Chlark/Kaloe Fanfic: Temptress, Chapter 17
Back with an update, yay! It's a bit short, but...*shrugs*
I'm going to eat humble pie here and beg to complete this in *hangs head* 20 chapters. I'm having trouble keeping it short, but as long as you all enjoy reading it, I have no problem writing it!
Also, I am woefully behind on all your lovely comments, but I will get around to it, I promise!
In the meantime...enjoy! :-)
Banner by
m_strangchild. You rock, Miranda!
Title: Temptress
Author: BabyDee
Pairing: Chlark/Kaloe
Rating: PG13 (this chapter; fic is rated NC-17)
Warnings: None
Timeline: Season 4 (after Spell)
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Summary: Clark buys Chloe some perfume as a pressie. But the red tint of the scent wasn’t gotten from rose petals. Oops.
Feedback: Lots and lots of it. J
Read previous chapter here.
Read story from the beginning here.
Chapter 17
“My perfume?” Chloe echoed.
“Yeah, but what’s weird is-”
“My perfume? Temptress? You’re telling me that thing’s bottled here in Smallville?” she said incredulously.
“There’s no need to be all shocked and shaken about it,” he retorted. “You seemed to like it fine before you knew.”
She shook her head. “You misunderstand me, Clark. I wasn’t dissing you, I’m just…surprised,” she said. “It’s a really nice scent, I love it. I could have sworn it was designed in Paris, or something.”
He smiled. “As soon as I smelled it, I knew it would suit you.”
“So you tested it?” she queried.
He nodded.
“And did you have a reaction to it then?”
He shook his head emphatically. “No, and that’s where I’m drawing a blank. When I tested it in the shop, there was nothing untoward about it, but as soon as I smelled it on you, I just…” he sighed. “…I lost control.”
“I’d just reapplied it when you got to Bar Salsa,” she murmured. “And I sprayed some on again when I was at the Farm, so you may be on to something.”
“I’m convinced it’s the trigger,” he said, “but that doesn’t explain why I didn’t react to it in the first place.”
Her brows drew together in a concentrated frown, and he saw the little crease between them which he adored. “Could it be a combination of the perfume and natural body oils?” she asked.
He considered it, but wasn’t convinced. “RedK doesn’t need any other catalysts to work, Chloe. It just…is.”
“So we’re back to you just being a horny, obnoxious bastard when you’re using,” she said, her voice a touch sharpish.
He darkened. “Stop saying that, Chloe,” he said in a low voice. “It’s not something I had any control over, so stop acting liked I shoved a needle in my vein.”
She mellowed. “I’m sorry, Clark,” she said, contrite. I’ll stop saying that. I know you didn’t mean for any of what happened to happen.”
He focused his gaze on her. “Funny thing is, in a weird way…I think I kind of did.”
Chloe blinked. “Okay now you’ve lost me,” she said at last. “First it’s all a complete accident, now you’re saying you meant to get all high and seduce me? Which is it, Clark?”
Okay, this is it. His heart pounded furiously and he felt his palms grow damp with sweat. He swallowed, then lifted his gaze to hers and spoke.
“I didn’t plan on getting affected by the RedK, but I’ve - I’ve thought about taking you to bed before.”
Chloe stared at him in disbelief, then shook her head vehemently.
“I don’t believe you,” she said flatly. “If that were true, you’d have jumped at the chance to have sex with me when I accosted you in the barn and climbed into your lap wearing nothing but your football jersey.”
Good point, but one for which he had a sure rebuttal. “Chloe, there are several reasons why I turned you down at the time, but as I’m sure you noticed that day, a lack of arousal wasn’t one of them.”
Chloe blushed scarlet and averted her gaze. “So you got a stiffie,” she said, shrugging dismissively. “Any heterosexual male would with a half-naked woman writhing in their lap.”
He sighed. Chloe was determined to trivialise this. Well, he wasn’t going to let her, not this time.
“Chloe, I didn’t make love to you that day because one: you were obviously affected by something, and I would have been taking advantage of you. Two: I’d promised myself I’d never get truly intimate with anyone unless I’d trusted her with my secret first. Three: up until yesterday, I had no way of knowing if I’d even be able to have sex with anyone without hurting them.”
Her eyed widened like little saucers. “So you’re saying yesterday was…was your first time?” she whispered.
He nodded.
She smiled impishly. “Veering off topic here for a second, but…damn, you’re good.”
He grinned, his face heating at her glowing praise. “Thanks.”
“Okay, back on topic, now: there’s still the issue of the fact that you did get busy with me without telling me your secret,” she said quietly, “which proves that you would have had sex with anyone who was wearing Temptress.”
“Chloe, you couldn’t be more wrong,” he said confidently. “I was under the influence of Temptress when I walked in here, wouldn’t you agree?”
She nodded. “Clearly yes, but I’m not…wearing it…” she trailed off, curious.
“Exactly,” he said emphatically. “But who was?”
Her eyes widened and she stared at him. “Lois,” she breathed.
He nodded. “I got a whiff of it when she tried to whack me.”
She swallowed. “So what happened?” she asked nervously.
He smiled smugly. “I told her I’d kick her ass if she ever interfered in my business again, and then I made a beeline for you.”
“Really?” she laughed. “I can’t imagine she was too pleased at that. If her date hasn’t caught up with her, she’s probably on her way back here, though.”
“And I’m pretty sure she’s not,” he countered. He dug his hands into his pocket and emerged with her keys, which he jangled in front of her.
“My car keys!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands over her cheeks.
“I didn’t want her following me,” he said sheepishly. “She’s trapped at the farm till Mom gets home, unfortunately.”
She laughed. “I wouldn’t worry too much; her white knight’s on his way over there as we speak.”
“Pardon me?”
She waved her hand. “Long story. So…you came straight here, hoping for an uninterrupted booty call?”
“Chloe…” he sighed.
She shrugged. “I call it like I see it, Clark.”
“Then you’re not seeing the whole picture.”
She folded her arms. “No? Care to enlighten me, then?”
“The thing is…” he paused, gathering every scrap of courage that existed in him.
“Yeah?” she prodded.
Just say it, he told himself. Get it out there.
“I think I’m in love with you,” he blurted.
***
Chapter 18…