SUMMARY: Clark saves Tess from a bus explosion and sparks fly between them. He soon realizes that she's his boss. What happens next? You'll just have to read further to find out.

RATING: PG-13 at first, then...well...you know me. *winks*

SPOILERS: This story takes place in Season 8.

DISCLAIMER: I'm writing this story because I had made a promise to taquitotexano09 that I would write a smutty Cless story. I don't plan on it being a long one - probably not longer than ten chapters, but you never know.

With the exception of I will follow him, all the stories I've written up to now have been about Clois. I'd write a Chlark one, but there are already plenty of excellent stories out there and I honestly don't know what I could come up with at this point. Anyway, it should be interesting writing a Cless story because there aren't too many of them. Now without further adieu, here is the prologue to Fascination.

PROLOGUE

Clark is coming down the staircase that leads to the bullpen of the Daily Planet. He stops on the landing and observes the hustle and bustle that's going on. He sees Lois sitting at her computer; her fingers rapidly flying across the keyboard. She happens to look up and sees him standing there.

"Smallville!" shaking her head as she jumps up from her chair.

He comes down the rest of the way and meets up with her. "Plaid? Are you kidding me?" shaking her head at him. "That may be appropriate farm attire, Farm Boy, but it's not proper Daily Planet attire," grabbing his hand and pulling him along with her.

"Where are we going?" he asks as they walk across the room.

"Here," stopping in front of the phone booth. "You wait right here," letting go of his hand and promptly walking over to a coat rack where a see-through garment bag is hanging. She grabs it and returns to Clark.

"Put this on," shoving it against his chest and pushing him into the booth.

Clark stares at the bag in his hand. Maybe coming to work here is a big mistake, sighing before opening the bag. He quickly changes out of his jeans and flannel shirt and puts on the black pants and deep blue shirt. There's no mirror so he can't see what he looks like, so he opens the door and steps out.

"Well? How do I look?" he asks as he adjusts the cuffs of the shirt.

She turns at the sound of his voice and does a double-take. "Now that is definitely Daily Planet attire," a grin on her face. "I just have to fix this," reaching up and fiddling with his collar when there's a sudden explosion coming from outside; throwing her against his chest and causing him to grip her waist.

"I wonder what that was," pulling away from him and turning around. "Smallville," turning back only to find him nowhere in sight.

Where'd he go? a puzzled look on her face. Probably had to go to the little boys room, a smirk on her face as she grabs a notepad and pencil off a nearby desk and heads for the nearest window.

Clark runs over to the overturned bus and pulls off the door and steps inside. He looks around and sees a red-headed woman dressed in a white suit sprawled across one of the seats. He quickly goes over to her and finds her unconscious. He x-rays her first to make sure there isn't anything broken, then carefully lifts her up into his arms.

He steps out of the bus and is walking towards the ambulance when she slowly opens her eyes and stares up at him. He glances down at her for a moment, then looks straight ahead. But something compels him to look back down again; their eyes locking on each others.

"Are you okay?" he asks in a slightly nervous tone as he continues walking. She has the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen.

"I'm okay now," smiling up at him. Is it possible to think a man is beautiful?

He can't tear his eyes away from her face. There's just something about the way her eyes sparkle that fascinates him. "I'm happy to hear that," smiling back at her as they finally reach the ambulance.

The EMT pulls out a gurney and Clark sets her down on it. "You're going to be okay."

"Tess," holding out her hand.

He takes her hand; his fingers interlocking with hers. "That's a beautiful name," smiling at her. After a moment, he lets go of her hand and turns to walk away.

"You didn't say your name," she calls out after him. "What should I call you?"

He turns back around. "A friend," winking at her as he walks away.

She continues watching him until he disappears into the crowd. I will find out who he is, she thinks to herself.

Clark takes his time heading back to the Planet. He can't stop thinking about the woman he just aided. For the first time in a long time, he was feeling a physical attraction to a woman that wasn't Lana.

He was lost in thought as he was heading for his desk when Lois stops him. "Where did you disappear to?" she asks.

He gives himself a mental shake and looks up. "Huh?"

She looks at him curiously. "Think, Smallville, think," tapping him on the forehead with her fist.

"Stop that," pushing her fist away. "If you must know, I went over to the scene of the explosion to see if I could find out anything," he replies.

"I can see that," eyeing the smudges of dirt on his shirt. "You better clean yourself up before Ms. Mercer sees you looking like that."

"Ms. Mercer?" a curious look on her face.

"That's right," she replies. "She's the new CEO of the Daily Planet."

He's about to answer when a man comes up to them. "Ms. Mercer wants to see you."

"That's great," Lois stepping forward. "I've been looking forward to finally meeting her."

"Not you, Ms. Lane," turning to Clark.

She stares back at him with surprise. "She wants to see you?" she says incredulously.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" his eyes narrowing. "Are you jealous that she wants to meet me first?" arching an eyebrow.

"I don't get jealous," scoffing at the notion.

"Right," rolling his eyes.

"She wants to see you now, Mr. Kent," the man speaking up.

"I'm coming," following him down the hall. "Don't get into any trouble while I'm gone," briefly looking over his shoulder at Lois.

They arrive at the CEO's office. "You can go right in, Mr. Kent."

"Thank you," opening the door and stepping inside. "Ms. Mercer?" noticing a red-headed woman standing in front of the window. She turns around to face him. "Mr. Kent?" her eyes widening.

He stares at her in shock. "Tess?"

TO BE CONTINUED...

Fascination - Nat King Cole

It was fascination, I know
And it might have ended, at the start
A passing glance, a brief romance
And I might have gone, on my way, empty-hearted, empty-hearted

It was fascination, I know
Seeing you under, the moonlight above, baby
And I touch your hand, and I kiss you
and fascination, turned to love, baby

My fascination, turned to love, oh baby, yeah
My fascination girl, ooh, turned to love

Fascination, I know
And it might have ended, at the start
A passing glance, a brief romance
And I might have gone on my way empty-hearted

Fascination, oh and I know, I know babe
Seeing you under, under the moonlight, moonlight above
Baby I, I touch your hand
Oh And I kiss you baby
Oh girl

And my, my fascination, my fascination
Turned to love
Fascination oh, my, my, my fascination girl
Turned to love
My fascination turned to love
Fascination