+ Reply to Thread
Page 18 of 18 FirstFirst ... 8161718
Results 171 to 174 of 174

Thread: Crawling Back (NC-17) Chapter 20 08/01/2020

  1. #171
    Happy-ending addict Senior Member lexie's Avatar
    Join Date
    26 Jan 2007
    Location
    In RL:Argentina. In my dreams: Lexland
    Age
    53
    Posts
    3,356

    Re: Crawling Back (NC-17) Chapter 17 8/1/2020

    Nice to see this one finished, Letia!

    I'll move it to the COMPLETE NC-17 subforum. By the way, the following chapters are missing: Chapter 4 Trapped (Lex POV);

    Chapter 10 Come to me (Lex POV)
    ,

    Glad to see you around. Take care.
    Last edited by lexie; 4th August 2020 at 07:07.
    Thxs to beeej for the avi

    A MASTER LIST OF ALL MY COMPLETED WORKS & WIPs w/PDFs

    "PERMANENT" WIPs (UNLESS MY CHLEX MUSE AWAKENS AGAIN AND I GET A LONG-NEEDED CLONE OF MYSELF)

    "Choices"May 30 '11

    "At Second Sight" August 21 '11

    PODFIC REQUESTS

    INTERVIEW

    VIDEOS

  2. #172
    NS Senior Member Senior Member letia84's Avatar
    Join Date
    09 Jan 2006
    Location
    In the lab.
    Posts
    5,191

    Crawling Back (NC-17) Chapter 4

    Seems some chapters have gone missing. Will add them here at the end. I'd have to figure out a PDF.

    Chapter 4 Trapped
    Smallville Seven Years Ago

    It wasn’t Lex’s style to be the one to do his surveillance. Over the years he learned a well paid man could get the job done. But today’s job was more personal than any another he hired someone for; so he took it upon himself to do his own work.
    Standing on the out skirts of the party before him Lex was trapped in amazement at how happy everyone was when he was miserable. It seemed his final words to Chloe the last time he saw her two years ago didn’t ring as true for her as they did for him.

    He was seconds away from crashing in on a wedding reception he wasn’t invited to. It was taking every bit of strength he had inside him to not go into the church during the ceremony and object to the union.

    After nearly losing himself in loneness his father managed to do one thing for him and pulled him out of his self loathing. He’d done his best to mask his emotions and move on with his life but there was always the nagging feeling that he was giving up too easily.

    Today, Lex realized he did give up too easily and now Chloe was gone. She was in the arms of another man and she was happy with him.

    As he stood on watching Chloe floating about the room thanking her guests he wanted
    her to see him. If, for a second, she could peer through the trees surrounding the tent holding the party to see him maybe she would come to him.

    Maybe Lex could say something to her. What he would say he wasn’t certain but seeing her in her white gown the one thing he would say was how beautiful she looked.

    When Lex learned that Troy Kaplan had come into Chloe’s life he didn’t flinch. As the months passed Lex got the news from his private investigator that things with Chloe and Troy were doing well; so well that a year into the relationship Troy proposed. He still hadn’t mustered up the emotion to feel anything about it.

    The more he knew about Chloe, the more he could control his emotions. Without his private investigator he wouldn’t be able to function wondering what she was doing or how she was feeling. It was wrong and he knew one day he would have to stop but for now it was keeping him together.

    After learning of the engagement it never occurred to him that a wedding would follow. It may sound like he was a crazy person but even though Lex had let Chloe go he still had it set in his mind that the only person she would ever marry would be him. It was just another thing he believed true that Chloe didn’t.

    One night after a hard day’s labor his private investigator left Lex the news that Chloe had a wedding day set and she would be getting married in Smallville. Needless to say Lex was shocked.

    She hadn’t graduate from college yet but she was getting married in less then a month. Two years of being away from him and she loved another man enough to marry him.

    Lex had weeks to decide how he felt about the wedding and found that thinking about it too much only hurt him which caused him to become angry so, instead, he didn’t allow himself to feel anything about it all.

    He stayed that way until the moment he saw her during the reception. For so long Lex had kept it all hidden until he saw Chloe’s new husband.

    Chloe was speaking with guests at a table, laughing at something that was being shared among the five of them. Without her knowledge a man was approaching her from behind then reached his arms around her pulling her back towards him.

    He noted a brief look of surprise then a smile once she realized whose arms were around her. When she turned to look at him Lex couldn’t see her face any longer but he knew she was smiling.

    The one thing that finally allowed him to feel something about the night’s events was Chloe’s husband taking her face into his hands and kissing her in front of the crowd of people. It was something Lex was never able to do. The entire time they were together it
    was all in secret.

    His eyes widened and his heart jumped into his throat as he watched them drink in one another with that kiss. When they parted their bodies turned to the side so he could get a full view of them both. They were smiling at one another exchanging words Lex couldn’t hear.

    The last time he kissed Chloe he failed to make her see that they were meant to be. While she kissed another man he had failed once again.

    His firm belief that one day they would find a way back to one another quickly faded away. Chloe was truly gone and Lex was trapped. He was unable to do a thing about it.

    His chest heaved and Lex had to force himself to breathe in as he watched her being led to the dance floor by Troy. He couldn’t take any more of it and turned to walk away but his steps ahead were hastened by the man standing in his way.

    “What are you doing here Lex?” The stern voice of Clark Kent sounded in his ears.

    Lex didn’t hear a thing and couldn’t imagine how Clark appeared out of nowhere from the party then into the woods without making a sound. Lex took a step back and had to catch his footing. He was expecting to walk away and leave unseen.

    “I was leaving.” He managed to say at last as they stared at each other. Clark was dressed in a tux and must have been apart of the wedding party. Clark’s hands were fisted at his sides as if it would keep him from doing something he would regret.

    “You’re damn right you’re leaving.” He stepped aside to let him pass and Lex started to but Clark had to say one more thing.

    “She’s happy now and doesn’t need you.”

    Just next to him Lex turned to look at Clark and after all these years of knowing him he hated Clark more then ever for saying what he did. “Clark I wouldn’t speak about things you don’t understand. You never knew what Chloe needed.”

    Lex took some satisfaction that he was right. When Clark found out about his relationship with Chloe he did try to persuade her to leave him but Chloe sided with him and their friendship was never the same.

    “You may have won her then but you don’t have her now.” Clark spoke as Lex turned back to face him. “She’s happy; just let her go.”

    Lex was at a lost for a comeback and felt embarrassed that he was being out witted by Clark Kent. He pressed his lips together searching for something to say but his mind keep reeling from the affection he saw Chloe share with her new husband.

    He backed away further preparing to leave. “Don’t tell her I was here.” If anything came
    out of this Lex didn’t want Chloe knowing he was there.

    “Don’t worry; I wouldn’t ruin her wedding day.” Clark said looking on as Lex started to walk away.

    As he made his steps to his car hidden in the trees Lex regained his focus. Clark was right; Chloe was happy. Lex didn’t have to speak with her to know it. The look on her face was more then enough for him to know what she was feeling.

    Lex would go back into his shell and remain as he had been the past two years for seven more. His final words to Chloe claiming they would some how find their way back to each other had trapped him.

    When he married the following year it ended rather quickly. Actresses were fickle creatures but Lex’s lack of affection towards the woman pushed her away. The next wife didn’t fair any better with him and Lex came to the conclusion he wasn’t suited for marriage.

    Chloe may be with someone else now but he was bound to those final words he spoke to her nine years ago. Lex was trapped but someday he would escape.


    -------------}{------------

    Metropolis Present

    Lex should let her walk away. For nine years he let her be and now he was telling her things that he hadn’t said aloud since the day he came to see her in New York.

    There was no stopping the words from spilling from his mouth. When she apologized he wasn’t expecting it. For two weeks he had settled into going back to the way things were.

    As he heard the click of her heels and the door swinging open for her, he turned around to watch her go. Lex was always watching Chloe walk away from him.

    When she would come to see him when they were together she would have to leave him. The last time they were together and Chloe told him she was moving away he had to watch her walk away from him. At that moment Lex was letting her walk away from him again and his feet felt trapped in place, like he could never stop her.

    But maybe this time he could.

    Lex took in a deep breathe and he sprinted for the doors leading out of his office. He moved pass his secretary’s desk and found Chloe waiting for the elevator. Her foot was tapping impatiently on the floor and it looks as if she was seconds away from going for the stairs even if they were on the top floor of the building.

    “Chloe.” He was almost unable to say her name but managed it to be loud enough for her
    to hear.

    She turned to look at him, her face was a light pink and her eyes were washed over as if she was on the verge of crying. The last thing he wanted was to see her cry again. So many tears had been shed by her that he was the cause of.

    “Please, I should just leave.” She spoke then turned her attention back to the elevator door.
    His body tightened and his hands coiled into fix then flexed again searching for the right words to say to her. The elevator was nearly there so he had to say something.

    “I wasn’t trying to scare you away.” He waited for her to turn and look at him and the tears had started rolling down her cheeks.

    “What I said is something you can think about.”

    Her mouth opened then closed again and the elevator announced its presence with a light and ding. The doors opened and out walked someone Lex had forgotten about. Chloe turned to look at the woman standing in her way of escape.

    “Lex that was so nice of you to meet me outside of your office.” Melissa Gray spoke and moved past Chloe without a second thought to her presence.

    Completely frozen in place Lex just stood still as Melissa walked up to him. He was unable to keep the woman from brushing back her brunette hair so that nothing was obstructing her ability to kiss him on the cheek.

    He had forgotten he contacted her the moment Chloe walked into his office. After thinking about what happen with Chloe at the hotel Lex reverted back to who had been. Chloe wasn’t ready to see him and Lex wasn’t ready to see her either.

    His control crumbled when he saw her but after they spoke he was reminded of why Chloe left him. Chloe had made it up in her mind that he was something he wasn’t.

    Ms. Gray had called before the Monthly was released. She was calling his office since he disappeared on her. Lex assumed he would never see her again because she didn’t live in town but she did. He never asked the night they slept together because it never came up since he was too blinded by wanting to keep control of everything.

    Lex made plans to have lunch with her that day and she arrived just in time to ruin the moment he was having with Chloe.
    As he stood trapped Lex’s eyes didn’t leave Chloe. She walked into the elevator just in time to see Melissa kissing his cheek. He watched her brush away the few tears trickling down her cheeks.

    As the doors to elevator closed she said one last thing. “Some things stay the same, don’t they?” The doors closed and she was gone again.

    What Lex said in his office to Chloe was the truth. When he said it nine years ago it was the truth. When Chloe admitted that maybe her leaving was a mistake it was time he reminded her of what he said.

    His anger got the best of him when he saw Chloe. When she sat across from him taking his help all the while thinking he was a murderer pushed him over the edge. But all of it changed when he read the article that morning.

    If he saw her again Lex knew that Chloe’s feelings about who he was had changed. Only now that he was standing in the waiting area with Melissa Gray staring at him he knew everything had gone back to the way it had always been.

    Chloe wasn’t going to consider allowing him to crawl back into her life.

    “Is everything alright?” Melissa questioned.
    Lex took his eyes from the door of the elevator to look at the woman. She was still smiling even though he looked crushed after watching Chloe walk away from him again. Her brown eyes were sparkling up at him and he could see she was thinking that the night they spent together was the start of something.

    With no thought to her Lex had called her and made a date just to sleep with her again. He’s only reason for doing so was to shake off what he was feeling now. Maybe he could forget what he said to Chloe all those years ago and let them go. But now everything had changed.

    As he looked at her Lex thought of all the ways he could get what he wanted out of her before moving on. The same with his last two wives; the same with any woman he’d been with since Chloe left.
    But he couldn’t do it. He was trapped by his feelings. Something he had been avoiding since he left Chloe’s dorm room in New York.

    There was something still between them. He could feel it when he saw her and the look on her face when she laid eyes on him. He could feel it in his office just now as she said she was sorry to him after so many years of him thinking he was monster.

    There was nothing he could do but move forward. “I’m sorry Melissa I can’t make it to lunch.”

    “What?” The woman’s eyes slanted and her hands closed around her hips. “Is this about that blonde woman that just left?”

    Lex stepped back away from the woman to get back his personal space. “I’m sorry.” He replied to her. It wasn’t really an answer
    but Lex could just tell her that everything had always been about Chloe

    The woman huffed and puffed at him then she turned to leave. Her heels stomped on his hardwood floor hard enough to leave a mark. “You’ll be sorry you didn’t keep me around.” She whined as she waited for the elevator to return.

    That being done Lex moved towards Miss March’s desk to give her some instruction. “I want you to do whatever you have to do to find Ms. Sullivan’s new home address.”

    “Of course Mr. Luthor.” Miss. March nodded and went back to her computer screen clicking away at the keys.

    He knew that Miss March would contact his people and they would have Chloe’s address with in the hour. He wouldn’t use it right
    away but let the day settle as well as the week.

    At the end of the week he could drop in her. Lex wouldn’t be trapped by those words any longer. He would finally be able to put them into action.

    -------------}{------------

    It couldn’t be considered stalking if the intent was to go and see the person. Driving around the block once or twice to find the perfect parking space wasn’t obsessive. Lex didn’t know if Chloe would be home when he arrived so he drove around the place once.

    When a parking space came up he didn’t want to take it. It was too close to other cars and he just had the Porsche he was in waxed. If someone dented the thing it would cost nothing to repair but it would be a mild annoyance he didn’t want to deal with.

    The second time he pulled around Lex spotted Chloe going into her building. She would have seen him in his car since Lex stood out like a sore thumb no matter where he went but she was already engaged with someone else.

    The tiny girl at her side was speaking to her and Chloe’s full attention was on her.

    The girl was dressed in a pale blue dress that fell at her knees and the front was adorned with a sunflower. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a loose pony tail secured with a ribbon the same color as her dress.

    As Lex watched them walking hand in hand towards their home he couldn’t look away. He nearly ran into a car looking at them. As he turned the corner again another reality sunk in for him.

    Chloe was a mother.

    Of course he knew of the little girl that she had with Troy six years ago. He didn’t know
    her name and didn’t want to know at the time. It was too much information already knowing she was married and now had child.

    Chloe had made a family when she left Kansas. A family he was never to be part of.

    His hands gripped the leather of the steering wheel tighter as he turned the corner in front of her building again. He was second guessing his visit today once he saw Chloe’s daughter. He didn’t want to make a scene or end their encounter like before; with Chloe in tears.

    Circling around for a forth time Lex was about to turn away. He was about let it go and let Chloe be but he wouldn’t trap himself again with his thoughts. He couldn’t control things with Chloe, he never could and there was no sense in trying when they had a chance at new start.

    As he came to the front of the building Lex pulled into the spot he by passed earlier. It was a prefect fit for the car and his earlier judgment must have been his jitters.

    Entering the lobby of the apartment complex it appeared to be rather nice. Lex nodded to a man sitting at the front desk and went for the elevators. He could have walked up the stairs since Chloe only lived on the third floor but he needed the time to breathe before seeing her.

    Taking the few steps down the hall to her apartment from the elevator Lex got his story straight. After Chloe left yesterday he felt bad about the way things ended. She was crying when she left and he wanted to make sure she was alright.

    He wouldn’t explain Melissa Gray unless she asked. If she did Lex could do nothing but tell her the truth or a version of the truth that told her what she needed to know. It wasn’t as if Chloe was going to jump into bed with him any time soon but he didn’t want past discretion to ruin the chance of it happening.

    Once he was in front of the door a problem shot into his head. How did he know where she lived? He sent the files to her about the energy project to her office so that couldn’t be his reason. Lex would simply have to tell the truth.

    Smoothing down his suit jacket Lex came dressed casual. He was in dark slacks a black pull over shirt and a light suit jacket. His mind shot back to the little girl with Chloe and what she was wearing after checking over himself.

    The image in his mind was so clear. The child was a dead ringer for her mother. Chloe was dressed in blue as well but she was in a pair of fitting jeans and a button up top that match her daughter’s dress color.

    He shook off thoughts of Chloe in form fitting jeans. After all these years a piece of clothing that she wore could ruin his concentration.

    With a closed fist Lex made three raps on the wooden door. He heard some moving about on the other end. A feeling ran through his body as he remembered a scene just like this at Chloe’s dorm when she turned him away.

    He recalled begging her to let him in and this time he swore he wouldn’t do that again. If he wanted something to form between them he couldn’t force it. It was one lesson he had learned being away from her.

    After a few moments of waiting Lex was about to walk away when the door flew open before him. “What are you doing here?” The question came out like a shot and Chloe look like she might draw blood.

    He knew she wouldn’t be happy to see him but Lex played the odds that he could talk his way in. “I was stopping by because of what happen yesterday.” He stuck with the plan keeping himself together seeing her again. The last few times he crumbled like a cookie, this time Lex was ready.

    “What about it?” Chloe answered folding her arms over her chest in defense. She didn’t want him there and in a second he would see why. “You can see who ever you want.”
    “Who is it mommy?” The tiny voice raced up grabbing Chloe’s arm.

    Once the little girl was in sight, Chloe relaxed her arms to look down on her. “Kitty Cat go back to your room.” Chloe ordered her trying to direct the girl with her hand but she wasn’t giving up so easily.

    Lex looked down at the girl starting up at him. At one time he thought that children would be apart of his life and that he would be a better father than Lionel ever was to him but when Chloe left many of those dreams went with her.

    His last two wives were both certain they didn’t want to have kids and it was one of the reasons why he married them. If the
    marriages weren’t going to last he didn’t want them to be tainted by kids that would have to be separated from one of their parents.

    Clearing his throat Lex spoke to the little girl hoping to break her gaze on him. “Hello.” He glanced up to Chloe and her eyes widened. It was like she was waiting for a bomb to go off because Lex had seen the girl.

    She may have apologized for thinking he was a monster but Lex assumed that her fears weren’t so easily washed away.

    She smiled at him warmly while pulling her hand from Chloe’s grasp. “Hello.” She repeated to him reaching her hand up to him.

    Lex didn’t know if he should take it and looked to Chloe for the go ahead. Her eyes were fixed on him pleading to him. After a moment she nodded to give him the go ahead.

    Taking the tiny hand into his the little girl shook all over but at the arm to shake his hand. Lex couldn’t help but grin and tried to maintain his end of the hand shake. It was the silliest hand shake he had ever been given and it was the nicest.
    “My name is Emma Moira Sullivan Kaplan.” The girl piped pulling her hand away to take Chloe’s again. She was forward and spoke to him without any fear; just like her mother did.

    Lex recalled the name Moira as being Chloe’s mother’s name. The Kaplan belonged to Chloe’s late husband but the Emma he couldn’t place.

    “That’s a long name.” Lex answered to her. He was prolonging the conversation but he couldn’t help it. The little girl was fascinating.

    “I know.” She breathed out as if she was tired then rolled her eyes adding more punch to her frustration. “But I gotta have my grandma’s name and daddy’s name and mommy’s name and my own name.”

    Lex looked to Chloe and she was smirking at her little one shaking her head at the girl. His attention went back to Emma as he told her his name. “My name is Alexander Joseph Luthor but everyone calls me Lex.”

    “No one uses my names either.” Emma nodded and Lex was learning that the child couldn’t stay in place for more then a few seconds. “Mommy calls me Kitty Cat. She was going to get a cat but she got me and...”

    “Okay that’s enough.” Chloe spoke up at last interrupting the girl before she could tell her story. “You have met Mr. Luthor and now you can go to your room like I asked.”

    Emma looked up to Chloe with a frown and Chloe looked back with stern turn of her jaw. “Yes, mommy.” The girl nearly whined as she turned to walk away. Once she was gone Chloe turned to back to Lex.

    “You have no right to ambush me like this.” She heaved out a breathe trying to keep her composure. Her daughter waiting only a few feet away, it appeared Chloe didn’t want the child to see her upset. “My daughter is here.”

    “I’m sorry if you didn’t want your daughter to see me.” Of course it wasn’t his intention to upset her but he had to take the next step or she never would. “I didn’t want to trap you either but you ambushed me in the hotel a few weeks ago.”
    Her face twisted as he threw the event into her face and she spit back a reply. “I already said I was sorry for that. This is different; my daughter is in the next room.”

    “I’m fully aware of that.” Lex started peaking behind him making sure there wasn’t a tiny
    Chloe waiting behind them. When he was satisfied there was no on there he went on. “I wanted to speak to you before it was too late and it has nothing to do with you seeing what you did before you left.”

    “What do you mean too late?” She was waiting, her arms returning to the defensive position across her chest.

    “Before it was too late for me to apologize. You were crying yesterday. I’m sorry if I was the cause of that.” Lex didn’t know if she would be responsive to what he had to say next but he would have to do everything he could if Chloe was going to let him into her apartment; let alone into her life. “I wanted to see if you were alright.”

    “I’m fine but...” Her arms lowered slowly as she let down her defense. “...it hasn’t been easy for me.”

    “It hasn’t been easy for me either.” Lex answered back. She was treating this like she was the only one having to deal with it but Lex had to admit it was a lot harder for her. “But I’m not trying to add to the stress of you moving back here.”

    “I know you’re not but I don’t want to complicate my life anymore than I have to. I came back to find some kind of normalcy.” She looked behind her then back to him. “It’s not just my life I have to worry about anymore.”

    Lex would have to place his words just right. He had repeated them all week but at the moment his well played speech was gone and he was going on his feelings. He was going on the one thing that he had pushed away for years.

    “I understand if you want to keep me at arms length but you said that maybe you were wrong about me. If you were wrong then maybe I was right.”

    “Right about us finding a way back to one another?” She questioned him her eyes looked to be near tears again.

    “Not the way you think.” Lex wasn’t sure how things would end up with Chloe but something would happen. “I’m not saying we are going to pick up were we left off. It’s possible that getting back to some sort of normalcy for you includes me. We parted on bad terms but that doesn’t have to be the end of it. Our paths will keep crossing one way or another. I don’t see why we have to keep pretending the other doesn’t exist.”

    He was reaching. Lex was pulling everything he could and it was working. He was also doing everything he could to keep from brushing the hair from her face. It was longer than he’d ever seen and it was obstructing his view of her eyes.

    “Are you saying you want to be friends?” She gave him an in just now and Lex wasn’t going to let it pass him by. “We use to be friends?” she questioned.

    “Yes, we were.” Lex had a brief flash of Chloe trusting him enough to safe guard her life. They were friends then but now they were so far anything like that.

    Her body moved to the side giving him a glimpse of the apartment. “Do you want a cup of coffee?”

    “Coffee would be nice.” Lex’s body tightened as he was seconds from getting what he came for.

    “Come in Lex.” She waved her hand leading him into her apartment.

    Lex didn’t want to ask but this was a big step for them both. “Are you sure?”

    “No.” She paused to study him; her eyes lowered then rose again. “But if I don’t let you in Emma well trap me with questions about you until she goes to bed tonight. At least this way she can ask you directly.”

    “She’s beautiful.” Lex spoke as he moved passed her. “She reminds me of you.”

    As he moved into her place he was freeing himself. This new found freedom wasn’t going to come easy but nothing ever did in his life.

  3. #173
    NS Senior Member Senior Member letia84's Avatar
    Join Date
    09 Jan 2006
    Location
    In the lab.
    Posts
    5,191

    Re: Crawling Back (NC-17) Chapter 10

    Chapter 10 Come to me (Lex POV)

    So many things happen by chance. It was by chance Gabe and Chloe paid Smallville a visit the day of the meteor shower. It was by chance that his little girl was exposed to the falling rocks that very day.

    The nature of Chloe’s exposure was still unknown to him. Gabe was the only person that knew and he wasn’t about to ask. During his search for the infected anyone that was could be marked. At the time he didn’t know that meant including Chloe but when the time came Lex did it anyway.

    It was a security measure. If the time came and she needed him then he wanted to be prepared for her. He didn’t know it would take nearly nine years for her to look to him for help but today was that day.

    After the weekend Lex seemed to sabotage at every turn Chloe still allowed him to see her and Emma. The weekend wasn’t supposed to turn out the way it did but he let it all get the best of him. Seeing them both jumping up and down on the bed with joyful glee made his heart stop.

    They looked so happy to be there and it was he wanted; it was something he’s always wanted. When Emma took his hand to pick out the movie his heart stopped again. The little girl was starting to trust him. Every moment he spent with her made him a junky.

    Lex needed to hear Emma’s voice; he had to hear her laugher and most of all he needed her to reach out to hug him. It was what made him offer thousands of dollars in the form of a horse to Emma. It also made him tell Chloe what he’d been thinking all weekend.

    For a few seconds he had his little family. Of course he ruined it but for a second Lex Luthor had something that eluded him for years. Then he got thrown back down from his dream into the pit. Lex had his family but he was reminded that Chloe and Emma weren’t his family.

    Before Chloe brought him out of the pit he realized that he had fallen in love and this time it was with Emma Moria Sullivan Kaplan. Lex had lost all his tricks with Emma. What he wanted included Emma now.

    Right now he needed to prove to Chloe he could be trusted. She wanted to know more about her powers. The moment she asked he felt like it was a test. It was his chance to prove he could be more to her then a causal friend.

    His scientist needed to run tests on what Chloe could do to pinpoint the source of her infection and how to control her abilities. She was standing in a testing room alone. It wasn’t ideal but Lex couldn’t tamper with the experiment by standing with her.

    “Chloe whenever you’re ready?” Lex spoke in to the receiver so she could hear him.
    She looked through the glass at him and he knew she was afraid. Chloe was attached to all sorts of pads with wires leading to machines in the room.

    She was still in the blouse and skirt that was part of a charcoal grey work suit. It was a very unforgiving suit for him. The silk clinging to her breasts and the long line of the skirt tight around her backside made life unbearably hard.

    Chloe’s eyes locked with him and she nodded. As her gaze fell to the person in front of her Lex watched her smile at the patient that was chosen. The thirty five year old woman had a husband, two young kids and terminal cancer. In a few moments she would have her entire life in front of her.

    Lex had learned Chloe could heal. How far that healing power went he wasn’t sure and it was what he hoped the test would tell. She told him it was by a freak accident she learned she could do this way back during her time at Smallville High.

    He didn’t ask for the details of that day; it was something he had to earn but he did know she hadn’t used the power much since. There was once on her father when his heart had failed him but Lex had a feeling there was more to it.

    “Get this right I don’t want her to do this again.” Lex instructed his staff.

    When she was ready after exchanging a few words with the woman on the table Chloe extended her hand out. When she made contact with the woman’s stomach a bright glow started to flow from her hand. After a few moments Lex couldn’t see Chloe or the woman at all. Then the monitors in the room started blaring off warnings.

    “What’s wrong?” He moved closer to the glass waiting for answers, unable to see anything but the white light. Lex knew this was part of it because Chloe told him but seeing it was another thing.

    “Her vital signs are dropping.” The lead scientist leaped from his seat to go into the other room. He was followed by Lex and two other doctors.

    The door leading to her was opened and Chloe wasn’t standing bathed in white light anymore. Her body had fallen to floor. It wasn’t for him to do anything but let his staff work on her.

    Before they could even reach her she was calling to him. “Lex.” Her voice was so low he almost didn’t hear it.

    He pushed past his staff to get to her. His arm went around her then she let her body fall into his chest. Lex started detaching her from the wires to allow her better access to him. Chloe’s breathing was shallow and deep. The sound wasn’t putting him at ease.

    “Let them look at you.” Lex spoke to her but she didn’t move away from him. “Just give me a minute.” She breathed out to him.

    His staff was on edge just standing there waiting for a command. Lex wanted to tell them what to do but Chloe was clinging to him now. She was huddled inside of him and this wasn’t the first time she had done it as of late.

    It was going on another month since the horse back riding weekend. Chloe was becoming comfortable having their embraces linger, letting him touch her or her reaching out to touch him.

    The last time was the worst for him. Movie nights with Emma often ended with Emma falling a sleep on Chloe but recently Emma was leaning on him as well. The night in question they both had fallen asleep on other side of him.

    Lex sat there with one arm around Emma’s tiny frame and the other hooked around Chloe. It was like they were his girls and he didn’t want to move from the spot until he was told to.

    When Chloe woke up suddenly she titled her head up from his shoulder to look at him. At first she smiled seeing he was the one she was resting on then she became tense pulling away slowly as if she’d done something wrong.

    It took a long while for Chloe to let go now. It was as if she needed to be centered again and he was the one helping her do it. He helped her into the waiting bed on the other end of the room once all the wires were detached from her. Then Lex gave his staff room to move to look at her.

    They examined Chloe then took a look at the patient. It took a moment just like she said before Chloe was back to herself.

    Nothing would be for certain that day but soon they would know everything Chloe had been questioning all these years.

    A driver was moving them away from the facility deep into Smallville. Chloe got on the phone once they were cleared from the buildings grounds to talk with Gloria. Lex had yet to meet this woman but he knew Emma liked it when they sang songs together.

    When she hung up Lex spoke up. “Is everything alright?”

    “Yes, they are having dinner now.” Chloe sighed and he knew what she was thinking. Maybe she shouldn’t have done this today. It wasn’t easy to schedule something like this but it had to be done.

    “We could have taken the helicopter to get you back sooner.” Lex replied.

    She jerked her head to him with a grin. “I know but...” She paused as if she was too embarrassed to go on. “The drive gave me time to think and talk myself out of being scared.”

    He knew this was a test and her words just proved it. “There was no need to worry I was right there with you.”

    Her grin softened then it happened again. Chloe let her hand move over and cover his for a light squeeze. “Thank you.”

    The touch lasted longer than necessary again. When she moved her hand away Lex had to ask something that he couldn’t keep to himself anymore. “Chloe, are you sure the first time and your father are the only times you have used your powers?”

    Her head turned then her eyes looked out the window as she thought it over. This was going to be a test for her now. Did she trust him enough to let him in to this part of her life?

    When she turned to look at him he got his answer. “Yes, I use them on Emma sometimes.”

    “Oh, I see.” He answered not sure of what to say.

    “When she had an ear infection as a baby I couldn’t see her in pain and once when she had her first cold.” She turned away from him again towards the window. There had to be more. “I knew I shouldn’t but I couldn’t bear to see her hurt. I understand something’s I’ll have to let go. Chicken pox I have to let her have. What if she gets them as an adult and it’s far worse because I didn’t let her learn to fight it off as a child and then I can’t heal her. ” She added.

    It all made sense to want the best for Emma and Lex didn’t need the explanation. Only the gesture to look away said that Chloe had used her powers for more than that. He didn’t push her and just waited for the rest. When it never came he let it go. One day she would tell him if she used her ability on her late husband. It would come to him in time.

    After the awkward silence passed her head turned back to him. She wasn’t ready to let go of it all but she did say something else.

    “I want Emma to be tested for infection. If I passed this to her I want to know.”

    This time he reached to touch her hand. “We will arrange it.” For some reason she wanted more then just his hand. Her body moved in quickly for a hug. They stayed that way until they were almost back in the city.

    Maybe it was just a thank you for his help today but the length of it and the way she pressed against him Lex took it to mean more. She couldn’t keep doing this to him and have him think it meant nothing.

    -------------}{------------

    A week came and went since Chloe was tested. The results were still not in for her but the test subject was healed. The woman was given a clean bill of health as well as a warning. If she ever told anyone about what occurred Lex would make sure she paid dearly. She was selected because of her willingness to sign a contact stating she would never speak a word of what happened to her.

    Chloe knew the details of the woman she healed. If he was going to gain her trust he would have to start disclosing the truth. He had placed himself as a firm fixture in her life. There was no way he was going to lose his new place.

    That night Lex was taking Chloe out. It was by chance they were both to attend a formal charity event for the coming holidays. It was a fund for orphaned children.

    Chloe was covering it for a mini piece in the monthly. Lex was a healthy contributor that had to make an appearance for appearances sake.

    When Lex brought Chloe home after being tested he asked if she wanted to attend with him. It was easy to ask and it was an even easier yes reply from her. It wasn’t so easy to know this wasn’t a date. They were still just friends getting to know one another again.

    This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Chloe was trusting him again. Testing her powers wasn’t the only thing pulling her back into his life. He was letting things go. It started with his marriages. After talking about his wives things seemed to come out with ease but he knew some things couldn’t be known. Those things were the true test to how well they could work out again.

    Tonight had started off well enough when Lex arrived to pick Chloe up. When she
    answered the door she was already in her dress. “I’m not ready yet.”

    She moved out of his way leaving the door open for him to close. She looked ready enough to him. Her long hair was pinned up into a bun, her make up was all in place, her strappy shoes were on and of course she was in her dress. Black satin suited her in more ways then one.

    “You look great to me.” He spoke letting himself in.

    Before he could get another word out he heard the squeal of his addiction coming. Emma ran at him and gave his leg its traditional squeeze. Lex wasn’t a man that smiled often but Emma seemed to bring it out of him.

    “Mommy is pretty right?” The little girl spoke as she pulled away from him.

    “Yes, she is.” Lex answered lowering himself down to her level. “How do I look?” He questioned her.

    Emma took a few steps back to look at him then she moved back in. Her little hands smoothed down the front of his tux then they moved to tug at his bow tie. Lastly she smoothed down his bald head as if she was fixing his nonexistent hair. All the while she had one eye closed as if she was inspecting him very closely.

    “You look pretty too.” She answered when she was done looking him over.

    Lex smiled at her again and it was wider then before. “Thank you.” He replied to her and she giggled at him.

    As they shared the moment someone was coming out from the bedrooms. “Come on Emma leave Mr. Luthor be.” The voice belonged to Gloria.

    She looked to be in her thirties. Lex let his mind remember her face well. This was the person looking after someone he had grown to love. If Gloria was good enough for Chloe he should be good enough for him but it wasn’t working that way in his mind.

    He was going to say something but Chloe appeared again. This time she was in her jewelry and had a wrap around her shoulders.

    “Good you have met. Gloria this Lex Luthor.” She introduced them.

    Lex shook her hand still eyeing her for any signs that would tell him something was wrong with her. They exchanged pleasantries then Chloe stepped in to rush them off to go.

    “Okay we should get going.” She moved towards Emma lowering herself to give her hugs and kisses. “Be good Kitty Cat.”

    “I said Mr. Luthor was pretty.” Emma told Chloe with one last kiss.

    When Chloe stood she hadn’t really looked at him yet and now she was. “Yes he is very pretty.” They both laughed at him but the way she looked at him it wasn’t very friendly.

    Chloe gave her goodbyes to Gloria as well and they were off. While riding in the elevator the only thing he could smell was her lightly rose scented perfume. To keep his mind off it he spoke up.

    “So how well do you know Gloria?” Lex waited for her to tell him to stay out of it but she didn’t. He knew Chloe had looked into her but he need permission to do the same.

    “If you want to background check her go right ahead. Her last name is Winter.” The elevator doors opened and she moved out ahead of him. It was as if she gave him a little into being closer to Emma.

    Lex made the phone call in the limo. Then he heard Chloe’s complaints. Emma was alone with that woman all the time he wanted to make sure she was safe. He could take Chloe scolding him for now. In the end it would benefit them both.

    -------------}{------------

    Arriving at the charity event was the same as any only this time Lex wasn’t with some woman he just meet or his future ex wife.

    He was with the woman he never wanted to be without but she didn’t know it yet.

    When they moved into the room he placed a commanding hand on the small of her back. Chloe didn’t shrug away from him. Her body moved closer to his and she let him lead them into the hall. The press stopped him once they had cleared the doors and

    Chloe left him to deal with them. He didn’t want her to leave but she had a job to do just like he did.

    It still amazed him that it was necessary to throw an elaborate party for a charity. The money for the event could have gone to the kids but it went into this show of how great they all were for donating. Lex was thinking this and in the next Metropolis

    Monthly he would be reading Chloe’s article about the same thing.

    When he was free from the press Lex moved deeper into the party. People were crowed around the dance floor and buffet tables but he didn’t see Chloe. He reached out for a glass of champagne when it was scooped up before him.

    The woman holding the glass he knew well enough. “Lex?” The questioning voice of Allie Burns his latest ex wife spoke. “So are your here alone or is there another poor sap here to fall in love with your tortured soul only to realize it’s not so much tortured as just plain evil.”

    The biting sarcasm was expected. Things didn’t end well with Allie but he thought the ten million from the prenuptial agreement she got might calm her down some.

    Allie was the next in line to a real estate empire Burns and Pen so the added bonus of the prenup must not have fazed her.
    He met her when he was buying new Luthor Corp spaces in California. It was love at first sight for her and never love for him. She wasn’t around much do to business travel but Lex thought they got along so well when she was around that he should marry her.

    When she decided to relocate to Metropolis indefinitely after the wedding things took a turn for the worse.

    “It’s nice to see you to Allie.” He spoke ready to run for it but she stepped in his way.

    “At least you still look good in a tux.” She took a sip of what should have been his champagne. “Go on, point out who you are here with.” She moved closer to him at his side right up against him to look out into the direction he was looking in.

    One moment she was pissed the next she was rubbing up against him. It was clear Allie’s mood swings had not changed. He wasn’t any better during their short marriage but Allie took the cake.

    Lex let this moment give him the chance to look for Chloe again. When he found her she wasn’t alone.

    Allie moved closer to him as he starred at Chloe. “I see the blonde in black satin, low cut floor length gown.” She was whispering in his ear then suddenly laughing. “Looks like your date found another rich man to entertain her.” Her laughter continued. “Lord knows I did.”

    Lex couldn’t let Allie distract him anymore. Chloe was sipping champagne, laughing with and touching the shoulder of Oliver Queen.

    He didn’t even say good bye to Allie but she did get in one last word. “You never chased me down like that. Maybe if you did we would still be married.”

    The woman was trying to make a scene but Lex fled just before people turned to stare. He had cleared the crowd and made it up to the second floor that was a seating area with another buffet table and just as many people.

    Once he was close enough Chloe caught view of him. He had to calm down. She couldn’t see him worked up like this. It was a problem he had when they were dating. Anyone getting to close made him want to snap. Queen getting as close as he was now made him want to snap Queen’s neck.

    “Hello Oliver.” Lex thought he would point his frustration at him.

    “Lex, it’s great to see you.” His smug grin followed and Lex wanted to put his fist into it.

    In prep school Oliver was his number one bully after Lex went bald. Oliver led the “Hate Lex Luthor Because He Looks Different” campaign for years. Whenever they saw each other now it was just as unpleasant. That was what Chloe would see not that he was jealous.

    “Lex, Mr. Queen was telling me a story about the two of you in prep school.” Chloe took his attention away from Oliver for a moment.

    “Well did he tell you how he used to treat me back then?” Lex pointed the question to Queen.

    “No he didn’t.” She replied staring him down just as Lex was.

    “Come on Luthor boys will be boys.” Then there was that smug look again and pat on the shoulder. Lex never saw eye to eye with Queen as they grew up.

    It could be that Oliver felt he was entitled to everything with little to no work. It also could be how he looked down on Lex as if he would never be better then him. Only Lex was and Luthor Corp surpassed Queen Industries year after year.

    “Yes that may be true, but thank goodness most of us grow up to be men.” Lex replied.

    He heard Chloe chuckle lightly. “Well I have a job to do and I see you boys or should I say men have a lot to catch up on.” She turned to Lex and smiled. “I’ll find you later.”

    He nodded then watched her turn to Oliver. “It was nice to meet you Mr. Queen.”

    “Please I told you its Ollie.” They looked at each other for moment and Lex could see it.

    She was flirting with him. There was no way he would lose to Oliver Queen. Lex moved to touch her forearm to get her attention again. “We’ll dance later?” He questioned.

    Her free hand moved on top of his. “Of course.” She moved away before Queen could speak again.

    Once she was out of ear shot the fool put his foot in his mouth. “So is she a one nighter?”

    “What did you just say?” Lex knew what he meant but he had to make sure.

    “Come on Lex.” He placed his arm around him like they were buddies and Lex shrugged him off. “Are you just going to sleep with her?”

    “Chloe is a dear friend.” For now that was truth.

    “You have friends?” He chuckled to himself. “I didn’t know that.”

    “Yes contrary to what you read I have friends.” Lex didn’t know why he was putting himself though all this but the way Chloe was looking at Oliver made him stick around to see what he was getting at.

    “If you are just friends then you won’t mind if I ask her out.” Oliver took the hint from before and moved away a little. “She is very beautiful and smart.”

    “How do you know what she is you just met her.” His guard was up now. If Chloe was blinded by Oliver’s charm, golden locks and smug smile he didn’t know what he would do. “Besides I don’t think you’re her type.” He added.

    “Yeah let’s let her decide on that.” He winked then walked off.

    The rest of the night Lex had two missions; to keep clear of Allie Burns and to keep Oliver Queen away from Chloe.
    He almost succeeded at them both but somehow Queen had Chloe on the dance floor before he did. It happened while he was paying his respects to the people running the charity. While they danced he knew what Oliver was whispering in her ear.

    When Lex got his dance from Chloe he almost missed the signs she was giving because he was so focused on Queen. She pressed herself against him to one slow tune then a small sigh followed when he brushed his hand over her exposed back. Then the glances she was giving him were full of some hidden want.

    When they parted Lex wanted to tell her that it was alright to indulge in what she was feeling. He had already played things so poorly that he said nothing until they were leaving together. Alone in the car he let his failed mission come to light.

    Chloe groaned once they were both seated and she went for her strappy shoes. “These look good but they hurt like hell.” He watched her undo the latch and rub the sole of her right foot.

    “It must have been all that dancing.” Lex was recalling Oliver leaning down to whisper in her ear. It took him two glass of champagne to keep him in place and not stop him.

    When she looked at him she studied him for a moment. At one time she read him so well but her powers had faded some over the years. Only Lex’s shell had started to crumble the more they were together and her powers were starting to surface.

    “Your jealous that I danced with Ollie first?” Chloe questioned giving him a pointed looked. The sound of his silly nick name brought back visions of neck snapping.

    He wanted to kick himself but just went ahead and let it all out. “Did he ask you out on a date?”

    “Why does it matter?” Chloe questioned with a question and it drove him mad.

    “He said he would and I was just wondering if he did.” He tried to hide himself to keep his seething disgust but he couldn’t.

    “Lex I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” Then there it was. The truth he hated to be reminded of. Chloe wasn’t his yet.

    There had to be another way to spin it and he knew just how to do it. “I’m asking as a concerned friend.” He paused letting the word friend sink in for her. “Oliver lives in Star City. You would rarely see him. I don’t even think he likes kids so how would he treat Emma? Then there is that thing about him getting injured a lot. It’s like he leads some sort of double life.”

    She rolled her eyes at him. “Is that all?”

    “I’m sure there is more but you never answered my question.” Lex turned it back on her.

    “I told Ollie no.” She sighed before going on. “All those things you said about him could be very true but that’s not why I said no.”

    “Then why did you?”

    Lex waited as she looked down at her poor feet then back at him. “Because I thought he was smug.”

    He laughed out loud. It wasn’t a chuckle or a small grin but a full blown laugh. It was what he wanted to hear and also assuring that he wasn’t the only one that thought Oliver Queen was a smug bastard.

    When he stopped she answered his laughter. “Now that you’re done you mind telling me the real answer to my first question.”

    For moment Lex had control then he didn’t. Chloe threw a curve and he could bypass it or let it hit him straight on. “You came with me. I was a little jealous the first dance went to someone else.” He let it hit.

    “I’m sorry.” She answered reaching out to touch his cheek. “I will behave better in the future.” These were answers he obsessed over later. The thoughts of him in her future were all good.

    “I guess I should say I was little jealous you were flirting with someone as soon as we got there.”

    Confusion washed over him at her omission. “What are you talking about?”

    “The dark haired woman in gold that was rubbing up against you.” Chloe described Allie Burns then he had another laugh.

    “I wasn’t flirting with her.” He shook his head at how bad it could have gotten before he fled. “That was Allie.”

    “Oh.” He watched her put it together. “You’re ex wife that has the bad mood swings.”

    “Yes, one moment she was insulting me and the next she was rubbing up against me.” Lex watched her take it in and she seemed disturbed. “It was unwanted rubbing I might add.”

    She shrugged her shoulders as if she was shrugging off the whole thing. “Well, I had no right to be jealous. It’s not like this was a date.”

    He was sick of hearing that. Lex had to make a move. “No it wasn’t a date.” He let his hand move towards her hair to brush back a loose strand. “We are both acting rather childish.” He lowered his voice just a hair to see if she would notice. “Don’t you think?”

    When he saw she did her body became tense. She looked down then away from him completely. The conversation stopped until they made it back to her apartment. He couldn’t just leave it there as if it never happened just like the other times she touched him or seemed altered by him.

    Lex walked her in even though she told him not to.

    “Good night.” She fumbled with her keys then turned to open the door.

    “Chloe.” He breathed out waiting for her to turn to him. “Don’t leave it like this.”

    When she did turn to him she was still just as tense. “Leave it like what?”
    “Something is happening to us.” Lex couldn’t force this. He forced it before. Made her see what was in front of her only to lose her.

    This time he had to crawl back in slowly and let her come to him. It had to be her choice to see that she was looking at him
    differently. At this point he could think it was only lust but he would take lust over friendship any day.

    Her tongue licked her lips and she looked up at him. “We are friends.” She told him knowing exactly what he was referring to.

    “I don’t think friends look the way you did in the car just now.” “How did I look Lex?”

    “You know how.” This was going to be impossible if she didn’t admit it.

    She threw her hands into the air as she spoke jingling her keys along they way. “What do you want me to say... that I’m attracted to you?”

    “It would be a start.” He did his best to keep his voice low to keep her neighbors and Emma from hearing.

    “Well I am.” She moved to him meeting him face to face the best she could at her height. “I have always been attracted to you but that doesn’t mean anything.”

    “Of course it means something. I know my attraction to you means something to me.” Lex then did what he did best. He moved into her until her back was pressed against the door. “All you have to do is come to me.”

    Her eyes squinted and the bite was coming. “You think I need you to fuck me?” She nudged him back away from her. “Well I don’t need you for that Lex Luthor.”

    “That’s not what I meant. This is not just about sex.” Lex moved back into place. She wasn’t getting rid of him tonight without a fight. “You do well to remember we were never friends for long Chloe.” He caught her off guard by grabbing her arms.

    Her chest heaved into his then her breathing quickened. “There is something happening and...” He moved closer to whisper to her waiting for her to take the next step. “...all you have to do is come to me.”

    Her head titled up towards him. Lex could feel her breathe on him and he knew her lips were so close to his. The kiss was going to happen then suddenly it wasn’t. She leaned back as much as she could in that position.

    “Let go.” She spoke wiggling in his grasp. He did as he was asked. “In the past we were not friends for very long before things became something more.” She paused and looked behind her at the door. He could see her thoughts drifting to Emma.

    “I want us to be friends. I won’t go back down the rode where I give in and not know where that will lead me. I don’t have the right to do that anymore.” She reached out to him placing her hand around the curves of the side of his face. “I’m sorry but what ever we think is happening is out now and stops here.”

    When she turned to the door this time she didn’t fumble with the keys or look back to him as she let the door close in his face.

    Chloe thought that was the end of it. Lex knew better.

    It was holding her so many times since her return that made him a believer. In the lab while she was tested she was afraid and
    the thing that calmed her was him. Being buried in his chest was what she need and she didn’t care who was watching them.

    He breathed out placing his hands on either side of the doorway then his eyes closed. Tonight had not gone so well but he knew it could be better. His body needed to be ready for it so he took in steady breathes waiting for it.

    With his eyes still closed he whispered. “Come to me.” He heard something moving behind the door. It sounded like she was pacing thinking of what to do.

    Lex opened his eyes to see her when she came back out. “Come to me.” He whispered again almost thinking he had read her wrong.

    Lex could have been totally wrong in what he saw in Chloe. It could be just him projecting his own feelings onto her to make it seem as if his plan was working.

    For just a moment more he waited and whispered to her again hoping his fears would soon be shattered. “Please come to me.”

    As he finished the words Chloe appeared before him. He took in the view of her clinging black satin dress, her pinned up hair was now down and her face was flushed with tears.

    “Why?” She spoke the words through clenched teeth then threw herself at him. It was a question she asked him before. Why her?

    Last time he replied “why not?” but this time he wouldn’t get the chance.

    Her lips hit him hard and steady. His arms went around her waist bringing her into him as much as he could. The wet tears moistened his face as he let his tongue move into her mouth. This wasn’t like anything he remembered because it was something new.

    They both had an urgency that was getting over heated in the worst place of all. It was Chloe that realized it when his hand trailed down to cup her backside lifting her towards his growing arousal.

    She moved back letting him go and looked just as spun about as he was. “Please go home Lex.” Chloe stepped back into the safety of her apartment.

    “I’ll go if you tell me this isn’t the end of this.” He waited his body moving half into her life and half out; it was a place he was always in.

    There was a silent shake of her head no. “It’s not the end.”

    Lex stepped back to let the door close again knowing it would be open to him tomorrow and for many days to come.

  4. #174
    Members
    Join Date
    11 Jul 2010
    Location
    London
    Posts
    7

    Re: Crawling Back (NC-17) Chapter 10

    Omg! This is so great! I’m so happy that you’ve updated and finished the story! Keep it up. X

+ Reply to Thread

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts