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Author's Note: Hello again. First of all, I apologize for my long absence. Some of you must've thought I've abandoned this fic altogether… while others probably figured I finally found the edge of the earth and proceeded to get lost beyond it. Either way, both mentioned are far from the truth. I actually had a quite few real-life crises recently that I needed to focus on and take care of. As you all know, offline life precedes this online life (at least for me!).

Second of all, to those of you who are wondering if Clark & Lana are still friends or more than friends now > they're in a weird place at the moment and as such, haven't exactly defined their relationship in black & white. They're just barely discovering new & un-chartered territory. You know how sometimes things just happen between 2 people and they didn't exactly know what hit 'em? That's it. Clark & Lana's deep attraction to each other is mutual, although everything still hangs in the air above them. Alrighty, I hope that's settled, on to the story. May ya'll enjoy this post… I tried to make it worth your while. Oh and as always, thanks so much for reading and bearing with me!

-Jade

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Chapter 8

Big Deal

Clark pulled Lana closer to him, his arms wrapped around her midsection as she sat on his lap with her back to him. To answer his question though, Lana slowly released herself from Clark's grasp and turned around to straddle him - a position she had recently found to enjoy herself immensely.

"Well, we were right here," she said with a seductive smile as she hung her arms around his neck. Clark smiled back at her as he knew what's coming next.

Once again they both were drawn to lean into each other for more sweet kisses. Amazingly, it felt like the first time each time their lips touched. So soft, so eager, so very sensual... and they cannot seem to stop wanting more as the kisses became more heated, tongues touching and hungrily massaging each other.

Lana broke the kiss this time, once again trying to catch her breath but Clark wasn't ready to stop. He quickly lunged toward her mouth for more and Lana obliged for a bit longer before pulling back again.

"Clark...wait," she huffed. "We still have lots to talk about, remember?" she reminded him through ragged breathing.

Clark, however, didn't quite hear what she had said, his hearing temporarily impaired as his hormones were raging way too loud inside of him that he only felt her pull back and stop.

"Clark?" This time Lana put a finger on his lips, which he eagerly rained with soft kisses.

"Hmm?" was all he said as he slowly opened his eyes to her.

"Uh... Talk. We still have lots..." Her words trailed off because Clark was now kissing her wrist, gently rubbing his soft, moist lips on her skin and inching his way up on her arm. It both tickled and sent a tremendous wave of tingling sensations up her spine and down again.

Oh Gaaaawwdd… "Claaark, please stop. At least for now?" she begged in a squeaky voice, as she pulled her arm to herself. This time he heard her clearly and so he sighed and looked up at her.

"We're not done talking yet?" He asked, making Lana raise an eyebrow at him, giving him that look with a clear don't-you-dare-mess-with-me-right-now attitude.

"Okay, okay. I'll behave," he chuckled, immediately flashing a naughty smile. "...for now," he finished, winking at her as he entwined his fingers with hers.

She smiled back at him. Damn that smile. "So, you're really up for this?" she asked.

"Yes, Lana. You got me terribly excited already... you're actually killing me softly," he said seductively.

She slapped his arm playfully. "C'mon, be serious alright?" she sort of whined.

"I am serious. Dead serious," he countered, wide-eyed but trying to hold his laughter. 'Aw, she's too cute! If I could just take a tiny bite of her right now…mmm,' he couldn't stop his naughty thought. He could tell he's gettin' under her skin and vice versa. Oh and he's beginning to like it. A lot.

She rolled her eyes and sighed before she spoke again. "Okay. I'll take your word for it."

Silence couldn't dare snake its way through this time as Lana spoke again. "Soooo anyway…I'm willing to sexperiment with you, as long as we keep the virginity thing intact. (clearing throat) Well, what do you think?" she asked while unconsciously twiddling her thumbs and though she was blushing she dared to look him in the eye anyway, apprehensive about what his reply would be.

He gulped at her word, "sexperiment", mouthing each syllable without a sound.

"Yes, I said that word and didn't stutter. No need don't panic." She sounded sardonic even though she smiled. Her face? Oh just a deeper shade of red. If this continues her face is going to burst into flames.

With an evil grin plastered on his face along with a red face equivalent to Lana's, he replied, "I'm game if you are then."

'Hold up, did I just say I like her a lot? Well scratch that. I loooooove her to death! She wants to sexperiment... with ME! Imagine that! Guess what my new favorite word is? C'mon say it with me: Sex-pe-ri-ment. Now use in a sentence. "Lana seriously wants to sexperiment with ME." wink-wink, nudge-nudge. Neener-neener, not with you but ME-ner...Whoops. Damn naughty thoughts are gettin' out of hand, Clark tried to shake all these thoughts off his mind but just couldn't.

'Sex-pe-ri-ment. Geeee-zessss! (doing the awkward victory dance)' He felt a surge of tiny electric jolts all through his body and ended in his tummy. Hot damn, that tickles!

Clark's mind began to wander off but Lana brought him back quick.

"Just remember: No funky, weird stuff, alright? I may be perverted but not that sick in the head!" Lana grimaced.

"I'm with you there, Lana, so relax. I'm not into insane freaky stuff either, alright? I mean, c'mon now, I barely know how to kiss you just the way you like it," he stated. Softly chuckling to himself, he tried to reassure her by caressing her arms with his hands, thus sending endless tingles up and down her spine.

She was surprised at what he just said. "Aw, Clark, I do like the way you kiss me..." she said, looking into his eyes and then his lips. "...very much. Couldn't you tell?"

Happy to successfully fill another excuse for kissing her, he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. She kissed him back softly and their silent dance restarted. She quickly kissed him again soon as she felt him about to pull back to break the kiss. Then just as she was about to break off for air, he leans further into her and deepens the kiss. Back and forth they swayed, each taking turns at attacking each other's mouth in heated passion.

When they broke off they were panting hard. Nothing new. It's beginning to be a ritual for them when they kissed. Rituals are good, right?

"Well I really like the way... you kiss me back, Lana," he panted through the words.

That brought another smile to her face but suddenly she realized that he was purposely interrupting their "talk" again. Well that and Clark's very obvious erection right beneath her told her everything. "A-ha, I'm on to you, mister," she wiggled on top of him and then decided it's best to get off his lap then sit apart from him for a little while. "Let's give it a rest for bit, 'k Clark? We really need to talk about this."

"Oh yeah… I'm sorry, Lana," he apologized. How exactly would you describe the deepest shade of red? That's what's painted on Clark's face and neck now, worse than the last time which was a couple seconds ago… it's funny how he thought he could almost feel the flames dancing on his skin. "You know I couldn't help myself, but I'm all ears now. Really," he calmly assured her as she sat apart from him, facing him on his red couch.

Deep breaths, Kent. Concentrate… Concentrate... You can do this! Okay. Breathe in and breathe out. Just don't stare at her lips. And avoid reaching out to touch her. No body contact for now. Behave, b-e-h-a-v-e. I'm a spelling be genius.

But like a magnet, he was drawn to look at Lana again...first her face then zoning in on her lips. Those lips - so plump and juicy. Her tongue... Oh God. Beee-haaaavvve. Con.Cen.Trate, he commanded himself. Shaking his head, Clark decided to clear his mind and dust off all signs of it being in the gutter.

"Codes." he heard Lana talking again.

"Huh?" Clark was bewildered. Oh maaaannn. She's now speaking in tongues. Or rather, codes? What in the world…?

"Yes. We gotta have some secret codes to go about this thing, don't you think? Instead of just saying it outloud for all the world to hear and find out," she explained.

Con.Cen.Trating. Must. Look. Away. "Oooooh, okay. I get it now," Clark smiled and looked at the coffee table, secretly jumping for joy, his heart was about to burst in a million bloody pieces. Well she really got this all thought out. Sheeez, naughty naughty girl. I'm fuckin lovin' it!

"So like, if either one of us is awfully horny, and I mean severely-burning-up-inside kind'a horny..." she giggled. "Then the secret code would be, "I need your help"... and as for the place, it'll be: "I need your help in my room/loft"," she said.

"Got it." He nodded. The wheels in Clark's head are turning, turning, turning... "Well what about... I or you just want to mess around, you know, "sexperiment" as you aptly called it?" (snicker) He couldn't help being giddy now. It all sounds ridiculously, unbelievably, too good to be true - and yet it is true.

"Ooh, in that case... the code could be: "Want to hang out? - in my room, your room, wherever. How's that?" she suggested.

Clark nodded again. "Yeah, hanging out sounds (gulp) good." Tee.Hee.

"Ok, so it's settled then?" she asked.

"Hmm, let me see if I got it all correctly," Clark replied. "I need you" means help me please I'm super-horny right now; Let's hang out means can we fool around a bit - just specify where you want to do it; and most important of all, we can never get caught nor found out - ever?"

"Yes, exactly," Lana smiled, surprised that he even paid attention this whole time.

"Well everything sounds perfect," Clark smiled back and reached over to take her hands in his.

"Uhm..." Lana pulled her hands back to herself and nervously twiddled them again unconsciously. "...there's just one last thing though," she finished, unaware that she'd caught him offguard.

Uh-oh...here it comes - the devastating twist, Clark mentally winced and braced himself for her next words.

"I think it's best that we're not seen being all over each other in public..."

Can we scream, "OUCH!" O-u-c-h, Ouch! Altogether now..." Clark felt not only the pain but heard the big "pop". Well there goes his bubble. He's plummeting his way down into the ground now... Unsafe landing in 5...4...3...

Yet Lana continues to interrupt his pain. Oh, there's more. She's still talking.

"... You know, to ward off any suspicions. I think this thing between us could be a great thing but best kept as a secret just between you and me," she explained. At first she was unsure of what he'll say to this, but the contortions on his face say it all. She decides to wait for him to speak but at this point she sort'a expected him to back out already.

The uncomfortable silence rapidly cloaked the room once more.

Ouch, I knew it! The fine print always comes to bite you in the ass just as quickly, Clark kept thinking. This is my one chance to get close to her and get to know her but I CANNOT be seen with her. What the hell is the point again? (sigh) He gets his dream girl but like The Beast in that very famous story, he needed to remain hidden in the shadows. Well this picture sucks. For me, mostly.

Feeling dejected, he said weakly, "Uh, I don't know, Lana," while staring into empty space. Maybe she cannot stand to be seen with the likes of me? He sighed at the thought before getting a bit pissed. Fuck, am I really so hideous? Am I not good enough?... and is she really THAT shallow?

Inwardly huffing and puffing and feeling insulted, Clark took a quick, disappointed side-glance at Lana who sank into the corner of the couch, sighing to herself, while twiddling fingers nervously. For the past few hours that they've spent together so far she hasn't shown any signs at all of being shallow. In fact she's been the complete opposite of what he had originally thought she'd be like, which - in a breath was: snobby-snotty-aloof-and-so-full-of-herself, much like the people she surrounds herself with in her so-called "inner circle of friends". I mean, hey, don't birds of the same feather flock together?

Regardless. He still liked her. Okay…okay, Obsessed with a capital "O" would be the perfect word for it.

But the thing is this > she recently had fully surprised him and proved him wrong in many levels. Instead of normally bumbling and fumbling like the village idiot in her presence, he actually felt at ease with her, The Girl of His Dreams. She never once had spoken ill of anyone, nor spoken in a tone that put her in that "I'm-better-than-thou" category. She was actually fun and funny, naughty and seductive, really cool yet really hot.

Somehow she makes me feel like it's okay to be MYSELF around her. Oh God and she let me KISS her...AND TOUCH her...then she kissed me back...touched me back! All that can't be fake. Can it? In his thoughts, Clark couldn't help but doubt her real intentions.

In the meantime Lana said nothing, leaving him to think things through while she herself got lost in her own thoughts.

She knew this last bit would bite and kind of expected Clark to change his mind 'cause of it... Well if he did change his mind, then oh well...so be it, The deal will be off. (Ugh), the thought made her sad already.

But her reasons to keep things on the hush level between them made clear sense to her. She wanted this to last without having complications from the outside world. She could already see that once people find out how very close they both were getting, especially if those people included his parents and her Aunt Nell, they'd interject and tell them it had to end, and mostly because they're too young to be playing with fire.

All she wanted was to enjoy this little secret with Clark and be in their own little world, somewhere she could really be her true self… where she'd have someone to rage hormones with - without fear of being judged, without fear of being reprimanded. It IS too much to ask, she knew. She "can't have her cake and eat it, too". Damned ass cliché, but she knew that, too. Well, inspite of everything that was logical, she wanted to try anyway.

Besides, it's not like she went out of her merry way from out of the blue to ask some random guy to be naughty with her. Things already happened between Clark and her that led her to this direction. They are young, yes. But isn't this the time to have fun and throw all caution to the wind? Isn't this what youth is all about?

Lana sighed again and looked up at Clark. He was raking his fingers through his hair as he rested both elbows on his knees. Obviously he's having 2nd? 3rd? 100th thoughts about this. "Clark?" she cleared her throat to catch his attention, and he looked up and turned to her but didn't speak.

"You know, if you've changed your mind, it's okay. You can tell me. I'm not going to be mad at you or anything, just as I promised before," she calmly told him.

"No, Lana," he shook his said, barely finding his voice. "I...I haven't changed my mind," he continued. To his surprise his mouth seemed to have a mind of it's own, speaking for itself and by itself - beyond his control. Either that or his subconscious is speaking for him at this moment.

"I was just thinking..." he paused and hesitated.

"Thinking about...? Tell me, please?" she urged him to spit it out, although she knew deep inside that Clark wasn't one to openly voice out his personal thoughts. Then again, he recently had surprised her one too many times with many intimate "confessions" during these past few hours spent together. So who knows?

Deep inhale...then deep sigh. "Well," Clark began, looking directly into her eyes, in search for the truth in them. "I'm not sure but... are you intending to keep this a secret between us because... you're ashamed to be seen with me?"

"W-what?" she couldn't believe what she just heard him say. "Surely you didn't think that I'm really so shallow?" she retorted, shaking her head. Clark's silence confirmed her words.

"Clark, no, noooo. You're getting this all wrong," her voice changed, this time she spoke gentler and moved closer beside him on the other corner of the couch.

"I want to keep this a secret between us because I simply want to enjoy spending time with you and getting to know you without any complications from anyone else. You think if your parents and my aunt would find out how close we're getting that they'd allow us to continue getting any closer? And if our peers found out our dirty li'l secret, you think they won't start rumors and talk incessantly behind our backs or try to separate us because of it?"

Clark's brain instantly connected the dots and everything made clear sense. Ooooooh. Maaaaannnn. His face lit up as he replied, "Brilliant analogy... and of course you're right, Lana. I want the same things, too," Now why didn't I think of all that sooner? Oh wait. Hello, my name is Clark "half-brain-dead" Kent, he thought to himself and gave himself a mental dork-slap upside his head.

"Uhm..." He reached for her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. With puppy eyes he said, "I apologize for assuming you swam with the fish in shallow waters," he said, embarrassed at how feeble his mind worked. He now realized another thing: Lana Lang is wickedly awesome, no wonder she's got him so damn captivated. Now he knows that he should always give her the benefit of doubt.

He moved to wrap his arms around her. "Sorry Lana... but I just can't help doubt everything, you know. This between us... like I said, it feels like a dream."

"It's alright, Clark, I don't blame you for assuming the worst of me..." she said, gladly accepting his warm embrace before pinching his side, to his surprise. "And damn it, quit thinking that this is a dream."

Clark laughed and hugged her even tighter. After a moment, Clark pulls back, inhales deep and says, "You've got yourself a deal, Lana. And I promise to keep this a secret."

Lana smiled brightly and tried to contain herself... she seriously felt like pulling her top off then joyfully screaming, jumping and running around half-naked, like when Mia Hamm and the USA ladies soccer team did the first time they won gold at the Olympics.

With arms still wrapped around each other, Lana gave him an I-so-want-to-pounce-you-right-now shit-eating grin before saying, "Wanna a seal our deal?" And she wiggled her eyebrows at him.

Clark returned the same grin and, upon seeing the suggestive sparkle in Lana's eyes, felt a huge wave of sparks shooting their way through every nerve in his body. There was no mistaking it… he recognized the twinkle that shone in them 'cause he has had many of those as well, directed at her. It's like this: First you get The Look – complete with the "ding" sound chiming in time with the sparkle. And after that, you're transported to somewhere beyond... to the Really Naughty Corner.

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to be continued

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