Chapter 26

Dinah had put aside her weekend to fix her bike after it was damaged and to her very pleasant surprise Clark had volunteered to help her. Right now they are in the 'empty' building they both use as a base of operations, so to speak, and she is bent down trying to get a part that was damaged out but the last bolt holding it in place won't shift. She huffs and strains and her cheeks go red with the effort but nothing. She blows a few strands of her once again blond hair out of her face. She gazes to her right to find Clark looking at her with an amused expression. "What?"

"Nothing," he says with a too sweet innocent smile.

"No. It's something."

"Well I was just thinking that it's a shame you don't have a superstrong boyfriend to shift that bolt...oh wait a second. Yes you do."

"And you didn't speak up before why?" Dinah asks back, swiftly covering over her embarrassment that she actually forgot she could just have asked him.

"Maybe I just like to see you work up a sweat."

Dinah's eyebrows rise at the suggestive tone with which he said that. He wants to flirt huh. Well Dinah can play that game too. She moves aside and gestures for him to shift the bolt which he starts to do with his fingers alone and not using a tool. She leans in and places her lips close to his ear. "You know I love to see a guy get all dirty."

At the way she said that word Clark's fingers twitch and he shears the bolt in half. Dinah laughs with a deep throatiness.

"Sorry," Clark says, with slightly red cheeks, as he apologises for the bolt.

Dinah smiles. "I was going to replace it anyway. If you can just get it completely out. It doesn't matter that it's broken."

As Clark fiddles with the broken bolt Dinah walks over to a nearby table and grabs a bottle of water. Clark can't help but watch her. She was dressed down in sweats to work on her bike. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail and it all softened her edges. She looked incredibly feminine and beautiful.

Clark couldn't deny that the more time he spent around Dinah the more attracted he was becoming to her. It had started off as a small moment of impulsiveness asking her out. He was so glad he did. She was as hard as nails and when you saw her fight you felt sorry for the other guy and he had been on the receiving end of it. Dinah had talked him into letting her teach him to fight, primarily in the Keysi Fighting Method which she thought best suited him. After meeting Tala and learning how much magic could weaken and disrupt his powers he didn't really put up much of an argument against it.

On the other side of the coin when he was hurt Dinah took care of him. There was a gentle, warm, caring side to her. Dinah was like a mother goose and drill sergeant rolled into one...or at least that is what Clark had come to conclude. On top of that she was just plain smart and funny.

She flashes him a smile and heat courses through his veins and his eyes itch and burn in a way he hasn't endured since he was a horny hormonal teenager. To be blunt Dinah was sexy as hell and he physically desired her strongly. His thoughts had begun to stray towards taking that final step with her although, as always with him, there are some issues that would need to be discussed first.

He turns his focus back on the fiddly bolt and tries to remind himself that in a few weeks he'll be 28 and that he should have better control over his body's reactions. He hears her walking back to him and when he gazes at her he swears her hips have a sexy swaying motion to them...or it could be his imagination. Ugh he needs a cold shower...a really really cold shower.

Dinah smiles, pleased at herself when she catches Clark watching her. It has been a good long while since she has been able to just be fun and flirty. She kneels down next to him making sure she brushes her body against his and hears a quiet moan escape from his lips. Oh yeah. She is definitely having an effect on him. "Everything ok Clark?" she asks, with an innocent air but with a mischievous glint in her blue eyes.

Clark takes a moment to control himself. "Hmm. Hmm. Yeah sure. Everything's fine."

Dinah takes her bottle of water which she brought back with her and raises it to her lips. She tilts her head back and purposefully allows a few drops to spill from her mouth.

Clark watches the few drops of water flow down Dinah's neck and into the top of her shirt between her...his head snaps back round to the bike.

Dinah grins. She spotted his eyes drifting. She takes a hand and slips it beneath the sleeve of the blue t-shirt he is wearing and rubs her hand over the large firm bicep muscle. "You sure you're ok? You look...flushed?" she asks in a deeply husky tone.

He is more than looks flushed. Dammit where's that cold shower when he needs it.

Dinah deliberately leans into him as she makes it look like all she is doing is seeing how he is getting on.

Clark closes his eyes and suppresses a groan as this soft curvy figure presses up against him. Her scent fills his nostrils. Floral actually. Dinah seems to prefer perfumes with floral scents. He opens his eyes to find Dinah looking at him with a sparky playful expression. Clark gets it. "I'm onto you," he warns her.

A expression of wide-eyed innocence forms on Dinah's face. "Onto me? I have no idea what you mean Clark. Now if you mean on top of me..." her lips curve up into a sexy little grin. "Well that can be discussed," she says with an air of promise.

Clark's eyes narrow and focus in on Dinah's nose. In an instant he has taken his oily, greasy index finger and gently bopped Dinah on the nose.

"You so did not just do that," she says in a dangerous tone.

Clark grins and before Dinah can stop him he has smeared two oily streaks, one on each cheek, on her face.

Dinah gasps and shoves Clark ineffectually. "You," she growls.

Clark just grins all the wider. "But you look so cute," he says in a childish tone.

Dinah's eyes narrow and an idea strikes her. She leans in until her nose is touching Clark's and they can feel each other's breaths. "Cute am I?" she asks, with an almost purr in her tone.

Clark flushes with heat once more. "Extremely," he gulps.

Dinah arms rise to wrap around his neck...only for her to pull the back of the neck of his shirt open and for her to pout the remains of her water bottle down his back.

Clark doesn't really feel cold but the sudden shock of the wet liquid down his back makes him cry out in surprise.

Dinah giggles at his reaction.

"Two can play at this game," he warns her, before he blurs away and comes back with his own water bottle and a dangerous looking grin on his face.

Dinah stands up and backs off. "Clark. No. Don't," she warns him.

"Oh I'm thinking yes, do." He then lunges at her at a human pace and she dodges out of the way. They end up chasing each other around, laughing as they do, carefree for a few moments in their lives.

Eventually Clark manages to wrap one powerful arm around Dinah's petite form and hold her steady as he dumps the entire contents over her head. He then lets her go. She turns round and glares at him looking decidedly unamused.

Clark tries to look innocent but can't ignore soaking her has made her top not only stick to her skin but has made it partially translucent. Oh boy.

Clark's eyebrows rise high when Dinah starts to pull her top off. He spins round but not before he gets a glimpse of her smooth toned torso. "Uh...Dinah what are you doing?"

"Wringing my top out," she answers as she does that very thing. "What are you doing? Afraid you won't like what you see?"

"That's definitely not the reason," Clark murmurs. In fact it is the opposite. What he'll see he'll probably like too much. Besides, above all else he is a gentleman. Clark feels a hand on his shoulder and he lets Dinah turn him round to find her standing there, her top half now only covered with a sports bra.

Dinah smiles at his expression. He looks like a shy little boy as he tries to avoid looking directly at her. Dinah's hand goes up to his cheek, she rises up on her toes and kisses him. It is slow, sensual and Dinah takes her time exploring every inch of Clark's very kissable lips. When she pulls back the atmosphere has changed and there is a dark, smoky look in Clark's eyes. A little pleasant quiver goes through Dinah at the intensity with which he is gazing at her.

Clark dips his head and kisses her passionately. His hands slowly rise to skim over Dinah's exposed skin. His fingers trace along the path of old faded scars.

Dinah moans in appreciation. It has been far too long since she essentially made-out with someone. She shivers as his lips move to explore her neck and the exposed skin above the sports bra. She can feel his tongue lick up the damp water that remains from his soaking of her. Her hands wrap themselves in his hair which he had been letting grow back out. Their bodies wrap around each other and she can sense and feel the fact he is aroused by her. "Oh Clark," she moans out in a breathy tone.

Clark instantly freezes before he jerks back and takes a few steps back, breathing a little heavily.

Dinah blinks. "Clark...what?"

Clark swallows. He needs to explain. "That's...this is...give me a moment," he asks of her.

Dinah watches him retrieve another bottle of water and drain a lot of it down in one go before he comes back. Dinah could do with a drink herself. She is kind of hot right about now. She holds her hand out and Clark instinctively throws her the bottle. She drains the rest of it. "Ok Clark. Explain...before my feelings are hurt."

A pained expression comes to his face. "That's not...never what I want," he says. "I'm not sure you'll like what I'll say," he cautions her, with a slight grimace on his face.

"Clark we're a relationship yes?"

"Yes."

"People in relationships talk."

Clark grimaces slightly more but he bucks up and talks. "I had a bad flashback."

A perplexed expression comes to Dinah's face.

"Barbara," he says. "I've been here before with someone who was a...partner."

Dinah's eyes widen a little as understanding dawns in her mind. He is referring to the fact he and Barbara made out and she moaned out Dick's name. Barbara told her about it afterwards. She can suddenly see the similarity of the situation and that he needs some verbal reassurance. "Clark this is entirely different," she argues. "Barbara was confused about her feelings. I'm not. I'm attracted to you...strongly attracted to you and no-one else," she promises him.

"It's not just that," Clark says awkwardly. "If we're moving towards being...intimate."

Dinah smiles at how the shyness returns. "Well I don't know about you Clark but I have been thinking about it."

"Me too. If we're heading that way you have to remember that I'm not human Dinah."

"Yeah so? Not to remind you...or myself...but Huntress blabs."

Clark's cheeks heat up in embarrassment. He is never living that down. He runs his hand through his hair.

Dinah continues. "And while I try to blank out the precise details I'm pretty certain she said it was pretty much the same as humans do it."

"It is...mostly," Clark confirms. "Except...I don't think Huntress realised just how much danger she was in. A single slip in my drug addled state and I would have maimed or killed her. Even clear headed there is a certain risk involved with me Dinah. Now as I think you might know I have this ring that suppresses my powers."

"Whoa," Dinah stops him. "Stop. Clark," she says plainly. "I don't want you to be anything but yourself."

"It's not safe Dinah," he argues with her stubbornly.

Dinah steps forward and takes one of his hands into her own. She takes a moment to study the large powerful hand grasped in her petite feminine ones. She looks up into his eyes and can see the worry and uncertainty there. "Clark...sex is always a little dangerous the first time if you do it right," she teases.

"Dinah," he says warningly.

"I don't want you to restrict yourself Clark and as much as I do want you we can take it slow until you feel more comfortable," she decides.

Clark's eyes take on a soft warm glow of admiration. "Thank you. You're...really really...great."

"Wow. You really are a writer!" she laughs.

"You're mocking me."

"Nooooo," she says in a long drawn out drawl. "How can you possibly think that?"

Clark snorts out a laugh and feels some weight lift off of him. He takes a moment before saying, with complete sincerity and honesty in his voice, "Just to let you know even though we're taking it slow I really do want to be with you."

"Really? I would never have guessed. I thought that was a wrench in your pocket," she jokes at the...hardness she felt when they were making out.

"Nah. I was just happy to see you," he jokes. "And there's a lot to be happy about," he murmurs softly as his eyes take her in. "So sudden change of topic. It's my birthday in a few weeks and Lana is throwing me a party but I want you to meet my friends before then," he tells her.

Dinah's eyebrows rise. Meeting his friends. That was a step forward in their relationship. He had talked about them to her but hadn't introduced her yet. This is him letting her in a little bit more to his world and shows her he must view their relationship as serious. "I would love to meet them Clark," she agrees to his proposal.

The Daily Planet, a few days later...

"You're disturbingly happy," Jimmy has to say to Lois as he stands next to her desk while she sits typing up her latest story.

Lois frowns, stops her typing and looks up at her red-haired companion. "Excuse me?" Lois asks with her usual sharp, aggressive manner.

"You're disturbingly happy," Jimmy repeats. "You've been happy for days." Jimmy doesn't know what the cause is but the last few days, up to a week maybe, Lois has come into work happy and smiling and almost being nice to people. Then there is the fact that suddenly she is back on the nicotine patches instead of lighting up. As her friend and partner for many years Jimmy notices these things.

Lois shrugs and plays it cool. "Don't know what you mean Olsen...and even if it was true how is it any if your business?"

"Because I'm your friend Lois," Jimmy says in a calm, sincere manner.

Lois sighs. "Jimmy," she says in a quiet voice. "Look I appreciate your friendship. I do even if I never really say I do but you know sometimes there are personal things that we like to keep private. After all do I ask you about what you and Lang get up to in private?"

"No," Jimmy concedes although he can't see how him and Lana is relevant to this unless... "You're seeing someone," he says as it falls into place. Of course. He should have realised. She started smoking heavily again after she stopped seeing Hal Jordan.

Lois looks at him in genuine surprise and then reluctant admiration. "Damn I'm good."

"Huh?"

"You took my words and concluded the truth and not to be big-headed but I taught you that one."

"Yes you did," Jimmy agrees. "And it's true? You're seeing someone?"

"Hal," Lois admits. "We hooked back up." Although Lois will be damned to figure out that night how exactly they went from trading insults to cracking the plasterwork in her apartment. Anyway like cigarettes it's a habit she now can't stop. Whether it's a good or bad habit Lois hasn't come to a conclusion yet.

"Well as long as you're happy," is all Jimmy can say. He doesn't know Hal Jordan well enough to make a judgement whether this is good for Lois or not so he'll go with being the supportive friend and hope she is happy.

"I think I am and...what?" Lois asks as she sees Jimmy's attention has gone from her to the entrance to the newsroom. Lois looks to where he is looking and her jaw hangs open a little.

A silence of complete awe descends over the newsroom. Perry White, sensing the change in the atmosphere, sticks his head out of his door. "What is goi...Great Ceasar's Ghost," he exclaims because standing there is Superman.

Perry snaps out of his shock and rapidly walks over to the tall hero. "Superman. What brings you to the Daily Planet?"

Superman lifts a finger and points. "Her."

Perry follows the direction of the finger and sees it is pointing at Lois. "Lane?" he queries, perplexed.

"She has been putting herself in danger trying to get an interview with me. I'm here to put an end to that."

"In what way?" Perry asks.

"By giving her an interview."

A smile erupts on Perry's face. He can see the buy rates shooting up already. "Lane!" he yells. "Get over here!"

Lois, somewhat flustered, gets to her feet and walks over. "Yes Chief?" she ventures in a somewhat cautious tone.

Perry instantly frowns at the 'Chief' remark. "Lane. Remind me to give you a pay rise."

"Huh?" Lois says completely confused. Perry is always threatening to cut her pay, never offering to raise it.

"Superman is here to give an interview," he explains.

Lois' lips curve up into a large grin. She'll have to remember to thank Hal tonight. "Well you made the right choice in choosing me...in choosing the Daily Planet," Lois rapidly corrects herself after getting the glare of death from Perry.

"I'm sure," Superman says dryly. "Is there somewhere private we could do this?" he inquires considering all the looks he is getting.

"We have interview rooms," Perry answers. "Lois will show you to one...and before you go is it possible to get a picture of you?"

Superman almost imperceptibly sighs. Clark is only doing this to stop Lois from killing herself. Not because he really thinks it is a good idea. "Of course," he replies in a calm even tone, knowing this is part and parcel of the decision he made to come here.

Lois quickly returns to her desk, grabs her interview paraphernalia and is back to Superman quick smart. "This way," Lois says to him as she leads him off...only to be stopped as they run into Cat Grant.

"Superman," Cat greets him in a flirtatious tone. "I'm Cat Grant. Perhaps you've heard of me?"

"I've read your work," Superman replies in a diplomatic manner.

Cat smiles and bats her eyelids. "Well maybe one day we could discuss my work in a more personal setting?"

Clark blinks. Oh boy.

Lois grinds her teeth. "Well Cat. Superman and I have an interview to do. I'm sure he'll think over your...generous offer." Although the only generous thing about Cat is how easily she lets men into her bed which by the way is what Lois knows she was implying by the term 'personal setting'.

Lois takes Superman by the arm and 'drags' him away from Cat as fast as possible.

The next night Dinah is in her apartment, sitting, reading Superman's interview while the man himself is finishing getting ready for them to go out. Double date with Lana and Jimmy. This was Clark living up to his promise to introduce her to them. As Clark had promised her neither Lana nor Jimmy did not know she was really the Black Canary although if Dinah was to credit them with any intelligence they will probably work it out shortly considering her partnering Superman around. When it happens it happens. Dinah will deal with it then. As for Clark he was running late due to a major fire he had to deal with which was why he was here to try and catch up. It's a hazard of the job Dinah understood only too well.

Dinah feels the gust of wind go by as he dashes from her shower to her bedroom...and yes her thoughts have strayed several times to the thought of him in those two places with no clothes on.

A gust of wind later and she feels him dropping a kiss on her neck.

"What do you think?" Clark asks her, as he taps on the paper, wanting her view.

"You're cleverly evasive when giving details." It's not that Clark lied. He didn't. Every word was the truth but he was very clever in phrasing his answers to avoid details he didn't want to reveal.

"Is that a compliment?" Clark asks, clearly confused by what she means.

"I did call you clever."

"I'm still confused."

"As it should be. A woman needs to maintain her air of mystery," Dinah says, a smile tugging at her lips.

"You've succeeded."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. So really what did you think?"

Dinah peruses the last few lines first, before closing the paper and folding it in half with the headline showing. 'Superman. The Last Son of Krypton.' "It was good. It was a nice line about how you ascribe yourself as setting an example for people to follow as to why you do this. It was...inspirational," she compliments him. "Although I'm curious about where that 'Last Son' bit came from?"

Clark explains, "When I was answering Lois' questions about my origin that's how I phrased it. I can't remember for the life of me why. I thought it sounded more...sombre, serious, dignified maybe."

Dinah looks up at him with a hint of sadness for him. "We've not really talked about this have we?"

"There's nothing to talk about Dinah," Clark states, wanting to avoid having that conversation. Dredging it up along with the accompanying emotions for his interview was bad enough. Twice in 2 days is just beyond what Clark is capable of doing.

"Clark."

"There's not!" he insists quite vehemently. "There is literally nothing Dinah. I can't remember Krypton. All I can remember is living on Earth."

Dinah knows denial when she sees it and Clark is in serious denial about his feelings but they have an evening planned and she is not ruining it with an argument they don't need to have right here and now. "Ok," she accepts.

"Ok?" Clark queries.

"Yes. Ok."

"Ok."

"Ok."

"We really need to stop saying Ok," Clark says, a little weirded out.

"Ok," Dinah says with a smirk.

"Oh funny," Clark says with a roll of his eyes.

Dinah chuckles and the atmosphere lightens. "So I'm curious how did Lane take it when you told her you were an alien?"

"Petty much the same way everyone else takes it."

"Stare at you with her mouth hanging open looking to catch flies?"

"You see I really don't get it!" Clark exclaims. "People know aliens exist. There are other aliens on this planet. What makes me so different?"

"Most of them don't make me want to lick ice-cream off their abs," Dinah mumbles what occurred in one of her dreams she has been having about Clark.

"What?" Clark asks, truly not picking that up because he wasn't paying attention.

Dinah's cheeks colour slightly. "Uh...well it is you do look very human Clark. Most aliens I've met couldn't blend in the way you do."

"Emphasis on look human Dinah. I may know next to nothing about my biology but I'm guessing if you examined me closely the differences would be easy to spot."

"I'm looking forward to examining you closely," Dinah murmurs.

Clark heard that one this time. His cheeks heat slightly. His eyes connect with Dinah's. That desire is growing but there is still a nagging voice in the back of his head cautioning him. He takes a breath. "So...ready? To go?"

Dinah nods and stands up. She straightens out her black dress.

Clark's mouth dries a little because she looks stupendous. Dinah certainly knew how to pick a dress to show off her beauty to its maximum.

Dinah smiles a little as Clark stares at her. She grabs her purse and takes one last moment to check herself in the mirror. She had started to forego the stupid black wig and just pulled her hair back into a pony tail instead. She had kept the glasses so yes in a sense she and Clark matched. Helena had already made the tasteless jokes, teasing remarks and implied innuendo. Finished checking herself she flashes Clark a smile. "So shall we go Mr 'Truth, Justice and the American Way'?"

Clark groans. Dinah wasn't the first person to tease him about that. Lana and Jimmy already had. "It was just an answer," he says overly defensively. "Lois asked what I stood for. I gave an answer."

"Why that answer?"

"Why are you asking?"

"I'm curious."

"I was referring to the American Ideal. You know Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Maybe I should have said it more specifically," Clark concedes in hindsight.

"Uh huh. Ok."

"You're never letting me hear the end of this are you," Clark realises with a small sense of dread.

Dinah smiles strangely before giving Clark a small kiss. "We should go or we'll be late."

"Dinah," Clark says her name trying to get her to answer his question.

Dinah heads for the door, pretending not to hear him. "Lets move it Clark!" she barks in that drill-sergeant-esque tone of hers.

Clark grabs his jacket and follows her. 'Nope,' he concludes in his mind. She is never letting him hear the end of it.

A couple of weeks later, Clark's birthday party...

Lana might just admit to herself in her more honest moments that since Clark lost his mother she may have taken on a bit of a mother's hen role in relation to him. In a way she was the last woman standing as in someone Clark was close to. Someone who knew all about Clark from when he was just a dorky, lanky kid to now.

In this moment of honesty Lana can therefore also admit she had been gently needling at Clark to rebuild those touchstones he lost. A job, friends, companionship...the girlfriend kind of companionship.

The superhero thing she takes no credit for. That was completely Clark's doing...although it fits in with his personality. Clark is sort of like the Good Samaritan. He can't just walk on the other side if he sees someone needing his help.

This reflective attitude of Lana is brought on as she watches him across the table from her at the restaurant where they were celebrating Clark's birthday. This attitude is probably magnified by the fact she sees less of Clark these days. They both have jobs...in his case 2 jobs. They also both are in relationships and that brings Lana neatly to the person sitting next to Clark.

It had been a couple of weeks since Clark introduced Dinah to her. Initial reaction to Dinah: Lana had been open minded. It had made her more inclined to like the woman because Clark would always talk about Dinah in glowing terms. He was happy to put it simply. True it was the happiness of the 'Honeymoon' period of a relationship but he was happy.

2nd reaction to Dinah: As Lana said she is in full Mother Goose mode at the moment in regards to Clark so therefore any women he meets is instantly under suspicion as not good enough for him.

3rd reaction to Dinah: So Lana took those two competing instincts and buried them until after she had actually talked/interrogated Dinah and afterwards Lana had decided she liked Dinah enough to be happy about Clark's relationship with the woman.

Lana was puzzling over one part. How Clark met Dinah. Both of them had come up with rambling explanations that didn't really answer the question. Lana hadn't yet worked out the reason behind why it was so difficult to give a straight answer to her question.

The night wears on and Lana and Dinah find themselves going to the restroom at the same time. They stand next to each other as they wash their hands.

"I want to say thanks," Lana says.

Dinah stops and looks at Lana with surprise. "Thanks for?"

"Making Clark happy. This is the happiest I've seen him in literally years."

"Really?"

Lana nods.

"Well thanks to you too for letting me in," Dinah says, as in Lana letting her in to being a friend.

"You're welcome," Lana says politely.

Dinah dries her hands and then looks around the stalls while Lana dries hers. They're alone. "Can I ask a really personal question?"

"Ok," Lana says, a little hesitantly because she isn't sure what it is Dinah is asking.

"Clark said you and he use to date."

"Yes?" Lana queries, still unsure where this is headed.

Dinah brushes a loose lock of blond hair back in a nervous habit. She isn't usually nervous but she's never asked an ex-girlfriend what she is about to ask. "I'm trying to put this delicately. You see I'm ready...really really ready to...uh...cross the line with Clark but he's been hesitant."

Lana's eyes widen. "Oh," is all she can manage to say. Lana can pretty much thank Mel for the fact she got the metaphor. Old naïve Smallville Lana would have missed it completely.

"Look if it helps I know all about Clark."

"All about Clark?" Lana asks, with a sudden edgy tone to her voice. He had not mentioned that!

Dinah lowers her voice and pulls her glasses down to the end of her nose. "I'm the Black Canary," she suddenly admits, needing Lana to know she can trust Dinah.

Lana can see it now that Dinah says it. "Wow," is all her brain comes up with.

Dinah shrugs a little and pushes her glasses back up her nose.

Lana takes a moment to let that revelation sink in. "So you know everything?"

"Not everything but I know Clark's...not from around here if that's what you mean."

That was what Lana was meaning...and this explains the rambling explanations about how Clark and Dinah met. They were trying to not give away her secret identity because it must have been through their heroic alter egos that they met...or at least that is the conclusion Lana comes to. "We need to have this conversation somewhere else," she decides rather than in this bathroom where anyone could walk in at any time.

Dinah agrees so they leave, tell Jimmy and Clark they're getting some fresh air and step outside the restaurant and round the corner into an alley. Normally Lana avoids these but if she isn't safe with the Black Canary who is she safe with. Lana starts. "Ok so uh...back on topic. Crossing the line?"

Dinah nods.

"The strength thing?" Lana inquires to see if Clark has mentioned that.

"We've talked about it. I don't see it as a problem but I could see he did so I agreed we could take it slow...but...and I hope this doesn't come out sounding bad but that was 3 weeks ago and I'm losing my sanity with waiting. Clark's really sexy."

"Yes. He is," Lana agrees.

"I know we lead busy lives," Dinah says as a partial explanation as to why, in some senses, she and Clark haven't found the time to perhaps talk about this more.

"He's been cracking down hard on Intergang," Lana reports what you could get off the news let alone what Clark told her. Superman...and Black Canary had been making it their business lately to try and help turn the tide on Intergang. In Clark's reporter life he had made it his business to expose and attack them through that. "I guess I should say you both have been cracking down hard on Intergang," Lana corrects herself.

"We have," Dinah confirms. They did have that talk with Hal and using the info he provided she and Clark have been doing their utmost to make Intergang's life as difficult as possible. However for tonight that's not the topic. Back on the topic of what Dinah hopes to be soon her sex life. "I know this is extremely awkward asking you," Dinah concedes, "but I need advice and I don't know who else to ask."

Lana rubs the back of her neck. "Um...wow. Ok."

"Ok?"

Lana nods. She wants Clark to be happy so she'll give advice. "Yes. Ok. Just avoid unnecessary details," Lana requests because there is a limit of what she wants to know.

"Finally!" Dinah exclaims happily.

"Huh?"

"Sorry. It is just this is one reason I'm not asking my friends. They're the kind who need details...explicit details."

"Right. So what's your question?"

"Should I push him? Go into full seduction mode. I don't want to come across as...pushy," she says and Dinah was not about to say desperate. She's not desperate.

Lana thinks and realises something. "You know it might not be the strength thing. It might be more to do with the state he was in last time he had...sex."

"What do you mean?"

"Gotham. He was drugged. I think you might know the details already."

"Some," Dinah says. "I never really thought about it," she confesses.

"Hmm. Well put yourself in his shoes. He was drugged out of his mind and acted in a way I can guarantee is not him. It might have made him...gun-shy."

"So I should push."

"Yes...and no. You need to make it clear that you're ready and want that...but also you can't push him into doing what is obviously uncomfortable for him."

"So this could be more putting on an appearance. Letting him see I'm ready but assuring him verbally that we can do it at his pace," Dinah proposes.

"Not sure what you mean," Lana says.

Dinah starts to smile as she comes up with a plan. "Well I was saving this for a special occasion and I can make tonight count. Two words. Lacy and Italian."

Lana can guess what Dinah is referring to. "That might work...or kill him with a heart attack."

"Well it is his birthday so it's only right he gets to...unwrap his present," Dinah says in a sultry tone.

"I said avoid details," Lana whines.

Lex Luthor's mansion...

Lex sits behind his desk in his study and looks at the door. He is counting. Counting down until Roulette bursts in. He knows she is coming. She comes in as regular as clockwork to make her next complaint about his actions...or more accurately his inactions in regards to Superman. Lex has decided tonight, unlike every other night she asks, he will give her an answer.

Now someone who knew Lex might ask him why he is tolerating this. He's had people killed for less.

Very true.

Roulette however has contacts with people he doesn't. That makes her useful for the moment and for as long as he can keep finding her useful Roulette gets blessed with his patience.

Lex checks his watch...and now!

The door opens and in she walks and Roulette does possess a certain eloquence and exotic beauty. Another reason Lex keeps her around. He has always been a man who appreciates beauty. "Roulette. You're right on time," Lex says, with a certain amused sparkle in his normally cold blue eyes.

Roulette scowls. "You know why I'm here," she says rudely.

"Indeed. The answer to your query is that I was about to put a plan in to motion against Superman until he became useful to me."

"What?"

"Intergang. His recent crusade against them and their holdings. The enemy of my enemy," Lex airily explains as he waves his hand a little.

"You're doing nothing because he is weakening Intergang," Roulette draws from that.

"Precisely. Intergang has been a thorn in my side for too long. They refuse to join me but have grown powerful enough to resist me. Therefore I will allow Superman to take up the cause and in the process I learn about both of them. Speaking of learning about Intergang it occurs to me that you must have contacts with information."

"Perhaps," Roulette says warily and not confirming it.

"Then perhaps you should make a few phone calls and see what you can get for me. In return I will lessen my rein upon you," Lex makes the offer to reduce the restrictions he keeps on her...or he will appear to at least.

Roulette doubts that but she little choice. Lex keeps her under a tight leash so any chance she has to loosen his control gives her an opportunity to escape his control. "I'll see what I can do." She moves to leave but pauses when she reaches the door. "I'm curious. Does the fact Superman is an alien change anything for your long term plans?" she asks.

"No. In fact that revelation only helped explain Superman's unusual array of powers. Nothing human could possess power like that."

Roulette silently snorts. To think she had found him attractive and he wasn't even human. She leaves to do what she promised.

Lex turns round in his chair to look out the window behind him. He was speaking the truth. Superman's reveal in the Planet changed nothing. Human or alien if Lex could find a use for them he would...or if they proved an obstacle to his plans he would destroy them utterly. For Superman the day when that choice is made is coming...and it is coming soon.

After all Lex has plans to put in motion, a world to reshape and a New Order to be imposed.

"So how does it feel to be 28?" Dinah asks Clark with a tipsy chuckle.

Clark is not having to hold her up. She isn't that drunk but he did want to make sure she got home ok which he is doing as they reach her apartment door. "Better than it did to be 27," he replies.

"Oh and why is that?"

Clark smiles and looks at her with an adoring expression. "Because I have you as a girlfriend."

"Good answer," Dinah praises him as she stands on her toes and kisses him. "I had a really good night Clark," she tells him, between kisses that are increasing in passion.

"Me too," he says and it made him glad to see his friends getting along with his girlfriend. Clark returns her kisses with equal fervent passion. He pushes her against the door, trying to open it, while kissing her at the same time, which is difficult to do when she is distracting him the way she is, rubbing her body up against him. Eventually he manages to open the lock and they stumble in, their lips still locked together. Clark kicks the door shut and they end up on the couch, their kisses getting hungrier, their passions rising.

As Clark's hands get a little more daring about where they are touching her Dinah thinks that maybe she won't have to break out her surprise present after all. She moans and even whimpers slightly. Her hands in return reach under his shirt and skim across the smooth, warm skin underneath travelling across the chiselled hard plains of his torso.

Just when Dinah thinks they're getting somewhere he pulls back and she groans in protest. "Clark. What?" she asks him.

"This is...this isn't right. You've been drinking," he says.

"Not that much," Dinah insists. She's a little tipsy but she is perfectly aware of what she is doing.

"Dinah," Clark protests.

Dinah is exasperated. She can see the heated smoky look in his eyes. He obviously wants her as much as she wants him but he is holding back. Seems Lana was correct about him being gun-shy. Right. That's it. Time to break out her present Dinah decides. "Ok look before you go getting a guilt complex can you at least stay long enough for me to get your surprise present?" she asks him, hiding her true intent.

Clark's expression softens as he is touched she got him another present on top of the one she got him earlier. "Sure. I'll stay."

"Help a lady up?" Dinah requests because they are still a little tangled up on the couch.

Clark lifts Dinah as if she weighs nothing by her hips and plants her back on her feet. She grabs his hand. "Come with me," she says.

Clark allows himself to be dragged toward her bedroom. "Dinah where are we going?"

"My present is in my room," she explains simply. "Come on."

Clark has this funny feeling he shouldn't go but he's been awkward enough already tonight. Dinah tells him to sit on the bed, which he does, while she goes and changes out of her dress. Clark sits and waits. He knows there a lot of people probably thinking he is crazy. A gorgeous woman like Dinah and he is refusing to take that final step.

Well Clark would agree with them. He thinks he is crazy too. This was so much easier when he was dosed up on red kryptonite, although he tries not to think about what kind of jerk he was during that episode, but without it he has this nagging voice at the back of his head telling him constantly to take it easy and no matter how much he wants Dinah he finds he can't ignore that voice. He should never have allowed Dinah to talk him out of using the blue kryptonite ring. They'll have to revisit the issue.

"Ok Clark. Here's your present!"

Clark looks to the doorway to find Dinah leaning against the door frame in a sultry pose. She is wearing this silk robe which is open and hanging off her shoulders to reveal Dinah's curvy frame accentuated to its maximum by red lacy bra and panties. "Oh momma," Clark says as blood rushes from his brain southward.

Dinah smiles seductively. "So tell me Clark what do you think?" she asks in a very husky tone. She then walks toward him, her hips swaying in an exaggerated motion. Dinah lets the robe slide off of her leaving her in only the bra and panties and giving Clark plenty of opportunity to drink in her spectacular figure.

Clark thinks his pants are feeling extremely confining now. It gets a lot worse when Dinah sits herself down on his lap and slowly grinds her hips into his. "Dinah," he groans in protest, his self-control being tested to its limit.

"Shhh Clark," she gently blows in his ear and she feels him shiver underneath her. "I know what this is about. It's about control. Forget the fairy tale stories about losing oneself in wild abandonment. Forget what happened when you were drugged and realise sex is about control on many levels. The same is true for me. I'm as aroused as you are but I'm controlling it."

"But you don't have to worry about ripping my arms off," he counters.

Dinah shifts her hips slightly and Clark groans from deep in his chest. "Did you enjoy that? Be truthful."

"Yes," he gasps.

Dinah smiles and kisses him slowly and sensually. "This isn't a race Clark. This isn't about seeing about who can get to the finish line the fastest. We're not here to rip each other's clothes off in mad passion."

"You don't have that many clothes left on."

Dinah slaps him. "You're ruining the moment," she chides him.

"Sorry."

Dinah gets back to where she was. "This is about the journey Clark and how the journey can be as pleasurable as the destination."

"Is this a tantric thing?"

Dinah chuckles and shakes her head. "No. This is about sex. I'm a woman."

"Believe me I've noticed that," Clark says. With a close to naked Dinah sitting on his lap he's hardly not going to notice is he.

Dinah continues. "And you're a man and we're going to have sex. Slow, careful sex. Quality is going to be above quantity. If it takes us the whole night to explore each other's bodies than so be it. I'm going to help you Clark. I know you're afraid about losing control. That's ok. I'm going to help you learn that losing yourself in the moment doesn't mean losing control. I'm going to take you to the edge and then pull back and start over and we'll do this again and again until you understand."

"Understand what?"

"Just how good slow can be," she says with a sly smile and a promise of great pleasure ahead. "Now tell me Clark do you still want to go?"

"I..."

"Do you trust me?" Dinah asks, at his hesitation.

"Of course."

"Then trust me," she asks of him. Dinah's hands travel over his chest. She can feel his heart beating hard within. She looks him straight in the eye. "I want this Clark. I want us to make love. I won't force you but I'm asking for your trust. Let me guide you to that place I described."

God she is so beautiful. Her eyes especially right now as they are, darkened with arousal. He wants her. He does. He just has to make a choice. Hang onto his fears or choose to overcome them. He takes a deep breath and chooses. "I trust you Dinah," Clark says and revealing what decision he has made.

Dinah smiles and kisses him once more. Slowly of course. They have a long night ahead of them and she has a lot to teach him and with a more sinful thought she has to reward him for putting his trust in her.

Author's Note: Clark's a lucky guy getting a surprise present like Dinah in scanty lingerie isn't he. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Clark and Dinah's day after the night before is interrupted by a couple of her exes...that's one ex-college room-mate and one ex-boyfriend.