Title: Tempted
Author: BabyDee
Pairing: Chlark
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Kinky sex (later on)
Timeline: Futurefic (sequel to Temptress & Temptation)
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Summary: Clark decides to be the one in control, for once.
Feedback: Oh yeah, right there. :-)
Tempted
Chapter 1
Clark sat at his desk in the Daily Planet office, his gaze on his girlfriend as she strode busily from one end of the bullpen to the other. They’d both recently been promoted out of the basement, and Chloe was determined to make a name for herself at the paper. Nothing new there; she’d dreamed of working at the Daily Planet for as long as she’d been old enough to hold a pencil. So, not surprisingly, she was working on several different stories at once and not allowing herself a moment’s peace.
That was the bit that concerned him. Chloe was so focused on building her career that her personal life - their personal life - had taken a backseat to work. That wasn’t to say they never had sex anymore; they did, and fairly often to boot. But quantity didn’t equal quality, and sex between them these days just wasn’t what it once was.
They’d been dating for five years now, and within the last year, either consciously or unconsciously, Chloe had started treating sex like some kind of chore. He’d be teasing her, sucking on her nipples or caressing her clit, and she’d reach for him, stroke him a few times and then climb on for the ride. She’d climax, fall asleep almost immediately and then be up at five‑thirty the following morning, ready to take on the world of journalism, cup of coffee by her side. She was determined to be in control of everything, including lovemaking.
He sighed, watching as she came out of Perry White’s office, a smug smile on her face as he congratulated her on handing in her second front page article of the day. It had become her personal mission to grace the front pages of both the early and the evening editions of the paper, and so far, she’d succeeded every day for the past two weeks. Worse, she never even stopped to bask in the glory of any of the articles she handed in; it was ‘wham, bam, on to the next, and ain’t no stopping for no red lights on the road to the Pulitzer’.
He shook his head. Just like with sex, she’d become so focused on the destination that she wasn’t paying any attention to the journey. Which irked him greatly, because he was a huge fan of the journey, especially when it came to sex with Chloe.
So when Chloe breezed past him - voice recorder in one hand, cup of coffee in the other - and dropped a quick kiss on his forehead on her way out the door to chase the next big lead, he frowned and decided that something had to be done. Somehow, he had to wrest the reins of control from her and just get the girl to slow down before she burnt herself out. After all, years ago she’d given him a lesson in maintaining a balance in life some years back when he’d had too much on his plate, and he’d praised her for it.
He tapped his pencil on the top of a writing pad thoughtfully. Maybe it was time he returned the favour. He’d get her to stop and smell the roses even if he had to tie her down to do it.
Smiling, he linked his hands behind his head as he formulated a plan.
***
“It was really nice of the Chief to let you come along with me to cover the Merloni corruption story,” Chloe said as they checked into their hotel room in the Barbados beach resort. She smiled and winked at him, leaning forward to conspiratorially whisper, “…not that you wouldn’t have found a way to come along anyway, given your very special skills set.”
Clark grinned to himself as he collected the keycard from the receptionist and guided Chloe towards the elevator. “I guess it makes sense to send us together, since he knows we’re dating.”
“On the contrary, all the more reason for him not to send us,” she pointed out as they rode up in the elevator. “Any other couple would likely to get distracted and not get any work done. It’s a good thing we’re both professionals first, and Perry knows that.”
Clark smiled wryly. Chloe was far worse gone than he’d realised if she could be on one of the most romantic tropical islands in the world, and still only think of work.
The elevator pinged softly as it came to a stop, and they stepped out when the doors slid open. Chloe took three steps along the corridor and then came to a sudden stop.
“We’re on the top floor,” she observed, a curious frown creasing her brow.
Clark made a show of looking around. “So we are,” he said lamely.
She turned and eyed him suspiciously. “Why would Perry pay for a room for us on the top floor?”
Damn it, nothing got past her. Chloe was nothing if not perceptive.
He shrugged. “Maybe he wanted us to keep a close eye on Merloni before the trial begins,” hedged. “He’s probably staying here.”
“Really? I didn’t know that.” She breezed past him and walked down the corridor till she got to the door that had the corresponding number engraved on their keycard. Clark slotted the card in the gap and the door beeped and opened, and he stepped aside for Chloe to enter.
“Ever the gentleman,” she teased as she stepped inside. She took a few steps forward and gaped in surprised shock.
“Oh, my…wow,” she breathed at the beauty and opulence spread before her.
The room was clearly one of the hotel’s honeymoon suites. It was tastefully decorated in cream and gold, with enough touches of red to render it a bonafide love nest. Crimson silk sheets adorned the regal, four-poster bed, on top of which sat a heartshaped box of Godiva chocolates.
Clark smiled to himself as Chloe walked over to the centre table upon which rested a large basket of freshly picked tropical and summer fruits, with a card nestled in the centre that read ‘Compliments of The Majestic’. There was also a large bottle of champagne nestled in a bucket of ice with an identical complimentary card attached.
It was also clearly way out of the Daily Planet’s approved budget for staff hotel rooms, and from the look in Chloe’s eyes as she fixed her gaze on him, that little fact hadn’t escaped her notice.
She turned to him, folded her arms across her breasts and stared him down. It was amazing how intimidating she managed to look for such a tiny woman.
“Okay, Clark. What’s going on?” she said sternly, tapping her foot.
“Now, Chloe…” he began carefully.
“Don’t ‘now, Chloe’ me, mister, I’m not in the mood for games,” she said, resting her hands on her hips and stalking him. “Why are we standing in the middle of what is clearly a honeymoon suite which was definitely not picked up by the Daily Planet’s tab? Hmm?”
He closed his eyes and sighed. “Chloe, do you know what day today is?”
She looked at him as if he’d sprouted horns. “What kind of question is that? It’s Thursday, the day before Merloni’s very public trial kicks off. What I want to know is why we’re surrounded by flowers and chocolates when we should be preparing for tomorrow’s big showdown.”
Disappointment was clear in his eyes. “You’ve totally forgotten, haven’t you?” he said, sadness tingeing his voice.
She raised her hands and one eyebrow. “Forgotten what, Clark?”
“It’s been five years to the day since we first got together,” he said softly.
Chloe eyes widened before her lashes drifted shut and she dropped her head into her palm. “Oh my gosh, Clark, I’m so sorry. I don’t know how I could have forgotten.”
“I do,” he said seriously. “You’ve been working too hard.”
“No I haven’t!” she said defensively.
“You’ve been working your fingers to the bone, Chloe, and everyone’s noticed. How could they not? Your name’s been on the front pages of the Planet ever since we got moved out of the basement.”
“You’re saying that like it’s a bad thing!” she said accusingly.
“It is when you forget your Anniversary,” he said gently. He led her to sit on the end of the bed and took her hands in his. “I love you Chloe, and I’m so proud of everything you’ve achieved, and what you’re yet to achieve…but I don’t want you to attain professional success at the expense of everything else.”
She sighed heavily. “So we’re not here for the Merloni trial?” she asked in a small voice.
He shook his head. “No. Perry has Karl and Simone covering that story.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she looked totally defeated. “Don’t think I don’t appreciate all this, Clark, because I do, but…” she sighed again and ran a hand through her hair. “I really wanted to cover this case, you know? And the Chief handpicked me specially to cover it.”
“The Chief thinks you’re running yourself into an early grave, and ordered me to take you somewhere nice for our Anniversary,” he corrected.
“He’s a fine one to talk,” Chloe grumbled. “He didn’t get where he is today by going to tropical holiday resorts for dirty weekends.”
“Maybe if he’d taken time out for himself every now and then, he wouldn’t be fifty-five and alone with two alimony payments to fork out each month,” Clark pointed out. “I meant what I said, Chloe. Perry sees a lot of himself in you, and ordered me to make you slow down before work takes over your life.”
“Okay, I know I may be a little work obsessive,” she confessed, “but you know what working at the Daily Planet means to me, Clark. What it’s always meant to me.”
He rubbed his thumb over her fingers. “I know that more than anyone, Chloe, but you need to slice back on work a little,” he chided. “I bet you don’t even taste your coffee anymore.”
“That’s not true!” she said heatedly.
“Oh, no?” He folded his arms and stared at her. “What did I order for you on the plane a few hours ago?”
She opened her mouth to reply, but remained silent, a tell-tale blush creeping over her cheeks.
“It was a caramel macchiato, with extra chocolate,” he said softly.
She hung her head. “Oops. I really have been burning the candle at both ends, haven’t I?” she said sheepishly.
He nodded. “Yep.”
“I’m sorry, Clark. How can I make it up to you?” she said contritely, placing a hand on his chest.
He smiled and stood, holding her hands and lifting her to her feet. “You can start by popping into the very opulent bathroom and taking a nice, relaxing shower,” he said. He turned her around and pushed her shoulders all the way to the en suite bathroom, then patted her lightly on the butt. “Let me know when you’re done.”
***
While Chloe was having her shower, Clark busied himself with sorting out the fruit in the basket. He sliced the mangoes into large wedges, cubed the pineapple and washed the strawberries, leaving those whole. He grinned to himself as thought of all the fun they’d have with them later, and waited patiently for Chloe to shut the water off and emerge from the bathroom.
When five minutes later she hadn’t stepped out, he frowned. Chloe never spent more than five minutes in the shower; it was pretty much a rule. Furtively he narrowed his eyes and x-rayed the shower door.
As expected, the shower was still on. But Chloe wasn’t in it. She’d long since finished and had slipped into a complimentary light blue silk robe, and was leaning against the wall, talking animatedly on her cellphone.
He clenched his fists. Typical. He should have known Chloe wouldn’t give in that easily. She’d kept the shower running as she was doubtless on the phone to Perry, trying to wheedle a way to still cover the Merloni trial.
Tilting his head, he activated his superhearing, and what he heard confirmed his suspicions.
“How could you do this to me, Chief?” she whined plaintively into the handset. “Having the Merloni trial in my backyard and not being able to cover it is tantamount to torture in my book.”
“Give it up, Sullivan,” he heard Perry bark down the line. “Yes, you are my star reporter, but you’re also a human being and you’re in desperate need of a break. Karl and Simone are more than happy to run with this one, and I have no doubt they’ll do a stellar job.”
“Please,” Chloe scoffed. “I can write circles around Simone, and you know it. Come on, Chief. Just let me -”
“Not a chance,” he said bluntly. “It’s yours and Clark’s fifth Anniversary, isn’t it?”
She shrugged. “It’s no big deal. He won’t mind if we spend it together working.”
His jaw dropped at her flippant tone. Oh, no she didn’t.
Grim-faced, he whooshed in and out of the bathroom in superspeed and waited for the results of his actions to sink in.
“What the -?! Clark!!!” she yelled three seconds later.
He stood with folded arms as she emerged from the bathroom with the world’s biggest scowl on her face. “Where’s my phone?” she demanded.
“It’s in a safe place,” he smirked.
“Gimme it back!” she snarled, bristling.
“Not on your life. Besides, it’s in fifteen different pieces all hidden in fifteen different places, so good luck with that.”
“You can’t do this!” she screeched. “Clark, I need to be at that trial tomorrow!”
He shook his head. “Listen to yourself, Chloe. You’re a work addict.”
“Oh, so because I choose to put my best foot forward professionally, I’m an addict, now?” she challenged him.
“It’s our Anniversary, Chloe!” he bellowed. “How could you stand there and say that it was no big deal?”
Her eyed widened. “Oh, is that what all this is about?” she said incredulously. “Don’t take it so personal. There’ll be other anniversaries, Clark, and this trial isn’t going to wait for me while I finish boffing my boyfriend.”
He flinched, her careless words stinging as surely as if she’d blown kryptonite dust in his face. He clenched his fists in determination.
“Right. That does it.” He strode over to her, spun her round and yanked her up against him so that her back was plastered to his front.
“I didn’t want to have to do to this, but you really leave me no choice,” he whispered grimly in her ear as he dug around in his pocket with his other hand.
She craned her neck and looked at him questioningly. “Do what?” she asked breathlessly.
He raised his free hand in front of her face, in which he held a bottle. “This.”
And before she could react, he sprayed Temptress liberally all over her exposed throat.
***
Chapter 2…