Chapter 11

Chloe suddenly realized what was happening. "Take deep breaths, Clark." She knew better than to go near him. Wow, she couldn't believe this was happening. Clark really had the hots for her. Chloe bit her upper lip to keep from smiling. Must be the heat vision thing that he was trying to control. This could be quite dangerous. Chloe didn't know what to do other than what he said. Stay away from him. She watched him warily.

Clark took deep breaths as Chloe suggested. His breathing began to slow to normal and the heat started to subside. Whew, that was close. Clark slowly opened his eyes. He saw Chloe watching him intently. Clark smiled sheepishly. How embarrassing could life be? Clark almost totally lost it and he would never have forgiven himself if he had hurt Chloe. "I'm sorry, Chloe." Clark shrugged his shoulders and then looked down at the floor. He didn't know what else to say.

Chloe walked up to Clark with that smug smile of hers. Looking up into his face she said, "I don't know, I thought it was kinda cute." Her smile widened causing that amazing dimple to appear.

Clark looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Chloe Sullivan, are you laughing at me?" He couldn't believe she thought this was funny. He could have killed her!

Chloe started to giggle. "I guess there are some things that we will have to take VERY slow. That is, if I don't want to be a French fry."

Clark watched her for a moment thinking about what had just happened. Chloe definitely saw the funny side of things and this was no exception. Clark was expecting her to be scared of him and not want to be around him anymore, but here was Chloe standing right up to him. She was even challenging him. Chloe was an amazing girl and he was just now realizing how amazing. She was acting like nothing major had happened.

Chloe watched the emotions flit across Clark's face. He was far too serious most of the time. She wondered if all Kryptonians were that way or if Clark just took things too seriously because of his fear of rejection. Just like everything else in life there were things you had to work through. This was just one of them. She placed her hands on Clark's chest. He jumped. Looking up at him she demanded, "Kiss me, Clark before we get on with what we came here to do in the first place. Put our last issue of The Torch to bed."

Clark's eyes widened. "But Chloe, I don't want to hurt you." He couldn't believe that she was asking for a kiss. Clark wasn't sure that he could do this.

"Just a kiss, Clark. It's okay. Nothing is going to happen. I promise." Chloe's eyes sparkled up at Clark. He was so cute when he felt cornered. And besides, she loved bossing him around anyway. It was the highlight of her life. That is, it used to be before last night. She sighed. Now her favorite thing was kissing him.

Clark leaned down and softly kissed Chloe's lips, his hands still in his pockets. Chloe reached up and hooked her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss before Clark could back off. Clark's hands came out of his pockets and moved to her waist to pull her away, but he hesitated. Chloe tasted so good. Just a little longer couldn't hurt. He pulled her closer and opened his mouth over hers, sliding his tongue between her lips. She was intoxicating.

Chloe didn't expect Clark to be persuaded so easily, but boy was she enjoying it. Chloe broke the kiss and smiled up at Clark. "Okay, Big Boy, time to get to work." Chloe decided that she was just going to take one day at a time and accept what Clark was willing to give right now. If she thought about it too much, she would chicken out.

Clark looked into Chloe's eyes. He licked his lips. "Chloe, I'm not going to say that I am in love with you yet. I don't know what I am feeling right now. The past has not been kind to me in that department, but I do know that I never want to ever do anything to jeopardize our friendship. I want you to know that I will do anything to preserve that. I will tell you that I want you like I have never wanted anyone before you." Clark blushed. Drawing in a deep breath, he continued. "I want to pursue this new turn in our relationship further. That is, if you want to." Clark looked nervous. "What I'm asking is…Chloe, will you be my girlfriend?" There, he'd said it. He waited holding his breath for Chloe's answer.

Chloe never changed her expression. She still looked up at him with a smile. Inside she was in shock. Clark was asking her to be his girlfriend. Wow, that was a first. "Clark…" Chloe placed her hand on his cheek. She paused looking at him. She noticed that his expression has changed from hopefulness to resignation just because of her hesitation. They were really going to have to work on Clark's insecurities. Making a decision, she smiled. "Clark, I would love to be your girlfriend." She stood on her tiptoes and touched her mouth to his. She could feel his lips move into a smile against hers. She felt his sigh of relief.

Clark was relieved that she had agreed. He hugged her to his body and kissed the top of her head. Closing his eyes he sighed contentedly, resting his cheek against her hair. There was no place that he would rather be, than here, holding Chloe.

Chloe sighed contentedly. There is no place that she would rather be, than here in Clark's arms.

Forget The Torch!

THE END