"Lex, we need to talk."

Lex stiffened at his father's hard words and looked up from his laptop. Lionel looked to be in rare form with tightly pressed lips and a narrowed gaze aimed solely at him. Well. Obviously whatever was wrong, it was his fault. And it had been such a good day up until that point, too. Sighing, he powered down the computer and replied, "About what?"

Crossing the rest of the study to lean on both fists on the desk, Lionel stated furiously, "Your actions regarding the Holster Company."

Damn. He'd been hoping for a couple more days to get that deal set before his father found out. Lex leaned back in his chair, affecting nonchalance. "It's a free country, Dad. The Holsters can sell their company to whomever they wish."

"Don't you take that snide tone with me, Lex. You know perfectly well that I've been courting that stupid old man for over a month now."

"Yes. And I've been dating his daughter. What's your point?"

"My point is that LutherCorp won't be much of an inheritance if you continue to undermine me in this fashion," Lionel snapped.

Shrugging, Lex said, "I don't need an inheritance, Dad. And you're the one who declared war, remember?"

"At least none of the salvos I fired had real bullets in them."

Lex barely flinched at the jibe about the fiasco of trying to bug LutherCorp, but felt the words keenly. Anger surged and he snarled, "You certainly didn't know that when you shot at your own son, now, did you?"

Truly furious now, Lionel hissed, "Don't start comparing transgressions, Lex, because I doubt that you'd like your little friend to know about your dirty laundry."

Knowing exactly to whom his father referred, Lex took a breath, trying to calm down before he did something rash. Where Clark was concerned, keeping a clear head was paramount. Praying briefly that lightening didn't strike him down where he stood, Lex lied easily, "I certainly don't know what you're talking about. And even if I had something to hide, which I don't, Clark and I have no secrets."

Lionel laughed, a short, ugly sound. "Now that is funny. Did you forget exactly who Phelan delivered his prints and negatives to from the results of many a misspent night? I seriously doubt that Clark Kent would want anything to do with you if he knew who you truly enjoyed in your bed."

"Was there a point to this conversation? Because if so, I think I've missed it," Lex drawled, keeping the fear slithering in his stomach firmly locked down.

"My point is, watch your step, son. You never know when my security will spring a leak and some of those photos might wind up in the wrong, very innocent, hands." As threats went, it was a showstopper and Lionel knew it. He smirked as he straightened up, continuing, "I suggest that you lose Ms. Holster's phone number, Lex. Unless you'd like young Mr. Kent to get an unexpected education in how the other half really lives."

Lionel didn't even close the door when he left, so Lex had to get up and shut it himself, forcing himself not to shake until they were locked. He leaned against the solid wood, grateful to be held up as the very real threat of exposure tightened like a noose around his neck.

Talk about a rock and a hard place. If he gave in, Lionel would have something to hang over his head forever, or at least as long as he was friends with Clark, which hopefully amounted to the same thing. But if he didn't give in…well…his past wasn't something to which he wished to subject Clark.

And Lex had no doubt about whether or not his father would carry out the threat. An anonymous package of explicit photos would be deposited on the Kents' porch with Clark's name on it. Or, even worse, perhaps without a name so that Mrs. or Mr. Kent would open it first. God. Now that would be a horror.

Someone tried the door handles and Lex jumped in surprise, heart thundering.

"Lex? Are you all right?"

Speak of the devil.

Lex took a second to get back in control, then forced a welcoming smile and unlocked the doors, stepping back as he pulled them open. "Clark? Shouldn't you be at school?"

Frowning, staring at him closely, Clark shook his head. "There was some kind of power outage so they sent us all home."

"In this heat, I'm not surprise," Lex commented, moving back to his desk.

"Yeah. I was hoping to cool off here since we don't have air conditioning," Clark explained with a sheepish grin.

Lex returned the grin and teased, "Playing hooky from the farm, hm?"

Clark collapsed dramatically in one of the leather chairs with a nod. "Definitely. Oh, um, you don't mind, do you?"

Clark's limbs were sprawled every which way in a decidedly distracting fashion to Lex and it took a second to drag his eyes away from the tempting sight and register the question. "No, of course not, it's fine. You don't mind if I get some work done, do you?"

Waving a hand at him, still grinning, Clark replied, "Work away."

"Thanks," Lex said, dryly.

It was fifteen or so quiet minutes later that Clark announced suddenly, "I met up with your father on the way in here."

Thrown by the statement, Lex accidentally hit 'No' instead of 'Yes' and swore when the report he'd been working on closed without saving. He scowled at the screen then gave up the rest of the afternoon as a loss. He'd probably messed up the numbers thinking about what to do anyhow. Looking over at Clark, Lex found a strangely intent expression on the younger man's face and asked, "What?"

"I ah, I kind of heard some of the argument, though I didn't tell him," Clark admitted.

He'd never thought it possible to be hot and cold all at once, but it was. The heat of embarrassment combined with the cold chill of dread as he stared at Clark, shell-shocked. "And?"

Ducking his head in embarrassment, Clark answered, "And, um, it wouldn't bother me. You know. To um, if some pictures showed up. I mean, you're my best friend, Lex, and it's not like we haven't seen each other naked changing for the pool."

Lex ran a hand over his smooth pate and thought, Just when I thought he couldn't surprise me again.

"So, don't let your Dad blackmail you into not doing what you need to do to protect me from something that I don't even need protecting from," Clark continued earnestly.

Lex hesitated then revealed, "Those pictures…they wouldn't be just…ah…there would be guys, too, Clark."

For a moment, it looked like Clark's eyebrows would leave his face, then they scrunched down together thoughtfully and he said slowly, "I guess, well, as long as everyone was, you know, happy with what was going down and all, that's okay. I don't think any less of you or anything."

Lex wasn't sure exactly what to say as relief flooded through him.

There was a brief silence before Clark added, "Though I don't think it was very nice of you to date that girl just to get her father's company."

Lex felt the absurd urge to laugh. Clark had just said that his pornographic past could show up in Technicolor prints and it wouldn't bother him, but dating someone he didn't really like for business purposes did? Finally settling on a broad grin, Lex said simply, "Clark, you amaze me."

An echoing grin surfaced on Clark's face and he replied, "Thanks. So, you're going to break it off with that girl, right?"

Hearing the not-so-subtle order, Lex nodded happily, too relieved at the turn of events to be annoyed at being ordered about by a not-quite eighteen year old boy. "I'll go over tonight and talk to her."

"Well, you don't have to do it tonight. I was kind of hoping that we could hang out. Maybe catch a movie or something," Clark amended hastily.

Leaning forward on his desk, Lex agreed, "Nothing would make me happier."

* * * *

Clark picked up the mail several days after his talk with Lex and found a large envelope with his name on it. There was no return name, or address, and his mouth dried as he suddenly realized what was inside. Lionel had followed through on his threat to Lex and inside were…

Swallowing heavily, Clark crouched down and shoved the envelope in his backpack, grateful that his mother hadn't picked up the mail. For the next half-hour, he had to act as though nothing was out of the ordinary because his mother had decided that she had to have his help to clear out the top shelves of ancient can goods. Considering how pregnant she was, Clark was okay with it since there was no way she should be climbing around on chairs or ladders, which she would have.

The knowledge of what lay only a few feet away in his bag was burning him in a way he hadn't ever imagined. If he truly respected Lex, he would just destroy the whole package without ever viewing the contents. But curiosity and an unnamed feeling demanded that he look at what was in the envelope.

Finally, his mother was satisfied and he escaped to his bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind him. He'd rather have to explain a locked door to his parents then having them accidentally see the pictures he was about go through. Sitting on the bed, he held the bulky package in his hands and thought, Damn, Lex, there's a lot here. Just how promiscuous were you?

Taking a deep breath, he opened the envelope and dumped the contents onto the bed.

* * * *

Lex frowned as he again caught Clark staring at him with a weird expression. Irritated, he demanded, "What?"

Obviously startled, Clark stammered, "N-nothing!"

Arching an eyebrow at his friend provoked a blush of proportions that Lex hadn't seen since Clark had held a nude and unconscious Victoria in his arms after her near drowning. Nude…oh fuck. "He sent you the pictures, didn't he?"

Clark nodded reluctantly, adding hastily, "But I meant what I said. It doesn't change how I feel about you. I swear!"

"So why the blush and stammer routine?" Lex asked warily.

"Well, um…I was kind of…ah…curious-about-some-of-them."

The rush of words threw Lex off for a few seconds, then surprise flooded through him. Curious? Clark was curious about some of the pictures? Licking at suddenly dry lips, and noticing how Clark's eyes followed the path of his tongue, Lex took a breath and said, "You can ask me anything, Clark. I'm not exactly a sex ed teacher, but I think I've got enough experience to handle whatever you want to know."

Flushing again, Clark looked down at the floor and didn't speak for a long time. Then, just when Lex thought he'd changed his mind, Clark asked, "Doesn't it hurt? I mean, it didn't look like you're in pain but, um, I just can't imagine, well, you know."

"Not knowing which particular, ah, position you're talking about, I can't really answer that. You have to get a little more specific, Clark," Lex answered, feeling a flush of heat himself.

Groaning in embarrassment, Clark covered his face with his hands and said, "Never mind."

Taking pity on his friend, Lex moved from his spot on the chair to beside Clark on the couch. "All right. Here are some main tenets of gay sex. It can hurt, yes. Though if your partner is careful and diligent, it's more uncomfortable than painful. And if he's particularly good, then it's barely even uncomfortable, more like full. And once you get going, well, there's nothing like it."

Clark lifted his head and looked over at him and asked, "Doing, or being done?"

"Doesn't matter," Lex answered promptly. "Both are good in my book, though not everyone feels the same way. Some only like to give, and some only like to receive."

Grinning unexpectedly, Clark teased, "Trust you to be open to all possibilities."

Lex chuckled. "Well, that comes of having a classical education, of course."

"Right. I always wondered what you and those tutors had really got up to."

Laughing outright at the horrified expression on Clark's face as he realized what he'd said, Lex corrected, "Actually, it was more the various deliverymen, than the tutors."

Clark's jaw dropped. "You didn't!"

Almost smug, Lex replied, "You better believe it."

And from there, it was more like a session of bragging rights than anything else. Clark was as open-mouthed in his astonishment and admiration in this as he was with any of Lex's exploits. They could have been talking about his trips to Europe, or a risky business venture, instead of how it felt to be with three guys all at once.

By the time darkness fell, Lex was actually thinking of sending his father a thank you card for sending the pictures to Clark. His deep, dark past, just like any other ghost, no longer had any power over him now that he'd faced it. Of course, if Clark had been anyone other than who he was, it wouldn't have gone nearly so well. But Clark's innate kindness, and apparently insatiable curiosity, was an unbeatable combination.

The worst part wasn't talking about sex; it was talking about drugs.

They'd moved to the pool table and were playing haphazardly, not bothering with scores, just wanting something to keep their hands busy as the conversation turned serious. Lex leaned on his cue as he replied, "I didn't just lose hours, Clark, I lost entire weeks. I don't remember much of anything for the whole month preceding my detox in a Metropolis ER due to an overdose."

"Jesus, Lex," Clark muttered, eyes wide and compassionate. "Why?"

"There's no good answer. Part of it was wanting to tick off my father, part of it was serious denial that I was in any trouble, and part of it was just apathy. I really didn't care what happened to me back then. I was screwed up," Lex admitted heavily.

"Because you were alone and thought no one loved you."

Startled by the accurate insight, Lex nodded after a long moment. "Yes. And actually, no one did love me. Oh, they wanted me, or they wanted my money, but love never entered the equation."

"Have you ever been in love?" Clark asked curiously.

Half-smiling, Lex nodded slowly. "A couple of times."

"Any of them serious?"

"Isn't marriage serious?"

Clark grimaced and replied, "I wasn't counting Desiree. You weren't exactly yourself at the time."

Taking a turn at the pool table, Lex actually managed to sink one of the balls as he thought carefully how to answer Clark. He was uncanny in knowing when Lex was lying to him, even if he didn't call him on it anymore. Neither of them questioned each other on the lies or the secrets anymore. It had been surprisingly easy to do. All Lex had had to do was think about what he wanted more; Clark's friendship or his secrets. Because it had come down to an either/or situation one bleak winter afternoon where he had, of course, chosen Clark.

Pulling his attention back to the current conversation, Lex mused, Have I ever been seriously in love? Only with you, Clark. "Yes. I've been seriously in love."

"What happened?"

"He didn't feel the same way," Lex answered, shooting and missing.

"I'm sorry."

Straightening up, Lex shrugged. "Nothing to be done about it. I treasure his friendship to this day, so it's not as though I've really lost anything."

Obviously troubled, Clark put his cue on the pool table and said, "I wish you weren't so accepting of not getting what you need, Lex. You do deserve to be loved, you know."

"Thanks, Clark," Lex replied softly. He glanced at his watch and said, "You should probably get home. You've got school tomorrow and while I know graduation is only a few short weeks away, you still have to go."

Startled, Clark looked at his own watch and groaned. "Mom's going to kill me!"

Lex smiled at the exclamation and ordered, "Just blame me. Tell them I needed a shoulder to cry on or something. It's the truth."

Clark walked over to him and pulled him into a completely unexpected hug, holding him tight. After a shocked moment, Lex wrapped his arms around Clark's waist and held on just as hard, soaking in the warmth and comfort his friend offered. He hadn't been shaky or near tears before, but now they hovered viciously as Clark gave him unlimited strength to lean on. It seemed both a long time, and not long enough, when Clark finally released him.

Lex thought that he felt the brush of lips across his head, but couldn't be positive, and so didn't comment except to whisper, "Thanks, Clark."

Clark didn't answer, he just smiled oddly and gathered his things. When he was ready, he stopped at the door and asked, "See you tomorrow?"

"I'll be here," Lex promised, smiling.

"Good. I'll see you then."

Lex followed him out to the main door, then watched as Clark jogged down the driveway towards home. Sighing heavily, he closed the door and headed back towards the study, painfully alone without Clark's presence.

* * * *

The jog home quickly turned into a walk home as Clark's thoughts returned to the bizarre, afternoon-long conversation he'd had with Lex. It had taken all his self control to keep his blushes to a minimum, but not because of embarrassment, as Lex had assumed. No, he'd felt hot the moment he had walked into the castle and seen Lex the first time after viewing all those pictures. In his head, all he could see was the bare chest, the manacled wrists, the spread-eagled legs, a dozen different cocks in Lex's ass, as well as Lex buried deep in too many different men and women.

The heat of the early summer weather had been chased away by a cool wind, for which Clark was grateful. He looked back at the castle, which was still visible, but knew that he had to go home. What he really wanted to do was turn around and pull Lex close and do everything he'd seen in those pictures. His cock was already hard just thinking about it and he groaned, trying to push the thoughts away.

One thing was sure. He'd crossed a line of some kind today. He'd always loved Lex, their friendship was indeed the stuff of legends. Now, though...now he was thinking things he'd only previously thought about doing with Lana or Chloe in a vague and completely unimaginative way. The pictures had definitely been an eye-opener and, like Pandora's Box, there was no way not to think the way he was about Lex any more.

Clark knew that it was more than just the need to touch Lex. That afternoon had filled a hole inside him that he hadn't even realized was there. Some distance had always been kept between them, secrets that Lex possessed had finally been revealed to him without reservation. Now there was really only one barrier left to hinder what he was imagining possible with Lex.

* * * *

Clark tossed the last hay bale onto the pile and turned to his Dad with, "That's it, right? You don't have anything else hidden around here that you want me to do?"

Jonathan laughed. "No, Clark, I don't. Go on and clean up for supper."

Instead of leaving, Clark paused. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Jonathan answered immediately.

"You trust my judgement, right? About the important stuff?"

Obviously surprised, Jonathan nodded and repeated, "Of course."

Clark hesitated, then said, "I'm pretty sure I'm in love, Dad, and it's not at all what I thought it was going to be."

Seeing that Clark needed to talk about it, Jonathan motioned towards the barn and they walked inside it. He headed towards the tool area and opened a small fridge, pulling out two beers and holding one out to Clark.

Clark half-grinned and took it, popping the top and drinking a few gulps before sighing in relief at the cold drink. It was more the cold than the alcohol that he was enjoying, since he had never really liked beer.

"So. Tell me about it," Jonathan ordered, leaning against the wall.

Clark hopped up on the work counter and answered, "It's weird. I can't seem to spend enough time with them, and I'm always wondering what they'd think about whatever's going on. And when they're hurting, it hurts me when I can't make it better, even though I desperately want to. At the same time, even just being with them when they're hurting is better than not being with them at all."

Sighing heavily, Jonathan ran a hand through his hair and finished, "And it feels like they're part of you, that you're more complete somehow, without them even touching or talking to you."

"Exactly!" Clark exclaimed. "Is that how it is for you and Mom?"

Jonathan smiled and nodded, even though it faded pretty quickly and he took another drink of his beer before saying, "Yeah, son, it is. Now, I'm guessing here, but from the lack of names and the neutral pronouns, you're in love with a guy, right?"

"Yeah," Clark confirmed in a whisper, waiting.

"Ah, Clark. I wish to God you weren't, but don't look at me like that. I'm not going to stop loving you because of it," Jonathan said, upset. "Your life is just already so hard, to add that on top of everything else…"

"I know but, I can't help it," Clark replied helplessly.

Jonathan gripped his shoulder, then pulled Clark in for a hard hug and said roughly, "I know, son, I know. Just from the look in your eyes, I know."

They stood there like that for a few minutes, then Clark pulled free with, "There's something else I don't think you're going to like."

Jonathan held up a hand to stop his words and stated, "As long as Lex is clean and treats you well, that's all I care about, Clark. I know he's doing his damnedest to keep out from under his father's shadow and maybe, with your help, he'll succeed."

Breathing a shaky sigh of relief, Clark said, "Thanks, Dad. It, it means so much that you didn't…"

"You're my boy, Clark. What else can I do?" Jonathan said when Clark's words trailed off.

Clark tossed the beer bottle into the bucket a few feet away and replied, "You could have done a lot of things, Dad, but I'm glad you did this. I was scared, really scared for the first time in a long time."

Jonathan also tossed his bottle and put his arm over Clark's shoulder. "C'mon. Let's go have dinner and you can tell your Mother. Then, well, were you planning to go over to Lex's tonight?"

"If it's all right?"

Squeezing his son tight for a second, Jonathan didn't hesitate as he answered, "It's fine. Just remember you've got school tomorrow and get home at a decent hour."

They left the barn, walking together towards home.

* * * *

"It's a nice night," Clark commented.

Lex smiled and nodded as he agreed, "The stars seem strangely bright tonight."

"Yeah, they do, don't they? It's beautiful."

They were quiet, each wrapped in their own thoughts as the night grew long. Lex yawned and shifted to find a more comfortable spot on the sleeping bag. He'd thought Clark a little nuts when he'd shown up that night with two sleeping bags and the suggestion they stargaze in the back yard for a while, but now had to admit it had been a good idea. He was more relaxed than he'd been in a long time.

Clark shifted closer and rolled onto his side, facing Lex without speaking.

Lex turned his head to look back and found himself mesmerized by the brightness of the other's eyes, even in the dark night. There was something different about Clark tonight, he'd sensed it from the first moment, though he couldn't put his finger on what. It was as though the younger man had come to a decision of some kind, though he hadn't yet shared it with Lex. "You want to tell me what's really going on?"

Smiling faintly, Clark shook his head.

"Should I guess?"

Clark again shook his head and moved even closer.

Lex felt his breath stop as Clark's hand gripped his shoulder then slid up to cup the back of his head. This close, the other's eyes were huge and he moaned softly even before Clark's mouth touched his. The kiss was sweet and tender, telling him everything that he ever needed to know. When Clark pulled back, Lex leaned up, trying to recapture his lips, but Clark's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"I want to tell you something first," Clark whispered.

Alarm flared through him at the unusually serious expression on Clark's face, clearly visible even in the darkness. "Clark, you don't have to..."

Clark put his hand over Lex's mouth, stopping the words. He half-smiled and said, "I probably shouldn't have kissed you, but I had to, just once. Just in case you can't accept what I'm going to say, I wanted to know what it was like to kiss the man I love."

Lex went rigid at the declaration and his hand reached up to pull aside Clark's, but he couldn't move it. Giving up, Lex relaxed onto the ground and just looked at his friend, waiting.

"I know you know, but you did hit me with your car the day we met," Clark began. He half grinned, rueful as he continued, "I've been trying to figure out a way to pay for the damage all this time without letting you know that's what it was for, but couldn't."

Lex snorted. That figured. He hit Clark, and Clark wanted to pay for it.

Clark grinned outright at that and explained, "I didn't know back then, I mean, it was a complete surprise to me that I was alive, let alone not hurt. Maybe it was a catalyst or something, because after that weird things started happening to me. I could, can, see through things, like x-ray vision. And I can burn things with my eyes, too, like a laser beam or something. Nothing can touch me for speed, not even cars, though I haven't clocked it. I'm pretty much indestructible. The only thing that can hurt me is those green meteors. And the red meteor rocks, well, you remember the whole insect thing where Chloe and Pete kept doing insane things for a thrill?"

Though Lex's head was swimming with all the information, he nodded.

"That's what the red rocks do to me. I lose all my inhibitions and become, well, mean and um, ruthless. Not a pretty sight," Clark finished.

Lex tugged at Clark's hand and this time, it fell away. Clearing his throat, Lex asked, "Is that it?"

Clark hesitated, then shook his head and pleaded, "Please don't freak out, Lex, please? I wanted to tell you so many times but I couldn't!"

Okay, this sounded really bad. Sitting up, he took Clark's hand and brought it to his mouth. "It's okay, you can tell me. I'll try not to freak out. I've been doing pretty good so far, right?"

Still shaken, Clark nodded and took a deep breath before saying simply, "I'm an alien."

Lex blinked in surprise. Alien? But... "You look so human, are you sure? I mean, you wouldn't be the first mutant those meteors created, even if you are stable, psychologically speaking."

"I'm sure. We've got the spaceship in the storm cellar," Clark revealed, miserable. "And, well, from what we've been able to piece together, my people sent me here as some kind of, of advance guard, to maybe, um, subdue the planet for them when they finally show up."

The new knowledge reeled through Lex and he just sat there, his grip on Clark's hand lax with the shock of it.

"But I'm not going to do it!" Clark exclaimed, getting to his feet. "It's not right! Why would they do something like this? Why would my birth parents agree to it?"

Seeing how agitated Clark was, Lex got to his feet and grabbed Clark, wrapping his arms around the other man's neck, even though he was on the balls of his feet to do so. Clark's arms went around his waist immediately and his face pressed to the side of Lex's throat. "It's okay, Clark, it's all right."

"Why didn't they love me, Lex? Why would they send me away?"

The words were muffled, but clear and Lex ached with the pain in Clark's voice. Sighing, he murmured, "Oh, Clark, I don't know. I wish I did. But we love you. Your parents, Chloe, Pete, Lana, and me. We're your family and we'll never send you away."

"You do? You still love me? Even, even after what I just told you?"

Lex pulled back enough to look into Clark's worried and cautiously hopeful face. Smiling, Lex nodded and brought him down for a long kiss. This one was a far cry from the first, filled with mutual need and hunger. Clark devoured his mouth and within moments, they were back on the sleeping bags. Tongues tangled heavily as Clark rubbed their bodies together. Lex groaned as the pressure and friction on his confined cock increased.

Clark lifted away and Lex tried to hook a leg around him to keep him from going anywhere, desperate to keep going. A strong hand held him down and Lex whimpered with lust at the realization that he literally couldn't do anything that Clark didn't want him to do. He just wasn't strong enough. His body melted at the knowledge and he sagged against the ground while Clark's nimble fingers undid both their pants and pulled out their cocks.

At the first grip of his cock in Clark's rough hand, Lex groaned and arched into the touch. The kiss deepened even further and Lex's jaw began to ache with the fierce and constant fuck of his mouth. He wriggled so that the pants fell further down and then Clark was back on top of him, pushing their shafts against each other.

It wasn't going to be long, but Lex knew it was going to completely devastate him. It had been building for way the fuck too long. Already his balls were tightening, drawing up close, the heat sizzling in the base of his spine and his gut.

Clark came first, pulling his mouth free and moaning loudly as come spilled between them, soaking their shirts. Lex took the opportunity to gaze openly at the beautiful sight: Clark's brow furrowed with intensity, his mouth open and panting, the pleasure ripping into the other man as he came. The sight pushed Lex over the edge and he grabbed Clark back down, sealing their mouths together as his cock exploded so hard that his vision darkened.

Then Clark collapsed on him, the kiss broken for real as they both gasped for air. Lex felt boneless and just lay there, amazed and humbled both by Clark's trust and the incredible orgasm they'd just shared. Clark was like a heavy blanket, his body sprawled over him, his face tucked against Lex's chest.

Lex didn't know how much time went by before the cold spring night finally penetrated Clark's protective body heat, but suddenly Lex was shivering.

Almost right away, Clark rose onto his elbows and suggested, "Let's go inside."

Smiling, Lex nodded. "You have to move first, though."

Clark grinned and stole another kiss before saying, "Party pooper."

Lex laughed and they stood and put themselves together, then gathered up the sleeping bags and headed back to the castle. If any of the servants had seen them, they'd made themselves scarce upon Lex and Clark's return, which was just as well. He was in far too good a mood to fire anyone. When Clark sighed heavily, Lex looked at him in alarm and demanded, "What's wrong?"

"I have to go home," Clark answered, plainly upset at having to do so.

Hesitating, Lex suggested, "Can you call and ask to stay over?"

"Ah, well, I could but I doubt they'd go for it."

"Why not? You've stayed over plenty of times."

"That was before they knew about us."

Surprise ran through Lex and he asked, "You told them how you felt about me and they still let you come over?"

Clark pulled him in for a long, wet kiss, then said, "I'm not starting this relationship with any secrets. There've been too many of those already. You mean too much to me to do something like that."

Warmed and happy at the possessive declaration, Lex just smiled at him for a moment before his brain reconnected. "So, we're really together now, aren't we?"

Clark grinned at him and nodded. "Yeah, together. I like the sound of that."

"Me, too. Call your parents. All they can do is say no," Lex pointed out.

Looking thoughtful, Clark replied, "I think I'm going to take a page from the Lex Luthor business handbook."

"Oh?"

"Better to seek forgiveness then ask permission," Clark stated with a wicked look.

Heat rushed through him and his cock stirred lazily at the glance, and Lex tried to protest, "We shouldn't..."

But Clark was on him again, plastered to his body and their mouths locked together, driving away all rational thought. Which was probably Clark's intention, Lex knew in a vague way. Still, Clark was a big boy now and if he wanted to get grounded, that was his choice. Besides which, Lex seriously doubted Martha and Jonathan Kent would truly object if they hadn't already.

The kiss stopped and Clark panted into his ear, "Bedroom?"

"God, yes," Lex agreed in a groan.

Clark pulled back, but didn't release his hand as they walked together towards the stairs.