AU. This would take place after "Echo." Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own.
"Damn it, Lois, get back here! I'm trying to talk to you!"
"Not interested." She kept walking, through the bullpen, past their desks, and toward the stairs. The elevators left too much time for him to catch up, though he was right on her heels.
"Too bad! You're going to hear me out."
"I don't care what you have to say. It's none of my business what you do or who you do."
Clark caught her arm when she'd gotten up a couple steps up and spun her around. She lost her balance, but he caught her easy. Her eyes were narrowed and glaring, and her lips were pressed into a thin line. And God help him, he found it sexy.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I need you to listen, Lois. I didn't mean for anything to happen with her. She just—"
"What part of 'I don't care' are you not understanding?" she snapped.
"Lois, please—"
"No, kiss whomever you want. The more, the merrier!"
"But I want to kiss you!"
Lois snapped back like she'd been hit, her heels knocking into the step behind her on the staircase. The way they were standing, Clark one step below her, they were at eye level, and his look appeared sincere, but she still couldn't believe what she just heard.
"What?"
His eyes were wide, nervous. "I-I want you."
"Clark—"
"I'm sorry about what just happened with Lauren. She ambushed me. I didn't know what she was planning."
Lois wasn't sure how to respond. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. She'd been ready to storm off after catching Clark and Lauren from Human Resources pressed up against the copy machine, lips fused in a passionate tangle. Granted, it did look like Clark was trying not to touch her while Lauren forcefully pushed her ample chest against him, but Lois had seen enough. When Clark noticed her in the doorway, he'd quickly pushed Lauren off him and chased after Lois.
"I swear, I didn't mean for that to happen," he emphasized.
Lois took in his slightly disheveled appearance and let out a heavy sigh, suddenly wary. "Whatever, Smallville." She turned to leave, but his grip on her arm pulled her back.
"No, you have to believe me. I don't want anyone but you."
"Look, I know we've been flirting a lot lately, toeing the line of our friendship, but maybe the reason nothing's happened between us is because we know it wouldn't work."
"That's not why," he said, moving onto the same step she stood.
Lois moved up another step, trying to create some distance between them, but he wouldn't let her get far. "And I've been thinking a lot about this and I do agree it's not a good idea."
"I never said it wasn't a good—"
"And you know, I've been in this weird place with you long enough, and you standing me up, well, I think it's time to draw a line in the sand."
He didn't mean to be so aggressive, really. But sometimes Lois brought out his inner Kal without the use of red K. Fed up with her rambling, he'd gripped her shoulders and pulled her in close, so close that their noses were just barely touching. Her eyes grew wide and a little gasp escaped her.
"Do you ever stop talking?" he husked.
"I…think you've known me long enough to know the answer to that question."
He could hear the slight tremble in her voice. It pleased him. "I think I should find new ways to shut you up then."
"Clark, what are you—"
He leaned in the rest of the way and claimed her lips with his in a slow, deep kiss. Lois's head began to spin, and her knees weakened, allowing Clark to pull her against him and wrap his arms around her waist. His lips were so soft, and it undid her. She pressed in closer and returned the kiss with fervor, her hands sliding up into his hair. It was like a dream—until she drew in a much-needed breath and got a whiff of Lauren's perfume still clinging to his shirt.
Quickly, she pulled back, pushing at his shoulders when he followed her movement.
"Lois," he murmured. His eyes were lidded, lips swollen, and he was looking at her in a way that made her insides melt.
"You-you smell like her."
The lust-filled gaze disappeared. He let her go and sniffed at his collar. "God, I'm sorry."
"It's…It's fine," she said, taking a step back. "I gotta go."
"No, Lois, wait." He caught her around the waist, stopping her departure.
"Clark, please. I have to go."
"Why?"
"It's late. I wanna go home, get some sleep."
Clark lifted a hand to brush some hair away from her face. "I kissed you."
Lois blinked. "Y-yeah, you did."
"I wanna do it again." He leaned in close, almost brushing her lips with his.
"No," she whispered, eyes drifting closed.
"Why not?"
She placed her hands on his chest, trying to keep him at bay. "It would change things. We wouldn't be able to go back." Things have already changed, Lois reminded herself.
"I don't want to go back," he said.
"Clark—"
"All I want to do is this right here. And I don't want to take it back." Then he kissed her, hard.
Lois responded immediately, despite her protests. Her arms encircled his shoulders and she kept kissing him, kept coming back each time their lips parted for breath. The moment stretched on for a while; Clark had even turned their bodies so that he could press Lois against the staircase railing. It was everything he'd imagined, the faint memories of kissing her before paled in comparison to kissing her now, while they were both of sound mind. But then, his ears picked up a nearby cry for help and as always, duty called him away.
Pulling back from Lois's succulent lips, he sighed. "I have to go. I'm sorry."
"What?" Her voice was breathy, and her look was heavy with desire. It made him want to bury himself in her and never leave.
"I'll see you in the morning."
"Clark," she called as he jogged up the steps and disappeared out the door.
(((o)))
What the hell was that?
Lois had just walked through the door of her apartment. She dropped her bag onto a chair and kicked off her heels. She didn't bother putting on the lamplight, the Talon's neon sign providing muted light across the space. She pulled off her jacket and headed to the bathroom. Maybe a hot shower would help clear the lingering lust from her body because she couldn't seem to think about anything but Clark's kiss.
Kisses, plural.
As she turned the faucet on in the tub, she considered her next course of action. Her first instinct would be to head for the hills. However, she had a big story that was close to breaking any day now. There was no way she could leave it just to avoid Clark. There was also no way she could talk to him about what transpired tonight, either. Talk about turning the awkward dial all the way up. She wouldn't even know where to begin. Clark had been so different tonight; so demanding, assertive…sexy.
No, no. That is completely dangerous thinking. Don't go there.
He'd also run off on her. He had a bad habit of doing that. Where the hell did he always run off to anyway? Lois wasn't sure what to make of his odd behavior as she continued to get ready for bed. Warm and refreshed from her shower, she pulled on a red plaid shirt—she refused to acknowledge who it originally belonged to—and quickly blow-dried her hair. Then she climbed between cool sheets and attempted to shut her mind, and heart, off.
(((o)))
He really stepped in it.
Clark had finally gathered up the courage to declare his feelings for the indomitable Lois Lane, finally planting a big one on her, then promptly left her without explanation. Right in the middle of kissing her. She was going to kick his ass, for sure. How was he going to clarify what happened? No excuse he came up with sounded good.
He knew what she would think with him just running off, that he had changed his mind about wanting her. That couldn't be further from the truth, though. In fact, he was finding it harder and harder to deny just how much he wanted to be with Lois. It was becoming an all-consuming need. Kissing her just felt so right, and he wanted more.
That was all he could think about all night and as he walked down the steps of the Daily Planet the next morning. When he reached the bullpen, he didn't see Lois at her desk, but her computer was on and her bag was sitting on her chair. He casually looked around as he made his way to his own desk. Soon, his eyes caught sight of her through the window of the copy room. She was standing beside the copy machine talking to someone…talking to Ben from accounting. Clark's eyes narrowed as he watched the good-looking blonde rake a hand through his hair, laughing at something Lois said. She, too, was sporting a smile, and that made something in Clark's stomach twist. They looked awfully chummy and he didn't like it one bit. She was just kissing him last night, for crying out loud! But then he left. Clark grimaced. He didn't really have a right to be upset over whomever Lois was smiling at, but still, he was upset. He had to fix it.
He'd made his way across the bullpen and entered the copy room, overhearing a bit of Ben and Lois's conversation.
"I'd love to take you sometime if you're interested," Ben said.
"Oh, uh—"
"Lois," Clark cut in before she could answer. "Can I talk to you?"
Ben looked behind him to see Clark standing very tensely in the doorway. His expression was hard, and he was borderline glaring at him. Ben chuckled nervously and turned back to Lois. "We can finish this up later," he told her.
Lois smiled awkwardly at him, then he left the room. "Well, if it isn't Mr. Cut-and-Run," she said, turning her attention back to the copier.
"Look, Lois, about last night—"
"No need to explain, Smallville. Whatever pheromones Lauren slipped you clearly had a side effect that led to our little mishap. Let's just pretend it never happened and move on, okay?"
Clark nearly growled. She was not getting away so easily. "No, it's not okay." He stepped closer to her. "Lois, I wanted to kiss you. Everything that happened last night, I wanted it to happen."
She looked up at him. "Like kissing Lauren?"
"No! Not that part. I meant with you."
She shook her head and began grabbing her copies. He took them from her, however, and placed them back down before taking her hand. He gently, but firmly, led her away from the windows and through the hall toward the supply room.
"Clark, what the hell?" she snapped.
He didn't say anything until he was able to successfully lock her in the room with him. "Lois, please, just let me explain."
She crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips but didn't say anything.
His face twisted into a slight grimace. "Okay, maybe I can't exactly explain why I had to leave, but I promise you that I didn't want to."
She scoffed. "Is that the best you can do?" He opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off. "You don't have to try to spare my feelings, Clark. You can say that you changed your mind or that you got caught up in the moment, or whatever."
He advanced toward her. "I'm not trying to spare your feelings. And I was caught up, in you. Lois, I know I'm not making it easy to understand what I feel or why I do what I do, but I need you to know that I want us to be together."
"Together as in…"
"A couple," he clarified.
"Clark," she laughed a little nervously. "I have done this dating thing wrong so many times. And I can't mess up and lose you."
"Who says we'll mess it up?"
"Hello, it's me! And you, and…have you really thought this through?"
"Lately all I do is think about you," he responded, moving closer to her. "And I think we have the potential to be amazing."
"H-how can you be so sure?"
"Because we've made it this far," he smiled. He was standing right in front of her, brushing his knuckles across her cheek. "It can only get better from here."
A shudder moved through her at his proximity, words escaping her.
"Lois, I've never felt this way before, ever. We've always had this weird connection even when we couldn't stand each other, and I think it's because we were fighting our attraction to each other the whole time."
"Pfft, speak for yourself, Smallville."
Clark grinned at that. "I'm tired of fighting it, though. I don't want to pretend anymore that I'm not crazy about you."
She looked into his eyes and could see the sincerity. "Really?" she asked.
He smiled at her in the way that always turned her insides to mush. She couldn't deny it anymore, either. Her heart had belonged to Clark for much longer than she'd like to admit, but it was useless to fight her feelings now. She was completely hooked. All she wanted at this point was to bury herself in his arms and kiss him senseless. So that's what she did.
Her mouth crashed against his as she slung her arms around his neck. Clark responded without pause, hauling her roughly against his body. She let out a moan and he took the opportunity to kiss her deeper, his tongue sneaking past her lips. If she thought his kisses were drugging before…
"Mmm, you drive me crazy," she breathed as she pulled away after some time.
"So, does this mean we're dating?"
Lois smiled. "Yes, Smallville, it does. But be warned, it won't be easy."
"Is anything with you ever easy?" he teased.
"Careful, or I will let Lauren have you."
Clark grimaced at the memory of the intensely demanding woman. Lauren hadn't exactly made her attraction to him a secret since she'd joined the company two months ago, but he'd never anticipated that she'd just throw herself at him. "Please don't." That made her laugh and kiss him again. "By the way, what did Ben want?"
"Oh, he knows about this cover band that plays Whitesnake songs on Thursday nights. He was asking if I wanted to go."
"Like on a date?"
Lois's lips ticked up at the corners. "Well, I assume so."
"And you told him no, right?"
"I didn't get the chance to say anything. I was rudely interrupted and then dragged against my will in here!"
Clark at least had the courtesy to look a little guilty. His eyes turned big and round like a puppy and she couldn't help but want to kiss his pouting lips. "I had to get you to listen to me."
"Well, are we done now? I have a story to write."
Clark wrapped his arms tighter around her. "Do I have to let you go?"
"If you want us to keep our jobs, yes."
He sighed and nodded, leaning in for one more kiss. "Okay, fine. But will you agree to let me take you to this Whitesnake thing?"
Lois gave him a look. "You want to listen to Whitesnake?"
"If it means being with you, yes," he answered with a smile.
She swooned a bit, but quickly covered it up with a smirk. "Very smooth, Smallville, but that's not going to get you out of taking me to a monster truck rally. You owe me."
Clark shook his head, amused. "Don't worry, Lois. I will make it up to you."
"Can't wait to see how," she responded, her gaze dropping to his lips.
He swallowed thickly. "Let's go before someone discovers we're missing."
He let her go and she went ahead of him, exiting the supply room. He watched her go, mesmerized. She was something else, and now all his.
"Hey, Lois. You're gonna tell Ben no, right?"
She tossed a smirk over her shoulder and kept walking.
"Lois!"
Thank you for reading.