6. I am a Man

Clark couldn't stop the smirk that spread across his face. She had stopped fighting whatever this was between them. He lowered his mouth to her neck, kissing his way down until he reached her collarbone.

Every sensible thought she'd had only minutes earlier was disappearing beneath the heat of his mouth against her skin.

She should be thinking about Jason.

Instead, all she could think about was Clark.

The guilt was still there, buried somewhere beneath everything else, but every time Clark touched her, it became harder to reach.

He kissed lower.

Lana gasped when his mouth closed around her breast, her back arching instinctively beneath him. Lana gasped when he abruptly pinched her nipple, sending a shock of electricity through her body.

Clark's hand moved over her other breast as his tongue circled the sensitive peak before his teeth grazed it lightly.

"Clark..."She moaned.

Something about hearing his name made a low sound rumble through his chest.

Almost a growl.

Before she could think about it, Clark's mouth moved against her again and the thought disappeared.

Clark groaned.

Lana could see it in the tension running through his body.

His shoulders were rigid. His jaw tightened every few seconds. Even his breathing sounded different.

Like he was holding something back.

She assumed it was his desire.

She didn't know it was something else entirely.

Clark's hands traveled slowly down her thighs before moving between them.

Lana inhaled sharply when his fingers brushed over her underwear.

His eyes lifted to hers.

He waited.

Lana's heart hammered against her ribs.

Then she pulled him closer.

That was all the permission he needed.

His fingers began moving against her through the thin material, drawing another gasp from her.

Lana wrapped her arms around his neck.

His mouth returned to her neck. Sucking on one spot in particular. She squirmed against him.

He reluctantly moved away from it.

Clark leaned away long enough to remove what little clothes remained between them.

Lana's breath caught when she looked at him, on his knees in front of her, naked and hard. She thought he was handsome before he took his clothes off.

Clark noticed immediately.

A hint of amusement crossed his face.

“Don’t.” She warned.

“Don’t what?” He cocked his head sideways, leaning forward with both his hands on her ankles.

“Don’t smirk like that, it's annoyingly...cocky...” Her eyes lingered on his hard member.

“Now is not the time for cheesy jokes sweetheart.” He laughed lightly.

Clark leaned down and kissed her thigh, looking up at her through his lashes.

The tenderness made her stomach flip more violently than anything else had.

Her breath caught.

The intensity in his expression made heat rush through her all over again, tempering the amusement of their banter.

Then his mouth was on her.

"Oh God."Lana's head fell back.

Clark's hands held her steady as his tongue moved against her, slowly at first, learning every reaction

He noticed every breath Lana made.

Every time her body responded, he remembered.

And when he found the place that made her jerk beneath him, he became relentless.

He groaned against her.

The vibration made Lana's fingers twist into the sheets.

"You have no idea how many times I've imagined this." Clark said in a husky voice.

"What?" Her eyes flew open.

Clark didn't answer.

His fingers joined his mouth instead.

Lana barely had time to process his confession before another wave of pleasure erased the thought entirely.

The tension inside her built rapidly.

Her thighs trembled.

"Clark, wait a second..." Her fingers tangled in his hair.

He didn't stop.

Her entire body tightened before the pleasure finally broke through her.

Lana cried out and collapsed back against the mattress, breathing hard.

For several seconds, she couldn't move.

Clark slowly moved back over her. His expression had changed again.

The hunger was still there.

But underneath it was something almost reverent.

He kissed his way slowly up her body, until he reached her lips again.

Lana wrapped her arms around his neck.

Then she felt him settle between her legs.

Reality returned just enough to make her nervous.

"Look at me."Clark paused above her.

She did.

"If you want me to stop, tell me." His forehead dropped against hers.

Lana swallowed then shook her head, kissing him.

"I want you too." She whispered softly.

Something flashed in his eyes.

Then Clark kissed her and slowly pushed into her.

Lana gasped against his mouth. Lana shifted beneath him and pulled him closer as he began to move.

Slowly at first.

Almost painfully controlled.

His muscles trembled beneath Lana's hands.

She could feel how much effort it was taking him to hold himself back.

But the longer they moved together, the less control Clark seemed to have.

Lana's hands traveled over his shoulders.

Clark buried his face against her neck.

Another growl vibrated against her skin.

This time Lana definitely heard it.

“What...”

Clark thrust into her, rolling his hips. Her question disappeared into a moan.

His eyes were glowing, and he kissed her harder. His tongue swirling around hers as his pace increased. The bed creaked beneath them.

Lana clung to him.

His fingers intertwined with hers, pressing their joined hands into the mattress beside her head.

Lana could feel herself getting closer again.

His control was slipping with every sound she made.

But something else was happening too.

A strange warmth had started spreading through Lana's chest. It was different from the pleasure.

Almost like something inside her recognized him.

Clark felt it too.

Except he knew exactly what it was.His wolf surged beneath his skin.

Mate.

Clark squeezed his eyes shut trying to keep his wolf under control.

"Cum for me." He purred huskily into her ear, his breath hot.

"Clark!" She screamed his name one last time as her orgasm hit her.

Clark’s control finally snapped.

His wolf surged beneath his skin and took control.

Mate.

His canines elongated, sharpening into fangs as his mouth dropped to the curve of her neck.

Then he sank his teeth into her.

Lana gasped and shivered as he came inside her. Fluids exploded around his pulsating cock. Her walls clenched tightly around him making him explode into her.

Clark froze as the bond snapped in place.

His eyes flew open and he barely took back control long enough to pull away from her neck.

His eyes widened.

"No." He whispered.

Lana barely heard him, her body felt strangely heavy and warm.

"Clark...?" She tried to open her eyes.

"I'm here love." His voice sounded different.

She wanted to ask what was wrong, instead, exhaustion dragged her down into darkness.

Clark brushed the hair off of her face and watched her breath softly. The bite on her neck looked raw and he felt a twinge of guilt. He gently licked her neck, letting his saliva sink into the wound. He watched in satisfaction as it slowly started to close, healing into a silvery crescent. He got out of bed and shut off the light.

His wolf was practically humming beneath his skin.

Clark pulled the blanket over her, and she shifted toward him in her sleep.

Her body settled against his automatically and he wrapped an arm around her.

Clark stared into the darkness.

Lana had absolutely no idea the line he had just crossed.

There was no hiding this forever. Human or not, the mate bond had signs that she wouldn’t be able to write off.

Eventually, Lana was going to ask questions.

And when she did, Clark wasn't sure how the hell he was going to explain any of it.

As much as he hated to admit it, there would still be six years of history to untangle. Things weren't so simple for humans.

Clark lowered his face into her hair and breathed deeply. Feeling content to finally have her in his arms, he kissed her forehead and cheek. Sighing he tightened his arms around her and closed his eyes. Hoping this wasn't a dream that would turn into a nightmare.