LAST TIME...
Satisfied, Lucy changed the subject. “So,” she began, “what about this *Clark* guy I keep hearing so much about?!”
Lois felt her cheeks redden.
* * * * * NOW READ ON...
When Clark arrived back at Lois’ apartment, Lucy had already departed. Lois was in a much better mood, having been distracted once again from her problems. Lucy demanded details on what was going on between Lois and Clark; Lois simply answered, “Nothing.” Later she admitted that she had feelings for him, but that he only saw her as a friend.
“Lois, you may be the smartest woman I know, but you really are a pinhead when it comes to love,” Lucy had said. Lois looked quizzical, so Lucy was forced to state the obvious: “One dozen red roses. Thanksgiving dinner. Sleeping over. Holding you in his arms *all night long.* What more do you want him to do? Get down on bended knee and propose?!”
Lois blushed just thinking about it. And here he was. Clark Kent. She felt her heart flutter as he knocked on the door. “Hi, Clark,” she said, smiling when she opened the door for him.
“Lois! You look... great,” Clark stammered. He’d never really seen her dressed casually. The snug corduroys hugged her curves, as did the v-neck sweater.
“Thanks!”
“I brought a pizza.”
“I see that.”
Clark handed Lois the pizza box and set his small overnight bag down on the couch. “Did you have fun with Lucy?”
“We did, actually. It was nice,” Lois said as she busied herself setting the table.
“Hey, I thought you were getting a manicure,” Clark said, observing her bare nails.
“Um, we... decided against it,” Lois lied.
Clark asked no further questions. Instead, he enjoyed another pleasant dinner with Lois. She located a bottle of merlot and poured two glasses. She also lit two candles on her table, placing them on either side of her roses.
“Pizza and wine by candle light. What could be better?” Clark said, grinning.
“Don’t forget the good company!” Lois raised her glass and clinked it against Clark’s.
“I couldn’t have better company anywhere else in the world.” Clark found himself gazing into Lois’ eyes. He longed to kiss her, then and there. He fought the urge; it was too soon after her attack, surely she wasn’t interested. “I brought the movie again if you still want to watch it.”
Lois refilled their wine glasses as they settled down to watch the movie. They cuddled together on the couch, laughing heartily at the zany antics of Katherine Hepburn and her pet leopard, Baby.
“I love Cary Grant,” mused Lois. “He’s even sexy in glasses.” Her eyes flitted from the TV screen up to Clark. ‘Speaking of looking sexy in glasses...’ she thought. She forced herself to concentrate on the movie. By the end, she had fallen asleep with her head resting on Clark’s shoulder. She awakened only when she felt him lift her up in his arms, starting to carry her towards the bedroom.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you; I know you’re having trouble sleeping.” Clark set Lois down on her feet now that she was fully awake.
“It’s okay, Clark. Just a second, I’ll change into my pajamas.”
After Lois shut the bedroom door, Clark quickly changed into his flannel pants and old t-shirt.
“Clark?” Minutes later, Lois’ voice was softly calling him. He stepped into her bedroom gingerly. “Want to come sit in here for a few minutes?”
“Of course. Whatever you want.” He made his way over to the bed and sat down beside her. He smoothed his hands over her shoulders and began to massage her back with his strong hands.
“Oh, my gosh. Where did you learn to do that?” Lois moaned sweetly.
“I don’t know! I read a book on massage once,” Clark replied, deepening the pressure his thumbs were applying.
“That feels... amazing.”
Clark paused for a moment. “Why don’t you lie down on your stomach? Your muscles are really tense.”
Lois didn’t have to be asked twice. She reclined, rolling over and laying her head on the soft pillow. Clark continued the massage, glad that Lois was enjoying it. She was silent for awhile, save for a few ecstatic groans that she could not contain. At last she murmured, “Clark? You want to know why I didn’t get my nails done today?”
Clark was confused by her out-of-the-blue remark. “Why?”
She sighed. “These women came in; they started talking about the Hyde and SEEC rapist. About how ‘horrible’ it is, and how they feel bad for that ‘poor victim.’ I... sort of... freaked out.”
“Oh, Lois--” Clark started, trailing off when he found himself unsure of what to say next.
“I just ran out of there. Poor Lucy didn’t know *what* to think.” Lois took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “She says I need to go to counseling.”
“She’s right, Lois. As great as I think you’re doing, you’re still not a hundred percent yourself,” he admitted.
“I know. I promised her I’d go, even though I’m not looking forward to it.”
“Good.”
“I want to go back to work soon. It’s driving me crazy being all cooped up,” Lois continued.
Clark’s hands softened on her back. Instead of working out the knots, he smoothed his hands gently over her back. He changed positions, lying on his side next to her. “The Planet misses you, Lois.”
Lois turned to face Clark. “I miss it, too,” she sighed. “I’m sure I can set up a meeting with Ian once I’m back.”
“Good idea. You better get some sleep, Lois.” Clark started to sit up, but Lois placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.
“Why don’t you just stay there?” Her question was purely innocent, but the sexual tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife.
Clark didn’t answer verbally. He just draped an arm across Lois’ waist, holding her closer. Their bodies were inches apart; both lay on their sides facing one another. Lois had shared her bed before, innocently with friends, and not-so-innocently with lovers. But *never* had she felt a more perfect fit before. Clark reached up and across Lois to turn off the lamp on her bedside table, then took off his glasses and set them down. He returned his hand to rest on the small of Lois’ back.
Lois gazed across the pillow at Clark. Slowly, she slid her knee over to touch his. When he didn’t protest, she nudged it between his knees, crossing her leg over his. Clark, touched by her small show of intimacy, drew her closer, pressing her to his chest. He continued to gaze into her eyes, enjoying the way the dark shadows made her look like a starlet from an old black-and-white movie. He raised his hand to brush a stray lock of her hair back into place.
Lois felt like electricity was surging through her body. Only it wasn’t electricity; it was desire. ‘Would it be out of line to kiss him?’ she wondered. She wanted to so badly, her lips ached for it.
“Goodnight, Lois,” Clark whispered. He kissed her forehead as he’d done each night before.
‘A friend kiss,’ Lois thought, disappointed. ‘Nothing more.’ She sighed audibly and closed her eyes. “’Night, Clark.”
* * * * *
There she was again, on the floor of the G train. Lying on her back as the train rattled on its track. Funny, she knew she should feel the jerking of the train against her back, but she was numb to these sensations. She tried one at a time to lift her arms, legs, and head, to no avail; her body was like dead weight. She was vaguely aware of being completely naked.
There was a man on the train. He stood straddling her. She squinted at him, and although she could see most everything else, she could not bring the man’s face into focus.
The man crouched down. He was talking to her, but she could not hear the words clearly. It was if she were listening to someone’s voice underwater. She could tell he was laughing. Laughing at *her.*
She tried to struggle, again realizing she was unable to move. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out.
The man was taunting her. He was speaking, then laughing. He brought his hand close to her face, showed her his middle finger, then thrust it--
“Lois, honey, wake up. Come on, wake up!” It was Clark’s gentle voice that saved Lois from her nightmare.
“Clark,” she murmured, clinging to him tightly. She awakened in a cold sweat, her body still trembling.
“Are you all right?” he asked, concerned.
“I am now,” she replied shakily.
“That was scary, Lois. You were screaming, and hitting me!”
“Oh, Clark, I’m sorry! I thought you were--I dreamed--”
“Shh, it’s okay, you don’t have to explain.” Clark reached across the pillow and stroked Lois’ hair.
“The worst part about all of this,” Lois added bitterly, “is that ultimately it’s all my fault.”
“What?”
“I was so stupid to go into Suicide Slum. By myself. In the middle of the night. I knew better,” Lois stated, her pent-up rage showing itself quietly.
“No.” Clark squeezed Lois close to him. “Don’t say that,” he murmured into her hair.
Her reply was muffled by his strong chest. “Why?! It’s true!”
“There’s only one person whose fault it is, Lois, and you’re not that person,” Clark said, a serious tone in his voice. “Nobody leaves the house thinking they’re going to get attacked. You can’t live like that. No one would ever leave their house if that was the case. How could you have known?”
“Clark, I tempt fate all the time.” She pulled back enough to look him in the eye. “You know it, and I know it. I walk into every situation confident that nothing’s going to happen to me. It’s stupid. Now I’ve learned just how stupid it is.”
“You made a mistake. That doesn’t make it your fault.”
“There you go again, always saying the right thing!” Lois rambled, pushing out of his embrace to sit up. “You! You have been nothing short of wonderful!” she shouted, pointing her finger violently in his direction as if ‘wonderful’ was a dirty word. “I can’t take it, sometimes, when I think--When I think of how I’ve treated you since you came to Metropolis, to the Planet. And I’ve thought about it a lot. To be honest with you, if something like this had happened to you, I’m not so sure I would have done the same for you.”
‘Ah,’ thought Clark, ‘the truth comes out.’ He felt hurt for a brief second, then laid his hand on her shoulder. “Lois, does it matter? Really?”
“Things are different, Clark,” she said in an almost-whisper. “I’d do anything for you now, in a heartbeat.”
Clark was taken aback by her words; he was even more surprised when her lips grazed across his. And it wasn’t by accident, either. Seconds later, she locked her lips to his, kissing him feverishly as though his love could cure her. She wanted to show him she meant what she’d said. She wanted to prove to him she had changed. She was confused, but kissing Clark felt like the right thing to do at the time.
Once Clark had adjusted to the double shock of having Lois both on top of him and kissing him, he was able to relax and enjoy the moment. He kissed her back with such sweet passion, held her close, his lips never leaving hers. Suddenly, a single tear left Lois’ cheek and landed on Clark’s. He heard her sniffle a bit between kisses. He drew back, looking at her tenderly.
“I’m sorry,” Lois murmured, wiping her eyes. “This is a mistake.”
Clark felt disappointed, and it showed in his voice. “You’re not feeling it? This is... another one of your ‘distractions,’ is that it?”
“No, Clark,” Lois answered quickly. “I feel it. I feel it very much.” After a brief hesitation, she touched his face almost reverently and managed to smile.
“My God, Lois, do you know how happy that makes me?” he said, laughter in his voice. “All along, I thought my attraction to you was... well, one-sided.”
“Me, too.”
Softly, he questioned her, “Why are you crying?” Clark tucked her hair behind her ear, letting his fingertips slowly trace her jaw. He looked into her soulful eyes which were brimming over with tears.
“I don’t know,” she wept. “It shouldn’t be like this. I’m... scared, and I’m confused--I feel like I’m in this for all of the wrong reasons.”
“Lois, when you cry, it breaks my heart,” he whispered, cupping her chin in his hand. He leaned close and kissed her cheek tenderly, wishing he could extinguish all of her inner turmoil and pain. “I will wait for you. You have a lot going on right now, there’s a lot to sort through. I will be here for you; you know that. We can start something, but let’s wait until you’re ready.”
She smiled. “Okay. I’d like that. Very much.”
“They say ‘love can wait.’ I know, because I’ve been waiting,” Clark whispered into her ear. It sent tingles up and down her spine. “And you, Lois, are worth the wait.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”
* * * * *
