by Queen of Sarab
Author's Note: Thanks for all feedback on the last chapter! Sorry it's taken me so long to get this one posted... hope it was worth the wait... I'll try to get the next one up faster, I swear! And please, please, please- don't forget to review! It makes me soo0 happy and I write much faster when I'm happy! *grins hopefully*
Chapter Three
Lex didn't sleep that night.
His birthday party- which he had long forgotten-
was still raging when he walked through the door, and he cursed silently.
All that he wanted now was to go sit, alone, in his room, and sulk. Or
perhaps drown himself in his work.
Actually, what he wanted was Clark. He yearned
to feel the newly discovered comfort of Clark's body; the pleasure of Clark's
lips against his own. He could remember the silk of Clark's thick hair
between his fingers, and the taste of him lingered in Lex's mouth.
He tastes like mint, Lex smiled. And some
indefinable Clark scent that left a heavy and satisfied feeling with the
recipient; Lex couldn't imagine how he'd lived without it. The very memory
of Clark intoxicated him, and he had to shake himself firmly to stop the
natural pull of his body toward the car that could take him back to the
Kent farm.
No, he reminded himself. He won't want you
now. Not after what his father's seen. Not without his parent's approval.
Lex snorted derisively. The Kents approving
a relationship between their son and Lex Luther, root of all evil, was
about as likely as a sunny day in England.
To be fair, Lex supposed Martha Kent didn't
particularly hate him. Didn't being the key word- Lex was sure, after Jonathan
told her what he'd seen (and he would), Martha would have the same esteemed
opinion of him most people did already.
But Lex didn't honestly care. All he was really
worried about was Clark- Lex had left when asked, but he wished now that
he'd stayed. Maybe he could have comforted Clark, or at least help ease
the pain of the "discussion" with Jonathan that was sure to follow what
Clark's father had seen.
Lex escaped to the silence of his room, sitting
silently in the middle of his large, silk-sheeted bed and thinking. What
could he do? Was there anything he could do to convince Clark to be with
him? That being with him was right?
Lex didn't know. But he was sure as hell going
to try- Lex Luther did not give up without a fight.
Clark was still sitting silently in the loft
when the sun peeked over the horizon, filling the sky with a symphony of
reds and golds. Usually, the beautiful colors would bring a smile to his
lips- but this particular morning, he didn't feel much like smiling.
He groaned as he realized today was a school
day, and, for probably the first time in his life, contemplated skipping.
But he knew it wouldn't do him any good- besides, he needed to do something
to keep his mind off of Lex. Even schoolwork seemed a welcome release.
But he wasn't feeling any less distracted
once he arrived at school. In fact, his obsession with the night before
threw off everthing he did. In English, his distracted daydreaming nearly
earned him a detention; he was sure he'd failed his History test; and by
lunch, where he sat staring at his lunch tray for nearly ten minutes without
moving, his friends were a little worried.
"Clark, are you okay?" Chloe asked, raising
an eyebrow quizzically. "You seem to be in a bit of a stupor today."
Shaking himself into a response, Clark managed
a weak smile. "Nothing's wrong," he lied- badly. "I'm fine."
Chloe and Pete exchanged a Look. With an annoyed
sigh, Chloe shrugged. "All right," she said, "but if you..."
"I'm fine, Chloe," Clark cut in, wincing slightly
at the hurt look that flickered across his friend's face. "I'm sorry, it's
just... sorry." he stammered. "I didn't mean to snap at you."
Chloe just nodded silently, still looking
a bit like a kicked puppy.
By the time Clark headed to the Torch office
for a meeting with Chloe after school, he was numb. He had played the scene
from the night before over and over again in his head, and each time the
memory of Lex against him reminded him of how incredibly perfect the kisses
had been- and the image of his father's horrified face strengthened his
resolve to forget the entire thing had happened.
But that was proving rather difficult. And,
Clark admitted to himself, he didn't want to forget.
Clark just wanted to leave. To get away from
all these people. But the prospect of home was no better- and where else
could he go? Certainly not the Luther mansion.
With a sorrowful sigh, Clark turned
into the Torch office- and stopped short. Lex stood there, pretending to
examine the "Wall of Weird" while Chloe jabbered on about each clipping,
a huge grin plastered across her face.
Lex turned at the sound of Clark's tread,
and Clark inhaled sharply at the tortured yearning in his ice-blue eyes.
"Clark," Lex smiled softly. "I've been looking
for you."
Clark's heart beat wildly in his chest. But
he can't do anything while Chloe's here, Clark reminded himself firmly.
And then there won't be a problem.
"You know what?" Chloe quipped suddenly. "I
just remembered this... thing... I have to do. Guess I've got to go..."
Damn.
"But Chloe, our meeting..." Clark began, faltering
as she brushed past him and out the door.
"Sorry, Clark. See you later!"
Oh, God. OhGodohGodohgod... Clark was alone
with Lex. There was no avoiding the subject now, Clark thought with a wince,
or just forgetting. He'd been hoping to avoid Lex for a little longer...
like, say, forever.
As it was, though, he had no choice but to
turn and face Lex.
"Your friend is very perceptive," Lex smirked.
He was right, of course, Clark realized. Chloe's
excuse for leaving was lame, to say the least. She knew- or at least suspected-
that Clark had feelings for Lex. Or vice versa.
And she was trying to be helpful, Clark groaned
inwardly.
In response to Lex, he merely shrugged, then
pretended to be intently interested in a piece of lint on his flannel sleeve.
Lex walked swiftly towards Clark, turning
to close the door before speaking again.
"Clark," he said softly. "We can't just ignore
this."
Uncomfortably aware of how close Lex was standing,
Clark shifted his weight nervously from foot to foot. "There is no 'this',
Lex," he murmured, refusing to lift his eyes to Lex's. "It never happened.
Just forget it."
"Clark, it happened," Lex insisted. "And personally,
I wouldn't mind it happening again. And I know you have problems with it,
probably for multiple reasons..." Lex took a deep breath. "But Clark, last
night was like nothing I've ever experienced. And trust me- I've gotten
much farther with many different people. But you, Clark... those simple
kisses were so much more sincere, so much more real, than anything I've
ever done with anyone. I felt more in those few minutes than I have in
all the time since my mother died. And I know you felt it too. The question
is whether you're willing to admit it to yourself."
Clark stopped moving with a slight sigh. "Lex..."
he began, stammering slightly. "I understand. I really do. But I can't."
He lifted his eyes to Lex, brow knit with sorrow. "I just can't. My father..."
he paused again. "Lex, it's wrong."
"Dammit, Clark!" Lex exploded, spinning away.
He ran a hand over his bald head angrily, took a deep breath, and turned
back, an intense and determined look lighting his eyes.
He was by Clark again in a few steps, and
he pressed closer, eyes boring relentlessly into the boy's. Clark inhaled
sharply, and Lex allowed himself a small smile, pushing one slender hand
through Clark's hair to rest on the back of his neck.
Then he pulled Clark's face to his own, and
their lips met once more.
Clark's lips parted slightly at the touch,
and Lex pushed his tongue into the farmboy's mouth greedily, letting it
dart over every ridge of Clark's mouth. Clark arched into him, arms involuntarily
wrapping around Lex's waist, his grip tightening as Lex's mouth became
more demanding, pushing without pause harder against the younger man.
Clark's musky scent overwhelmed Lex's senses,
filling every pore of his body with a deep-rooted sense of belonging. The
younger boy was responding-there was no denying it. Lex wasn't the only
one pushing for more, urging the kiss to deepen, and that simple fact filled
Lex with hope.
Lex broke away with a tiny gasp, lips curving
into a satisfied smirk.
"Does it feel wrong?" he asked.