Motive: Companionship
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. Really.
Author's Note: Things heat up a bit...this time this is for Allison & Michael because, without their talent, we probably wouldn't be Truth Seekers.
A week had gone by since she'd rejected his dinner invitation, and while he wasn't *annoyed* that she'd said 'no', he was disappointed; he loved being around her (though he wouldn't openly say so) and not having her at his dinner table meant he had to eat in the privacy of his office. Even bald billionaires with trust issues got lonely.
That was why he stopped by the Torch office one afternoon, steaming cups of coffee in hand. Except for his favorite blonde reporter, the office (and the school) was entirely devoid of human life, and he was relieved he didn't have to explain his presence to Clark. "You look like you could use a break."
Pause. Chloe whirled around in her swivelly desk chair, eyes huge in shock. "Or at least a quadruple espresso with four sugars and three creamers," Lex added, raising one of the cups in an imaginary toast.
"Mister Lu- Lex. What are you doing here? I don't believe you're only here to bring much needed caffeine to a deprived, lonely, irritated female reporter; when it gets near deadline, I'm in very negative numbers on the 'sane person' scale. Thus, very, very few people choose to cross my path, and I don't blame them."
When she took her first gulp of the hot beverage, her eyes closed in bliss, and she sank back against her chair. "Thank you. But really, did Clark send you, or are you actually suicidal enough to spend more than five seconds with me?"
Grabbing a chair identical to hers, Lex pulled it in front of her desk then sat on it backwards. "The interrogation starts immediately, I see; do you always greet your friends like that?" Her eyes rolled and she smirked. "I think, Chloe, it's about time you realize that I'm perfectly capable of enjoying you without Clark's prodding."
She tapped a few keys on her bright green iMac (it seemed appropriate for her, though he wasn't sure why), then switched off her monitor. "So, are you saying that he *has* asked you to entertain me before?" She was facing him now, eyebrows raised.
Lex resisted the urge to swear; she was absolutely... "You're incorrigible. Either that, or you suffer from severe self-esteem issue stemming from this...obsession with our mutual farmboy friend." He said it bluntly, wanting to gauge her reaction.
To her credit, Chloe didn't let him see that he'd struck a nerve; she simply smirked. "Well, gee, Lex. If I knew you were going to attempt to channel Freud --and I must admit you're doing a crappy job-- I would have told you to drop the caffeine and get your pseudo-philosophical self out of my space." Her tone remained cool, even, and a bit playful.
He couldn't stifle the chuckle. She shot him a look, so he explained. "Wow, you're incredibly entertaining when in --what do you call it?"
Even though she was sneering (he was being his usual patronizing self), Chloe helped out. "'Take no prisoners' mode?"
"Right. I should come every time you have a deadline; you could become the highlight of my week," Lex said slowly, turning the seemingly innocent phrase into a bit of an innuendo.
Chloe, being Chloe, picked up on it. "Wow, Lex. I'm so flattered that I could make you come that frequently," she retorted wryly.
"I'd come every day if you gave me an opportunity," he shot back slyly.
Her eyes were glittering, her coffee untouched since the flirting began. "If I'd known you find me so interesting, I would have made you come sooner." She allowed this to sink in. "You missed the part when I mumbled in foreign tongues."
Leaning closer, he whispered, "You mumble in foreign tongues and I'll come, Chloe." Maybe it was his tone, maybe it was the fact that he whispered, or maybe all the repetetive innuendos finally got to her; whatever the cause, she blushed furiously.
"Come *on*, Lex," she said, grinning, in order to cover up her flushed cheeks, "you grew up in Metropolis and were involved in who-really-wants-to-know-what kinds of promiscuous behavior; you'd think you'd come up with a more original innuendo than that."
It was a challenge, and if there was one thing Lex Luthor couldn't resist-- "That a challenge?"
"Yes," she said instantly, her eyes *glowing* now.
He was so close she could feel his quickening breaths on her face. "What if I don't accept it?" he whispered, licking his lower lip seductively.
"Then I'd say you have no balls whatsoever," Chloe whispered back, very aware that her knuckles were brushing against his.
"So," he continued quietly, his eyes intensely gazing into hers, "you wouldn't beg me to accept it?"
"I never beg, Lex, not for anything."
He appeared to consider this, his voice lowering even more. "Not even for *anyone*?"
Her eyes couldn't leave his. "Not even for anyone," she assured him softly.
"That takes strength."
"And you, rich boy? Have you ever begged for anything?" Her finger tips ever-so-lightly grazed the skin on the back of his palms. She saw him tremble slightly.
"No; I'm rich, I have no need to beg," Lex said quietly, his eyes delving even deeper into hers, if that was possible; it was her turn to shiver.
"What about for anyone?"
"I have too much dignity," he responded immediately.
Their mouth were millimeters apart then; she parted her lips-- "Do you treat all your friends this way, Lex?" she asked.
"You and Clark are the only friends I've ever really had, Chloe," was all he said; as though that answered the question.
Lex Luthor was visibly trembling. Because of her. He was trying to hide it by gripping the sides of her desk so tightly that his knuckles were pure white, but he was obviously not his usual, stoic self. "I see," she returned evenly, dancing her short finger nails over his hands again, pinching his skin lightly, making him gasp.
"Chloe," he began breathlessly, his eyes closed, "kiss me."
*Whaaat?* "What was that?" She'd heard him, of course, but he was such fun. "Are you asking me to kiss you?"
"I'm," his eyes opened briefly, and he fixed her with a hard stare, "*demanding* that you kiss me." He was trying to be authoritative.
"Well," she whispered against his ear. She was never so...suggestive, but it was *fun*! "If you ask nicely, maybe I will."
"Please, Chloe, kiss me," he managed, his breathing getting faster.
Her nails ran up and down the black silk on his obviously-flat stomach. "Why?" she teased.
"Don't tease, Chloe."
A hand slipped underneath his shirt, moved lightly up his chest. "Did you or did you not just *beg* me to kiss you? I thought you didn't beg, Lex," she reminded him slyly.
Taking a deep breath, he ran his index finger over her unoccupied hand; her other was withdrawing from his shirt slowly. "I never had to before. I'm lonely, Chloe, and you're right here..." He trailed off as her mouth just barely brushed his.
She couldn't decide what he meant by that statement, but she didn't want to take the time to dwell upon it. "Next time you want some company, Lex, just *say* so."
With a smirk, she sat back down in her chair as though nothing had happened. Picking up her coffee, she turned her monitor back on, then began to write.