too much. Had the old coot found someone – preferably his own age – who he cared for and wanted to spend his life with (and brought a new set of rings) then he would have been happy for him, but that was clearly not the case.

As he reached his own office he grabbed his phone and called a familiar number, without preamble he barked, “Find out everything you can on Chloe Ann Luthor, maiden name unknown. Possibly early twenties but more likely late teens, fair skin, blond hair, green eyes”. He paused for a second, “Yes, pretty. Something about her convinced my father to marry her. I want to know what”.

He hung up, slipping the phone back into a locked draw.

He paced the length of the Persian carpet, trying to piece together anything he had heard over the last few weeks and months to only to keep returning to the same conclusion, there had been no indication what so ever that something like this could be brewing. The timing was too exact to be a coincidence, there was a large merger coming up, it must somehow be related that although who had pursued whom was a mystery to him without more information.

On top of his normal work, Lex’s day was spent searching the internet for any ‘official’ announcement of the nuptials which might divulge some detail which could be used to his advantage. Periodically he received updates from his agent, if update is the right word for an announcement that they still had absolutely no idea who or what she was.

As he walked tiredly up to his room that night, his only consolation lay in the fact that he had not had to deal with the happy couple further that day and he hoped that the morning would bring fresh news. The frigid bitch shouldn’t prove too much of a problem whoever she was, gold diggers had been after his father for years and she wasn’t the daughter of anyone prominent or else he would have recognised her. He should be able to rid them of her presence quite speedily.

It was with these comforting thoughts that he finally climbed into bed and drifted off into a disturbed sleep, replete with thoughts of the mysterious blonde. He awoke, just passed midnight, in a tangle of sheets, sweat covering his body.

“Oh fucking hell no!”

~*~

A/N: Okay, I know that I put in a warning at the beginning but I will put in another one here. A big fat bright red warning even though it will ruin part of the story. There will be no rape, this is a Chlex story, but Lionel will be naked below.

Lionel was so chipper that he could have whistled, if it weren’t so horribly cliché, as he strode into the master bedroom. He had hardly ever stayed there before, not greatly enjoying being out in the middle of nowhere, but as he entered the room he thought that he could get used to it if he had to.

Lionel had had the castle brought over from Scotland stone by stone not because it made for a comfortable family abode, but because it conferred status upon him. The master bedroom was no exception. An enormous mahogany and marble space which had always felt cold however high the fire was piled, decorated with strategically placed pieces of expensive furniture which had been brought by a designer he had engaged years ago without paying any attention to the overall aesthetic. It was the best and that was enough for him. He smiled as he remembered her, she had certainly earned her commission. What enthusiasm. What legs.

The room now felt warmer and distinctly fuller. It appeared that his new wife was not a neat freak. Boxes yet to be unpacked scattered the room, the wardrobe doors were left open to reveal that there was no more room for clothes after the shopping spree he had indulged her with that morning. The rest of her new designer apparel was draped over chairs and the desk. He closed the door behind him and continued into the room, wondering why she hadn’t used her dressing table until he saw that that was groaning with jewellery. He smirked, he was a good husband.

Considering that he had been so kind to her he was rather annoyed to find that she wasn’t lying draped out across the bed waiting for him. Before he could voice this query and go in search of his errant wife, a maid distracted him, coming in from the study to the side which had been designated for Chloe’s usage, a bag of rose pedals in her hand as she headed for the bed, but then saw her boss, “I’m sorry Sir”, she stuttered, coming up short, “I didn’t know that you were here, I …”

“Just get going”, he told her, smirking as he saw the petals. Apparently he was just earlier than expected. Once in the deserted room again he strew a few across the bedspread, assuming that she would want at least a little romance. She could have anything she wanted now that she was apparently ready to stop stringing him along.

He crossed over to Chloe’s en suite and listened, raising his hand to knock but then thought better of it. As much as he wanted her, he still prided himself on being the consummate gentleman … he would wait until she left the bathroom voluntarily to ravish her.

In his own bathroom, he performed his ebullitions with care and tried to take his time, reminding himself that that anticipation was part of the thrill … only to decide that he had already waited long enough. He had waited for months, dangling after the tiny temptress as she led him on.

He strode back out to see his seductress standing there, that tell-tale, small, sweet smile on her lips. It was the thing which had first attracted him to her; that veneer of innocence coupled with absolute manipulativeness. That was how she had got him after all. “You are a vision as always, my dear. Come over here”.

She didn’t move a muscle.

For once he wasn’t angered by her little games; the joy of the chase was so much sweeter when he knew he was going to get what he wanted. She was the first and the last woman to make him wait. He advanced on her, her perfume just peeking his interest when she stepped back. Her face was almost neutral but there was tension in her stance, she ran one hand down the opposite arm. He took another step but she turned and moved over to her vanity as if she were unaware of his intentions.

It was a bad move, with two steps he had cut off her retreat.

“It is natural to be nervous”, he informed his trapped beauty in a voice verging on a purr. He had never concerned himself with the feelings of his paramours before; they were there purely to service him. He had even taken great delight in their nervousness, drinking in their apprehension like an elixir, but it was different with her. She was different. Chloe captivated him in a way that no other woman had ever been able to, not even his first wife. He didn’t want her to be uneasy, he wanted her to care for him as much as he did for her and to let him please her. He could give her pleasure like she had never known before, satisfy her every whim, need, desire – including the ones she did not yet know she had.

“That depends on what I am planning on doing to you”, she shot back.

He laughed, it was too much. Too overplayed. “Oh my love”, he exclaimed with mirth, “my darling love”, he placed his hands on her hips and brought her to him so that he could wrap his arms around her slim waist and relish her softness. He took a minute to savour the sensation of her being completely his before telling her, “You don’t have to come on strong”.

“I am not weak”, she protested.

“I know”, he assured her softly as he studied her face intently.

She was clearly embarrassed at being held by him and by being caught out in her little game, but more than that. Her emerald eyes that she would never be anyone’s ‘victim’ again. Apparently she felt uncomfortable under such scrutiny, her head lowered slightly as she put her hands on his shoulders and smoothed the material of his robe down. Try as she might, she could not deny that he was in good shape for his age. Her hands continued down his arms, for any age actually.

An arrogant smile graced his lips. He observed, even in the rapidly diming light, that her pupils were dilated. With the air of one with the perfect right to do so, he ran his hands over the soft curve of her backside, praising himself for his earlier self-control and wondering how the hell he had ever lasted so long. She was perfection. His control snapped and he trailed his hands back up her body and slipped her white stain robe from her shoulders, allowing it to fall in a puddle around her feet. Complete and utter perfection.

She was a goddess, his angel, his everything. She was everything that he had ever wanted wrapped up into one sumptuous package. From her dainty feet and ankles, up her toned legs to the hem of her short lace and satin nightie through which he could just distinguish the full curve of her hips, the clinched waist, her pert breasts and the hint of cleavage it revealed. Even her soft arms and swan like neck were perfect.

He pulled her back to him, pressing her against him as he planted a hard passionate kiss on her full, pliant lips. She was every bit as sweet as she looked. He wanted to drown in her. He grabbed her, hoisting her up to carry her the few steps to their bed, leaving their robes behind. He laid her out before him, a gorgeous feast for any man.

Lionel climbed onto the bed and crawled up her body, noticing the way that she stiffened slightly. He gave her an encouraging smile and leant down to kiss her briefly before whipping her nightie up and off her body. She would feel better once she had been completely revealed to him and knew that she had nothing to fear, he reasoned. She would feel even better after he had made love to her.

She was every bit as gorgeous as he had known she would be and the blush of pink which coloured her cheeks charmed him still further. He told her so as he moved back down the bed. “You are so gorgeous”, he said as he caressed her feet gently until he felt her body relaxing slightly, apparently against her will. “So beautiful”, he kissed her instep and continuing up her legs with his hands and lips.

He heard her breathing accelerating slightly only to catch in her throat as his reached the apex of her closed thighs. His warm breath whispered against her soft blonde curls.

Her hands closed around his head and moved him past that particular juncture. “As you wish”, he chuckled as he placed several long, sensual kisses along the length of her abdomen; a flat, taunt plane of skin which would soon be home to his next son. He pressed his head between her perfect ripe, firm breasts and hoped that she wouldn’t have any silly ideas about naming the child herself; he would be the greatest Luthor ever born. Even had she not been the most beautiful creature on the face of the planet, that thought alone would have been enough to make him rock hard.

He brought his legs up to straddle her as his hands cupped the pert flesh. He devoured the sight of her ravenously, her body covered by his, her cheeks burning, her eyes closed and her head turned to the side as if still shy of him and the pleasure he gave her, but her hands fisting in the sheets as she arched up into his caress.

With long practiced skill he began to tease her, squeezing and massaging the milky orbs until moans and whimpers were torn from her throat, her head thrashing from side to side as he circled her nipples with his thumbs. She was powerless against him and his seduction. He slipped back down her body and this time was able to part her legs easily with his hands, his mouth not far behind. His eyes were still fixed on her face and he noted with relish the almost pained expression of pleasure he found there.

With every intention of making her beg and scream his name he lowered his head only to find it once again in her grasp and being guided back up to meet her lips. Before he could open his lips to ask her what she wanted, she had covered them with her own. She laid back and contemplated his face, tracing his features with one finger as she reminded him, “This is what you have been waiting for”.

“Indeed, this”, he grasped both of her hands and kissed them, “my darling little tease is what you have taunted me with all these months. The only woman ever to have done so”. He knew exactly what she had been doing ever since their first meeting. “A risky enterprise that no one else has succeeded in”.

“Maybe”, she gives him a look which was for once a little more arched than innocent.

He grinned at her antics. That was how she was, at once minute lively and teasing, the next quiet and innocent. She enticed and fascinated him. After he had been pursuing her a few weeks and demanded to know when he was going to get anywhere she had as good as told him that without a ring he wouldn’t get so much as a kiss, only to revert to her sweet innocent act a moment later. Well he had married her that morning and he was going to claim his reward.

“My naughty deceptive darling”, his voice was soft but scolding, “is this how you are going to seduce me? With this innocent look?” His thumb brushed over her reddened cheeks. He had no idea how she could control her colouring like that.

“Do you require any more seducing?” She stared up at him, almost shyly, from under her long lashes.

“I guess not”, his erection was already verging on painful, as he ran thumbs across her wrists and felt her legs clamping together. That was interesting. Not all women were alike, but there were certain tricks he had learned long ago. He stroked his hands up her arms, with the intention of massaging his way back down, only to find his fingers entangled with hers.

Chloe braced herself against the bed and Lionel raised an eyebrow inquiringly before she pushed. He didn’t have to move: he was stronger than she was in every single way, he could destroy her, he could do anything to her but he allowed himself to be forced over onto his back as she straddled him, pinning his hands above his head. Their gazes locked and he smirked.

“Now”, she purred, her voice almost too seductive, “be a good husband and stay right there”.

She kept her hands over his for a second until she saw that he was entertained enough to do as she bad, allowing her to straight up so that she was straddling his waist, her hot core pressing against his flat stomach. He groaned as she slipped further back so that her buttocks nestled against his cock, which was now straining against the confines of his silk boxers. He wished that he had not donned them to keep from startling her; he wanted to feel her skin against his hardened length. He gritted his teeth against the desire to take control from her, to flip them both over and drive into her. He would let her play her little game if that was what she wanted.

He licked his lips as he watched her, trying to look bossy and authoritative but not quite managing it. He knew that she had been playing and manipulating him right from the start, teasing him with her body and veneer of innocence but he was never quite sure how far it reached or how much of her hesitance now was feigned. She studied his face for a few seconds longer, as if trying to gauge his reactions before risking turning her back on him slightly as she reached out for the bedside table and took out several accoutrements.

Lionel frowned and was about to complain that he wasn’t about to wear a condom when she slipped off him and her fingers brushed against his crotch, causing his voice died on his lips. She kneeled on his left, seeming hesitant, as if awed by its size, as she petted the hardened length gently through the silken material.

“That’s good darling”, Lionel assured her, before adding, “for a start”, with a challenging look.

He had expected her to shoot him an arch look back, possibly coupled with a cheeky retort, but she lowered her head and blushed furiously. It was endearing and quite possibly manipulative but he didn’t care about any of that at that precise moment. At long last, she she snuck her hand inside and fumbled with his throbbing erection.

Chloe teased him for a few seconds before slowly removing his boxers and he decided that he had had enough. He had been more than patient, throughout their courtship and certainly that night. He wanted her now. His hands left the place on the bed where she had left them and was about to grab her when she squeezed him at his base. He grunted. Two hard strokes and he was trying not to swear. With that the condom was rolled on, for the first time in Lionel’s life. He tried to protest once more but found himself unable to; his eyes were fixed on her as she ran her hands down herself before snatching up the bottle of lube she had dropped next to the condoms. She unsnapped the bottle and poured it into her hands, warming it for a few seconds before leaning over him. His head craned up to watch as her hands descended, only to crash back against the pillows as she began to massage the liquid onto him.

His hips bucked of their own volition and he knew that what remained of his self-control was about to snap, when finally Chloe moved to straddle him once more. She held him steady at the base as she slid her hips across his and hovered above him. She slid the tip of his cock through her warm wet folds, teasing them both before lining him up with her entrance.

Lionel raised his hands to help her but she tried unaided only to let out a shout of pain.

She was either a better actress than even he had thought or she was less experienced than she sometimes liked to make out. “You just got the angle wrong”, he told her patiently, as he took hold of her hips authoritatively and showed her how to move to bring them both pleasure. He didn’t mind, he was happy to teach her, to please her, to make her his completely.

Together they worked her over him, establishing their rhythm as she rocked over him, inch by inch nearer to completion. Lionel stared at her, he had thought that she was perfect before, but now that she was less put together she was even more gorgeous. Her body glistening with perspiration, she was a vision, from her lovely thighs, up to where they joined together over her stomach to her swaying breasts to her face now contorted with pleasure and effort, her eyes were scrunched closed as she focused on her task.

“It might be easier for you if I …” Lionel started to suggest that he be on top but Chloe shook her head defiantly.

“As you wish”, he just about managed to get out as he drove up into her again. A cry ripped from her throat and he smirked.

Her arms which had begun to shake gave out and he held her hips with one hand and snuck the other one between them to stroke her intimate flesh. He wished that he could see her expression as she came for the first time, and kiss her to boot, but he was denied both pleasures as she screamed into his chest, grinding herself against him helplessly. Her walls contracted so violently around him that his own climax was not far behind.

As she finally rolled off him and they both lay there in the aftermath of what they had just done, Lionel wished that the house weren’t so well sound proofed; he wanted the world to hear them.

A/N: If you are still reading at this point, you have my undying love and devotion. Leave a review for a hug. If you skipped over the last part, that's fine too. Anyway, as always, reviews and knowing that people are reading makes me ridiculously happy and once I have finished my PhD and have a job etc I will get some councilling about that. :D

Awesome first chapter! Have to admit that Chlionel is a guilty pleasure of mine that I like to indulge in every now and then. But can't wait for more Chlexiness :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HotCrossedBunny

Malugargula: Hello. Will do, just please don't hate me once you have read it.

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I could never hate you lol
I love your writing too much for that :)

Really great chapter
I haven't read Chlionel for some time now but it's always interesting seing them :)
Can't wait to see more :)

A/N: Thank-you both for the reviews.

Chapter Two

The sun rose high in the sky over the little town of Smallville Kansas, shining down upon the fields of yellow corn, over the picturesque farm houses and finally even daring to reach the Luthor castle. The rays sneaked in through the stained glass windows of the master bedroom, stretching across the mahogany floors to creep over the bed and bothering its inhabitants.

Chloe groaned and threw her arm across her face. She didn’t want to wake up let alone get up; she felt awful. Every single part of her hurt. Even her hair. Realizing that sleep was an impossibly with the sun on her face, she summoned up all of her energy and rolled over away from the glare. From there, she attempted to burrow into her incredibly comfortable bed, deciding that she was coming down with the flu or something. She felt odd. Nothing felt right, even her sheets felt funny. She ignored these oddities through and automatically snuggled further over the right where it was warmer, only to get the shock of her life. She had come into contact with another living human being. In her bed.

She jumped up, the dull ache which had plagued her before immediately intensifying to a pounding sensation which seemed so strong that she half expected the walls to vibrate from it. She opened her eyes fully in spite of the stinging from the sudden brightness. Even through the dots which floated in front of her, she recognised the figure lying next to her and knew why everything felt strange, why she felt so ill. She fought the urge to sob as memories from the previous evening came flooding back (pain being one of the most predominant), and her life crashed around her.

“Chloe?” Lionel’s voice, rough with sleep, was accompanied by a too warm hand reaching out for her.

She froze, unable to utter a sound.

“Chloe darling”, he repeated, this time opening his eyes and staring up at her, the traces of sleepiness vanishing as he witnessed her expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing”, she shook her head and slipped away from him, back onto her own side of the bed, and lay back down. She pulled up the sheets to make sure that she was completely covered and turned her head as if trying to go back to sleep, as she did so, the reality of her situation bore down upon her. Examples of his wealth littered the room, the man in whose bed she lay, whose hand was gently reaching over to caress her was one of the richest and most powerful men in the United States. She fought to remain calm, or at least, to disguise as much of her panic as possible.

He reached out to brush his hand against her stomach. “Chloe”, he whispered her name.

Plastering the most neutral she could on her features, she turned her head towards him, “Lionel, I’m fine”. He didn't look convinced, “Really, I’m just tired”.

He reached out to cup her face in one large, warm hand and run his thumb under one, slightly puffy, eye. She shivered and he looked at her quizzical.

“I just don’t feel too good”, she shrugged, as if it were just one of those things , “(probably coming down after all of the excitement) and I’m a bit sore”. That was something he would but, “Well”, she didn't have to fake her blush, “very sore”.

He gave her a smile which was equal parts smug and understanding, before stroking his hand back through her hair in a gesture which was supposed to be soothing. “Just lie back and relax, enjoy our first morning together as husband and wife. That’s what I plan on doing”, he grinned as he slid over to her only to move back a second later. He lifted the sheet up and she automatically put her arm down to keep her naked body from being revealed, although she did also look down to see what it was that had gained his attention.

There, between them was a small but extremely obvious red stain on the white bed linen.

“Oh”, she coloured to the roots of her hair, “I'm so sorry. Do you think that it will come out in the wash?” She had no idea how expensive those sheets were, but judging by the feel of them they probably cost a fortune.

Lionel let out a snort of laughter, “Chloe my darling, I haven’t the faintest idea. Nor do I care”, he covered the blood and other sticky liquids with a pillow so that he could lie next to her, an arm wrapped around her waist, “and more importantly nor should you. You aren’t in that world any more. You don’t have to concern yourself with or even think about menial tasks or money or anything else that was worrying you before”, he kissed her temple. “From now on, anything you want you can have without having to think”.

She swallowed, trying to smile as she knew she was supposed to. It was a kind offer, an amazing offer in fact, that most girls would jump at. She probably would, had she been able to concentrate on anything other than the feel of his hand squeezing her hip slightly. She hated to feel trapped.

“You know that there is nothing that I would deny you”, he told her gently, placing a kiss on her shoulder as her head lolled to the opposite side.

He didn’t normally care if the woman didn’t want to talk the following morning, hell, unless he felt like a second round he would kick them out but this was different. She was his wife, his young, gorgeous, sumptuous, vivacious and apparently extremely pure wife.

“There is no need to be embarrassed about the blood”, he told her, concerned that she might be genuinely worried that she had ruined something which he supposed – for her – was rather expensive. “It just reminds me that I was the first man to touch you, to look upon your beauty, to make you his”, his voice rumbled against her ear. “Although, it wasn’t what I expected”.

She turned her head in surprise, their noses were almost touching. “It wasn’t?”

“I wasn’t sure”, he spoke against her skin as he travelled, placing kisses from her ear to her mouth.

“I thought that you had researched everything about me”, she placed her hands on his chest, pushing him back just enough so that she could see into his hazel eyes. There was no point in lying about the fact that she too had researched him too and knew his tendencies. His main one was to be extremely suspicious and want to know everything about everyone who was in any way connected with him.

“I did”, he confessed, staring down at her, “but I still couldn’t be sure”. He transferred his weight to one arm so that he could trace a finger along her cheek, as he informed her, “You, Chloe Ann Luthor ...”

“Sullivan Luthor”, she corrected.

“Chloe Ann Sullivan Luthor”, he expanded with a hint of a smile, “are a mystery to me”.

She sighed (a little besottedly) as she knew that she was supposed to, but didn’t believe him for a second. Lionel Luthor did nothing without copious amounts of research.

Chloe stared back out of the window, the ornate frames like a jail cell, even the sunlight could not penetrate the fortress without being altered. It was too late to pretend that these was a marriage based on love, or tenderness or anything other than manipulation.

She felt horrendously bad, as if the adrenaline from the last few days had been the only thing getting her through and now she had crashed.

Lionel's finger tips travelled back down her body, teasing her as they went, to stroke her stomach gently, “We are going to be very happy together. I’m going to give you everything”, he proceeded to lay out their future life together highlighting the nursery which they were going to fill.

At first Chloe just lay there, listening to him, concentrating on her breathing until she heard his voice growing warm once more and his hand start to travel south. “I can really have anything that I want?” She questioned, almost coyly.

“Yes”, he answered with a seductive grin.

“Then please may I have some aspirin and some more sleep then?”

It hadn’t been what he had been hoping for, but he smiled none the less and kissed her temple. “Of course, my darling”. He stretched out for he phone and called down for the maid before reclining back on the bed next to his wife.

“They will bring us some breakfast as well”, he informed her, “you need to eat if you have a headache and want to take tablets”.

“Thank-you, but there is no need to worry about me. I don’t want to interrupt your day”, she told him sweetly.

“Don’t be silly, of course I wouldn’t leave you alone, especially not when you have a headache”, he propped himself up against the headboard and smiled when Chloe moved the sheet so that he was still covered below the waist. He stroked his fingers through her soft tresses and began to massage her scalp whilst they waited for their breakfast which arrived blessedly quickly as far as Chloe was concerned.

After the discomforture of being seen in bed with Lionel, being naked, knowing that she had stained a cover that she could never afford, having someone else waiting on her and being brought breakfast in bed, Chloe’s cheeks were beet red. She wondered whether she was doomed to spend the rest of her life an unattractive shade of scarlet.

“Don’t worry your little head about it, my darling”, Lionel straightened the tray on the bed spread, “you will get used to the maids. I don’t even notice them any more”.

That did not fill Chloe with confidence nor was she certain that she ever wished to reach the point were she ceased identifying the staff as people, but she did not argue the point. Instead, with some small degree of difficulty, she managed to sit herself up next to Lionel against the headrest, with the sheet firmly tucked under her armpits.

Her husband observed her progress with mirth, “You know, I have seen you naked”.

She blushed, “Yes, well nakedness and breakfast don’t go very well together”.

“Well, we will have to agree to disagree on that one until you are feeling better”. He placed some fruit on a plate near to her with a tablet and large glass of water.

“After last night that might take a while”, she said, taking the pill and water gratefully.

“You seemed to be enjoying it at the time”, his said in an oddly strained voice which she couldn't quite explain.

“Yes, and now aside from a headache I am sore”, she kept her voice light and teasing, as if it were his excessive virility which had undone her little weak female body.

“Your breakfast and some rest will help, not to mention we do have very large bathtubs”, he stroked her thigh. Then studied her before saying slowly, “It would probably have been a little easier on you had you not insisted on being on top”.

“I know”, she said to the strawberry she was slowly consuming, after taking her aspirin. “I just …” she broke off, “I just wanted to do it that way”.

Lionel didn’t believe her but he let it go, allowing her to rest after eating. As he stared down at her, pretending to be asleep, he knew that he had made the right choice.

He stroked her head gently, “Best decision I ever made. When you want something, you have to take it”.

~*~

After forcing herself to lounge around in bed all morning – with Lionel hovering over her – Chloe had taken a long, if not entirely relaxing bath, before coming back out to find all of her stuff put away. She wasn’t used to this life of luxury. She found it extremely stressful.

“Some people are never satisfied”, she muttered to herself as she hunted around for her clothes and other accoutrements. Finding only half of what she needed. “See, it is just so much easier when everything is laid out neatly across the floor. Then you can find everything you need”.

She got dressed quickly, even without Lionel around she could shake the feeling that someone was watching her. It was difficult to look at herself now, after what she had done but she forced herself to do it anyway. She sat at the vanity and brushed her blonde hair until is glistened before applying her make-up carefully until she looked like a polished young lady, and absolutely nothing like herself.

The girl who ran around with wild hair, not a scrap of make-up but with a great idea had been so well and truly buried that she began to wonder if she hadn't just been a figment of her imagination.She blinked back the tears which were gathering in her green eyes and double checked her mascara. There, at least she wouldn’t look as out of place in this huge castle as she felt.

She got up and left the room. She had plenty of time until they were supposed to have their late lunch, but she had no idea how long it would take her to find her way to the dining room. Lionel had never managed to get around to giving her a tour of the place the day before so she was working on instinct. Ha, instinct. She had always had a terrible sense of direction. Her father had always teased her about it. An atrocious sense of time keeping too. She had no idea how long it had taken her to retrace her steps from the afternoon before enough to locate the staircase and at least get herself onto the right floor.

Only once she reached the bottom of the staircase did the sneaking suspicion creep up on her that there might be more than one. She turned around in the enormous hallway in which she had found herself, taking note of everything and deciding that this definitely wasn't the right place. For one thing there was an enormous portrait of Lionel and for another there was a front door there. Both things that she would definitely have noticed.

This place was ridiculous. A few years ago, she would have been running around it like a kid on blue Smarties, peeking into room after room. Now, she just wanted to make a break for it. She clenched her fists and told herself not to be so stupid, she squared her shoulders and chanted, “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, Catch a tiger by the toe. If he squeals, let him go, Eeny, meeny, miny”, as her finger flitted between the different corridors with which she was faced, “mo”. The first one on the left it was.

“Madam?”

“Oh my God”, she jumped about a foot in the air.

“I beg your pardon, Madam; I did not mean to startle you”.

Chloe placed her hand over her chest, where her heart was thumping so strongly that she thought it might actually break her ribs. “That’s all right”, she searched her memory from the day before, she was sure that he had introduced himself … “Carlton”, her voice edged up at the end, tinged with uncertainty. She had had a lot on her mind.

He inclined his head with a small smile, “Are you looking for he dining room, Madam?”

“Yes”, she said thankfully. “I have absolutely no idea where it is”, she confessed.

“Quite, it can be difficult at first, Madame”, he said, not unkindly. “I would be glad to show you the way and provide you with a map later, if you should wish for one”.

“Yes, thank-you”, she said with relief. She didn’t want to go through this every time she left her bedroom. For one thing she would like to know where the kitchen was in case she ever got hungry, not to mention the fire escapes.

He led the way and Chloe brushed her hands down the dark silk of her dress, checking that her attire was straight and wrinkle free, as she tried to calm her jangled nerves.

“Here we are, Madame”, he said.

Chloe was about to thank him, wait for him to leave and collect herself before she entered only to witness him opening the door for her. She managed to give him a tight smile as she entered the extremely large, extremely formal dining room.

In other circumstances she would have loved it. Delved into every nook and cranny. Wanted to know everything about everything. From the names of the exotic flowers which adorned the priceless china to the origin of the crest nestled in the stained glass windows. Not to mention, where they got what appeared to be a thirty foot table from and who had painted the pictures – she recognised the Rembbrant which had gone missing several decades ago but not several of the others. She was sure that they too were famous; they were very pretty. Now, she was merely focused on the two men in the room.

“Good afternoon, my dear”, Lionel stood up and walked over to her from where he had been sitting at the head of the table, “we were just about to send out a search party”.

“Am I late?” She asked, glancing down at her diamond encrusted watch, and trying not to think of her old multi-coloured plastic one. The one which Lionel had mocked.

“Only a little”, he said, placing his hands on her shoulders and giving her a peck on the lips, partly because she was irresistible, partly to show his son that he could, “but that’s all right. You can be late all you want now”.

“I didn’t mean to be”, she remained passive throughout his embrace, “I got lost”.

There was a cough from behind Lionel, which was studiously ignored.

“My poor darling”, he pressed his lips against her forehead. “Well, not to worry. I will show you everything later on. I want you to feel comfortable in your new home”.

Another noise from Lex’s general direction.

Lionel wrapped his arm around his new wife’s waist and escorted her over to a seat at the other end of the table, the place of the lady of the house and pulled the chair out for her.

“Thank-you”, she gave him a pretty smile, turning her head away from Lex, pointedly ignoring him.

“You are most welcome”, he leant to give her head another brief kiss, “and now for a lovely family dinner”. “Lex, if you have something in your throat go outside and clear it otherwise stop making stupid noises. You are not a cat, you don’t have fur balls”.

Lex ignored the rebuke and inquired in a voice which was verging on polite, “I was just wondering when the cameras were arriving”.

Lionel raised an eyebrow at him as he sailed back over to his own seat and rang the bell for service.

“Why he big show if there is no photo op?” He clarified.

“Alexander my dear boy, so suspicious for one so comparatively young”, he smirked, “I just wanted us all to get to know each other as a family”.

Lex refrained from rolling his eyes, but only just.

Even Chloe eyed her husband with suspicion.

“Honestly, anyone would have thought that the two of you had never eaten a family meal before”, he chuckled, in an overly jovial manner.

“She's pregnant”, Lex guessed.

“No”, Chloe answered automatically. That, was not happening. Whatever it took, that would never happen!

“Well, I suppose that it is always a possibility but it will take a week or two to find out”, Lionel said more cheerfully. “It wasn’t the reason for the marriage”.

“No, I should have known”, Lex reconcidered.

Lionel nodded.

But then Lex continued, “Only good girls get caught out”, turning to look at his father's new bride, with a snide, provoking sneer.

Chloe went beet red and felt scalding hot all over, even her chest was flushed. “I am a good girl”, she ground out, tears actually pricking her eyes but she blinked them away angrily.

“Hmmm”, was Lex's only response, as he settled back in his chair comfortably and took a sip of water.

Chloe took a deep breath trying to control herself and took a sip of the water which was already sitting in front of her, before retraining her eyes upon Lex. “Well, I suppose that it would be difficult for you to recognise seeing as you have never met one”. She knew his reputation, if it had two legs, two breasts and dark hair, Lex would fuck it.

He growled. He actually growled as he slammed his own glass down so hard that the stem shattered sending water across the expensive linen tablecloth. There was the sound of muffled cursing and the scraping of wood on wood as he rose to keep any from trickling into his lap.

“For God's sake Lex, sit back down and stop making such a song and dance about everything”, was his father's only response to the scene before him.

Lex shook his hand angrily to rid it of the droplets of water. “Dad, drop the charade would you. I'm hardly going to sit down and eat at the same table as a whore”.

Chloe was so red that she was almost purple. So hurt that she could hardly breath. Through stinging, blurry eyes she looked to Lionel to see that he was going to do absolutely nothing in her defence. After everything that he had done to her, to her family, everything he had promised her he was just going to sit there and let his son attack her. Her chin wobbled and so did her legs but not her conviction as she stood and walked to the door.

Lex shook his head in disbelieve, apparently knowing what was going to happen next.

“Darling, don't be silly”, Lionel called.

She continued.

“Chloe”, his voice was sharper, “come back here”.

Lex smiled, waiting for the outburst.

“Chloe Luthor, I told you to come back here”, he was angry now.

Lex almost burst out laughing when she actually marched out of the door. Judging by the look on the older man's face, that was the first time that that had ever happened to him. This marriage might be over quicker than anyone had ever imagined. Lex was about to open his mouth to ask something, presumably when Chloe would find herself out on the street, only to see his father getting up and storming after his recalcitrant bride.

“Chloe, come back here”, Lionel shouted at her retreating figure.

Chloe did not stop stomping towards the door.

“Chloe”, he repeated as he pursued her, his much longer legs eating up the distance between them.

She paid him no heed; her anger was far to great. She was shaking with it. She reached out for the door handle but Lionel leant forwards and slammed his hand against it, keeping it closed before grabbing her arms, spinning her around and pressing her back against the hard wood.

“You do not walk away from me”, he ground out.

“Get off me”, she struggled against him, trying to get free but unable to do so. He moved his hands to her wrists, pinning them either side of her head.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Is that all that I am to you?” She demanded.

“What?” He looked at her for the first time since he had turned her around. Her face was flushed, her chest was heaving, she was trembling and her large eyes were filled with pain and tears. Actual tears. Suddenly he felt his anger begin to ebb as a lump formed in his throat.

“A … a”, she chocked on her own breath, unable to force the vile word from her lips. “What he said”, finally came out after several more false starts.

“Baby, no”, he let go of her wrists and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her close to him, but she wouldn't be won over.

“No, Lionel, tell me. Is that all that our relationship is to you? A way for you to scratch your itch? Am I that insignificant to you? You know that you were my first, you saw the blood but still you did nothing!”

“Darling, no”, he cradled her against his chest, a gesture which was as protective as it was possessive. She continued to struggle. He cupped her face and made her look up at him. “Look at me”, he instructed. “Listen to me. Chloe, I love you my darling. I'm sorry that I didn't stand up for you with Lex, I didn't know that it matter to you. I love you so much my dearest, dearest darling”.

She blinked, the movement caused the moister to trickle down her cheeks. He used his thumbs to brush the droplets of sadness away.

“It doesn't matter to me. Even if you hadn't been a virgin, even if I hadn't seen the blood … with you, it doesn't matter. You are my wife, you are going to be the mother of my child, the heir to all of this ...”

He pulled her back into his arms as the words sank in. Her cheek rested on his shoulder as she stared out of the window next to the door at the great wide world beyond her, feeling his arms strong around her. Locking her in tightly.

She had no idea that anyone was watching their exchange.

~*~

Lex Luthor sat in in his suite of rooms, the security feed by the door directing straight onto his computer. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, and the image quality and angle were only just good enough for him to catch a few words but he had seen more than enough.

The fact that Lionel acted that way with her, even though Lex was certain that he was only pretending to give in to her, meant that she was smart, manipulative and dangerous. More than that, he was starting to believe that she was 'topping from the bottom' as the somewhat vulgar saying went.

At least now he had one more piece of vital information. And it had something to do with sex. At least his research wouldn’t be dull.

A/N: Hello, I hope that you liked it. Reviews are always welcome and I have started a new story in this section called The Great Deception if you want to check it out.

Wow, I had been away for a while due to school and work and I am excited to see so many updates. Please continue. Can't wait to see what happen next.

A/N: Thanks for reading Trckyrcky. :D

Chapter Three

The eerie orange glow of the flickering strip lights illuminated the long, narrow hallway, highlighting its grey paper thin walls and dark blue, slightly strained carpet which was so thin in parts it revealed the creaking floorboards below. A sight all too familiar in the cheapest, down-town college dorms.

As always, there was a pervading stench of mould, sweat socks and finally frying fat which crept up from the canteen many floors below. Along with an odd sense of loneliness in spite of the constant, incessant, irritating noise of people talking, arguing, typing and generally living which seemed to seep from every direction. It gave the impression of isolation but danger at the same time. It was enough to make anyone a little nervous.

A small women wrapped two threadbare towels - one around her body, the other around her head - scuttled along the hallway, her hands clinging to the strip of material covering her nude form, her wash-bag swinging almost comically from her wrist as she went. It almost smashed into the wall when she came to an abrupt hall and fought with the lock on a door which didn’t look like it would take more than one good kick to break down. The damned thing always got stuck.

Finally, she was forced to glance around nervously before removing both hands from her towel and yanking the handle until it gave way and she was free to scurry inside. She slammed the door after her immediately, leaving her in complete blackness. She stood with her back pressed firmly into the wood’s peeling paintwork, her fingers fumbling in the darkness for the lock, not daring to move until she heard the tell-tale click of the deadbolt falling into place.

Her breath was coming more quickly than she would have liked. She strove to get it under control as she slowly reached out and felt her way along the wall until she found the nob and the light flickered on. It was no better than the one outside.

The dim florescent light revealed a carpet which was only slightly less stained than the one outside and walls where the dingy paint had flaked away in places to reveal the breeze block beneath, giving the impression of a prison. Although, a prison might have been nicer. The tiny room which was laughingly advertised as a ‘double’ contained two beds only fit for children and covered in the thickest comforters the students could afford as the ill fitted panes of glass in the room’s only window were so thin that they did nothing to shield them from the biting wind.

The accommodation’s only adornments were found in the swirls of black and green mould which extended from the window, their tentacles starting to caresses the beds, winding their way into the girl’s lungs as they slept. The only other furniture consisted of two small desks with chairs and strange box like contraptions which passed for closets. It was to one of these that they blonde woman headed.

She took out the clothes that she had selected earlier but had been too ashamed to put out, just in case her room-mate returned early. She glanced over at the clock, still nine and a Wednesday. There was a good chance that she wouldn’t be back at all. That would make things simpler.

She rubbed her arms energetically trying to ward off the goosebumps which marred her flesh but only succeeded in noticing that the tops of her nails were starting to turn blue. She glanced around once more and grabbed her desired outfit and slipped out of the lower towel quickly. She pulled on her lacy black underwear over her newly shaved and moisturised body, before shoving on her dress. She smoothed her hands down along the fabric as it clung to her curves. It felt oddly sensual, she swallowed remembering how she had looked it in the dressing room that afternoon. She had felt sick, hating to see herself clad in something so provocative.

The sense of nausea had never truly left her, even though she tried to tell herself that it wasn’t really that bad. No one looking from the outside would know, the black length of material was seductive yet classy. She had found it in the bottom of the bargain bin of a discount store. A five-hundred dollar dress reduced to twenty – although it was twenty dollars that she could ill afford. She had to keep reminding herself that it was an investment.
*
She grabbed her slightly less prestigiously made black high-heeled pumps, and made her way over to her small desk which once she had moved the stack of due papers and bills into her only lockable draw, would double as her dressing table. She ferreted around for what remained of her make-up supplies and applied it carefully and sparingly. Then fished out her hair-dryer and hoped that it wouldn’t blow the power again, once per week was more than enough to have the entire floor banging on her door.
*
She tried to ignore the shaking of her hands as the machine whirred into life and her gaze fixed onto the packed bag sitting on her bed. Had she turned back around and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she would have seen the image a young woman on the cusp of panic. Fortunately, that wasn’t what anyone saw an hour later when she strode into the lobby of the luxury hotel.

The epitome of the well dressed confident business woman she sailed through the vestibule, though the milling hoard, to the lift earning more than a few appraising looks.

The only suggestion that she was uncomfortable or feeling sick was the hint of moister on her palms as she ran her hands down the sides of her skirt, ostensibly to smooth it down. This became a habit as she waited for the lift to arrive, one which she indulged in a few more times as she eventually entered the conveyance and found herself surrounded by strange, well dressed men who seemed to find it difficult to keep their eyes off her.

She tried to calm herself but it was impossible. There, with the hum of people and the oppressive heat of the small cubical baring down on her, her heart rattled against her ribcage, her blood pounded in her ears and she felt a scream welling up inside her but she fought it down. She had to go through with this; she was all out of options. The lift continued its excruciatingly slow assent, stopping every few seconds as one by one her companions left her, and yet somehow the chime came all too soon.
*
Her chin rose, she was going to face her fate bravely. Or at least, she hoped that she was. As she looked into the steel doors at the blurred image of the woman staring back at her, she wasn’t so sure.

She tried to convince herself that that wasn’t really what she looked like, she wasn’t really so wan, so dolled up, so wholly unfamiliar to herself. It was just a trick of the light, a door couldn’t be relied on for an accurate image. These excuses died away as the metal panels slid to the side, revealing the foyer before her and her own image in the enormous gilt framed mirror. Anyone who knew her would have known that the pale to her ivory skin was not natural, that the colour in her cheeks and lips was owed purely to make-up, that the shimmer in her eyes was from tears that she would not, could not allow to fall.

Seconds stretched by and found herself unable to force herself forwards, hating herself for her weakness until the doors began to close and somehow her legs began to lurch forwards. She was clear of the lift and heard the door closing after her, blocking off her escape. She thought that she was going to be sick at any second but still she continued forwards, even if her legs did feel as if she were trudging through tar.
*
It was easy enough to find the door, there was only one; it was the penthouse. They must have had some form of surveillance as it opened before she could even consider knocking or feel the last of her resolve melting away.
*
An elderly man stood in the open doorway, greying at the temples, in a well tailored suit and staring at her with a forbidding expression etched into his craggy features. He wasn’t the man that she was there to see, and yet she paled.
*
“I’m the secretary”, she blurted out, without having being asked, feeling the need to justify her presence there. “I ... I have a card”, she rifled through her bag. Damn it, where was it? Her shaking, taper fingers clawed her way through her possessions until she found it. Sweaty, crumpled, she handed it over to him. The now scruffy slip of paper, obviously out of place in his white gloved hand.
*
“Of course you are, madam”, he returned the her card to her and she coloured up terribly. This man was the same age as her father, if not older and she had the distinct impression that he knew what she was really there to do.
*
“Right this way”, he stood to the side, allowing her admittance.

Somehow she made her way through the penthouse through several living rooms larger than the house she had grown up in, without either her legs giving way or throwing up until she was sure that she was never going to get there when suddenly, her companion deserted her with a nod of farewell. She span around to see where he disappeared to, only to find herself face to face with someone infinitely more dangerous.

She had seen him in pictures, in interviews but never in person. She swallowed. He was a tall man with a spare frame in a suit which brought new meaning to the phrase well-tailored. A thick mane of rich chestnut hair framed a handsome, if stern, face which held two of the most startling eyes she had ever seen. They spoke eloquently of more knowledge than she had known was possible. Everything about him exuded confidence and control. This was not a man who was used to brooking defiance. He was just staring at her, his eyes travelling along her body, and yet he made her feel tiny and insignificant. Which, of course, she was to him. Just on in a long line to be forgotten the following morning.
*
He continued to pursue her, carefully but not crudely - nothing about this man could ever be crude. She fidgeted although she tried to stop herself, smoothing her skirt once again. Try as she might, she couldn’t read his expression, he might have been disgusted, horrified or amused for all she could tell.

Finally, he spoke, “I don’t believe that we have met before”.

She thought that her knees might actually give way. His voice was deep and cultured as she had known it would be but the texture, the authority ... It was warm but it chilled her to the bone

*“No”, she agreed, just happy that she could form words; her mouth was drier than the Sahara, “the company sent me over”. That was how she had been told to refer to Alicia and her girls. The company.

“You’re new?”

“No”, she blurted out in fright before realising that it hadn’t really been a question.

He smiled, or rather, the edges of his mouth turned up. He walked over to her slowly, his footsteps so soft that she couldn’t even hear them, as if he were an assassin used to sneaking up on people and slitting their throats. He reached out to her, his long but elegant fingers, stroking her hair, removing the tendrils from her face so she would have nowhere to hide. She was scared, she wanted to leave, part of her was hoping that he would throw her out but she knew what would happen to her if he did. His lips parted and her heart froze mid beat.

“Please God”, she begged, “let me live”.

“Don’t lie to me, precious”.

Her heart thumped in her chest.

“I’m new”. She admitted, knowing that she had no choice. That wasn’t what she had been told to do. Exactly the opposite in fact. She had been ordered never to let them know that it her first time.
*
“And yet they sent you?”

She couldn’t*discern anything from his face, voice or question. But apparently he wasn’t having that same problem; he could ready her like a book. “Answer me, don’t be afraid”.

“Yes”, she murmured nervously. The company had sent him every single girl they had in Metropolis over the last few months, he had never been satisfied. The company was cautious about taking on new girls although they had been on the hunt recently but only she had made the grade. “They said that you wanted something different”.

“That is very true”, he took in her appearance once more, she was a fair cry from the willowy red heads he normally chose.

“Come”, he took her arm and led over to the settee, “sit down”.

She sank down gratefully, her legs about ready to give out.

“I’ll pour us some drinks”, he informed her as he grasped a bottle on the side table by its neck. Chloe tried not to think about the fact fact that this bottle he treated so carelessly was probably worth more than her car and that the butter soft leather beneath her more than her entire college education. If she had a clumsy moment she would be in debt until long after she was dead.

“Here”, he handed her a measure of scotch before seating himself next to her. “It will do you good”.

She examined the beverage dubiously, that was far more than she had ever drunk before she she dared not refuse.

“Thank-you”, she brought it to her lips and took the tiniest of sips. She coughed and her eyes began to water.

“You are not used to alcohol”, he said, as if he had just been testing her. He plucked her glass from her grip and replaced it with the other in his hand. She saw that that at least was water. He had been testing her.

He raised his newly acquired drink to her in a salute before sipping down the fiery liquid, his lips touching the marks left by hers.

She drank down the water gratefully, hoping that some of her faintness was due to dehydration.

“Is that better?” He enquired, smiling slightly at her. She didn’t see any reason to deny it; he had already told her not to lie. “Good”, he placed his hand on her knee and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I have to admit that you are not my normal type, but you are very beautiful”.

“Thank-you”, she wasn’t sure what else to say.

“You are blushing, so young, so innocent”, he stroked her cheek. He was suddenly finding the idea that she had been untouched until him rather stimulating “I makes me wonder, what got you into this?”

She stared at him with her large, green eyes. She had no idea how she was supposed to answer that.

“The truth”.

“I need money to complete college”, that was an understatement. She was several months behind on all of her bills and that wasn’t including the massive credit card bill she had been hit with.

He nodded, “I’m sure that you’ll make it”, he ran his finger through her soft silky tresses, his hand then caressing the back of her neck. She shivered and he smiled. “You have experience though?”
*
She nodded, slowly.

“How much?”

“Um ... I don’t know exactly. I didn’t keep a tally. I’ve had”, she appeared to be thinking, “a few boyfriends so I slept with a few of them, a couple of dozen times I’d guess”.

He nodded, seeming satisfied.

He leant in, his lips almost touching her ear, “Don’t over think it. Just image that we met in a bar, I thought you were attractive and brought you a drink, we talked for a little danced a bit, and I seduced you”. The hadn which had been on her knee slipped up her thigh.

~*~

Lex jerked awake in a cold sweat. The dream had seemed so real, like he had been there watching it all. He stared around expecting to find himself hotel in Metropolis with his father and his new bride only to see the familiar darkened surrounding of his bedroom in the castle.

He flopped back against the pillows angrily. He was going insane. That was the only explanation for it. He was going completely and uttering out of his tree insane. He wanted to scream, but instead he heaved himself up and made his way over to his laptop and searched for any new updates on her. There were none. That wasn’t good enough.

Knowing that he had no chance of a good night’s sleep until this mystery was solved - and that his brain was coming up with some weird explanations - he grabbed his cellphone, replaced the sim and then punched in the familiar number, “What have you got for me?” He demanded without preamble or greetings.

If his investigator had been asleep, he did a good job of hiding it as he recounted the long winding tale of how they had begun investigating but the end result was disappointing, “We found nothing”.

Lex was very close to smashing the phone and/or sending his fist through the wall. Fortunately, as they were made out of two foot of stone, he managed to control himself. “This is ridiculous. What do you suggest that I do then?”

“I can only suggest patience until we have something more to go on”.

The phone went sailing through the air to smash against the wall. Lex didn’t feel any better.

He returned to his computer and pulled up one of his many flies on the new Mrs Luthor.

Pictures.

Charts.

Odd comments.

Everything was documented and yet he was no closer to discovering the truth. He couldn’t help the nagging suspicion that she was somehow involved with the sex trade, it was the only thing that made sense. The way that she had reacted earlier when he had only being trying to rile her up, there was something lurking there. Something worse than a semi-attractive girl who managed to seduce a billionaire into her bed for a night.

His fists clenched. He was furious. It was bad enough that a mystery was eluding him, let alone one which was so important. This creature had come into his house, looking like that, wrapping his father around her little finger with the intention of replacing his mother. She had actually sat in a room where yet again her picture had been removed as if she had done nothing wrong and deserved to be there. All the while wearing his mother’s ring. Rubbing it in his face. His mother had been a saint who had always preached forgiveness but in this case he could not oblige her. He hated Chloe Luthor. Hated her with every fibre of his being and yet he could not stop thinking about her.

Lex sat studying various documents for some time before coming to the realisation that an epiphany was not going to be forthcoming. He looked back at his bed, but neither was sleep until he had solved the mystery. It was still dark, barely passed midnight, but still he got up and headed for the door. If he wasn’t going to get anything done, he might as well play some pool.

He was only a few steps outside his room when he saw something that made him grin, he couldn’t believe his luck.

A/N: Can you guess what he saw? How do you think that Chloe and Lionel did meet?

A/N: Here are the next two chapters if anyone is interested.

Chapter Four

Chloe felt ill. In fact, she thought that she might be sick at any moment. There was no reason why she should feel like this; she was surrounded by luxury, in the peaceful stillness of the night, enveloped in the warmth of her husband’s embrace, his hot breath tickling her neck as he breathed softly. She should have felt contented but instead of appreciating all of this, instead of turning around and allowing him to nuzzle further into her as she drifted off to sleep. She was lying there: wide awake and slightly nauseous. The longer she lay there, the worse it got. An hour ago it hadn’t been so bad, he was just spooning her. Many women would have like that. Now, what she could only assume was supposed to be a loving, if slightly possessive, gesture was starting to resemble a heavy weight across her stomach binding her to him with no chance of escape

She couldn’t sleep and she couldn't lie next to Lionel any longer.

She felt guilty, dirty and above all else ill. She clenched her hands in the covers, trying to control her breathing, to convince herself that she was being stupid - which she knew she was. Lionel wasn’t an ogre, he was her devoted husband. The man who was so desperate to be closer to her that he was holding her even as he slept. He wasn’t going to hurt her. His arm moved slightly and she jumped.

She slammed her eyes shut in terror but then, after a few seconds, when her actions weren’t met with demands to know what she was doing, she opened them slightly and peered over at him. It wasn’t easy given the angle but it was clear that he was still asleep. She gave a sigh of relief.

He was obviously a very deep sleeper. She ran her hand over his gently and was relieved to notice no change, with equal care she took it and inch by inch slid it back over so that he was holding onto himself. Immediately, she felt better.

She lifted her side of the cover ever so slightly and then, infinitesimal amount by infinitesimal amount she slid out from underneath the covers and finally she was free. The cool night air hit her, feeling wonderfully refreshing after being cocooned in Lionel’s warmth.

Delighted by her touch of freedom she checked on her husband once again and upon perceiving that his sleeping form had not moved, she smiled with relief and tip toed to the door, snagging her robe and slippers from the chair as she went.

She slid them on, although her eyes remained trained on her spouse until she was out of the door, taking a full minute over the opening and closing of the heavy wood to ensure that it didn’t make a sound.

Once in the hallway she looked first to the right and then to the left and headed in the latter direction partly because she though that that was where she had come from earlier that day but more because that was where the large window was and the glimmer of moonlight.

As she crept along she was fairly certain that it was the same path from before, but it all look so different at night. It was certainly a lot scarier. She wrapped her arms around herself no longer finding the chill refreshing and wishing that she had something a little more substantial than her silk robe but still she was unwilling to go back. In fact, she looked over her shoulder, just in case. Thankfully it appeared that she was still alone.

She placed her hand on the banister and slowly made her way down the stairs. Carefully so that she won't fall pausing only for a second at the bottom before turning and heading down one hallway, still not turning on the light. Mostly because she had no idea where it might be.

Chloe had the odd sensation that she was being followed, but when she looked over her shoulder she saw nothing, so she continued nervously. She strained her eyes against the darkness and counted what she thought was seven doors across in order to reach the library, but upon entering realised her mistake. She turned around to leave only to come face to face with a solid chest. She tilted her head up and found herself staring into the face of her enemy.

Lex smiled slowly and cruelly, he had followed her the whole way and it had been worth while. His eyes had become accustomed enough to the darkness that the pale light shimmering through the closed French doors behind her was more than enough for him to be able to drink her in.

She was standing just inside the doorway, her tiny slipper clad feet dancing backwards along the cold hard tiles, her long pale legs tense and tying to hide behind each other as his gaze racked over them up to her short silk slip which was wrapped tightly around her, revealing her slender curves and the stiff peaks brought on by the chill in the air.

He licked his lips, not bothering to hide his admiration. She blushed, from her chest to her face or what he could see of her face. Part of her visage was covered by her golden hair which spilled out everywhere, but did not stop him from making out her eyes. The green orbs were wide, scared and fixed on him. He fed of her fear.

“What are you doing here?” His voice was silky and dangerous.

“I was going for a walk”, she announced, a tremor in her voice as she stared up at him, determined not to break.

“Is that so?” He advanced on her, a sinfully handsome smirk spreading across his features as he watched her try to stand her ground, only to scurry back just as he came close enough to touch her.

There was a bang, without his weight against the door it had closed, sealing off her exit.

He advanced on her until she was far enough until the room to be bathed completely in the soft light while shadows still clung to his form.

She raised her chin an inch, lowered her heels to the ground and attempted to pull her robe even more tightly around herself. It was a pathetic attempt at trying to stare him down but he found it oddly cute.

“Of course, what better time to go for a walk than the middle of the night? Without any lights on. Without telling anyone”, he took a step closer to her with each accusation, excited by the fact she refused to move back any further even as her breath hitched in her throat.

“Who says that I didn’t tell anyone?”

“Well, if the quiver in your voice didn’t give you away ...”

Her eyes narrowed at him.

He grinned.

“Then the fact that Lionel isn’t here with you would. My father is a lot of things but stupid enough to let a woman who looks like you”, he allowed his eyes to trail over her body, delighting in the way that she squirmed, “run around half dressed in the middle of the night, isn’t one of them”.

He moved to take one last step towards her. It would have brought them nose to nose, chest to chest - or would have had he not dwarfed her -, but she reached out and pressed the palms of her hands firmly against him.

“Allowed does not come into it. I am the lady of the house now, I go wherever I want whenever I want and you would do well to remember that”, her eyes crackling with fury met his and sparks flew.

She was furious and wanted to leave, but she couldn’t. She felt as if she were caught in quicksand. They continued to stare at each other, neither one about to make the first move less it not pan out and they lose face, when she decided on an exit strategy. She inquired, almost conversationally, “What is this place?”

Lex blinked, that had not been what he had been expecting to come out of her pretty, pouting mouth. It knocked him off centre. “I would have thought that you would have known”, he began then smirked as he watched as she used it as an excuse to dart around him without looking as if she were fleeing. So that was her game.

“I was aiming for the library”, she informed him coolly as she started towards the door.

He stared at her, in the dark, he wasn't sure that he believed her as innocent as she looked and sounded. “One door down”, he stayed where he was, letting her eat up the space between her and her escape. Growing more confident with every step until he decided to remind her of his presence again.

She appeared to nod and started to reach for the door handle, even though she was still a few metres away. Lex headed her off, remind her, “You haven't answered my question”.

“I see no reason why I should”, the expression of shattered optimism on her features was unmistakable.

He decided to press his advantage. He placed his hands on her arms and watched her shiver, and not just from the difference in temperature he’d be bound.

He closed what was left of the gap between them, deliberately lowering his voice so that she would have to strain to hear him, as if he were letting her in on a secret. “Perhaps my father would like to hear what you were doing”.

She shrugged and tried to look casual as she attempted to manoeuvre herself out of his grip.

He wouldn’t allow it. He was gentle but controlling as he ran his hands up and down the soft, frozen flesh of her arms “You really think that he will believe anything that you say, don’t you? You think that you are so special”.

“I know that I am”, she had been told so many times. She turned her head away from him, she didn’t care if he thought her weak, she would not allow him to witness the pain and loss in her expression.

He pursed his lips, knowing that she was hiding something. He released one of her arms and rotated her head so that he could see her face as he told her, “You are not untouchable”. Shaking the tree, to see what flew out.

She swallowed. The last few days would have been enough to shatter any such disillusions, had she ever had any. Still, she was not going to allow herself to be manhandled in the middle of whatever room it was they were actually in; she never had got an answer about that. With an expression meant to convey sheer boredom, she rolled her eyes.“I am, however, exceptionally bored with this. You in particular”.

He laughed and removed his hands from her body, only to begin circling her like a lion does his prey. “I have to wonder what a woman like you sees in my father”.

“Then look a little harder”, she shot at the moving target.

He smirked. “There are other men in the world”.

She rolled her eyes again but turned as he did, not liking to have him at her back. Something caught her eye and she couldn’t help but ask again, “Where are we?”

He furrowed his brow at her, thinking that she was trying to distract him and then bolt but observing her genuine look of astonished interest and knowing that he could catch her long before she made it to the door, he consented to glance around his surroundings. He didn’t know what she found so fascinating about it.“Just a room. Nothing in particular”.

“There are all of these antiques and you call it nothing?” She gaped. Some people really were spoilt.

He followed the line of her gaze and bristled. The room was not generally used for storage but apparently taking down his mother’s image had been done in such a hurry that they had just left them in there, knowing that the room was never used.

Chloe’s curiosity had always got the better of her, and this time was no exception. She forgot all about her argument with Lex for a second as she walked over to the vast array of paintings and other beautiful objects. There were several vases which had she owned would have been in pride of place but appeared to have just been forgotten in a random room of the great castle. She studied one of the larger paintings at the front, a gorgeous piece which until her marriage had resided in the dining room. “Who is it?”

Lex stared at her incredulously. He could not believe that she actually had the nerve to ask him such a thing. He refused to answer. This didn’t seem to bother Chloe much as she continued, “It looks old, like its from the Renaissance but I don't recognise it and the colours are just a little too good and clear. It must be a new copy but it really is extraordinary”.

He frowned, he couldn’t believe that she actually knew anything about art. She probably just read Art for Dummies to impress his father.

“But the woman”, she pondered.

“What about the woman?” He snapped.

She was so close to it now that her nose was almost touching it, giving him a spectacular view of her body. She was very nicely made for all her other imperfections.

“She is all wrong for the time that it is supposed to be. This style of beauty wasn't in fashion at the time. It almost looks as if someone had taken a modern woman and then had her painted in the old style to fake it”.

He snorted, that exactly what Lionel had done.

“And distorted it”.

“Get away from that”, he demanded storming over to her and pulling her back by the arm.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? I can look at an image if I want”, she attempted to yank her arm out of his grip but was unable to. It was the reason she hadn’t tried brute force before; she knew that she would lose against him. She didn’t want to be weak, but she would not be mistreated and said the only thing that she thought think of to stop him, as pathetic as it sounded, even to her own ears. “Touch me again and I'll tell Lionel”.

“Try it”, he growled, dragging her to him so that their noses were touching. She wasn't going to talk about his mother like that. She had not been ‘distorted’.

The lights flicked on. They both blinked, temporarily blinded by the sudden chance before turning to see who was there.

“Oh, Mr Luthor, Mrs Luthor”, one of the security guards said, sounding shocked as he fixed his gaze on his shoes.

Lex released his captive with a cruel sneer. “Thompson”, he beckoned over his security guard, “Mrs Luthor”, he drawled her name, “is searching for the library apparently. Make sure that she finds it, and stops skulking around in the dark”. And with that, he left.

Mrs Luthor glowered at his back.






Chapter Five

The following morning, Lex sauntered down the stairs whistling a jaunty tune. He was in a better mood than he had been for days. Whilst it still bugged him that he had not solved the mystery of the interloper, it hardly mattered any more; he had something on her. Once his father was informed of her behaviour from the night before, she would be out. This was to be the last breakfast they ever shared together.

The tune - which just happened to be Ding Dong the Witch is Dead - faltered slightly as he entered the dining room. Logically he knew that his mother’s portrait would not have been replaced over night, but seeing it missing still bothered him more than it should have. He continued to expel air with renewed zeal as he knew that it would vex his father.

He glanced from his irritated sire to his new wife, anxious to watch her squirm in the wake of her demise. As always she was small and pretty, an air of innocence and nervousness around her which made him want to burst out laughing.

She was loveliness itself mixed with a manipulative heart, it was a pity really that they were on opposite sides, she would have been a valuable ally. Alas it was not to be, fate had dictated that she was to be his enemy and now she would meet her end.

“Good morning Father. Chloe”, he smiled at ends of the table, including everyone in his apparent good mood.

Chloe looked a little perplexed and just nodded at him.

Taking this as an invitation to address his conversation solely to her, Lex took his seat in the middle and enquired politely, “Beautiful morning, isn’t it?”

“Yes”, she agreed, her tone a little unsure as she looked over at her husband for support. This new ‘happy’ Lex made her more nervous than the angry one every had. She hoped that Lionel might give her some clue as to his son’s intentions but discovered that his eyes were trained on said son.

“Glad to see that you have got over your childish fit of jealously Lex”, the patriarch drawled.

“Absolutely”, he shot his father a brittle smile, “you can’t imagine how much better I feel”.

“Not that I am not glad to hear that but might we know what this change in attitude can be ascribed to?”

“Wondering how much you can sell it for by the ounce?” Chloe enquired sweetly.

“Come come by dear, charity”, Lionel rebuked her gently.

“They do say that it begins at home”, Lex looked at her meaningfully. “How do you like your new home?”

“I believe that you were going inform us why you appear to be high”, she answered his question with one of her own.

Lionel didn’t snort with laughter - that would have been far too undignified -, but he came close to it.

“Ah yes, I think that it is just the benefits of a good nights sleep. Did you both sleep well?” He asked, knowing that Chloe, at least, had not.

“Hardly something you ask a bride and bridegroom Lex”, Lionel said with an easy laugh and lecherous look which made the bile rise up in Lex’s throat. He really was a perverted old bastard.

Chloe was blushing, more fiercely than one would have thought necessary.

“No, I suppose not”, he smiled, privately wondering if she had ever had any formal training as an actress. “So, what topic of conversation would you prefer? Do you like the new house?”

“It is very nice”, Chloe answered him primly.

“I’ve told Chloe that she can change it however she likes”, Lionel expounded and caught his son’s eye, there was a definite note of challenge there and Lex felt an uncomfortable tightening in his chest. He had never cared for he house, never considered it to be his family home but the idea that every vestige of his mother was going to be eradicated angered him so greatly that he wanted to leap across the table and strangle his father with his own bare hands. He restrained himself, however, reminding himself of his plan and that Chloe would soon be gone.

“Quite. So, perhaps we should discuss the changes you want to make? Is it much bigger than what you are used to?” His tone indicated that he knew that she did not come from money.

“No”, she stabbed a piece of something on her plate and ate it without much noticing what it was.

He raised an eyebrow, she was lying.

“Buckingham palace was a little bigger than this place, wasn’t it Lionel?”

She was not only lying, she was making fun of him. As he had guessed, his father was of no help.

Chloe rolled her eyes and sighed before fixing them on her son in law, “This place is bigger than most houses, yes Lex. But size isn’t everything”.

“I wouldn't know”. Lex answered automatically, hoping to embarrass her. It didn’t work. It was with the sweetest of smiles that she enquired, “Runs in the family, does it?” He didn’t dare look back over at his father but he knew that he was smiling, he felt sick.

“So, you are not from a ....

“Why so interested?” She demanded, a little defensively.

“Stop peppering her with questions Lex”, Lionel’s warning tone travelled over to his son.

“Just trying to get to know the new addition to our close knit, loving family”. His sarcasm was not appreciated, but she refused to roll her eyes. He tried, she had wanted to discuss it the night before after all. “Shall we discuss art then?”

“Art?” Lionel sounded surprised, “Well, at least a little of the culture I’ve always tried to instil into you seem to be paying off. What ‘art’ is it that you would like to discuss in particular son? Cartoons? That ninja fairy again?”

“Warrior Angel”, Lex corrected him automatically.

He could feel two sets of eyes boring into him - his father’s disappointed mocking ones from behind -, her softer but shocked ones fixed on his face. He bristled, he didn’t care what either of them thought but he was just a comic book for God’s sake. It was perfectly natural that he would like them, he wasn't the one who should be feeling embarrassed. “No, I was thinking that we should discuss Renaissance art. You like that, right Chloe?” He finished this suggestion with a smirk as a spark of panic flashed through her eyes.

Lex opened his mouth to launch a verbal assault when one of the maids entered to take the mostly uneaten plates of fruit away and serve the hot breakfast. He could wait a few minutes, he kept his eyes trained on his prey watching as she became steadily more uneasy. He smirked. He had her on the run. Or so he thought.

“I think that we have had enough conversation for now.” Lionel announced and they ate in silence, although Chloe pushed her food around her plate more than anything else and then almost bolted from the room under the excuse of having a phone call to make.

“Well Dad, I think that I have some news you would like to hear”, Lex said, casually tossing his napkin into the table. The moment had come.

“Is that so son?” Lionel inquired mildly, as he stood up and stretch his back out before ambling his way over to his first born.

“Yes, I ...”

“Well, before you do I have a little piece o f advice for you Lex”, his father came over and placed his hand on his shoulder before leaning down, “I would think very carefully before you consider harassing my wife again”.

Lex stared at his father in shock. What the hell had the bitch told him?

~*~

“You look tired”, Lionel informed his wife as he woke up.

“You are very sweet”, she teased him.

“You are, of course, as lovely as ever”, he informed her as he propped himself up on his elbows to hover over her before pecking her on the lips.

“You’re not too bad looking yourself”, she murmured as she worried her lower lip.

“What’s wrong?” He asked simply.

“It’s ... It’s nothing”, she said, unconvincingly.

“Chloe”, his tone was edged with warning.

“I don’t want to tell you”, she said in a voice which barely verged on a whisper.

‘Well, at least she isn’t actually denying that there is anything wrong any more’, Lionel thought to himself. “I’m your husband sweetheart, you should tell me everything. Do you think that I might have something more important to think about than you?”

“No”, she responded meekly, although considering that he was a billionaire, business tycoon, with thousands of people in his empty and possible plans for world domination, the real answer was probably yes.

“No, that’s right”, he rubbed his nose against hers before giving her another kiss on the lips. “So why won’t you tell me?”

“Because”, she start, “you have done so much for me, and you are so kind, and I don’t want you to think that I’m unappreciative”, her eyes grew wide and earnest.

“You don’t have to be any of those things”, he assured her, “and I like protecting you”.

“Well, I suppose that it was just everything. The wedding, the move, the new surroundings”, she tried ot shrug but it was difficult given their position, “ I couldn’t sleep”.

“But there was more to it than that, I take it?” He prompted, stroking her hair.

She nodded hesitantly.

“What is it?” His voice was so soft, so warm, that in that moment it didn’t seem as if he could possibly ever hurt her and yet she still seemed to have problems getting the words out and Lionel felt a hot possessive desire to protect her welling up inside him, only slightly mingled with annoyance at her hesitance.

“Well”, she started, thinking that her throat might actually crack, “I wanted something to read and I went down to the library, or what I thought was the library”, she broke off.

“Did you get lost again?”

“Yes”, she nodded, “but that’s not why I couldn’t go to sleep afterwards”.

“What happened?” His jaw tensed.

“No, forget it, I shouldn’t”, she made to slip out from under his arm and get out of bed.

“Chloe”, he pressed her down gently, “you are not leaving this bed until you tell me what happened”. Her movement had caused her arm to be shown, where Lex had grabbed her after the picture comment.

“Lex followed me”, she admitted staring up at him with large watery eyes.

Lionel’s gaze grew dark and menacing. She didn’t think that she had ever been so afraid of him before in her life. He gave the distinct impression of being able to rip someone’s heart out and devour it whole.

“He didn’t hurt me, but ... But”, her eyes filled with tears. “He wasn’t very nice. I don’t know why he hates me so much. I don’t know what I did”.

“There there”, Lionel comforted her, rolling over onto his back and pulling her along with him so that she was nestled against his chest. “It isn’t you, it is him. He is just an unhappy boy but don’t you worry I will talk to him. He will behave better from now on”, he promised.

Chloe cuddled up close to him. Turning her head on its side, she saw their reflection in the mirror on her dressing table. She looked sad and meek, everything she had been hoping for. She would have convinced any audience. Even Lionel Luthor.

~*~

Chloe strolled along one of the long winding corridors which she was fairly certain led towards the kitchen, she had made her phone call and she was fairly hungry now, she hadn’t been able to eat with Lex staring at her like that over the breakfast table. She was just wondering what she should have when out of no where, Lex appeared.

“God”, she placed her hand over her heart, “you almost gave a heart attack”.

“Well”, he appeared to be considering that for a second, “I suppose that would be one way of dealing with you”. Her eyes narrowed and her hand returned to her side, she had never punched anyone yet but she was fairly certain that she could manage it. He took a step towards her and she definitely considered it. No, she was being silly, he wasn’t going to try to physically hurt her. Not here at least.

“What do you want Lex?” She demanded.

“Just to make one thing crystal clear”, his voice was low and soft but unmistakable. “You might be able to fool my father for a little while, but not me”.

She blinked. Looking like she had been slapped in the face. And for a second, just a split second, he wasn’t so sure. This woman was even more dangerous than he had thought.

Definitely still reading this! Little confused now though, I thought Chloe was the victim but is she playing Lionel?

Mwhahahahah!!! My evil plan is working. Plus, thanks for reading. There are going to be layers within layers of manipulation by the time that we get to chapter 60 something ... If the writing goes right. :D Are you up for it?

I almost threw up with the Lionel and Chloe sex scene but I got through it. I want to know why she gave up her virginity for that scum bag.

I appreciate the dedication :D Yes, I took ages writing that so that it was being her 'giving' it to him although undertones of force, did you get that? You will find out if you keep reading for long enough. :) Wuv you for reading. *huggles* Have things sorted themselves out yet?

Awesome chapters
But I must confess I'm confused too. So Chloe is being sneaky, is that it? Wow, she fooled me in the beggining lol
Can't wait for more

i agree if everyone else i am confused.interested to find out what happens next

A/N: Can I say just how much I love my reviewers? Love you all. Sorry that I haven't been good about updating this but you know real life.

Chapter Six

Lex shook his head as he watched her retreating form. She didn’t sail away in a swirl of perfume of hauteur. Nor did she wiggle her way away from him in a way designed to cause a spike in his libido. Her pace was measured and the sway of her hips purely unconscious. Or so it appeared. He snorted. If there was one sure he was sure of it was that nothing that she did was unconscious.

“Calculating bitch”, he muttered, not without admiration. He turned on his heel and headed back to his bedroom, the only room in the entire house that he could be absolutely sure hadn’t been bugged. He marched straight over to his locked draw and removed his cell phone and expertly put it together, ensuring that his call would be untraceable. “Tell me that you have found something on her”.

There was a moment’s silence on the other end of the line but he didn’t bother to elaborate further. They knew who he was and exactly what he wanted. He had contacted them more in the last forty-eight hours than he had in the previous year.

The silence was broken as the man on the other end of the line slowly admitted, “Sadly no, not yet. Did you find out anything more about her? Anything that”, he continued cautiously, “might be helpful?” He hated to ask his employer such a question but they were getting desperate and the Luthor scion was their largest account. Normally they could find everything about someone in only a few minutes, a few hours if things had been particularly well hidden but not just based on a Christian name and the fact that she was blonde and pretty.

“No, didn’t you get the images from the security tapes?” Lex asked tersely. He was paying for answers, not more questions.

“Yes, thank-you we did. I have put several of my best men on it but even after a full night”, no one had got a wink of sleep, “we couldn’t do much with it. We have run her through the face recognition software but nothing.”

“Damn it”, Lex swore, loudly.

The wince on the other end of the phone was almost audible. “That doesn’t necessarily mean anything though, other than that she doesn’t have a police record. That is the only way that her she would be registered, unless she either has a passport created within the last one or two years”.

No answer was forthcoming from Lex.

“What I mean to say is”, he wasn’t really sure that he had made his point, “that our not being able to find her that way does not necessarily mean that she is being hidden from you. Just that ... Well, she hasn’t been registered for anything”. Honestly, most of the time he was a fairly articulate man, capable of holding lengthy conversations. It was just Lex who made him nervous. His little girls’ private education was derived almost wholly from the Luthor account.

Lex shook his head, “Even if she didn’t have a police record”, which was perfectly possible even if she had been a prostitute or something, it just meant that she worked for one of the larger houses who were above the law. Or rather, slept with the law enforcers bosses and so no one went after them. “No”, he shook his head. “There should still be something. There is no way that Lionel wouldn’t have got her a passport, if she didn’t already have one. He would want to be able to take her out of the country at a moment’s notice”. Thinking about it, he probably could anyway - with or without a passport. Who was going to stop Lionel Luthor or his wife and ask questions?

“It does rather lend credence to the hooker theory then”, the older man said with a heavy sigh.

“No”, Lex said a little too roughly. It riled him to think of her in that situation, even though he was the one who came up with the theory to start with. “Lionel believed her over me”, he reasoned, although he wasn’t sure with whom, “He wouldn’t have done so if that were the case. No, there is something else going on”.

That was undoubtedly true. If he knew anything about the Luthors - and after being Lex’s private investigator for almost a decade, he did - there was probably a whole host of crap going on there. He wasn’t entirely sure that the Luthor patriarch could have his morning coffee without a scandal. In spite of the fact that he knew all this, he still heard himself asking: “You don’t think that it could just be love? Old men have fallen for pretty faces before now”.

“No chance”, Lex scoffed, “you don’t know him like I do”.

“So, there is no chance that she is innocent?” He enquired. He doubted it himself but the accumulated knowledge of several generations of private investigators had taught him that when you were being paid to find out something - most people were actually paying you to find out what they wanted you to find rather than the truth.

A man in love wanted to find out that his sweetheart was true, even when it was obvious that she wasn’t. And the man who wanted to move onto a newer model wanted to discover infidelity, even if that was a potential ‘emotional affair’ between her and her gay hairdresser who she had only seen twice in the previous six months. For whatever reason, Lex seemed not to want to believe the probably truth about his father’s new, young wife.

“No, definitely not”, he said decisively. There was absolutely no chance that that conniving minx was innocent. Those eyes, that mouth ...

“Well, I trust your instincts”, the investigator broke through his employer’s thoughts. “So, what are they telling you about her?”

He thought for a few seconds. Most of his ‘instinctual feelings and musings’ about her were hardly repeatable. Quite a few of them involved her backed up against that large window, bent across his desk and, well, in a whole host of other positions. Some of them requiring rather a lot of flexibility and stamina. “That there is more to this story than meets the eye and that whatever she is, she isn’t just your normal cold bloody gold digger”.

“Well, that’s something”, he supposed, “You think that she is less dangerous?”

“Hell no”, Lex almost laughed at the very notion, “she is far more dangerous. She is making me doubt what I know to be true. She is the kind of women who you could watch stealing something from you and then have her convince you that you gave it to her only a few seconds later”.

“Lex”, he thought about his next words very carefully, “I don’t want to overstep my mark but is she”, he sought for the right words but in the end had to be satisfied with, “your type?”

“My type?” Lex did chuckle darkly that time. “She is insane”, she would have to be to marry Lionel, “and malicious with an innocent damsel’s face? Of course she is my type”.

His eye wandered back over to the screen with the security feed and ‘extras’ that he had set up. The image he found there caused a slow smile to spread across his features. “I have to go now”.

~*~

Lex’s feet flew along the landing, down the stairs and through several secret passages which he had discovered as a child so that he was able to slip into the room without being observed.

He scanned his surroundings, everything was in exactly the same place as it had been the night before. There was no chance that this was just a coincidence.

In the bright, frosty sunlight she resembled an icy statue even more than normal the traces of softness from the night before wiped clean from her. She stood staring out of the window, her alabaster skin and cold blue eyes showing to great advantage.

He moved up behind her, his eyes clinging to her form. Images from the dreams which had plagued him the night before clouding his mind. There were stimulating to say the least.

“We have to stop meeting like this”.

Chloe span around her eyes wide with shock and fear, emotions which she schooled immediately. He was impressed by such an ability, such control was worthy of only a Luthor. Or perhaps she had known that he was there all along and then that flash of emotion has been entirely for his benefit. He was starting to believe her capable of anything.

She raised an eyebrow at him.

He was filled with admiration; he long since learnt that that supercilious expression was the best way to deal with most situations in life. He returned the haughty gesture.

Her chin tilted up.

He smirked.

“What are you doing in here?” She demanded.

“I might ask you the same question”. He had known that she would be the first one to break. However good she was, she couldn’t match the years of experience he had accumulated from living with Lionel Luthor.

They were right back where they had been the night before. Both literally and metaphorically. She gave him a decidedly superior look and turned back around to gaze out of the window.

A small smile tugged at his lips but he controlled the impulse and moved towards her. He positioned himself just slightly to close to her, he could distinguish the outline of face and she could feel his hot breath. He noted her tense with satisfaction. He could detect the goosebumps pricking up along her skin. The flush coming to her cheeks. His smirk threatened to overpower him.

“My father is extremely taken with you”, he stated solemnly.

“Always an advantage in a marriage”, with equal solemnity.

“To the point where he installed you as mistress of this house”, he forced out the words which wished to stick in his throat. There was no point in denying the fact that she had usurped his mother’s place and done her best to remove every trace of her sainted presence from the castle.

She bristled visibly, giving the impression that she wished to turn but had stopped herself. “What do you want Lex?” She demanded quietly, her eyes still trained on the prospect before her.

“Why, to get to know you better”, he turned so that he could see a touch more of her face.

“Why does that not fill me with confidence?”

“For example”, he continued as if she hadn’t spoke, “what your fascination with this particular room is”.

She flickered. It was tiny, almost imperceptible. But he caught it.

“It’s just a room, isn’t it?” Chloe turned to him with an expression of innocent bewilderment.

The minx. She had turned it around on him, trying to make him think that he was the one who had put something there. He was impressed, stimulated. Stirred.

“As far as I know”, he conceded, taking a step away from her to peruse the room. It was much like all of the others in the castle: large and imposing, but this one strangely without purpose. It was still filled with random articles of furniture, antiques and the portraits of his beloved mother.

His eyes shifted back from the divine to the devious. “I must say I would like to know how you contrive to look like you do”, his took in every inch of her delicious form.

“Surgeons?”

Lex smiled, most women he knew had had some work done but he didn’t think that she had, for some reason he couldn’t quite explain. “I mean, you look well rested for someone who must have been up half of the night”, his lips apparently felt dry as he licked them. “Convincing my father or working out how to do so”.

“No convincing necessary, I just told him the truth. He is a reasonable man”.

He snorted. “He doesn’t have in here bugged; there’s no need to suck up”. She said nothing. Either because she agreed or didn’t consider him to be worth the trouble of arguing with. So it was that he continued, “I would be interpreted to know hear what ‘truth’ that might be”. He could only imagine how she must have reworked that tale to cause Lionel to sympathise with her.

“You were there”, she reminded him.

“I was”, he agreed as he reached out to grasp her shoulder lightly before spinning her around. “You know, I just can’t work you out”.

She raised an eyebrow again.

“What was it that made him fall for you when no one else could manage it?” He fixed her with his most penetrating stare, “You do think that he has fallen for you, don’t you?”

In spite of their proximity and his hands on her shoulders, she gave no indication of having heard him.

He studied her and resisted the urge to huff. “You are very beautiful”. She still refused to react to him. That irritated him more than her wicked tongue ever could have. “Exceptionally beautiful, in fact”, he stroked the back of his hand along her cheek. She flinched slightly. He smirked.

“You know -” This time her eyes were trained on his face. He licked his lips. She swallowed. “There is no reason why we need to be enemies. Lionel will tire of you eventually but that doesn’t mean that we can’t come to some agreement. A deal that is mutually beneficial”. As he spoke, his hot breath caressing her cheek, his stroked the pads of his fingers down her cheek, her throat ...

Lex’s hand halted and his head snapped to the side as Chloe lashed out.

“I do like my women feisty”, he smiled, rubbing the pink mark ruminatively.

Chloe tried to push him back and slip past him but he was ready for her. He snatched her hand in his and pressed his body into hers so that she was firmly against the cold glass of the window, her back arching automatically, unconsciously pushing her breasts into him.

A shot of predatory delight and pure lust blasted through him. He wanted to grab her and fuck her senseless but he forced himself suave, he was a Luthor after all. He held her hand tenderly and contemplated it. “Whilst you were doing what you were doing, I was asleep having a rather lovely dream”.

“I have no inter -”

He stroked his thumb down the centre of her palm along her wrist.

“I don’t believe that you have no interest”, his lips were so close to her that they grazed her throat briefly, “not for a second”. He felt her shiver. This was almost too easy. He had never met a woman he couldn’t seduce.

“We were back in this room, you still with that ridiculously sheer nightie on slipping out of your robe. Back, just like this”, weight of his body reinforcing his point, his linked his fingers in with hers.

“Or almost like this”, he considered their position, “you hitched up against the glass, your legs wrapped around me, heels digging into my back, nails scratching my shoulders, my teeth at your neck”, he nipped at her skin. He knew that that good girl hauteur would melt away in his hands, “What do you say?”

“I say”, she whispered, before taking his lobe between her brilliant teeth, “that”, she slipped from his grasp, shoving him back against the glass. He didn’t protest. He couldn’t. Dominant girls turned him on. She drew her nails down his chest, enough to leave marks even though his shirt, “Boys like you should grow up and stop dreaming about me”. With that she sauntered out in that way that he knew was going to furnish his brain with plenty more dreams about her.

A/N: So, what do you think? Any closer to working anything out?

woohoo go Chloe
Loved how she put Lex on his place lol
This is really good, really interesting... can't wait to find out more about Chloe and see what Lex is going to find out about her :)

can't wait to see what happens.

Well this story is quite intriguing... I'm terribly curious as to what brought Chloe n Lionel together. Can't wait for Lex to figure out she's not the scheming one he thinks & then hopefully sweep her off her feet. I simply love Chlex!! Very good so far, I hope you update soon!!

Go Chloe

Kirt30: Yay, a new reader. :D

Zulucnjy: Another new reader, thank-you. :D

Cbrunberg: Well, it will be updated today. :D

Malugargula: Hello again. :)

Chapter Seven

Chloe stared into the mirror, her fingers running over the place she knew that Lex had nipped thankful that there was no sign of the bite even though she could still feel his teeth and their effect.

“Wimp”, she chided herself removing her hand. “You cannot be this weak”. She remembered the feel of his thumb running over her palm and wrist. How the hell could that be so damned sexy?

The sensation stayed with her. As did the feel of his body pressing against hers. Her legs clamped together. She was being ridiculous, she couldn’t let him get to her like this.

He was her enemy whatever he said. Lionel wasn’t going to get tired of her, he wasn’t going to toss her to the side and turning to Lex would be a risk. She was Lionel’s wife after all. She pulled herself up, she would not listen to Lex’s rubbish. However, a tiny voice in the back of her mind piped up, Lionel had been widowed for years and she was willing to bet that he had not been celibate all of that time.

The more that she thought of it, the more she considered the possibility of a safety net in the shape of the son. She checked her dress and went in search of the Luthor scion. She found him in his bedroom, reclining on his bed reading a book.

“You don’t knock?”

“No”, she strolled in, closing the door behind her. She knew that his chamber would not have cameras in it, it was the one room she could be sure of. She fixed her eyes on him, taking in everything about him. Sleek bald head. Handsome distrusting face. Crisp shirt and pants. Socks. For some reason that made him even sexier.

“Is there something that I can do for you?” He asked politely as he placed his book to the side.

“That depends”, she moved further into the room, “were you serious?”

“I’m always serious”, he still didn’t get up, allowing her come to him.

“I don’t want to be left outside in the cold”, the words stuck in her throat, “when Lionel tires of me”.

He stared at her, there was a touch of something akin to tenderness in his lovely green eyes. How had she ignored how handsome he was before?

“You won’t be”, he promised her, “we can come up with something. Come here”, he held out his hand.

She bridged the gap between them on shaky legs, Not entirely sure why she was doing this, it was about something more than survival.

“Don’t be nervous”, he took her hand gently and pulled her onto the bed. He played with her fingers. “We don’t have to do anything, we ...”

She pressed her lips against his.

~*~

“Chloe?”

Chloe jumped, her fingers brushing over the spot Lex’s teeth had nipped.

“What are you doing darling?”

“Oh, nothing”, she rubbed her neck, “I think that I got a bug bite or something”. She knew enough about deceit than to try to ‘hide’ something you wanted to hide. She turned her neck to allow her husband to see the non-existent mark.

Lionel inspected her dutifully but decided, “I can’t see anything”, before placing a kiss against the spot. Chloe shivered but not for the right reasons, as he declared, “There, all better now”.

“All better”, she agreed with a forced smile.

“Good”, he pulled her to him and kissed her lips gently. “Is everything sorted?”

She blinked.

“Your phone call”, he prompted her.

“Hmmm”, she agreed.

“Good”, he nuzzled her ear. “God you smell good”. His hands travelled down onto her ass and gave it a squeeze.

“Lionel”, she protested, “it is the middle of the morning”.

“I know”, he sighed, returning his hands to around her waist and resting his forehead against hers. “I can’t help wanting to spend all day with my beautiful wife, can I?”

“I suppose not”.

“Unfortunately retreating to our bed for the rest of the day isn’t an option; I have to go into Metropolis for business today. I should be back late tonight and then back out early tomorrow morning”.

“Oh”, she tried to inject as much regret into her tone as possible. “Well, there’s no point in you coming all of the way back if you need to stay overnight you can you know, I won’t be offended. There’s no reason to travel for an extra three hours when you’re already tired”.

He pulled back and raised an eyebrow at her, “You won’t miss me?”

“Of course I will darling but I know how hard it is for you to take off time from work and I have had you all to myself for several days now”, she reached up to brush her lips against his, in an attempt to distract him.

“You won’t be scared by yourself?” He teased her, rubbing his nose against hers.

“No, maybe just a little lonely”, she ran her hands up his arms.

“Me too”.

“You’d better be”, she pecked him on the nose, “and you’d better behave yourself”.

“I was just about to say the same thing”, he smiled down at her. “You know, I have some time before I have to get going”.

~*~

Chloe shivered, her arms wrapping around herself as she watched her husband driving off. It was freezing out there, the wind cut right through her cardigan and she convinced herself that it was also the reason for the tear trickling down her cheek.

“Touching”.

“Do you have to keep sneaking up on me?”

“I do live here”, Lex pointed out with a sneer.

“Really? I thought that you gallivanted around the country embarrassing your father and wasting money”, she shot back.

“Well, that too”.

She rolled her eyes.

“I didn’t know that you and my father ever spoke”, he moved closer to her.

“What you don’t know could fill a warehouse ... And then some”, she turned to find that he didn’t look perturbed. With a huff, she went to brush by him but he blocked her way.

“Lex”.

“I was serious about what I said earlier”, he caressed her arm gently, boring into her with his soulful eyes.

“I’m sure that you were, boys normally are”, she tried to get around him but found herself held back.

“I meant”, his hands were firm on her arms, “about us not having to be enemies”.

“You would rather be fuck buddies?” She cocked her head to one side.

“That would be nice”, he licked his lips, apparently unfazed by the cold, “but it isn’t essential”.

She crossed her arms and fixed him with a hard looked.

“Whatever your reasons for marrying my father, whatever my reasons for being here, I don’t want to live in a constant state of combat”.

“Really?” She tried to return the intensity of his stare, “Why do I get the feeling that you would actually enjoy that? Being at war? Strategizing ...”

He laughed. He actually laughed at her. “Sure, I do enjoy that. The thrill of the fight, the adrenaline, the back and forth but I get more than enough of that at work. Far more than anyone could ever want from my father”.

She still looked suspicious.

“I don’t want to be at war with you too. Some peace and quiet might be nice”, he stroked his hand up her arm.

She still didn’t give an inch.

He squeezed her shoulder, “What can I do to convince you?”

“I’m going inside”, she removed his hands from her body but it didn’t last.

“Okay look, I didn’t mean it like that”, he wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her in place, “Let me prove it to you”.

She remained unmoved, “You think that you deserve a chance?”

“Fine, maybe I don’t, but I’d like a chance just the same”, reached down to clasp one of her frozen hands. The woman really was made out of ice.

“Do you really think that I am that easy to manipulate? Or so starved of physical contact that you can melt me like that”, she gestured with her hands, “that”.

“What is your alternative? Roam around this big empty castle all day by yourself?”

“Fine, do your best. You have”, she removed her hand from his and checked her new, very expensive watch, “one hour”.

“I can do a lot in an hour”, his smile was distinctly sly and extremely sexy.

A/N: So, what do you think? Next chapter almost ready.

OMG
I can only imagine how much that delicious man can do in an hour lol
Really great, can't wait for the next one
I'm just confused about one thing: did she really go to Lex's room or she was daydreaming while touching the bite on her neck? :)

Anticipating whether Lex really wants "peace" & just can't help his attraction later or if he's setting her up from the start. & for what purpose? To show Lionel he was right; he usually thrives on combat (we know it won't remain innocent regardless, of course - which I can't wait for by the way!). I can't help but assume at this point Lex has all the wrong motives...Oh how interesting that backfire will be when she captivates & controls his very consciousness. hee hee hee. Can't wait for next ch, Nice job!!

Zulucnjy: Thank-you, your enthusiasm is contagious. Will work on this as soon as possible. Next few days hopefully.

Malugargula: Me too but that isn't going to happen. :( Gotta wait a while longer for Chlex smut. I know, I'm sad too! She was daydreaming. Thanks for reviewing as always. :D

can't wait to see what happens next

A/N: Thank-you for everyone who is sticking with this.

Chapter Eight

Lex led Chloe back up to the house and held the door open for her. She was too eager to get back into the warmth to consider his motivation at that moment or if he was going to try to slam the door into her back as she entered. Her brain, like her fingers, was frozen.

He didn’t launch an attack on her turned back, he merely followed her into the house and informed her that there was a fire in the dining room. Chloe eagerly sought it out, entering the dining room and huddling next to it. Lex followed her, never more that one step behind her.

Chloe tried to ignore his presence as she held out her frozen appendages to the heat, her fingers so close that the flames almost licked her flesh. It should have been painful but she was too cold to notice. She knew that Lex was watching her, she could feel his eyes boring into her but she refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he was getting to her. She would just stand there until the feeling returned to her skin, leaving him to do as he wished.

As she decided on this course of action, her shivering hands moved forwards a quarter of an inch and Lex’s arm moved out towards her. In spite of her decision to simply ignore him, her survival instinct was too strong. She darted to the side, out of his reach and away from the fire.

“What are you doing?” They demanded of each other at the same time, his eyes filled with confusion, hers with fear and fury.

“Oh no. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me”, he exploded as he realised what she must have thought. There was the sound of his hands slapping against the sides of his thighs as he flung his arms back to his side. “I wasn’t going to push up into the fire. For God’s sake, I saw you about to put your hand into the fire, I had a natural human impulse to stop that happening. That’s all it fucking was!”

“Oh”, she didn’t look wholly convinced.

“What the hell do you think me?” He roared.

“I don’t know you”, she responded without even flinching. Oddly his overt anger and volume scared her less that Lionel’s honeyed tones.

He took a deep breath, obviously doing his best to keep his anger (or at least his tone) in check. “And”, he asked, his now quieter voice drenched with sarcasm, “do you always think that people you don’t know are going to throw you into a fireplace?”

“Sometimes”, she said without emotion.

His eyebrows lifted, apparently having no idea what to make of that.

“It depends on what books I’ve been reading”, she tried to make it into a joke but didn’t know if he got it.

“Try something happier”, it should have been a suggestion but it came out like an order. Even if a mild one. He got that from Lionel.

Chloe did not deign to answer that, she just returned her attention to the fire although this time she didn’t get quite so close. Lex followed suite. They both stared into the slowly flickering flames.

The only sounds were the sizzling of the fire and the ticking of the clock on the mantel piece; neither of the room’s inhabitants were willing to even acknowledge the other’s presence in spite of the fact that their thoughts were all consumed with each other.

Finally there was a sigh, “You don’t have to be afraid of me Chloe”.

“I’m not”, her tone was clipped and not entirely believable. She had a long way to go before she became a fully fledged Luthor.

“That was convincing. The lack of eye contact really lends that touch of authenticity”, he remarked dryly.

She didn’t know how to respond to that, denying it again seemed pretty pointless. “Believe what you like”.

He seemed to want to say something, but refrained, looking slightly strained. After a few more minutes had elapsed, he seemed not to be able to contain himself. “I don’t hurt women”, voice was tight. “Ever”.

Chloe did not respond to this but she was finally warming up - physically at any rate -, her cheeks were slowly turning pink from the heat.

“Shall I give you the grand tour?” Lex inquired, his eyes slanting to the side.

“Your father has already done so”, she reminded him.

“Ah yes”, he smirked, “but he would have given you the official tour.”

“There is an official tour” She baulked at the idea. Her father had taken her to visit several grand houses in her youth on open days. She hoped that people weren’t actually going to come traipsing around the house after paying a few dollars.

“There are aspects of our family’s history that we like to highlight”, he extended his hand to the crest which was etched into the mahogany mantle piece, “and others”, he left her dangling as he sneaked around behind her and back around to the wall. He reached out to brush his thumb over a tiny scratch on one of the walls wood panels, “that we like to keep to ourselves”.

Chloe span around to follow him gasping as she saw the wall somehow folding in on itself. “That is so cool”, the words slipped from her lips before she could stop them and her feet carried her over to the dark gaping hole. She peered inside eagerly. She had spent half of her life as a child devouring books, many set in castles and boarding schools. The idea of a secret passageway thrilled her as much as it terrified her.

She could feel her son-in-law, the man who must hate her, right behind her, his hand about to place itself on her lower back and she darted back and out of the way. She didn’t know where it lead, it could have gone down to a dungeon, to a sheer drop which would send her plummeting to her death, to a ...

“Come on Chloe, do you really think that I’m going to shackle to a wall in the dungeon?” Lex sneered, “You’ve been reading too many Gothic novels à la Catherine Morton”.

“You read Jane Austen?” She stared at him. She had taken him for a Ayn Rand reader.

“Does that shock you?”

“Yes”, she stated simply.

“Well then maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to judge”, he smiled suavely.

She didn’t bother to answer him.

He smiled smugly. He reclined on the wall, next to the opening, crossing his ankles and his arms in a relaxed manner. As if she and her opinions were not of the slightest interest to him, which they probably weren’t.

“So, are you going to give me a chance and brave the tunnel of doom”, he raised an eyebrow, “or are you going to live your entire life convinced that everyone is out to get you. Convinced that ....”

“And you are convinced that you can manipulate me into doing anything? Are you going to call me chicken if I don’t? Do you really think that you can manipulated so easily?” She challenged.

He stared at her, hard. It made her uncomfortable. “Actually yes, I do”.

She raised her chin.

He smirked.

He pushed himself off the wall using only the power from his legs and strode towards her languidly. His arms falling to his sides before raising one slowly towards her face.

Chloe’s head jerked back, he was ready for the reaction and his hand snaked around her, tangling into her hair at the nape of her neck and bringing it forward. Fear flashed in her eyes.

“I already told you Chloe, I’m not going to hurt you. And yes, I do think that you can be manipulated, very easily”.

Her face tightened.

His smirk broadened. “If it will convince you that I’m sincere I’ll even tell you why”.

“Fine”, she crossed her arms over her chest.

“That is why”, he used his free hand to tug her arms back to her sides. “Someone who is not afraid is not so defensive”.

She bristled, but couldn’t deny the truth behind his words.

“Besides”, he smiled disarmingly, “denying anything three times is a dead give away. As is moving your chin up and that flare in your eyes ...” He pulled her head so close to him so that their lips were almost touching.

As much as she detested him, as much as she feared him, she forced herself to relax slightly into his embrace. Just to prove that she wasn’t scared.

“Good girl”, He whispered. “So, what is your decision?”

“That your methods of manipulation are far more sophisticated than I had previously thought”, she didn’t exactly draw back from him, but she did get out of his grasp, pushing past him.

“And?” He turned to see her heading for the passageway.

“If someone isn’t going to fall and break their necks, then we are going to need a torch”.

“I stored a collection of them just on the inside of all of the tunnels”, he stated simply.

She reached around the corner and searched until she found one and flicked it on. The pale strands of light stretched out before her, but were no match for the all enveloping darkness. She breathed in deeply, inhaling the old musty scent as she crept inside the passageway slowly. The floor board creaked under her foot. It was just like in a book. She loved it.She could have played in there all day long as a child. A ball formed in her throat. There was no one there with her to play with her. The days of fun were gone.

“Hey”, Lex whispered softly, not wanting to make her jump, she looked to be about a thousand miles away. “It’s not that scary, I promise”. He moved her back a step and then moved ahead and took her hand.

It was narrow and a little difficult to manoeuvre inside the first few times. With the help of his hand and the torch they made their way up to the second floor, and came out behind a large family portrait.

“See, wasn’t that more fun than the normal way?”

“Scaling the outside wall?” She replied deadpan.

He gave her a shocked look.

“I was joking”, she explained.

“Yes, of course”, he nodded.

“Ninjas don’t normally go around telling people that they are ninjas”, Chloe elaborated.

“Good point”.

She turned around taking in her surroundings. “So this is the portrait gallery?”

“It is”, he agreed, watching her form as moved along the corridor, inspecting each of the portraits. Apparently she really did have a genuine love of art.

“An entire history of the Luthor clan”, she whispered, then adding louder, “Trying to make me feel out of place?” Her portrait was not up there among all of the other beautiful ones.

“Not a all”, he smiled. “The portraits, came with the house”.

She stared at him, in confusion. They couldn’t possible have.

“Dad’s father was a dime a dozen crook who vaguely recalled some stories of Scottish heritage from his grandfather. He got caught and thrown into jail and Dad stole what money he had left over and set up his own company. Luthor Corp was a great success, very quickly and Lionel wanted to create a noble past for our family. He brought this house along with all of the furniture and portraits. He then had them altered to display a family likeness which could never really have. He was ashamed of the idea of being new money”.

“Why is he ashamed of that? I am impressed, a man carves his own destiny, he doesn’t inherent it”, she said, her eyes fixing on the beginning of the portraits. That scot had a fine pair of knees.

“Is that a dig at me?” Lex inquired mildly.

“You’re too sensitive Lex”, she travelled back along the hallway, her eyes travelling from picture to picture until finally she reached her husband. “Lionel is gorgeous here. Does it actually look like he did in his youth”.

The portrait was almost life sized and had his piercing blue eyes but she had never seen a picture of him as a young man. She wondered whether he had looked the same or more closely resembled Lex.

“Pretty much”, Lex decided after coming to her side and studying the image for a minute, “although obviously I don’t think that he was attractive”.

“That’s a relief for both of us”, Chloe said, staring at Lionel for another few seconds before moving on to the final one. “Is this you?”

“What gave it away?”

“The dozy look. Plus, it was the last one”, she explained her logic.

He smiled at her but then scowled at the image, “Yes, it’s me”.

The picture was of a tiny pale boy, with flaming red curls, sat up up primly. It was painted in the same style as the pictures hidden away in the room. Was she a long forgotten relative or something?

There was a space between the two pictures of father and son. Someone was missing.

“A space for the newest member of the Luthor family”, Lex commented in an odd tone, noting the direction of his gaze.

“I’m not the sort to sit for hours and have my portrait painted”, she said dismissively.

“That will probably change”, Lex said, meaning ‘that will definitely change’. Any wife of Lionel Luthor was going to spend long bored hours doing tedious things for his image.

She stared at him.

“Balls, gowns, living in this house ...” He opted for only telling her the less oppressive things but watched as she paled. “I didn’t mean to make it sound like a prison”.

“Sure you didn’t”, she continued on down the hall.

“Where are we going?” He wondered, following her and catching up in only a few seconds.

“Away”, she stated simply, not bothering to turn to look at him.

He stepped in front of her, halting her progress. “I’ll make it up to you”. She blinked at him and he explained, “the first part of the tour failed so, I’ll show you something really cool. You’ll probably need a coat”.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine”. This was ridiculous, she didn’t like him, she didn’t want to be around him and she certainly didn’t trust him but the thought of retreating to the room she shared with Lionel and just sitting there thinking and waiting made her anxious just thinking about it. Besides, forging a second alliance might not be a bad thing.

Chloe made her way back to her bedroom, finally able to remember the way and moved to her wardrobe. As much as she tried to maintain an air of aloof detachment, feeling that she should be used to a life of privilege after several days to accustom herself but she was still awed by the number of items. She reached her hand out and traced her fingers over the soft material.

“Find anything?” Lex walked in through the open door after her and noted the expression on her face before she had the chance to hide it.“Not used to having so many things?”

“I just don’t know where everything is quite yet”, she said, taking out one of the coats and putting it on before heading back for the door, giving him a clear visual clue that the conversation was over and that he was not welcome in her room.

Apparently the Luthor scion was impervious to clues and her disapproval; he continued to wander around the room taking everything in. She was sure that he was doing it just to annoy her.

“Is something wrong?” She asked, curtly.

“Of course not”, he turned to her with a half smile.

“This had better be ‘cool’”, she walked towards the door, keeping her eyes closely fixed on her son-in-law.

“It will be”, he assured her, somehow beating her to the door in spite of the languor with which his steps were taken. He held the panel of wood open for her and followed her out, his eyes trailing over her as she moved away.

~*~

The wind ripped into her like a thousand knives as she stepped outside. She was going to have an earache after this.

“This had better be worth it”, she groused as the wind almost knocked her back.

“It will be”, Lex placed his hand on her lower back and pushed her forwards. They moved towards a thicket at the back of the formal garden.

“Going into the woods, in this weather with someone who hates me. Yeah, this is safe”, Chloe muttered through chattering teeth.

“If you don’t want to see the Luthor secret then ...”

She snapped her jaw shut with such force it was a miracle that her teeth didn’t shatter. They went into the woods, down a winding pathway flanked by trees, until they reached a huge pile of ancient looking rocks.

“What is it?”

“What does it look like?”

It looked like a best play ground for a kid ever. You could clamber all over it. You could hide in the little bit below and pretend it was a cave. It could be a witches coven. A dragon could be lurking inside. Ruins of an ancient civilization, full of magic. It could be so many things. She could have played with every day of her young life and never got bored. Her excitement was almost brimming over, but she just answered sullenly, “It looks like a brick wall. What is it really?”

“I haven’t the faintest idea”, Lex chuckled.

She stared at him incredulously. “You dragged me out here, and you don’t know what it is? How can this be the Luthor family secret or something cool?”

“It’s a great secret and really cool”, he grinned as a howl of wind crashed into him. “No one knows it”.

She smiled at him. She couldn't help it. “Was it brought over with the rest of the estate?”

“Of course”.

“Are there any other rock clusters like this one?” She studied thoughtfully.

“No”.

“Where there any others? I mean, Scotland has loads of rocks, right?”

“Right”.

“I’ve got to get a closer look”, she said even as she was already dashing over to it.

She was a geek. She peppered him with questions about the time, the era, the layout. This was so exciting, for a few hours she stopped thinking about everything else around her and once she relaxed Lex became interesting and enthusiastic.

~*~

“Good evening my darling”.

“Hello Lionel”, Chloe lay down on the bed, on her stomach, her feet touching each other. She had returned to her room an hour ago, finding it no less large or unnerving without her husband there with her. She found herself having to remind herself continuously why she was there.

“Darling?”

“What? Sorry, pardon”.

A low chuckle came from the other end of the phone line. “Distracted?”

“A little”, she admitted, rolling over onto her back.

“What have you been up to?”

She knew better than to lie to him; there was probably at least one person watching her every move and reporting back to him. “Lex and I went on a little exploration of the house”.

“Oh”, he sounded mildly interested. She took that as a sign that she was supposed to continue talking.

“And the grounds, you know there is this huge lump of stone in the forest” she couldn't describe it as a back garden. It was far too large to possibly be considered as a garden. If she lifted her head only a few inches she could see the edges of it from her bed, it look distinctly spooky in the looming darkness. She hadn’t used to be such a wimp. Really, she hadn’t.

“Yes, I know”, Lionel once again dragged her attention back to him. She could tell that he was laughing at her.

“What is it?”

“What is it?” He repeated the question, “My dear, it is what it appears, a large lump of rock”.

“But there must be more to it that that”, she sat up on her knees. “An ancient burial plot? An alter a...”

“Lex’s fascination with the structure is rubbing off I see”.

“You don’t think that it is interesting?”

“Not especially no. Why, do you think that I am keeping something underneath there?” He teased her gently.

“Of course not”. He wouldn’t hide anything there. He was too smart for that. He would either in plain sight or underground in a foreign country. Unless he was triple bluffing. She could never be sure with Lionel.

“My angel. Is there something you want to tell me?”

“No”.

He emitted a soft chuckle, “Allow me to rephrase that, is there something that you should tell me? Have you been behaving yourself?”

“Of course”, she changed the subject, “what about you?”

“Me?”

“Alone, in the city, no post wedding bachelor parties?”

“No, just thinking of you”.

She should have smiled, should have swooned but she did neither. Instead she lay back and stretched her legs as she continued the conversation until it came time to hang up but after their goodbyes, before she could quite let go, she had to ask, “Why?”

She didn’t stipulate that she was referring to the block of rock, but he took it as a reference to the earlier part of their conversation anyway, replying simply, “Because I can”.

“Oh.”

A/N: So, what did you think?

Really good
I loved their little expedition lol
Can't wait for their next 'adventure' :)

A/N: Thanks Malu. :D

Chapter Nine

“Honey, I’m home”, Lionel’s voice rang through the castle.

“What a terrible sentiment”, Lex responded in a calm dry tone as he strode into the hallway to see his father’s absurdly pretentious entrance. “Besides haven’t you always told me that it is crude to raise your voice indoors?”

“Indeed son, it is common when it is yours. When it is mine, however, it is ... musical”, he said with a theatrical air as he strode into hallway.

“Musical?” Lex looked unimpressed.

“Yes Lex my boy, musical”, Lionel stretched. It was good to be home some days. “Mia cara, mio sole, mia deliziosa sposa, dov’e’ sei? Amore, amore, amore”, he belted out, in full operatic chorus.

While he had never taken singing lessons he had a tolerable voice, yet his son did not appear to appreciate his efforts, merely asking, “What opera is that from?”

“Honestly son, your knowledge is terrible”, Lionel lamented, “all of those years of expensive education and you don’t even know the basis of music”.

“I don’t recognise it”, the younger man admitted, stonily.

“That is because I invented it myself. Mia cara, mio sole”, he began again but still Chloe did not appear. “Where the hell is that woman?” He snapped, the first cracks in his good mood beginning to appear.

“Careful Dad, you don’t want to let her know what you are really like”, Lex reclined against the wall, crossing one ankle over the other.

Lionel shot his son a look before shouting for a maid and sending her to fetch his wife.

“You know Dad”, Lex said, seeming to enjoy getting under his father’s skin, “You could have gone to her”.

“But a conquering hero must be greeted properly”, Lionel insisted.

“In the foyer?”

“Yes, son, in the foyer”, Lionel couldn’t understand why that concept was so difficult for his errant offspring to grasp, but then again his first born always had been a disappointment. He hoped that Chloe would not prove to be as undependable as Lex was, she was supposed to be his second chance.

Everyone seemed to be letting him down that day, he had had to deal with idiots in his business meeting, the one bright spot of the horizon was returning to his beautiful wife who was still no where to be found because apparently the maids he employed were incapable of walking and finding one person and his useless progeny seemed intent on hanging around bugging him.

The irritated which had etched itself into Lionel’s features over the few minutes suddenly smoothed away causing his son to scowl. His father wanted to smirk but kept his mouth neutral as he said, “My darling wife tells me that you showed her that bloody pile of rocks”.

Lex raised an eyebrow.

“I embellished the language, of course”, he wandered over to the large mirror affixed to the side of the staircase, where he could see his own reflection and his son’s. “I never understood what your obsession with that rock was”. The father and son were not so different really. They were both tall and lean with the patrician Luthor nose and hard, determined green/blue eyes.

Lex’s head pulled to one side for a second, “I never understood why you didn’t want me to explore it”.

“It is a waste of time”, Lionel clasped his hands behind his back, “so you decided to get under my skin by getting my wife on board?”

“I didn’t know that I could get under your skin”, Lex gave a tiny, almost imperceptible smirk.

“That’s all you ever do, isn’t it son?” He turned around to face him.

“Apparently”, the notice of being a thorn in his father’s side did not apparently bother the Luthor scion much.

“So”, Lionel moved closer to his son, almost an inch taller than him now that he was reclining, “what is your sudden interest in my wife?”

“What’s the matter Dad?” Lex asked as he stood up straight with a surprisingly casual air seeing as he was now staring him down. He smiled placidly, “Are you worried that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree? That I’m plotting revenge for all of the times you seduced my girlfriends?”

“Worried? About you?” Lionel sniffed, “Hardly!”

“Lionel”, Chloe’s voice was heard from the top of the staircase.

“Cara mia”, Lionel called out, his ill mood quickly dispersing but not his desire to rub his son’s nose it what he now had.

“Che cosa vuole mio principe?” Chloe responded, smiling prettily as she floated down the stairs.

“She speaks Italian?” Lex queried.

“She speaks Italian”, Chloe took a step with each word until she reached the final step and reached out her arms as Lionel came to stand before her.

“Bellissima”, he took her hands in his and kissed each of them, before placing them on his shoulders. “You are the most gorgeous creature I have ever seen”, he declared as he lifted her uo and whirled her around, almost knocking Lex over before placing her on the floor and placing a hard kiss on her mouth. He reached down to grab her ass for good measure.

“Subtle Dad”, Lex commented.

“Lionel”, Chloe protested at the display.

“What?” The lusty husband nuzzled her ear, “You do look absolutely ravishing and it is cruel to part a man from his bride for so long. In fact”, he pulled her up into his arms, “I think that we need to make up for lost time”.

Chloe blushed deeply and Lex seemed to be suffering from in digestion.

~*~

“Lionel”, Chloe gasped in protest, as they reached the landing. “You can’t just drag me off to your lair”.

“Quite clearly my dear, I can”, he smiled down at her. “And I’m taking you to our bedchamber my love, not my lair”.

“Potato potato”, she shrugged but kept her hand snaked around the back of his neck and reached out for the doorknob to let them in.

“Minx”, was his only response to her alternate pronunciation of tubular vegetables as he kicked the door behind them.

“How long have you spent working out?” Chloe asked.

“A few months”, he answered easily. He had always kept himself in good shape but had greatly increased the duration his daily workouts wanting to be ready for her and being aware of the difference in their ages. “Why? Are you implying that I’m a decrepit old man who shouldn’t be able to carry my slender waif of a wife around?”

“Yes”, she replied with a cheeky grin, “that is exactly what I am implying”.

He responded with an all too knowing, wolfish smile as he laid her down on the bed and shirked off his jacket.

Chloe reclined on her elbows allowing her eyes to devour him, an impish expression playing around her lips.

“Well then I guess that I will just have to prove myself”, he crawled onto the bed and grabbed her ankle. He raised it to his mouth and kissed her insole before using it to drag her to him.

She gasped as her body slid along the cool silk until she was splayed out before him, her slender ankle still held captive. She opened her mouth, perhaps to protest at such treatment, but only a whimper escaped her as he began to tend to her again. With the air of a devotee at worship Lionel kissed his way up her thigh, whispering endearments as he went.

“So”, his teeth nipped at her inner thigh, “what have you been up to?”

“Oh”, it was clearly an exclamation of surprise, rather than the beginning of a sentence but she attempted to dissemble. “Nothing much, just what I told you about yesterday the ... Umm”. He nuzzled her soft intimate flesh through the lace of her panties and her eloquence suffered the consequence, “Stone thingie”.

“Ah yes, the stone thingie”, he grinned smugly, allowing his stubble to scratch her leg on his way to her other foot.

Chloe shivered and mewed.

“So”, he ran a finger along her insole, making her twitch with suppressed laughter.

It was no coincidence. Lionel always did his research. He knew how ticklish she had always been and how desperately she had always fought to hide the fact. His fingers continued their torturous caress as he prodded, “I take it that you spent a lot of time with my son yesterday?”

“Yes”, she replied even as she appeared more concerned about the fate of her foot.

“Why?” His chin scraped against her instep.

“Lionel”, she complained and he grinned wickedly. Although the gesture had provided relief from the faint tickling sensation, it would have heightened everything else. It would not be long before she was too lost of lust to think of anything else.

“Tell me”, he said succinctly, offering her no incentive to do so but expecting her to all the same.

She lifted herself up onto her arms once more as if she only wanted to get a better view of his face as they spoke but attempted to regain her foot as she asked, “Why is it a problem for you?”

He smirked and allowed her to slip through his loose grip, the pads of his fingers tickling her soft sensitive flesh until she had just escaped and his hand shot out to hold her ankle firmly. “Chloe”, he began to kiss his way back up to her core, allowed the stubble to scratch her, his teeth to nip her, and his tongue to sooth her.

“What?” She demanded, shifting her hips slightly as she did so.

“I don’t like things being kept from me”, he warned her, his head raising so that his eyes locked with hers. “And have no problems dealing with errant females. As I think you know”. Not that he had got the chance to adequately demonstrate his ability before marriage.

“How am I hiding anything from you? I told you”, she protested showing no sign of fear or having even registered his threat.

“But you aren’t answering all my questions now, are you?” He replied with a smug, knowing smile.

“You’re not answering mine either”, she countered, tugging on the foot which he still held in spite of his altered position.

He placed her leg on the bed and crawled up her, his ever vigilant gaze never leaving her face. So this was how it was going to be? The naughty little madam. He should have punished her right from the start but she always got around him.

“Do you not want us to get along?” Her question snapped him out of this thoughts.

“Of course I want you to get along”, he replied mildly.

“Really?” She narrowed her eyes at him, “Because I think that you want us to fight for your love and attention”.

“That is preposterous”, he declared with a mixture of disbelief, annoyance and admiration.

“Is it?” She placed her hands on either side of his grizzled face and pulled it up the inch needed for them to be perfectly in line. Eyes to eyes, nose to nose, lips to lips. She wasn’t strong enough to compel him to move so it was mostly a symbolic gesture on her part, but it was key. “Or are you hiding something?”

“Darling”, he shot her a wounded look, which was of course completely feigned, “I’m hurt”.

“No, you’re not”, she answered unimpressed.

“Brat”, he grabbed her thigh, pulling her against him. He groaned at the feel of her.

“Maybe”, she raised her hips against his, that coy smile which always drove him crazy firmly in place. “Why don’t you tell me what this is really all about?”

If he weren’t more careful this woman was going to drive him insane. He knew that she was playing him, she was hardly trying to be subtle about it and yet he allowed to her get away with it. One way or the other he would have to bring her to heel.

“Darling”, he purred softly, “All I want is to protect you”. He pressed a kiss against her temple. “To give you the world”, he pressed his lips against the soft flesh just below her ear.

“The entire world?” She asked in a breathless voice.

“The entire world”, he confirmed, as he nuzzled her ear. This might prove easier than he had thought.

“What, on a key chain?” Her tone returned to its normal flippant one.

Or maybe not. “You think that my devotion is something to be sneered at do you?” He demanded as he grasped her by the hips but pulled back enough to stare down at her.

“Maybe”, she stared right back up at him looking deliciously impertinent and unrepentant.

“Maybe”, he repeated the word as he raised her hips, grinding her against his burgeoning erection.

She licked her lips slowly, making him focus on that part of her anatomy and what she was about to say. Clearly thinking that she could win back control, manipulate him as easily as she probably had Lex but she was in for a surprise. Lionel had had enough of playing the pussy whipped husband, it was time for him to take control and remind her of just who it was that she had married. He flipped her over.

“Oh”.

He grinned at her, leaning down to brush her hair away from her neck and kiss it. Then he nibbled her ear for good measure.

“Mmmm”, the noise appeared to have been torn from Chloe in spite of herself as she didn’t look particularly relaxed. In fact, she was attempting to turn herself back around.

Lionel straddled her and ran his hands up over her back to tangle his fingers with hers as his teeth tugged gently on her earlobe.

“Lionel”, she complained in a moan and he felt the warm weight of satisfaction low in his belly. He might not be able to control that smart aleck mouth of hers, but he could control her body. He could make her moan. Make her melt. Make her drip.

“Don’t pretend you don’t like it”, he growled.

“Who says that I like it?” She asked even as her back arched.

He chuckled and allowed his blunt nails to slowly, gently drag over her hand, down her arm and across her back until they reached the curve of her ass. He moved to the side and his skilled fingers slipped below the skirt which was now so high that it barely covered anything and inside her panties.

“The evidence would seem to suggest that you do”, he teased her with word and deed for a second before removing his now slick digit and slipped it into his mouth.

He was well aware that her head was resting on one side and that eyes were fixed on him. His movements were accordingly slow and deliberate.

Her lips parted and he witnessed a flash of pink tongue before her answer came. “Okay, yeah, maybe I do. I could do without the teasing though”.

“Could you now?” He enquired conversationally even as his fingers slipped back below the line of her intimate apparel. “And, I wonder”, his thumb brushed against her slick opening, “Do you deserve not to be teased?”

Her only reply was to gasp as her hands fisted in the bedspread.

“So”, he allowed his other hand trail back down along her body until it rested on the lush curve of her ass, “have you been good while I was away?”

“Good enough”, came her response.

He squeezed her.

“What is your interest with my ass today?” She asked, not shying away from the caress.

“Well, it is a very nice posterior”, he had always admired it. Even though there was a bit less of it after the months of stress.

“I have always received compliments on it”, she informed him, “Oh!” His hand descended on it. “I was kidding. Well not really but hey!” He popped her on the but a few more times. She pouted at him over her shoulder but made no move to get away from him.

“It’s wasn’t that hard”, he rubbed and squeezed the afflicted area, knowing that the five pats had wounded her pride rather than her flesh.

“Argh”, she groaned into the mattress, rolling her hips against his caress.

Lionel smirked and reached down to hastily undo and shove down his trousers and boxers, not having time to worry about the rest. He grasped his hardened length and stroked it down the crack of her ass then down until it was pressed against her panties.

She shivered and he could feel the heat from her slick, warm opening even through the damp cotton. The little minx wanted him. He had always known it.

“I want to please you”, he leant down to whisper into the delicate shell of her ear.

“I know it”, she whispered back.

“There is something else that you might not know”, he teased her.

“And what might that be?”

“I want you”, he used himself to push aside her pesky panties.

“I kind of got that”, she laughed.

“No, I mean I want you like this. From behind. I want to take you on all fours, I want to hear you scream my name”, his deep voice took on a level of rawness which made her shudder.

“But Lionel, that is so ... primitive. Uncouth. Ungentlemanly”, she continued the list of vices and he licked his lips. He was definitely going to have to teach her some manners at some point.

“So you aren’t interesting?”

“What on earth gave you that impression?”

He laughed at her and released himself so that he could seize her and turn her over long enough to kiss her soundly and declare warmly, “I love you”.

“Well I should bloody well hope so”, Chloe barely got out before she found herself flipped back over this time on her hands and knees. Lionel growled at the sight from where he was kneeling behind her and flipped skirt up and yanked her panties down until they ripped.

“Really are enjoying the whole primitive thing, aren’t you?” Chloe asked as she redistributed her weight.

“Really asking for it, aren’t you?” Lionel countered.

“Maybe”, she shot him saucy look over her shoulder.

If he hadn’t been hard before, that one word would have had him ready to pitch a tent. He could make a fortune selling that smile as a natural alternative to Viagra. He took only a few seconds to double check that she was wet enough for him before slamming himself into her. With finesse, of course.

“Oh oh”, Chloe moaned her hands once again balling up in the bed clothes.

Lionel smirked and pushed back into her. Hard. He was never normally gentle. He took the women he wished in an elegant manner but as forcefully as he needed to. And now that his wife was broken in, he wasn’t going to pander to her quite so much. She would get used to it. She would like it. Based on the noises she was emitting and the way that she moved against him, she already did.

Chloe’s hips rolled back against him eagerly but inexpertly, a problem which Lionel took care of taking charge of her movements. He didn’t come out with any bad porn style language, didn’t tell her to take it. She would take it, she would do exactly what he wanted and she would come when he demanded it too.

He gave her a few minutes, training her in the dance until she had mastered it, before he wrapped his arm around her waist and yanked them both forwards until he could reach the headboard over her.

Chloe squealed but moved with him the way that he wanted, close to coming already.

He smirked. There was more where that came from. Grabbed the headboard and used it as leverage as he bore into her.

The bed rattled. She whimpered, moaned, mewled, and begged (but not for him to slow down).

He eased up on her just enough to sneak one back between her legs, “Come for me, darling”, he demanded as he rubbed the small bundle of nerves.

“Lionel”, she moaned his name, almost as if she were in pain but he knew better.

“Come for me”, he repeated, leaning down to growl against her ear. “Tell me what you want. What you need”.

“I ... Oh fuck yes”, she panted out as his fingers had found the right spot, leaving it only for a second to slap her ass. He rolled in between his fingers again and the cussing returned.

“You really are going to have to watch that mouth of yours, darling”, he warned her and removed his hand again to punish her but this time she transferred her weight onto one forearm and took matter into her own hands. Or rather, between her own fingers.

“Chloe”, he groaned.

“Wha?”

“Stop”, he commanded.

“But, it’s so good”, she complained.

“I know”, his voice was raspy and pulled out of her unwillingly with an embarrassingly wet sound. He was painfully hard and the cool air on his wet cock did nothing to ameliorate the situation. But he was greedy and needed all of her. “Turn over”, he demanded, his hands already on her to ensure her compliance.

“So good”, she repeated her complaint as she found herself on her back, her fingers temporarily interrupted from their sweet torment.

“Definitely, but I should probably punish you for it”, he considered as he stared down at her. She was gorgeous. Her hair was slightly dishevelled, her pupils were diluted, her cheeks were flushed and her full, pouting lips were parted. The skirt of her hopelessly wrinkled dress was hitched up around her waist, revealing all of her glory to his wicked gaze.

She grinned up at him. “You could never punish me”. She was apparently to sure of this fact that her hand sneaked back down, taunting and teasing him as much as herself.

“Oh really”, snatched both of her wrists and pinned them, “are you sure about that?”

“Yes”, she wriggled unrepentantly.

“God I love you”, he purred.

“Going to just leave me like this or help a girl out”, she asked, wiggling her fingerd as much as she could.

“Demanding little thing, aren’t you?” He stayed as he was, kneeling between her spread legs, but took her hands and brought them to his mouth. He licked each digit slowly before realising her hand. “Okay, but I want to watch”.

“So that’s why you turned me around”, she cottoned on.

“Of course”, he smirked.

“Voyeur”, she tossed the insult at him but she was evidently determined to on a show for him. Her smile faltered a little, she was nervous but he knew her too well to doubt her. His tiny timid temptress was burdening into a sexual creature.

~*~

They lay in each other’s arms, bathing in the afterglow. Lionel stroked her golden tresses and kissed her head before allowing his hand to travel down her now completely naked form. He had removed her dress somewhere between the second and third time.

“You know, I meant what I said”, he murmured into her hair.

“Wha?”

“That I would do anything to make you happy”. She turned over so that they were face to face rather than spooning. “I’m not blind, you know”.

“I know”.

“I know that you are not comfortable here yet. I want you to be at home here”, whispered earnestly, “Whatever it takes. Change anything that you want. If -”

“Anything?” She interrupted him.

“Anything”, he agreed, surprised but pleased. He wanted to give her things. To spoil her. To prove to her that marrying him had been the right thing to do.

“A trampoline in the great hall?”

“Anything”, he smiled at her, waiting for her to get to her real request.

“Pink walls?” She pressed.

“Anything”, he was resolute.

“Moustaches on the portraits”, she continued.

“An-y-thing”, he pressed three kisses against her beautiful mouth.

“Actually”, she smiled, “there is something that I would like”.

Lionel held Chloe’s hand as she led him back through the house, pleased that she was embracing the house, although he wasn’t thrilled about having to get out of bed, not being allowed to shower with her and having to get dressed again. He had had plans for the rest of the day and all of them had involved them both, naked, in bed. What could be so important?

“Ta da”, Chloe announced as she lead him into a room.

Lionel looked around the room. “We have a junk room?”

Chloe turned exasperated eyes onto him. “You call this a junk room?”

“What else?” He couldn’t see anything special about it.

“You are so spoilt”, she muttered.

“I worked hard for this, I deserve to spoil myself and you”, he wrapped his arms around her and she tensed up. From shock he was sure. “What is it that you want?”

“To redecorate, not painting things pink”, she shuddered at the thought, “but I saw these pictures a few days ago and I was fascinated. They are so gorgeous, can we put them up? Look this one, the detail, the texture, the colour. This would look just perfect in the dining room”. She looked over at him when she didn’t receive a response, “Don’t you think that there is something missing?”

He smiled tenderly at her, she was being so careful the way that she moved the first picture to see the next. She treated the paintings with such respect, as if she understood their worth not just their monetary value. She might not have been schooled in art but she certainly appreciated it more than most.

Lionel laid out the pictures one by one with less respect but equal care so that she could examine them all.

“You have an excellent eye, my dear”, he stood back to admire the pictures. “You are quite right, it would look very well in the dining room”

“Almost as if it were designed for it”, Chloe agreed, “and this one for the entrance hall”, she pointed at the next one.

“That is, in fact, where it was originally”, he stated carefully.

“Originally?” She regarded him from beneath furrowed eyebrows.

“You have no idea who she is, do you?” Lionel asked softly, moving over to her side and rubbed her back gently.

“A painter’s muse? Well, a composite I would suppose because no one really looks like that”, she referred to the perfection of her skin, her features, she didn’t look quite human.

“Darling”, he moved in front of her and cupped her face, “it’s Lilly”.

“Lilly”, she repeated.

“My first wife”, he clarified.

“Lex’s mother”, Chloe said, slowly.

“Lex’s mother”.

“Why is she in here?” She wondered.

“I didn’t want you to feel out of place so I had them all taken down before we arrived”, Lionel explained.

“All taken down”, she repeated.

“There appears to be an echo in here”, he joked.

“You had them all taken down”, apparently she was having trouble wrapping her mind around this one idea.

“Yes, there is definitely an echo”, he said thoughtfully and looked around as if searching for a source.

“How could you do something like that?” She demanded, her voice suddenly harsh.

He frowned.

“You ordered him home and just took away every trace of his mother?” She gaped at him, her voice filled with accusation.

“What do you care?”

“Because it’s mean! It’s cruel! It’s despicable!” The words tumbled out of her.

“May I remind you that you are supposed to be my wife, not his”, Lionel hissed.

“Oh for God’s sake Lionel, I only met the man a few days ago and we don’t get along. I don’t care a jot about him but that doesn’t change the fact that what you did was terrible and if you wanted a wife who wouldn’t tell you that then you should have thr-” She broke off suddenly her eyes going wide.

“I should have what?” He closed the gap between them. A dangerous crackle in his eyes.

She took a deep breath and raised her chin and said, with only a slight tremble in her voice, “You should have married someone else”.

He remained silent.

“Don’t use me as an excuse to continue whatever the hell the vendetta you have against your son”, she walked out, trying to look calm but visibly shaken.

~*~

Lex’s fist clenched around the handle on the inside of the secret passageway so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He almost shook with the effort it took him not to storm in there. The only thing that prevented him was the fact that his father knew nothing of the web of secret passages which littered the castle. As long as Lionel didn’t physically threaten Chloe, then he should not risk the war for the sake of a battle. However, badly he might want to.

The conversation unfolded before him as did part of the image. It was small and distorted through the grate but still made his blood pressure rise. Something was going on there. Something more than even he had realised. Suddenly, he began to look at her with fresh eyes.

Chloe was a young woman, cold, stubborn and haughty but also hurt and hiding something.

I'm glad Lex heard it all... And I'm curious too about all she's hiding lol
Great chapter, thanks for sharing

A/N: Thanks Malu. Here's the next part. Finally!

Chapter Eleven

It had been several days since Lionel and Chloe had fallen out and made up but she still felt as if something had become strained between them and it was only a matter of time before it snapped.

She was just wondering when Lex would be getting back - and whether that would make it better or worse - as she strolled into her bedroom only to come to an abrupt halt. She stared at the chaos in the normally orderly room. There were several suitcases lying open on the bed and her clothes in several piles.

“What is going on here?” She demanded and a maid came out from one of the wardrobes.

“Mrs Luthor”, she greeted with a nervous smile.

“What is going on here?” Chloe repeated her question, the panic rising up in her chest making her tone sharper than she would have liked.

“I am packing, Madam”.

“I can see that”, Chloe said through gritted teeth, her hands coiling by her sides. “Why?”

“I ...” The elder woman stammered, “I’m just following orders”.

Chloe swallowed, her jaw quivering with suppressed fear and fury. “Whose?”

The maid blinked at her as if that were the strangest question that anyone had ever asked her. “Mr Luthor”.

“The elder or the younger”, the young wife clarified. It had to be Lex. That had to be it. He had called from New York, or Metropolis or wherever the hell he was now. He was trying to make her life a hell. The truce he had requested had just been a trick. He ...

“The elder”.

Chloe blinked at her. “The elder”, she repeated the two words. Thinking that her world was about to end.

“Yes Madam, the elder. Mr Lionel Luthor”, the maid looked like she might burst into tears at any moment but Chloe couldn’t worry about that when she was sure that her heart was about to stop beating. There was no way that she could survive this.

She waited. A second passed. Then two. She focused on forcing air in and out of her lungs. Her heart pounded in her chest and blood rushed through her ears. She felt dizzy and sick but apparently was be to spared a spontaneous death.

“Lionel”, she screamed his name at the top of her lungs as she tore out of the room. Suspecting that he was probably in his office and raced there, barging into the room without knocking and declared, “You are not getting rid of me”.

He looked up from his phone call, calm but perplexed.

Chloe’s breath was coming hard and ragged. She opened her mouth only to see Lionel holding up one finger to her to indicate that she was to wait. Before she could think better of what she was doing, Chloe had stormed over to him and grabbed that infuriating finger, “No”.

Lionel’s eyebrows rose to high that they became absorbed by his hairline. “My apologises, your Highness. I will have to call you back; there is a disturbance which I must take care of you. Yes. Quite”, Lionel rang off with the correct form of address.

“Was that the ...?” Chloe began to ask in disbelief. She knew that her husband was well connected but surely he wasn’t acquainted with any Middle East potentates.

“Yes, that was his highness. We were discussing oil prices”, he gave her piercing look but seemed pleased that she was so obviously awed by this knowledge. “So, as you felt the need to interrupt I trust that it is something of extreme importance?”

“You can’t get rid of me”, Chloe snapped back into action. “I won’t let you. I’ll ... I’ll go to the media. I’ll get a lawyer You married me. You promised to protect me. You can’t just throw me over, you can’t just ...”

“Are you threatening me?” He asked carefully, getting to his feet.

She felt a cold shiver of warning travel down her spine but she refused to be cowed. “If needs be, yes. I didn’t ...”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I wasn’t the one who instigated all of this”, she reformulated her sentence.

“Instigated?” To a casual observer he would have seem calm almost to the point of being lazy, but she knew him better. She could see the anger bubbling up inside him.

“Proposed”, she clarified.

“Ah”, he nodded, “that meaning of instigated”.

“Yes, you can’t do this to me Lionel”, she protested, her desperation making her panic.

“What is it exactly that you are accusing me of?” He placed his hand on the desk, leaning forwards across the piece of wood, bringing his face closer to hers.

“Chucking me”. There was another quirk of the eyebrow. “For the love of God, learn a new facial expression!”

“What makes you think that I am ‘chucking you’?” He straightened up once more and rounded the table before leaning back against it and crossing his arms.

“The maid is packing.”

“And she told you of my plans?” He apparently thought that this was highly unlikely.

“She didn’t tell me anything, she just follows orders”, Chloe tried not to fidget as the possible and probably consequences of this flashed before her. “Your orders”, she added tightly.

“And why, my dear”, rectified his posture and caressed the side of her face, the apparently loving gesture only made Chloe think of a cat playing with a mouse, “would I want to rid myself of you?”

“You know damned well why”, she hissed, fighting her urge to pull away from him.

“Remind me”, he drew his face closer to hers once more. This time so that they were almost nose to nose.

“Because you are you”.

“An expansive answer certainly”.

She sighed, “Because you are one of the richest men in the United States”.

“In the world actually”, he corrected her gently.

“Because you are used to the best”, Chloe continued, her voice wavering slightly. “You are accustomed to being surrounded by supermodels. Rich supermodels. From similar backgrounds to yours. Some of them are probably even smart”.

“That is certainly true”, he smiled placidly, “but I don’t see what relevance that has on our current predicament”.

“Because”, the word came out in something close to a sneer, “you like to have power”.

“Once again my dear”, he drawled, his thumb brushing against her cheek, “you are entirely in the right however I fail to see ...”

“Was it fun?” She demanded, her control finally snapping.

“I beg your pardon?” His voice became softer, silkier, the way that it always did when he was angry.

“I’m certain that it was probably fun for you”, Chloe continued, ignoring the warning signals. She pulled out of his grasp and threw her arms out as she demanded, “What did you do, watch My Fair Lady one too many times and thought that it would take some random insignificant creature and make her a great lady?”

Lionel’s brow furrowed as he reached out of her again but she retreated, “Was it just for fun?”

“Chloe, I have no idea w ...”

“Or was it more sinister than that?” She sneered. “See how high you can bring someone, how much they can be made to depend on you and then ...” She swallowed, nervous even though she knew that she might as well already be dead once Lionel’s protection was gone, “And it was probably fun to run someone’s life for a time but ...”

“Chloe that’s enough”, he snapped. She opened her mouth but snapped it closed as he grabbed her and heaved her to him. “I told you that is enough”, he growled, his hot breath against her skin. “How dare you speak to me like that. Need I remind you that I am your husband?”

“You are the one who seeks to change that, not me”, she reminded him, terrified but not quelled.

“The maid is packing your clothes because I can’t bear to be without you and it is your right as a stock holder to attend the meeting in Metropolis”, he snapped.

Chloe blinked up at him. Still shaking, still close to tears, unable to wrap her mind around the fact.

“Don’t misjudge me again”, he warned her.

“You ... You mean, you aren’t making me leave?” She asked in faltering accents.

“No”. He let out a long, low sigh as he stared down at her. As if realising for the first time the position that they were both in, he loosened his grip on her arms and pulled her into his arms. For several minutes he stroked her hair and rubbed her back as he whispered soothing words in her ear. Once she had finally stopped trembling he eased her away from him just enough to be able to look into her eyes as he asked, in the tone of one who has been gravely wounded, “Why didn’t you trust me, darling?”

“I”, she faltered, “I can’t say”.

“Chloe”, he filled the word with such warm and tenderness, there was no explaining why she felt as if she might throw up through sheer terror.

“Well”, she hedged, “we haven’t been getting along. You were mad about the wall. We had that fight”.

“Darling”, he tangled his hand in the hair at the nape of her neck, “I’m never going to let you go”

~*~

A few hours after the painting argument had taken place Chloe walked into the dining room. She had made a special effort with her appearance that afternoon even though it might all have been for naught. She hadn’t seen Lionel since he had walked her back inside the house and she had no idea whether he would deign to join her for dinner. She had spent the entire afternoon inside, a good portion of it worrying about their altercation, feeling increasingly cooped up and stifled. She longed to go outside, to return to the ruins but was too afraid to risk it.

Several times she had found herself wandering over to the nearest window and staring out at the landscape. She couldn’t even see the bloody rock from any part of the enormous house and what she could see only depressed her further.

The lengths of metal holding the hundreds of panels of glass in place made her feel as if she were behind bars, and the stained glass shapes rather than impressing her with their beauty only succeeded in reminding her of Lionel’s power. It altered and distorted everything about her world even stretching beyond the physical walls in which he could keep her trapped.

She attempted to retreating into the world of literature but returned her chosen book to the library very soon after opening it. It was no good. It was there that an idea occurred to her. She looked around furtively before heading into the adjoining room and heading for the secret passage which Lex had revealed to her.

There, cloistered in a dark little hole unknown to her husband, she somehow felt inexplicably better and free. She began to explore, losing herself in the musty, ‘old worldy’ smell which permeated the tunnels. She tried to pretend that she was still a young girl. Carefree. Safe. Knowing that if she got lost her Dad would be there in a few seconds to rescue her. To teach her how to vanquish the evil shadows and make her feel protected again.

This attempt was not entirely successful; doubts and cares bubbled up within her but she tried to push them down as she walked the passageway. It went up to where Lex had shown her but also in several other directions. After walking the route enough times to know where everything was she placed her hand on the knob but couldn’t bear to leave. She didn’t want to return to Lionel’s world.

Instead she lowered herself until she was sat on the steps where she turned off the torch and let the darkness consume her. She had thought, or rather hoped, that the peace of her location might have helped her figure out her next move but within seconds she found herself in floods of tears.

She had sobbed until she had nothing left and slumped against the cold wall, lacking the energy or motivation to bestir herself. She didn’t know how long she had sat there, she had only risen when she had heard maids scurrying past the passageway talking about starting dinner. Then she had known that it was time for her to leave. Slowly, careful not to be observed, she left her cover and felt another overwhelming sense of foreboding and sadness as all of her senses were assaulted simultaneously by reminders of her situation. Everything from the antique wood and family portraits to the smell of beeswax - which no one she knew but Lionel’s servants used - served only to further depress her.

“There is a reason”, she reminded herself. She muttered these words during the hour that she was locked in her en suite getting ready and thought them as she made her way down to the dining room that evening.

The butler opened the door to the room for her and she was struck by just how right she had been. The picture was perfect there. Lillian was there, staring down at her in all of her perfection.

Chloe walked over to it mesmerized. It somehow looked different now that she was back where she was supposed to be and Chloe knew who she was. She looked like the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the type of woman that Lionel should have been married to.

“She is beautiful”, Chloe whispered.

“She was”.

Chloe almost jumped out of her skin. She span around to be faced with Lionel standing there, in all of his glory.

“Good evening, my love”.

“Lionel”, she replied politely enough even if her voice was a little tight.

“I see that I am not exactly in favour”, he said with a slight smile. “I can not say that I blame you”.

“I’m not angry”, she lied, only causing him to shake his head and she turned back to look up at the picture.

“She really was a beauty”, Lionel continued as he wrapped his arms around his new wife’s waist from behind and looked up at his deceased one. “Beautiful but cold”.

Chloe didn’t not reply although she listened intently.

“I don’t speak about her except when absolutely necessary and I have certainly never told anyone what I am about to tell you”, he ran his hand across her soft stomach. “I like the world to believe that nothing can faze me. I wish to be invulnerable, or at the very least believed to be so, but I’m not. She hurt me”, he acknowledged in a thick voice, “very deeply”.

Chloe covered his hand with hers, partly to stop its motion, partly out of instinct. She felt for him even as she was sure that he lied.

“She was so cold. So indifferent. Well, at least to me she was”, he shook his head, the image of a heartbroken man, “She had affair after affair and every one came closer to destroying me. It is hard for me to trust anyone now, even family. I never thought that I could care for anyone again ... Until you”.

He turned her around, his eyes boring into hers. “Nothing that I did ever made her happy. Nothing Lex did either. She spoiled and neglected him by turns leaving me to deal with the consequences. She made our lives a misery and her ghost haunts this place”. Lionel blinked several times, as if determined not to let a tear form. “Help me dispel her, my angel”.

She was powerless to resist. Or so she appeared. “Lionel”, she ran her hands up his arms, “I am nothing like her”.

“No”, he grinned and she gasped. He looked so different, so young, so happy, so in love. “You”, he squeezed her close, “are raw, fresh, gorgeous, pure, just you”.

She should say that she loved him, it was all that it would take to cement their new good rapport but she just couldn’t bring herself to do so. “Do you want to get rid of the pictures?” She offered.

“No, keep them there if you like. I probably did act rashly, but I am a reasonable man”, he grinned at her roguishly.

“Since when?” She asked, making sure that he knew that she was teasing. She allowed her hands to travel further and entwine behind his neck.

He grinned down at her. “Since always. But more especially since I loved you”.

She didn’t look as happy as such a sappy statement should have and couldn’t keep herself from asking, “When was that?” She had never had as much control over her tongue as she would have liked.

He blinked. “You tell me first”.

“I ...”

“You can’t”, he acknowledged sadly and reached behind his neck to take her hands. “Let’s just say it’s been a while”.

“A while”, she repeated blankly, wondering how that was even possible.

“A while”, he gave her a tight smile. “Shall we dine?”

~*~

“What are you thinking about?” Lionel asked Chloe as she sat next to him in the helicopter, waiting for take off and staring out of the window.

“Hmm?” She turned to him with confusion.

“I asked what you were thinking about?” He informed her gently.

“Oh, nothing”, she dismissed the question and was turning her head back to the window when Lionel continued: “You seemed to be a million miles away”.

“I wasn’t”, she assured him.

His only response to this obviously mendacious answer was to raise one eyebrow.

She looked down at her attire and smoothed her dress down and straightened her coat. “Is this okay for a meeting?”

He looked her up and now. “Of course. Is that what is preoccupying you?”.

“I told you, I’m fine”, she answered wanting to end the conversation without starting an argument.

“Actually, you told me that you weren’t thinking about anything”, Lionel corrected her, reaching over to take her hand as he did so.

“Oh”.

“You look splendid”, he assured her and kissed her on the cheek.

“Thank-you”, she favoured him with a small smile.

“So”, he entwined his fingers with hers, “now are you going to tell me what you are thinking about?”

She looked down at their hands and then back up at him. “Everything”.

“Everything? Well then it’s no wonder that you appeared preoccupied. Everything is quite a lot for one person to contemplate”, the corners of his mouth turned up, “I don’t suppose that you might consider narrowing the field down a little bit more, for those of us with less well developed mental faculties?”

“I’ve never been in a helicopter before”, she offered, “and we are on our way to a very important meeting”.

“Both unmistakable facts but hardly necessitating such a reverie”, he cajoled, “what is it really?”

She looked him dead in the eye and replied with utter frankness, “We aren’t getting along very well are we?”

“Aren’t we?” He raised his brow in apparent surprise.

“You know that we aren’t”, she huffed. “We ... Had an argument. And then you said that you had been in love with me and things seemed better but then things”, she didn’t have the words. “Then the next argument this morning. You know as well as I do that things aren’t right. They are ... I don’t know”.

He nodded, “This makes a nice change from you ignoring it”.

“I don’t know what to do here. How to act. I’ve never ... I’m not used to ... You know that I’ve never had a relationship before. Well, not a real one. I’ve never been married. I’ve never been away from home before”, the rest of her problems didn’t even bear mentioning.

“You’re not away from home now”, he reminded her, taking her into his arm. “This is your home, with me. You are safe. You are secure. Nothing and no one can harm you”.

“I know it”, she whispered into his neck.

“But you don’t feel it”, he surmised, “Don’t worry, you will. You will get used to all of it”.

His comforting words did little to console her and by the time that they landed in Metropolis her sense of foreboding had only intensified. This was not going well.

Chapter Twelve

“What is this place?” Chloe wondered aloud as she entered the large room.

“This, my darling, is what we in English call an apartment”, Lionel smiled softly at her.

“I know, but ...” She broke off as she surveyed her surroundings.

“But what?” He enquired as he strode up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him.

“Lionel, this place is enormous”, she gasped, staring up over her shoulder at him. Well, at his chin really but she could still make out part of his expression.

He studied the room for a moment, “I thought that it was a bit small personally”.

“A bit small?” She expostulated, pulling away from him as much as he would allow and turned around. “Lionel, this is the largest room that I have ever seen! It is easily twice as large as any of the rooms in the castle”.

“Oh, three times, I would say”, he informed her as if it were nothing.

“And those are huge”, Chloe reminded him.

“Spacious, but not huge”, was his considered opinion.

She stared at him for a few seconds trying to decide how she was supposed to act. Lionel scared her, she knew that she needed to respond as he wished but she was so often at a loss to know exactly what it was that he wanted. She studied him and he raised an eyebrow at her. He had made it clear that day that she wasn’t going anywhere and he had wrapped his arms around her. She rolled her eyes at him. Friendly. Teasing. Not in any way afraid of him.

“Rooms in apartments always have to be larger to make up for the fact that there are fewer of them and no outside space”, he explained, pulling her back into his arms properly.

“Only in your world is that true”, she poked him in the chest. This was clearly the Chloe that he wanted.

“Your world too, darling”, he reminded her as he ran his hands up her back.

“This, is my world”, she repeated as if only really considering the matter for the first time. She peered up at the vaulted decorated ceiling metres about them. “Lionel ...”

“Darling?”

“Are you aware that there are perverted babies staring at us from the ceiling?” She kept her chin tilted upwards.

“They are cherubs”, he said without bothering to tear his gaze away from his wife’s lovely face. “They are sweet and romantic”.

“They are ugly, aren’t wearing nappies - which is rather unsanitary -, and that one is staring right at me”, she studied the work of art. It really was too bad that such skill had been so wasted.

“I thought that you like babies”, Lionel said mildly enough but the way that he tightened his grip on her, apparently unconsciously startled her.

“Whatever gave you that idea?” She asked, treading softly.

“Women tend to like babies”, he answered neutrally.

“Right”, the syllable came out slowly even as her brain raced. “I’m not a big fan, especially not of him”, she pointed at the one who looked like a pervert.

Lionel followed her gaze but apparently did not find the image as repellent as she did as he merely took her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it before placing it on her chest. “You will be when it its ours”.

Her eyes snapped up, fixing on his face. She saw nothing alarming there. Not a Machiavellian master mind determined to ravish her right there and then and implant her with his seed. Just a man. Made of flesh and blood. Looking at her calmly and decidedly. His strength and warmth wrapped around her in a manner that should have been comforting. In moments like that she could almost forget what he was and why they were in the situation they were in.

She continued to stare up at him and said the only thing that she could,”I hope so”.

“You will. You can’t imagine how wonderful it is”, he smiled, almost tenderly, and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I don’t like babies, at least, not in general but when you hold that tiny little creature in your arms and it looks up at you”. He let out a breath, “You will adore our children”.

Children? It was going up with every second.

“Do you have any children?” The question escaped her before she had chance to think better of it.

“Yes Lex”, he regarded her teasingly, “I believe that you have met him”.

“Yes, I’ve met Lex but I asked about children. As in, plural”, she clarified, knowing that there was no way that she could back peddle at this point and curious to know the answer.

“Children, in plural”, he repeated slowly.

“Yes”.

“I ...” He began to think of how to answer that question when something else occurred to him, “Why do you ask?” His eyes narrowed, only fractionally, but she noticed it.

“I don’t know”, she attempted to skirt around the issue but Lionel wouldn’t allow that.

“Have you heard something?” He asked, placed a finger under her chin to ensure that she couldn’t look away from him. “Has Lex told you something?”

“No, nothing I just wondered”, she didn’t have to worry about her delivery of the line as it was the truth.

“Right”, he let her go and stepped backwards but ran his hands up and down her arms.

“Lionel”, she gathered her courage, remembering that information was power, and asked, “do you?”

“Yes, darling”, he admitted slowly, “I do”.

“Oh”. She took a deep breath trying to decide how to proceed. She needed to know. It was essential for her to know. But asking could get her into a whole world of trouble. She should be cautious and clever and ... Even as she thought this, curiosity got the better of her. “Where are they”

His hands stopped their soothing motions, resting on her shoulders and he stared at her a glint of suspicion in his hazel eyes. “What do you want?”

Blinking her large expressive eyes would have been too obvious. Should have practised looking innocent in the mirror before she was dragged into this. She snorted mentally. She was beginning to suspect that Lionel had deigns on her since the very beginning and never planned on letting her go. She tried to keep her features as passive as possible as she said simply, “I want to know about you. About your family”.

Lionel merely nodded. “We should sit down”.

Relieved, and pleasantly surprised, by his attitude and willingness to communicate Chloe allowed him to take her hand and lead her over to chaise lounge where she perched delicately.

Lionel reached out and cupped her face with his hands, brushing her cheeks with his thumbs. “I love you so much darling, I could never be this open with anyone else”, he allowed himself a small, self-deprecating smile, “I am out of practice so I must ask for your forbearance”. He allowed his hands to slide down her neck, over her shoulders until he possessed her hands once more. He kissed each digit before stealing himself, staring into her eyes and continuing.

“I”, he sighed, “I wasn’t very happy in my first marriage and, as a result, I did things that I wasn’t proud of. Things that I’m even more ashamed of now”, he admitted. “I was having trouble with pretty much everything in life at the time. After all of the years that I had spent ploughing all of my money into getting my business off the ground and trying to build a family, when I finally had them I couldn’t cope”.

Chloe’s brow wrinkled and disentangled her hands from his. He looked at her in concern, verging on anger until her purpose was made clear. She held his face, “You never have to be afraid to tell me anything. I don’t judge you for what you see as weakness”.

He looked as if he wanted to smile, but couldn’t quite bring himself to do so. “I felt constantly guilty. When I was working, I was neglecting my son. When I was with my son, I was neglecting my business. I needed a helpmate but instead I had, I don’t want to say a Prima Donna, but nothing that I ever did made her happy. Every night I returned to a cold home, a cold wife and one who was training my son to despise me”.

“That’s terrible”, Chloe murmured then shook herself, as if it had just slipped out without her meaning it to. “I mean, under such circumstances, it’s natural that you would search for comfort elsewhere”.

“You are amazing”, he turned his head to press his lips against her palm. “So sweet, so kind, so understanding”, he trailed kissed across her wrist and seemed as if he would have continued if she hadn’t prevented him.

She coaxed his head back around to face her, “I will understand. But I need to know Lionel”.

“Why?”

Her heart rate quickened, but her voice didn’t quaver as she answered, “Because it is a part of your past”.

“Exactly, it is my past. You are my future”, his eyes bored into her.

“But that is what makes you who you are. I already told you, I’m not going to judge you for it. I don’t want to know because I want something to hold over your head or anything like that”, she actually managed to appear slightly upset by the notion, “It’s just that there is a part of you, several parts of you possibly”, she smiled, “out there. I’m not saying that I need to meet them, or that they have to come to Sunday lunch - unless that’s what you want. But I do need to know.” She placed her hand over his heart. “I know what it is like to hold a secret inside”.

She saw him opening his mouth to protest and pushed on. “Or, if not a secret exactly, something which is not common knowledge. No one every means to deceive anyone”, unless their surname was Luthor. “It starts out as something small but then it grows. It takes a piece of us and we are worried about what will happen if anyone else finds out. It ... It forces itself between the people that we love even if we don’t mean it to. Please, Lionel. I want to be a part of your world”.

He blinked.

“Our marriage it didn’t start .... It isn’t ... You’ve made it very clear that this”, she pushed her hand against him, “is forever. I don’t want to just be a piece of arm candy. I want to be your wife”.

He stared into her eyes and she had no idea if he had brought one syllable of what she had just said.

“There were other women”, he started and she felt a wash of relief, she fought it. That was when people got sloppy.

“They were not as beautiful as Lillian. Nor did they have such breeding. But they were warm. Decidedly warm”. He took a long pause between each part of his story. “When they looked at me it was not as if I were a piece of dirt on the bottom of their shoe but with respect”, he shook his head. “Unfortunately, at the time I mistook respect for my status and desire for my money for love for me”. He spoke as one whose heart had been shredded many times over.

“I don’t use it as an excuse. Whatever my feelings at the time were, it wasn’t the right thing to do”. He stared at her and seemed to be encouraged by what he witnessed there. “I must unfortunately confess that I was ridiculously easy to seduce. They showered Lex with love and affection and I was a gonner”.

“Since when did you care about Lex?” Crap. She had to get a hold of her tongue. She was playing far too dangerous a game to allow these stupid slips.

Lionel looked genuinely shocked, “I love him. He is my son. I would give my life’s blood for him, but”, he acknowledged, “we don’t have the best relationship. He always let me down. Maybe I let him down too ....”

Chloe knew that that was a load of crap. His love for Lex, not the fact that he had let him down and yet she found herself being pulled in by him. It took all over her self-control not to believe him. His eyes, how was it possible for someone to look so honest and be lying?

“Their kindness to Lex seduced you?” She whispered, pretending that she believed him regardless of her actual feelings.

“You could say that. I fell for them, each and every time only to find myself guilt gnawing away at my guts. “ he looked down, the picture of repentance, “and a demand for money”.

“A demand for money?” That was too much to believe. No one in their right mind would try to blackmail Lionel Luthor.

“Yes, that is how they announced their pregnancies”, he informed her calmly.

“And you paid?” Those women had balls.

“Of course. They are my children, I loved them from the second that I heard about them. I had to look after them, protect them as best I could but”, he shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant about the whole matter but gave the impression that his arms weighed a ton a piece.“It was better for them to be with the mothers and I didn’t get to see them often”.

Chloe reached out and pulled him to her, cradling his head against her shoulder, using the part of her that wanted to believe him to lend credibility to her performance.

“I can’t do it again Chloe”, he spoke softly against her ear.

“Do what? I thought that you just said that you wanted children”, she asked as she stroked his head.

“I do”, he turned up his head to stare at her. “I mean that I can’t not be in my children’s lives again. I got it wrong the first time, I admit it. Lex was ...” he shook his head. “I just got it wrong. And the others, it killed me not being able to be around them. The next time, I need to get it right. A wife I love. Who loves me back. Children I can see everyday. A real family”. He held her. “I’m going to get it right this time”.

He was convincing, Chloe considered. He really should have been on the stage.

~*~

Lex strolled up to the LuthorCorp building with a confident swagger and a smirk on his face. The bright sunlight glinted off the glass and chrome building and he could see his smart reflection in the door. It was a flattering portrayal of his sharp suite, bald head and the knowing glint in his eye. It made him look ten feet tall. Which, incidentally, was about as good as he felt.

Before he could reach his hand out towards the door it was opened for him. He smiled at the porter warmly. “Has the old man showed up yet?”

“I do not believe that the elder Mr Luthor had arrived yet, sir”, the employee replied in a manner more befitting of his station.

“Good”, Lex said, with a smile. He whistled a jaunty tune as he sauntered over to the lift. He was in a good mood this morning because - unlike most of the other times that he had taken on his father - he had more than just one ace up his sleeve. He had an entire stacked deck.

“Hi ho, hi ho”, he whistled as he stepped into the highly polished conveyance and was on his up and away. It took only a matter of seconds to ascend more than one hundred floors and for the doors to open with a ping. It was one of the new modifications that had been made in the last few years as his father tried to move the company in a new direction. Unlike most of his other innovations, Lex actually appreciated the more efficient lift.

He continued whistle as he made his way down the hallway to the board room, surprised to note that in spite of the fact that he was at least ten minutes early for the meeting, everyone else was already assembled. The tension in the air was palpable. It generally was when his father’s arrival was imminent. Or just when he was mentioned, come to think of it. Even when no one had done anything wrong.

Whilst Lex appreciated that it was necessary to take a firm hold of a company and to inspire respect - along side a small about of fear and awe - in the employees, he often thought that some of his father’s methods were actually counter-productive. A man who was close to tears was hardly likely to be an efficient worker.

He looked around from face to face, an arrogant smirk firmly in place. Some where his allies. Some were not. Some where double, triple, quadruple agents. There was one in the corner who looked close to tears that he thought probably just wanted to get out of there.

Lex wondered how they were going to react when they discovered that their boss was married. It might seem like a minor thing. A trivial bit of trivia of no consequence to the business world, but such was not the case. So often in financial decisions came down to the inscrutable factors. A wife. Children. A future. These things made a difference to him. To all of the investors.

With a few nods he made his way over to his assigned seat and lowered himself into it with languid grace. He stretched out his legs before him, he was going to enjoy this now that he had his new information. Very soon, he was going to be the dominant Luthor.

“Oh fuck he’s coming”.

Lex looked over at the man who had let that slip. He had been almost hanging out of the window to watch for Lionel’s arrival.

“Lex, Mr Luthor, I’m sorry ... I ... I ...” He stammered as he turned around and saw who had arrived.

“Not to worry”, Lex held his hand up. “I quite understand”. Quite a good idea to have a look out really.

The man came away from the window, got his handkerchief out and wiped his forehead with it before stuffing it back into his pocket.

“Anything out of the ordinary?” Lex inquired, pleasantly enough.

“I could only see the top of his head”, he confessed.

“Any dandruff then?” Lex asked, apparently unconcerned as he began to study his cuff-link.

“Not that I could see”.

Lex smiled.

“Nor on the one next to him”.

Lex looked up. No one else was expected. That could only mean one thing. “Blonde?”

“Yes, blonde and female. Is it his new secretary or something?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see”, this was going to be even more fun than he thought.

~*~

The board room was still and silent, fourteen pairs of eyes turned towards the door, when Lionel Luthor arrived. A blonde in tow.

Lionel sauntered into the room, a smug expression on his face, leading his new wife by the hand. The sign of affection would be the board members’ first clue that something was up. Chloe followed her husband wearing a dark blue dress to match his suit and a slightly nervous expression in spite of her obvious efforts to hide it.

Lex looked around, the entire room was staring at them both, trying to work out what the hell was going on. She couldn't be a secretary. He was holding her hand. She couldn’t be a girlfriend because he didn’t have girlfriends. He wondered how long it would take them to work it out.

“Members of the board, I would like to introduce you to my wife”, Lionel announced.

Apparently not that long. Lex fought to contain his smirk as jaws all over the room fell comically open.

“Chloe Luthor”, Lionel completed his introduction.

This was fun, Lex decided as he studied every face around him, taking in their opinions of the newcomer but he found that his eyes kept dragging back to her. He watched general anxiousness turn to horror before him. His eyes snapped to the man who she was studying who also looked as if he had seen a ghost.

Lex tried to be discreet but his eyes flicked back and forth between the trio. The businessman. Chloe. His Father. The businessman. Chloe. His father.

Lionel, seeming not to notice his wife’s distress, led her to sit at the end of the table. He studied her form - but not her face - as she slid into the chair and allowed him to push it in without complaint. The patriarch leant down to kiss the softly before turning his back on her as he moved to the head of the table. Everyone else’s eyes followed him. Except for Chloe’s, Lex’s and one other person’s.

“Please. Don’t”. The words that she mouthed were as clear to Lex as if they had been audible. They were evidently obvious to the other man too for although he looked confused, shocked and shaken, he nodded.

“Interesting. Distinctly interesting”, Lex thought, not sure if the reaction had been to her words or to her palpable fear.

Her eyes were still wide and then fixed on Lionel as he called the meeting to order.

Lex studied them both. Lionel actually looked like he cared about her and she shot him a small smile, as if she were just nervous about being in a new place with so many ‘important’ people.

“Welcome gentleman and beautiful lady”, Lionel smiled at her. “Now that all of our stock holders are present, we will begin with this months meeting”.

Lex’s ears pricked up and he continued to scrutinize the newly weds’ interaction throughout the meeting. It was clear that she was actually a stock holder and Lionel was on his best behaviour. He was being far kinder and more genial than normal. He didn’t even threaten to throw anyone out of the window, a first for their meetings. Chloe, for her part, was perfect although a little pale.

About two thirds of the way through the meeting Chloe slipped out of her seat and over to Lionel as one of the board members was taking them through the figures for this month’s transactions.

She whispered something in his ear causing him to stare up at her in concern and hold her hand gently. He looked as if he would have left with her right then and there but she shook her head and left softly. Her husband looking after her, a hint of longing in his gaze.

Under the table, Lex hit a button and a few minutes later his phone buzzed. Lionel shot him a look and Lex mouthed, “Japan”. His father nodded and let him go outside to answer the call. They had been waiting for that for several days now and Lex saw no need to inform his father that they had contacted him and been dealt with over twenty-four hours ago.

Lex strode outside, nodding and speaking in fast paced Japanese until he was out of sight when he put his phone away and hurried off in the direction that Chloe had gone. There were any number of places that she could have gone but he followed a hunch.

He turned the corner, treading softly and spotted her as she slipped inside Lionel’s office.

“He gave her a key?” He thought to himself but dismissed the idea almost immediately. Lionel might be ‘in love’ but he wasn’t that stupid.

Lex sneaked up on her. She had someone managed to break into one of the filing cabinets and slipped something into her top before closing it, turning around and coming face to face with, “Lex”.

“Chloe”.

“Do you know where the bathroom is? I appear to be lost”.

What a cliffie lol
Can't wait to know what's gonna happen next :)

A/N: Thanks Malu, sorry that it took so long to update.

Chapter Thirteen

Lex smirked.

He closed the door behind himself and strode into the centre of the room.

He watched her as she tried to remain composed, every second of his silence causing the adrenaline to rise up in her a little more.

How should he play this? There were so many possibilities. He could tell her that he was on to her. Or accuse her. Or say nothing and just stare at her waiting for her to give something away.

“No”, he replied calmly, opting for another option. “this is not the bathroom”.

“Oh”.

He actually smiled at her response. He had to admit that he couldn’t think of an appropriate one either. There really didn’t seem to be anyway of getting around the fact that she had been snooping around in his father’s office.

The question of whether or not he was going to let her in on the fact that he knew she had stolen a document was still in the air. He was inclined to think that he would not, however tempting the idea was. It might prove useful later. Whilst Lex pondered these matters, he was met with silence.

Chloe stood there, just as he did. It was a Mexican stand off and yet she tried to look calm, assured, and not as if she wanted to throw up. She was not entirely successful. Whatever else he knew about her - or still had yet to learn - she had been exposed to politics and games of one-upmanship before; she knew all of the steps and rules even if she hadn’t perfected the dance yet.

“Is there something that I can help you with?” He enquired mildly as he drew closer to her.

“No, I don’t think so”, Chloe remained where she was, although it looked like an effort.

He didn’t say anything and she continued, “Why would there be?”

Lex allowed himself a small smile. He was winning if she was talking more than necessary. It was a sign of being nervous.

“You tell me. You seemed a little distracted when you left”, he took a large step towards her, the corner of his mouth turning up snidely, “So distracted, in fact, that you appear to have mistaken my father’s office and filing cabinet in particular - for the ladies’ restrooms”.

“I was confused”, came her only response, spoken in a tone of boredom.

“Clearly. Are you unwell perhaps?” Lex crossed his arms, “Or do you have something on your mind?”

She didn’t respond, verbally at least. She merely quirked an eyebrow at him. She was transforming into a Luthor with startling rapidity.

“Chloe”, he prompted her in a low growl.

“I am perhaps a little ...” Her chest swelled so much that she couldn’t get any more words out.

“A little what? Chloe Sullivan”, he let her surname slip. A calculated move.

“Chloe Luthor”, she corrected him, her green eyes filling with terror which she tried to suppress, “my surname is Luthor”.

“Of course it is ... Now”, he closed the gap between them. He caressed her cheek gently as he stared at her. “Tell me what is wrong”.

“No -”

“No, don’t tell me that it is nothing”, his silken purr, swirled around her in a caress. “Don’t lie to me”. His course was decided and he channelled every deceptive fibre of his being into the delivery of this one line: “I want to help you.”

“I don’t need any help”, she articulated through trembling lips.

“Don’t lie to me. I can see your distress”, he drew so close to her that he could see the flecks of gold around her irises. “Sense it”, his hot breath caressed her cheek. “Almost taste it”, he licked his lips. He began to circle her with predatory grace,

He observed her shiver and the goosebumps as they raised on her creamy skin. No amount of acting ability could disguise those signs of fear.

“I know what it is like to be in my father’s clutches”, he came back to stand in front of her. Face to face. “Let me help you”.

She stared at him, with large tremulous green eyes. “I ...”

He moved even closer, she retreated but he did not stop. He pressed her gently into the cabinet from which she had stolen his father’s document.

She was on the verge of breaking - he could sense it. It was a skill. Along with the patrician nose, all Luthors inherited blood lust, the scent for weakness and the need to exploit it. Lex suppressed a wicked grin, and maintained a sweet, concerned expression as he moved even closer to her. As a child deprived of love and comfort he knew the power of contact, in all of its forms.

His hot breath caressed her trembling visage. His even hotter hand was placed on her shoulder. The heat of his body seared her through her dress.

It was a test of his control not to do more. Not to say more. For he wanted to press her but knew better. She was on the verge of cracking. He just had to give it time, a few more seconds and ... He almost smirked as he watched as her eyes grew even wider and more scared and he felt a surge of male protectiveness bubble up in him. She was amazing. He suspected that she was trying to manipulate him in spite of her position.

He narrowed his eyes. She could have her few seconds of diversion but he would crack her. She knew it too. The only sound was that of her anxious breath. He made an internal wager with himself, she would break within two minutes. That was when he heard it. Footsteps.

Her breathing accelerated even further and she scrambled against him to flee but he held her fast. The footsteps continued, definitely heading in their direction. Chloe’s breathing stopped and he could feel her heart hammering in her chest.

“Tell me Chloe”, he whispered, hoping that the urgency would spur her into making a confession.

The footsteps grew yet louder. “Let me go Lex”, she pleaded, no manipulation in her fear this time. She was panicking, her eyes fixed on the door to the office just in time to see it swing open.

“Chloe? Lex?” Lionel regarded them, “What’s ... Oh my God, Chloe”.

Lionel rushed forwards as Chloe’s eyes closed and her head lolled back as far as it the cabinet would allow. Then all of the strength seemed to drain from her body.

~*~

“Are you certain that you are well, my darling?”

“Yes, Lionel I am fine. I was just a little ...” Chloe trailed off as she stared up at the faces of the two men who were hovering above her. They were so alike in many ways. Their eyes. Their presence. Something about the set of their jaws. They were both handsome, seductive, dangerous men who were more than capable of tearing her apart.

“A little what, darling?” Lionel asked, crouching down next to the chaise longe upon which she lay reclined.

“Um”, she shook her head, as if confused, “nothing. I just need some fresh air”.

She was going to need to come up with a good excuse, but she could put it off for a few hours or at least give herself time to regroup if she could just ... She tried to get up but was prevented by Lionel’s taking her hands in his hot, possessive grasp. Without being overtly hostile, he kept her in place effectively. Just like his son. They both radiated heat. It must be a DNA problem. Possibly it came from being related to the devil.

Chloe’s eyes travelled between father and son. Lex stood erect, towering over her, his eyed fixed on her. Concern mixed with amusement in those green orbs. She couldn’t believe that he was actually concerned about her, that was unthinkable. He also probably suspected what had caused her to ‘faint’. She could feel her cheeks burning.

She turned her attention back to her husband. In her fright, she had only just realised that Lionel had actually given up the position of ‘power’, to kneel next to her. She wasn’t sure what that meant.

“What’s wrong darling?” Lionel stroked the backs of her hands.

The heat from her cheeks travelled down her neck and her breath quickened. This was ridiculous. It was as if she were in a bloody Harlequin romance novel. It was also a dead give away that she was up to something.

“Keep calm, keep calm”, she told herself. More than just her own survival rested on this. “Nothing”, she slipped one shaking hand from his grasp and stroked his cheek.

“You promise?” Lionel inquired in a velvety voice.

“I promise, I’m just feeling a little faint. A few minutes to freshen up and a breath of fresh-air and I will be as right as rain”, she assured him.

“If you are sure”, he stood back up, without releasing her hands.

Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. As she rose to her feet, she suffered a touch of dizziness but that could have been due to blood circulation. Or the looks that the Luthor males were giving her. Almost definitely one or the other.

For several seconds they just stood there, all staring at each other.

“Chloe?” Lionel inquired, his brows furrowing in concern.

“May I?” She indicated the direction behind him that he and his son were blocking, where the ensuite was located.

“Oh yes, of course”, Lionel stepped to the side and placed a hand on her lower back to escort her to the door.

Once she was inside she closed the door with relief and retrieved the piece of paper. Thank God it was still there. She tucked it back away more securely, feeling instantly less petrified but still shaky. She washed her hands and splashed some cold water on her face.

She would have to be more careful. Her brain was already kicking into overdrive, she would have to find somewhere to hide the paper as soon as she got home; if Lionel ever saw it in her position it would have been more than just her own neck on the chopping block. There had to be some way out of this, that was when something occurred to her. She was about to take it out and use her phone to copy it and then destroy the page, when Lionel called out, “Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute”, she replied, hoping that the pounding of her heart couldn't be heard through the door. She didn’t trust his concern. It had sounded more like a warning. One that she didn’t dare disobey.

Chloe checked herself over dried her face and hands and then headed out.

~*~

“I know that they talk about marital togetherness Dad, but you might want to let her pee in peace”, Lex commented dryly from where he was reclining on the sofa, still warm from where Chloe had been lying.

Lionel turned around slowly to face his son. “You are showing a rather marked degree of interest in my marriage”.

Lex remained silent.

“Or rather”, he took a step towards the impertinent pup, “in my wife”.

Lex raised an eyebrow.

“What were you discussing so intently?” Lionel strode forwards until he was looming over his son.

“I am not supposed to be conversing with my dear mother-in-law?” Lex inquired conversationally.

“Not at all. You know that my family is the most important thing in the world to me. In fact, I find the concept of martial bliss and dutiful son positively delightful”, he allowed himself a wry smile, “but I must confess that it seems a little odd to me to come upon you both together. Like that. Seeing as you hate her”, with these last words were spoken in a light tone yet his eyes grew dark.

“Hate is a strong word”. Lex observed his father as if he were a play which did not interest him particularly.

“Luthors have strong emotions”, Lionel reminded him. “And if I remember correctly you were taking a business call”.

“Quite true”, Lex accepted. His father loomed a little further. This amused his son and he considered allowing him his moment of authority, as there wasn’t really anything to be gained by antagonising him but then could not resist. Lex stood up apparently nonchalantly and completely oblivious to the fact that it forced his father backwards and off kilter. He hid a smirk as he strode over to the liquor cabinet and helped himself to a measure of scotch.

“Make yourself at home, son”, Lionel did not exactly snap, but he was not as cool and calm as he would have wished.

“Thank-you father”, Lex replied, turning back around with a glass in his hand. He took a restorative sip. “Would you care for some?”

“Of my own liquor?” He inquired with only mild, and entirely feigned, surprised. “No thank-you son but how kind of you to ask”.

“Not at all”, Lex replied with equal politeness.

“So”, Lionel sauntered over to his son, “Are you going to give me an explanation?”

“An explanation? With regards to what exactly?” Lex seemed genuinely bemused and Lionel slightly infuriated.

“Why were you in here pressing my wife into the cabinet rather than dealing with business matters?” There was a slight edge to Lionel’s voice this time.

“Ah so that’s what’s got your panties in a wad”, Lex smirked.

“I don’t wear panties”, his father responded straight-faced.

Lex wrinkled his nose. “1) I didn’t need to know that. 2) You are far too old to be going commando at your age Dad”.

“A man who avoids the question”, Lionel began one of his favourite platitudes but was cut off by his offspring reminding him of another.

“A man who displays anger ...” He didn’t feel the need to finish it. They both knew it off by heart. “Does it really bother you so much that I was alone with your wife? Why might that be? She is your young bride. Devoted to you. What possible reason could you have for being nervous?” He couldn't help his wicked smirk.

Lionel placed his hand on his firstborn’s shoulder in an oddly fatherly gesture. His tone matched as he advised, “Don’t compete with me boy. You know from the past that you never win”.

Lex’s smile did not falter. “Very true.” He thought of riling his father up, the temptation was very nearly overwhelming but he remembered the feel of Chloe in his arms as he had carried her over to the chaise longe. She had been soft, warm, substantial and had smelled divine. If he made Lionel angry, he might take it out on his new wife who was clearly in above her head.

“I went outside to answer the phone call. I was coming down to my office - which is next to yours - from some privacy whilst discussing business matters with our clients. Chloe was heading to the bathroom (obviously lost). We noticed that your office door was open so I went in to investigate. Chloe followed me in here - in spite of my telling her to stay back”.

“That sounds like Chloe”, Lionel interrupted with a laugh.

“I don’t know her well enough to comment”, but he got the feeling that that might be accurate. “No one was in here. But I think that the excitement was too much for her. She looked faint and then you entered ...” His voice wasn’t too loud, certainly not suspiciously so, but Chloe should be able to hear enough to corroborate his version of events.

“I have that effect on women”, his father noted smugly.

Lex observed him, almost with pity, this was a battle that the old man was going to lose. He would almost have felt sorry for him ... Had he not known the blighter so well. He imagined that the same thoughts were going through his father’s head at the same moment.

“Darling”, Chloe greeted breezily as she sauntered back into the room.

Lionel lost all interest in his son immediately, turning and wrapping his arms around his wife’s slim wait, drawing her to him, pressing himself into her in a rather vulgar way - at least as far as his son was concerned. Lex was once again impressed by the way that Chloe could - even indirectly - manipulate his father. He had never known anyone else have such power before.

Lex stared at the couple and more particularly at his father. He couldn’t wait until he discovered every other little detail and nuance of the situation. His father was going to lose.




A/N: Okay, all three stories updated now. Time to work on my original Regency romance.

Ohhhh this was good lol
Thanks for another amazing chapter

Great update, I'm assuming that Gabe was the businessman in the meeting that Chloe was surprised to see. Can't wait to learn why Chloe is in this situation with Lionel

A/N: Thank-you both: Here you go!

Chapter Fourteen

“Sleep well my darling”, Lionel murmured as he kissed his wife’s temple, eliciting a soft sigh from her. He smiled warmly. At least this time she was actually asleep rather than just pretending.

He smirked at the memory of her feigned swoon that morning. It might have been believable had her body not been rigid with her eyes closed so tightly and resolutely that they left faint lines around the corners. He had wanted to stroke her back, tickling her soft flesh, and whisper in her ear playfully that he knew what the little minx was up to, but he had refrained. Just as he did when she tried the same trick at night. The poor thing was adapting. Cinderella tales apparently weren’t all they were made out to be.

Lionel chuckled softly at the thought of himself as the dashing Prince Charming and brushed his lips softly against her again. “Sleep well my love”, he murmured in her ear.

Slowly, hating to leave her, he got up, the sensation in his lower back reminding him that he was no longer strictly speaking what would be called a young man. He stretched and gazed at her. Curled up asleep she was, she looked vulnerable and yet strangely at peace. An expression lacking during her waking hours. He drank in her golden hair, creamy skin, and the hints of sumptuous figure hidden beneath thin layers of silk and felt himself tensing. She was beautiful. She had plagued his thoughts for years and now that he had her, nothing would separate them.

Unaware of his admiration, Chloe snuggled down more deeply into the covers. It had been a long day for her. Her devoted husband could not resist caressing her once more as he mentally tallied up her movements for that day: the meeting, the office break in, her swooning, Lex being his normal self, going out to lunch, and then back to the apartment where she had studiously avoided all of Lionel’s questions while convincing him that she wanted to spend all afternoon in bed with him.

He smirked. No wonder she was now out like a light. He was a little tired himself. In fact, he couldn’t think of anywhere that he would rather be than under the covers with her, but he had other things to do first. He might not have objected to his wife’s seduction attempts in lieu of answers, but that did not mean that he had given up his search for the latter.

With one last backwards glance at the sleeping beauty, Lionel strode into his private office, unlocked and relocked the door and made his way straight over to the computer. He turned it on and a few seconds later was watching his bride breaking into his office and go through his cabinets.

“The little minx”, he smirked to himself. A playful fantasy of surprising tempting thief and exacting due retribution springing into his furtive imagination.

He found himself leaning forwards automatically even as he was clicking the zoom button to try to disgusting which file was in her hand only to be distracted several times by the curve of her skirt.

Finally, just as she began to move in such a way as to give his hidden camera a clear shot of the document in her possession, his son entered. The damned boy always had been a sore disappointment.

Lionel watched as Lex attempted to seduce and intimidate Chloe and felt the urge to smash his fist in his face. This displeased him. Not the thought of harming his son but that he would be tempted to consider such an inelegant solution. Lionel had never been a man of strong emotions, hate and revenge - and now apparently lust - had driven him for years but they had always been cold, hard and ruthless. They had never tempted him to an explosive or hot tempered response. He had always been willing to wait months, years, even decades to get what he wanted. He pursed his lips. He was angry with himself and with Chloe for having this effect on him. He had to get a hold of himself.

The crystal clear audio feedback finally gave him something to listen to other than Chloe’s rustling about. The entire thing was quite different from the video provided from his two official cameras and his two most obvious hidden ones. Lex had friends in high places, but evidently not quite high enough, he mused as he leant back his chair.

It was all rather naughty of his son and new wife, he would have to see that they both came by their just deserts.

With this in mind, he returned to his marital bed.

~*~

Chloe sat in the castle pondering her predicament, in the room which Lionel had kindly presented her with upon their return. It was a newly renovated office entire for her own use. It was very sweet of him and she hadn’t been able to find a single bug in it so far, a fact which surprised her more than the gesture.

The notebook in front of her was covered with squiggles and doodles. Some of them were actually meaningful - or at had at least started out that way - but the majority were merely signs that she was agitated.

She and Lionel had been gone for three weeks - an unexpected business trip to Paris having been the reason given for their extended absence. He had been at his most charming, every inch the besotted newlywed. He had taken her to all of the best places, brought her hundreds of thousands of pounds of stuff and treated it like it was their honeymoon. Most girls would have been in heaven, but Chloe had not wanted to leave Kansas.

Every second she got to herself - which had not been many - Chloe had called desperate for news, but to no avail. No one had any good news to share. To make matters worse, Lionel had caught her with her phone in her hands several times, tears dribbling down her cheeks. Thank God he had brought the PMS excuse.

She sighed once again feeling as if they walls were closing in on her. There were so many uncertainties and the number of mysteries in her life seemed to keep on growing. Had the business man had talked? What had happened to the document she had lifted? It had disappeared from where she had stashed it in the apartment within hours, but where was it now? What was happening to everyone she loved?

Chloe stared around the room. The luxurious furnishings and sky high bookcases filled with treasures over which she would normally have drooled more closes resembled a prison. She had to get out of here but had no idea how to, or what would happen if she did.

The now familiar ball in the pit of her stomach gave a terrible clench.

“You look like you are either about to cry or throw up”, a voice came from the doorway, “not exactly what you expect from a woman who had just come back from her honey moon in, Paris, was it?”

Chloe stared at the dashing young billionaire. That door had been closed. And locked. And ... He was holding a key.

“I can access any room in the house I like”, he informed her leaning against the wall with his ankles crossed. “Why, were you doing something?” He quirked his eyebrow up, “Naughty?”

She huffed and snapped her notebook shut, hoping that he hadn’t seen anything incriminating. Or couldn’t decipher it if he had. “No”, she fixed him with what she hoped was a quelling look, “I just prefer my privacy”.

“Touché”, he straightened up and strode into the room, allowing the door to close behind him. “I like my privacy too. Especially when doing something that I shouldn’t”.

She lifted her chin, a fraction of an inch.

“Chloe, is something wrong?” He questioned, concern knitting his brow.

“No, of course not”, she answered, “why anything would be?”

“I don’t know”, his eyes did not waiver from her face, “I haven’t seen you around for a while”.

“Lionel took me on honeymoon”, she replied blandly.

“True”, Lex acknowledged with a nod, “but last time we were together I thought that we had made some progress”.

She didn’t say anything. She only had his word that he had changed that surveillance video and he was the only other person who definitely knew that the she had stolen the file that had now disappeared.

“What did he do to you?” Lex asked gruffly, his hands going into his pockets.

“Nothing. I went on holiday, hardly an arduous undertaking”, Chloe responded tersely, “Your father isn’t a monster”.

“Chloe”, Lex stepped closer to her and inclined on one knee. “I can help you”, he withdrew his hands from his pockets and she observed that they had been clenched into fists. “Whatever it is”, his hands relaxed and he placed a warm palm on her cheek, “I can and will help you”.

His voice and eyes were as warm and gentle as his touch. He had the same ability as Lionel to make you feel as if you were safe and protected even as you looked into the face of the big, bad wolf. It would have been so easy to fall for it.

“I don’t know what you are talking about”, she lied, unconvincingly.

“Maybe this will change your mind”. He withdrew from her and pulled a USB stick out of his pocket, “We could make a good team”.