An Entirely Different Thing (R)

**Catheryne** · 19th March 2003, 20:13

Title: An Entirely Different Thing
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Neither Smallville nor its Characters belong to me, so please don't sue.

Posted this story around Feb. Will be picking it up now.

Summary: He was not her dream man, but she did not believe in dreams anymore. Until he turned into someone she never expected.

I am posting the previous parts too since it's been too long. Hope you don't mind.

‘Oh would you look at that nice painting. I bet that cost like maybe… a huge amount of money. I wander if I can slip a four-foot long masterpiece in my bag and get away with it. I’m just willing to bet my dad won’t have to work anymore and we’ll live like royalty for the rest of our lives. But then again Lex would know I took it and he would make my life a living hell—even though my robbery won’t even make a dent in his finances. And it’s not like he’s not going to get mucho bucks for it from the insurance company.

‘Wait, does Lex Luthor even believe in insurance? He’s so self-assured he probably would disdain the thought of a security blanket.

‘Rambling!

‘So I wonder just where he is. I just have this nagging feeling I did something really improper and I’ll have to apologize.

‘Of course I did find some huge hickeys this afternoon all over my upper body. I just hope it wasn’t from him. Because how ironic and devastating would that be? To be ravaged by Lex Luthor’s lips and not have a shred of memory of the entire experience.’

Lex Luthor walked into the office and Chloe rose quickly, sending her rather light chair sprawling backwards and toppling with a silent thud on the plush carpet. “Sorry,” she murmured, blushing profusely.

He looked up at her in surprise, his mind having been otherwise preoccupied by his own problems and anger that he did not notice her presence in the room. “You’ve taken to murdering my temporary replacement chairs, Ms Sullivan?” he asked with an arch of his brow.

“Oh are these temporary?” she rambled on. “What a shame. They’re pretty,” she continued, bending down to replace it.

“You really don’t have to…” His voice trailed off his protest at the sight of her buttocks being presented to his full view as she struggled to put the chair upright. Chloe straightened and smiled shyly at him. “Discomfort ill suits you,” he told her. “What can I do for you?” He really had no time for teenage requests or possibly hysterics by the sheer panic that appeared in her eyes. Lex searched for the fury that had overcome him just a couple of days ago but surprisingly found how much it waned after seeing her.

Chloe dug a hole in the carpet with the toe of her shoe. She smiled in a lopsided manner that he had never seen before. She always had her smile meter on full alert, almost blinding to people like him who rarely saw genuine expression. Oddly enough, he found this almost bumbling Chloe Sullivan a notch more charming—probably because he knew not a lot of people are privileged to see this side of the girl who takes no prisoners. He was now one of those privileged few.

‘No matter how much he denies it, I know that that bastard Clark Kent, who has no real regard for what friendship really is, is in love with her. If I were his age, I probably would to. And I wouldn’t have to hide it by mooning over the town’s fairy princess when I can have a flesh and blood, a gorgeous flesh and fiery blooded woman at that, right within reach. But then again I was a genius and he, sadly, is not.’

“I just have this strange feeling,” she begun, moving closer to him, “that I did something I should apologize for.”

“You were infected,” he told her. “Of course you probably did. But no one blames you.”

There was that grin again. “Not even Lana,” she admitted. “But for my piece of mind, Mr Luthor, if I did something inappropriate to you—“

‘Screw Clark Kent and his idea of friendship. And I know just how to do it.’ “I wish you had,” he said clearly. Her eyes widened and Lex grabbed her arms and pulled her close, fusing his lips against hers.

‘This was not how I imagined his kiss would be like,’ her mind whispered. Chloe tried to stand still, ignoring the bruising force of his grip on her. She forced her lips to… what… All she knew was that he was forceful and his teeth grazing her mouth painful. She felt like she was being swallowed alive by the unashamed movement of his lips. He was taking and giving her nothing. It was something akin to rape. Only… she didn’t struggle.

Lex knew he was hurting her. This was a girl who did nothing to him except probably fall for a friend that betrayed him. But he could not help the feelings that warred inside him. He could not get back at Clark. Not yet at least. But he had a person right here who Clark felt very deeply for. And she was all the vessel he could ever need to unleash the pain.

Chloe felt the tears sting her eyes as her teeth cut into the inside of her mouth because of the pressure of his kiss. She didn’t even know if you could still call it a kiss. She had never heard of a kiss that made you want to cry out. Slowly coming out of the shock of something she would call an attack, Chloe started to struggle.

She squirmed against him, and pressed full against his body as she was, she rubbed against him in a way that awakened a side of him that he had always fought against. Lex’s grip on her arms bit deeper. He felt wetness against his cheeks and realized that the girl he was holding was now crying. He had to stop. But then she stopped fighting.

Take no prisoners and never stop fighting. It went down the drain after not being able to escape his grasp. He was hard against her belly and further squirming would get a reaction from his body not unlike what she was experiencing now. The moment she stopped moving and she softened her lips, he took it for yielding because suddenly, his lips grew softer. The kiss that felt like punishment became a caress.

He walked backwards, pulling her along, their bodies never moving apart. Lex felt the back of his knees hit the edge of the couch. With one deft movement, he pulled her down with him. Now she was sprawled on top of him. Vaguely he realized what a chance of escape he had inadvertently offered her.

She raised her head and looked at the open door. She met his eyes and saw that they were calm. Chloe stood up.

Lex felt the cold air hit his body when she rose. With a sinking feeling he realized that she was walking out of there carrying the fact that he took advantage of her. He effectively forced her to that kiss. And he knew he would never have the chance to apologize. He didn’t even want to. Somewhere between her shocked stillness, struggle and yielding acceptance, his anger at Clark was forgotten, replaced with the undeniable physical effects her closeness produced.

“Chloe.”

Her cheeks were tearstained and lips were red and bruised. Chloe looked like a little girl lost. “I didn’t like what you did,” she whispered.

He kept his gaze on her level.

“I don’t know why you did it,” she continued.

Again, he was silent.

She turned and walked to the door. Lex held his breath and watched as she locked it. Chloe turned back to him. “I lied,” she admitted. “I guess I’m not so smart after all.”

Lex stood up and looked down at her. “Let’s understand each other,” he proposed. “I’m not in love with you.”

“Good. I’m not in love with you either.”

He reached for the ribbon of her blouse. This time, it was Chloe who grabbed the back of his head and pushed his head forcefully down to meet hers. And they tumbled on the floor that still hurt Chloe’s back afterwards despite the carpet.

For a girl whose first time was with someone so experienced, Chloe just knew that she would be sore the entire day after that. But then again, he wasn’t in love with her. What could she have expected?

They lay on a pile of discarded clothes on the floor of his office, breathing heavily and staring at the ceiling. He didn’t cradle her. She didn’t ask him to hold her.

“So is this about Clark?” she ventured to ask long minutes later, when she reached for her blouse to keep away the cold.

“Maybe. It was. And then it wasn’t anymore.”

“I’d like to think we had sex because of Clark. It’s easier on my ego.”

He turned to look at her but found her avoiding his gaze. “Well that’s something I’ve never heard of before.”

Chloe shrugged on her blouse and started looking around for her panties. “Well I’d hate to think that was because of me.”

“I detect a trace of acid there.”

“It had passion,” she said thoughtfully. “But it wasn’t how I pictured making love to a man.”

“But we didn’t make love.” He picked up her hand and brushed a kiss on her knuckles. It was by far the most tender gesture he had done. And then to Chloe’s combined disappointment and breathlessness his tongue darted out to circle the protruding bones.

“I know.”

“Drive to my house tomorrow night.”

Her eyes snapped in disgust. “Are you crazy? Don’t you remember where we are?” She stood up and slipped on her newfound underwear. Chloe picked up her pants.

“Come on, Chloe. What do you care about this town? We’re both blowing out of here as soon as we can anyway.”

As she buttoned her pants, she quirked her lips at Lex, still nude at her feet. “Whatever happened to finding your home in Smallville?”

“I thought I found it with Clark. I thought wrong.”

“I just made—had sex—with a man who thinks a boy is home. Somehow I am… turned on,” she considered. “I think I might still have the parasites.”

“I didn’t mean it that way and you know it.”

‘I know I’m going to regret this later. But right now I don’t care.’ “I’ll drive by. It’s Friday night anyway. I’ll just have to make up an excuse to Clark and Pete.” ‘To think I came here to apologize.’

When she started to leave the room, Lex caught her arm. Chloe turned and grinned when she saw that he had only managed to put on his boxers. “Ms. Sullivan.”

“Yes, Mr. Luthor?”

Lex chuckled. “I’ll try not to make it about my frustrations next time.”

“Good.”

Chloe left the room and closed the door behind her, allowing Lex to get dressed in private. She didn’t know why. She wasn’t the type who dreamt about flowers and candles anyway. She hated people like that. ‘Right.’ But all of a sudden, tears rose in her eyes and she laid her head back on the door. ‘What are you crying about, ninny? There isn’t any reason to cry!’ She furiously brushed away the tears with her hand and made her way out of the building, praying she wouldn’t run into her dad any time soon.

**Catheryne** · 19th March 2003, 20:15

Part 2

‘You are disgusting.’

She stared blankly at her features in the mirror of her bathroom and wondered idly how it was possible to look so unchanged after everything had turned upside down. Chloe had never really thought that she would metamorphose into an entirely different individual after she finally had sex. But since she had always linked the act to a One Great Love, then she expected that she would probably radiant, blooming, glowing with untold softness.

But she looked the same at best. At worst, tired.

‘Appearances are always deceiving.’ Even for Clark, the guy she had always thought of as being so openly genuine that there was nothing in him he would not share with the world. ‘He has the biggest secret of them all. And that secret led to this.’ She didn’t know if she should curse him or bless him.

Chloe splashed cold water on her face and looked up again. She watched the droplets of water make their haphazard way down her cheekbones and her chin. The phone rang, a discrete series of beeps that Lana had placed over the shrill ring that Chloe had installed. She took the towel and rubbed her face. Her skin was tingling and she relished the abrasion now, like she did when she rubbed her entire body with soap and a loofah earlier.

Her skin was soft and tender and for several seconds she felt that, rather than his demanding hands all over her, taking. She shook her head and waited for it to clear. Right now, it was only her. And then later, when her skin finally blew away the abuse she heaped on it with the rather rough towel, it was all Lex again. His lips, hard and insistent on her cheeks and her neck. His teeth, nipping not so gently on her earlobes. His fingers moving where they shouldn’t be. And there was his palm pressing and pushing in places she did not invite him to.

Chloe walked out of the bathroom and glanced at the clock. The drive home yesterday convinced her that there was no way she would go so low as to go to Lex Luthor’s house. All day in school, she kept shaking away feelings and memories of touches. It was seven thirty and she was home. She won this battle after all.

The phone was still ringing and she hoped it wasn’t him. But then again, she was not important enough for him to call. She picked up the phone.

“Lana,” Chloe greeted with forced cheerfulness. “Where are you? Really? Okay.” Chloe replaced the phone in the cradle and blinked away the sudden pain that stung her. Just in case she fell asleep before her dad arrived, she took a pad and wrote swiftly. ‘Lana called to say she’ll be home late. She has a date with Clark.’ She almost swore at her own hand that trembled when she commanded it to include a cheerful exclamation point. ‘…has a date with Clark!’

It was the doorbell now. ‘Won’t everyone just leave me alone?’ Chloe ran down the stairs. Her father was so absentminded that he usually left his own key in the office and would wait outside for Chloe to arrive so he could enter his own house. She had repeatedly told him to leave a copy under the pot. He said that it wasn’t safe, to which she replied that everything was safe in Smallville. She hadn’t realized until this past year how dangerous it was, especially to young women with notions of romance and ideals.

Chloe opened the door. There wasn’t much drama to it. And she saw him standing outside looking displeased. And then she wished back the moment she pulled open the door. This guest required a slow climactic entrance. But she could not very well shut the door on his face, could she?

“I had the impression that you should have been at the castle thirty minutes ago.”

“And you decided to drive all the way to remind me?”

Lex Luthor stepped inside uninvited, forcing her to step back and let him in. But then again, what was new? “Explain to me what you’re doing here, dressed like that.”

Chloe looked down at her sleepwear. She found it odd to be dressed like it so early in the night, when she would usually still be chasing stories and laughing with friends. Things change. “I was going to bed.”

“And you were not even telling the person you had an appointment with?”

She only met his gaze. “I don’t like who I become when I’m with you,” she told him.

Lex nodded at this. It was an answer easily accepted. He had that effect on people. “Can I at least have some coffee?”

Chloe looked at him oddly before going to the kitchen. She set the still hot water from earlier to a boil. She felt him move behind her, where she couldn’t see him. It was discomfiting, but she said nothing. She stiffened when she felt his fingertips trace her nape, sending goosebumps all over her arms. “How do you take it?”

“Bare,” he breathed in her ear. And then he easily slid down the garterized waist of her pajama bottoms, taking her cotton underwear with it. The garments fell easily to the tiled floor.

Chloe bit her lower lip when he grabbed her waist and pushed into her from behind. She gripped the counter and took him inside her. His rough movements pushed her against the hard sink. The kettle of water in front of her whistled.

“Lex,” she gasped. “The water.”

He pushed inside her deeper and reached between their bodies, seeking for the specific point. With one flick, she sent her vision of the kitchen spiraling, and she tightly closed her eyes.

“Chloe!”

Her eyes flew open. “My dad!”

“Chloe, honey, why is the front door open? You know that’s not safe. Where are you?”

“I’ll—I’ll be right there,” she choked out. “I’ll be right there, dad!” she shouted back. Lex pounded inside her. From his erratic movements she could tell he was oblivious to anything else. “I’m—I’m coming… right out!”

Lex wrapped his arms around his waist and jerked on last time. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and breathed deeply. Chloe pushed him away and reached to turn off the stove. “Zip your pants,” she commanded sharply.

“Are you in the kitchen, honey? Why is Mr. Luthor’s car out front?”

“Yes, dad!” Chloe bent down and picked up her pajamas and replaced them.

When Gabe Sullivan walked into the kitchen, he asked his daughter, “Did you forget to close the door, honey? You know it’s dangerous. Strangers might just wander in.”

“No strangers, dad,” she assured her father. She had sunk onto a barstool, her knees too weak to support her.

“Mr. Luthor?”

Lex nodded at Gabe where he sat at the other side of the bar. “I dropped by to talk to you about the plant.”

“I was at the plant, Mr. Luthor,” Gabe told him in confusion. “You asked me to stay. I was waiting for you.”

“I didn’t realize, Gabe. I apologize.”

Chloe met Lex’s eyes but couldn’t read his expression. She hated this man. She hated him so much. She had to get away. “Dad,” she said. “I have to go to my room and take a nap. But I wanted to tell you before I went to bed that I—I need to go to Metropolis tomorrow.”

Lex’s face registered a pleased surprise at her excuse.

“I have a project. And I have to interview someone from the Planet.”

“Chloe,” Gabe said. “That’s marvelous.”

Chloe’s lips parted. “Really?” Finally. Distance was the best way she could think of so that she can stay away from Lex. She did not trust herself to follow her own rules when he was within reach.

“Mr. Luthor is planning a trip to Metropolis tomorrow too. That’s why he needs to leave some details with me for while he’s gone. At least I know that you have someone to look after you there.”

“We wouldn’t want the young men of Metropolis having a feast day with you,” Lex drawled out. His smirk was enough to drive her sanity to the edge. “Why don’t you run up and tell your friend Clark that you’ll be gone for the weekend, Chloe?”

“Yes, Chloe. Go on while I meet with Mr. Luthor about the plant.”

“I can’t,” she bit out, looking at Lex. “He’s on a date.” She stood up and kissed her dad on the cheek. “Night, dad.”

“Goodnight, Chloe,” two male voices replied at the same time.

**Catheryne** · 19th March 2003, 20:17

Part 3

Chloe lay blinking up at the white light on the ceiling of her hotel room. ‘Running.’ This was what she was best at. But really what else could she do when she could easily guess what Lex wanted with just that smirk of his.

The minute they stopped in front of the hotel that her dad booked for her, Chloe climbed out of the tense atmosphere in the limousine and sped to the front desk. Picking up her key card was quick. Lex Luthor, in all his rich glory, rented a couple of rooms perennially for his employees who traveled in and out of Metropolis all year long. It was easy to take advantage when no one was using any at the moment.

Lex called out to her in the lobby. She spun around and shook her head. Chloe could feel everyone’s eyes on them.

“I don’t agree with whatever you have planned, Mr Luthor.”

His eyebrow had arched at her response. Lex looked around and saw that people were watching them. “I wouldn’t have taken you for an exhibitionist, Chloe,” he had told her. Chloe’s mind ran with other images more appropriate for the words. He stepped closer to afford them some privacy for his next words. “Why don’t we discuss this in your room?”

She grimaced at his suggestion and walked briskly to the elevator. Chloe could feel his gaze following her.

And so now she lay in bed glaring at the perfectly innocent ceiling. ‘He is the most loathsome man. And we both know he did all those… things… because of Clark. I won’t let him take it out on me anymore.’ But what had he done exactly? They were both aware of what they were doing in his house. And at her kitchen.. Chloe closed her eyes.

It was the knock on the door that woke her up. She hadn’t even realized that she had fallen asleep in her traveling clothes. Chloe stood up and walked over to the door. She peered through the peephole and was puzzled to find the bellboy standing outside.

“Yes?” she inquired when she opened the door.

The bellboy stood holding a bouquet of white roses that she had not seen when she peeked. She was amazed she hadn’t seen it though. It was huge. “Miss Sullivan?”

“Uhuh.” Chloe accepted the flowers and frowned. Nobody knew she was here except for—She sighed and took the card. ‘Peace?’ is said. She rolled her eyes and took a folded bill from her pocket and handed it to the boy.

She closed the door behind her and started walked back to bed when there was another knock on the door. ‘I remembered to tip him, right?’ She dropped the bouquet on the bed and backtracked. Puzzled, she opened the door again. This time, it was Lex Luthor who was leaning against the frame. “If you were coming here anyway,” she drawled in exasperation, “why bother with the messenger that cost me five bucks?”

“I was watching if you’d shoot the messenger. Saw him walking safely and relatively unscathed back to the elevator so I figure you’ve cooled down.” He stepped into the room without waiting for an invitation.

She couldn’t help the amusement that she knew showed clearly on her face now. “What if I was just reserving all my ammunition for you?”

The smirk on his face vanished and he pressed his body against hers. “I’d really like that.”

All of a sudden, faced with the evidence of his intentions for the night, Chloe pushed him away. “I don’t want this. I thought I made that clear. I thought you understood,” she said, pointing to the white roses.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Chloe looked at him from the corner of her eyes, surprised at how easily he capitulated. “I’m not one of your loose women, Lex,” she said wryly, “no matter how like them I become when we cross paths.”

“I didn’t mean to make you feel—“

“Cheap?” she offered bitterly.

“Never that. Okay?”

She threw up her hands and sighed. “You really are a spoiled brat, aren’t you? Everything should be easy and quick. Well not me, mister!”

“What am I supposed to do?”

‘Duh.’

“I’ll take you to the museum.”

Chloe looked at him as though he’d grown horns, which being who he was and how he had acted for the past few days, wasn’t a far shot. “Are you kidding me?”

Lex rubbed his temples. “Will you let me take you to the museum?” he tried. Still faced with Chloe’s look of disbelief, he searched his head for anything missing. “Will you let me take you to the museum… please?”

She bit her lip to keep from laughing. He was insane. Certifiably. But he was trying. “Fine, Lex. A visit and then we go out separate ways. I’ll let you make up for all the asinine things you did.”

“Were they really that unpleasant?”

Chloe shut up.

A couple of hours later, just when she was beginning to doubt the masculinity of a man who takes more than five minutes to get ready for a day out, Lex Luthor strode into her room in all his disguised glory. The sight of him made her laugh.

“I’m very glad you find me hilarious, Chloe,” he said, drawing out his syllables for effect.

She tried to contain her laughter. She really did. But there Lex stood in a t-shirt, faded jeans and a baseball cap, and he could have shown up made up and costumed like a clown for all the giggles the sight drew from her.

“Did you think I’d parade around Metropolis looking like Lex Luthor? I doubt you want to be on the front page through that.”

Chloe’s grin vanished when Lex turned around and bent low to pick up one of the flowers she had dropped on the floor. Her mouth went dry at the sight of the denim tight over his buttocks. “I—I guess that’s better.” Her tongue shot out to moisten her lips. “I’ve decided that you’re taking me to the mall anyway.”

“What about the museum?”

Chloe’s eyebrow arched at his question. “You think that the Metropolis Art Gallery will let you in looking like that?”

“Artists look like bums,” he protested. “And I’m Lex Luthor. My money funded an entire wing.”

She placed her arms akimbo at his statement. “I thought you weren’t going to be Lex Luthor today? You can’t decide to go undercover but when you need special treatment you’re going to flash the Luthor card.” She picked up her jacket and shrugged it on. “I was giving you a chance to prove you’re not an asshole. But you’re stubborn so I’ll just go on my merry way to the mall.”

She went out the room with a grin, careful to calculate the sway of her hips to the perfect pitch that she knew would drive him wild. She knew his response was coming before he even uttered it, “Hold it. I’m coming, I’m coming,” he replied, grumbling. “If you think I’m letting my girlfriend traipse in Metropolis malls by herself, you’re sadly mistaken.”

This time, it was her turn to stare in slack-jawed wonder. “We did it twice, Lex,” she corrected him. “That doesn’t make me your girlfriend. Or have you forgotten Dr. Bryce? Is it out of sight, our of mind with you?”

“Helen and I were long over before she left Smallville, Chloe.”

Chloe shook her head. “Well then you’re single. I’m certainly not your girlfriend,” she told him, walking ahead briskly.

**Catheryne** · 19th March 2003, 20:20

Part 4

“Chloe, I’ve lived in Metropolis far longer than you have and I’m pretty sure this is not the way to the museum,” Lex commented from the passenger seat of the convertible he where he was strapped in. He had no idea what possessed him to hand over his keys to this maniac. If he drove fast, this girl was the ultimate suicidal. His eyes took in the slants of her face and fell to her breasts, which swelled as she sucked in her breath in excitement. Okay, yeah. That was one of the reasons.

She threw him an amused glance and grinned. Lex’s eyes widened and he reached for her cheek. And then slowly but firmly forced her to face the road again. “Relax, old guy! You’re not dressed for the museum. I’m taking you where you belong with that outfit. What’s with the rolling of the eyes? I can feel you doing it! Don’t you trust me?”

Lex closed his eyes, telling himself to breathe because she would not put him in danger or humiliation. If he were not unspeakably in lust with this girl, he would not have gone through this. “Of course I trust you. I’m letting you drive me.”

“You’re safer with me than with yourself.”

He could have chuckled at that because it was so true, in more ways than just in a car. Wasn’t it that he had been strangling himself in darkness before that one night when he hurt her? He was going to make up for that all of their lives. “

“Are you being arrogant?”

“Learned from the master.”

Lex was unfamiliar with the road she was taking. She made several sharp turns, making him grab at the glove compartment and her laugh at his actions. They joined the traffic in a bigger road that led to a large building and a wide parking space. Lex blinked in disbelief. “You’re taking me to the mall?” He sighed. “If I get in there—“

“You are getting in there whether you like it or not, Lex,” she replied as she searched for a parking space.

“If I get in there without too much struggle,” he amended, earning a satisfied nod from Chloe, “will I be forgiven?”

She found the perfect space! It was not too far from the entrance. Chloe whooped and bit her lower lip in concentration as she moaned in pleasure. “It’s perfect fit! Oh! Oh!” She turned off the engine and sighed in satisfaction. When she looked back at Lex, she saw him squirming in his seat with an odd look on his face. “What was that?”

Lex loosened his seatbelt and shook his head.

“Oh yeah. The forgiven thing. We both knew what we were doing, Lex. But if it makes you feel any better, then sure. You’re going to be one step closer to forgiveness.” Chloe clicked her seatbelt and freed herself.

“My car will be stolen in this open space,” Lex muttered as he got out of the car. “But if it does, I’ll just get another one,” he finished when Chloe suddenly appeared worried.

What deranged mutation did he undergo when he slept with her, he wondered as he fell into step beside her on the way in. She looped her arm on his and Lex didn’t mind at all.

It was another matter entirely of course when she pulled him into a small costume shop and pulled his baseball cap off his head. “Chloe!” he protested, knowing that one look at the shape of his head would identify him as Lex Luthor on a day that he was masquerading. She shut him up by tossing a very genuine looking cowboy hat on his head. “Are you done?” he asked wryly. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and thought that it was rather cool. He’d always wanted to be a cowboy before his father defined the class that cowboys belonged to—far lower than the Luthor one it seemed.

When she didn’t answer, he turned around and found her digging through a box of plastic shades. “I need one with circular lenses,” she muttered, going over each one. “With nice black rims.”

“There’s a Rayban right down the corridor,” he suggested. “Their sunglasses are displayed and not piled. You’ll be more comfortable in Raybans.”

She looked up at him, a little confused. And then her face cleared. “It’s not for me.”

“Then for—“ He stopped and then narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re not giving it to Clark, are you?” She shook her head. “Pete?” She shook her head and smiled, making her face look beatific, the little demoness.

Lex turned around and walked out of the shop. Chloe dug in and found the perfect pair. She asked for another one of the same design and strolled outside. When she saw Lex, he was leaning against a column with his arms crossed in front of him. He scowled when she approached him. “I have something for you.”

“No, Chloe.”

She pressed the length of her body against his. He stilled his body against any reaction. Chloe reached inside the bag and slid the shades in place. And then she pulled him down for a kiss. His hand immediately rested on the small of her back, pressing her tighter against him. “We can do anything, anything at all, when you’re in disguise,” she told him, and then pulled away and took his hand, making him walk after her.

Lex grinned, following where she directed. She looked back at him and he saw her wearing the same design. “You have any idea where we’re going?”

She pointed to the small amusement park right inside the mall. “Maybe to the ghost train or the ferris wheel. We can make out,” she grinned. “I adore the idea of putting rides in here, don’t you?”

“I should since this is my investment.” Chloe felt the cold air against the skin of her hand when he pulled away his. It was replaced at once by his arm around her shoulders so she settled back against his warmth.

“Well your investment will be put to good use.”

“There’s no ghost train or haunted house there, Chloe.” He led her to the token booth. “Just kiddie train.”

When he reached for his wallet, she slapped his hand away. “This is my treat.” She placed the bills on the counter. “Two for the train please.”

The lady in the booth looked up and smiled at them. “Will one of you be escorting a child?” she inquired politely. “We encourage chaperones in the train.”

Chloe was about to say no when Lex spoke up, “Oh I am. I’m twenty two and she’s eight.”

Chloe giggles and pulls Lex away from the token lady, who in her amusement was fluttering her lashes at Lex. She was in no way tied to Lex, but she wouldn’t appreciate a woman flirting when she was present.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked, tipping her chin up.

“Ummm, sir,” the token lady called out, apparently still within hearing distance. “This is a family park.”

“Don’t we know it.” Chloe took the tickets from Lex and handed them to a kid eating ice cream. “Knock yourself out,” she told the boy. Lex looked at her puzzled. “We can’t make out in a kiddie train, Lex, fantasies or not.”

And so they ended up walking around the mall, stopping by a hidden stairway to kiss and laugh, clinging to each other like a couple of high school students exploring first loves. Chloe didn’t like the thought because love was not in question. It did not sit well with Lex on the point that he was not a student.

When Lex forced her to agree that he was paying for lunch, she made him allow her to choose where.

“The sky’s the limit.”

Chloe ordered the most expensive meal, and asked for larger Coke and fries to go with her Big Mac.

tbc

**hfce** · 19th March 2003, 20:32

:biggrin: Aww that was so cute. Who is chloe kidding she is falling for him like there is no tomorrow. More please...

:chlexsign2: Hope

**Not An Addict** · 19th March 2003, 21:57

Awww. Chloe and Leeex, sittin' in a tree . . . *giggles* Fluff galore! I knew you could do it, girl.

:

**crazygirl** · 19th March 2003, 22:26

I love your Chlex, especially that you started it out from a different angle.

Please give me more of Lex pov, I really liked it. And update *soon*, I already can't wait for more