Footsteps echoed through the large wooden lounge and Lex Luther smiled at the sound.

"Clark," he said, turning away from the window to greet the only boy that could visit him without appointment. 

Clark Kent stood halfway into the room, eyeing it with a look of impressiveness. It was at least the size of his entire home, with a lit fireplace to the side and expensive couches nearby. The walls were adorned with weapons and trophies, something Clark's own father would never allow within their walls. 

"Please, take a seat."

Clark brought his attention back to Lex in time to see him motioning towards the couch closest to the fire. Hesitating for a moment, he did as he was instructed and walked over to take the offered seat, perching nervously on its edge. 

Lex smiled amusingly at him. "Relax, Clark," he said, walking towards a decanter and pouring himself a drink into his crystal wineglass. He tilted his head towards a second glass in offer of refreshment but Clark shook his head, still far from calm.

"Really, Clark," Lex said, walking calmly over to the couches to sit on the opposite one to his friend. "You're not still feeling guilty for visiting me, are you?"

"I'm not guilty!" denied Clark, snorting at the thought. "Just because my dad doesn't like you doesn't mean I shouldn't."

Lex let a smile curve his lips. "You like me?"

Clark's eyebrows shot high as he realised what he'd just said. "No! I mean, yes, but as a friend, you know..." He fidgeted his hands together. Being in Lex's presence always made him unnerved, yet he knew he couldn't keep away. He quickly shrugged the jacket from his shoulders, feeling the fire heating his skin.

Lex laughed lightly and took a moment to swallow a mouthful of liquid from his glass. "I think you can be too nice, Clark," he said casually. "You should think about yourself for once." He steadied his gaze. "Want to know why I asked you to come over tonight?"

Clark looked at him, confused. "Well, yeah, I suppose," he admitted, shifting in his seat again. "Just to hang out, you know...?"

Lex shrugged his shoulders. "Hang out... Well, yes, that would be one way of putting it." He lowered the glass to hold it in two hands between his bent knees. "I actually asked you here to make a confession."

Clark felt the heat rush to his cheeks and immediately dipped his eyes from the steady gaze. He cursed himself silently, not wanting to admit the reason for his reaction. "Confession? Have you done something?" he asked, trying to push thoughts away of any other reason for needing to talk.

"No," said Lex, interrupting his thoughts. He shook his head slowly. "No, my confession is about you."

Clark blushed deeper, panic suddenly numbing his brain as he hoped desperately that he could keep his calm. There was no reason to suspect Lex was accusing him of what he feared. "Me?" he stuttered out, trying to act nonchalant.

Lex grinned, leaning forward slightly. "Yes, you," he almost purred, sending a jolt through his friend. Sitting back suddenly, his voice returned to normal. "I know there's something different about you, Clark," he said idly, toying with the rim of his wineglass. "There's things that don't make sense."

Clark breathed a silent sigh of relief, though it was soon gone as he realised that the truth about Lex's admission was far worse. Clark swallowed uncomfortably and gave a small dismissive grin. "Everyone's strange in Smallville."

"True," Lex continued, not one to give up easily. "But everyone else is at least from earth."

Clark's eyes opened wide in shock, revealing easily that the accusation was true. "I'm...not an alien!" he tried to rebut, though knowing by Lex's calm smile that he didn't stand a chance of being believed.

"I don't care, Clark," continued Lex calmly, rising from his seat to stand in front of the fire. "I just wanted you to know I worked it out."

Clark jumped up nervously, standing face to face with his friend, unsure of whether it would be wiser to stay or run. 

"Stay. Please," said Lex with a comforting smile, and motioned to the couch from where Clark has risen. Clark, unsure though he was, took his seat. "I'm not going to blackmail you or expose you or any other disaster scenario you have playing in your mind at the moment," Lex said, with a twinkle to his eye. "We're friends, after all."

Clark nodded, his tension diminishing slightly at the comment. The fire in the hearth seemed uncomfortably hot against his skin all of a sudden. He jumped slightly when Lex slid smoothly onto the couch close beside him. Very close. Clark gave his friend a questioning look, wishing desperately that he could find a way to move apart without seeming rude. Lex was all too perceptive, and he was frightened that the boy would work out his true feelings.

"So..." he said quickly, jumping fast off the seat again and hovering in front of the fire, ignoring the burning heat. It was hardly the fire that made him burn, supernaturally protective as his skin was.

"So..." replied Lex, not giving up easily. He rose from the couch to stand too close again in front of Clark, causing a slight chill of nerves to run up the boy's spine. Tilting his head to the side, he let a smooth smirk pull at his lips. "Want anything?"

Clark gasped in, eyebrows shooting high for a moment as stared in shock at the boy before him. "Umm...what?"

Lex twitched one eyebrow high and feigned innocence. "Do you want another drink? Anything?"

Clark breathed out hard, feeling like a nervous child for suspecting Lex had meant anything different. "Uh, no..." he stuttered, hiding the blush on his cheeks in the redness of the fire's glow. "Maybe I should just go."

He stepped forward past Lex, reaching for his coat but a hand on his arm stopped him.

"Fine, no games then," said Lex, pulling on Clark's arm to make him turn around. He looked Clark steadily in the eyes. "I want you and I know you want me." He silenced his friend's show of denial with a wave of his hand. "So stay and I'll make it worth your while."

Clark stood stunned, unable to accept a word he was hearing and certainly unable to form a response. Lex didn't mind for he stepped forward, closing the distance between them once more and raised his right hand to run his fingers gently through Clark's hair. "I could tell you I always get what I want," he murmured, mesmerized by the fine strands caressing his fingers, "but that would hardly come as news." He smiled slightly, listening to the faint shallow breathing whispering in the air close to his face. "I would take what I want now," he continued, sliding his hand down to stroke against Clark's flushed cheek, studying the crackling glow of fire upon the skin, "but I would rather you did instead."

"What...?" breathed Clark, barely believing what was happening. He heard the tremor in his voice as he spoke, knowing full well that anticipation had been its creator. 

"I want *you* to take what you want," repeated Lex, bringing his boldness further by learning forward and licking lightly against Clark's lower lip. He heard a low gasp and felt the shudder against his hand. "Whatever you want, Clark. Take it."

He didn't extend the distance between them, instead bringing his body to stand a mere inch apart from that of his friend. "Haven't you ever wanted to forget about rules..." he murmured, tilting his head to whisper the words against Clark's ear. "Use without shame the power you possess..."

Clark, eyes dilated black to contrast the flames reflected in their depths, nodded once as though watching the scene play out through someone else's eyes. He raised his hands to grab hold of the curve of Lex's shoulders and pulled him forward against his body, relishing in the control he felt coarse through him. He eyed the face before him, equally aroused and saw for the first time the impatient desire reflecting deep in the eyes. "I want you," he replied, his voice surprisingly steady with decisive pleasure.

Lex leered wide, dipping his head forward in a mock show of submissiveness. "Then have me," he murmured, rubbing the naked flesh of his skull teasingly against Clark's jawline, feeling the gulp of response against his skin as he pressed his head lower towards his companion's throat.

Clark groaned deep, feeling heightened arousal unlike anything he had allowed himself to experience before. The sensation of Lex's skull against him seemed almost indecent. He slid his hands up the boy's neck and grasped hold of the smooth skin, gasping lightly at the shuddered reaction it caused in his companion. He drew his fingers up until only their tips were resting lightly upon the skull, and began stroking feather light paths around the contours of bone. The dip behind the ears, the smoothly raised crest upon the midline, the gentle curve leading towards the notched base of the skull as it extended into the tight pull of muscle joining towards the neck. He used his hands to tip forward Lex's head so that it leaned lightly against the support of his chest. He felt his friend's breathing, deep and loud against the sound of his own heart.

Clark took another breath and dropped his hands, sliding them along Lex's clothed arms and down still until they rested upon his slim hips, slightly beneath the fabric. He took hold of the edge of the smooth material and lifted slowly, bringing the shirt up to reveal pale, flushed skin beneath. Lex raised his arms, allowing the shirt to be pulled off his body, watching with satisfaction as it was thrown idly on the floor beside them.

The flames flickered bright as Clark gazed down upon the pale chest of his friend, noticing the deep shadows of red and black against the curve of bone and muscle. Lex raised his head, pulling Clark's gaze, deep and long, as he stood silently waiting for more.

"What do you want?" he asked again, the words steady and low. He allowed his eyes to wander slowly over Clark's body, letting him know full well that the clothes were a hindrance to his plans.

Clark shuddered anticipation at the force of the gaze upon his own body. He closed his eyes, relishing in the sensation of the closeness of their bodies. "I want you...to kneel." He gulped as he spoke the words, guiltily fascinated by the want in his voice.

Lex smirked, an expression almost akin to pride roaming lazily over his features. Holding Clark's stare, he took a slight step back and dropped smoothly to his knees, letting his eyes tease a stare directly in line with his lowered view. 

Clark's breath caught loud in his throat as he felt his body react to the obvious manipulation. A low moan of impatience from his kneeling companion brought his attention back to action, and he swiftly lifted his own shirt over his head, throwing it wide. He paused, meeting Lex's stare for a moment before reaching his hands down to unfasten his own jeans, pulling them open. Lex grinned, reaching his own hands up and gently pushing Clark's away to take hold of the denim in order to pull it towards the floor, allowing the boy to step free. Raising his hands again, Lex stroked up Clark's inner leg, smirking as his hand reached the thigh, sending a twitch of interest from the groin above. He let his fingers slide lightly, almost accidentally over Clark's cock as he reached above and hooked his fingers around the silky material of the boxers and pulled them smoothly down towards the floor until they too were discarded.

Lex sat back on his feet and tilted his head back, drinking in the perfectly sculptured form of his friend, pleased that it was every bit as satisfying as he had imagined it to be. The lean shape, the texture of muscles, the smoothness of skin. The cock, standing half erect towards him, waiting for attention. He looked up as he raised himself to his knees again to met Clark's eyes. They were burning wide, black and piercing holes into his body, waiting with barely controlled patience. 

"Nice to get what you want, isn't it..." commented Lex lightly, before leaning forward and engulfing the entire length of cock deep within his throat.

A gasped cry released an echo through the room as Lex began moving his head forward and back, sucking hard against the taunt skin, bringing his mouth far to the base and then close to the end before dancing his tongue in fast circles around the tip. The veins pulsed against his lips and he sucked deeper, stronger pulls against the cock, feeling Clark grab wildly at his skull for support, holding him close in against his groin. The grip was strong against his head, too strong, and he let himself drag his teeth lightly in warning against the cock, breathing calmer when the grip relaxed. He let his mouth come away, feeling a groan of frustration from his companion as he did so.

Clark looked down, annoyance showing clear in his features at the cessation of activity. The sight though held his attention fast. Lex knelt still, staring up at him, eyes burning with lust, a bare inch from his hard cock smeared with wetness and the precursor of release. He reached down, memorized by the play of light upon Lex's naked skull. Resting one hand upon the bare head, he wrapped the other around his own cock, letting the moisture transfer to his palm. Then he smeared it upon Lex's skull, massaging the wetness into the skin as he felt the boy shiver in pleasure.

"Don't stop," Clark whispered, letting his hands push Lex again towards his cock, fingers still stroking trails of moisture into the curves of bone.

Lex complied, opening his mouth once more to take in the length, his movements increasing to bring closer the wanted climax. He reached his hands up, one to stroke high against Clark's inner thigh, and the other to grab the base of the length, squeezing it hard. He sucked deep, and began moving the fingers of his hand in a run in time with the pounding of blood beneath the skin. Pulling hard away with his mouth, pressure tight against the tip, Lex sucked it deep with his lips. His tongue twirling fast and light, until finally Clark spasmed against him and he released the pressure slightly to allow the orgasm to coarse from his companion's body fast into his own.

Stumbling weakly backwards, Clark fell on the couch, sprawling loosely against the padding. Lex looked over and then rose to his feet, walking around to sit next to his friend, letting his hand rest lightly upon the still bare thigh. 

They rested still for a few moments, listening to the slowing of breath and the crackling of a diminishing fire. 

"I know you were raised well," spoke Lex calmly as he stroked lightly over the exposed thigh, "but you're only human, after all." He turned his head to grin at Clark, pleased when the boy acknowledging the humour with a quiet laugh.

The silence returned, comfortable in feel, until it was Clark's turn to speak.

"I want to come back," he said, concern furrowing his brow. "I...would have these two lives, though. One where I do as my father says... And one where you do as I say."

Lex laughed, pleased at the words. "You already lead a double life, Clark - man and superman. What's the harm of experiencing one more?"

They met each other's eyes, and for the first time laughter echoed through every corner of the room.