CHAPTER 6

He gulps thickly at her bold words. "Bed?" his voice betraying his nervousness.

She looks curiously at him. What just happened to the bold Clark who told me how much he wanted me? "Clark? Are you alright?"

"I'm...fine," stammering a little.

She continues to study the expressions that cross his face, then her eyes widen when she has a sudden thought. It can't be. "Clark?" resting her hand on his lower arm.

"Yes, Tess?"

I need to put this as delicately as I can. "Have you ever made love before?"

She could feel his pulse quicken beneath her hand so she slowly caresses his arm back and forth. He nervously bites his lower lip, then takes a deep breath before answering. "I've only ever been with one woman," he says.

She exhales the breath she didn't realize she was holding. " I thought you had never been intimate with a woman," she admits. "Not that there's anything wrong with that," she quickly adds.

He just sighs a little. "She was my high school girlfriend."

She nods her head in understanding while he continues to talk. "We were only together a few times so I don't exactly have a lot of experience. There are lots of things we never got to do," his hand reaching up to caress her hair. "I wouldn't want to disappoint you in any way."

"I understand, Clark" smiling up at him and leans forward to whisper in his ear. "I know you would never disappoint me," softly kissing him behind the ear.

A soft sigh escapes his lips as she softly kisses down his neck while her hand slowly moves down his chest. "That feels sooo good," his eyes closing as her hand reaches his crotch and gently beginning to stroke his length through the fabric of his trousers.

"Mmm," his head falling back from the pleasure of her hand touching him.

"How about this?" her fingers pulling down the zipper and slipping inside.

He moans softly as her fingers wrap around his length and begins to squeeze. His hands grip the balcony railing behind him as she continues to move her hand up and down.

"I must say I am very impressed by your boldness," she quips. "I never thought that Clark Kent would ever go commando," pumping his length harder with every passing moment.

He's unable to answer due to his mind having gone blank from how good it felt to finally having her touch him so intimately. His eyes begin to burn and he could feel his balls tighten as he comes close.

"I can feel how close you are," moving her hand even faster. "Cum for me, Clark," stepping to the side of him.

"I...I...I..." thrusting one fist in his mouth while his other hands nearly crushes the railing as he comes hard, but then suddenly heat bursts shoot out of his eyes and strike the outside wall.

She abruptly drops her hand and stares at him as he drops down to the ground with a thud as his erratic breathing begins to slowly settle down.

He lifts his head and sees her staring at him in shock, then he looks up and notices the scorch marks on the wall in front of him. "You probably have some questions for me," starting to get up, but she pushes him back down and sits next to him.

"I do, but first I just need to make sure that you're okay," feeling his forehead. "You don't feel hot," removing her hand.

"That was definitely a first for me," he says at last. "The hand job I mean," blushing a little.

"I thought so," she quips. "You were telling me the truth when you said there were a lot of things you never got to do. Well, you're going to get the opportunity to do all those things and then some. I'll make sure of that," winking at him.

He can't help the blush that appears on his face. "Do I have your word on that?" he says teasingly as he stands up.

"You do," smiling at him as he helps her to her feet. "So...heat vision huh? I knew you had super-strength and super-speed-"

Now it's his turn to be shocked. "What did you just say?" his eyes widening as he pulls up his zipper.

"You heard what I said, Clark," leaning back against the railing.

"How on earth-" unable to finish his sentence.

"What did I tell you when we met in my office on your first day?"

He thinks back to that encounter and remembers what she said. "You said that Lex told you all about me."

"That's right," she replies.

"So why didn't you tell me that you knew?" his eyes narrowing slightly. "I hope it's not because you expect me to use my powers to-"

"Stop right there," holding out her hand. "I would never do that."

"Did you know who I really was when I rescued you from that bus?" his voice raised an octave. "Is that why I was hired?" he says accusingly as he takes a few steps backwards.

"Clark, I swear I had no idea it was you. If you remember, I was a bit out of it when you pulled me from the wreckage. It was only when you came into my office that I recognized you." She pauses for a moment, then says, "In answer to your second question, that's not why you were hired. You called in a favor from Perry White, but I also read some of the articles you wrote while you were writing for the Torch. You had a lot of potential even then, so that's why you were given a chance."

"I see," turning his back on her. "So was all that talk about being attracted to me from the beginning just an act to get me into bed?" turning back around with a sad look in his eyes.

"It was no act, Clark," biting her lower lip. "Everything I've told you up to now has been the truth - and I will continue to tell you the truth."

"What else did he tell you?" folding his arms across his chest.

"He told me that he needed to protect the Earth from you because he considered you dangerous," looking him up and down.

"You don't believe that do you?" he asks.

"Absolutely not," shaking her head emphatically. "If anything - from what information he left me, I believe that you're here to protect Earth."

"If you really believe that, then why are you still looking for him?" he asks her next.

"Because I need to see for myself that he's truly gone and not just in hiding - that's why."

"I see," turning around again.

She moves to stand behind him and rests her hands on his back. "Clark? " He doesn't say a word but continues to stare ahead. She just sighs, then turns and walks over to the door.

"Tess?"

She turns back around; her hand on the doorknob. "Yes?"

He walks up to her. "You know," his arm coming around her waist. "I was just thinking that we haven't actually had our first kiss yet," arching an eyebrow.

"Are you waiting for an engraved invitation?" she teases him

"Hell no," his other arm wrapping around her and pulling her closer until their lips are only a few inches apart. Their eyes slowly close as their lips meet up in a soft kiss. His tongue parts her lips and slips inside as her own tongue does the same to him and caresses the inside of his mouth. He gently nibbles on her lower lip as the kiss deepens; their hand roaming up and down each other's backs.

"Tess?" he whisper as they continue to kiss.

"Mmm?"

"I was thinking about something else too."

She pulls back and opens her eyes. "What were you thinking about?"

"I was thinking," taking her hands in his. "Maybe we should go on a few dates before we go to bed," the hint of a smile on his face. "You know, get to know each other a little better."

"Really?" a hopeful look in her eyes.

"Really," softly kissing her lips. "I really do want to take you to bed, but-"

She pulls away again. "But...what?"

He walks over to the balcony railing and looks up in the sky at the full moon. He takes a deep breath before he speaks again. "The thing is that I've never...well...made love when I was fully powered up," turning around to face her. "I've been afraid of being intimate with a woman because I might lose control and hurt her. The last thing I want to do is hurt you."

She walks over to him and lays her hands on his shoulders. "We can do slow," smiling up at him.

"Are you sure?" lightly caressing her cheek with his finger.

"I'm positive," she replies. "But just so you know - when we do take that step, you better fasten your seatbelt because it's going to be a bumpy ride," flashing him a wink...

TO BE CONTINUED...