A/N: Happy Holidays Everyone. Sorry my updates have been slow, just been busy, which I am sure most know that feeling. Hope all is well! Thanks for all the great feedback. It makes my day.
Chapter 9
Chloe POV
I get to work the next morning and bump into Chief.
"Watch out there little lady. Where's your partner?" Chief asks smiling at me.
"He's not going to be in today. I think he is just working from his place. He has to wait for his furniture to be delivered. He was going to call you and let you know, but I told him that I would let you know." I explain.
"Okay. Don't care as long as the work gets done. See you later." Chief says and walks into his office.
I sit down at my desk and glance over to where Clark has been working next to me for the past couple months. It has been really great getting to know Clark again. It is like a part of my life has came back that I wasn't even aware that I was missing.
I pull up my newest story and start right in. Clark and I are investing a deadly fire at a power plant owned by LexCorp. To the untrained eye it would seem just like a normal accident, but to Clark and I we see the fishy circumstances. I give Clark a call around noon, because he has a part of the story that I need to finish the story for the day. I call him and no answer. I just decide that I'll just drive over to Clark's place to get the information.
I pull up outside of his house and the delivery truck is sitting right out front. Clark is trying to help them, but they really look like they do not want his help.
"Hey Clark." I say glancing around the movers in his door way.
"Hey." He answers back and gives me his grin. "What are you doing here?" He asks as he moves out of the way and then points to the area he wants the table at. Then he walks over and pulls me into a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"I actually came over to get some of the information on the story we are working on."
"That is wonderful. I was working on it this morning too. Come on in and we can possibly finish it up here and then submit it to Chief via email?"
"Yeah that would be great. I have been really trying to get one part of the story worked out, but I just can't place it." I tell him.
Clark and I work in his livingroom area after the couch is moved in. Clark has to still tell them where to put everything, but by 6pm we still finish our work. The movers where only there for about 2 hours, but considering Clark pretty much bought every piece of furniture he needed for a place that wasn't too bad.
I just submitted the story when Clark clears his throat. "So would you like to stay for dinner?"
"Sure that would be great. I drove here tonight, so I won't have to be worried when I am walking home about being followed as much tonight. Last night I was paranoid..."
"What do you mean 'someone following you'?" Clarks interrupts.
"Because of the whole thing with Pete." I explain and see Clark's blank expression. Then I remember I forgot to tell him. I was going to tell him yesterday, but when I showed up to his place and all he was wearing was a towel, it took me by surprise. "Oh, I'm sorry Clark. I was going to tell you yesterday, but I forgot. Apparently Pete has been following me or having me followed and freaked out on me yesterday morning. I was going to tell you, but you distracted me."
"Are you kidding me? Can't this guy take a hint? I really don't like that he is following you around. It's not safe." Clark complains.
"Well I am not exactly thrilled by it, but not much I can do." I shrug. "So what are you making for dinner?" I ask changing the subject.
"You can't just disregard this Chloe."
"Clark it will be okay. Now what are you making for dinner?" I ask again, but this time I move closer to him and pull his face closer to mine. Our lips nearly touching. "I could go for some chicken or..." Before I can finish my sentence Clark leans forward and he is kissing me.
Clark pulls me into his lap and I open my mouth to him and our tongues make contact. It is wonderful. We stay like this for a while and then my stomach growls involuntarily.
Clark pulls away and glances down. "You are really hungry. I am sorry I got carried away." Before he can go to far though I pull him back to me.
When I break the kiss. "I think we both got carried away. So what's for dinner?" I ask and jump off his lap and go to the kitchen.
After we have dinner, which was delicious. Clark made baked chicken and teamed vegetables. It was wonderful. We sat down on his new couch and started a movie. I lean into Clark. I picked the movie and about half way through I glance up at Clark and he has fallen asleep. I smile to myself. When the movie is over I lean up and grab the remote and flip off the television. Clark jerks awake.
"What's wrong?" Clark asks grabbing me and me behind him slightly.
I start laughing. "Nothing. The movie is over." I explain and Clark relaxes.
"Oh...sorry about that. I think I missed most of the movie."
"I think you did too." I say and wrap my arms around Clark's neck and pull myself up to his mouth and give him a quick kiss. "But that's okay. I will forgive you and maybe next time you can pick the movie, so you don't have to fall asleep during it." I tease him.
Clark just grins down at me.
"I have to be going though. It is almost midnight." I say glancing over at his clock.
"I can take you home." Clark immediately volunteers.
"Clark you don't have to do that. I drove anyways."
"I really don't want you out alone, especially with Pete following you around." Clark explains.
"I will be fine Clark." I reassure him.
"You know Chloe, you could just stay here tonight." Clark suggests. "I just would feel better about it. Then in the morning we could stop by your place and you could get ready for work then."
I look down at my feet. Unsure if I should just stay or not.
"Please." Clark says and he places one finger under my chin to make me look at him. "Please just stay here tonight, so I don't worry all night about you."
"Oh okay Clark." I agree.
Clark gets up and grabs my hand and takes me to his room. He lets go of my hand and walks over to his dresser and grabs a t-shirt and some boxers and tosses them to me.
"You can sleep in these if you like." Clark says smiling at me.
"Okay thanks." I say and go to the bathroom to change. When I come out Clark is sleeping pants and no shirt, just what I like to see. He has already made the bed with his new linens.
"I am just going to sleep on the couch. I will see you in the morning." Clark says and comes over and kisses me quick on the lips.
"Clark." I say as he reaches the door. He turns around and gives me a questioningly look. "If I am staying here tonight, you are sleeping in the bed with me." Clark looks like he is about to protest. "I am serious. I will leave unless you stay in here with me."
"Okay." Clark agrees and comes back to the other side of the bed.
I slide between the sheets first and they are soft and wonderful. Clark slides in next to me. It reminds me of when we had to pretend to be married and us sleeping together. I reached over and pulled myself right up against Clark. I started drawing little hearts on his chest with my finger tip. Then I leaned forward and placed a small kiss on him. Then unexpectedly Clark's hands started making hearts on my back. He had slid his hands under the back of my shirt and it was great having his hands on my bare skin. I leave the chest and start making other patterns on his arms and stomach. I can feel him tensing for a second when I hit a new spot. I feel like a teenager again.
"Clark?" I ask breathlessly. "Um do you want to continue this?"
"Yes. More than anything." Clark confesses. "But I think we should wait until we have longer. I would love to make love with you Chloe, but I also don't want it to be a rush in the middle of the night."
I think about that for a second and I agree with Clark. "I agree." Then I stop the caressing and just borrow into him. After a few minutes I tell him goodnight. Clark kisses me and we go to sleep. He really is too nice to me sometimes. I would have loved to be with him, but I guess waiting is okay too.
