Fic for LadyDreamer (Part Two) (2/2)
For: ladydreamer
From: ^__^ Pitch-hitting!
Type: Fic
Request: mpreg or single daddy!Lex, reversed roles (ex. rich!Clark/poor!Lex or hero!Lex/citizen!Clark), or old school shenanigans
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 12,321
Title: Misunderstandings
Warnings: none
Summary: Lex Luthor is poor and has a daughter to care for. He can't hold down most jobs, so when a handsome stranger asked him if he'd be willing to bend his morals a bit and work for him, he said yes.
Gifter's Notes: Out of all the Clexmas gifts... LadyDreamer didn't get one! And she's really really awesome and should most definitely have one. :) From her request prompts, I went with the daddy!Lex and rich/poor role reversal... but the characters wanted to do a bit more than the smoopy romance I initially had in mind! ^^; Darn those characters. ;D Much thanks to sue_dreams and twinsarein for the beta(s)!
Re the AU - I'm playing fast and loose with the Smallville world, as well as a bit of DC. Base canon is what we learned in seasons 1-2, not any stuff from later. In this AU, Lex never went to Smallville, and other changes. They'll mostly be obvious as the story goes along. ^^
-----
"Hi Bruce. Oh, he's great! Er, I mean... well, he is. Lex settled in right away and Charity likes him. Yeah, I know, I was surprised too. I didn't get to spend much time with him, not as much as I wanted. Well.... Okay, knock it off, Bruce. Yes, I'm not telling you everything and you darn well know it and no I'm not going to tell you. And no, you can't see a blush over the phone. You better not have bugged my place again! ... Yeah. Yeah, I like him. Thank you for suggesting we bring him in. No, no, I don't think... Lex won't hurt me."
-----
"Daddy!" Alyssa launched herself into Lex's arms. "Zeb broke my train!"
Lex blinked and looked over her shoulder at Marisa, who grimaced. "I'm sure it wasn't on purpose, honey. Did he apologize?" With Marisa riding herd on the kids, Lex knew well that Zeb had, no matter what the actual story was.
"Yes, but my train!"
"Um, honey, they're---" Lex broke off at Marisa's frantic headshake. All the trains in the house were the boys', Alyssa didn't have a train that Lex had given her. Apparently at some point, the boys had given her one of their's. "It's okay honey. Trains are like flowers; we enjoy them while they're there, but some day they won't be. It's okay."
"Oh..." Alyssa absorbed the information and then quieted.
Next thing Lex knew, Lys was wanting down from her hold on daddy, and once on the ground, ran to go play with Zeb and Rich again. Kids. Lex only wished for that sort of 'live-in-the-moment' attitude. Although it wasn't a bad thing to remember. Lex would have to keep it in mind for Clark; enjoy what he had, but not to expect permanency.
"Thank goodness," Marisa said, laughing a little. "I thought she'd forgotten all about that, but of course as soon as she sees you, it's the only thing on her mind."
"Children are a blessing," Lex replied, smiling. He meant it too. A trial sometimes, but he would give up the world for Alyssa.
"That they are," Marisa agreed.
...
Thursday morning found Lex hard at work meeting with various scientists. After reviewing the files and the briefs, he'd seen immediately what Clark had meant. Special Projects was the research section for geniuses who couldn't be slotted in regular research jobs. But Cadmus was still a company and what the scientist came up with had to be designed, built, and relevant. Just mucking about with an idea wasn't good enough, and flipping from one to another didn't do the company any good. The scientists needed somebody to get them back on track without insulting them. That also meant having somebody who recognized what the track was. Apparently, they'd tried regular corporate managers, none of whom had been able to follow what the scientists had been doing at all.
All the scientists spoke well of Clark, and Lex learned more of what his employer was like. Clark had inherited a great deal of money from the famous astronomer, Dr. Virgil Swann, and had bought Cadmus with it. The company had been turned to research in extra-terrestrial objects and biology, in addition to keeping a strong hand in satellite communications, which Dr. Swann had originally been known for.
Clark himself was a friendly, eager owner. He originally had spent more time with the scientists than the management, learning about their research and suggesting innovative directions to go. His own degree was in astro-physics, and he fit in well with them. Clark's goal seemed to be towards exploration combined with the more practical applications from discovery. Above all, though, he emphasized safety in the research and verification of results.
Taking that knowledge, Lex worked carefully. To the researcher working on uncovering deeply crusted meteorites with an acid solution, he suggested gently that, perhaps, wearing sandals while doing so was not the way to produce good results. Just think of the research time lost if there was an accident? Wearing full shoes was a small personal inconvenience compared to that!
Sometime mid-morning, Lex was interrupted by a knock on his office door. He looked up from his conversation with the biologist, Mercedes, and saw a familiar shape outside the one-way glass. In spite of the practicality that he'd been trying to tell himself about, his heart leaped with joy.
Mercy quirked a grin and gathered up her stuff. "I'll come back later, Lex. Looks like the big boss wants you."
Lex hoped so, he really did. "Thank you, Mercy. Let me know if any of the goo shows any signs of more independent action."
As Mercy left, Clark came in, greeting her absently, his eyes on only one person. "Lex," he warmly greeted the other, his smile wide.
"Clark." Lex got up and moved to Clark, reaching out behind the man and locking the door behind him. He reached over and ran his fingers through Clark's soft locks before he gripped the sides and brought Clark in for a kiss.
Clark's arms went around Lex automatically, and he returned the kiss eagerly, enthusiastically.
Tongues vied for dominance, each one wanting to be the one inside and exploring. Lips were licked and sucked upon, nibbled on, kissed. Noses were rubbed. Cheeks. Ears... the lobes explored and tugged upon with gentle lips, lightly bitten. Necks were exposed and treated similarly, sucking on the skin that would probably leave a mark later.
Hands roamed. Over clothes initially, but as the kisses moved, so did the hands. Opening buttons, pulling shirts out of pants, seeking out and finding the mutual skin hidden inside.
Legs pressed up against each other, trying to step closer, but there was no more closer.
Clark's hand gripped Lex's butt tightly, kneading and pulling him in. Through the kiss they were currently in, Lex moaned. He wanted it so bad... But this was for Clark. This was for Clark, a paying customer. Lex repeated it to himself a few times, as they mutually ground together. Finally, he was able to take a step backwards and get some room. Lex used that space to get his hands between them and work on Clark's pants button and zipper.
As he got to the flesh inside, Clark threw his head back and cried out.
Lex was glad the office was also fairly sound-proofed. He stroked Clark and watched the beautiful face contort in pleasure, eyelids falling over the jade eyes, lips parted.
It was hard to not want to indulge himself. He didn't know yet if Clark wanted top or bottom, and a quickie in the office wasn't the place to find out. But oh, he wanted. Lex compromised, taking one hand back to unzip and pull himself out as well. Then he shoved Clark's pants further down.
"Lex?" Clark questioned, coming out of the pleasure enough to ask. There was not, however, the slightest hint of objection or protest in his voice or gaze.
"Turn around," Lex growled, his voice rough and low.
Clark shivered and obeyed.
Lex stepped up behind him, pressing close, looking over Clark's shoulder, his hands coming around to return their grip and activity, holding Clark, stroking him, fondling, pulling, gentle rubs.
With a moan, Clark's head fell back to rest on Lex's shoulder, giving himself into Lex's hands totally.
The permission was heady. Lex thrust along the grove, down along the crack of Clark's cheeks, not aiming for penetration, but simply taking advantage of the press of skin against skin and drinking in the sensations.
Movement through the one-way glass caught his eye and Lex watched as Mercy walked slowly by, her nose in files. "Look," Lex whispered in Clark's ear.
Groggily, Clark lifted his head. "What?" he asked, his word barely coherent.
"Think she sees us?"
Clark's breathing hitched.
"One-way glass... shadows and mirrors. We see her. She's there... we're here, your dick in my hand... what would she think if she could see us? Do you want her to? Do you want her to turn around and see us like this?"
Moaning, Clark reached down, one hand joining over Lex's, the other further back to grip Lex's hip, moving with Lex.
Mercy moved out of view. Clark leaned back, moving with Lex's thrusts. Lex fell silent, his own eyes closing as he concentrated on the feel of Clark's dick, his hands working the foreskin, the strength in the shaft, the slight crock at the end that would be so ideal for rubbing on the prostate... Lex wasn't sure if he wanted to top or bottom with Clark. There were advantages to both. Right now, thrusting against Clark's skin, moving along that groove... Lex wanted to be in Clark so badly. It was hard to restrain from that extra shift over.
Clark was near, Lex could hear it in his breathing and could feel it in the ragged movements. The office was really not a wonderful place to have smells and evidence. Some was inevitable... Lex had been wearing a musk cologne for the last few days to confuse the curious.
Leaving his nice groove with a regret that was painful, for he too was close, Lex stepped in front of Clark and sunk to his knees. Clark's penis was just as beautiful as he remembered. Red and straining, pre-come on the tip, reaching, straining towards Lex, as eager for Lex's mouth as Lex was to engulf it.
Reverently, Lex ran his hand down the shaft, preparing his way. Clark's hands came down on top of Lex's head and he moaned his name. Lex leaned forward and captured his prize. He moved down the shaft to where it curved slightly, then pulled back up again. Repeating the motion, he went a little further... his hand explored further stroking the sensitive area between the balls and the ass.
With a choked cry, Clark came. Lex swallowed every drop, his eyes dropping shut as he lost himself in the taste and sensation. He used to never like this part, though he'd done it. With Clark, though, Lex found himself wanting it. The liquid wasn't nectar, but neither was a lemon drop and that drink was intoxicating with the smallest of shot glasses. Clark's come was better. Lex couldn't leave the softening penis, licking up every drop, wishing there was more. Lex's entire self wanted it so much...
Without him quite knowing what happened, Lex found himself on his back on the floor of the office, looking up at the ceiling while a hot mouth came down on him. Wet, hot, a pressure on all sides, sliding in... "Clark," Lex breathed out, his hands tangled in Clark's hair, not gripping but simply along for the ride.
Clark obviously wasn't experienced, but he was enthusiastic and he was hot, and he made sounds while he was sucking Lex and oh, it was good. Lex's back arched as his vision flashed white and he came.
As much as he wanted to, Lex didn't allow himself to enjoy the after-glow for very long. Even if it was natural for Clark to come visit Lex, they couldn't afford more time locked up together. Maybe Lex could schedule a meeting with Clark tomorrow. A whole hour of his time. A night. Lex had casually approached the idea of night baby-sitting with Marisa's younger cousin and she was agreeable.
When Lex stirred to get up, Clark clutched him tighter, holding Lex to his chest. A natural cuddler, how cute. Lex kissed him softly upon the lips and disentangled himself. "Not here," Lex said, getting up and putting his clothes to rights.
Clark glanced at the door, his disappointment evident, but not arguing. He also stood, pulling up his pants and fastening his belt.
Lex settled himself behind the desk and pushed a folder over. "That was the down-payment. If you liked what you had... we need to talk about hours. You're paying me for the month, and I want you to get your money's worth."
"Uh, what?" Clark's large eyes blinked, the wide eyes with their enlarged dark pupils set in the high cheeks giving him a deer-like appearance, caught in headlights, wondering what was the danger bearing down on them.
That, perhaps, had been too abrupt. Lex stood up again and kissed Clark again. He pulled back, leaving his hand upon Clark's cheek. "I want this to be the best month of your life." Clark was paying him enough for it.
Clark's mouth twitched; Lex feeling it on his fingers as his cheek moved. "So do I, Lex, but I was also kind of hoping you'd like it well enough to hire you full-time afterwards and we'd see a lot more of each other then." He glanced around guiltily, "I don't think we should be doing this here, but I can't seem to resist you. You're the most incredible person I've ever met, Lex."
In his turn, Lex blinked. For once, he couldn't figure out how to respond. It almost sounded like... Lex drew back uncertainly. "Clark, what exactly did you---"
A polite knock on the door made them both jump. They both glanced over. It was one of the scientists on the Poseidon experiment. Lex had asked him to come by, concerned about some of the readings the project had been coming up with.
Clark made an exasperated gurgle in the back of his throat. "Lex, we need to talk. Can I come by later tonight?"
Lex's heart caught. "We will never do anything like this at my home. Not with Alyssa there; never. When you want me at nights, we'll go to your place and I'll get a sitter for Lys. But not at my place."
"I wouldn't!" Clark indignantly protested. "What do you think I am?"
The knock on the door came again.
Lex ignored it, staring at Clark's angry eyes. Instinctively, he trusted Clark, though he had no reason to. "Come to dinner tonight," he impulsively offered, partly in apology, partly because he just suddenly wanted to have it, to have Clark sitting at his table, next to Lys, to watch how they interacted.
Clark's features softened, a shy smile spreading out. "I'd love to. What time?"
"6:30pm," Lex replied. "We eat early due to Alyssa's hours."
"I'll be there," Clark promised, opening the door. There was nobody there, the scientist having gone away. Clark glanced at Lex and made a face which Lex returned. Oh well. Clark grinned and started to leave.
"Clark," Lex called and the other man turned back. Lex handed him the folder. "The reports. I've also emailed them to you."
"Darn it..." Clark glanced at his watch then ruefully at Lex. "I'll have Charity slot out some time for us to go over them in more detail."
There wasn't anybody who had Lex in their line of sight, though Clark was visible now. "I'll look forward to it," Lex purred with a look that wandered down Clark's body, lingering in strategic places.
Clark flushed and started to say something, then cut himself off with a glance around. He shook his head with an amused snort and then really did leave.
Lex went back to his desk and sat down, leaning back. Clark was like a drug. A wonderful, intoxicating drug that left one with all senses tingling and mind racing. He couldn't sit still... just thinking about Clark was going to make him hard again. Lex stood up and headed off to the Poseidon Lab.
...
"Hi Clark!" Lys bounded forward and gave Clark a large hug as far around his legs as she could reach.
With a laugh, Clark picked her up and swung her around. "Hi Alyssa."
Lex closed the door and watched for a moment with a smile on his face before he squeezed past them to get back to the kitchen. If not watched, the alfredo noodle mix could easily stick to the side of the pot and burn at this stage. Lex hoped devoutly that Clark wasn't so much of a gourmet to notice that Lex had used a basic package mix. It was cheap and tasted good. Lex had forgotten, when he'd extended the offer, that their cupboards were almost bare. He hoped Clark hadn't had any problems in getting here. He hoped Clark hadn’t driven an expensive car. Lex glanced around the kitchen in a bit of despair. There was no way to hide their frugal state. For Alyssa's sake, Lex tried to keep it bright and cheerful. But he still winced at bringing Clark here when Lex was at such a low point in his life.
"Let me show you my ponies!"
With a grin, Lex figured as poor as the rest of the house, at least he was rich in his daughter. If Clark didn't love her, he couldn't love Lex.
Lex drew in a breath at the thought. It was a job. Only a job... he shouldn't, couldn't, think things like that.
And yet, throughout the whole dinner, Lex couldn't keep his thoughts away from it. He had fallen hard for Clark, and he could no longer pretend to himself that he hadn't.
-------
"I'm going patrolling tonight; I didn't like some of the folks I saw hanging around Lex's place. It's not a safe neighborhood, I'm surprised Lex lives there. I was having dinner with him. Yes, dinner... What are you so worried about, Bruce? You're the one who told me to hire him. Oh, so I can trust him with my company, but not myself? Bruce, Lex has a daughter he's devoted to, he's a good man. Well, yeah, there's a few odd things… I keep meaning to talk to him, but we get distracted. Okay, look, Bruce, you're not my mother and I wouldn't take that even from her! I'm going patrolling; talk to you later."
-------
With a cheerful hum, Lex gathered up his papers and headed up to Clark's office. He was looking forward to a whole hour with Clark, and he'd ask about time this weekend as well…
Lex came to a stop barely inside, the door shutting behind him unnoticed, his cheerful mood disappearing. "Bruce," he said in a flat voice.
The man standing next to Clark's desk looked at him with the false smile the playboy usually wore. "Lex, it's good to see you again."
"I wish I could say the same."
Darkly handsome in a devilish way that showed Bruce knew it and used it; a contrast with Clark's open, innocent beauty. The two of them standing there together was a beautiful picture, yet all Lex wanted to do was protect Clark. Clark, however, apparently didn't need protecting. Things suddenly made sense. It hadn't been those college friends of his after all, though Lex believed that Clark had gotten references from them. Bruce's game, however, wasn't entirely known. He was a rich playboy who spent no time with his own inherited company, going from party to social event to socialite then rotating again. However, Lex remembered when they were young together and how Bruce had been a serious, intense child who scorned the games the rest of them would play and counted himself better than that. Even now, though Bruce wore the false smile, his eyes were narrowed, evaluating Lex with distrust and some other emotion Lex couldn't pick out.
"Lex, Bruce has been helping me with Cadmus… you know I've been struggling, trying to do some of this myself, so I asked him for help. He's been really a good friend and his advice is great." Clark looked anxiously between the two of them, his face a combination of hope and anxiety.
"What you need is to hire a good President and get yourself back to the labs," Lex said, his attention still mostly on Bruce.
Clark grimaced. "I tried that. Twice. It didn't work."
"I'll find you somebody," Lex volunteered without thinking. Then he was the one who grimaced. His connections were way out of date, and he'd worked for Clark for only four days now. That was a ridiculous offer for him to make.
"Well, I was actually kind of hoping---"
"Let's hear your report on the special projects," Bruce interrupted with a sharp look at Clark.
If Clark had been wanting to hire one of Bruce's people from him, Lex could have told him it wouldn't happen. Bruce may not pay any obvious attention to his company, but he employed the best and he kept them. Controlling his jealousy and distrust, Lex handed the copies of the reports out and described his evaluations.
It was the worst hour he'd ever spent. Well, okay, waiting in the hospital to hear how Alyssa was after she'd been rushed in for one emergency or another was always worse. This, though, came pretty close. Lex tried to escape as soon as he could.
"Lex," Clark called desperately as Lex was almost out.
Lex held the door from closing but didn't come back in. He looked over at Clark, wanting to go to him, to fix that tone of voice and give him whatever he wanted.
"Uh, dinner tonight?" Clark asked, his expression hopeful.
Before Lex could reply, Bruce cut in. "We're going out tonight."
"We are?" Clark glanced over. "Oh, right. Well, how about---"
Lex couldn't take this. "Another time." He didn't care how much Clark was paying him. He let the door close between them and headed to his office, ignoring the concerned looks Charity was giving him.
...
That night, Lex handed Alyssa to the babysitter and went and stood silently in a corner of the building across from Clark's. He didn't want to be like this, but like a bleeding wound sometimes itched so you tore it open and made it worse, he couldn't stay away.
When Bruce and Clark finally came out, Lex watched carefully. Clark didn't act like a man on a date, but Bruce did. Possessive, his hand on the small of Clark's back. Clark essentially ignored him, showing a familiarity with Bruce's actions and a disregard of the same. That reassured Lex somewhat, while it also worried him.
Bruce was also more observant. His eyes slid over to where Lex was mostly hidden in the shadows and he stiffened before he relaxed and tried to keep going like nothing had happened. Lex raised his eyebrows in surprise; he should have been practically invisible in his location and without movement.
The pause had caught Clark's attention and he stopped, ignoring Bruce's attempts to move him along. Clark spotted Lex easily, and Lex left his eyebrows raised up; he *knew* he wasn't that obvious, and to have both of them spot him so quickly was disconcerting.
"Lex," Clark shook off Bruce's arm and moved forward. "Are you okay? Did something happen to Alyssa?"
With Clark's evident concern for Alyssa, Lex's expression softened. "We're fine." He glanced at Bruce, who had stopped a bare foot back. "I wanted to make sure you were okay. I didn't mean to worry you."
Clark blinked several times. "You wanted to protect me from Bruce?" His mouth twitched in amusement and he glanced over his shoulder at Bruce. With Bruce's grim look, however, Clark's grin faded quickly. "It's okay -- we're fine."
"Can I talk to you alone?" Lex still had most of his attention on Bruce, who glowered back but hadn't said anything yet.
"Uh," Clark looked around and then looked more pointedly at Bruce. "Bruce, can you wait for me... where we were going?"
"Don't be long," was Bruce's only reply before he turned and walked off.
Lex watched him go. Old friend or not, there was something dark about Bruce and he didn't like the possessive attitude towards Clark.
"Lex, what's wrong? Is it something about Bruce?"
"Does he hurt you?" Lex turned his attention back to Clark. He didn't see any marks, but sometimes the worst ones were invisible.
Clark's mouth hung open. "Uh, no. Lex, Bruce is a good friend. He's helped me out of a lot of tight spots, and I've helped him. He's the one, actually, who recommended you for the job."
And to have it confirmed so *casually* just stung. "And you see nothing wrong with your boyfriend recommending you get an expensive whore for a month? What sort of a hold does he have on you, to make you do something like that? What sort of a kink does he have? Or does he just get himself off and leave you unsatisfied... He's willing to receive but not give, so he sends you to me? You're better off without him and his advice if this is what he makes you do!"
"He's not--- whore? What...," Clark was trying to talk through Lex's tirade and when Lex finally ran down, Clark stared at him in horror. "Oh God. Lex, you thought I… For sex? You mean all that we did was only... I'm going to be sick." Clark looked like he was too; pale under his tan, shaken, his cheekbones standing in high relief.
Lex thought he might be sick as well. His world turned a 180 and flipped around the other way, leaving his stomach twisted and nauseous. If only he'd questioned it further that day he'd wondered. Or did he just so badly want to fuck Clark that he ignored the signs? Blindly, Lex brushed past Clark and headed home.
"Lex, Lex, LEX!"
Strong hands grabbed him and held him still. Lex refused to look up, his gaze on the sidewalk and the dark cracks running through the pale cement. He didn't want to see what would be in Clark's gaze if he looked up.
"Clark, what on Earth did you say when you were hiring him?" Bruce's hated voice came from somewhere near, sounding amused.
"I said I really wanted him... I was a little distracted at the time! Bruce, would you just go away?"
Bruce snorted. "I don't think I'm the problem."
The hands on Lex's arms tightened. "Fuck you too."
With a suddenness that had Lex breathless, he was caught in an embrace and then his feet left the ground. Instinctively, he closed his eyes to protect them as air whipped around wildly then stilled, ground under his feet again. Lex cautiously opened his eyes to see the park around them. The park was miles from Clark's building.
"Lex, sit down, you're not looking so good. Oh God, Lex. I'm so sorry. I... I didn't mean..."
Instead of sitting on the park bench behind him, Lex shook off Clark's grip and walked a few paces out, looking around at the park curiously. "Lab Seven. You study the meteorites because you're affected by them."
"Lab Seven isn't in Special Projects, how did you... uh, well, yeah. That's a close enough description for now."
Clark walked to Lex and stood next to him, not too close, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Lex, I thought I was hiring you to be the Special Projects Manager. If it worked out, I was going to ask if you wanted to be President of Cadmus. Bruce, who really *is* just a friend, said you were a genius and were by nature a scientist yet trained for management. He also said you two had something between you so not to mention him. And then he comes barreling in when I mentioned we were dating. I *thought* we were dating. God, Lex..." Clark's voice hitched.
"I'm sorry," Lex said, staring at the dark silhouettes of the trees, outlined against the city lights. "I forced you. I thought that's what you wanted; I should have seen it wasn't. Instead, I'm a rapist that I wouldn't let my daughter near..."
"No!" Clark got in front of Lex again and put his hands on Lex's cheeks, running one hand tenderly over Lex's head before coming back. "I did want it, I do want it. I thought you wanted it too. If anybody is the rapist here... Lex, I swear, I thought we were---" he choked to a stop. "I was too eager to notice it was only a job for you. I'm sorry, I should have paid more attention to you."
Lex grinned a little at the irony, raising his own hand to touch Clark's cheek. "It wasn't just a job."
With a startled expression that relaxed slowly, Clark leaned into the touch, his gaze earnest upon Lex's.
They stood together for a long while, just touching and looking at each other. Seeking reassurance and a connection that they had thought they had only imagined.
"Lex, what are you thinking?" Clark finally asked after the silence drew on.
"Something sappy that men don't say."
Clark laughed a little, his hands running over Lex again, as if he was unable to stop touching him. "I don't mind sappy. And I want to know what you're thinking."
Taking a step forward, Lex put himself in Clark's embrace, folding his arms around him and looking out over his shoulder. "If I hadn't already been half in love with you, I wouldn't ever have said yes."
Clark's breath drew in sharply, and he held Lex closely. After a moment, he asked, "Only half?"
Lex laughed, stepping back to look at Clark again but not moving so far to drop the embrace. "I think the rest came when I read your first email. You trusted me with no reason. And you are so... you."
"I was in lust pretty much from the moment I saw you, but I think I fell in love when you explained to Alyssa that we were flowers."
Quirking his mouth up, Lex said, "No offense, but you need more practice in how to talk to children. That wasn't anything special."
"I hope to get better, and to have lots of chances to practice with Alyssa," Clark's expression was earnest and hopeful.
Lex rather thought Clark would do fine. Alyssa liked Clark too, and when they both liked each other, it should work. He didn't want to give Clark up. "I guess I should thank Bruce, though I don't really want to."
Clark grimaced. "I'm going to have to apologize to him for leaving like that. But later. Lex, ---" Clark stopped what he was going to say and leaned in and tentatively brushed his lips against Lex's.
No more misunderstandings. Lex opened his mouth and let Clark in, leaning back into his embrace and giving Clark all the control.
The kiss was gentle and sweet. There was hunger, though restrained. Careful exploration, pauses to check on reactions, movements slow and deliberate. This time, they both knew what they were doing and why they were doing it. No more misunderstandings.
END
From: ^__^ Pitch-hitting!
Type: Fic
Request: mpreg or single daddy!Lex, reversed roles (ex. rich!Clark/poor!Lex or hero!Lex/citizen!Clark), or old school shenanigans
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 12,321
Title: Misunderstandings
Warnings: none
Summary: Lex Luthor is poor and has a daughter to care for. He can't hold down most jobs, so when a handsome stranger asked him if he'd be willing to bend his morals a bit and work for him, he said yes.
Gifter's Notes: Out of all the Clexmas gifts... LadyDreamer didn't get one! And she's really really awesome and should most definitely have one. :) From her request prompts, I went with the daddy!Lex and rich/poor role reversal... but the characters wanted to do a bit more than the smoopy romance I initially had in mind! ^^; Darn those characters. ;D Much thanks to sue_dreams and twinsarein for the beta(s)!
Re the AU - I'm playing fast and loose with the Smallville world, as well as a bit of DC. Base canon is what we learned in seasons 1-2, not any stuff from later. In this AU, Lex never went to Smallville, and other changes. They'll mostly be obvious as the story goes along. ^^
-----
"Hi Bruce. Oh, he's great! Er, I mean... well, he is. Lex settled in right away and Charity likes him. Yeah, I know, I was surprised too. I didn't get to spend much time with him, not as much as I wanted. Well.... Okay, knock it off, Bruce. Yes, I'm not telling you everything and you darn well know it and no I'm not going to tell you. And no, you can't see a blush over the phone. You better not have bugged my place again! ... Yeah. Yeah, I like him. Thank you for suggesting we bring him in. No, no, I don't think... Lex won't hurt me."
-----
"Daddy!" Alyssa launched herself into Lex's arms. "Zeb broke my train!"
Lex blinked and looked over her shoulder at Marisa, who grimaced. "I'm sure it wasn't on purpose, honey. Did he apologize?" With Marisa riding herd on the kids, Lex knew well that Zeb had, no matter what the actual story was.
"Yes, but my train!"
"Um, honey, they're---" Lex broke off at Marisa's frantic headshake. All the trains in the house were the boys', Alyssa didn't have a train that Lex had given her. Apparently at some point, the boys had given her one of their's. "It's okay honey. Trains are like flowers; we enjoy them while they're there, but some day they won't be. It's okay."
"Oh..." Alyssa absorbed the information and then quieted.
Next thing Lex knew, Lys was wanting down from her hold on daddy, and once on the ground, ran to go play with Zeb and Rich again. Kids. Lex only wished for that sort of 'live-in-the-moment' attitude. Although it wasn't a bad thing to remember. Lex would have to keep it in mind for Clark; enjoy what he had, but not to expect permanency.
"Thank goodness," Marisa said, laughing a little. "I thought she'd forgotten all about that, but of course as soon as she sees you, it's the only thing on her mind."
"Children are a blessing," Lex replied, smiling. He meant it too. A trial sometimes, but he would give up the world for Alyssa.
"That they are," Marisa agreed.
...
Thursday morning found Lex hard at work meeting with various scientists. After reviewing the files and the briefs, he'd seen immediately what Clark had meant. Special Projects was the research section for geniuses who couldn't be slotted in regular research jobs. But Cadmus was still a company and what the scientist came up with had to be designed, built, and relevant. Just mucking about with an idea wasn't good enough, and flipping from one to another didn't do the company any good. The scientists needed somebody to get them back on track without insulting them. That also meant having somebody who recognized what the track was. Apparently, they'd tried regular corporate managers, none of whom had been able to follow what the scientists had been doing at all.
All the scientists spoke well of Clark, and Lex learned more of what his employer was like. Clark had inherited a great deal of money from the famous astronomer, Dr. Virgil Swann, and had bought Cadmus with it. The company had been turned to research in extra-terrestrial objects and biology, in addition to keeping a strong hand in satellite communications, which Dr. Swann had originally been known for.
Clark himself was a friendly, eager owner. He originally had spent more time with the scientists than the management, learning about their research and suggesting innovative directions to go. His own degree was in astro-physics, and he fit in well with them. Clark's goal seemed to be towards exploration combined with the more practical applications from discovery. Above all, though, he emphasized safety in the research and verification of results.
Taking that knowledge, Lex worked carefully. To the researcher working on uncovering deeply crusted meteorites with an acid solution, he suggested gently that, perhaps, wearing sandals while doing so was not the way to produce good results. Just think of the research time lost if there was an accident? Wearing full shoes was a small personal inconvenience compared to that!
Sometime mid-morning, Lex was interrupted by a knock on his office door. He looked up from his conversation with the biologist, Mercedes, and saw a familiar shape outside the one-way glass. In spite of the practicality that he'd been trying to tell himself about, his heart leaped with joy.
Mercy quirked a grin and gathered up her stuff. "I'll come back later, Lex. Looks like the big boss wants you."
Lex hoped so, he really did. "Thank you, Mercy. Let me know if any of the goo shows any signs of more independent action."
As Mercy left, Clark came in, greeting her absently, his eyes on only one person. "Lex," he warmly greeted the other, his smile wide.
"Clark." Lex got up and moved to Clark, reaching out behind the man and locking the door behind him. He reached over and ran his fingers through Clark's soft locks before he gripped the sides and brought Clark in for a kiss.
Clark's arms went around Lex automatically, and he returned the kiss eagerly, enthusiastically.
Tongues vied for dominance, each one wanting to be the one inside and exploring. Lips were licked and sucked upon, nibbled on, kissed. Noses were rubbed. Cheeks. Ears... the lobes explored and tugged upon with gentle lips, lightly bitten. Necks were exposed and treated similarly, sucking on the skin that would probably leave a mark later.
Hands roamed. Over clothes initially, but as the kisses moved, so did the hands. Opening buttons, pulling shirts out of pants, seeking out and finding the mutual skin hidden inside.
Legs pressed up against each other, trying to step closer, but there was no more closer.
Clark's hand gripped Lex's butt tightly, kneading and pulling him in. Through the kiss they were currently in, Lex moaned. He wanted it so bad... But this was for Clark. This was for Clark, a paying customer. Lex repeated it to himself a few times, as they mutually ground together. Finally, he was able to take a step backwards and get some room. Lex used that space to get his hands between them and work on Clark's pants button and zipper.
As he got to the flesh inside, Clark threw his head back and cried out.
Lex was glad the office was also fairly sound-proofed. He stroked Clark and watched the beautiful face contort in pleasure, eyelids falling over the jade eyes, lips parted.
It was hard to not want to indulge himself. He didn't know yet if Clark wanted top or bottom, and a quickie in the office wasn't the place to find out. But oh, he wanted. Lex compromised, taking one hand back to unzip and pull himself out as well. Then he shoved Clark's pants further down.
"Lex?" Clark questioned, coming out of the pleasure enough to ask. There was not, however, the slightest hint of objection or protest in his voice or gaze.
"Turn around," Lex growled, his voice rough and low.
Clark shivered and obeyed.
Lex stepped up behind him, pressing close, looking over Clark's shoulder, his hands coming around to return their grip and activity, holding Clark, stroking him, fondling, pulling, gentle rubs.
With a moan, Clark's head fell back to rest on Lex's shoulder, giving himself into Lex's hands totally.
The permission was heady. Lex thrust along the grove, down along the crack of Clark's cheeks, not aiming for penetration, but simply taking advantage of the press of skin against skin and drinking in the sensations.
Movement through the one-way glass caught his eye and Lex watched as Mercy walked slowly by, her nose in files. "Look," Lex whispered in Clark's ear.
Groggily, Clark lifted his head. "What?" he asked, his word barely coherent.
"Think she sees us?"
Clark's breathing hitched.
"One-way glass... shadows and mirrors. We see her. She's there... we're here, your dick in my hand... what would she think if she could see us? Do you want her to? Do you want her to turn around and see us like this?"
Moaning, Clark reached down, one hand joining over Lex's, the other further back to grip Lex's hip, moving with Lex.
Mercy moved out of view. Clark leaned back, moving with Lex's thrusts. Lex fell silent, his own eyes closing as he concentrated on the feel of Clark's dick, his hands working the foreskin, the strength in the shaft, the slight crock at the end that would be so ideal for rubbing on the prostate... Lex wasn't sure if he wanted to top or bottom with Clark. There were advantages to both. Right now, thrusting against Clark's skin, moving along that groove... Lex wanted to be in Clark so badly. It was hard to restrain from that extra shift over.
Clark was near, Lex could hear it in his breathing and could feel it in the ragged movements. The office was really not a wonderful place to have smells and evidence. Some was inevitable... Lex had been wearing a musk cologne for the last few days to confuse the curious.
Leaving his nice groove with a regret that was painful, for he too was close, Lex stepped in front of Clark and sunk to his knees. Clark's penis was just as beautiful as he remembered. Red and straining, pre-come on the tip, reaching, straining towards Lex, as eager for Lex's mouth as Lex was to engulf it.
Reverently, Lex ran his hand down the shaft, preparing his way. Clark's hands came down on top of Lex's head and he moaned his name. Lex leaned forward and captured his prize. He moved down the shaft to where it curved slightly, then pulled back up again. Repeating the motion, he went a little further... his hand explored further stroking the sensitive area between the balls and the ass.
With a choked cry, Clark came. Lex swallowed every drop, his eyes dropping shut as he lost himself in the taste and sensation. He used to never like this part, though he'd done it. With Clark, though, Lex found himself wanting it. The liquid wasn't nectar, but neither was a lemon drop and that drink was intoxicating with the smallest of shot glasses. Clark's come was better. Lex couldn't leave the softening penis, licking up every drop, wishing there was more. Lex's entire self wanted it so much...
Without him quite knowing what happened, Lex found himself on his back on the floor of the office, looking up at the ceiling while a hot mouth came down on him. Wet, hot, a pressure on all sides, sliding in... "Clark," Lex breathed out, his hands tangled in Clark's hair, not gripping but simply along for the ride.
Clark obviously wasn't experienced, but he was enthusiastic and he was hot, and he made sounds while he was sucking Lex and oh, it was good. Lex's back arched as his vision flashed white and he came.
As much as he wanted to, Lex didn't allow himself to enjoy the after-glow for very long. Even if it was natural for Clark to come visit Lex, they couldn't afford more time locked up together. Maybe Lex could schedule a meeting with Clark tomorrow. A whole hour of his time. A night. Lex had casually approached the idea of night baby-sitting with Marisa's younger cousin and she was agreeable.
When Lex stirred to get up, Clark clutched him tighter, holding Lex to his chest. A natural cuddler, how cute. Lex kissed him softly upon the lips and disentangled himself. "Not here," Lex said, getting up and putting his clothes to rights.
Clark glanced at the door, his disappointment evident, but not arguing. He also stood, pulling up his pants and fastening his belt.
Lex settled himself behind the desk and pushed a folder over. "That was the down-payment. If you liked what you had... we need to talk about hours. You're paying me for the month, and I want you to get your money's worth."
"Uh, what?" Clark's large eyes blinked, the wide eyes with their enlarged dark pupils set in the high cheeks giving him a deer-like appearance, caught in headlights, wondering what was the danger bearing down on them.
That, perhaps, had been too abrupt. Lex stood up again and kissed Clark again. He pulled back, leaving his hand upon Clark's cheek. "I want this to be the best month of your life." Clark was paying him enough for it.
Clark's mouth twitched; Lex feeling it on his fingers as his cheek moved. "So do I, Lex, but I was also kind of hoping you'd like it well enough to hire you full-time afterwards and we'd see a lot more of each other then." He glanced around guiltily, "I don't think we should be doing this here, but I can't seem to resist you. You're the most incredible person I've ever met, Lex."
In his turn, Lex blinked. For once, he couldn't figure out how to respond. It almost sounded like... Lex drew back uncertainly. "Clark, what exactly did you---"
A polite knock on the door made them both jump. They both glanced over. It was one of the scientists on the Poseidon experiment. Lex had asked him to come by, concerned about some of the readings the project had been coming up with.
Clark made an exasperated gurgle in the back of his throat. "Lex, we need to talk. Can I come by later tonight?"
Lex's heart caught. "We will never do anything like this at my home. Not with Alyssa there; never. When you want me at nights, we'll go to your place and I'll get a sitter for Lys. But not at my place."
"I wouldn't!" Clark indignantly protested. "What do you think I am?"
The knock on the door came again.
Lex ignored it, staring at Clark's angry eyes. Instinctively, he trusted Clark, though he had no reason to. "Come to dinner tonight," he impulsively offered, partly in apology, partly because he just suddenly wanted to have it, to have Clark sitting at his table, next to Lys, to watch how they interacted.
Clark's features softened, a shy smile spreading out. "I'd love to. What time?"
"6:30pm," Lex replied. "We eat early due to Alyssa's hours."
"I'll be there," Clark promised, opening the door. There was nobody there, the scientist having gone away. Clark glanced at Lex and made a face which Lex returned. Oh well. Clark grinned and started to leave.
"Clark," Lex called and the other man turned back. Lex handed him the folder. "The reports. I've also emailed them to you."
"Darn it..." Clark glanced at his watch then ruefully at Lex. "I'll have Charity slot out some time for us to go over them in more detail."
There wasn't anybody who had Lex in their line of sight, though Clark was visible now. "I'll look forward to it," Lex purred with a look that wandered down Clark's body, lingering in strategic places.
Clark flushed and started to say something, then cut himself off with a glance around. He shook his head with an amused snort and then really did leave.
Lex went back to his desk and sat down, leaning back. Clark was like a drug. A wonderful, intoxicating drug that left one with all senses tingling and mind racing. He couldn't sit still... just thinking about Clark was going to make him hard again. Lex stood up and headed off to the Poseidon Lab.
...
"Hi Clark!" Lys bounded forward and gave Clark a large hug as far around his legs as she could reach.
With a laugh, Clark picked her up and swung her around. "Hi Alyssa."
Lex closed the door and watched for a moment with a smile on his face before he squeezed past them to get back to the kitchen. If not watched, the alfredo noodle mix could easily stick to the side of the pot and burn at this stage. Lex hoped devoutly that Clark wasn't so much of a gourmet to notice that Lex had used a basic package mix. It was cheap and tasted good. Lex had forgotten, when he'd extended the offer, that their cupboards were almost bare. He hoped Clark hadn't had any problems in getting here. He hoped Clark hadn’t driven an expensive car. Lex glanced around the kitchen in a bit of despair. There was no way to hide their frugal state. For Alyssa's sake, Lex tried to keep it bright and cheerful. But he still winced at bringing Clark here when Lex was at such a low point in his life.
"Let me show you my ponies!"
With a grin, Lex figured as poor as the rest of the house, at least he was rich in his daughter. If Clark didn't love her, he couldn't love Lex.
Lex drew in a breath at the thought. It was a job. Only a job... he shouldn't, couldn't, think things like that.
And yet, throughout the whole dinner, Lex couldn't keep his thoughts away from it. He had fallen hard for Clark, and he could no longer pretend to himself that he hadn't.
-------
"I'm going patrolling tonight; I didn't like some of the folks I saw hanging around Lex's place. It's not a safe neighborhood, I'm surprised Lex lives there. I was having dinner with him. Yes, dinner... What are you so worried about, Bruce? You're the one who told me to hire him. Oh, so I can trust him with my company, but not myself? Bruce, Lex has a daughter he's devoted to, he's a good man. Well, yeah, there's a few odd things… I keep meaning to talk to him, but we get distracted. Okay, look, Bruce, you're not my mother and I wouldn't take that even from her! I'm going patrolling; talk to you later."
-------
With a cheerful hum, Lex gathered up his papers and headed up to Clark's office. He was looking forward to a whole hour with Clark, and he'd ask about time this weekend as well…
Lex came to a stop barely inside, the door shutting behind him unnoticed, his cheerful mood disappearing. "Bruce," he said in a flat voice.
The man standing next to Clark's desk looked at him with the false smile the playboy usually wore. "Lex, it's good to see you again."
"I wish I could say the same."
Darkly handsome in a devilish way that showed Bruce knew it and used it; a contrast with Clark's open, innocent beauty. The two of them standing there together was a beautiful picture, yet all Lex wanted to do was protect Clark. Clark, however, apparently didn't need protecting. Things suddenly made sense. It hadn't been those college friends of his after all, though Lex believed that Clark had gotten references from them. Bruce's game, however, wasn't entirely known. He was a rich playboy who spent no time with his own inherited company, going from party to social event to socialite then rotating again. However, Lex remembered when they were young together and how Bruce had been a serious, intense child who scorned the games the rest of them would play and counted himself better than that. Even now, though Bruce wore the false smile, his eyes were narrowed, evaluating Lex with distrust and some other emotion Lex couldn't pick out.
"Lex, Bruce has been helping me with Cadmus… you know I've been struggling, trying to do some of this myself, so I asked him for help. He's been really a good friend and his advice is great." Clark looked anxiously between the two of them, his face a combination of hope and anxiety.
"What you need is to hire a good President and get yourself back to the labs," Lex said, his attention still mostly on Bruce.
Clark grimaced. "I tried that. Twice. It didn't work."
"I'll find you somebody," Lex volunteered without thinking. Then he was the one who grimaced. His connections were way out of date, and he'd worked for Clark for only four days now. That was a ridiculous offer for him to make.
"Well, I was actually kind of hoping---"
"Let's hear your report on the special projects," Bruce interrupted with a sharp look at Clark.
If Clark had been wanting to hire one of Bruce's people from him, Lex could have told him it wouldn't happen. Bruce may not pay any obvious attention to his company, but he employed the best and he kept them. Controlling his jealousy and distrust, Lex handed the copies of the reports out and described his evaluations.
It was the worst hour he'd ever spent. Well, okay, waiting in the hospital to hear how Alyssa was after she'd been rushed in for one emergency or another was always worse. This, though, came pretty close. Lex tried to escape as soon as he could.
"Lex," Clark called desperately as Lex was almost out.
Lex held the door from closing but didn't come back in. He looked over at Clark, wanting to go to him, to fix that tone of voice and give him whatever he wanted.
"Uh, dinner tonight?" Clark asked, his expression hopeful.
Before Lex could reply, Bruce cut in. "We're going out tonight."
"We are?" Clark glanced over. "Oh, right. Well, how about---"
Lex couldn't take this. "Another time." He didn't care how much Clark was paying him. He let the door close between them and headed to his office, ignoring the concerned looks Charity was giving him.
...
That night, Lex handed Alyssa to the babysitter and went and stood silently in a corner of the building across from Clark's. He didn't want to be like this, but like a bleeding wound sometimes itched so you tore it open and made it worse, he couldn't stay away.
When Bruce and Clark finally came out, Lex watched carefully. Clark didn't act like a man on a date, but Bruce did. Possessive, his hand on the small of Clark's back. Clark essentially ignored him, showing a familiarity with Bruce's actions and a disregard of the same. That reassured Lex somewhat, while it also worried him.
Bruce was also more observant. His eyes slid over to where Lex was mostly hidden in the shadows and he stiffened before he relaxed and tried to keep going like nothing had happened. Lex raised his eyebrows in surprise; he should have been practically invisible in his location and without movement.
The pause had caught Clark's attention and he stopped, ignoring Bruce's attempts to move him along. Clark spotted Lex easily, and Lex left his eyebrows raised up; he *knew* he wasn't that obvious, and to have both of them spot him so quickly was disconcerting.
"Lex," Clark shook off Bruce's arm and moved forward. "Are you okay? Did something happen to Alyssa?"
With Clark's evident concern for Alyssa, Lex's expression softened. "We're fine." He glanced at Bruce, who had stopped a bare foot back. "I wanted to make sure you were okay. I didn't mean to worry you."
Clark blinked several times. "You wanted to protect me from Bruce?" His mouth twitched in amusement and he glanced over his shoulder at Bruce. With Bruce's grim look, however, Clark's grin faded quickly. "It's okay -- we're fine."
"Can I talk to you alone?" Lex still had most of his attention on Bruce, who glowered back but hadn't said anything yet.
"Uh," Clark looked around and then looked more pointedly at Bruce. "Bruce, can you wait for me... where we were going?"
"Don't be long," was Bruce's only reply before he turned and walked off.
Lex watched him go. Old friend or not, there was something dark about Bruce and he didn't like the possessive attitude towards Clark.
"Lex, what's wrong? Is it something about Bruce?"
"Does he hurt you?" Lex turned his attention back to Clark. He didn't see any marks, but sometimes the worst ones were invisible.
Clark's mouth hung open. "Uh, no. Lex, Bruce is a good friend. He's helped me out of a lot of tight spots, and I've helped him. He's the one, actually, who recommended you for the job."
And to have it confirmed so *casually* just stung. "And you see nothing wrong with your boyfriend recommending you get an expensive whore for a month? What sort of a hold does he have on you, to make you do something like that? What sort of a kink does he have? Or does he just get himself off and leave you unsatisfied... He's willing to receive but not give, so he sends you to me? You're better off without him and his advice if this is what he makes you do!"
"He's not--- whore? What...," Clark was trying to talk through Lex's tirade and when Lex finally ran down, Clark stared at him in horror. "Oh God. Lex, you thought I… For sex? You mean all that we did was only... I'm going to be sick." Clark looked like he was too; pale under his tan, shaken, his cheekbones standing in high relief.
Lex thought he might be sick as well. His world turned a 180 and flipped around the other way, leaving his stomach twisted and nauseous. If only he'd questioned it further that day he'd wondered. Or did he just so badly want to fuck Clark that he ignored the signs? Blindly, Lex brushed past Clark and headed home.
"Lex, Lex, LEX!"
Strong hands grabbed him and held him still. Lex refused to look up, his gaze on the sidewalk and the dark cracks running through the pale cement. He didn't want to see what would be in Clark's gaze if he looked up.
"Clark, what on Earth did you say when you were hiring him?" Bruce's hated voice came from somewhere near, sounding amused.
"I said I really wanted him... I was a little distracted at the time! Bruce, would you just go away?"
Bruce snorted. "I don't think I'm the problem."
The hands on Lex's arms tightened. "Fuck you too."
With a suddenness that had Lex breathless, he was caught in an embrace and then his feet left the ground. Instinctively, he closed his eyes to protect them as air whipped around wildly then stilled, ground under his feet again. Lex cautiously opened his eyes to see the park around them. The park was miles from Clark's building.
"Lex, sit down, you're not looking so good. Oh God, Lex. I'm so sorry. I... I didn't mean..."
Instead of sitting on the park bench behind him, Lex shook off Clark's grip and walked a few paces out, looking around at the park curiously. "Lab Seven. You study the meteorites because you're affected by them."
"Lab Seven isn't in Special Projects, how did you... uh, well, yeah. That's a close enough description for now."
Clark walked to Lex and stood next to him, not too close, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Lex, I thought I was hiring you to be the Special Projects Manager. If it worked out, I was going to ask if you wanted to be President of Cadmus. Bruce, who really *is* just a friend, said you were a genius and were by nature a scientist yet trained for management. He also said you two had something between you so not to mention him. And then he comes barreling in when I mentioned we were dating. I *thought* we were dating. God, Lex..." Clark's voice hitched.
"I'm sorry," Lex said, staring at the dark silhouettes of the trees, outlined against the city lights. "I forced you. I thought that's what you wanted; I should have seen it wasn't. Instead, I'm a rapist that I wouldn't let my daughter near..."
"No!" Clark got in front of Lex again and put his hands on Lex's cheeks, running one hand tenderly over Lex's head before coming back. "I did want it, I do want it. I thought you wanted it too. If anybody is the rapist here... Lex, I swear, I thought we were---" he choked to a stop. "I was too eager to notice it was only a job for you. I'm sorry, I should have paid more attention to you."
Lex grinned a little at the irony, raising his own hand to touch Clark's cheek. "It wasn't just a job."
With a startled expression that relaxed slowly, Clark leaned into the touch, his gaze earnest upon Lex's.
They stood together for a long while, just touching and looking at each other. Seeking reassurance and a connection that they had thought they had only imagined.
"Lex, what are you thinking?" Clark finally asked after the silence drew on.
"Something sappy that men don't say."
Clark laughed a little, his hands running over Lex again, as if he was unable to stop touching him. "I don't mind sappy. And I want to know what you're thinking."
Taking a step forward, Lex put himself in Clark's embrace, folding his arms around him and looking out over his shoulder. "If I hadn't already been half in love with you, I wouldn't ever have said yes."
Clark's breath drew in sharply, and he held Lex closely. After a moment, he asked, "Only half?"
Lex laughed, stepping back to look at Clark again but not moving so far to drop the embrace. "I think the rest came when I read your first email. You trusted me with no reason. And you are so... you."
"I was in lust pretty much from the moment I saw you, but I think I fell in love when you explained to Alyssa that we were flowers."
Quirking his mouth up, Lex said, "No offense, but you need more practice in how to talk to children. That wasn't anything special."
"I hope to get better, and to have lots of chances to practice with Alyssa," Clark's expression was earnest and hopeful.
Lex rather thought Clark would do fine. Alyssa liked Clark too, and when they both liked each other, it should work. He didn't want to give Clark up. "I guess I should thank Bruce, though I don't really want to."
Clark grimaced. "I'm going to have to apologize to him for leaving like that. But later. Lex, ---" Clark stopped what he was going to say and leaned in and tentatively brushed his lips against Lex's.
No more misunderstandings. Lex opened his mouth and let Clark in, leaning back into his embrace and giving Clark all the control.
The kiss was gentle and sweet. There was hunger, though restrained. Careful exploration, pauses to check on reactions, movements slow and deliberate. This time, they both knew what they were doing and why they were doing it. No more misunderstandings.
END