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Chapter Six

Lois scanned the people gathered around where the food was, looking for Clark. Jimmy and Chloe had gone off to take photos and interview people for the Planet and she was feeling bored and abandoned. Somehow mentioning the Inquisitor wasn't getting her the interviews she hoped for. Well I'll just pick on Smallville for awhile before I try for that interview with Dr. Desantis. He's probably standing by the food feeling awkward anyway. Maybe he could make himself useful and get me something to eat. Lois didn't spot him right away so she let her eyes wander over the crowded room. When she found Clark her jaw dropped open in surprise.

Jimmy worked his way around the ballroom snapping pictures. He was hopeful he might even come up with some they'd print this time. Maybe even on the cover of the "Local" section. This charity ball was big news after all. He noticed people had started dancing and moved in that direction. Peering through the camera he zoomed in on couples and suddenly he froze. That couldn't be Clark could it? Who was that beautiful woman wrapped up in his arms? Jimmy lowered the camera and stared in surprise then broke into a delighted smile and lifted the camera back up to snap a picture. Way to go CK, he thought.

Chloe was talking with a group of women about their work raising funds for the hospital's improvements. It would be good to have a picture of these ladies, she thought, and she started looking around for Jimmy. When she found him she noticed he was staring at something and she followed his gaze to Clark, dancing, with a girl she'd never met. Her eyes opened wide at what she saw next and her first thought was, has Clark been exposed to red-K?

Maria relaxed in Clark's arms. She rested against him and let her body move with his while her mind floated peacefully in a haze of contentment. She could stay like this forever and that would be fine with her. She could feel his warm hands touching her, one on her waist and the other hand was softly stroking her back. Usually, on the rare occasions she had slow danced with a guy, she had been forced to pay attention to where their hands wandered and lay down some boundaries. Somehow, with Clark she knew that constant vigilance would not be necessary, he wouldn't go anywhere he wasn't invited, not that she wasn't thinking about inviting him sometime. Maria smiled and her eyes drifted closed as she felt his cheek rest lightly against her forehead.

Clark couldn't remember when he had last felt this good. Holding Maria close felt natural and right. He could feel her body melt into his and as her breathing calmed and her heartbeat slowed he felt his own body relaxing. He'd been under so much pressure this year and the weight seemed to keep piling on with no relief in sight but right now, in this moment, he was just here with Maria. Nothing else existed. Clark rested his cheek against her forehead, letting his eyes close for a moment.

The music stopped and the band announced it would be taking a break. Clark and Maria didn't notice the change at first but Clark looked up and stopped dancing when he noticed the nearly empty floor. Then he looked down at Maria. "I think the music's over for a while. Do you want something to eat?" he said softly.

Maria looked up at him like she was coming back into the world. She looked into his eyes and then her eyes dropped to his lips that were so close to her own. "Not really." She murmured, "Thank you for the dance." and then she smiled softly up at him. Her sweet smile and the way she was still leaning into him encouraged him and he kissed her without thought, as the most natural thing in the world.

It started as a sweet kiss, soft and gentle, sending a shiver up Maria's spine followed by a rush of heat that swept over her body. Maria responded by sliding her fingers into his hair and kissing him back. Clark deepened the kiss and Maria made a little sound of pleasure and opened her mouth to him, allowing him to explore as he wished. Clark's hands had moved up her back and now he held her tightly to him as he kissed her slowly and very thoroughly.

When he broke the kiss Maria had to cling to him to remain upright. Her knees felt like water and her heart was pounding. She needed a moment to catch her breath, it was coming out in little pants and she had to concentrate on taking a deep breath to calm down. "Wow," she said with a smile, a little embarrassed by her reaction. "I think I need to sit down before I fall down."

Clark needed a moment to regain his composure as well. His heart was thundering and he felt light headed. He grinned at Maria, "You're not the only one" and he guided them over to some nearby chairs. "Would you like something to drink?" he asked.

Maria nodded "Sparkling cider please Clark, thanks."

Clark was getting some sparkling cider for Maria and a Coke for himself when he heard a voice behind him say "So, who's the new flame Smallville? " Clark turned around to see Lois standing there with an odd expression on her face. For a moment she almost seemed jealous but Clark knew that couldn't be right. "and what's with the PDA? I thought you had to pine over a girl for years before you made your move for a kiss."

Clark turned red and Lois was delighted. "Well Lois, It just seemed like the thing to do at the time. She certainly didn't complain" He managed to say, trying for a confident, devil-may-care tone as he grinned down at Lois. Her mouth dropped open and she racked her brain for a response to this surprising new Clark Kent.

Before she had time to say anything Jimmy showed up. "Wow, Ck, I didn't know you had it in you!" and he slapped Clark on the back, then looked at his hand and rubbed it a bit.

"A lot of that going around" said Clark, looking at Lois.

"So who is this beautiful mystery woman, and do we get to meet her?" asked Jimmy.

"Her name is Maria Desantis and of course I'll introduce you." answered Clark happily.

Clark turned to walk back to Maria, drinks in hand, nearly walking into Chloe.

"Did you just say that her name is Maria Desantis?" asked Chloe looking worried "Lex's new pet scientist's daughter?"

"Hi Chloe! Careful, I almost gave you a bath." Clark grinned "Yes, her Mom works for Lex but don't let her hear you call her his pet. She's pretty protective of her Mom." Clark started to walk away. "Come on, I want you to meet her."

Chloe walked next to Clark, Jimmy followed and Lois hesitated then hurried to catch up. Grabbing his arm Chloe leaned in and whispered for Clark's ears only. "Are you sure you know what you're doing? Lex isn't trying to get at you is he?"

Clark looked at Chloe in surprise. "No Chloe. It's not like that at all" He smiled "believe me, I know Maria well enough to know she isn't working for Lex."

"Are you sure Clark? I mean, her Mom is a scientist, I wouldn't want you to wind up as her next lab rat." Chloe looked really worried and Clark found it annoying that she trusted his judgment so little. Still, he knew she meant well and he admitted it looked bad on the surface.

"Honest, Chloe, It's going to be fine. Just meet her. You'll see."

Maria closed her eyes and allowed herself to relive the past few moments. My God, that was some kiss, she thought, smiling to herself. A quiet voice interrupted her daydream "It's supposed to be a party. I'm sorry you find it so boring it puts you to sleep." Maria' s eyes popped open and she jumped a bit in her chair. "Mr. Luthor!" She exclaimed, "I'm sorry, I'm not bored, really. I was just resting a minute."

Lex smiled a knowing smile "Ah…well, that's understandable. How long have you known Clark Kent?"

Maria stared at him in surprise. She had the awful feeling he knew exactly what she had been thinking about. "I beg your pardon?" She said quietly, confused. Why would her mother's boss give a lick about who she danced with?

"I asked how long you've known Clark" Lex smiled at her with his mouth closed, his eyes were boring into hers as though he wanted to rip the answers out of her.

Maria remembered the day she met Clark and how he had warned her about Lex. The hairs on her neck stood up and she responded as vaguely as possible. "Oh, we met at the Talon a few days ago. I don't know him well at all."

Lex looked disappointed, "Well you certainly looked close on the dance floor."

Maria blushed, flustered, and then answered him abruptly. "Look, I don't know what this is about but even though you own the company my Mother works for you don't own me. So who I dance with is none of your concern."

Lex smiled again, a slow smile that didn't touch his eyes. "Calm down, I was just making conversation; excuse me; I should go check on my other guests." He held out his hand, "It was nice to meet you, Maria." Maria thought about not taking his hand but decided that would be too rude so she placed her hand in his very lightly. Lex grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. "Until we meet again." he said with a smirk.

Maria saw his eyes travel over her shoulder and his smile widened. Then he dropped her hand, turned and sauntered away. Maria let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding and turned around to see who Lex had been looking at. She saw Clark standing there with the people he had been talking to earlier. Maria gasped at the look on Clark's face. He looked pale and sick; the look in his eyes was so sad it brought tears to hers. "Clark, what's wrong?" she asked softly with her face full of concern.

Clark felt stunned and for a moment he couldn't catch his breath. The sight of Lex, with his lips against Maria's hand felt like a blow to his heart. Lex's gloating smile just made it worse, like he knew something Clark didn't. Did Maria know Lex? What had they been talking about so intimately? Clark swallowed and tried to answer Maria's question in a normal tone of voice. He couldn't bring himself to look her in the eyes as he said "I'm fine Maria. I just wanted to introduce you to my friends." And he smiled unconvincingly then turned away from her to gesture at them and bring them forward.

Maria stood up and went to Clark, trying to catch his eye but he was looking at Chloe. "Maria, this is Chloe, Jimmy and Lois, my good friends." He turned to gesture to her "This is Maria." and he looked in her eyes now but his look was distant, as if he was looking at a stranger and even his smile left Maria with a cold feeling in her stomach that she couldn't understand. She shook hands with his friends in a haze and said polite things but her mind was on Clark and puzzling out what was bothering him.

After a few minutes of strained conversation Lois excused herself asking Maria, "Do you think your Mom would mind doing an interview with me?"

Maria studied Lois. In spite of her first impression that she was rude and inconsiderate Maria found herself drawn to Lois and enjoyed her tendency to speak her mind honestly without censoring it. "No she wouldn't mind, in fact, I think she would like you. Do you want me to make introductions?"

"I'm fine." stated Lois, "there isn't a shy bone in my body. You stay here and dance with Clark, God knows he needs the practice."

Chloe and Jimmy also excused themselves. "We're here to work. We should make an effort to do something." said Chloe, looking at Clark with concern before she turned to walk away with Jimmy.

Left alone with Maria, Clark avoided her eyes again and started to make excuses of his own to leave. "Clark, before you go I want to say I really enjoyed spending time with you tonight." and Maria reached out and took his hands. "I wish you'd tell me what's wrong, and don't say nothing, you're a terrible liar." Clark just looked at her. How could he explain the way Lex made him feel?

"Also Clark, I don't know why, or what has gone on between you and Lex but he sure seems interested in knowing all about you and it doesn't seem like friendly interest to me."

"Is that what you were talking about?" asked Clark. "Yes," she said with a shiver, "and it was weird but when he kissed my hand it was more like an attack on you than a kiss for me, if that makes any sense."

"It makes perfect sense," said Clark with a look of relief on his face. Then he smiled at Maria and it was like the sun breaking through the clouds. "I'm going to have to leave soon, we get up early on the farm, but I want to see you again. Would you like to go out, um, next Friday, maybe?"

Maria grinned at Clark. "Yes!" she said a little too loudly. Maria cleared her throat, way to lay hard to get, she thought, and then continued in a more calm voice. "What time would you like me to be ready?"

Clark noticed his Mom signaling she was ready to go. He nodded then looked back at Maria "Seven o'clock okay?"

"That would be great Clark." Maria replied, I bet I'm still grinning like a fool, she thought, not exactly keeping my cool here. "I can't wait." And Clark kissed her again, a light, gentle kiss that melted her where she stood. Then he left with his mother. Maria went and found her chair again. "Wow." She murmured quietly.

To be continued…