Couple(s): I think the couple and rating are pretty well-established by now.
Disclaimer: Everything but the plot belongs to someone other than me.
Author's Note: I'm figuring this out as I go, so I hope it holds together.
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Chloe led the way to her cousin Lois's apartment, praying that Lois would remember their deal; if Chloe would get Lois a date with the former's Journalism classmate, the latter would vacate the premises for an evening.
What was going to happen during that evening was undecided. She knew what Lex wanted, what all club men wanted, but she didn't think she really wanted to sleep with him; not then, anyway. She was, despite her penchant for making out with strange men, and her infatuation with Zero in the first place, a 'wait for marriage' kind of gal. It wouldn't do to actually say this to Lex, however.
"Here we are," she announced unnecessarily, fumbling to fit the key in the lock that would open the front door of the old-fashioned brick building. "I hope my cousin's out for the evening."
Before they hurried up the stairs to her third floor apartment, Lex leaned against the stair railing, his hands folded across his chest. "You said you don't like me, yes?"
After a moment's thought, Chloe recalled that she had, in fact, told him that. "Right."
A smirk graced his lips, making him intensely handsome. "Then why'd you invite me home?"
He almost caught her. "I didn't; I said if you wanted me, you should follow me. I didn't think you'd listen."
Oh, but he was too good for that! "Ah, but it was obvious, *is* obvious, that I want you; so, by saying what you did back there-" he motioned toward the sidewalk which was visible through the glass doors "-you were implying that you want me, too. Had it not been so obvious that I want you," he paused, cupped her chin in his hand to draw her near. Her breath hitched involuntarily. "then your comment could have been construed as simple flirtation...since I could have just as easily declined."
Lex was so right that it scared her. Her eyes flickered closed, and she considered kissing him. "Just because you caught me in a lie, doesn't mean I don't hate you," she managed, relieved that her breathing was still normal.
"Desire is more physical than anything else; you're free to hate and want me at the same time." This was said against her lips, when his mouth pressed against hers lightly.
The truth was, she didn't hate him; not in the slightest bit. She was simply afraid that she would fall for him. He was certainly pushy, but that didn't bother her. She needed to feel wanted, even if it was just for her body; she was sick of being rejected by decent guys, so men like Lex -- as long as she at least knew their names and didn't simply hook up in the back of a dark club -- were what she looked for.
"I must disabuse you of the notion that you'll get something out of this."
He pulled back, penetrating blue eyes amused and curious. "Pardon?"
She grasped his wrists, and removed his hands from her shoulders, letting them swing at his sides. "I'm not going to sleep with you."
Even when he was snorting with mirth, he was gorgeous. "Mmm, which is why we were on our way to your apartment."
Chloe raised her left hand as if to slap his cheek, but then she thought better of it and lowered the appendage. "Notice the past tense."
For the first time, her companion had no retort. Smiling smugly, she crossed her arms then chuckled. "Tell me something, Lex Luthor, why are you so bloody persistent? I've never noticed that you chase after other bimbos. Why me? And if you give me some crap about me being unlike the others, I will honestly slap you."
Instead of being sarcastic, Lex was sincere when he said, "no matter; it won't be the first time I've been slapped by an angry woman. I hope you realize, Chloe, that the only reason why I would chase after you in the first place would be if you were different; why else would I choose you? I think you know that, and you really just wanted to hit me." There was the smirk again.
"Why am I different, then?" Her hands balled into fists, then relaxed until she calmed down again. He was right once again, so she had no reason to be incensed. "I want to know. If you use a line, I'll be aware, so it had better be good."
What he did say was so far removed from being a line that she was tempted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. "You didn't come home with me yesterday."
*I did not hear him say that.* "How much of a pervert are you?" It was an honest question, with no real animosity behind it; she knew full-well that Zero's men were sleazes, which, again, was what she wanted.
"Really want me to answer that?" Lex was truly grinning, his tone almost flirty.
"No." Then her hand was in his, and she was tugging him back toward the sidewalk.
"Um, your apartment's thataway."
She glanced at him over her shoulder and smirked gleefully. "Starbucks is this way."
When he stopped in his tracks, his hand was still in hers, so she stumbled backward. "You're not taking me to Star bloody Bucks when we're dressed like this!" he insisted, stomping his foot against the sidewalk. "Wait, you aren't taking me to Starbucks *period*! I don't drink coffee, especially not in Yuppie places like that with intriguing blonde clubbers like yourself!" She fully expected him to fall to the ground and bang it with his fists; he was that close to a real tantrum. (People were even beginning to stare, though two beautiful people in suggestive ensembles arguing on a street corner would make anyone curious.)
"Yes, I'm taking you to Starbucks," she replied just as forcefully, grabbing his elbow and steering him across the busy street. "End of discussion."
"Why are you doing this?" Lex whined, jogging to keep up with her fast pace.
"What?"
"Why are you being so impossible?"
Chloe bit her lip and glanced at him. "It's wrong to want to get to know a guy?"
Her hand was warm on his arm; the warmth was spreading through his body. "It is when we did what we did yesterday."
She snorted then opened the door to the establishment. With the brisk wind and the calm, black sky, it was a picture perfect night (if he were one for picture-perfect, Norman Rockwell moments, that is). Her blonde eyebrows raised in amusement and, under the street lamps, she appeared sweet and oddly angelic.
"You don't strike me as the 'get to know a guy' type, anyway," he added lamely.
"Then there's obviously a lot you don't know about me," she whispered before yanking him all the way inside.
Over caramel lattes with extra whipped cream -- he was at a total loss, so she ordered for him -- Chloe convinced him to open up a bit, and she returned the favor.
*He has definite potential,* she mused, sipping her beverage while he babbled on about being manager of a factory. Despite his rough, suave exterior, Lex Luthor was a sort of sweet guy; once he was in the right company, and the right topics were discussed. She learned a bit about his family life (mother and brother died when he was young, father was his ultimate boss, and the men hated each other), and what he did for 'fun' other than clubbing (cruising around town in his fancy cars, hitting the occasional bar, reading philosophers, collecting comic books --that surprised her -- and playing pool.)
She enlightened him about her own family life (parents divorced when she was young, her father was a businessman -- in what field, she had no idea -- and she lived with her cousin, Lois.) He listened, it appeared, with rapt attention as she discussed life at college, and her future plans (to become a highly successful journalist for the *Daily Planet*.)
"Good night," Lex whispered hours later when he walked her home, "Chloe Sullivan. I guess you really are a different kind of girl."
"That was a total line, but that's okay; I liked it," Chloe shot back, smiling when his hand cupped her cheek, and his eyes stared deeply into hers.
"Can I see you again? Outside of the club?" he continued, seeming so sincere that she melted inwardly.
Taking a pen out of her beaded purse (she always carried a writing utensil and a pad of paper in case of emergency) she scribbled her phone number on the inside of his wrist. "You aren't as bad as you pretend to be, Mister Lex Luthor."
The kiss they shared was sweet and affectionate; better than the most passionate moment they'd shared the previous evening.
And then he was heading down the sidewalk, away from her. When he reached the curb, he half-turned and winked.
That moment, that specific point in time, stuck in her memory because that was the second she fell for him.
******