Almost Clark (Chapter Thirty-Seven)

Chapter Thirty-Seven


Clark leaned on his elbow. It was nearly dawn. He could see her face now and he marveled at the things that had seemed so ordinary to him before. Her skin. The purity of it. The light peach that blended into the slight pink of her cheeks that faded into the pale grey beneath her eyes. He felt somehow responsible for that.

She wouldn't lose sleep again, if he could help it. He found himself grinning. He'd tire her out every night if he...

He frowned to himself.

It wasn't like this was new. It wasn't like they hadn't been doing this for five years, on an off, He didn't deserve this feeling, as if it was... new.

But it felt new.

What he remembered was sketchy, at best. The more he felt her, saw her, moved inside her, the more it came flooding into him. But it still felt so... new.

He really should refresh his memory.

He pulled the sheet down and let his eyes roam over her body. It was all so familiar yet so strange. He'd seen Lana only once and Chloe... he could hardly count. But he'd pushed it away. Now he wondered why.

Fear, his mind whispered and he thought of Kal. Kal who was nothing more than him.

He was afraid of Chloe. He always had been. And in ways he'd never been afraid of Lana. Lana had always inspired tenderness, protectiveness, a need to shelter. Chloe had made him angry, always, and she was stubborn and taunting and reckless.

Yes. She was frightening. Was it any wonder that, under the influence of the red K he'd wanted to taunt her and claim her and shut her smart mouth for a change? And that had scared him, too. The power she made him want to display. The need to tame her.

And why was it so scary? It was nature. The male subdued and possessed while the female fought and, ultimately, surrendered. Maybe sex wasn't meant to be a tender meeting of minds. Maybe it was a fight and a struggle and who said the minds couldn't meet underneath?

He touched her cheek. He'd never tame her and the idea excited him. He thought he wanted peace and stability and a sweet, gentle Lana in his bed. Now he knew. He wanted excitement and chaos to control. He wanted someone who could, not only keep up with him, but hands his ass to him on a regular basis. He wanted Chloe.

He loved Chloe.

He shot out of bed and covered her up. He ran a hand through his hair. Had he always loved her?

It must have been there all along, but he was so blinded by what he wanted from life that he couldn't see that life was giving him what he needed. A match. A mate.

It wasn't his vision all along. He'd always seen his simple life with Lana Lang and little league and kids at the neighborhood pool.

Now he saw that life anew. With Chloe Sullivan and the city and the quest for truth and justice. A struggle. A fight. That was life.

Contentment and Complacence. That was death.

"Hey!" He shook Chloe.

She shot up. "I'm up. I'm... Clark! It's four in the..." She looked down and hurriedly pulled up the sheet, clearing her throat and blushing heavily. "So that happened," she said, nodding. "Okay."

He grinned and kissed her, surprising her. He pulled away, still grinning. "Chloe... this isn't gonna be perfect.

"Huh?"

"We're gonna fight."

"Um... I guess?"

"And all the time because you're so stubborn and reckless and crazy..."

She sat up further. "What?"

"No. It's great. I mean, I say bring it."

She stared at him, the cutest line between her brows. He kissed it and her eyes widened. "Clark..."

"We don't agree," he said happily.

"Well, no. But you..."

"And me? I'm going to drive you crazy with not letting you do things your way..."

"No. But, you see, my way's more well thought-out and..."

He laughed. "You're even arguing now."

She slapped her hands on the bed. "Well, you won't let me talk."

He nodded. "I know."

She tilted her head and opened her mouth a few times.

He saw she wasn't following him yet. "Are you hungry?" he asked suddenly.

"Well... I guess I..."

"Stay here." He kissed her neck and gave her breast a fond pat. He turned back from the door. "Don't move."

She suddenly laughed and smiled widely. "Okay. I won't."

He whistled as he jogged to the nearest bakery. He didn't feel like speeding. He'd already missed enough this life. He was in sight of one and could smell the bread, probably warm and fresh now. It made him think of his mom. He should probably call her. Better yet, he and Chloe could stop in D.C. on their way back home. Maybe get some fancy room and...

Kal-El.

He froze, then continued walking, pretending he didn't hear.

It is time.

He walked on. That could mean anything.

Remember your promise or her life is forfeit.

He stopped in the middle of the street and looked down. "Can I say goodbye?" he whispered.

Your oath holds or she dies.

"Will you let me explain to her? Just give me that?"

The time has come. Will you obey?

He clenched his fists and let his heat vision burn into the ground. "Yes," he growled.

Now. To your fortress. I will not wait much longer.

Clark breathed deep and sped ahead, tears blurring his vision. I'm sorry, Chloe. I did this for you.

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Continued in... Almost Chloe