Lex pulled the Jag into the garage and just sat as the door went down. He would have rather had darkness, but the light would stay on as long as the security system sensed his body heat in the room. Sighing, he pulled the leather driving gloves off, throwing them onto the passenger seat. He was getting bored with this whole game. And escaping to the Beanery to conduct the business he couldn't do from the plant and couldn't risk Victoria overhearing was fast becoming less clever and more pathetic.
The sex, of course, was a pleasant enough part of the game, but even that was wearing thin. They had been almost chaste since Victoria's return from Metropolis after the night Jeff had attacked her.
He climbed the short flight of steps and headed straight to his office, knowing when he got there that Victoria would be sitting somewhere in the room, his laptop positioned how he left it, looking completely untouched.
She was sitting in front of the fire, reading, as Lex walked in the door. Bingo.
"Lex, you're back."
Lex gave Victoria his best smile and headed straight to the bar, grabbing a random bottle and pouring himself a shot of... ahh, whiskey.
"What have you been up to today, Victoria?"
"Daddy called."
Oh, joyous day. "And how is Sir Harry?"
Victoria got up off the sofa, sliding her arms around his neck, pulling his head down for a kiss. "Daddy is clueless as ever." Another kiss, this time, tongue. Lex slid his hands down to her ass, stroking her, pulling her against him. Almost didn't let her go when her cell started to ring, but timing was everything in this game.
Taking a step back, Victoria ran her tongue over her lips, and Lex had to give the high priced lipstick credit. It hadn't smeared. She gave him a flirtatious smile and picked up her phone. "Daddy? Oh, yes. I suppose..."
Lex felt his erection fade. Funny thing, that. Nothing gave his father a bigger boner than the idea of fucking Sir Harry over, while these days Lex couldn't keep it up when the man's name was mentioned. No matter how intimately Lex was involved in this plan, the truth was he and Victoria were still their fathers' pawns. Oblivious to his blackening mood, Victoria continued talking to her father. Lex tuned her out, knowing that Sir Harry was asking about the little jump in LuthorCorp stock this afternoon. He looked up and felt a stab of relief as Clark entered the room, carrying a huge vase of white tulips. Mrs. Jevers, the new housekeeper, followed him in, directing Clark to put the bouquet on the table next to the wall.
He really was getting tired of white tulips. Lex wandered over in their direction, away from Victoria and her seemingly ever-present father. Mrs. Jevers smiled and left the room as silently as she had entered. Clark turned and gave him a huge smile.
Lex began to relax for the first time since getting home.
"Hey, Lex." Clark's eyes focused on Victoria for a moment, narrowing. He turned his attention back to Lex and the smile was back in his eyes.
"Clark, I thought you'd be at home for supper at this time."
"Mom and dad are in Metropolis at a seminar."
"So you thought you'd come over here and have supper?" Lex grinned.
Clark shuffled his feet and blushed, but just a smidgen. "Yeah. I hope that's okay?"
"Of course it is. My food is your food." Lex considered. "Or your food is my food. Whichever." Victoria was still on the phone. "Come on, let's play some pool."
Clark nodded and followed him to the wall to grab a pool cue. Lex racked the balls, letting Clark break.
A few hours later, games one and two finished and supper over, Lex watched as Clark and Victoria verbally fenced. They really didn't like each other much, which pleased him. Even seeing her naked hadn't made much impact on Clark. That fact had made Lex happy on a number of different levels. Though Clark would have to learn to be less obvious, for his face was always readable; his dislike of Victoria shone through clearly. Just as his guilt when he was lying to Lex was always loud and clear on that beautiful face.
"Lex, what's wrong?" Victoria's voice broke into his reverie.
"Nothing," he replied, barely able to call a pleasantly bland smile to his face. "I think I'm going to go for a drive. Clark, do you want a ride home?"
Clark nodded, and Victoria shot him a glare. Apparently, Lex was supposed to play lapdog tonight. But he wasn't in the mood to pretend -- not even for a fuck.
Lex grabbed his coat from where he had thrown it. Clark was already out the door by the time Lex kissed Victoria goodbye. He let his tongue slide, but pulled back before he gained entrance. "I'll be back in awhile."
"All right, Lex. I'll just take a bath."
Lex had almost caught up to Clark, standing by the doors to garage, when it occurred to him that Victoria took an awful lot of baths.
Clark's knuckles were white by the time they pulled off the Five onto the lane that led to the Kent farm. Lex had been driving aimlessly around the county for about an hour, finally giving in and driving them into town. A quick stop for coffee to go at the Beanery, and they were back in the car. Lex driving too fast down the Five while Clark idly wondered if the cappuccino had been the best idea.
"Coming up?" Clark nodded toward his loft.
Lex looked in the direction of the manor and without a word, grabbed his cup from the cupholder. Clark grinned and led the way, turning on the back bank of lights, and starting up the stairs.
Lex stopped when Clark did, almost running into him. "Are you hungry? We have pie."
Lex wasn't all that hungry, but Clark looked so thrilled by the idea of pie that he didn't want to let him down. "Sure, that'd be great."
Clark gave Lex his coffee and headed back down the steps, turning at the bottom. "Make yourself comfortable." And then he was gone, a boy in search of pie.
Lex had made himself comfortable, or as comfortable as he could on the lumpy sofa, by the time Clark returned. Clark was carrying a pie tin, napkins and two forks, as well as a glass bottle of milk. Putting the milk on the crate in front of the sofa, Clark put the rest on the cushions between them. He handed Lex a fork and grinned, taking the plastic wrap off and digging into the pie.
Lex followed suit, the taste of sweet cherries filling his mouth. There was irony in the air, he thought as he watched Clark shovel cherry pie into his mouth, a hint of red filling on his lips before he licked it off. Lex almost groaned aloud when Clark leaned forward and grabbed the milk bottle, opening wide and swigging down great gulps, his throat convulsing, his lips forming a perfect O around the rim.
When Clark finished, he licked his lips and handed the bottle to Lex. As if watching Clark hadn't been arousing enough. Lex took the bottle and drank, his heart missing a beat when he lowered the bottle to see Clark looking at him, a recognition flaring deep in his chest... and lower.
"Lex..." Clark was already leaning forward as Lex blindly put the milk bottle the floor, Clark pushing the now empty pie tin off the sofa, ignoring it as it landed with a clatter on the wooden floor. Lex managed to turn just in time, as Clark's weight pushed him down into the lumpy sofa, warm, soft lips pressing against his in an awkward kiss.
Subtlety now a long ago and far away concept, Lex gave himself to the kiss, threading his fingers into Clark's hair, pulling him closer, almost laughing aloud when Clark's tongue hesitantly traced the seam of his lips. Opened his mouth and sucked the active and curious tongue inside, running his own along it, tasting milk and pie for the trouble.
One of Lex's legs was still on the floor, the other curled around Clark's legs, and Clark's long, blunt fingers were tracing, ever so carefully, lines on his head, each stroke coinciding with a stroke of the tongue in his mouth. They caught their breath on the end of a shared moan when Clark pressed his erection down on Lex's own, making them tremble.
Clark laid one hand on the side of Lex's face, cupping it, the warmth of his skin seeping down into Lex's pores. His other hand slid between them and down to the buttons on Lex's shirt. He had it open quickly, and used his thumb to play with Lex's nipple, then dipping in to lick and swirl around the little nub.
Clark was pressing himself against Lex, and Lex gave into the need to slide his hands down to cup Clark's ass, pulling him closer, tighter. It wasn't enough, he thought blindly, one hand worming between Clark's shirts and his jeans, finally finding the warm skin at the small of Clark's back. Pushed one finger lower, between jeans and boxers, lightly tracing the cleft, smiling against Clark's mouth when he was rewarded with a deep groan and another thrust.
They broke the kiss and Lex stared into green eyes, shining dazed and mellow above kiss-bruised lips. He began pulling Clark's shirts up and off, a soft whimper at the sight of hard abs. Had to push up and lick and suck the flat nipple, and at Clark's moan, bit a little harder than he should have, only to have Clark quiver against him.
"Clark?"
Clark's fingers were between them, scrabbling at Lex's pants, but at the sound of Lex's voice he looked down. A blush colored his cheeks, making the flesh warm when Lex reached up a hand to cup that beautiful face.
"Lex, you ask me if I know what I'm doing, I'm going to kill you."
It was the best answer, one that stopped him from trying to pretend to have any qualms about this at all. Decided not to ask why, knowing it had something to do with Victoria, Lana, and Clark finally making a decision...
... and when those fingers stroked Lex's cock through his briefs, it could all wait. Lex braced his feet on the sofa and lifted his hips, pressing against the solid weight of Clark, who got the message finally and moved, his hands curling around the waistband of Lex's underwear. He pulled, removing the slacks and socks, Lex's expensive loafers hitting the wall as Clark stripped him as quickly as possible.
Clark was standing in front of him, so Lex took the opportunity to sit up, removing his open shirt, throwing it in the general direction the rest of his clothes had taken. Clark toed off his boots, and Lex grinned at the sound of boot hitting wall. When Clark's hands moved to his jeans, though, Lex put his hands over Clark's, stopping them.
Lex looked up into green eyes and smiled, pushed the large hands to the side and opened the fly, the scent of pre-come and sweat and what could only be need wafting over him. Pushed the jeans down and stroked the length, covered by the boxers, the head obvious under a wet patch. Leaned in and pulled the head into his mouth, sucking through the cotton, tasting fabric softener, the taste of wind from line dried clothes, and Clark's own tang beneath it all.
Lex ran one hand up the long thigh, from the back of Clark's knee to between his legs, cupping and hefting the tight balls. Shifted slightly and gained a hold on the boxers, pulling them down, attention caught by the hard cock that sprang free as he did so. Steadied himself by wrapping his arms loosely around Clark's hips and sucked the head into his mouth. Licked around the curve, using the tip of his tongue to torment the slit. Let Clark push into his mouth, his own cock twitching at the feel of that sensitive length sliding over his tongue. Lex allowed Clark a few more thrusts, then let go of his hips and opened to let Clark fall free of his mouth and just leaned back against the sofa, watching as Clark's legs shook.
"Lex?"
"Come 'ere," Lex said as he reached out again and pulled Clark down onto the sofa. Sat up and moved, letting Clark stretch out, then sat on him, legs on either side of Clark's hips, letting his cock rest just above Clark's. Held Clark's eyes and licked his hand, then moved his hands down his own chest, stroking his nipples, smiling when Clark reached up and took over the job.
Wondering how either of them hadn't come yet, Lex took both of their cocks in his hands and stroked, letting hard flesh slide against hard flesh.
Clark kept one hand on Lex's chest, the other joining Lex's down where their cocks were rubbing together as Lex jacked them with a slow, steady rhythm. Clark's moan was long and shook his body, from his chest down to his cock when he came, ribbons of white coating them both, pooling on Clark's belly. Two more strokes and Lex's come was mingling with Clark's.
Bringing them down, Lex continued to pet Clark, who stared at him, his eyes huge and almost unseeing. Clark ran a finger through the mess and lifted it to his lips, the action wrenching a moan from both of them. The second time he did it, he lifted the finger to Lex's lips, his hips thrusting upward when Lex pulled it deep into his mouth, sucking it beyond clean.
Lex let go of their cocks, and mimicking Clark, took a fingertip of their come and used the finger to trace over Clark's lips, then leaned down and licked them clean, tongue sliding inside for a long, wet kiss.
Breaking the kiss, Lex reached down to the floor and grabbed a handful of the napkins Clark had brought out with the pie. Wiped at the mess, now spread over both their bellies, and tossed the napkins away when he had the worst of it cleaned off. The rest dried quickly, making their skin taut.
Clark was watching Lex carefully as he pulled the rest of the blanket they were laying on over them, curling against Clark's chest, large hands cupped around his hips. Satisfied and complacent, Lex settled in to enjoy the afterglow, Clark's lips pressed against his temple.
Lex came out of his own thoughts to see Clark looking off into space, just above his shoulder. He knew Clark wasn't sleeping with his eyes open by the steady stroking of fingers on his lower back, just above the curve of his ass.
"Clark." Watched as he blinked, oriented himself. "Clark, come back." Lex made sure he kept his tone light.
Clark's fingers stopped their stroking. Lex felt him tense up and immediately followed suit, not knowing what this was going to be about, but dreading it already.
"Clark?"
"I was just thinking."
God save him from post-virgin thoughts. "What?"
"Do you feel like you just cheated on Victoria?"
Well. That was an interesting concept. "No."
Clark looked at him. "But..."
"Victoria is chess, Clark. Sex is just a way for us to make the game a little more interesting."
Clark looked away from his eyes, his hand curling around the arm of the sofa, the knuckles taunt and white. "So what was this?"
"This was..." Lex bit off the words, not wanting to expose himself, not with someone who was -
- lying to him. "... this was great. And hopefully the beginning of greater things."
"You don't sound too happy about it." Clark still wasn't looking at him.
Lex heard the pain in the words loud and clear, but he wasn't willing to let go of his own pain at the lies. Leaning over, he turned Clark's face, and kissed him, then got up and started to dress. "We'll work it out, Clark. That's what I do."
It was by force of will alone that he managed to stave off anger and disappointment and keep dressing, feeling some relief when Clark stood up and grabbed his own clothes. As Clark was getting dressed, Lex walked to the door of the haymow, looking in the direction of the castle, where the witch was no doubt still soaking her endless bath.
It was time to go back; maybe the chess game was almost over. Clark walked up behind him and wrapped his arms around him, and Lex leaned back, steeling himself to go, to leave the warm arms that held him close, even as Clark lied.
Sitting in the private rooms Lex had allotted her, she scrubbed with a bit more force, trying to remove the day's makeup. Despite the fact that the cosmetics cost more than the monthly income of a middle class family, she hated the stuff, tending to think of it as a costume she wore in her role as Victoria Hardwick, billionaire's daughter.
Daddy's little girl, and everyone, including Daddy, thought she wasn't very bright. Of course, as Lex had pointed out, Daddy was only good with the obvious; the subtle quite baffled Sir Harry. Like two backdoors in the new computer system. The six cents missing from every dollar reaped in the liquidation of two subsidiaries. Things like that easily slid past Daddy's less than eagle-eyed notice.
Victoria had taken pains to set up scenarios that her father and his minions could crack with just a bit of effort. Keep the old sod from digging any deeper, and when he confronted her with those little things, she had been pitch perfect. Contrite. Apologetic, even.
Willing to abase herself. So innocent, mentioning that she should have stayed with Lex, letting it slip that he had called her, wanted her back. Planting the seeds that had grown into her father's plan to use Lex to take over LuthorCorp.
It was still prostitution, but she could at least whore with pride. Sex with Lex had always been good, so there was some enjoyment while she waited.
Victoria frowned as she applied moisturizer. Things were off, though. Lex was... distracted. Beyond the businesslike distraction of trying to figure out exactly what all the angles were in the little dance they were doing.
Things had gotten a bit more interesting when Victoria had realized that Lex's distraction, in and out of their bed, had a cock of it's own...
Well, just delicious, that.
"You're looking very serious."
Victoria started, dropping the bottle of moisturizer. Picked it up and looked into the dark brown eyes reflected in the mirror.
"What are you doing here? If Lex..."
Soft laugh as skilled hands ran through her hair, threading the long curls through talented fingers. Unable to resist, Victoria rolled her head to the side as fingers, then lips, caressed her neck. Whimpered softly as her silk robe was pushed from her shoulders, the fingers and lips continuing to torment her skin. Stroking. Kissing. Tonguing. Tasting.
Warm torment as her nipples were teased through the silk. Victoria pushed back, moaning her encouragement. Shivered when the robe was breached and bare fingers explored the soft skin of her breasts.
"Your Lex is at the Kent farm. With his pretty young friend." Amused tone in the voice as the fingers kept moving. "I think they'll be awhile."
"But you can't be sure. We can't let him catch us..."
Considering pause, but the fingers never stilled. "Shhh. Don't worry. He won't. When I had a quick look in, he and the boy were quite distracted."
Victoria turned around at that, grinning at her lover, her hair wild, her white and black robe pooled around her waist, the sash still tied.
Rosa stared down at her, a smile on her lips, her brown eyes warm with lust, a faint sheen of perspiration on her cheeks. The only person on the planet that Victoria trusted anymore. Sir Harry included. Sensible dress on a purely sensible woman, half moon glasses on a chain around her neck. Shorter than Victoria, her hair shoulder length and black as night, she had the look of professionalism written all over her.
Knowing what lay beneath that powersuit veneer, Victoria smiled as she reached up, red nails flashing as she quickly unbuttoned the red sweater. She watched Rosa remove the sweater and the glasses, waiting impatiently. Curling around her lover, Victoria dropped her arms, caressing the back of Rosa's knees before sliding her hands up stocking wrapped thighs, smiling at the garters. Reached the apex and rubbed two fingers over the slick silk of expensive panties.
Victoria moaned when Rosa squeezed her thighs together, trapping her fingers, forcing them upwards, against the rapidly moistening silk.
"Dress first, Victoria. I didn't bring anything else."
Leaning back, pulling her hand from its warm haven, Victoria licked her fingers, making sure Rosa followed her tongue as she did so. Ran wet fingers down her own neck, over her breasts, circling dark nipples, untying and slipping off the robe as she stood, stepping forward as Rosa turned, presenting Victoria with the zipper that ran down her spine.
Pulling down the zipper, kissing each inch of smooth, warm skin as it appeared, Victoria thought about the day she had met Rosa. Tagging along at a business meeting of her father's, she had been bored to death. When the meeting had become heated, all of the peons, including Victoria, had been sent out. She had wandered the halls for a bit, quickly bored and looking for something other than counting the stalls in the women's room to keep her occupied. When the few minutes had stretched into half an hour, she had wandered down to the lobby solarium. And in the middle of tropical plants that had no reason to exist in dreary London, Victoria had found Rosa.
The meeting upstairs had gone on for hours, and was still going on when Rosa and Victoria had returned from a quick lunch.
Victoria had met Rosa again, three weeks later, at a meeting in Gotham. Dressed in her usual red, black hair, fair skin, she was the one thing Victoria looked forward to. A good chat, a meal, just friends at that point, slowly working into something comfortable. And when Lex broke up with her the first time, it was only natural that she would contact her good friend.
After that, other things became natural. Waking up to soft skin and dark hair. The feel of a harness around her hips, the slow penetration of a dildo in the morning, Rosa above or beneath her. Phone sex. Two years and Victoria still wanted Rosa.
A bloody record, that. Too bad her father would never approve.
"Victoria?"
Rosa's voice brought her back to the moment, and she drew the zipper down the last few inches. Raised her eyes and laughed huskily as the dress fell to the floor, revealing skin, silk, and lace. Turned Rosa for a kiss, then walked her backwards until they fell on the bed, then just pressed herself against her lover, fabrics and skin getting warmer and warmer.
The plan was in Victoria's mind as she ran her fingers into Rosa's hair, playing with it, holding it tight as she brought her lips down for a kiss, her tongue tracing until soft lips, red lipstick worn away, opened for her. Victoria shuddered as a clever finger slipped inside her, drawing a line between the soft flesh, then curling around the little nub, sliding, pressing.
Rosa's other hand traced her back, fingernails digging just a touch into the curve of her spine, pressing her down on the hand that had shifted, the thumb still playing with her clitoris, another finger sliding deeper inside her.
"Rosa, please..."
Rosa did please. As her thumb skated over Victoria's sensitized clitoris, Rosa curled one finger inside and brushed it against the top of her channel, striking just the right note, over and over. Victoria cried out as the world stopped for just a second, and there were lights behind her eyes.
And it was nothing like when Lex was inside her -- at this moment, with this woman, Victoria Hardwick trusted.
Slumped on her lover, Rosa's hand still cupping her, tangled in wet curls, Victoria started to move, pulling back, sitting on her knees. Leaning forward, she laved and sucked on Rosa's breasts, through the thin silk and lace bra. Stopped only when Rosa was calling her name, her voice low and sweet with the need.
Victoria kissed her way down, soft belly, circling then pushing her tongue into Rosa's navel, getting a low laugh that felt like a reward. Backed down until she was at the foot of the bed, and with a look into those chocolate eyes, slid the panties away. Breathed deeply, scent filling her. Leaned down and tasted, baring Rosa to her tongue, finding and tormenting the swollen clit until the only thing holding Rosa on the bed was Victoria's body on her legs.
Sucked gently, a finger sliding along the inner lips, her name a cry and a curse as Rosa came, one hand pulling on Victoria's long hair.
When the hand relaxed and fell loose, Victoria slithered upwards, kissing Rosa, sharing the taste of her. They curled together, just stroking skin, hair, and skin again.
"We need to get moving." Rosa looked over Victoria's shoulder to the clock on the bedside table.
"You need a shower, love."
Rosa frowned, but nodded. She pulled away and Victoria groaned softly. Rosa gave her a look, but slid down for a kiss anyway, sitting on the edge of the bed, removing garters and stockings.
By the time they had quickly showered and redressed, Victoria was wearing jeans and a sweater, and Rosa was in her dress again, although the underwear was slightly uncomfortable, Victoria being a size or two smaller. They looked around the room and Rosa stuffed her panties into her purse, pulling the zipper closed.
"Ready?"
Victoria pulled Rosa close for one last kiss, her hands straying over the red wool. Resting her forehead against her lover's, she sighed. "Yes."
Rosa stroked her face, petted her curls. "Don't worry, darling. We're almost there."
Victoria only nodded, and turning to the door, led the way down the stairs to the war room. She and Rosa were sitting on opposite sofas, having a cup of tea when Lex walked in.
"Rosa? What are you doing here?"
"Your father had some papers for you to sign." Rosa stood and opened her slim attaché case, handing Lex the papers.
"My father shouldn't have wasted the time of his executive secretary on these things. I'm sure you have better things to do."
"Oh, the drive was quite peaceful, actually."
Lex smiled tightly as he signed one of the pages.
The watch on his wrist glinted in the lights, and Victoria felt a surge of bitter disappointment that they had found the damn thing. She had been there the day Lex's mother had given it to him, and she had known the reasoning behind the explanation, the David painting. The prime positioning of an absent mother.
Of course, neither Emily nor Lex had ever brought up the fact that Napoleon's mother had had to be added by the artist because she refused to be in the hall with Josephine.
Victoria had understood *that* part of it full well.
As Emily Luthor had meant her to.
"You can't drive home tonight, Rosa. It's late. Why don't you stay here?"
"I don't want to be a bother, Lex. I can find a motel room if I get too tired."
"Don't be silly. You shouldn't drive this late. Even my father wouldn't expect you drive another three hours."
Victoria hid her smile as Rosa looked torn. She was so brilliant at this game...
"All right, Lex. That would be lovely, thank you."
Lex walked over to the phone and called for Jorge, telling him to set a room up. Jorge entered the room a few minutes later, and escorted Rosa out. Lex was still behind his desk, booting up his computer.
"Lex, aren't you coming to bed?" He looked uncomfortable for a moment. The farmboy must have been quite a workout, Victoria thought nastily.
"I think maybe tonight... I'll just stay in my room." He looked at her calmly, leaving unspoken the part about her staying in her own.
"Not feeling well, love?"
"No, I think I might be coming down with something."
Hah. More likely he had something go down on him, or vice versa. Victoria gave him her best look of concern, making a move to touch him, but at the last minute pulling back, just as he flinched. "Well, then you get to bed. Maybe we can have some fun in the morning."
"Sure," Lex replied. If Victoria didn't know about the game, this would have been a clear indication that things were changing. When she went to Metropolis next week, she would have to make sure to tell Rosa that they needed to accelerate their plans.
Leaving the study, Victoria cast a glance down the hallway to the guestrooms. She couldn't dare go to Rosa, not now. Not with Lex in the house.
Smiling to herself, she knew it was almost over, and she and Rosa would be together soon enough.
Lex sighed as he drove up to the Kent farm, cutting the quiet, powerful engine of the Jag as he parked alongside the barn. Clark wasn't working on the fence again tonight, but Lex could see lights on in the barn. Walking carefully, Lex made his way up to Clark's hideaway.
"Hey."
Clark looked up from contemplating Lex's mother's box. Lex was surprised; he had been certain that Clark had given it to Lana awhile ago.
"Hey, Lex."
Lex stared at him. The cut over his eye was gone, and when he moved toward Lex, he didn't move at all like a man in pain.
"Clark. You seem awfully well for a guy who had a couple of cracked ribs a few hours ago."
Clark looked at him, putting the box down on the ledge beside the telescope. "Lex..."
"Clark, please. It's been a hellish couple of days. Don't lie to me about lying to me, okay? It only makes things worse." Lex tossed his coat and tie onto the red chair in the corner, then stood at the door to the haymow, looking out at the moon.
Arms that were much stronger than they had been just a few hours ago turned Lex. Strong, deliberately gentle fingers curved under his chin, lifting his gaze to Clark's. "It's definitely been a long, bad day." Clark leaned forward and kissed him, softly first, then insistently sliding his tongue between Lex's lips. Rocking them until Lex slid his arms up and around Clark.
They lost themselves in the kiss, and despite their individual tortures, they moved as one to remove clothes, kicking shoes after shirts, moaning as fingers found zippers. When they were naked, Lex got a good look at Clark. The long legs, his cock already hard, Lex's responding in kind. And his torso totally lacking in bruises.
He looked up again and raised an eyebrow.
"What are you thinking?" Clark's voice was soft.
Lex shivered and turned back to look out again. The night was still, the moon full and placid. Mocking the turmoil inside Lex's mind. "I just wonder what it'd be like, to mak... to have sex with someone who isn't lying to me."
He heard Clark's indrawn breath behind him, felt him move away, then return. The swish of fabric against the wooden floor, then warm skin, pressing against his back, curving around him. Long arms folded in front of him, the red and white blanket from the sofa enveloping them, smelling of Clark and hay. Lex was still tense, and the anger still simmered not quite below the surface, but he couldn't help but be comforted by the warm cocoon.
"Would it be love?"
Odd question in one regard, but absolutely, predictably, Clark. And the anticipation of honesty, of getting the truth, finally. From the one person he needed the truth from, needed to be able to have and give trust to... "I think so, yes."
Silence. And Lex could feel the strong beat of Clark's heart against his back, and could have sworn his own began to echo the steady throb.
"The meteor shower. My parents found me. After I landed." Lex started to turn, to speak, but Clark's arms around him kept him in place, and the tension made him keep silent. "They adopted me, I don't know how, since I didn't exactly come with papers. I was always strong, but recently..." Lex pushed backward, offering the comfort of his bare skin as Clark pondered his next words. "You did hit me that day. I ripped the roof off and pulled you out. I can run really fast, see through things. People. The meteor rocks hurt me. I don't know why.
"Eric and I had an accident. He got my powers. I got to be... normal. But he was doing things. Hurting people, so I had to confront him. The same kind of accident happened, and I got them back."
Lex stroked the arm over his. "So you lost your... abilities, got hurt, and now you have them back."
"Yes."
"And you lied before and now you're telling me the truth because..."
"Because if you leave me now, maybe it won't hurt as much as it would later." Clark fell silent, bending, resting his head in the curve of Lex's neck. "And I'm scared, Lex. All the time. I don't want to hurt people. But I didn't want you..." His voice lowered to a whisper. "... to leave me. To run away from the freak."
Lex's brain had been in overdrive since the words 'meteor' and 'landed'. He understood, even if he had suspected, since the night he had played the security tapes from the Museum.
Over and over and over again.
Of course, he had been thinking meteor-accentuated human, not alien. God. Some secrets were trifles, but this was huge. No wonder Clark had tried to avoid -
"Lex?"
Lex turned in the warm circle of Clark's arms, the panic in his voice making him realize this was not the time for consideration. Or silence. "It's strangely not as surprising as I would have thought a few months ago." The arms around Lex squeezed tighter, a soft sniffle coming from the mouth gently sucking at his throat. He ran his hands into the soft black hair and pulled, ever so gently, bringing Clark's mouth to his.
Breaking the kiss, Lex led Clark to the sofa. "So what was it like, being normal?"
Clark looked at him carefully; the tone of voice in which Lex said the word 'normal' catching his attention. "Strange. Good for awhile, but ... I missed being me." Clark waved a hand down his body, the red blanket falling onto the sofa. "This is who I am."
Lex ran a hand down soft skin, feeling the muscles that rippled just beneath the surface. "You're good this way, Clark." Just before his mouth found Clark's, a soft whisper. "Perfect."
Then they were on the sofa. Clark spread open, his back against an overstuffed sofa arm, one leg over the back as Lex knelt between his legs, hands everywhere. They shuddered in tandem as Clark reached out to cup him, stroking and taunting. Pulling Clark's hips up, Lex outlined the little hole with a finger, then pressed in, just a touch.
Clark came up off the sofa with a cry, the hand around Lex's balls tightening just to the point of pain.
"Easy, Clark."
"Do it again."
"I don't have any lube, Clark."
Green eyes opened, the skin around them relaxing slightly as full lips smiled. Clark twisted and reached under the sofa, pulling something out, and Lex heard thing knocking against each other and Clark rifled through the box. Pulling out a plastic jar, Clark ripped the lid off with some force and handed it to Lex.
Lex read the label, raising an eyebrow. "Bag Balm?" He laughed, but dipped a few fingers in, frowning at the cold lotion. Taking a dollop into his palm, he let it warm in his hand as he leaned down to take Clark in a kiss again, smiling at the hands that curved to his ass, pulling him closer.
When they needed to breathe again the balm was warm, and Lex pulled Clark's legs over his shoulders, and began to slide a well-lubed finger around the puckered skin. When he had two fingers inside, stroking the gland, making Clark shiver and whimper, he had a last, sane thought. Looking down into the box, he saw a ribbon of condoms, and looked back at Clark.
"I know I'm clean. I'm sure you're clean. Condom?"
A long arm reached up, a large palm cupping Lex's cheek. Unbidden, he rubbed against it. "I trust you." Green eyes met stormy blue, for the first time ever, totally clear. Turning into the palm, Lex kissed it, and lowering his hands to his cock, he spread the rest of the balm onto his straining erection. His eyes caught Clark's again, and he shifted slightly and began to press inside.
Stroked the soft skin at the apex of Clark's hips with one hand, the other holding Clark as he finally, finally was inside. Slid his hand up Clark's dick to run his thumb over the slit as his balls were tickled by Clark's hair. Closing his eyes, Lex began to move, thrusting deep. He wrapped his hand tighter around Clark's cock as he moved, slamming in and pulling out. God, so tight. So hot.
Clark twisted his own fingers with Lex's, letting Lex set the rhythm and moving like he had been born to it. Lex opened his eyes and moaned Clark's name as Clark pressed his hips upward, clenching around Lex's cock. The utterly abandoned and vicious look in Clark's eyes as he did so making it... oh, fuck... better.
Leaving Clark to stroke himself, Lex leaned down and captured Clark in a kiss, the full lips opening to him immediately, pulling him in. His hips pistoning, his tongue doing the same, when Clark came between their bellies, making it messy and hot and even more slippery, Lex lost the ragged rhythm and part of his mind, coming hard and deep. His ears rang as his cry of Clark's name echoed inside the barn, Clark's own groan only a second behind.
Lex raised his head from Clark's shoulder and kissed the sweaty, salty skin. He licked across a cheek, ending with a small kiss at the side of Clark's mouth. Pulling back, Lex ran his fingers through the mess on Clark's belly, unable to resist the need to taste, lifting his fingers to his mouth as Clark watched and twitched. Lex's own hips unable to stop jerking as the aftershocks twisted through him.
A comforting silence between them, Lex finally, slowly, pulled out. The heavy scent of sex, and a smell that could only be the Bag Balm, floated in the air around them. Leaning down to the box, Lex pulled a handful of the Kleenex out, and started to clean them up as best he could. Throwing the mess back in the box, he grinned at Clark, who was sprawled, mellow in the afterglow, eyes closed as Lex gently stroked his belly.
"Condoms, lotion, and aloe and lotion Kleenex. Do your parents have any idea what you do up here?"
Deep laugh that shook the sturdy frame beneath his hands. "Well, up to now it's been mostly harmless. As to this," Clark waved his hand over them. "God, I hope not. I don't think my parents are quite ready for that one. The x-ray vision thing was almost too much for them." Clark opened his eyes, looking at Lex carefully, just a hint of unease lurking there.
"Clark?"
"What are your secrets, Lex?"
Lex stiffened, and Clark looked even more worried. Not replying, Lex stretched out next to Clark on the sofa, his ass almost hanging off. Clark shifted back, and pulled Lex closer, then flipped the blanket over them. A quick twist of their bodies and Lex's head was on Clark's shoulder, his hand under the blanket, tracing absent patterns on warm skin.
"Nothing that exotic, I'm afraid. Just rich boy follies of too many parties with a variety of alcohol and illegal substances. There was an accident at one party, which led to the problems with Phelen." Lex waited for Clark to as for details, but he didn't, just watched him, his hands warm on Lex's hip. "I tend to give into the overwhelming urge to compete with, and best, my father. Oh, and I'm attracted to the point of insanity to the guy who delivers my produce. I'm a porn cliché."
Clark continued to touch him, gentling him. Lex shifted to look at him and was angered by his own need for reassurance. Pressing forward, Lex's next kiss was hard, but Clark took it. Soon, the feel of a warm palm against the back of his head, combined with the calming influence of having his tongue sucked, made him boneless. Sighing into Clark's mouth, Lex melted.
They broke away and were a breath apart when Clark whispered, "Love you," softly.
No lies or obfuscation -- just something that had to be love, clear and simply complex.
Lex reached up a hand and traced eyebrows, soft lips, over eyelids when Clark closed his eyes. He couldn't say it. Not yet. But he felt it, recognized it. So he did the best he could. "Me too," he whispered as softly as he could, just before his lips covered Clark's. When they broke for breath, Lex just stayed in Clark's arms, cuddling and soft kisses totally natural in a way Lex could never remember needing before.
When they were getting dressed, Clark sighed.
"What?"
"I need to give Lana back her necklace." He pointed to the box sitting on the ledge. "I'm trying to figure out how to do it without falling on my face."
"Give her the box."
"Lex..."
"It's okay, Clark. That's why I gave it to you in the first place."
Clark stared at him. "You're sure?"
"Yes. Come on, I'll drive you into town."
Dropping Clark off in front of the Talon, Lex blinked, then licked his lips as he felt a kiss at warp speed dropped on them.
"I'll see you tomorrow?"
"I have to go to Metropolis again tomorrow. Dad and I are taking over Hardwick." Lex thought for a minute, remembering a question he had wanted to ask Clark. "Clark, what did you mean the other night. About snooping behind your back?"
Clark blinked, his eyes growing serious. "That night, after we left Victoria at the castle and you know..." sweet blush that was addictive as candy. "That woman who was wandering around the barn, then left when she saw your car. Just before we, you know..."
Lex stared at him, his mind ignoring the cute little 'you knows' for the more relevant bits. "What did she look like?"
"Dark hair. Red dress. Drove a Saab convertible."
"And you saw all this with your ... x-ray vision."
"Yeah. Lex, she didn't work for you?"
Lex started drawing some connections in his head, the whole thing coming together like a formula. If x, then y. He turned his attention back to Clark. "I have an idea who she was, don't worry."
"Lex..."
"Don't worry, Clark. Trust me."
Clark's green eyes narrowed. "I do trust you."
Lex laid a hand on Clark's thigh, squeezing gently. "I know. Don't worry, I promise, it'll be fine." He managed not to blink at the accessing stare.
"Okay. I'll be home when you get back."
Lex smiled thinly. "Thanks."
"No problem." Clark climbed out of the Jag.
"Sure you don't want me to wait?"
"Nah. I can run home faster. Now."
Lex nodded, not quite having a reply ready. He watched as Clark waved, then entered the old movie theater, holding onto the lead box. The ringing of his cell phone was a welcome distraction from his thoughts as he pulled back out onto the Five, heading for the castle.
"Lex Luthor."
"I've been calling you for two hours."
"Hello, Roger. What do you want?"
"I have something for you. An interesting pictorial."
Lex sat up a little straighter. Roger wouldn't be so stupid as to try to blackmail him again. Forcing himself to relax, he loosened his grip on the steering wheel. "What do you have?"
"Not on the phone. I'll be there in a half an hour."
"Fine." Lex hit disconnect without another word, tossing the phone onto the passenger seat.
He was still on his first scotch, just finishing a call from his father, when Roger slipped into the room. Lex's first order of business was to stop Roger from investigating Clark any further. He had his answers, and he had Clark to protect, even from himself or his lackeys. Roger wasn't pleased, but he conceded.
"You have something for me?"
The pictures weren't as big a shock as Roger obviously wanted them to be. Lex had known Victoria would go on to bigger fish as soon as possible. Sir Harry needed his company, after all. He had expected her to troll outside Metropolis, however. Bruce Wayne in Gotham was still single, after all.
"Nice picture quality. Who initiated this little encounter?"
"Well, who do you think?"
"Victoria."
Roger gave him a snide look. "Your father," he replied as he walked out.
Lex stared at the pictures.
Fucking bastard. Pathetic fucking bastard.
Trust your family; trust them to screw you over. Lex breathed slowly, trying not to give in to the cold frustration that was making his vision blurry as he looked again. Bastard.
Shaking himself, he returned the pictures to the envelope. Getting up, he rang the intercom, looking up as Jorge entered the room. "Yes, Mr. Lex?"
"When Rosa was here the other night, when did she arrive?"
"She was here when I returned from town. I assumed Miss Hardwick let her in."
"When did you get back?"
"About fifteen minutes before you did, sir." Jorge was looking at him in concern. "Is something wrong, sir?"
Lex found the strength to give the man a less than bitter smile. "No, everything's fine, Jorge. I'm turning in. Close up, would you?"
"Of course, sir."
Lex left him to take care of the fire and headed up to his room, still holding the envelope. So, Rosa was here for at least an hour before either he or Jorge saw her. And she had been at the Kent farm, spying on him. Lex turned and headed down the opposite hallway. Entering the room next to the suite Victoria had moved to after Jeff's destructive rampage, Lex opened the doors of the armoire that stood against the wall. The small camera that sat there had a fiber optic, motion-activated feed into the other room. Taking the small tape out of the recorder, Lex headed back to his own suite.
Closing his door, Lex put the tape into the adapter and slid it into the VCR. He had told Clark that nothing went on in this house he didn't know about. Apparently, he had been wrong, but he was willing to make up for that now. Lex had put the camera in after Jeff's little rampage, but he should have been paying better attention. The tape had been at the beginning, meaning it had reached the end and rewound automatically. He frowned as he appeared, bending Victoria over the couch, rolling on a condom and fucking her from behind. Didn't need to relive that again.
Hitting the fast forward button, he watched Victoria on the phone. And on the phone. And on the phone. And on her way to her bath. Talking to herself in the mirror as she put on her makeup. On the phone. And sex again. And off to the bath again. He sat down in the chair as a figure in red appeared, hitting play to slow it down.
Oh. Now that was interesting. Ironic as hell, too.
Lex watched for a few more minutes as his father's private secretary got it on with his former mistress and his father's current whore. He tapped the envelope on his knee as Victoria went down on Rosa.
There was a weight on his chest, the knowledge that he had been fucked with his pants on. Discovering he had been betrayed twice in one night was eclipsing his relief and joy at Clark's trust. He wanted to scream, throw up, rage.
Most of all, he wanted his mother.
Or Clark.
And wasn't that just fucked up. His mommy or his boyfriend. Jesus.
Wanted arms around him that would hold him, and not just for the cameras. He looked at the phone.
No.
He wouldn't give in. Wouldn't allow himself to be any weaker than he was already. Looking to the bar on the side of the room, he decided maybe just a little weaker. He hit eject and took the tape out. Opening his private safe above the bar, he tossed the envelope and the tape inside and took out a small box.
Lex opened it and took out a pink and a blue. Reconsidering, he added a red and blue capsule. He poured himself a vodka and swallowed the pills; comforted by the knowledge that dreamless sleep would come quickly. Putting the box back in the safe, he locked it and turned to his bed. Normally, he was careful with his clothes -- a trait ingrained by two nannies and his mother. But tonight, he left his clothes where they fell and crawled into bed, tossing his watch on the nightstand.
The last thing he saw before he fell into a narcotic induced sleep was Napoleon, glinting in the moonlight. An idea crossed his mind, and he smiled, cold and angry.
Perfect.
Lex drained the last from his bottle of water and leaned back, hoping this meeting was finally at an end. That they were at his father's estate in Metropolis and not at LuthorCorp Plaza said a lot about how his father viewed this deal -- it was personal as hell. It had been hard, pretending for the last seven hours that he hadn't seen the pictures Roger threw at him the other night. That he didn't know his father had fucked her. Was still fucking her?
When the meeting was finally over, when the fate of Hardwick Enterprises was mapped out, Lex piled his papers into his leather briefcase. Not surprisingly, the sale price had been upped slightly since the last report Lex had read. The golden parachutes being offered to the Hardwick executives not being kept on, including two Hardwicks, were impressive. Victoria must have surpassed herself in his father's bed.
Lex was anxious to get back to Smallville, and that thought was strange, but Clark was there, waiting. And that was reason enough to get the hell out of here. But there was one last thing he needed to do. "So, are you sure you don't need my help with the Everon take over?"
His father's head shot up, eyes narrowing behind the wire frames. "How do you know about that?"
"Well, I'd say it was part of my job as Vice-President, but we both know that'd be a joke."
"Everon is a personal matter, Lex. It's nothing for you to be involved in. Or to know about."
Parry. Thrust. "Aren't they all, Dad? Personal, that is."
"This is my business, first and foremost, Lex. Remember that. Don't get involved with things that aren't your concern."
Lex nodded, as if he were agreeing. Turning, he strode for the door. He stopped short and turned to face his father again, trying to keep his manner casual. Lionel had returned to the desk and was cradling a snifter of brandy in his hands. "Did you ever wonder why I called it off with Victoria? The first time."
"I assumed you finally realized she wasn't worthy of you." Lionel's voice had that soft, taunting quality that had never been absent from a conversation since his mother's death.
"Well, I knew that going in, Dad. The sex was good though."
His father picked up his silver pen with one hand and fiddled with it, then put it down, knowing his own tells in this game.
"Do you remember the watch Mom had made for me? The one with the Napoleon franc?"
His father nodded, the long hair swinging. Just another taunt, just one more thing to say, 'you aren't good enough, boy'.
"She told me the story of the David painting, how David had to add Napoleon's mother to it because she didn't attend the ceremony. Victoria was there that day, you know. It was back when we were still planning the wedding. Mom told me to find a book about it." Lex smiled at his father, and pulled his cuff up slightly, showing off the watch, letting the gold glitter in the lights. "Madame Mere refused to go because she hated Josephine more than she loved Napoleon. She didn't see her son crowned Emperor because of the woman by his side."
Lionel was utterly still. Lex could feel the shiv in his mind, sharp and hurtful. Beautiful. He plunged it again.
"I never saw mother hate anyone. Only Victoria. So I called it off. I couldn't do that to Mom, not for someone I was just with for the sex." His father ran a hand through his hair. "Do you miss her?"
"I miss her very much," his father said softly. Lex knew that, at least, was true.
"She'd be glad Victoria is out of our lives for good, don't you think?"
"I'm sure she would be, Lex."
"Time for me to head back. I'll give everyone at the plant your regards."
"You do that."
"Night, Dad."
Lex waited just outside the door until the sound of a very expensive crystal brandy snifter hitting the wall echoed through the hall.
Turning, he met Rosa on her way up the stairs. He silently crowed at his luck.
"Rosa, just the person." Taking her arm, Lex escorted her to the alcove off the main staircase. "Rosa, I'm a little worried about the old man." Smiled inside at her concerned look. "Make sure he doesn't over do it, would you? You'd think he'd rest a bit after taking over Hardwick, but this Everon thing..."
Rosa looked at him blankly, confirming his suspicions. "Everon?"
Lex shifted his eyes and copying his favorite Clarkism -- the 'oops, shouldn't have done that' -- shuffled his feet, just a bit. "Well, maybe he wasn't ready to go public on that one. Just make sure he takes time to breathe, would you?"
Rosa's face cleared quickly, and if he hadn't been looking for it, Lex would have missed the reptilian gleam there. "Of course, Lex. I'd be happy to look out for him."
"I have no doubts you will, Rosa. Thanks." Looking at his watch, Lex frowned. "I need to get back to my little exile. I'll see you later, right?"
"Definitely. It was good to see you."
"You too." Lex turned and started down the steps. Out in the drive, Lex climbed behind the wheel of the Jag. As he pulled out, he looked in the rearview and saw Rosa staring at him. He gave her a little wave, and not waiting to see if she returned it, gunned the engine and flew down the drive.
Lex waited until he was heading out of Metropolis before he grabbed the new, secure cell from his briefcase. He pressed the third autodial button and waited for the call to be picked up. "It's me. I have a new job for your photographer. No, not him. Rosa Klebb. Yes, that's her. Who? Victoria." Lex smiled at the dead silence on the other end of the line and hit the disconnect button.
Setting the cruise control at sixty-five, Lex hit the first autodial button. "Clark? Yeah, just left. Sure, supper sounds good. My food is your food. Hmmm? Just passed the Tyler exit. Eighty-three, then the Five. A few hours. Okay, see you then."
Disconnecting the call, Lex turned on the radio and slowly began to relax as Metropolis disappeared behind him. Fields ready to be planted with wheat and corn blurred by. Lex had unwound a great deal by the time he turned off the interstate and onto the Five.
Traffic was sparse, so when he saw a hitchhiker on the side of the road, he was paying enough attention to hit the brakes. One car laid on the horn and swerved around him, but no one crashed into him.
Standard hitchhiker. Blue jeans, red sweater, and new-looking shearling jacket. Dark hair.
Lex slammed the Jag into reverse and backed up onto the side of the road. He hit the toggle that lowered the front passenger side window as the man walked up.
"Where you headed?" The hitchhiker didn't lean down to the window. Instead, Lex was left talking to his crotch, solid looking flesh under tight jeans.
"Smallville." The hitchhiker finally leaned down, full lips curving in a smile. "There's a castle there..."
Lex unlocked the doors. "Yeah, I know the place. Come on, get in." As his passenger settled in, Lex pulled back out onto the Five. "What's your interest in the castle?"
"The guy who lives there. He's probably had a bad day. I thought I could cheer him up."
"That's mighty nice of you."
"We're nice here in Kansas."
Lex grinned, the rest of his day fading completely. "Superfast, huh?"
"Yep. How was your meeting?"
"The usual torture." Lex hit the accelerator as a large hand slid over his thigh. Set the cruise control at eighty and thanked god for flat, straight, Kansas roads. He saw Clark smile, just a bit evilly, out of the corner of his eye.
"Speaking of torture -- does that castle of yours have a dungeon? There was this website with the coolest stuff..."
Lex drove faster.
© EAS, March, 2002
Disclaimer: All canon based Smallville characters belong to WB and/or DC Comics.
I am making no money, just enjoying playing in the sandbox.
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