Kindling

by a campbell

Smallville, Clark/Victoria, Lex/Victoria, Clark/Lex (implied)

This story takes place between Rogue and Shimmer
.

Victoria slept later than usual in the wastes of middle America. When she trailed downstairs to the morning room of Luthor Manor on Sunday morning, still in her negligee, it was nearly eleven.

Must be the relaxing surroundings, she reflected. Snow was melting, freshening the late-winter air outdoors. Or being with Lex again, and the attending surfeit of great sex. Refreshed and alert, she congratulated herself mentally on arranging a fine romantic interlude for herself here in the back of beyond, and getting business done as well.

And Daddy thought he knew everything about corporate takeovers.

Oh.

Someone was here already.

The boy from the museum opening, tall, handsome. Not so nicely dressed today, but, really, the clothes were immaterial. Sitting on the sofa, thumbing through a book, he hadn't seen her yet.

Lex's latest fuck, for sure. Maybe not a fait accompli, as the lad seemed so innocent, but definitely on the schedule. Or sked-ule, as the Yanks would say.

Victoria didn't know many innocent men, and was intrigued. This one might provide a few moments of amusement while she waited for Lex.

"Good morning," she said airily, lounging against the doorframe.

Clark Kent turned at the sound of her voice and sat up with a start, eyes widening in surprise. "Hi." He rose to his feet, unwilling gaze traveling up and down her body as alarm faded to startled fascination.

Ah, yes. She was a bit underdressed. Pity.

He snapped himself out of his stare, swallowed hard. Calmly, she regarded him, concentration unwavering, intent on getting a better look than she'd had the other evening before the armor of Alexander. When been far too busy reconnecting with Lex to pay this young man more than cursory attention.

And my, this was a handsome young fellow. Big, waiflike eyes, startlingly green under dark hair and brows. Chiselled cheekbones.

Well, well. This bore further investigation.

Victoria honed her radar. Ambled into the room.

"Clark, isn't it?" She made sure to intensify her Welsh lilt.

He nodded. Victoria saw his expression settle into something wary and jealous. It was not the way she was generally accustomed to being regarded by young men. Not quite that simple, though. She observed the more negative emotions war with curiosity as he moistened his lips uneasily and closed them again, not seeming to know what to say.

No matter. She could win him over. She'd targeted Lex's pretty boys before, and it had always ended in bed. With or without Lex's participation.

"You're here for Lex?" She poured out a glass of orange juice, tossed the burnished auburn locks (of which she was so proud) luxuriously back from her face and over her shoulders. Lifting her glass, she took a long, slow draught, peering over the gold rim to let her gaze connect with his.

For one so attractive, the boy seemed unusually self-conscious. Victoria reminded herself of his provincial upbringing. Look at his clothes, after all. But then, perhaps her presence here, not to mention her attire, had caught him unaware. He nodded again, looking a bit dazed. "They told me downstairs he was here."

"He is. But still asleep, I'm afraid. He was exhausted. Up late, you know." Lex hadn't returned from Metropolis till nearly three in the morning, but she didn't add that, not wanting to betray that he hadn't given her many details of the trip or his time in the city. Something to do with the museum again; that was all she'd been able to determine. Victoria licked drops of juice languorously from her lips, tasting caramel lip gloss underneath the tang of citrus.

"Oh." A slow blush crept up the young man's cheeks. "Um. I needed to talk to him. The other day, I..we..." A semi-miserable sigh, and he looked away. "I said some things I shouldn't have."

Ah. Victoria suppressed a chuckle. How precious. "He might not have time today, love. We have to be in Metropolis by half past two this afternoon."

His sigh seethed with disappointment and frustration. "Can you please just tell him I'm here? It won't take long."

"Not so fast. Why don't you tell me what this is about and I'll give him your message."

Clark shook his head. "It's kind of private. I'll need to talk to him alone."

"Is it? Hmm. Well, Lex doesn't keep secrets from me. We share everything."

Clark's glance was a touch on the scornful side as he looked at her, then glanced away. "You've only been here a few days, Ms. Hardwick," and Victoria detected resentment in his tone. Aha.

"Please," she cajoled. "Call me Victoria. 'Ms. Hardwick' almost convinces me I'm an elderly spinster. And have a seat." Clark hesitated, and sat back down.

"Juice?" She glanced at him with eyebrows raised as she grasped the pitcher.

"No, thank you."

What nice manners he had. "Lex and I have a history." She paused for a moment to let that sink in. "We've known each other for years. And you?"

Clark looked a touch crestfallen. "We met a few months ago. Kind of by accident."

"Ah, then you're still in the honeymoon phase." She giggled musically at the flood of color that brightened Clark's cheeks. "By accident, hmm? And you've become good friends? Something new, that. Lex doesn't generally have friends."

His glance was skeptical, and she could tell he was thinking, What about you?

"He's too dangerous," she murmured, and Victoria pondered on what particularly made Clark's gaze go dark at her words. Fear? Alarm? Desire?

"He and I have shared interests," she continued, gliding over and dropping down on the couch beside him with a smile. "I wouldn't worry overmuch about his emotional state, either. His feelings aren't as tender as you seem to imagine."

Clark looked away in discomfort and tried to rise, but Victoria put a hand on his arm to hold him in place, letting a manicured peach-pink nail trail down the faded sleeve of his shirt. He tensed, not meeting her eyes.

She could sense warmth radiating from his body and the scent of wheat, laundry detergent, and something sweet like chocolate. Young, and so vulnerable, almost like a cuddly child's toy. Something stirred in her chest. Not that young, though; she could detect a mist of stubble on his upper lip and chin. Beautiful mouth. She must have herself a taste before much more time elapsed.

Victoria leaned closer. Close enough so that, if he looked back and down (and he did) he could see a lot. Felt him stiffen, then relax. Put her hand on his and caressed. Big hands. She reflected on what that must mean, and glanced slyly at his lap. She vocalized a low murmur, and smiled as he looked back up and continued to stare at her, eyes coal-bright.

"I know things about Lex that no one else does," she went on, "I know his interests, his passions, his obsessions. I've heard how his voice changes when your name comes up in conversation. It goes warm and soft. There's a light that comes into his eyes." Clark shifted uneasily, and Victoria lowered her voice to rich and mellow.

"I'm certain he's imagining his mouth on yours, not mine, when we kiss. I know it's your name he has on his lips when he comes." All right, so perhaps she was exaggerating a little there, but she simply couldn't resist. She leaned over then and blew a warm breath in Clark's ear, following it with a slow lick to the lobe.

Clark twitched at the touch of her tongue, made a sound somewhere between a squeak and a moan. He sank further into the seat, miserably, desperately looking as though he wished he were anywhere else. But Victoria wondered if he were aware that he leaned closer to her as she intensified her attack.

"And I know you want him. It's that obvious." She could feel warmth radiating from his body, and, not content simply with looking any longer, she laid the palm of her hand on his denim-clad crotch and stroked. Too stunned to move, he groaned, and his gaze was almost pleading now. Victoria wondered idly whether he mainly wanted her to stop or to proceed, and without indulging in much reflection, chose the latter option.

She took his face between her hands, parted her lips and moved in for a kiss, leaving her eyes open a crack so she could see his reaction. Startled, of course, gasp catching in his throat, but his mouth still opened, his eyes widening and then falling shut. He gave a small whimper as Victoria let her own eyes drop closed and savored the warmth of the kiss.

Mmm. Lovely boy, she thought. To her delight, she felt his arms slip around her waist, then his tongue in her mouth, hesitant at first and rapidly more confident. His lips parted further as he pressed closer. Where had he learned to kiss this way? She leaned against his chest, confident that he could feel the push of her pointed nipples through the fabric of their clothes.

Suddenly, Clark pushed her away, freeing himself from her arms. He swept his arm across his mouth as he stood up.

"I can't sit here and listen to this." She was surprised that he spoke firmly, clearly, without a stammer.

"Was I saying something?" Victoria's aim was to sound as innocent as possible. She let her tongue glide over her lips, and stretched so that her hair cascaded over her shoulders. "I'll tell Lex you stopped by."

Clark shot her a last angry look as he retrieved his satchel from the floor and slipped the strap over his shoulder.

Victoria laughed. "It's only a matter of time, lover. He'll have you."

His final parting glare warring with excitement, Clark turned and stalked to the door. Oh, my, she thought. If looks could kill...

Clark yanked the door open to find Lex standing there in Armani, ready for the trip to Metropolis. Despite his customarily fine poker face, Victoria could tell from where she sat that he was both startled and interested.

"Clark," he said in that easy, velvet voice Victoria had already noticed was customary whenever Clark was involved. "What can I do for you?" He let his gaze roam over to Victoria, who raised her eyebrows and endeavored to appear as guilty as possible.

She could see the dark rose stain Clark's neck and cheeks from where she sat. "I'll come back later," he said. "I'm late for class, now."

Lex stepped back so Clark could exit. When he was gone in a last flurry of tense embarrassment, Victoria glanced up to meet Lex's cool gaze. She did her best to look like a naughty child before breaking into giggles.

Lex shook his head with an indulgent smile. "Up to your old tricks, Victoria?"

"Always," Her gaze followed him as he approached. He stopped before her and stood for a moment, shaking his head before sitting down beside her with a long sigh.

"Good work. You probably scared him into the next county."

"And what are you going to do about it?" The Lex she knew could never resist a challenge.

"Let me think." He pretended to consider a moment and then pushed her back against the leather sofa. His tongue teased her lips open, probing deep inside her mouth, and she knew him well enough to be reasonably sure he was trying to taste Clark on her lips.

His hand was warm as he let it roam up the front of her body, pausing to tweak a nipple through the silk and lace of the peignoir. In a moment, she felt the wetness of his mouth through the fabric. Her response a delicious shiver, she cupped his smooth head to pull him nearer as she bent to whisper in his ear.

"Don't worry, dear boy. Only a momentary setback, if that. It might work to your advantage. At any rate, your turn will come." She followed that remark with a kiss to his bare head. "Care for a wager?"

A final nip and Lex sat up, drawing her close. He nibbled at her earlobe before whispering, "I look forward to it."

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