Author's Notes: In this next chapter, Lois and Clark have come a long way in a short amount of time, but Clark does not think she is ready to take that next step, but neither is he, considering his inexperience in that area. A slight diversion is in order like another visit to Smallville. Please read and review and a comment would be nice too. Thank you.

~o~o~

Chapter 4: Just What I Need

Still in the Conference Room:

Lois and Clark are kissing and caressing both enjoying it. Clark felt as if they could do this now and until forever, but he did not think that she is ready for this; it appeared the right time now. He managed to stop kissing her, although it was the last thing he wanted. He pulled away, but they needed to talk.

"That was amazing, but." He hesitated.

Still in a daze, she opened her eyes. "What is it? Is anything wrong?"

"No nothing is wrong. Let us sit down for a minute." Earlier today, he thought of his parents and how they would feel about Lois and him together when only weeks ago, he brought her there unaware of his identity. They sat down then he took her hand.

"I have been thinking about us, and we should take more time to think before we." He hesitated again.

She got the point. "Before we have sex again? Is that what you were thinking?"

"Yes, but it is not that I do not want to, but we both agreed that our first time is one we wish to forget." He paused, hating to mention that night. "It is there between us causing issues and concerns. I do not want our second time to be anything like that."

"Oh, I do agree but what do we do, I mean, we kiss, and hug and it can lead to other things."

"That is true, we should not kiss at the office and that may help, and we can control those urges until it is the right place and time."

"How do you think we can do that? We have this connection and when we kiss, it is becoming difficult for us to stop kissing, but you know what I mean. I cannot resist you because you are entirely too attractive and that body of yours." She paused and thought about it. "I remember when I saw you at your place, you opened the door unaware of the effect you have on anyone. You stood there half-naked, and I cannot get that image out of my mind, and of course, I remember the night when we did it."

"Lois, please calm down. Now as I said we will refrain from kissing and hugging at the office and that will help."

But she liked kissing him at the office; she did not want to give that up. That is not going to work, she thought, then, "Clark, have you ever had sex with anyone, I mean, besides me?"

"No, Lois, you were my first," he replied and bowed his head.

"Oh, Clark," she said and squeezed his hand. "Please do not feel embarrassed of not having sex until you are ready and with the right person."

"You were the right person, at least, since we met."

"Okay, that is a sweet thing to say, but we are getting off topic. We need a distraction, besides work. Any ideas?"

"How would you feel about returning to Smallville?" She did not look thrilled. "We can tell my parents that we are seeing each other, and nothing about that night. We also can tell them that you know my secret and that is all."

She sighed then thought of their last visit. "Clark, I remember when we were there before and they thought we were a couple, but we were not. Now that we are 'seeing each other' they will expect that we will sleep together in the same bed."

"Lois, come on, we are adults, and we can sleep together without having sex."

Is he serious? She wondered. She threw up her hands. "Alright, but I am warning you, do not get any ideas and you know what I mean. No kissing and hugging, none of that, or you will be sorry." He seemed confused. "Look, think of it as a business trip, then we can get through this weekend without any trouble."

He sighed, took off his glasses, rubbed his tired eyes and thought, we are in serious trouble.

~o~o~

Two days later in Smallville:

A long weekend seemed like an idea to fix those issues Lois mentioned that they should have no contact, stay at a hotel for two nights and book two rooms. His parents will be disappointed, but they told them that they are there on business concerning land development or something.

After checking in, they arrived at the farm to visit his parents for dinner that first night. They were welcomed with open arms and a lovely dinner. Martha noticed how quiet they were, then she thought something was not right.

"You two are quiet even more so during your last visit. Is there anything you wish to tell us?" Martha asked.

"Lois and I are seeing each other for the past few weeks," Clark blurted out.

"That is great news and is there anything else?" Martha asked and glanced at her husband.

Lois answered for him. "Clark told me the truth not long after we returned from our last visit."

"Oh, that is surprising," Jonathan commented, thinking Lois knows now what? He wondered.

"Yes, it was, but Clark felt I should know because we have become close, working together every day, and he wanted me to know the truth. Isn't that right Clark?"

"Yes, I wanted you to know more than anything," he replied as they stared at each other.

Martha and Jonathan did not know what was happening between them, but it is serious. There was no mistaking that at all. It could be more than Lois knowing the truth, but what could it be? Martha wondered and Jonathan gave her a look and wondered the same thing.

"Anyone for dessert, apple pie ala-mode?" Martha asked after that telling statement from her son.

"I would love some," Lois replied.

"Me too," Clark replied, still staring at her.

"Jonathan, can you help me please?" Martha left the dining room and they both cleared the dishes.

"I am sorry, Lois," Clark whispered.

"No, I am alright," she said.

In the kitchen, Martha commented. "It is not going well since he told her. They seemed fine the last time now look at them. I feel awful," Martha whispered getting upset.

"Yeah, they need help, but not sure what we could do to help them," Jonathan said also worried. "There must be something we can do."

Minutes later, holding hands, Lois and Clark came into the kitchen. "Guys, you do not need to whisper. We know you are worried about us, and it has been an adjustment, but we will work this out. Please do not worry."

"We love you both and we want you to be happy." Martha is on the verge of tears. Jonathan put his arm around her shoulder.

"We are happy, but Clark is right. We will work this out; I promise," Lois said and gave each of them a hug.

"Now where's the pie and ice cream?" Clark asked to lighten the mood.

"Coming right up; meet you in the living room," Jonathan replied and opened the fridge and put together dessert.

Now seated in the living room, Lois and Clark on the sofa, his parents opposite them, they ate dessert and talked of other things, the Planet, Clark's issue with people worried about him and his effect on the weather and nonsense like that. They laughed about it now, but it became a genuine issue. Clark wanted to stay the night, but his Mom seemed fine with their decision.

At the door, she explained. "Son, we understand about wanting to stay in town, of course, your new status requires privacy in your own space alone."

"Thanks, Mom, Dad for understanding. We will call you tomorrow."

"Good night, and thank you for the lovely dinner," Lois said.

"Good night," Martha said as they watched them enter their car and drive away. She shut the door, thinking of them all evening, turned to her husband, then she knew the truth. "Jonathan, they're in love. I sensed it the last time they were here. Oh, my goodness, our son is in love." Her eyes watered.

He pulled her close happy for them. "Yes, I got that feeling too. That must be the reason they were quiet during dinner, plus the truth is out, and it must be hard to balance those feelings."

She pulled away. "Yes, that is it. But do you wonder why he told her now, I mean, he never mentioned it to us that he was thinking about it; not one word. That is strange."

"Yes, we can ask him later why now, but it truly does not matter. Lois knows the truth." He paused. "Nothing we can do about it now but wait for them to work this out." He paused still worried. "Do you think they will?"

"Yes, they will, but it will take time," she replied sure of it.

He pulled her close. "Yes, more time."

~o~o~

Meanwhile, Lois and Clark were in the car, then, "Pull over," Lois said.

"Right here, but what is it?" Clark asked and pulled over before they left the property.

She left the car and looked back at the farm. "I had forgotten how beautiful it is out here."

He came up and stood beside her. "Yes, it is." He dared to take her hand.

She looked down at their joined hands and thought of their first visit. "I remember how carefree and happy you were back then, and I was too." She paused remembering. "But we are not the same people; we've changed."

"Yes, a lot has happened since then," he agreed. Both thinking of their lives before that night.

"It's late, we should go," she said but did not release his hand.

He was the first to let go. "Okay."

~o~o~

Back at the hotel in separate rooms:

Both exhausted from the long drive to Smallville, plus the strain of seeing his parents again, they were in bed thinking of the other all alone and his parents and how upset they were about their new status.

Well, Lois was thinking about it. She knows the truth now and everything has changed. She had set the rules of no physical contact of any kind. Now in bed alone, her mind returned to their talks at her place, their kisses in the conference room and in the elevator too.

"Go to sleep," she whispered to herself repeatedly, but she could not sleep. An hour later with no rest, decision made, she called him to say good night. "Hey, are you awake?"

"Yes, I cannot sleep." He stood in the middle of the room pacing and staring at the bed, needing her with him like that drug in his system, unable to think of anything else.

"Me neither," she said, heart pounding with anticipation.

A minute of awkward silence, then, "There's a bar downstairs; can we meet and talk?" Clark asked, but his mind was on other things. He had to wonder if she felt the same way, but then her no-contact rules came into his mind. He had to get out of this room, but the bed with her in it waiting was calling to him.

"Okay, meet you there," she replied, and it could be the worst mistake, then thought of his rules of the right time and place, but she did not care; she needed to see him right now.

Ten minutes later, he is on the first floor waiting for her by the elevators. Impatient, he glanced at his watch thinking she may have changed her mind.

A minute later, she stepped off the second elevator, but she did not see him. Where is he? Did he change his mind? She wondered. She pushed the button, but the other elevator door opened and there he is.

They stared for a moment, but before the door closed again, he pulled her inside and then they kissed passionately, pulling each other close, kissing, and hugging unable to get close enough. The doors closed but the elevator did not move.

To catch their breaths, foreheads touching, she whispered. 'Your room or mine?" Lois asked between kisses on his cheek and throat.

"Mine," he replied and pushed the floor button.

A minute later, the doors opened, he took her hand, at the door, he opened it and then they were inside staring at the bed. Clark could not wait another minute and pulled her close and kissed her deeply. Still kissing, they undressed quickly, in bed under the covers. They turned to face each other.

"Clark, this is where I wanted to be, in bed with you."

In each other's arms, "Me too. Are we ready for this?"

"It is a little late to ask that question, but yes, we are," she replied and kissed him deeply, pulling him close and when their bodies finally touched hip to thigh and their legs entwined, it was like coming home at last. Then the words. He pulled her closer.

"I think about you a little more than I should," Clark whispered close to her cheek. "This is the last time we will talk about that night. This will be our first time."

She nodded, pulling him closer, loving being this close to him.

"I am ready, but only one thing will remain." He paused. "I love you, Lois."

Her eyes watered. "I love you, Clark."

They both breathed in the other, taking in this moment because of their busy lives, they knew it would be a while before they could be together like this again.

"Oh, Clark, just kiss me; kiss me," she breathed getting increasingly excited by his kisses. This is what she had been waiting for ... longing for, she admitted to herself. Clark groaned at her responses as her hand made its way to his erection. He kissed her hard then as passion burst to sweet life between them, her arms were around his neck, and she held him tightly to her feeling weak with desire. His hand roamed over her curves and then he touched her there, his fingers moving over her folds that were slick with desire for him.

"You know you like it." She was so responsive to his touch. He touched and kissed her everywhere he could reach, her beautiful breasts, her arms, her long legs, and firm thighs then back to her breasts again and lingered there for minutes. Lois was touching him too. Her hands were in his hair, encouraging him, on his shoulders, down his arms, and his thighs, touching that part of him that was so ready and willing. Clark moaned. Lois was touching him.

"Oh, yes, I remember what you said that I like to be on top; it's true!" She gasped when his finger slid smoothly inside her body. His mouth consumed her cries as he continued to caress her from within. Lois wove her fingers into his hair and clutched him to her, sobbing her need for him. He had to have her, as he pressed gently against her opening easing his way inside. He closed his eyes in pleasure as her liquid heat closed around him.

He continued to kiss her and dipped his tongue inside her mouth, and she eagerly kissed him back moaning softly. Her hands continued to explore his body caressing him and responding to him. The next thing he knew, she is on top of him, kissing him with the same enthusiasm from that night; he loved it.

Lois felt lost in her feelings. She had wanted this longer than she realized. But then the kiss in the conference room told her his true feelings. She was the one who had doubts about them and whether he genuinely cared for her or stay with her, and now here they were. Soon he moved back inside her body. "Yes, right there."

She cried out with the sheer joy of it, accepting every inch of him. He groaned her name and flipped her over onto her back bringing her with him throwing her into ecstasy.

Lois felt the fire burn low in her belly and it grew hotter as Clark pressed back into her then he repeated the motion and she moaned loudly then, in pleasure.

Clark was with her every step of the way, as she clung to his shoulders as his rhythm increased, riding the crest of his passion.

"Clark!" She cried out as her climax burst upon her, washing over her in waves. He continued to kiss her drawing out the sweetness of their lovemaking for long moments. He slowly left her body, rolled to his back bringing her with him and held her close to his side.

Lois was quiet, a bit too quiet.

He did not know what to say, but he had to say those words again. "I love you, Lois."

Smiling, she closed her eyes and let those words wash over her again like a balm to her aching soul. Tears blinded then she whispered, "I love you too."

Soon they both fell asleep.

~o~o~

Morning came but she at once decided to cancel her room and move in with him for the rest of their stay. He helped with her bag, and they returned to bed to eat breakfast. Both wearing relaxing clothes and feeling excited about their status and of course what all of it could mean going forward, but mostly to relax and enjoy it.

While eating, Clark commented. "I was thinking of calling my parents and let them know that we are fine and will make another trip later in the year around the holidays."

"Sounds good." She sipped her coffee, and she was thinking about the Planet and how awkward it has been since that night. "We need an office. I'm tired of sneaking around meeting in the conference room every time we need to talk, like we did something wrong."

"Yeah, we are partners, and I was thinking the same thing." Clark agreed.

"As far as Perry giving us an office, he can be a little rough around the edges, but I think he is a softy, and he cannot show that side to anyone."

"You ask him about the office. I have not been there that long, and I think he kind of loves you in his own way."

"Oh, well, you could say that, but it's more like 'tough love' to keep me on my toes."

"Yes, that is true, and he treats everyone that way." He paused. "Are you finished?"

"Yes, all done." She grabbed a slice of toast. She watched him then she had a question. "Do you know how to cook?"

"Yes, but why would you ask me that?"

"Well, I never learned. My mom was an amazing cook. We lived with my father half the year after they divorced. My father never hired a house cleaner or a cook, or anyone to help us. He assumed we were old enough to cook for ourselves and he never bothered to ask if we wanted to cook or anything."

"I'm sorry honey, but I can teach you."

"Well, sure, I guess I can learn how to boil an egg. Thank you, Clark." Then, she said, "You called me honey. That's so sweet."

After moving the dishes to the hotel tray, they decided to relax for a while. "Okay, I'm ready to spend the rest of the day in bed," he said and picked up the remote.

"Relaxing sounds like a plan, but are we still going to your parents for lunch then head back to Metropolis?"

"No, we have one more night, and then back home," he replied switching channels.

"But we do not need another night; we are fine now."

"No, we need this; one more night; that's it."

Something is not right, she thought. "Clark, what's wrong?"

He sighed and turned off the television, and he turned to face her. "Do you ever wonder why I have no friends or even a love life?"

"After what you told me, yes, I admit that I did wonder why."

"It's simple. I did not enjoy my powers, flying around or any of it. These powers that I have, at first, I hated them; all of it."

"I suppose I can imagine what you went through to experience gaining powers at such an immature age."

"It was awful. My parents had no idea what I was or where I had come from."

"Did they reject you in some way or?"

"No, they did not reject me but tried to help me adjust. When I first arrived here barely able to walk, they took me in, adopted me, gave me a name, and loved me from that first day. Then my powers arrived one at a time, but there was nothing they could do, but watch me almost die from accepting this world, meaning how to breathe. The people who could take me away or conduct experiments on me, they kept me hidden from the world for a long time."

She took his hand. "They saved you from all of it." Lois concluded feeling sad for him.

He squeezed her hand. "Yes, they did."

"Is that why you wanted to stay here for one more day?"

He raised his sad eyes to her face. "I know it was silly."

"No, it is not silly. We can stay one more day."

"You mean it?"

"Of course, I do. Now we can relax for a while and watch television; come back to bed."

"Okay." He did as she says.

Lois called Martha and told her they would be there for dinner. She understood.

"Thank you, Lois." Back in bed, he pulled her close and kissed her cheek, then the words. "I love you."

Holding him close, she whispered back, "I love you too."

TBC!

~o~o~

Song Inspiration: You Give Good Love, Whitney Houston.

A/N: I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed writing this chapter. His parents figured it out before they did. Lois and Clark talking about their first day working together drew me in because they did hit it off as friends from the first and did enjoy the show. I have more assignments for them and chapters to write. Thanks for reading and please comment. Thanks again.