Thanks to all who've read, favorited, followed, and reviewed. Means a lot to me.
For the person who asked who I think Will looks like, I picture the devilishly handsome Brett Tucker, also known as Scotland Yard's Inspector Colin Hunt from Castle's season four episode "The Limey." He's quite yummy. Also, if you're not a Castle fan, I urge you to check the show out. It just recently went off air, but its eight season run was wonderful. It became an obsession for me after Smallville.
Oh, and one more note; the timeline of the show isn't exactly the same for this story. I'm setting this about halfway through season nine, but Chlollie is established and Lois and Clark have been best friends since his start at the Daily Planet. Obviously there are feelings between the two, everyone knows it, but they hadn't admitted it to themselves until the start of this story.
Okay, read on.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own.
It was like a switch had been flipped overnight. One day Clark was just her best friend—the person always beside her, supporting her, comforting her. Then the next, he was so much more than that. Maybe he always was.
Lois sighed and turned over in her bed, now staring at the ceiling. How did this happen, she thought. It's not that having feelings for Clark was a bad thing. Just the opposite, in fact. After all, Clark was the best man that she knew and any woman would be lucky to call him hers. However, just because her friends say that he was into her does not make it true. And even if it was, nothing could happen between them, could it? It couldn't be worth losing their friendship over, right?
Lois couldn't imagine a life without Clark in it. She wouldn't know how to function; it would be like losing her left arm. So, it was decided, then, Lois thought. Nothing could happen between them.
She threw the covers off her body and climbed out of bed, getting ready for the day ahead. After a quick shower—or what classified as quick for Lois—and a coffee downstairs in the Talon, Lois was on her way to the Planet. When she arrived, Clark was already at his desk, causing her to pause at the entryway. All of a sudden, seeing him elicited butterflies in her stomach and an extra thump per second of her heart. Her palms were growing sweaty and warmth radiated throughout her being at the mere sight of him!
Oh, God. What was happening to her?
As if he felt her stare, he looked up, his eyes catching hers instantly. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt cemented to the floor. He looked so good in his dark purple shirt and black slacks. Get a grip, Lane, she scolded herself. It's just Clark. Steadying her heartrate and squaring her shoulders, she made her way to her desk.
"Hi, Lois," Clark greeted, somewhat apprehensively. His voice was soft and held a note of anxiety. This confused her.
"Hey, Smallville." She glanced at the clutter atop his desk. "Looks like things are bustling already. Busy morning?" He quickly started scooping up the papers and stuffing them into a file folder. "Ooh! Are you working on a hot story?" She shot around their desks to peer over his shoulder. "Come on, I've got nothing right now. Give me something I can sink my teeth into."
"No, Lois. It's not a hot story. It's just some research on a…personal project." Clark stood up with his hand flat against the folder, Lois's fingers fiddling with the edge of it, and turned to face her only to find her closer than he expected. They were practically chest-to-chest and she was staring up at him with those wide hazel eyes.
"Is it a 'Blur' project?" she whispered, glancing around the busy bullpen.
Ever since Lois's ill-fated trip to the future put things into perspective for Clark, he'd been open with her about his secret. He'd come back from his isolation and returned to the Daily Planet to see Lois sitting there staring at his name plate. Then when she leapt from her chair and wrapped her arms around him, he knew he had to be honest with her.
And he was so glad he did. She took it all in stride—with a million questions, of course—but in the end, it was one of the best decisions he'd ever made. He always knew that he could trust her with his secret, even if she didn't think she could trust herself.
"No, Lois," he smiled softly. "It's not 'Blur' related."
"Then what is it?"
"It's…not something I'm ready to share," he answered. "Yet."
Lois clicked her tongue. "Okay, fine. Don't share with me. Next time, I won't share with you." She walked back over to her desk.
"You never share with me," he retorted.
"I share sometimes! Not my fault you can't keep up most of the time."
Clark shook his head, a smile on his lips. "Whatever, Lois."
She sat down at her computer and began to throw herself into her work, probably searching for her next story. Clark watched her for a moment, taking in the beauty that was Lois Lane. He always considered her attractive, there was no doubt about that. But now it seemed to affect him. Especially today. She had on an ivory short-sleeved blouse, with an attached black necktie, tucked into a black pencil skirt that stopped just about the knee and had an accommodating slit in the back. She also wore black stiletto pumps which made her toned legs look extensive and her long dark hair was styled in waves down her back.
She was simply stunning today. Like she was every day, if he was honest with himself.
"I know I'm super interesting, Smallville, but your staring is a bit off putting." Her eyes never left her computer screen.
"Lois, come over tonight," he blurted out. Her gaze snapped to his face, surprise in her features. He rounded his desk to stand beside hers. "I could make Mom's lasagna and we could have a movie marathon. I mean, it's Friday and we don't have to be in the office tomorrow. Come hang out on the farm tonight."
It's something they've done numerous times before. Hell, sometimes she'd just show up at his door and start setting up without warning him. So why shouldn't tonight be the same?
Because you're starting to look at Clark differently, she thought wryly. Thanks to her good for nothing friends.
"Lois?"
Her eyes flicked back up to his face; his handsome, nervous-looking face. "Uh, um, yeah. Sure, I can come over tonight, as long as I get to pick the movies."
"First movie."
"All movies," she stated firmly.
He sighed, rolling his eyes. "Fine." But on the inside, he was ecstatic.
Lois grinned triumphantly before turning her attention back to her computer.
(((o)))
Around six that afternoon, Lois was pulling into the driveway of the Kent farm. She tried to berate her racing heart, demanding that the stupid muscle stop galloping in her chest at the thought of spending time with Clark that evening. She'd spent countless hours on the farm before, never without heart palpitations and tonight would be no different. She rolled her eyes and squared her shoulders. Show time.
Clark was just coming out of the barn when Lois drove up. He paused just inside the entryway and watched her, his heart beating a mile a minute. Just the sight of her had his blood warming. She was just incredible. How did he not notice it before?
Good looking Brits weren't staking claim before.
So, it took seeing Lois touch and flirt with another man to open his eyes. He wanted her and no other man should touch her. Man, if Lois ever heard that…
"Hey, Smallville! Are you on pause?"
He blinked out of his stupor and caught her standing by her car in the same outfit she was wearing at the Planet earlier and she had a gym bag in her hand. "Hey, Lois." He walked over to her. "What's in the bag?"
"Oh, some clothes. I didn't get a chance to stop by the Talon after work, so I thought I'd take a shower here before dinner," She answered. "This outfit isn't really appropriate for movie night."
Clark ran his eyes down the length of her body, taking in her outfit once more. Absentmindedly licking his lips, he couldn't help thinking how delicious she looked. Then, he quickly snapped out of it. This was Lois! She would bite his head off for thinking that.
He cleared his throat. "Yeah, okay. Go ahead. Dinner won't be ready for another hour or so, anyway."
She nodded and gave him a quick punch to the shoulder before turning toward the house. On her way onto the porch, she replayed the look on Clark's face when he eyed her clothes. The look was almost…hungry. Her body warmed under his perusing gaze, even if the look lasted a few seconds. It was enough to start a slow burning feeling in her lower belly. She had to get away from him and get her hormones in check. Almost two years without sex has made her crazy, but what was even crazier was that now she was yearning for her best friend! Sure, she'd always known that Clark was a gorgeous man, but she never thought of him in that way, not really. She'd entertained brief fantasies here and there over the years, but nothing that made her heart race and her belly stir and her sex ache.
Jeez, it was like when she finally acknowledged her feelings for Clark, the floodgates opened. Just the thought of him drove her mad, only not in the way it had before. Now it wasn't with aggravation, it was with desire. And oh, was he desirable!
God, help her.
Clark had just slid the lasagna into the oven and turned the timer on. Then he hunched over the kitchen sink, his head hanging. He was more than excited to be spending the evening with Lois, but it's like he can't even look at her without his blood heating up. It seemed as though once he'd become honest with himself about what he truly felt for Lois, all he can think of was being with her, all of her.
That'll never happen, though. Lois didn't see him in that way. She was his best friend and he was hers. She was always very clear about that. What would a woman like Lois see in him, anyway?
Clark sighed and lifted his head, catching his image in the glass pane of the window. "She'll never want you," he muttered coldly to his reflection.
"Who will never want you?"
He whipped around and caught view of Lois standing at the foot of the stairs, clad in a blue flannel of his and he could see a hint of a pair of shorts below the hem of the shirt. She was roughly drying her hair with a towel. God, could she be any more beautiful?
"Still getting lost in Lana land, are we?" she teased playfully, but he thought he saw something contradicting flicker over her irises. He could've been mistaken, though.
"No," he answered. "It's, uh, actually something else."
She smirked. "You mean someone else."
He smiled nervously in answer and she walked over to the island and placed her damp towel on a stool.
"Well? Who is it? Do I know her?"
Clark's heart leapt. "No. No, you don't know her."
Lois pursed her lips. "Come on, Smallville. Spill. Who is she?"
"What does it matter? Nothing's going to happen."
"Why not?"
Clark sighed and glanced at the oven. "The lasagna will be done in about a half hour. Do you want to start the first movie now or wait until we can eat?"
"I want you to answer my question."
"Lois," he said, exasperated. She stared at him expectantly. "Nothing is going to happen because she doesn't see me that way, okay?"
"How do you know? Did you ask her?"
"Why do you care?"
"You're my best friend, Clark. I care about your happiness. Why haven't you told me about her before?"
Clark was getting more and more uncomfortable as the conversation went on. "It's…a recent discovery of my feelings."
"Who's the girl, Clark?"
He shook his head. "I don't want to talk about this anymore. It doesn't matter who she is. Nothing's going to happen. I'm gonna set up the first movie." He moved into the living room and popped open the DVD case.
Lois stared at him as he got the movie set up. Was he talking about her? Is that why he wouldn't say who the girl was? Given his behavior at the bar the other night when Will showed up and what her friends told her and then the hungry look he had given her earlier in the day, she couldn't help but wonder if Clark really did have feelings for her. Her little arsenal of evidence was weak, but it made her question his newly adopted awkward demeanor.
"You gonna stand there all night, Lois?"
She snapped out of her daze and caught him smirking a little at her. She shook her head and went to plop herself on the couch. Clark grabbed the remote and sat beside her, but not as close as he usually would. Normally, they'd be shoulder-to-shoulder with very minimal space between them. Now he was almost on the other end of the couch.
Lois sighed. "Smallville, are you mad at me?"
He looked at her, eyebrows furrowed. "No, why would I be mad at you?"
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No, Lois. Why?"
"Well, ever since that night at the bar, you've been acting strange."
His face changed and she knew she was onto something. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you just…changed when Will showed up. You were quiet and detached. And then you left early almost without saying bye to me."
"I said bye to you!"
"Not like we usually do. And you've been looking at me differently."
"How am I looking at you?"
"Like…" Lois bit her lip, not sure if she should push the issue. "I don't know, just different. And you've been kind of short with me. How am I not supposed to think you're upset with me or something."
"Trust me, Lois. I am not upset with you," he said.
"Then come over here."
He looked at her hesitantly. Close proximity never used to be a problem. Pressing into her side while they watched a movie was comfortable, but now he didn't think he could sit beside her and not touch her. Not in the intimate way he kept imagining. What would she do if he just leaned over and kissed her?
"Smallville," Lois crashed his train of thought. "Could you please come over here?"
He clenched his jaw and slid across the couch until their thighs brushed. "Happy?" Her arm came around his shoulders and pulled him closer to her, her eyes catching and holding his. "What are you doing?"
Lois stared at his face, noting the surprise and confusion in his features. She absently licked her lips, causing Clark's gaze to drop to her mouth. He swallowed thickly.
"Lois…"
"Shush." Her free hand came up to his throat, her fingers sliding softly under his jaw. She put pressure on the back of his head and then her mouth was on his, soft lips slowly moving and coaxing.
Clark sat frozen for all of two seconds before his arm slipped between her body and the couch, wrapping around her waist and pulling her into his chest, his mouth sliding more urgently against hers. His other hand caught on the still damp ends of her hair, trailing up to her neck to keep her in place as he parted her lips with his tongue. When she moaned, it took all he had not to push her down onto the couch. When she gently bit his bottom lip before sucking it into her mouth, he growled and gripped her tightly.
"Lois," he mumbled huskily. She hummed in response, but didn't let him go. He slid a hand down to her thigh, bare from the shorts she was wearing, and pulled it over his lap. Then he slowly leaned forward, laying her back against the couch. Lois trailed a hand down to the hem of his t-shirt and crept her fingers under it. His stomach quivered at the feel of her fingertips. Their laying position allowed her to wrap her legs around his hips and him to softly rock against her.
"Clark," she moaned into his mouth.
He groaned and pressed forcefully into her, making her gasp.
Suddenly, her cell phone started ringing from the coffee table, pulling the two out of their arousal-filled haze. They glanced at the phone, then looked back at each other, hearts racing and bodies molded together.
Neither said a word.
Thanks for reading! More to come soon.