Thank you for the reviews! This one was tricky to write so please let me know what you think. I switch locations/perspectives in it. I hope it's not too hard to follow. Enjoy!

Stars and Water

Chapter 14

Clark and Maria giggled a little nervously as they both stepped out of their shoes and socks and stood barefoot on the cool tiles. The bathroom seemed unusually bright and Clark lit the candle in the bathroom with his eyes and turned off the light, casting the room in a dim and flickering glow. Maria looked at the floor, feeling suddenly unsure of herself and what she had gotten into. Clark lifted her chin with gentle fingers and looked into her eyes. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked softly. Suddenly all her hesitation vanished at the love and concern she saw in his gaze.

She looked into his eyes and placed all her trust in him as she answered with a quiet, "Yes." She saw his expression of love and longing and recognized a momentary flash of light in his eyes as he looked at her.

"This has got to go." she exclaimed as she started to hug him but stopped at the crunch of his burnt clothing. Tugging on the blackened fabric Maria eased him out of the rags of his jacket and dropped it near the door. Next she grabbed the bottom of his once blue T-shirt and pulled what was left of it over his head. There was an awkward moment where she needed his help because he was too tall for her to reach and the shirt got stuck. He grinned at her and she giggled a little, her eyes wide at the sight of his rippling muscles as he tossed his shirt aside. Then she sneezed again, startling then both as the candlelight flickered and the pile of clothes grew.

Lex's voice slurred with anger and alcohol as he gave the instructions to the team he had quickly assembled. He showed them the picture of Maria and gave them all of the information he had on her movements. He finished his instructions with the words "I want her alive, she's no good as a bargaining chip if she's dead. Understood?" The men nodded sullenly but what did he care. They weren't paid to like their assignments, just to carry them out.

There was grumbling as the men left and if he had bothered to listen he would have heard the one named Matt muttering to his partner Scott, "We aren't paid enough to be kidnappers, damn it. I signed on for security detail because he paid more than the police department and the wife wanted a nicer house. I never signed on to hurt some poor woman who never did anyone any harm.

"Yeah," Scott agreed, "none of us like it but don't let him hear you say that or your daughter will be the next target."

Matt grumbled something about bald heads making good targets too but Scott's gesture shut him up as they walked by some other employees.

Clark adjusted the water so it would be comfortable for Maria and held her hand as she stepped into the tub so she wouldn't slip. They stood letting the water flow over them for a minute and then took turns washing each other's hair. It was easy for Clark to reach Maria's hair to work in the shampoo. He'd never washed long hair before so he enjoyed playing with it as the soap made it slippery. When he used his fingertips on Maria's scalp he heard her sigh and he turned it into a little massage, delighted to see her relax under his hands.

When Maria's turn came it was a little more challenging because Clark was so tall but she managed, running her fingers over his scalp and scratching lightly, making little circles with her fingertips until he almost purred with pleasure.

Then Maria got the washcloth and soap. "You first, you're the one who still has soot stains on his skin." She said, looking with appreciation at the beautiful skin that she was about to wash.

She started with his face. Using very little soap she lightly washed the black streaks off his smooth forehead, pushing his wet curls out of the way and being careful not to get soap in his, now closed eyes. Then she smoothed his cheeks and ran the wash cloth along his jaw, kissing his chin when she was done. Finally she gave his nose a swipe, giggling as she polished away a black mark on the tip.

Then Clark took the other wash cloth and with an incredibly light touch for such strong hands he washed her face, stroking her cheek bones and kissing her forehead when he was done. He kissed her closed eyes delicately and then his mouth was on hers, kissing her deeply, burying his hands in her wet curling hair and devouring her like a man who's been starving. He became a little rougher and more insistent when she responded eagerly, pressing her hips against him and moving restlessly.

At her movement Clark stopped abruptly, leaving Maria feeling confused. "Clark what's wrong?" Maria asked in a daze, "Why did you stop?"

"Maria I'm afraid I might hurt you. I don't know what will happen if I ummm… if I loose control." Clark was blushing furiously, his heart pounded, his breathing was uneven and she could feel his body shaking as he held himself back. "Maria I don't know if I can do this." He whispered.

Maria looked at him and she could see fear mixed with the longing and passion in his eyes. "Well, you shake hands and touch my face and kiss me and that doesn't hurt. Why would this be different?" She asked.

"I've had years to practice and adjust my strength to those situations. This I, how can I, I could break your bones or," and he gulped and moved away from her.

"Clark." she said "You wouldn't let that happen. You've had to be so careful, every minute, all your life. I can't imagine you ever hurting me." She looked up into his troubled face "We can go as slow as you want. Okay?"

Clark relaxed and smiled a little tentatively at her "Yeah." He said, relief clear in his voice.

Although she was disappointed Maria hardly blamed him. It wasn't like his body came with an owner's manual. With all the things he was capable of who knew what might happen. She just knew for certain he would never hurt her and sometime she intended to prove it to him.

She handed him the soap. "We still need to get clean." She grinned as she shivered a little, "The water's getting cold so we better hurry."

A black SUV pulled up slowly on the street outside Maria's house and two men dressed all in dark clothing and carrying guns loaded with tranquilizer darts climbed out. They glanced around the neighborhood but it was obvious no one was awake. Creeping silently across the lawn they worked their way around to the back door.

Using a lock pick they easily opened the door's simple lock and crept in using penlights to look around the house. They took up their positions and waited in silence like hunters on a deer stand, watching for their prey to walk unsuspecting into their crosshairs, while the neighborhood slept on unaware.

At the Talon dark figures were lurking in the shadows outside the now closed and silent coffee shop. They positioned themselves with open views of the door and set up their rifles loaded with the same darts, top of the line, instantly effective, only the best for Lex Luthor. There was a battered old van parked nearby equipped with duct tape and a mattress in the windowless rear section.

In the basement of a building owned by a company that was owned by a company that was owned by Lex, a secure room was waiting. It resembled a vault and had crates filled with precious artifacts of questionable origins waiting to be smuggled into the Luthor mansion. If Lex had his way it would be holding something very precious to Dr. Desantis soon.

Kate was having a wonderful time in Star city. Her meeting with Oliver Queen had gone very well. He'd been much younger than she expected and better looking than she felt comfortable with. Oh, to be twenty years younger and forty pounds lighter, she thought. When she got over the initial shock, she found him to be charming and intelligent with a strong sense of decency she found refreshing after her dealings with Lex.

Seeing the facilities that would be put at her disposal and meeting the people who would make up her team made Kate want to start work immediately and she tried several times to call Maria and fill her in on her plans.

Maria was busy at the time and chose not to answer the phone.

To be continued…