Such big, strong hands.

Hands that were skimming her body with a gentleness and reverence that she'd never experienced with anyone before and certainly never thought she'd experience with him.

At the same time, his warm lips were kissing her in places that she hadn't realized were so sensitive and tuning her body so that it was in sync with his. He was making it abundantly clear what it was that he wanted, but he also made it clear that he wouldn't proceed until she told him it was all right.

The thing of it was, she knew what she wanted and who she wanted was him.

"Lois?"

Go away!

"Lois, you need to wake up."

Smallville.

"Come on Lois, you can't sleep at your desk," His soft voice was insistent that she wake and all she wanted him to do was leave her alone so she could stay with the feel of those hands.

She started and then her eyes flew open at the feel of a hand on hers, only to see Clark crouched in front of her, a look of concern on his face.

Now he decides to be concerned?

He'd only been Mr. Distant since he'd come back from wherever the hell he'd disappeared to and not told anyone.

"How long have you been here?" The worry in his beautiful blue eyes made her heart hitch and she had to give herself a stern talking to about that.

'He's not interested, Lois.' She chided herself. 'The hold Lana has on him is too strong.'

"Lois, how long have you been here?" Typical Smallville, he wouldn't let it go.

"I don't know." She felt her face warm at the way his hand felt on hers and she pulled it free as she sat up. "I was waiting."

"Waiting for what?" She swore she saw a look of hurt cross his face as she put some distance between them and then had to look away; it wasn't fair how handsome he was. Maturity and his increasing confidence as a reporter had made him nearly irresistible but she had to resist, because he didn't want her.

"The Blur." She admitted and her heart tripped for an entirely different reason.

"You fell asleep at your desk because of him?" He stood up and shoved his hands in in his pockets, a stormy look on his face. "Him ?"

"What's it to you?" She ran her hands through her hair, trying to get it into some semblance of order and his face flushed as he followed her actions.

'His face did not just flush. You're imagining things.'

"Lois, you've never even met the guy." He took a deep breath and frowned at her. "All he is, is a voice on the phone. You have no idea who he is, or what he's like."

"He's a hero Clark." Lois stood up and put her hands on her hips. His attitude was getting on her nerves and she needed to put him in his place. "He's dedicated his life to helping the people of Metropolis without asking for anything in return."

"If he's such a hero, why hasn't he met you face to face?" He pulled his hands out of his pockets and folded his arms across his chest, challenging her. "Instead of hiding behind a phone."

Wide chest, trim hips, flat stomach. Lois!

"As a matter of fact, I went to meet him." She told him. "But he never made it."

"Was that the reason you left the hospital?" He was really agitated and it was ticking her off. "You were supposed to stay overnight for observation, Lois. Did you forget that you had a concussion, again ?"

"Very funny." She gave him a humorless smile. "And why do you care anyway?"

"Because you're my friend." His face flushed again and he looked down at the floor. "And I care what happens to you." His eyes came back up and met hers. "I thought you knew that."

God, he was so handsome.

"Yeah well, if you cared so much about me, why did you decide to go AWOL when Chloe really needed you?" Stupid puppy dog eyes. "That psycho medic kills Jimmy and you suddenly decide to leave and do what, find yourself?"

"It was something I needed to do." He was being evasive, again, and she hated that. He'd done it to her the night all hell broke loose and in her worry to find her cousin, he'd shut her down.

What was it that she'd said to him?

'Another ricochet off the impenetrable force field.'

When had he become so damn stubborn? And when had it started to matter so much?

"You're supposed to be Chloe's best friend." Lois admonished him, noting that their conversation had begun to attract attention. "And you left her."

"And you left me." He replied quietly and his eyes skittered down again.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Never mind." He shook his head.

"Don't do that." She reached out, grabbed his arm and he flinched at her touch.

Great. He couldn't even tolerate her touching him.

"Lane, Kent." Tess's assistant was standing in the doorway. "Miss Mercer wants to see the two of you. Now."

'Tess Mercer can kiss my a-' The rebellious reply bubbled up in her throat until a firm hand closed around her wrist and the shake of a dark head dissuaded her.

He knew her better than she thought he did.

"We'll be there in a minute." Clark refused to relinquish his hold as he turned toward the impatient assistant. "Lois and I need to finish something."

"She's not going to like it." He gave them a condescending look that made Lois want to smack it off.

"She can wait." Clark wouldn't budge and Lois felt her heart flutter because she'd never seen him so decisive, or resolute. "This can't."

It was a standoff between the two men as each waited for the other to back down. And after a moment, Tess's flunky flashed a look of contempt at the both of them, turned on his heel and headed toward the elevator.

"Clark." She tugged against his hold, but his grip remained firm. "You could lose your job."

"I don't think so." He shook his head and Lois got the oddest feeling that his mind had wandered somewhere else.

"Clark." She addressed him again, with more force. "I'd rather not lose my job, again."

"You won't lose your job Lois." His voice was soft as he turned back to face her and when he smiled at her, Lois's knees began to shake. "Tess isn't going to fire the best reporter she's got. Besides, if she tried Oliver would just override her."

"Ollie?"

"Queen Industries has controlling interest in LuthorCorp, which includes The Daily Planet ." He nodded. "So that means-"

"He's our boss?"

"Not exactly." His eyes moved down and she wondered why until her own eyes followed and she saw that he'd slipped his hand around hers.

How was it that she hadn't even noticed?

It was too much like the night they'd danced at Chloe and Jimmy's wedding and she tugged again; he still wouldn't let go. Lois felt her breath shallow as he ran a thumb across her knuckles and his voice got husky. "Do you ever wonder what might have happened if we'd-"

Was he having regrets about that?

"It's a moot point." She wasn't going to let him pull her into a game of 'What If' and cut him off. "Things happened."

"Does it have to be?" He caught her eye again and her knees threatened to give way. "A moot point?"

She felt the tears in her eyes and when she pulled again, he let her go. She blinked a few times to clear her vision and took a short breath. He was not going to do this to her. "I don't know about you, but I'd rather not keep the Dragon Lady waiting."

She stepped away from him and walked toward the elevator. When she pressed the call button, Lois suddenly became aware of his body that was so close she could feel his warmth. He wasn't touching her, but she could feel the faint brush of his chest against her back as he breathed. "Lois, I'm sorry."

The doors opened and after she walked in, realized that there was no way that she could ride up to Tess's office with him. So after he'd stepped in behind her, she turned around and stepped out. "I'm taking the stairs."

"Do you know how far that is?" He asked as the doors closed, but didn't stop them.

"A lot shorter than riding up there with you." She whispered as she took in a deep breath; it felt as though she'd just dodged a bullet.

As she took the stairs up to the first floor, Lois wondered what it was that Tess Mercer wanted from them.

All she knew was that it couldn't be good.

TBC