Prologue - Chloe/Lionel NC-17
TITLE: Prologue
AUTHOR:
ficklemuse
SUMMARY: Lionel receives a late night visitor.
PAIRING:Lionel Luthor/Chloe Sullivan
RATING: NC-17
FANDOM: Smallville
WORD COUNT: 3,095
DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Not for profit.
WARNINGS: Everything up to and through Season Five – Everything.
Author's Notes: This story is AU after early Season Four when Lionel gets out of prison. Lots of the same events will happen, just with a bit of a different focus and a few changes to cannon here and there.
Luthor Guest House:
Pensive after another uncomfortable dinner with his son, Lionel used his key code to enter the guest house. He removed his jacket and hung it from the coat rack by the door. His senses instantly alerted him to the fact he wasn’t alone. The staff had lit a fire in the living room fireplace as they did every night, only Lionel’s chair was currently occupied.
“Hello?” Walking into the living room Lionel walked around the chair and stopped short in surprise. “Miss Sullivan. I must say this is quite a surprise.”
“Really? You mean most of your attempted murder victims don’t usually drop in for fireside chats?”
“I didn't try to murder you. And, as a rule, no.” Lionel moved to the bar and poured himself a brandy. “Can I get you anything?”
“No thanks. I left my personal taster at home.” Chloe rose from the wingback chair and walked towards Lionel. “Besides, I’m not staying long. Just long enough to let you know I’m not buying this reformed bit.” She stopped next to Lionel, her eyes flashing dangerously. “Because I know the real Lionel Luthor. I met him in that hospital room the night you bragged about killing your own parents. I saw the look on your face and heard the truth in your voice. So you can walk the straight and narrow and play the pious ex-inmate but I’m going to be watching you every second. And if you so much as jay walk I’m going to have you back in prison faster than you can say ‘pass the soap’. Got it?”
“You’re extremely brave Miss Sullivan. You consider me capable of great evil, yet you came here alone tonight. There’s a fine line between bravery and foolishness.” Lionel lifted his glass to his lips and studied Chloe thoughtfully. Classically beautiful, Chloe reminded Lionel of paintings of Roman nobility, strong profile, wide generous mouth, proud tilt to her chin.
Chloe’s eyes narrowed. “You’re extremely naïve to think I came unarmed.”
Lionel sighed deeply. “Miss Sullian, if I wanted you dead I would have killed you when I had the opportunity. Doesn’t that say something?”
“What opportunity? You blew up my safe house. Me being alive isn’t for lack of your trying.”
“I was speaking about my experience as Clark Kent.” Chloe’s expression was blank and Lionel realized that Mr. Kent must not have told anyone about their body switch.
“What are you talking about?”
Amused by Kent’s silence on the matter, Lionel set aside his glass and slowly circled Chloe. He affected a reasonable impersonation of Clark’s voice. “You know Chloe. I’m concerned about your well being.”
Chloe’s eyes widened and she slowly turned following Lionel as he prowled around her.
“If Lionel Luthor somehow got out of prison, what do you think he’d do? About you I mean.”
Lionel continued. “I do feel as though I’m seeing you through a different pair of eyes. I certainly see you in a whole new light.” He saw the recognition of is words flash across Chloe’s face. His hand reached out and his fingers brushed over her chin. “I have to confess that I find you absolutely fascinating. It’s that twinkle in your eye, your wonderfully sexy smile,” His thumb traced the outline of Chloe’s mouth. “And your skin is…”
Chloe back pedaled until slammed against the bar, setting the glasses and bottled to clinking together. “How…”
Lionel’s lips curved into a genuine smile. “Of course that’s your first question. Not ‘why?’.” He took another step closer, his body pinning Chloe to the bar. “That’s the reason I couldn’t go through with it. In spite of the inconvenience you’ve caused me,” Lionel reached out a hand and stroked the side of Chloe’s face. “I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of such a promising and fascinating mind. You’ve almost succeeded in keeping up with me. And that’s no easy task.”
“How were you in Clark’s body? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Lionel’s smile lost some of it’s faux sincerity as he allowed his true self to seep through the edges of the mask he’d been wearing. “Remarkable. Confronted with an obvious attempt to seduce you and your brain is still analyzing the possible scenarios as to the ‘how’. Really Chloe, perhaps you should give up journalism and consider a career in the sciences.”
“But if you and Clark really switched bodies that would mean…”
Lionel fancied for a moment he heard the wheels in Chloe’s brain actually screech to a halt as she blinked up at him.
“Seduce me?”
Reaching again for his brandy glass, Lionel gave a slight nod. “The thought had occurred to me.”
Chloe’s mouth opened and worked silently before forming actual words. “You’ve got to be kidding me. From the day we met you’ve done nothing but lie, cheat, threaten, bully, and in case you’ve forgotten try to kill me!” She grabbed her purse and shoved past Lionel who easily caught her wrist.
“I never said we had a conventional courtship.” He pried Chloe’s fingers off her bag, unsure whether or not her claims about being armed were true, and set it on the bar. With a persistent tug he pulled Chloe across the gap that separated them. He ran fingers over her cheek and tucked stray blonde hairs behind her ears. “But you can’t deny the attraction. I know you felt it the same as I did.” With one hand around her wrist, the other gliding down to wrap around Chloe’s neck, Lionel rubbed his thumb over the silky pulse point in her throat. “The heated discussions. The passion in your arguments. No one wastes such an elemental feeling on someone they’re indifferent to…” Lionel bent his head forward, his lips ghosting over Chloe’s ear while his beard tickled at her face. “You can deny the temptation all you like, but denial won’t get you the answers you’re looking for.”
Caught for the moment in Lionel’s web Chloe remained motionless and Lionel pressed his advantage.
“You’re terribly easy to read my dear. Every thought, every emotion flits across your face.” He continued to stroke her wildly beating pulse. “For instance right now I can see you are leery, rightfully so I might add. You are also curious, I can tell because your lower lip is caught between your teeth. You’re annoyed and angry, it’s written in the spark of your eyes. I can see all of these things. But most importantly I can see that you’re not struggling to be free.” Lionel’s expression was openly predatory now. “I could do anything to you and you’d let me.” He pulled Chloe against him and leaned against the bar with his legs spread and her standing between them. “You’d let me do anything because…” He freed her lower lip from her teeth and stroked the little teeth marks with the tip of his tongue. “You can’t wait to find out what’s next.”
Lionel was half expecting an indignant declaration followed by the requisite slap in response to his words. Instead Chloe’s free hand reached up and grabbed the front of his shirt, yanking him forward and stopping his words with her mouth. Then she jerked out of his grip and shoved him a hard step back.
“Does that seduction crap ever play with anyone?” Chloe rubbed her wrist and glared. “What were you expecting me to do Lionel? Swoon? Run screaming from the room? Beg for my virtue?” Bracing her hands on either side of Lionel’s collar Chloe yanked the two halves of his shirt apart until buttons popped and scattered across the floor. “I’m not afraid of you.”
Laughing, Lionel shrugged out of what was left of his Armani silk shirt. “I underestimated you once again Chloe.” He said before grabbing her face with both hands and slowly devouring her mouth. Such a ripe little morsel. Lionel hadn’t been aware of how hungry he was until she’d served herself up to him on a platter. Now he was a starving man at a feast and he intended to savor every mouthful. He finally released her with a sharp nip to her lip and tugged off the hideous sweater she was wearing that covered her body from shoulder to hip, hiding her shape completely. If only it had buttons he could rip off, thus ensuring she would never be able to wear it again.
Beneath the sweater, Chloe’s skin was pearlescent completely untouched by sun. Just an endlessly fascinating expanse of soft, pale skin waiting to be explored. His hand touched the base of her spine and began stroking the sensitive flesh there as his other hand deftly unhooked her bra. Once the slip of blue satin and lace was whisked away Lionel took a deliberate step back to appreciate the view. “Lovely.”
Chloe closed the gap between them. Her body pressed against Lionel’s and she tilted her head up demanding another kiss with a tug on his hair.
Seeing through her, Lionel pulled away and held Chloe’s hands away from her body ‘tsk’ing softly. “Shyness doesn’t become you Miss Sullivan. Not in your intellectual pursuits and certainly not in this.” His hands caressed down Chloe’s shoulders and cupped her breasts in his hands. “You’re an extremely desirable young woman.” He tugged on her nipples with a teasingly light touch. Suddenly dissatisfied with the limitations of their current location, Lionel easily picked Chloe up and carried her down the hall to his bedroom. The gesture was more one of expedience than romance – Lionel didn’t want to waste any time.
He dropped her on the king sized bed and stepped back, toeing off his shoes and peeling off his pants as well. He ignored Chloe’s gasp as removing his pants revealed more of the scar that started just below his rib cage and ran red and angry down his side all the way to his pelvis. Another inch and their current situation would be moot, Lionel would have been a eunuch.
Returning to the bed, Lionel placed his hands on the waistband of Chloe’s jeans, his fingers knocking hers aside and deftly unbuttoning them. Disposing of them over the side of the bed, Lionel settled on his side and gave himself over to the enjoyable task of learning his newest lover’s body.
Chloe lay before him a study in pale gold hair, delicate pink in the form of her lips, nipples and the flush that started in her cheeks but slowly worked its way down her chest, and the creaminess of her milk white skin which was broken only by small scatterings of freckles and a surprising heart shaped birth mark on her right hip.
Lionel took his time exploring Chloe and was surprised to find his own desire increasing with each new discovery. Sex had always been enjoyable for Lionel. He appreciated his lovers' differences and similarities. In the past sex was entertaining, athletic, angry, passionate but rarely intimate. Chloe’s fingers in his hair, her breath hot on his face while her nails dug into the back of his neck the tiny moans and demanding little snaps of her hips were all the definition of intimacy and added to Lionel’s enjoyment immensely.
Chloe Sullivan unbound.
Lionel should know better than to think that even naked and responding to his every touch that Chloe would be defenseless. When he finally enters her she sinks her teeth into his throat and her nails so deeply into his back he’s certain he’ll never get free again.
Lionel woke the next morning to the insistent sound of his alarm. It was set to go off whenever someone approached the guest house. Being in prison had taught him the value of never being caught by surprise. He was used to the alarm and merely rolled to his side to shut it off.
His companion however was not used to the alarm and leaped straight out of bed like a scalded cat, landed back on the bed and proceeded to roll off onto the floor. All the while Chloe clutched the top sheet to her chest. Smirking, Lionel climbed out of bed and pulled on his robe which hung from the back of a nearby chair. “Miss Sullivan, I had no idea you were so athletic. Do remind me to explore that at a later time.”
Rumpled and wide eyed, Chloe began scrambling for her clothes.
“But for the moment I must ask you to stay here and if at all possible remain *silent* though I realize it is against your very nature.” Lionel drawled. As he passed her he pulled Chloe to her feet. “Lex is about to arrive in the next few moments so unless you’d like to have perhaps the most awkward conversation of your young life I suggest you stay put.”
Reaching the bedroom doors, Lionel pulled the tightly closed after him and went to meet Lex in the living room. “Good morning son.”
“Dad. I came down to see if you would be taking breakfast in the main house this morning.” Lex stood in the middle of the living room critically surveying the damage left in Chloe and Lionel’s wake the night before. An overturned chair, a broken glass, and most damning of all a single woman’s shoe which Lex held in his hand.
Lionel crossed the room and took Chloe’s shoe from Lex. “I don’t think so. Not this morning Lex. But thank you for the offer.”
“You know Dad, security generally makes a point of informing me whenever someone comes on the grounds. Funny, but I didn’t know you were entertaining visitors.”
“I’ve never felt the need to consult you in matters of my social life before.” Lionel answered mildly.
“And I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that. However I am curious as to how your ‘guest’ managed to get on the property without being seen by my people.”
“Well, that would seem to be an excellent question to put to your people. After all good help is so terribly difficult to find. I hate to think of someone close to you betraying you.” Lionel placed a hand on Lex’s shoulder, trying not to react when Lex flinched from his touch. “Now son, I’m afraid I must insist on my privacy.”
Lex moved as if to walk towards the bedroom. “I must admit some curiosity Dad. Whoever she is you seem awfully invested in protecting her identity. Just a brief introduction I think.”
Stepping directly in front of his son, Lionel blocked the way. “Perhaps another day Lex.” Their eyes met and Lionel could see the challenge written in his son’s eyes. Lex had no intention of letting an opportunity to get under Lionel’s skin pass him by and was determined to reveal Lionel’s lover. Lionel placed his hands on Lex’s shoulder and played the only card likely to put a stop to Lex’s prying – even if only for a moment. “Pax dei.”
It was a Luthor family tradition begun by Lillian in her final days as a way to signal it was time for Lionel and Lex to quit their pushing and challenging of one another and take a step back. It was a toss up on who it helped more. The person saying it would gain a respite, but also surrender a bit of power to the other. Resolving father/son conflict probably wasn’t the direction the medieval Roman Catholic Church had in mind when they started their campaign of spiritual sanctions to control the violence of feudal society, but it was useful to the Luthors nonetheless.
Lex again shook off Lionel’s touch and gave him a hard look. “Interesting. Fine. Keep your secret Dad. There are others more interesting to me than your slut of the week. Make sure she gets out the way she got in.” Lex stalked out of the guest house.
As the door closed, Chloe emerged from the bedroom dressed in her jeans and a plain blue dress shirt of Lionel’s. “I don’t know where my sweater is.” She said gesturing to the shirt.
“Oh,” Lionel nodded. “That. I burned it last night.”
“You WHAT?”
“Really, it was for the best. A mercy killing if you will.” He focused all of his attention on Chloe, noting with more than a little satisfaction the small purple love bite peeking out from beneath the collar of his shirt. One that matched the bite mark on his shoulder perfectly. “You look much better in my shirt.”
“Oh no!” Chloe held out a hand as if to ward Lionel off. “Last night… I don’t know what the hell last night was but today’s a whole other story. The cold light of day changes everything so don’t be expecting a repeat.”
“What can I say? I’m a man of great expectations.”
“So you’re Charles Dickens?” Chloe picked up her purse and reached for her missing shoe. “And what a load of nerve Lex has calling *ME* a slut! Your son’s slept with every brunette in this state and about six others. He sets the bar for promiscuity! What an ass!”
Lionel chuckled. “I believe the aspersion he was casting was directed at myself not you.”
“Whatever. Luthor family politics requires a copy of Freud, a flamethrower and a pie chart to figure out. You make the Borgias look like the Brady Bunch.” Retrieving her jacket, Chloe headed for the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me. I’m going to go home and try to wash the ‘what the hell was I thinking?’ off.”
“If you insist.” Lionel replied calmly. Chloe’s immediate departure was not what he had in mind, but Lionel knew better than to force their tango. The dance couldn’t be hurried or too rehearsed. It required just the right combination of form and flexibility. He would let Chloe go for the moment and reel her back in after a bit. There was no doubt in his mind they would dance again.
And one, two, three, four. One, two, three, four...
AUTHOR:
ficklemuseSUMMARY: Lionel receives a late night visitor.
PAIRING:Lionel Luthor/Chloe Sullivan
RATING: NC-17
FANDOM: Smallville
WORD COUNT: 3,095
DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Not for profit.
WARNINGS: Everything up to and through Season Five – Everything.
Author's Notes: This story is AU after early Season Four when Lionel gets out of prison. Lots of the same events will happen, just with a bit of a different focus and a few changes to cannon here and there.
Luthor Guest House:
Pensive after another uncomfortable dinner with his son, Lionel used his key code to enter the guest house. He removed his jacket and hung it from the coat rack by the door. His senses instantly alerted him to the fact he wasn’t alone. The staff had lit a fire in the living room fireplace as they did every night, only Lionel’s chair was currently occupied.
“Hello?” Walking into the living room Lionel walked around the chair and stopped short in surprise. “Miss Sullivan. I must say this is quite a surprise.”
“Really? You mean most of your attempted murder victims don’t usually drop in for fireside chats?”
“I didn't try to murder you. And, as a rule, no.” Lionel moved to the bar and poured himself a brandy. “Can I get you anything?”
“No thanks. I left my personal taster at home.” Chloe rose from the wingback chair and walked towards Lionel. “Besides, I’m not staying long. Just long enough to let you know I’m not buying this reformed bit.” She stopped next to Lionel, her eyes flashing dangerously. “Because I know the real Lionel Luthor. I met him in that hospital room the night you bragged about killing your own parents. I saw the look on your face and heard the truth in your voice. So you can walk the straight and narrow and play the pious ex-inmate but I’m going to be watching you every second. And if you so much as jay walk I’m going to have you back in prison faster than you can say ‘pass the soap’. Got it?”
“You’re extremely brave Miss Sullivan. You consider me capable of great evil, yet you came here alone tonight. There’s a fine line between bravery and foolishness.” Lionel lifted his glass to his lips and studied Chloe thoughtfully. Classically beautiful, Chloe reminded Lionel of paintings of Roman nobility, strong profile, wide generous mouth, proud tilt to her chin.
Chloe’s eyes narrowed. “You’re extremely naïve to think I came unarmed.”
Lionel sighed deeply. “Miss Sullian, if I wanted you dead I would have killed you when I had the opportunity. Doesn’t that say something?”
“What opportunity? You blew up my safe house. Me being alive isn’t for lack of your trying.”
“I was speaking about my experience as Clark Kent.” Chloe’s expression was blank and Lionel realized that Mr. Kent must not have told anyone about their body switch.
“What are you talking about?”
Amused by Kent’s silence on the matter, Lionel set aside his glass and slowly circled Chloe. He affected a reasonable impersonation of Clark’s voice. “You know Chloe. I’m concerned about your well being.”
Chloe’s eyes widened and she slowly turned following Lionel as he prowled around her.
“If Lionel Luthor somehow got out of prison, what do you think he’d do? About you I mean.”
Lionel continued. “I do feel as though I’m seeing you through a different pair of eyes. I certainly see you in a whole new light.” He saw the recognition of is words flash across Chloe’s face. His hand reached out and his fingers brushed over her chin. “I have to confess that I find you absolutely fascinating. It’s that twinkle in your eye, your wonderfully sexy smile,” His thumb traced the outline of Chloe’s mouth. “And your skin is…”
Chloe back pedaled until slammed against the bar, setting the glasses and bottled to clinking together. “How…”
Lionel’s lips curved into a genuine smile. “Of course that’s your first question. Not ‘why?’.” He took another step closer, his body pinning Chloe to the bar. “That’s the reason I couldn’t go through with it. In spite of the inconvenience you’ve caused me,” Lionel reached out a hand and stroked the side of Chloe’s face. “I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of such a promising and fascinating mind. You’ve almost succeeded in keeping up with me. And that’s no easy task.”
“How were you in Clark’s body? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Lionel’s smile lost some of it’s faux sincerity as he allowed his true self to seep through the edges of the mask he’d been wearing. “Remarkable. Confronted with an obvious attempt to seduce you and your brain is still analyzing the possible scenarios as to the ‘how’. Really Chloe, perhaps you should give up journalism and consider a career in the sciences.”
“But if you and Clark really switched bodies that would mean…”
Lionel fancied for a moment he heard the wheels in Chloe’s brain actually screech to a halt as she blinked up at him.
“Seduce me?”
Reaching again for his brandy glass, Lionel gave a slight nod. “The thought had occurred to me.”
Chloe’s mouth opened and worked silently before forming actual words. “You’ve got to be kidding me. From the day we met you’ve done nothing but lie, cheat, threaten, bully, and in case you’ve forgotten try to kill me!” She grabbed her purse and shoved past Lionel who easily caught her wrist.
“I never said we had a conventional courtship.” He pried Chloe’s fingers off her bag, unsure whether or not her claims about being armed were true, and set it on the bar. With a persistent tug he pulled Chloe across the gap that separated them. He ran fingers over her cheek and tucked stray blonde hairs behind her ears. “But you can’t deny the attraction. I know you felt it the same as I did.” With one hand around her wrist, the other gliding down to wrap around Chloe’s neck, Lionel rubbed his thumb over the silky pulse point in her throat. “The heated discussions. The passion in your arguments. No one wastes such an elemental feeling on someone they’re indifferent to…” Lionel bent his head forward, his lips ghosting over Chloe’s ear while his beard tickled at her face. “You can deny the temptation all you like, but denial won’t get you the answers you’re looking for.”
Caught for the moment in Lionel’s web Chloe remained motionless and Lionel pressed his advantage.
“You’re terribly easy to read my dear. Every thought, every emotion flits across your face.” He continued to stroke her wildly beating pulse. “For instance right now I can see you are leery, rightfully so I might add. You are also curious, I can tell because your lower lip is caught between your teeth. You’re annoyed and angry, it’s written in the spark of your eyes. I can see all of these things. But most importantly I can see that you’re not struggling to be free.” Lionel’s expression was openly predatory now. “I could do anything to you and you’d let me.” He pulled Chloe against him and leaned against the bar with his legs spread and her standing between them. “You’d let me do anything because…” He freed her lower lip from her teeth and stroked the little teeth marks with the tip of his tongue. “You can’t wait to find out what’s next.”
Lionel was half expecting an indignant declaration followed by the requisite slap in response to his words. Instead Chloe’s free hand reached up and grabbed the front of his shirt, yanking him forward and stopping his words with her mouth. Then she jerked out of his grip and shoved him a hard step back.
“Does that seduction crap ever play with anyone?” Chloe rubbed her wrist and glared. “What were you expecting me to do Lionel? Swoon? Run screaming from the room? Beg for my virtue?” Bracing her hands on either side of Lionel’s collar Chloe yanked the two halves of his shirt apart until buttons popped and scattered across the floor. “I’m not afraid of you.”
Laughing, Lionel shrugged out of what was left of his Armani silk shirt. “I underestimated you once again Chloe.” He said before grabbing her face with both hands and slowly devouring her mouth. Such a ripe little morsel. Lionel hadn’t been aware of how hungry he was until she’d served herself up to him on a platter. Now he was a starving man at a feast and he intended to savor every mouthful. He finally released her with a sharp nip to her lip and tugged off the hideous sweater she was wearing that covered her body from shoulder to hip, hiding her shape completely. If only it had buttons he could rip off, thus ensuring she would never be able to wear it again.
Beneath the sweater, Chloe’s skin was pearlescent completely untouched by sun. Just an endlessly fascinating expanse of soft, pale skin waiting to be explored. His hand touched the base of her spine and began stroking the sensitive flesh there as his other hand deftly unhooked her bra. Once the slip of blue satin and lace was whisked away Lionel took a deliberate step back to appreciate the view. “Lovely.”
Chloe closed the gap between them. Her body pressed against Lionel’s and she tilted her head up demanding another kiss with a tug on his hair.
Seeing through her, Lionel pulled away and held Chloe’s hands away from her body ‘tsk’ing softly. “Shyness doesn’t become you Miss Sullivan. Not in your intellectual pursuits and certainly not in this.” His hands caressed down Chloe’s shoulders and cupped her breasts in his hands. “You’re an extremely desirable young woman.” He tugged on her nipples with a teasingly light touch. Suddenly dissatisfied with the limitations of their current location, Lionel easily picked Chloe up and carried her down the hall to his bedroom. The gesture was more one of expedience than romance – Lionel didn’t want to waste any time.
He dropped her on the king sized bed and stepped back, toeing off his shoes and peeling off his pants as well. He ignored Chloe’s gasp as removing his pants revealed more of the scar that started just below his rib cage and ran red and angry down his side all the way to his pelvis. Another inch and their current situation would be moot, Lionel would have been a eunuch.
Returning to the bed, Lionel placed his hands on the waistband of Chloe’s jeans, his fingers knocking hers aside and deftly unbuttoning them. Disposing of them over the side of the bed, Lionel settled on his side and gave himself over to the enjoyable task of learning his newest lover’s body.
Chloe lay before him a study in pale gold hair, delicate pink in the form of her lips, nipples and the flush that started in her cheeks but slowly worked its way down her chest, and the creaminess of her milk white skin which was broken only by small scatterings of freckles and a surprising heart shaped birth mark on her right hip.
Lionel took his time exploring Chloe and was surprised to find his own desire increasing with each new discovery. Sex had always been enjoyable for Lionel. He appreciated his lovers' differences and similarities. In the past sex was entertaining, athletic, angry, passionate but rarely intimate. Chloe’s fingers in his hair, her breath hot on his face while her nails dug into the back of his neck the tiny moans and demanding little snaps of her hips were all the definition of intimacy and added to Lionel’s enjoyment immensely.
Chloe Sullivan unbound.
Lionel should know better than to think that even naked and responding to his every touch that Chloe would be defenseless. When he finally enters her she sinks her teeth into his throat and her nails so deeply into his back he’s certain he’ll never get free again.
Lionel woke the next morning to the insistent sound of his alarm. It was set to go off whenever someone approached the guest house. Being in prison had taught him the value of never being caught by surprise. He was used to the alarm and merely rolled to his side to shut it off.
His companion however was not used to the alarm and leaped straight out of bed like a scalded cat, landed back on the bed and proceeded to roll off onto the floor. All the while Chloe clutched the top sheet to her chest. Smirking, Lionel climbed out of bed and pulled on his robe which hung from the back of a nearby chair. “Miss Sullivan, I had no idea you were so athletic. Do remind me to explore that at a later time.”
Rumpled and wide eyed, Chloe began scrambling for her clothes.
“But for the moment I must ask you to stay here and if at all possible remain *silent* though I realize it is against your very nature.” Lionel drawled. As he passed her he pulled Chloe to her feet. “Lex is about to arrive in the next few moments so unless you’d like to have perhaps the most awkward conversation of your young life I suggest you stay put.”
Reaching the bedroom doors, Lionel pulled the tightly closed after him and went to meet Lex in the living room. “Good morning son.”
“Dad. I came down to see if you would be taking breakfast in the main house this morning.” Lex stood in the middle of the living room critically surveying the damage left in Chloe and Lionel’s wake the night before. An overturned chair, a broken glass, and most damning of all a single woman’s shoe which Lex held in his hand.
Lionel crossed the room and took Chloe’s shoe from Lex. “I don’t think so. Not this morning Lex. But thank you for the offer.”
“You know Dad, security generally makes a point of informing me whenever someone comes on the grounds. Funny, but I didn’t know you were entertaining visitors.”
“I’ve never felt the need to consult you in matters of my social life before.” Lionel answered mildly.
“And I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that. However I am curious as to how your ‘guest’ managed to get on the property without being seen by my people.”
“Well, that would seem to be an excellent question to put to your people. After all good help is so terribly difficult to find. I hate to think of someone close to you betraying you.” Lionel placed a hand on Lex’s shoulder, trying not to react when Lex flinched from his touch. “Now son, I’m afraid I must insist on my privacy.”
Lex moved as if to walk towards the bedroom. “I must admit some curiosity Dad. Whoever she is you seem awfully invested in protecting her identity. Just a brief introduction I think.”
Stepping directly in front of his son, Lionel blocked the way. “Perhaps another day Lex.” Their eyes met and Lionel could see the challenge written in his son’s eyes. Lex had no intention of letting an opportunity to get under Lionel’s skin pass him by and was determined to reveal Lionel’s lover. Lionel placed his hands on Lex’s shoulder and played the only card likely to put a stop to Lex’s prying – even if only for a moment. “Pax dei.”
It was a Luthor family tradition begun by Lillian in her final days as a way to signal it was time for Lionel and Lex to quit their pushing and challenging of one another and take a step back. It was a toss up on who it helped more. The person saying it would gain a respite, but also surrender a bit of power to the other. Resolving father/son conflict probably wasn’t the direction the medieval Roman Catholic Church had in mind when they started their campaign of spiritual sanctions to control the violence of feudal society, but it was useful to the Luthors nonetheless.
Lex again shook off Lionel’s touch and gave him a hard look. “Interesting. Fine. Keep your secret Dad. There are others more interesting to me than your slut of the week. Make sure she gets out the way she got in.” Lex stalked out of the guest house.
As the door closed, Chloe emerged from the bedroom dressed in her jeans and a plain blue dress shirt of Lionel’s. “I don’t know where my sweater is.” She said gesturing to the shirt.
“Oh,” Lionel nodded. “That. I burned it last night.”
“You WHAT?”
“Really, it was for the best. A mercy killing if you will.” He focused all of his attention on Chloe, noting with more than a little satisfaction the small purple love bite peeking out from beneath the collar of his shirt. One that matched the bite mark on his shoulder perfectly. “You look much better in my shirt.”
“Oh no!” Chloe held out a hand as if to ward Lionel off. “Last night… I don’t know what the hell last night was but today’s a whole other story. The cold light of day changes everything so don’t be expecting a repeat.”
“What can I say? I’m a man of great expectations.”
“So you’re Charles Dickens?” Chloe picked up her purse and reached for her missing shoe. “And what a load of nerve Lex has calling *ME* a slut! Your son’s slept with every brunette in this state and about six others. He sets the bar for promiscuity! What an ass!”
Lionel chuckled. “I believe the aspersion he was casting was directed at myself not you.”
“Whatever. Luthor family politics requires a copy of Freud, a flamethrower and a pie chart to figure out. You make the Borgias look like the Brady Bunch.” Retrieving her jacket, Chloe headed for the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me. I’m going to go home and try to wash the ‘what the hell was I thinking?’ off.”
“If you insist.” Lionel replied calmly. Chloe’s immediate departure was not what he had in mind, but Lionel knew better than to force their tango. The dance couldn’t be hurried or too rehearsed. It required just the right combination of form and flexibility. He would let Chloe go for the moment and reel her back in after a bit. There was no doubt in his mind they would dance again.
And one, two, three, four. One, two, three, four...