It was worth the wait, Sue! I almost didn't want to read it because I didn't want it to be over! What a fantastic continuation of your amazing story! (And maybe I'll try to write the next sentence without an exclamation mark! <g>)
First of all, Clark fumbling around for his glasses, dropping them, almost stepping on them, then rushing to get dressed, buttoning his shirt up wrong... I was dying. That is so completely, utterly and totally perfect. The most powerful, confident being on Earth reduced to a bumbling wreck because Lois Lane said she loved him. Oh, Clark. Sometimes he just seems so very human, and that's why we love him!
Speaking of perfect, this little snippet of dialogue was, too:
"I have no idea what happens now," she said with a giggle. "Do you?"
Clark quickly shifted his attention to her face. He exhaled his own little laugh from the sheer surreal joy of the moment. Then he shook his head. "We're definitely in uncharted waters here."
Awwww! They are so cute, and nervous, and uncertain, and happy, and so sweet. I think most writers would have jumped right into that life-changing, 'I love you' conversation, but this little pause makes it feel real.
"I—" Clark hesitated, then shook his head. He was too tired to trust himself with sharing a few fantasies. "So what's the favor? You want me to go downstairs and get you a new key card?"
She considered it for a long moment, then shrugged. "I guess if you're jet-lagged then fetching a key card is about as useful as you can be."
He narrowed his eyes in what was only half-mocking irritation and his voice cracked a little as he said, "Useful?"
Lois smirked. "Could you be useful in another way?"
For a long moment neither of them moved. Clark wasn't sure how much of what she was hinting at was simply flirtation, or if maybe she was being earnest and hiding it in a tease. If she was flirting, this was a fun new dimension to their usual banter. If she was in earnest, he was going to have to tell her about Superman. Telling her the truth would definitely ruin this night and the easy, uncomplicated way they were being open about their feelings. He'd seen Lois bluff plenty of times and her current attitude was nearly identical.
Or was it? Her eyes, while bright, also contained a faint flicker of anxiety. An electric tingle blanketed his skin at the possibility that she was in earnest. That was all the reason he needed to pretend it was only flirting.
"I guess we'll never know," he said quietly and reluctantly turned towards the door. Behind him he could hear her pulse ratchet to a rapid, staccato beat.
Good grief, I'm going to end up quoting this whole thing. Seriously. I just have to tell you that I love the way you write dialogue (totally jealous of it, too, not going to lie!), and the way that you weave in these great character moments while they are talking/flirting/testing the waters. I love the way Clark thinks he knows her well enough to know she's bluffing... but then how he second-guesses himself, because, well, they are totally heading into new territory here! He's realizing that he's never had a chance to see this side of her personality before!
Oh, and I was going to tell you that when I got to this part and you had him turn towards the door to leave, my eyes got wide and I went, "Oh, no, you don't! Sue, don't you let him leave that room, darn it!" So glad that Lois asked for that second favor
Speaking of which...
She bit her lip, released it, and sucked in a quick breath. "And maybe you could tell me you love me again, just for good measure."
Clark framed her face between his hands and tried to look annoyed. He didn't quite manage it because he couldn't stop smiling. "Anything else?"
"No. That should do it." Lois closed her eyes and her lips parted.
"Hey," he whispered and waited for her eyes to open. When they did his throat tightened a little when he saw she was just as dazed as he was by their new proximity. "I love you."
I loved this. Loved, loved, loved. Lois's bravado was so Lois, and you know she's dying inside and trying not to show it. But Clark's soft 'hey' and him waiting for her to look him in the eyes while he told her he loved her? Dyyyyyyiiinnnnng. That was a great touch!
"How was that?" he murmured when their lips lost contact.
Her brain was still fogged with elation, so all she could think to say was, "S'okay."
"Okay," he echoed in an amused tone. "Admit it. That was a lot better than just okay."
"Maybe it was," she allowed. "Let me think about it."
Oh, Lois. You write her so well, Sue. I love it when I can imagine the characters saying/doing things, and this whole exchange just made me smile.
She'd always scoffed at the idea of soulmates, but at this moment she was willing to believe they might actually exist. How else could she explain how perfectly right it felt to be in Clark's arms? The fact that they were in an unfamiliar hotel room didn't change the sense of being home.
This. This is them in a nutshell, the whole reason I love this show.
PS - You write kisses so well, and I'm jealous again. I mean.
"Why? I knew you were in here, and I was willing to wait. I mean, really, I had nowhere else to go except maybe Perry's room." Lois fixed the next button down, biting her lip at the tantalizing glimpse of skin that afforded her. She mentally chided herself that she was doing it wrong. Shouldn't she be trying to undress him instead?
Haha, I had the same thought, Lois. I was rooting for the other way, too. Unbutton from now on, always unbutton.
Her heart fluttered in her chest at the thought of not leaving. The flutter increased as he leaned down to place a kiss in front of her ear. "Stay," he whispered.
Stay. It was so simple. She could stay. Her mouth went dry at the possibilities, acutely aware of the cushy expanse of unmade bed only a few feet behind her. What if she stayed? What would happen? Would they… Oh god! What if they did? She had been only half-kidding before, but that was only because she hadn't thought they would really get this far.
Oh. my. Stay! Yes, stay! Wait, we aren't on the nfic side of things, are we? Darn.
"I think you're shaking, too."
"Wouldn't surprise me." He left a kiss just below her ear, making her shiver again, this time in earnest. "You pretty much always have that effect on me."
"Do I?" she asked breathlessly.
"Yeah." His hands traveled down her arms and found her own, then gently raised them to place a kiss on the back of each of her hands. "Every time you've ever touched me, Lois, it makes me tremble."
"Oh, come on." She rolled her eyes even as his words sent another tremor through her.
"No, really." He kissed each of her palms. "Maybe sometimes it's only on the inside, but I promise it happens."
This killed me. But I loved every minute of it.
She didn't just want or need Clark at this moment. The sensation was deeper, richer, and more all-consuming than simple lust or passion. The white hot inevitability of the two of them making love had her dizzy and yet she had never felt this calm and certain. Clark's fingers tightened slightly on her arms and she knew instinctively that he was feeling the same primal pull.
Nevermind. Just kidding. That didn't kill me. This did. I know this story is on this side of the boards. I know. But it might have to migrate over before the end of the story, because I thought my screen burst into flame after this paragraph.
"You know," Lois mused, "this is a pretty big bed." Her hand swooped an invitation over the empty space next to her.
He could feel his cheeks flushing as he paused at the end of the sofa bed. He looked over at Lois again and his resolve weakened a little. They could sleep in the same bed, he told himself. Just sleep. That was all. Just two friends sharing a bed. He could face the other way and it would almost be like she wasn't there at all… Who the heck did he think he was kidding?
"That would be a bad idea," he rasped.
I love when he tries to tell himself that it'd be fine, them sleeping in the same bed. Sure, it'd be no big deal. No problem. And then he's like... Ummm, I'm an idiot, that would be a very, very bad idea. Haha, that's perfect. You've already admitted you're weak when it comes to her, Kent. Give it up.
"Number one?" she repeated with a giggle. "Liar. I bet you say that to all the girls."
"Nope, just you. Definitely number one."
"Maybe you should kiss me again. Just to make sure you're ranking me correctly."
Clark took a deep breath and released it slowly. He'd given anything in the world right now to be kissing her again. "I don't think that's a good idea," he whispered.
Her voice was equally as hushed as she asked, "Why not?"
"You know why not."
He heard her heart rate speed up, and her quick intake of breath. "I would have said 'yes,'" she whispered. "I still would."
Kiss her again, just to be sure he's ranking her correctly.
Lois, you're terrible. I'm surprised she admitted to him that she would've said yes! Dude. I'm loving that. But good for Clark, doing the right thing. (Although I'm going to vote for an alternate part 9, where he takes her up on her offer. Just to make sure he's ranking her correctly, of course.)
I"m curious to see how he's going to have "the talk" with her about his other job - should be interesting! I love this story, Sue, and I'm so happy that you came back to it. Please don't leave us too long until the next part!
Tracey
