Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, alas. I'm just playing.

Thanks to Ali for her encouragement and patient, unflinching beta, and to Silvercat for her detailed beta of the NC-17 part. Special thanks to Kat for translating "my bald one" into French.

Lex spotted Clark waiting for him in front of the dorm and pulled to a smooth stop. He popped the trunk of the Ferrari, leaned over to open the passenger side door, and gestured to Clark to get in. After throwing his duffel bag in the trunk, Clark plopped down beside Lex and favored him with a megawatt smile.

"Hey, Lex! Let's hit the road!" he said, bouncing slightly in his seat. Lex felt his insides melt at that smile and, as always, he concealed his reaction, giving Clark a quick smirk before turning his attention to driving.

"Excited?" he asked.

"You bet!" Clark confirmed. "It's Spring Break, I'm with you, and we're going to St. Louis! This is gonna be so much fun!"

Glancing sideways at Clark, Lex nodded. When Clark had learned that Lex was planning a quick trip to St. Louis for a business meeting, he had proposed himself as a travel companion and suggested that they spend a few days exploring St. Louis together. Lex had been hesitant at first, but when Clark turned the puppy dog eyes on him he had caved immediately. Now, sitting next to Clark, feeling his warmth in the small space, inhaling his fresh farmboy, make that college student, scent, he wondered if he should have resisted. As if he could have. All Clark had to do was ask, and Lex would give him anything - a favor, a Lamborghini, his left testicle - well, he might want to hang on to that, but Clark was more than welcome to play with it. He'd given his heart to Clark long ago, but Clark didn't know that and Lex was not about to risk their friendship by telling him.

Clark had come out when he moved to Metropolis, so far out that Lex sometimes wanted to stuff him back into the closet. He'd been with a different guy every weekend, sometimes two, and Lex had hated them all with Luthor passion. Clark seemed to have slowed down lately, for which Lex was profoundly thankful. They saw each other often, usually just hanging out at Lex's penthouse watching movies or playing video games and eating takeout. When Clark was underage, supposedly heterosexual, and living at home with a father who owned a shotgun, Lex had been able to accept that Clark would never be his, and able to appreciate what they did have. But now, it was all possible, yet more impossible than before, because Clark didn't feel that way about him. And here he was, stuck in a small car for a long drive with the oblivious, and large, object of his love and desire. OK, he could never have said no, but he should have had the sense to wear looser pants.

"Lex?" Clark asked tentatively, lightly touching his black leather gloved hand where it was clenched on the steering wheel. "What's wrong? Are you worried about this meeting?"

Lex took a deep breath and forced his tense muscles to relax, shooting a reassuring smile at Clark. He didn't want to ruin Clark's break with his obsessing. "No, not at all," he replied. "Jean-Claude and I just wanted to get together in person to sign the agreement about our joint venture. It's more for fun than anything else."

"I can't believe you're friends with the Master of St. Louis and you never told me! I can't wait to meet him! I've never met a vampire."

'Never?" Lex asked in surprise. "Have you ever met a werewolf?"

'No, never. There aren't that many vampires in Kansas, you know. Or werewolves, either."

"No, I suppose not. Jean-Claude's partner is a werewolf, so you'll be meeting both vampires and werewolves this week."

"Cool!" Clark said enthusiastically. "His partner? I thought he was the boss."

"I meant his personal partner. His boyfriend."

"Oh, Jean-Claude's gay?" Clark asked, frowning.

"No, he's bi. Very." Lex replied, smiling as he remembered some of the nights he and Jean-Claude had enjoyed together.

"You two were very close, huh?"

"We still are."

"Hm." Clark fell silent.

Lex looked over at Clark, who seemed to be brooding about something. His eyes were closed, giving Lex a chance to feast his hungry eyes on Clark's beautiful face. A lock of brown hair fell across his forehead and Lex longed to push it back and kiss away the frown. It didn't really require his full attention to drive down Kansas highway, he could do it with his eyes closed. He could enjoy the sight of Clark's soft, full, pouting lips, his.... Stop it, Lex, he ordered, turning his gaze back to the road. You're just torturing yourself. He doesn't want you. If he did, he would have made a move. Lex did close his eyes now, and shook his head back and forth in pain. Every time he was with Clark it got worse, but he couldn't even imagine not having Clark in his life. He had no idea what to do, and he hated it.

"Lex?" That soft, worried voice again. "Lex, stop the car."

Lex obeyed, then leaned back in his seat and turned his head to look at Clark. He had to control himself better than that, because if Clark ever guessed how Lex loved him, he would pity Lex. Lex knew he couldn't take the "I love you, but as a friend" speech from Clark. Not that he'd ever heard that speech, but he'd read about it.

"Lex, are you OK?" Clark almost whispered, running one big, warm hand over Lex's smooth scalp, then cupping it gently. Lex closed his eyes, luxuriating in his fantasy that when he opened them he'd see Clark looking down at him, then leaning forward slowly, all his weight supported on his beautifully muscled arms, and.... Lex steeled himself to reality and opened his sea blue eyes. And blinked. Clark was looking at him, with a sweet, tender expression on his face. This wasn't happening.

No, it wasn't. Clark sat back, pulling his hand away. Damn. "Lex? What's wrong? Is there something I can do to help?"

Well, yes, Clark, there is. Hold me, touch me, love me.

"Sorry, Clark. I'm fine. Just tired. Maybe you'd like to drive? I'll rest."

"OK," Clark said, looking at him doubtfully.

They made the switch.

"Relax, Lex. Sleep while I drive."

Lex leaned back in the seat, his eyes closed. He felt Clark's worried glance. He had to get control of himself. He had almost lost it just now. And he was getting delusional, imagining that Clark returned his feelings. Control. You're a Luthor, act like it. Obeying Clark, he slept, and didn't stir until they reached St. Louis. Then he stretched like a cat, looking over at Clark. He felt better. The long, silent drive, with Clark beside him, had soothed him. Maybe that was the answer. When he was asleep he could be with Clark. He'd have to suggest that. Yes, he was a genius all right.

"Are we there?" he asked, his voice low and raspy.

"Uh, yeah," Clark replied, his eyes locked on Lex's mouth. Why? Was he drooling?

They went into the hotel, checked in, and went up to their suite. "This is great!" Clark exclaimed, dropping his duffel bag and exploring the suite thoroughly. "Which bedroom do you want?"

"Either," Lex shrugged as he poured himself a glass of Scotch from the mini bar. "You pick. Drink?"

"No, thanks. I think I'll lie down for a while." Clark removed his sneakers and lay down on the leather sofa. "Wake me in time to take a shower before we go, OK?" He stretched luxuriously.

"You could sleep in the bedroom," Lex pointed out, struggling to keep his tongue from hanging out at the sight of Clark's muscles straining through his t-shirt.

The smile again. Lex melted again. Cause, effect. He was a scientist, he understood these things.

"I like it here. With you," Clark announced, settling himself comfortably on his back and, with a sexy little snuggle into the sofa, falling asleep instantly.

OK. Lex liked it here with Clark, too. He had work he could do. He'd fire up his laptop in a minute. He might as well sit down in that nice chair opposite the sofa while he finished his drink. He might as well enjoy the view of a sleeping Clark while he had the opportunity. Maybe he and Clark could be together as long as one of them was asleep. It was worth checking out. Hypothesis, experiment. The scientific method.

Two hours later Lex concluded that the experiment was a failure. Two hours of studying Clark had left him with an aching heart and in dire need of private time with himself. As he rose to take a shower Clark woke up.

"Time to go?" he asked muzzily. His green eyes were unfocussed and heavy lidded, his dark hair a tangled mess, his lips full and red. He looked like a fallen angel. Lex wished he'd put that sleepy, satisfied expression on his angel's face. He really needed that private time.

"Getting there. I'm going to shower and change."

"OK, me too. Meet you here when we're ready."

Lex returned to the sitting room, showered and wearing black trousers that hugged him in all the right places and a thin, steel gray sweater that did the same. Clark was waiting.

"Wow, Lex, you look - great." Clark looked a little dazed. He must not be quite awake yet.

"Thank you," Lex smirked. He always looked great. What good did it do him? He checked Clark out. It was OK because they were talking about clothes. Clark was wearing khakis and a long sleeved royal blue t-shirt. He looked like a love god. "You look very nice. Shall we go?"

"Lex Luthor and Clark Kent to see Jean-Claude," Lex told the doorman at Guilty Pleasures.

"Yes, Mr. Luthor, he's expecting you," the tall, cadaverous vampire replied, gesturing to another vampire. "Thomas will show you the way."

"This way, Mr. Luthor, Mr. Kent." Thomas ushered them into the club. "Do you have any holy items?"

"No." Except Clark, of course. But that wasn't what the vampire meant. Clark worship was a religion with a single, fanatical follower.

Clark tugged at Lex's sleeve as they walked through the dark club. The only light was a spotlight focused on the stage where a small, slender blond man was gyrating to the pounding music while unlacing his black leather vest.

"Are they all vampires?" he asked, sounding both excited and uncomfortable. "You could have told me it was a strip club!"

"Most of the staff are vampires, most of the patrons aren't. I think the stripper is a werewolf. Would you like to watch the show while I meet with Jean-Claude?"

"No! I want to go with you! I'm not interested in a bunch of naked men!"

"No?" Lex's eyebrows would have risen to his hairline if he'd had one. "You've changed."

He could tell, even in the darkness, that Clark was blushing. It was endearing. Of course, Clark tying his shoelaces or eating pizza was endearing, too. Lex was pathetic.

"I haven't changed," Clark announced, looking squarely into Lex's eyes. "I want to go with you."

"OK."

"Alexander!" Jean-Claude glided across his office to welcome his old friend with a hug. "It has been too long, mon petit crane d'oeuf!"

Lex returned the hug, then stepped back to survey the vampire. "New look? Where's the lace? The thigh high boots? The peek-a-boo shirt? Did you finally decide I was right?"

"Yes, Alexander, you were right," Jean-Claude replied, smiling. "I know how happy that must make you. It was Richard who convinced me to try a different style." He turned to the tall, smiling man who had risen at their entrance. "This is Richard. Mon loup, Alexander - Lex - Luthor and Clark Kent." His midnight blue eyes ran quickly down Clark's magnificent form, then back up to his preternaturally pretty face. He looked at Lex and gave him an almost imperceptible nod of approval.

Lex meanwhile gazed at Richard. Tall, broad shoulders, narrow hips, brown hair, golden skin, an open, easy smile in a handsome face, all topped off with a plaid flannel shirt. Yum. If it hadn't been for Clark, he would have been planning the seduction. Jean-Claude had moved to put one slender white hand on the werewolf's forearm and was looking at Lex with a stare that said, unmistakably, No Trespassing. Interesting. Jean-Claude had always been the least possessive of lovers. It looked as if he meant what he had said on the phone, that this time it was serious.

"Clark, this is Jean-Claude, and Richard Zeeman."

Clark nodded, looking a little shy and a little suspicious. He stepped closer to Lex. Lex looked up and smiled, understanding. Clark would be sensing the power in the room and wanting to protect him. Clark did that. He pressed Clark's shoulder in reassurance and began a conversation, drawing Clark into it with Jean-Claude's able assistance. Clark responded politely, but still seemed suspicious of the vampire. Understandable, Jean-Claude was a force to be reckoned with, but Lex wanted Clark to like his friend. He hoped that with further exposure Clark would learn to trust Jean-Claude, as he did. After a few minutes of conversation, Richard asked Clark if he'd like to join him for dinner while Lex and Jean-Claude talked. Clark looked from Jean-Claude to Lex, narrowed his eyes for a moment, and agreed. He paused at the door. "Remember to eat, Lex," he ordered.

"Do not fear, Clark," the vampire said, his sapphire eyes twinkling in amusement. "I will make sure that Alexander has dinner."

"OK, thanks," Clark replied. "He forgets." Lex rolled his eyes, ignoring the warm feeling that Clark's solicitousness engendered. Clark and Richard departed.

"Steak sound good to you?" Richard asked as they walked out of the club and into the fresh St. Louis night.

"Yes, that sounds great," Clark replied, his eyes everywhere as they walked down the street. Neon lights flashed all around. He stopped in front of a club that advertised "An Encounter With a Vampire!" "Guess you've had that?" he asked daringly.

"Yeah," Richard chuckled as they began walking again. "You could say that." He glanced at the boy beside him. He'd never met anyone like Clark, who obviously had great power, yet wasn't a vampire or a were or anything else Richard had ever encountered. And Lex was the same, Richard mused. Although part at least of Lex's power was quite clear to him. Sex, in pure, exquisite, lickable form. If it hadn't been for the fact that he was completely in love with Jean-Claude, he would have asked Lex out the minute he met him. Asked him over for dinner, and offered himself as an appetizer. He could see why Jean-Claude, who had few friends, was friends with Lex. They had a lot in common.

"Have you and Jean-Claude been dating long?" Clark asked. Clark looked worried about something, and Richard had a good idea of what it was. Lex and Clark were obviously together, but Richard sensed some tension there, and he hadn't missed Clark's suspicious looks at Jean-Claude.

"Yes," he replied. "We're going on a year now, together. We've know each other for years.

"Really? Did you know Lex from before, then?" Clark asked.

"No," Richard shook his head, his long bronze hair flying. "Jean-Claude and I knew each other professionally. As it were."

"So you're, like, a professional werewolf? And he's a professional vampire?"

"I guess so," Richard replied. "He's the Master of the City, I'm Ulfric of the Thronos Rokke Clan - that's my pack - yes, I guess we're professionals." He hadn't thought of it that way before. Not that he got paid for being Ulfric, but other than that little detail, it was a fair assessment. Maybe he should have business cards printed up. Pass them out at P.T.A. meetings. Maybe not.

After they were seated at the restaurant Clark pulled out a small spiral notebook. "I want to write a story about the Vampire District," he explained. "I'm a journalism major. And would it be OK if I asked you about being a werewolf? I won't write about it if you don't want," he hastened to add. "It's just, it's all new to me. It's fascinating."

"Sure, ask away," Richard agreed with an airy gesture borrowed from Jean-Claude. "I'm out in every way."

Clark plied Richard with questions about life as a werewolf. Richard responded without going into details he thought best kept to himself. Clark didn't need to know about blood lust or pack politics.

"And you said you were out? You mean, as a werewolf?" Clark asked as the waiter cleared away the plates that had held their appetizers.

"That's right. I was in the werewolf closet for years. It feels so good to be out, you can't imagine." Richard stretched his arms out as if to hug the world.

"No, I can't," Clark agreed, looking sad.

Hm. Why so sad? Clark wasn't in any closet that Richard could see. There were secrets here. None of his business. Still, he'd just spilled his werewolf guts to the boy, who seemed to feel comfortable with him now. Richard was familiar with this. It was as if Clark was one of his students. Open up to them, and they opened up to you. And maybe he could help... "You don't seem to be in the closet, Clark," he said.

"Sexually? No, I'm out, my parents know, my friends know, everyone knows. And yeah, it feels good." Clark smiled dazzlingly. "It wasn't easy."

"No, it's not," Richard agreed, sitting back so the waiter could put his Steak Tartare on the table. "Who did you tell first?"

"Lex," Clark replied, as if it were obvious.

"Oh, you mean he was your first?" Richard asked, intrigued. Lex and Clark were such a cute couple, he wanted to know more. He liked love stories.

"No," Clark replied, all his attention on his steak.

No? Clark had come out to Lex first, but they hadn't immediately jumped on each other and made hot, sweaty history? He had no doubt it would be history. Or hot. Those two were sizzling like the steak on Clark's metal plate.

"No," Clark repeated softly, looking sad again.

"How long have you and Lex been together?" Richard asked. That was a safe question.

"We're not," Clark replied stonily. "We're just friends."

Richard looked at him in astonishment. It had seemed so obvious that they were a couple. "But the way you look at each other, your chemistry..." he didn't add that he could smell their chemistry, stronger than any he had ever observed. They should be together. What was the problem?

"The way I look at him, you mean. And Lex has chemistry with everyone, with everything. You should see him with a bottle of Ty Nant." Clark stabbed his steak savagely. "Dumb Ty Nant."

Richard concealed a smile. The boy reminded him of one of his students in pouting mode. He decided on an oblique approach. He'd learned some things from Jean-Claude. Lots of things. His thoughts drifted for a moment before he pulled his attention back to Clark. "Jean-Claude and I were friends for years before we got together," he began.

"Really?" Clark perked up, looking interested. "What happened?" He blushed. "If you don't mind my asking."

"No, I like to talk about him, about us," Richard said gently. "What happened is, I realized that I wanted him, and I went for it. He was never going to make the first move, so I did. I was scared, but it turned out to be really easy."

"What were you scared of?" Clark asked.

"I was scared because we were friends, and I didn't want to endanger that. And there were complications." Richard sighed. That was a nice way to describe the walking, talking, shooting disaster that was Anita Blake. Complications.

"I'm scared, too," Clark confided. "For the same reasons. Lex and I are best friends, and I don't want to do anything that might change that. And yeah, there are complications. Lex knows about them, though. I told him. I want to be with him so much, I want him so much," Clark blushed slightly, "but he doesn't feel that way about me. I thought he did, he used to flirt with me and stuff. I thought when I came out he'd finally make his move, but no. All he did was give me some pointers and take me lube shopping. I still have it. It's purple."

"You say you're scared - scared to let him know how you feel, scared he'll reject you?" Richard mentally rolled his eyes at the absurd idea. He was still reeling from the sheer lust he'd sensed in Jean-Claude's office. Yes, Lex had power. God. "Scared you'll ruin your friendship?"

"Yes," Clark agreed comprehensively. "All of that."

Richard was silent, studying the beautiful boy sitting across from him. Apparently neither Clark nor Lex knew how the other felt. How that could be, when it was so obvious to him, escaped Richard, but there it was. Maybe if he just let Clark talk for a while, he could get a handle on their problem. "Tell me about Lex," he invited.

"Well, Lex," Clark began. Fifteen minutes later Richard knew a lot about Lex. Lex, Lex, Lex. He sat back, listened, and waited. Finally, Clark wound down. "Plus, he's sex on a stick. I want him so bad I can barely stand to be in the same city with him."

"I noticed that. I mean, that he's sex on a stick," Richard agreed. "Not that you had any problem with being close to him."

"Well, I do. I'm good at hiding things, but he drives me crazy. I thought maybe this week... maybe while we're alone together here..."

"But?" Richard asked softly. This sounded promising.

Clark shook his head. "But, nothing. Nothing. I lay down and took a nap right in front of him, and he just looked at me for a minute, and then I guess he did some work."

"Clark," Richard said. He had to be careful here. "Why are you waiting for him to make a move? Have you ever thought that maybe he's waiting for you?"

"Lex takes what he wants," Clark asserted. "If he wanted me, I'd be his, right now." A dreamy expression crossed his pretty face.

Richard thought he knew what was wrong now. Both Clark and Lex were used to being pursued (and no wonder), and both were afraid of damaging their friendship.

"Isn't Lex worth taking a risk for?" he asked. He wouldn't suggest this unless he were sure of Lex's feelings, but he had no doubt of what the bald man's reaction would be to a definite indication on Clark's part. He licked his lips, envying Clark a little.

"Yeah," Clark said reluctantly. "You mean I should tell him how I feel? What if he says no? What if he doesn't want to be friends after that?"

"That's the risk. But Clark, what if he says yes? Think about it."

Richard allowed a silence to grow and watched as Clark thought about it, a blush coloring his sculpted cheekbones. "And if you're friends like you say you are, nothing will end that."

"No, I think that's true. Our friendship will survive anything. But, Richard - I don't know." Clark looked excited and unsure and nervous.

"I do. I think you owe it to Lex, and to yourself, to give this a chance. I understand exactly how you feel. I was scared to death that Jean-Claude would turn me down, or worse. Scared that he'd laugh at me, or despise me. Which was just stupid - he'd made it clear, years before, that he was attracted to me, and he'd always treated me with respect and affection. Almost always." Again, no need to tell Clark about that Complication. Thank God she was out of their lives for good. "But I got all wound up. And as I said, it was easy, once I started. And fun." He smiled suddenly at Clark, who smiled back. "And Clark," he added, "I think..." how to say this without giving away that he had smelled Lex's desire, and seen the love shining from those silvery blue eyes? He couldn't give away Lex's secrets. Even if the man was a moron for keeping them. "I got the impression that Lex does have feelings for you. Strong feelings. And I'm pretty good at judging that." There. Enough?

Clark shook his head doubtfully. "I don't know," he said again. "It might be better if I don't - I don't know."

Richard looked at him, frustrated. And when had he become such a matchmaker, anyway? Since Jean-Claude. Richard wanted everyone to be happy. But he'd pushed Clark as far as he dared. He thought the boy needed another push, something to jolt him out of his paralysis and into action. Maybe Jean-Claude would have an idea. They could talk it over later.

"Cognac?" Jean-Claude offered, studying his friend.

"Thanks," Lex acknowledged, taking the snifter. "Richard is gorgeous, JC. And I can see how good you are together. I'm happy for you." He raised his glass in a toast. He was happy for the vampire, but his misery about Clark seemed to permeate everything.

"Yes, Richard is wonderful. Never have I known such happiness. And Alexander, I offer my congratulations in return." He lifted his empty snifter. "Clark is perfect. Perfect in himself, and perfect for you."

"You think?" Lex laughed, hearing the bitterness but unable to hide it. This was a mistake, seeing Jean-Claude. The vampire would be able to sense that something was wrong. He'd never been able to hide anything from Jean-Claude. But he had to try. "He is hot, isn't he?"

"Mais oui. But, Alexander, what troubles you?"

So much for trying. Never get close with a vampire if you want to hide anything. Had Sun Tzu mentioned that? Maybe distraction. "Nothing, I'm just a little tired. Long day. Let's sign those papers. Have you done any more research on the effect of meteor rocks on weres and vampires?" He met Jean-Claude's searching gaze with an expressionless face.

"Oui. I have found that lead will negate the effect, as you suggested it might. I have taken the precaution of having a lead lined suite prepared at the Circus. I look forward to comparing our findings."

Whew. A reprieve. "Yes, this will be very interesting, and hopefully, profitable." Lex grinned like a shark, moving into business mode. "I've already take steps to have all the green rocks harvested. I want them under our control, all of them." Jean-Claude didn't need to know yet that he intended to have the green rocks destroyed after study. They discussed their plans for the meteor rocks for some time, going over the details, speculating on possible applications.

"We are agreed. Let us sign," Jean-Claude moved the papers into position for Lex, "and move on to more important things."

No avoiding it, Lex sighed to himself as he signed, his hand smearing the ink from Jean-Claude's fountain pen. Damned right-handed world. When he was President, he'd pass laws to make right-handed items illegal. Scissors, frying pans, wallets, everything would be hand neutral. It was right, no wait, it was fair, plus he'd get the lefty vote. Seven percent of the population right there. Exactly there. Jean-Claude had signed, with a flourish of course, put the papers aside, and was looking at him with that penetrating, midnight blue gaze. Show time.

"Alexander," Jean-Claude began, drawing Lex to sit beside him on the red brocade sofa. "Would you like to tell me about it, whatever it is? Please - I sense such deep unhappiness in you." Lex studied Jean-Claude's familiar, beloved face. No one else had ever cared about him enough to push past his barriers. No one else had the strength, but it was more than that. No one else had ever cared enough to try. What the hell. He'd pushed Clark until that wonderful alien had come clean with him. Maybe it was time he was honest, too. He reached for his cognac and sipped, thinking. Jean-Claude allowed the silence to build. He'd always been good at silence when it was called for.

"It's Clark." Start with the obvious. One thing he could count on, Jean-Claude would never say, "Duh." Yes, the vampire just nodded, not looking at him. "Clark and I," he paused. This was hard. "We're not lovers." The look of surprise on Jean-Claude's face was priceless. All the things they'd done together, and never had he managed to shake the vampire's composure. But now, Jean-Claude could barely push words out.

"Wha - Qu'est que..? N'est pas possible!" Yes, priceless. Thrown into French.

"Oui, c'est trop possible," Lex replied. "C'est vrai."

"Mais, Alex! You and he, you are...," Jean-Claude gestured wildly, searching for words with his elegant hands.

"No, we're not. Whatever you think we are." Still hard to say this. "I - have feelings for him," Jesus, he sounded like a woman's magazine, "but he doesn't return my feelings." He wasn't very good at this. He needed to call a board meeting tomorrow. He was good at meetings. Or he could date a debutante and charm her panties off, or buy a company and make the ex-owner like it, or do anything except talk to a friend about his deepest feelings. "He's - Clark - we're..." He trailed off. Forget it. He sucked at this.

"Alexander," Jean-Claude turned his supple body on the sofa, tucking one long leg beneath him. "How can this be?" He reached both hands out to grasp Lex's hands. Lex allowed it, feeling how warm Jean-Claude was. That was different. Keep trying. He could do this.

"He doesn't want me, Jean-Claude," he managed, his head bowed over their joined hands. "Hard to believe, I know," he looked up with a flash of amusement in his narrowed blue eyes, "but painfully true." He couldn't repress the sigh even as he chastised himself for being so pitiful. What was that tasty little biotech company he wanted? The number was on his cell....

"Alex. Of course he wants you. Who could not?" That familiar sapphire twinkle, that had led him into trouble more times than he cared to remember. Could remember, in fact. Good thing he had brain cells to spare.

"He could not. He's not like other men." Careful. Don't bring Jean-Claude's attention to that fact. "He's," what the hell was he? "He's Clark." Oh, articulate. And now Jean-Claude was massaging his hands and looking into his eyes. Right, opening up here. Lex was silent.

"Mon petit crane d'oeuf, this is not like you," Jean-Claude chided. "Never have I known you to want something, or someone, and not get it. Or him. Or her. Or them."

"I told you, Clark's different," Lex said quietly, quelling his anger at the implication that Clark was like one of the dozens, hundreds of others that Lex had fucked and forgotten. "He's my friend. I can't be casual with him, and I can't risk our friendship." He ran his hand over his scalp. He'd always confided in Jean-Claude, but that was about his father, about feeling like a freak, about his plans for the future. This was harder.

"You love him," Jean-Claude said softly.

"Yes." There, that wasn't so hard. Maybe he could learn to do this opening up thing. Research it. Jean-Claude grasped his hands more tightly.

"Then why, my Alex, have you not seduced him? Do you think you could not?" Jean-Claude shook his head as if Lex was hopelessly stupid. Lex had seen that look before, but that was when he was 18 and he was hopelessly stupid. How to explain? But Jean-Claude was continuing. "I understand, Alex. It was somewhat the same with myself and Richard. I love him, and because of that, I could not believe that he would want me. Could not believe that such happiness could be my lot. I was miserable for many years, flitting from lover to lover, finally settling on one who..." the vampire winced, true pain on his white face, "who was not Richard." Lex raised one pale eyebrow. A story there, obviously, but not for now.

"Alex, you are beautiful, desirable," the vampire pressed his hands, "lovable. And your Clark..." His Clark. As if. If only. He had to stop hanging out with teenagers, it was affecting his vocabulary. "I do understand. You do not want to seduce him, you want him to come to you. Out of love. And he..." Jean-Claude trailed off, unspoken words clear on his perfect face, followed by a frightening look of determination with a dash of mischief. Lex looked into the sapphire eyes, wondering what Jean-Claude was planning. Shit. He didn't need vampiric interference. Everything was fine. Or, OK, not fine, but he could handle this on his own. And maybe Jean-Claude had a point. It wasn't like Lex to be so passive. He opened his mouth to speak just as the door opened.

Richard and Clark entered together. Lex looked up at Clark and was surprised to see him looking like a shocked thundercloud. He was glaring at Jean-Claude as if he wanted to set him on fire. What had he and Richard been talking about? He had to distract Clark before he actually did set the vampire on fire with his eyes.

"How was dinner?" he asked. Lame. But something about the way Clark was looking at him had taken away his social graces. And most of his mental functions. Clark looked furious and determined and a lot like he was about to rip Lex's clothes off and pin him to the nearest flat surface. Lex was familiar with the look, but he'd never seen it on Clark's face before. It was as if Clark was .... jealous. Jealous? Yes, he was glaring at Lex's hands, still held in Jean-Claude's. No mistaking it. Clark was jealous, which meant... Oh, God. He was scowling at Jean-Claude again. Jean-Claude reached out a slender white hand to caress Lex's head, meeting Clark's furious emerald eyes with a small smile. Clark froze, then held out a hand to Lex, who took it and rose to his feet in one swift motion.

"All your business done?" Clark grated. Jean-Claude nodded solemnly, darting a quick smile at Richard, who was beaming. Lex, in a daze of confusion and desire, nodded. He felt like a bobble head toy. "Good. Let's go, Lex. I want to get back to the hotel. Now."

"Me too, Clark," Lex replied, finding his voice and looking up at Clark with a half smile, all his confidence flowing back. He knew how to do this. He wanted to do this. Immediately. He walked to the door, drawing Clark with him and putting an arm around his waist as he turned them to face Richard and Jean-Claude. Clark leaned into him. Oh God, this was real, this was happening. His arm tightened around Clark. "We'll see you two tomorrow night?" Lex rasped, control all but gone. Jean-Claude was smiling benevolently. A new look for him.

"Oui," he said. "Bon soir!" He waved slender white fingers at them.

Richard, his face wreathed in smiles, added, "Good night!"

Lex and Clark left the room hand in hand, moving fast.

Richard looked at the vampire, his brown eyes full of laughter. "You heard us coming. You knew Clark would be jealous. You did that on purpose," he accused.

"Bien sur, mon loup," Jean-Claude replied with a grin.

"That was sneaky and manipulative."

Jean-Claude raised one elegant black winged eyebrow as the werewolf surged forward and enveloped him in his strong arms.

"You're so hot when you're sneaky," Richard breathed as he lowered his lips to Jean-Claude's.

Lex hurried down the hallway, holding Clark's hand and pulling him along. Clark didn't remember the way, or he would have been tempted to grab Lex and fly them out of the club. He was tempted anyway. It was the grabbing Lex part that really held his interest. And it looked as if Lex returned that interest. Was there any other possible interpretation of Lex's actions? Clark knew what he'd seen in Lex's eyes when they met his in the vampire's office. Desire. And something else, but he wasn't sure about that, and he'd decided to think about it later. The desire was definitely there, and that would keep them busy for the next, oh, lifetime or so. They ran through the club and out into the parking lot. Lex stopped by the Ferrari and turned to look up at Clark, blue eyes questioning.

"Clark?" he asked, his voice even huskier than usual. There seemed to be a direct line from Clark's ears to his dick, bypassing his brain entirely. Lex raised one eyebrow as he reached up to run his fingers, calloused from fencing, lightly down the side of Clark's face. Clark closed his eyes, shivering at the touch, and leaned forward, wanting more of it. "Clark?" Lex seemed to be asking him something. What?

"Yes," Clark managed. Yes to anything and everything Lex asked. It must have been the right answer, because Lex flashed him a delighted, predatory smile, opened the car door, and pushed him in. He got the smile again as Lex started the car, and then Lex was looking at the road, which was a good thing because they were going about a hundred miles an hour through downtown St. Louis. Clark didn't look at the speedometer. He didn't want to know. He'd lecture Lex about his driving habits another night. No time now, because they'd already arrived at the hotel and Lex was tugging him along again. Then they were in the room, Lex slamming the door shut by pushing Clark up against it hard.

"Clark?" he asked again, pressing the length of his lean body against Clark and putting both hands in Clark's hair, looking into his eyes with that intensity that only Lex had. Clark stared dazed into Lex's narrow blue eyes, feeling every inch of Lex's warm, lean body where it met his. What was the question?

"Yes," he tried again. It had worked before, and it did this time too. Lex leaned forward and placed his lips on Clark's in a gentle kiss. Clark's knees grew weak at the sensation of those much studied lips against his, and his mouth opened in a faint moan. Lex licked Clark's lips slowly, then pushed his tongue inside, mapping Clark's mouth thoroughly, finding sensitive places Clark hadn't known he possessed. He cupped Lex's head in his hands and pulled him closer, running the tips of his fingers over the smooth, soft skin as Lex moaned into his mouth. He was vaguely aware that he and Lex were grinding against each other but all his attention was on the kiss, on his tongue reaching out to lick Lex's and then moving into Lex's warm mouth. Lex tasted like cognac and beneath that, something spicy and musky and Lex. Clark took his time, a part of him wanting this to last forever, though another part was making itself heard now.

A noise distracted him. Someone was moaning loudly. Oh, it was him. No, it was Lex, who took control of the kiss again as he reached between them and brushed his hand against Clark's aching cock, and then grasped him through his khakis. OK, * that* sound, which he had never heard before, was from him. He leaned back against the door and thrust into Lex's hand, wanting more, wanting it now. Lex was looking at him as if he was the only thing in the universe, unzipping his khakis with clever fingers and reaching in to grasp his cock, his other hand holding the small of Clark's back. Clark banged his head back against the door as he pushed into Lex's warm hand. No, wait. He wanted to touch Lex, wanted to give him the pleasure he was feeling. His big hands, so clumsy compared to Lex's, shook as he unbuttoned and unzipped Lex's needlessly complicated pants.

Lex's dick sprang free into Clark's grasp, hard and weeping. Oh God, Lex's dick, warm in his hand. He stroked it gently and Lex said something. What? Syllables. A lot of them, in that 900 number voice. The only one he understood was "Clark." Lex repeated it several times as he pushed their pants down and put his hand around both their cocks. Clark placed his big hand over Lex's slightly smaller one as Lex began to stroke them in earnest, his mouth open, panting. Clark looked down at their hands, at their leaking cocks appearing and disappearing as Lex jacked them hard. It was the hottest thing Clark had ever seen. He raised his eyes to find Lex staring at him with hot blue eyes and felt his orgasm building from his toes up.

"Lex," he ground out a syllable of his own, "Lex," and came so hard he saw stars, barely aware that Lex was shuddering against him and shouting more words. He felt Lex start to collapse and instinctively held him upright, then slid down the door as his own knees gave out. They toppled over sideways, hampered by the pants around their ankles, and Clark managed to twist so that Lex fell on top of him. They lay on the floor holding each other as their breathing returned to normal. Lex raised himself on one elbow and looked down at Clark with an expression Clark had never seen before. Then Lex smiled, half a familiar smirk as he raised his other hand to pet Clark's hair.

"Shall we take our pants off now?" he asked as if he were asking the time of day.

"Yes."

Yes, pants off, everything off, Clark needed Lex naked. His cock stirred at the thought. They rose shakily, leaving their pants and shoes in a heap on the floor. Lex took Clark's hand and led the way into his room. He sat on the bed, leaning back on his hands, and looked up at Clark standing before him. Lex looked perfectly comfortable, relaxed even, and oh so hot, wearing only his gray sweater, but Clark felt like the dork he was. Lex's eyes raked his body and he cocked a pale eyebrow.

"Clothes. Off," he ordered, his voice an octave lower than usual, and was it shaking? Clark saw the tension in every line of Lex's body and realized that the relaxed attitude was an illusion. Lex was as hard as he was, and his eyes, bright and hungry, clearly signaled his intent to ravish Clark's extremely willing body. Clark felt his mouth curve into a goofy smile as their eyes met and held. He probably looked like a sex crazed alien, but since that's what he was, he was fine with that. He removed his blue t-shirt slowly, trying for sexy, then threw it aside and stepped forward to stand between Lex's knees. Lex's eyes, slightly crossed, focused on his cock as he swallowed, then licked his lips. Clark needed that pink tongue on him, now. No, he needed to get Lex's sweater off so he could - everything. He pulled the sweater off roughly as he pushed Lex back on the bed and lay on top of him. Finally, all that beautiful smooth skin was his to lick and stroke and love.

Clark raised himself on his elbows and looked down at Lex, who was flushed and panting and God, so fucking beautiful. Clark licked the scar that had fascinated him for three years, then pushed his tongue inside Lex's mouth and suddenly they were kissing as if to make up for the years of wanting. Somehow Lex flipped them so that he was on top and, growling, licking Clark's neck, then biting, then oh God.

Lex.

Looking up with a sky blue glint then bending to suck Clark's nipple, one then the other, and Clark arching up with a shout, his very skin screaming for Lex's touch - oh no, not a new power, his skin wasn't really talking now was it? - worry about that later, Lex's mouth moving down, goal obvious, tongue on Clark's stomach, down the center and, stopping? Nooooooo! No, never stop, please, "Please," oh good a word, the right one judging by Lex's expression, try it again, "Please, Lex." His cock pushing towards Lex, need contact, need it now, need you Lex, please... Did any of that come out? Lex looking up at him, concentrated Lex, "Yeah, Clark, need you, too," then Lex's tongue circling his nipple again, licking his ribs, hands reaching around to hold his ass, oh God, and did Lex just say he needed Clark? Lex murmuring against his stomach,

"So beautiful," and Clark's heard that from every man he's ever been with, and taken it for sex talking, but, Lex. It's different when Lex says it. When Lex looks up at him Clark believes that Lex thinks he's beautiful. When Lex returns to licking his stomach, small sucking bites, he throws back his head and pushes his cock against Lex's thigh. "Please, Lex. Need. Now." Can't take any more of this aching want, and Lex seems to understand because he dives down and takes Clark's cock in that sweet mouth, so fast and hot and wet and Lex's beautiful head moving between his thighs and that's it. Clark's exploding, rainbows flashing behind his eyelids as he pumps endlessly down Lex's throat, Lex swallowing it all then moving slowly up Clark's body, caressing him, soothing him as he shakes with the aftermath.

Then, when Clark has stopped trembling and moaning, Lex rises to his knees, straddling Clark, looking into his eyes, and taking his own hard (and huge! he'd always suspected, but, wow!) cock in his hand and jerking himself off hard and fast. So fast, so intent, that Clark doesn't have time to reach out before Lex is coming all over him, yelling something - Latin? Not English, anyway - his contorted face so beautiful that when Lex collapses on his chest all Clark can do is hold him close.

Lex was so relaxed now that he draped bonelessly over Clark, making a sound that from anyone else would be purring. He slid over to lie on his side, threw his long, lean leg over Clark and pushed his smooth head under Clark's chin, still purring. Lex reached his arm around Clark to pull him closer, skin to skin all down their bodies. Lex was snuggling. Clark let out a surprised chuckle and dropped a kiss on Lex's scalp.

"What?" Lex asked lazily.

"You're a cuddler. I never would have guessed." And he wouldn't have. All his thousands of fantasy scenarios had never included this, a contented Lex holding him close. The fantasies had ended when the sex ended. Stupid him.

"I am not a cuddler," Lex said indignantly as he ran long fingers through Clark's hair and tightened his leg to draw Clark closer.

"It's OK. I won't tell anyone," Clark promised.

"No one would believe you anyway." Clark felt Lex's smirk against his neck. Clark never wanted to leave this bed. He could have his classes taped and watch them here. Lex could run Lexcorp from the bed. Lex would arrange it. They'd just stay here forever, together, holding each other and fucking each other - stir of his cock at the thought, boy that was fast - and then a loud growl from Lex's stomach interrupted his increasingly hazy thoughts.

"Lex, did you eat?"

Snicker.

"I mean dinner, you freak."

"No, I'm not hungry." Lex raised himself on one elbow to look down at Clark, his eyes moving in like blue lasers to focus on Clark's mouth. "Not for food," he whispered, leaning down slowly as his stomach let out another growl.

"Yes, you are," Clark stated, turning his head to avoid the kiss. Lex needed to eat. Then they could continue this. Lex was a fast eater, thank God. "You need to have your strength if you're going to keep up with me." He grinned at the frustrated expression on Lex's face. This was fun.

"That's not going to be a problem," Lex growled, pushing his hardening cock against Clark's thigh. Oh yeah. No, he can wait. Make Lex wait, too. Maybe later make him wait some more....

"What do you want?" Clark asked, sitting up. "To eat. Food. I'll call room service." He put on his best implacable expression.

Lex sighed dramatically and rolled onto his back. "You're not going to give up, are you? Mom. Fine. Something fast. A cheese omelette. Toast. Potatoes. Some fruit. Maybe sausage if they have chicken apple sage. Orange juice."

Ha, he knew it. Lex was hungry. He dialed room service as he watched Lex walk into the bathroom, enjoying the view. He asked room service to hurry when he placed the order, adding a slice of pie for himself. Wouldn't want Lex to have to eat alone.

"Tell them to bring up some lube," Lex yelled from the bathroom.

"Thanks," Clark said into the phone, and hung up. He stretched, then lay back on the bed, idly stroking his cock as he listened to Lex splashing in the bathroom. Lex came out wearing a white terry cloth robe with black piping, the hotel monogram on the collar. Sexy as hell as he looked down at Clark.

"Coming?" he asked, tilting his head.

Soon. And often. Who knew Lex would be so playful? He heaved himself up off the bed and gave Lex a quick hug before going to his own bathroom. When he emerged, wearing the bathrobe he had found there, Lex was telling the room service waiter where to put the food.

"Thank you," he said, giving the waiter a twenty, then, "Wait, where's the...,"

"Never mind, Lex!" Clark interrupted hurriedly. "It's covered."

Lex raised an eyebrow at Clark and allowed the waiter to leave. As he put a napkin in his lap and began to serve himself he was clearly waiting for an explanation.

"I, uh, I brought some lube with me," Clark mumbled, sitting down and reaching for his pie.

"A lot?" Lex asked matter of factly before taking a bite from an apple, eyeing Clark the way he used to, like Clark was the next item on the menu. "Because we're going to need it." A truer thing had never been said. He could give Lex a hot tip, tell him to buy a lube company.

"It hasn't been opened."

Lex nodded, letting him off the hook. "And we don't need condoms, right?" Clark made a noise of agreement, no condoms necessary, alien here. He ate his pie slowly, watching Lex eat. It was fascinating, the way his mouth opened to take in a bite, the movement of his Adam's apple as he swallowed, the elegant, intense hunger. More fascinating when he finished eating, stood, and untied his robe. And suddenly Clark had a lapful of warm, naked Lex. An earful of tongue, and he heard himself gasp as Lex's sharp white teeth worried his earlobe.

"And for our next act," Lex whispered into his ear, moving his hips so that their cocks rubbed against each other, "we need that lube. Because I want you to fuck me."

Ear to dick connection again. Clark bucked up helplessly, then pulled Lex's mouth down for a wet, sloppy, out of control kiss.

"Yes," Clark said in a low voice that sounded sexy even to him, "Lex," and he looked up as he pulled Lex's hips towards him and pushed up again. And again. Lex's eyes rolled back as he rode Clark for a moment, then he leaned away. Clark clutched at Lex, trying to draw him close again, but Lex just drew one finger over Clark's lips as he stood up.

"Get it. Meet you in my room." And he was walking away, giving his natural strut a little extra.

Clark leaned back and sighed, then sat up suddenly. Lex was waiting for him. To bring the lube. So they could fuck. He superspeeded to his room and grabbed it, then stopped. No superspeeding tonight. Could he maybe have superslow powers? Because he wanted this to last. He shrugged out of his robe, grabbed the lube and walked to Lex's room, stopping in the doorway. Lex was naked, lying on his back, hands behind his head, one knee raised. Clark wanted that picture on his dorm room wall. He wanted it as his screensaver. Lex turned his head towards Clark and slowly licked his lips. Lex was mind numbingly sexy at all times, but he was doing it deliberately now and Clark couldn't breathe. He gasped, embarrassingly, and grabbed his cock at the same time. Lex smiled and slowly caressed his own body, his hand finally resting on his thigh. He looked quizzically at Clark, who still stood in the doorway, hand wrapped around his dick as if it might try to get away.

"Want to help me out here, Clark?" he asked, his husky voice sending sparks of need through Clark. And Lex was turning it on for him, Lex was spread out on the bed, all white skin and hard muscle and red lips waiting for him. Clark stumbled to the bed and half fell on top of Lex, who held his face as they kissed deeply.

Tasting Lex, smelling him, feeling his soft skin and hard body and whipcord strength, Lex moaning into his mouth and then throwing his head back against the pillows and arching up, and then doing that flip thing again so he was on top. Lex reaching down between them to hold Clark's dick, "I want this," squeeze for emphasis and Clark felt that squeeze as if it was Lex's ass around him, "want you inside me." Lex sitting up, still holding Clark's cock, lean body tight and wired with it, "Where's that lube?" Lex is bossy in bed, no surprise there, but Clark doesn't want to hurry this. This first time he and Lex fuck. There will be quickies later.

He flips them again and strokes Lex's soft scalp, then kisses it as Lex's hands scrabble on his back, then settle in to pull him close, tight, hard as Lex writhes against him, and Lex is talking again. "Ssshhh," Clark soothes as he rains soft kisses on Lex's face, "slow down." A look of pure surprise on Lex's face, then he feels Lex relax against him, surprise melting into acquiescence. Lex looking up at him, his eyes dark with desire, waiting. Wow. Clark raises himself on his elbows and surveys Lex. His neck is splotchy pink from Clark's kisses or maybe from his beard. It looks good. Really, really good. Clark bends and licks a broad stripe down to Lex's collarbone, then when his tongue finds the pulse point he kisses and sucks and bites. Lex's hands tighten, one moving to the back of his neck to hold his mouth to that place. Biting Lex's neck, hard, and sucking, wanting it to show later. Show that Lex is his. So everyone would know. So that Jean-Claude would see it. And Lex making interesting noises as Clar k moves to suck another mark, noises that make Clark's dick disagree with this slow stuff. But he still wants it slow, forever really, or as close to it as he can get. Wants to sit up, straddling Lex, and run his hands all over Lex's lean, muscular body, wants to look into Lex's eyes while he does it and see those hot blue eyes staring back at him, starting to look a little wild again as he twists a nipple and Lex arches into it.

"Fuck, Clark, more," not begging yet but he will, and Clark obliges, twisting the other nipple hard while rubbing his cock against Lex's, so hard, so good. Stops to breathe and look at Lex, who's breathing raggedly and grinning too, pushing up against him and Lex is strong. Bends down to take the pale pink nipple into his mouth, licking to sooth and tease a little and then biting, sending Lex into words again. His ears have come back online and he understands the words now, and he has to kiss Lex again, endless tongues and lips and teeth and holding Lex hard with one arm as he reaches between them for Lex's cock, finds it dripping and rubs the precome over the head. Slowly. Breaks the kiss to watch as he rubs his thumb around the crown of Lex's dick and Lex might be babbling. He traces the big vein down, runs his fingers over Lex's balls. Wow. Hairless. He sort of knew that, but feeling them, so silky, so vulnerable in his hand, he never imagined that. He spends some time caressing Lex's balls, lost in the s ensation until Lex's hoarse little whisper,

"God, Clark," gets his attention. Lex looks almost lost, and Clark knows the feeling, moves his hand back to stroke Lex's perineum, rides out Lex's bucks and moans and words, reaches out for the lube that he'd dropped on the bed. Dribbles some onto his fingers, reaching out and Lex asks in that voice, God, Clark might come just from the sound,

"Is that the lube we bought together?"

"Yeah," Clark says, not embarrassed anymore, "I always kind of hoped we'd use it together."

"Jesus, Clark," blue eyes shining, and he circles Lex's hole with one finger then pushes in. Lex pushing back on Clark's finger, muttering, "Use it then. Use it," so Clark does, adding another finger and twisting, then stroking and Lex goes wild, arching back and then fucking himself hard on Clark's fingers, which have just fallen in love.

"Fuck, Clark, so good, please," and Lex is whipping his bald head back and forth and his cock is tight against his stomach as Clark leans down to take a quick taste, take it into his mouth as he adds another finger. Loud, really loud, moan from Lex as Clark's fingers fuck him slowly, Lex arching almost off the bed with each stroke of his prostate, totally lost in it now. And no one else gets to see Lex like this, this is for Clark. This is his Lex, begging now, "Please, Clark, fuck me, please, please" and he can't wait any longer. Amazed he's made it this far. Pulls his fingers out, unhappy little sound from Lex, lubes up his dick and squeezes hard at the base, slow down, at least get in first. Raises himself above Lex and positions his cock and Lex wraps his legs around Clark's waist. Lex is looking at him in silence, his eyes doing the begging now. New sexiest thing Clark's ever seen, and he pushes in slowly, the slowest he's ever done this but it's Lex, he can't hurt Lex and he still has a faint hope of ma king this last. Hope shattered when Lex's hands on his ass pull and he's all the way in. In Lex, who's biting his lower lip with an expression of determination on his face. Clark forces himself to be still, good thing he has some control though it's going fast. Lex is so hot and tight and LEX and Clark quivers with the need to move.

"OK, Lex?" he asks, and Lex nods.

"So big, Clark, God, yes, so good. Fuck me," and Clark does. Slow at first, sweet slide in and out, settling into it as Lex's legs tighten around his waist. Getting into a rhythm, out slow, in faster, Lex matching his movements and rasping sweet dirty things that make Clark speed up. Lex's blue eyes dark with want, his bruised mouth babbling now, and Clark is lost in the silky heat of him. Can't hold back any more and it's faster now, slamming deep into Lex who's down to two words but they're the best ones, "Yes," and "Clark," repeated over and over. Clark feels the tingle begin in the base of his spine, knows he's going to come but first, "Come for me Lex. Come for me," and with a wild cry Lex does, completely open and giving it all up for Clark. He feels the hot wet heat between them and with one more hard thrust goes deep into Lex and stays there as he goes over the edge, hearing himself yelling Lex's name so loud it echoes, God it's never been like this before, nothing close, stars and fireworks and blue eyes and forever.

He must have blacked out, because now he was lying collapsed on Lex, who was stroking his back and making soothing sounds. Clark hoped he was out for only a second because he must be squishing Lex. He raised himself up to look at Lex, who smiled up at him and drew him down into a soft kiss and Clark knew he would never, ever get enough of this. Lex broke the kiss and looked up with a faint question in his eyes, now back to their normal - well, usual - silvery blue. Clark knew the answer to the question, and he replied by rolling over onto his back and pulling Lex to him. Lex put his head on Clark's chest, his arm and leg around Clark, heaved a great sigh and started making that purring noise. Clark kissed Lex's perfect head and pulled him closer.

"Clark?" Lex asked in his sleepy post-sex voice. Post sex with Clark.

"Mmm?"

"The lube."

Lex seemed to be a little slow in recovering his verbal skills, but Clark understood this question, too. He wanted to ask Lex that same question. "Always. Since the first time we met, at the river. When you looked up at me - since then."

"Me, too." Lex raised his head to look into Clark's eyes. That intense look that said Clark was the most important thing ever. "Always."

"God, why did we wait so long?" Clark sighed, mourning the lost years.

"It's better this way, Clark," Lex assured him, lying down again and patting Clark's chest. "You were too young. And your father would have killed me." He groaned. "Shit, he still will. And your mother's not going to be happy about us, either."

"Don't worry about them, Lex," Clark soothed. "Mom wants me to get a boyfriend. And she likes you."

"Hm," Lex sounded skeptical. Lex worried too much. "There's still your father, and he's the one with the shotgun."

"Lex, he's not going to shoot you. Well, maybe just wing you."

"Thanks," Lex muttered sarcastically. "Good thing I heal fast."

"Stop worrying about my parents. When they get to know you, they'll love you, too." Clark was certain of it.

"Right." Lex didn't believe him, but he'd see. "But isn't it better that we didn't know until now? Now we can be together openly, we can do anything we want. And there are a lot of things I want to do with you." Lex looked at him with a sleepy eyed smile and Clark's body, amazingly, responded to that smile and its promise. Not yet, he admonished his cock silently.

"Me, too Lex. A lot of things." Right now, he wanted to lie here with his arms around Lex and listen to him breathe. Maybe Lex could read his mind, because he snuggled closer with a little grunt and was silent.

Lex ran his hand over his scalp as he looked in the mirror. He looked damn good. Those bite marks on his neck added a certain je ne sais quoi, he thought. And he knew what. Clark. The same thing that was putting that silly grin on his face, the grin that kept breaking through his attempts to stifle it. There it was again. He wondered if it was permanent, hoped it wasn't because it wouldn't be very effective in a business setting. He put on an aloof, slightly threatening expression and burst out laughing. Enough with making faces at himself, time join Clark for breakfast. Lunch. Food. Time to join Clark, who he could hear dealing with room service. He walked naked into the bedroom. What to wear? Well, what was the plan for the day? He pulled thin gray sweatpants and a matching v-necked t shirt from his suitcase. No shoes, he decided, wiggling his toes. Shoes could get in the way.

"Hey, Lex!" That smile, and if he'd thought it had made him melt before, he hadn't known what melting was. The waiter stepped back from the table. Clark was still smiling at him, and Lex indicated the waiter with his head.

"Oh, yeah! Looks great, thanks," Clark said, handing over a twenty and walking with the waiter to the door. Coming back to the table, he picked up the smile where he had left off. He was wearing blue sweatpants and a red t-shirt, and he looked more edible than the club sandwiches: hair still damp from his shower, golden skin over hard muscle, and that grin. Lex knew his own grin was back in full force. He sat and poured coffee for Clark and himself, added milk to his own, and took a sip as Clark sat down.

"Ah." Coffee had never tasted so good. He started in on his sandwich, and it was exquisite. Clark, halfway through his own sandwich, seemed to agree.

"So, Lex, what are we doing today?"

"We're meeting Jean-Claude and Richard at ten. Until then, the day is ours. We can do whatever we want to," and he was sure Clark wanted to do exactly the same things did. Yes, Clark's green eyes gleamed as he licked those sinfully soft, full lips.

"I dunno, what do you want to do?" Clark asked, his innocent tone at odds with the lascivious - there was no other word for it - smile on his face.

"Finish my coffee. Make a few calls," Lex replied, and watched Clark's smile dim a little before he stretched out his foot and put it in Clark's lap. "Or I could do that later." He walked his toes up Clark's thigh.

"Tease." Clark tickled the foot and Lex heard a strange sound. Like a giggle, but Clark wasn't giggling so Lex must be imagining it. Then Clark stood and straddled Lex, and no one was giggling now. Clark looked down at him for one bright eyed moment then lowered his head and took possession of Lex's mouth. And now someone was moaning and Lex might as well face up to the fact that it was him. Moaning and pulling Clark closer and kissing him as if it was the first time all over again.

Lex pulled back and managed a word. "Bed." And found himself naked in bed with naked Clark and no memory of getting there. Clark's superspeed was going to come in handy in all sorts of situations, Lex reflected as Clark ran his hands up Lex's arms and down his chest. Powers of reflection dissolved as Lex gave himself over to the moment. He could reflect later. Much later.

"What'd Jean-Claude say?" Clark asked. They were on the sofa, Clark's head on Lex's lap as Lex ran his fingers through the dark curls. So soft, so silky, and Lex toyed with the idea of telling Jean-Claude that something had come up and they'd meet tomorrow. But no, Jean-Claude had sounded worried on the phone, and that was unusual enough to cause all sorts of alarm bells in Lex's head. Besides, it wasn't as if he didn't have any control around Clark.

"I told you we're studying the meteor rocks for possible commercial applications, right?" he asked Clark, who nodded, pushing his head against Lex's hand. "Jean-Claude thinks they affect vampires and weres as well as humans. He said he was studying his notes last night and suddenly realized something. He wouldn't say what. He wants to talk to us about what we've seen in Smallville." Lex sighed and shifted under Clark. That could take all night, and he really, really didn't want to spend the night clothed and in public. He had another plan - a Luthor always had a plan, and this was one of his best.

"Uh, Lex?" Clark asked, looking up at him with serious eyes and an adorable little frown. God, he was far gone. "You and Jean-Claude, you were..." and now Lex knew what was coming, and, shit. "You were lovers?" Clark got the question out in a rush.

See, this was the problem with honesty. He knew he had to be honest with Clark, and on Clark's terms, not on slippery Luthor terms. But how to explain to Clark that yes, he'd had sex with Jean-Claude, but it hadn't been serious, it had just been friends with perks. He and Jean-Claude were too much alike for them to be in love or anything like it. They were friends, and Jean-Claude was hot, and so sometimes... This wasn't going to go well. And what business was it of Clark's anyway who he'd slept with before? He wasn't ever going to sleep with anyone else. What? Ignore that thought and concentrate on his answer.

"Yes, we were lovers, Clark, but we weren't in love. And it wasn't that many times, even," because he'd been busy methodically fucking his way through the St. Louis club scene and fucking himself up, but maybe he wouldn't say that. "And we haven't for years, and we won't. It was just part of where I was at that time."

"A bad place?" Clark asked sympathetically. Lex hadn't expected sympathy, he'd expected jealousy and sulking and having to talk Clark around. Clark had grown up in the past year. "And you're not in that place now?"

"No, I'm in the best place I've ever been right now." Lex leaned over to drop a kiss on Clark's lips. Pulled back before he could dive in again, because it was getting late and if they got started they'd never stop. Which sounded like an excellent plan... No. Control. It was just temporary, he could howl like a wild thing later.

"And you're not - you don't want to - Jean-Claude...," Clark trailed off, looking both embarrassed and determined.

"Clark, no. No, I don't want to have sex with Jean-Claude." Deep breath. Answer Clark's real question. "Or with anyone except you." Ever again.

Clark's face lit up until he was practically glowing. Lex's breath caught. Had anyone ever been that happy because of something Lex said?

"Me, either," Clark declared, "I mean, I just want to be with you," and Lex felt himself glow back. Then Clark gave him a lazy, sexy smile as he added, "want to be with you now" and turned his head to nuzzle Lex's lap, which was showing a definite interest.

"Clark," Lex's voice was a little high, so he cleared his throat and tried again. "Clark, we have to go."

"OK," Clark agreed, rubbing his cheek against Lex, "but let's make this quick if we can."

"Oh, God, yes," Lex sighed. Clark grinned up at him, mischief and lust mingled on his beautiful face. Lex closed his eyes, shutting out visual temptation, and stood up carefully. "The sooner we go, the sooner we can get back. But, Clark, this might take a while. Jean-Claude's worried about something, something to do with the meteor rocks. It might be bad."

"Probably." Clark sat up and ran his hands through his hair. "Meteor rocks are never anything but bad news. And I guess we're the experts. Let's go." He stood and shook himself. "Ready?"

"What's this place?" Clark asked, looking around as he stepped out of the Ferrari.

"The Circus of the Damned. Jean-Claude lives here," Lex answered, leading the way across the parking lot. A small red headed man greeted them by name at the door and led them down a wide stone stairway. He stopped and knocked at a big, heavy, arched wooden door.

"Entrez," Jean-Claude called. "Bon soir, mes amis," he greeted Lex and Clark, rising from the red leather sofa where he was sitting with Richard. Richard rose also and smiled warmly, his eyes going from Lex to Clark with something that looked like curiosity. Clark greeted Richard with enthusiasm, Jean-Claude with reserve. Lex decided that reserve was good, he could take Clark being reserved around Jean-Claude. He suspected that Clark was going to be a very possessive lover. He'd always disliked that, but it was different with Clark. It made him feel wanted and safe. And aroused. Jean-Claude was looking at the dark marks on Lex's neck. Lex had carefully selected a sweater that would display his bruises, knowing that Clark would like that. And, to be completely honest, which was the new policy, he liked it, too. Liked being marked as Clark's. Jean-Claude arched one eyebrow at Lex and gave the ghost of a wink. Lex grinned, knowing that he looked besotted and not caring.

"I regret that this meeting is necessary," Jean-Claude apologized, gesturing to Lex and Clark to be seated. "I think perhaps you would prefer, ah, other activities tonight, but we need to talk. It is urgent. Would you care for a drink before we begin?"

"Yes, cognac, please," Lex requested, glancing at Clark, who nodded his acceptance. Lex and Clark took the snifters of cognac as they settled into the loveseat opposite the sofa.

"I want to check with you that my impressions of the effect of meteor rocks on humans are correct," Jean-Claude began. "It seems that they can cause a person to act out of character?" He raised his black eyebrows questioningly.

"Yes," Lex and Clark agreed in unison. Lex could tell from Clark's expression that he was thinking back on all the meteor freaks in their past, as he was himself. And this was really not what he wanted to be thinking about, or what he wanted Clark to be thinking about. Clark should be thinking about him. About them. Jean-Claude was talking again. Damned chatty vampire.

"The affected person might suddenly display behavior completely at odds with her professed morals, for example? Might become, ah...," Jean-Claude searched for a word, waving his slender white fingers in the air.

"A slut?" Richard contributed.

"Oui," Jean-Claude agreed, "a slut."

Lex thought of Lana with the whipped cream and shuddered. "Yes, we've seen that happen." Clark also shuddered and Lex hoped that he, too, was thinking of Lana.

"And does the person simply accept the change as normal, or does she acknowledge it?" Jean-Claude asked.

Knowing Jean-Claude, this could go on all night. Not the plan. Lex decided to try to hurry things along.

"JC, are you talking about a specific person? We can answer better if we get down to details."

Jean-Claude heaved a sigh, running his hands through his raven black, shoulder length hair. He looked questioningly at Richard.

"Yes," Richard answered, "we're talking about our ex. Anita Blake."

Their ex? Wait, that name was familiar. Jean-Claude had mentioned her in one of their infrequent phone conversations.

"Isn't she your human servant?" Lex asked.

"She was," Jean-Claude answered. "The three of us formed a triumvirate. Later, we married the marks. It is very difficult to explain," he added, seeing Lex and Clark's confusion. "Please, just accept it. We formed a bond. And then, we Divorced the marks. And since then - since shortly after we married the marks, in fact - she has been behaving strangely."

"Like a slut," Richard put in, taking a sip from his beer. "An extreme slut. And doing other crazy things, too."

"And so we thought that perhaps the meteor rocks could explain this change in her that nothing else could explain. I should add that she is a necromancer. Not human." Jean-Claude stated.

Lex's head was reeling. Their ex? He'd love to hear more about that. And a necromancer? Necromancers were rare. He'd never had a chance to study one. But both Jean-Claude and Richard looked very worried, almost fearful. And Clark looked concerned, as well. And sexy. That red turtleneck was a big tease, covering everything and concealing nothing...ahem.

"It sounds as if she might have been affected by the rocks. The only way to know is for us to meet her. Clark can tell. With humans, anyway."

"Excellent!" Jean-Claude exclaimed, looking curiously at Clark. "We have invited her here tonight, and I believe I hear her arriving now." The vampire rose and glided to the door, opening it to reveal the man who had met them with a crowd behind him. "Merci, Gil. Anita, bon soir," Jean-Claude addressed the small woman at the head of the group.

Lex studied her with interest. Pretty, with wildly curling, long, dark brown hair, white skin, and delicate features. Strange dress sense, though. Did she think that black pleather mini went with the blue polo shirt? And those boots! Lex rolled his eyes.

"Hi, Anita," Richard said. "Long time, no see." Not long enough, his expression said.

Anita strode into the room and planted herself in the middle, arms akimbo. "Well?" she demanded.

"Thank you for coming," Jean-Claude said smoothly. "I have arranged for refreshments to be served to your, ah, companions. Perhaps you would like one or two to remain? Though I know it is difficult for you to choose." The vampire shook his head sadly. "Gil will show the rest to the salon."

"Nathaniel, Jason, stay. Micah, you take care of the rest," Anita ordered imperiously. She fluttered her eyelashes at a short man with long, dark, curly hair. He came to attention and herded the crowd away.

"Please, make yourselves comfortable," Jean-Claude suggested. "Coffee?"

"Cut the shit, Jean-Claude," Anita snarled, flopping gracelessly into a club chair. Her two companions sank to the floor to sit at her feet. "What's this about?"

'It is about you, Anita," Jean-Claude replied.

"Yeah, so you said. It's the only reason I'm here," she told him. "So, spill."

Jean-Claude looked apologetically at Lex and Clark. Lex waved a hand to indicate "get on with it." He was already tired of this woman. What on earth had Jean-Claude and Richard (who was looking delectable in jeans and a black t shirt, if Lex had been noticing such things), seen in her? It must have been some arcane preternatural thing, because it certainly wasn't her winning personality.

"Anita, you have developed some amazing powers over the past few months," Jean-Claude began. She nodded smugly. "Inexplicable powers. And they seem to have developed after your trip to New Mexico. Oh, speaking of that," the vampire fiddled with the cuffs of his black shirt, "did you happen to see any green rocks there? Perhaps in jewelry?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I bought a pendant there that has a green stone in it. I don't wear it often. But what's that got to do with anything?"

Lex and Clark looked at each other. Clark shrugged. "Maybe," he mouthed. Damn, apparently Clark couldn't tell about meteor rock infection with preternaturals. But Lex had a strong feeling that she was a meteor freak. Looking on the bright side, she didn't seem to be affecting Clark. His veins weren't turning green, he wasn't pale, he looked fine. Very, very fine.

"Ah. But to return to the subject of you, Anita, I was wondering, how do these powers feel to you? Do you feel as if they are developing from within, or as if they have been given to you suddenly?"

"What do you mean by that?" she scowled.

"Exactly what he said!" Richard said loudly, sounding exasperated.

The necromancer looked confused for a moment, obviously running Jean-Claude's question through her mind. "They feel fine. Great, in fact. I'm pretty sure it's God's way of telling me that I'm doing everything right."

Uh oh, meteor freak or not, the woman was clearly psychotic. And now she was exuding an aura of violence. Lex went into high alert, having had too much experience with meteor induced mayhem. He just hoped he wouldn't get a concussion this time - that would probably interfere with the plan.

Now Anita was baring all her teeth in a smile, or maybe just baring all her teeth. "And He's told me something else, too. I need to take over your Kiss, Jean-Claude, and your pack, Richard. I don't want to, but I have to do it. For the good of everyone."

Was this some sort of hostile takeover? Maybe Lex had something to contribute here, after all. Or not, he decided as Anita stood and pulled a long, wicked looking knife from her boot. She was still ignoring him and Clark (that alone should have tipped him off that something about her was seriously abnormal), and that was good. Maybe he, or more likely Clark, would be able to surprise her if it came to a fight. And her companions looked totally useless. They were still sitting on the floor, both gazing up at her worshipfully.

"Anita, even you can't imagine that we would turn our people over to you," Jean-Claude declared. "Sit down, put the knife away, and we'll talk about you some more."

"I knew both of you would be too stubborn to see it," the necromancer responded, testing the blade on her polo shirt. "Sharp as a - uh - knife!" she said brightly as she shredded her shirt. "Here, you try it, Jean-Claude. Careful - it's silver."

Jean-Claude rose from the sofa as if pulled by strings and reached out for the knife. What the hell was going on here? The vampire looked dazed, his eyes dull, his movements jerky. Something was horribly wrong. Lex shot a glance at Clark, who was sitting up alertly, his eyes going from Anita to Jean-Claude, studying them. Good, Clark looked ready for action.

"Get behind Richard," the necromancer ordered. Jean-Claude moved behind the sofa, then stood waiting. Richard twisted to look up at Jean-Claude.

"JC, what's wrong?" he asked, his tone somewhere between worry and fright. "You don't look right."

"Jean-Claude, take Richard's hair, pull his head back, and put the knife to his throat, now." And Jean-Claude did that, his pale face an expressionless mask.

What the fuck?

"You were talking about my powers," Anita said conversationally. "Here's a new one! I've mastered my control over vampires. Even you, Jean-Claude. Spiffy, huh? If I tell you to cut Richard's throat, you will." A pale pink tear rolled down the vampire's frozen face. "I won't do that if you both agree to step aside and let me take command of the Kiss and the pack."

Richard was sprawled on the sofa, his smooth brown throat bared to the knife in his lover's hand. "Anita, no!" He gasped. "This isn't right!"

"Shut up, Richard. Jean-Claude, give him a little prick - with the knife," she laughed, "I know you can't give him a little prick any other way." She gazed at her ex-lovers speculatively. "You know, this doesn't have to end badly. Just do what I say, and we can be together again."

OK, enough. Lex nudged Clark and when Clark looked at him, mouthed, "Now!"

Then Clark was holding the frenzied necromancer from behind, one big hand over her mouth. The knife was on the floor in front of Lex. He might never get used to Clark's superspeed. Now what? Lex was out of his depth here. It was disorienting.

"Release Jean-Claude," he ordered. Anita snarled and bit Clark's hand hard, which of course hurt only her. Clark placed his hand more firmly over her mouth.

"Do what he says," he said. "Or, or, uh..." he looked pleadingly at Lex.

"Or he'll hurt you," Lex said in his threatening voice, low and menacing, perfected over the years. The necromancer thrashed wildly. He didn't dare let her talk yet. How to convince her that she'd lost? Well, Clark had already revealed his powers, a little more wouldn't hurt. But first, "You two," he addressed Anita's cowering companions. "Leave." They scampered out. Good, two fewer witnesses. Lex picked up the knife and stood. "He can hurt you, and you can't hurt him." Lex looked apologetically at Clark, then, after assuring himself that Anita was paying attention, drew his arm back and plunged the knife at Clark's throat. The knife crumpled. Lex displayed it to the necromancer. "See? Nothing and no one can hurt Clark. Now he's going to let you talk, and you'll release Jean-Claude. Then you'll shut up. If you try anything, Clark will tap your head, and you'll be unconscious. I imagine that would release Jean-Claude, too." And it was an appealing idea. He smiled and watched her shrink away from him in fear. B ut no, Clark wouldn't want to hit her.

Anita nodded, her eyes wide. Whew. He'd thought she'd fight more, but she seemed to be in shock or something. "Let her talk, Clark, but keep hold of her."

Clark removed his hand from her mouth. "OK, Jean-Claude," she said, her voice flat. The vampire shuddered all over before climbing over the back of the sofa and taking Richard in his arms. They held each other tightly, Jean-Claude apologizing over and over while Richard made soothing noises and stroked the long black hair. Good.

Lex turned his attention back to Anita, who was still in Clark's arms. She had turned to face him and was rubbing herself against him like a cat and making snarly noises. Clark, an expression of horror on his face that would have been comic under other circumstances, was trying to get away from her without letting her go. Lex had no clue what was going on - it looked as if she was in heat. He looked to Jean-Claude for help. "JC?" he asked.

The vampire looked up from Richard. Lex pointed at Anita and raised his eyebrows. "Oh, merde. It is the ardeur. But she should not..." he looked baffled. "Richard, will you call Jamil and Shang-Da? We will have to put her in the - ah - the room."

Richard nodded, pulling a cell phone from his pocket and pressing a number. "The living room, now," he said into the phone. "They'll be here in a minute," he told Jean-Claude, putting the phone away.

Anita now looked as if she was trying to climb Clark. "You're very attractive, ma'am," Clark almost stuttered. He was such a bad liar, always had been. "But I'm gay." He'd probably had to tell that to a hundred women in similar situations. Well, somewhat similar.

The necromancer stopped moving and glared up at Clark. She turned to face Lex, and a feral grin formed as she looked him up and down. He took an involuntary step back. Jesus. And he'd thought Smallville was weird.

The door opened and two gorgeous men stepped in. It was almost unreal how many beautiful men there were in Jean-Claude's world. They separated quickly and looked around, then they both turned to Richard, who was again holding Jean-Claude. "Take her to the lead suite," he ordered. "Stay with her, keep an eye on her, restrain her if necessary. We'll be there shortly."

"And put the Nimir-Raj in with her," Jean-Claude added. "You will be perfectly comfortable, Anita," he said, turning to her, his voice magically soothing. "I have made sure of it."

"Bully for you," the necromancer muttered sullenly, then perked up as the two men took her arms. They marched her out the door, completely ignoring her would be seductive wriggles.

Lex collapsed onto the love seat, running his hand over his head. Hadn't there been a plan? And this wasn't over yet. It was damage control time.

"Clark, Lex, I owe you my life," Richard said solemnly. "If there's anything I can do to repay you, you have only to ask."

Familiar situation, life saved, debt. And it was Richard's life, and Richard struck Lex as an honorable man. He would keep a promise, and keep Jean-Claude in line, too. If anyone could.

"Just don't tell anyone what happened here tonight, anyone at all, and we're square," Clark said.

Lex couldn't have said it better himself, in fact, it sounded better coming from Clark.

"You have my word," Richard said, "and Jean-Claude's." He looked at the vampire.

"Oui, my word, I will speak to no one of the extraordinary events of tonight." Lex could tell that the vampire was longing to ask questions. They could deal with that later. He knew that Jean-Claude would never break his word. "Is she infected by the meteors?"

Clark nodded. "Yes, I could tell when she was, um, close to me." He looked embarrassed and disgusted. It was cute.

"And those two dishrags she had with her, Jean-Claude?" Lex asked. "Will they talk?" He might have to ask Jean-Claude to take care of them.

The vampire shook his head. "Do not be concerned, Alex. They are accustomed to speed and strength - they will not have noticed the difference in degree." He looked at Clark, his curiosity palpable. "And now, would you like more cognac?"

Lex shook his head absently. Was that everything? Please, could he get on with the plan now? Because watching Clark use his powers had been a huge turn on. But Jean-Claude was almost quivering with curiosity, and though he would keep his word, the vampire was so sneaky he might find a way to investigate Clark without talking about tonight. He probably thought Clark was a meteor freak, and maybe...

"No, thanks," Clark's voice broke in on Lex's thoughts. "I think we all need some rest. Lex and I will go now, and we'll see you tomorrow night."

They said their good-byes and left the Circus. When they were in the Ferrari, Clark leaned over and brushed his lips against Lex's. "Drive fast," he whispered.

OK, he could do that. Lex detailed his concerns about Jean-Claude as they sped through the night. Clark just nodded and said, "um hm," occasionally, his eyes on Lex's hands.

Lex was still talking when they reached their suite. "And what about her? God, I'm sorry, Clark. It was the only thing I could think of at the time, but now that freak knows about you, and..." Clark shoved him against the wall and stopped his mouth with a kiss that left them both breathless. Clark pulled his mouth back an inch from Lex's and grinned at him.

"Lex, you think too much," he said, his voice deeper than usual. "It'll be fine. Now come on," he urged, pulling Lex towards his bedroom. "I have a plan."