Clark blinked, looking up into the ceiling. What a weird dream.

"Clark, honey, are you up?"

"Yeah, 'm up." Clark yawned and stretched, winced when the blanket slid roughly against his erection. Up in more than one way, it seemed. Shower. A cold one perhaps.

Clark slipped out of the bed and made his way to the bathroom without running into either of his parents. Deciding to forego the cold shower, he turned the heat up as much as possible, scalding hot water cascading down his body.

Clark shrugged. Even if it did make him feel odd to jerk off after last night's dream, it seemed necessary. He closed his eyes. Imagine a girl (not a guy), soft curves (not lean, muscled chest and angles), long, soft hair (not... not... a naked scalp). Clark gasped and jerked a little faster. Smooth skin, intense, grey-blue eyes. Strong hands joining his, rougher, faster. Clark almost cried out loud when he came, hard and fast. 'God! You're disgusting, Kent, jerking off while thinking about your best friend - your best *male* friend.'

He finished the shower, wrapped a towel around his waist and grabbed another to dry his hair. Back in his room, Clark went to the closet, opened the door and froze. Um, my... clothes?

Clark ran his fingers over black jeans, wash-lightened, blue jeans. Fashionably wash-lightened that was. He pulled out a pair, letting them unfold. Oh, they'd be ...eh, a little too small? Dropping them over the back of a chair, he turned back to pull out a t-shirt. White, and obviously too small as well. Clark dreaded what he might find where his underwear normally was. No boxers, just... briefs. Well, at least there weren't any thongs, Clark tried to joke.

"Second shelf from the top - in the back."

Clark spun around, using a little too much speed for his own good, he realized, when he felt the towel slip from his hips. "*Fuck!*"

"Oooh, was that an invitation?" Sprawled on the bed was the Devil, still in Lex's shape. He let out a wolf whistle when Clark's towel slipped the rest of the way down.

Clark hastily turned his back again, trying to catch the towel. It hadn't been a dream after all!

Another appreciative whistle. "Nice ass."

Clark felt like his whole body flushed with heat. And not all of it was embarrassment, he had to reluctantly admit to himself. "What... what are you doing here?" He kept his back to the Devil, hoping that whatever it was, making his stomach do delicious flips, wouldn't drop a little lower and betray him. Clark forced himself to think about the Devil's second visit. The wishes. The cool factor would explain why his wardrobe seemed to have warped into something entirely different than baggy and flannel shirts.

"I forgot to give you something." The Devil stretched, cat-like grace, back arched slightly, throat exposed.

Clark swallowed hard. 'This isn't Lex, and even if it was - you are *so* not letting your mind go there!' He curled his hands into fists, pressing his nails into his palms. The strange motion in his belly returned, ten-fold. Hot and heavy, like molten iron.

"Why, dear Clark," the Devil drawled. "You're practically drooling." He slid off the bed and went to stand close to Clark, very close. "Something you'd like to tell me about?"

Clark shook his head slowly. "No, no...nothing." God! It was hard concentrating with the Devil, in Lex's shape, standing so damned close to him. "I...I better get dressed." Before I do something *really* stupid.

"Don't bother for my sake." The Devil dug into the pocket of his white jacket and pulled out a slim black box. "You might need this."

As Clark took the offered item, he more felt than saw the eyes of the Devil... slide up and down his body, making him feel completely naked. No! This was wrong. It had to be, because Clark knew he was the Devil. That somehow he was attracted because of that. And not in any way because he looked like Lex. Clark banished the thoughts from his mind. Think about Lana. Lana Lang, pretty, sweet, dark eyes, dark, long hair. See, that's what you want, what you've wanted for an eternity. He finally felt enough in control to return to his conversation with... the Dark Lord. "A pager?"

"In case something goes wrong." A flicker in the grey-blue eyes. "Or if you aren't satisfied... with the outcome of your wish."

Clark tried to ignore the lewd pause. "What could go wrong?" Now he was beginning to get suspicious. Besides, the Devil wasn't known for his kind and helpful ways.

"You never know." Again something flickered in the intense stare. "Just remember, the pager number is 666."

Clark's eyebrows rose. This was really beginning to sound familiar. Somehow, though, the revelation of recovered memory seemed to elude him. But there did seem to be something about... "Shouldn't there have been seven wishes?"

Lips curling back in a feral grin. "Don't push it, farmboy. It's a commercialized lie." He held up three fingers. "Uno, dos, tres. Three wishes is what you get, use them... wisely." The Devil threw the pager on the bed.

Clark closed his eyes when the Devil leaned against him, breath hot on his cheek. He couldn't hear what the Devil was muttering breathlessly. The only thing he could think about was the rasping feel of a tongue, licking from his jaw to his temple, making him pant and clench his fists even harder, glad that he wasn't holding the pager. Suddenly he picked up a little bit of what was whispered against his neck.

"Mmm, clean and pure."

And then, suddenly, it was gone. The tingling shudder caused by someone standing extremely close to him. Clark chose to ignore the feeling of loss. Wouldn't allow himself to admit that he'd liked it. An odd unfulfilled roll of his stomach, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead and on his upper lip. His tongue flickered out to taste it before he could stop himself. Clark felt his body heat up, his pulse go a little faster. Salty of course, but there was something else there, something - intangible.

"Clark honey, you're gonna be late." Martha Kent's voice carried easily up the stairs.

Clark shifted uneasily. She couldn't see him, didn't know what he was thinking about. Then why did he feel like he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar? "Coming Mom." He decided that he'd chance speed-dressing. A split second later he was dressed. Ok, tight didn't cover it. Clark sighed. It'd have to do.

He stopped dead at the foot of the stairs, catching his own reflection in the mirror in the hallway. Clark really wished that either the shirt had been long enough to cover his crotch or the jeans a lot looser. They were showing off way too much. He couldn't help feeling a little exposed, almost naked.

The phone rang and his father answered it. Clark shook his head. He should probably do his chores. Try to hang onto the little things that would never change.

"Clark?" Jonathan called for him from the living room.

"Yeah?" Clark tore his eyes from the reflection in the mirror.

"Lex called," a smile graced the older man's face. "He volunteered to give you a lift to school, so you better get ready." With that he stepped around his surprised son and went to the kitchen.

Clark felt his jaw hit his chest. Not as much as a look of dislike when his father had mentioned Lex's name. Lex! Not the Devil, but the *real* Lex - hopefully. Clark stumbled after his father, and was greeted with a wide smile from his mother.

"It's so nice of Lex to come and pick you up."

"But... but my chores?"

"That's ok, Clark," Jonathan downed the rest of his coffee and opened the door. "I'll take care of it." Before closing the door behind him, he looked back at his son. "You just run along, have a good time at school and if Lex invites you to spend time with him this afternoon, it's fine with us."

Clark had a feeling he'd never be able to close his mouth again. The world had been turned upside down. His father was actually encouraging him to spend time with Lex *Luthor*.

"Yes," Martha put a plate with pancakes and syrup in front of Clark. "He is such a nice boy, and a good influence on you, helping you with your homework and all."

Clark could do nothing but nod and try to eat his pancakes. Lex? A... nice boy? A good influence? He felt like Alice through the mirror here. He'd just finished eating when the rumble of an engine came closer and a dark red Porsche with tinted windows, pulled up in front of the house. Clark's heart began beating faster.

Well, Lex was surprisingly... Lex. Impeccable taste in clothes. Black slacks, dark blue shirt and a black jacket. "Ready to go, Clark?" Clark simply nodded. Yeah, thank God, it seemed that Lex was acting absolutely normal, apart from the fact that he'd offered to drop Clark off at school. He couldn't imagine where Lex would be going where it wouldn't be out of the way to do so. "Sure." He grabbed his backpack, kissed his mother on the cheek and hurried out the door. He was still feeling very conscious about the clothes, especially the way the jeans were hugging his ass. And he couldn't quite shake the feeling that Lex was enjoying exactly that view right there and then. Especially when they parted to go to each their side of the car, Clark could have sworn that he felt a light slap on his butt.

They did the ride in silence, Clark busy trying to figure out what was going on and Lex dividing his attention between the road and Clark. When Clark finally noticed, his heat and stomach did simultaneous flips. The way Lex was chewing on his lower lip, eyes darting every now and then to Clark, obviously enjoying the sight.

'Cut it out, Clark. Your best friend is *not* checking you out. You're just a little paranoid from your meetings with the Devil.'

"You ok, Clark?"

"Yeah, why..." Clark swallowed hard. This is *not* the Devil, this is Lex, my friend. "Why do you ask?"

"You're being awfully silent."

Clark didn't have time to answer, as they stopped in front of the school. "I'm fine, Lex." He tried to sound casual. "Really, I am." He hurried out the door and was already going toward the entrance, when Lex pushed the passenger door open again, clearing his throat, as if he was about to say something. Clark took a deep breath and turned back to the car. The inside of the car was a little dark and Clark had trouble reading Lex's features. He leaned inside, hand on the seat.

Lex smiled wide, reached out and tangled his fingers into the front of Clark's shirt, pulling him forward. And before Clark knew it, warm lips took his, a light flicker of tongue sent lightning up and down his spine.

"I'll pick you up after school. You can do your... homework at my place."

Clark pulled back, too surprised to even blush. He closed the door, still dumbstruck, and watched Lex blow him a kiss and drive away. That was... well, wow. Don't... No! Lex hadn't just kissed him. It was hard for him to breathe, the feeling, hot and heavy, grew, blood rushed hard and heated through his veins.

A deep sigh next to him pulled him back to present.

"You are so lucky to have a boyfriend like Lex."

Clark stared at Lana and Whitney.

"Yeah," Whitney chimed in. "And Lex is pretty lucky too."

Clark couldn't find an answer, except from, "Thanks."

"Hey, Clark." Whitney let go of Lana and slapped his shoulder. "Don't forget the game on Saturday."

"Game?" Clark was beginning to feel really weird.

"Yeah, the basketball game." Whitney shook his head. "I'm glad that I know that Lex won't let you forget it. I swear, sometimes I wonder where you put your brains, Clark."

Clark nodded silently. Yeah, he knew that feeling exactly. So, something with the wish had gone wrong. There was nothing in the way Lana looked at him, that could be taken for interest, other as a friend. And Lex - Lex had kissed him. A long sweet kiss, full of promises. No, no way! Clark squashed the fluttery feeling developing in his belly.

Clark got through the day without too many embarrassing scenes. He even began liking it, the way the people at school treated him. Greeting him when they passed him. He could get used to this, easily. He tried not to think about Lex and his relationship with him, busying himself with his studies instead.

Chloe and Pete were surprisingly like they always were. Though their taunts about Lana had been exchanged with teasing about Lex. Clark tried to kill his blushes and by the end of the school day, he felt like he had it under control.

That lasted until the moment they left school. Clark walked out with Chloe on one side and Pete on the other, but slowed down when he noticed the parked Porsche outside. Lex was leaning casually against the side of it, and Clark caught himself thinking what a perfect add that image would make for the car. Still dressed in his dark clothes, though the jacket was now slung over one arm and the dark blue shirt had been unbuttoned at the throat.

Clark caught the set of car keys that were casually thrown to him.

"Care to drive?"

Clark nodded, trying to understand that Lex was offering him the opportunity of driving the car. As he started to go around the car, Lex caught his arm, and Clark was amazed that anyone could move that fast without super powers.

"Not so fast, gorgeous." And Lex was *pouting*.

Clark couldn't believe it. Lex pouting? What was the world coming to? "What?"

"Don't I get a kiss?" Pleading eyes, mixed with mischief. "Just a little one?"

Before Clark could answer, Lex was kissing him again, and it quickly became more than a short, little kiss. Clark felt as if the world around them disappeared, leaving nothing but the lean body pressing against him, the warm lips on his and the tongue in his mouth, coaxing, curling... playing with its counterpart.

They didn't part until the whistles from Clark's friends became too loud to ignore. And to think that Clark had thought he couldn't possibly blush any more today. A voice inside his head kept screaming at him, telling him that this wasn't right. It couldn't, shouldn't feel so good.

Finally getting into the car, having waved their good byes to Chloe and Pete, silence took over again. "Are you sure you're ok, Clark? I mean... you don't normally mind public displays of affection."

"I..." Clark didn't know what to say. Something had definitely gone wrong when he'd wished. Though the more he thought about it the more he... kinda liked... No, never for one second admit that you like it. It. Isn't. Right. "I've just been feeling a little... odd all day."

Lex looked like he'd like to ask 'odd how?' but he seemed to content himself with Clark's short answer. And that struck something inside Clark, though he wasn't sure what it was. Something... sweet, painful, pleasant - all at once.

Once inside the castle, the large front door closing behind them, Clark found himself pinned against the door, Lex's eager tongue thrusting into his mouth, soft lips against his. And someone was making needy noises. To his horror, he realized it was coming from him. It didn't help that his hands seemed to have developed a mind of their own, sliding up and down Lex's back, sliding down to cup his ass.

When they broke the kiss, Lex bend a little to scoop up Clark's bag, lying forgotten on the floor. Clark was trying to catch his breath, futilely, leaning back against the door, panting.

"Coming, Clark?" Voice silky and dark.

"Where are we going?" Clark swallowed hard. His own voice was raw and deep with need.

"To the study, to do... your homework."

Clark let himself be lead upstairs to Lex's study. 'What are you doing, Clark? You're practically making out with your best friend and somehow I don't think it's homework Lex is planning on doing right now.' Inside the study, Lex turned around and pulled Clark close again, burying his face in Clark's neck.

"Um... Lex?"

"Mmm?" came the muffled reply.

"I... I've gotta go to the bathroom for a second." Clark shivered from the hot breath against his skin. Lex let him take a step back, and Clark felt thoroughly rattled by the look on his face. So happy, stress-less and open.

"Sure, I'll go grab some snacks from the kitchen." Lex ran his hand down Clark's chest, obviously enjoying it.

Clark almost felt... deprived, as Lex's hand dropped and he turned around with a wink. Clark realized he'd been standing there for a few minutes, just staring at the door through which Lex had left. God!

He fished the pager out of his bag, punching in 666 before he could change his mind. Slim hands slipped around his waist, hot, whispered words tickled his neck. "Not happy with your wish?"

Clark stiffened. He knew the Devil was still in Lex's shape. "I... I need to rephrase my wish."

The Devil let go of him. "And?"

"I wish to be..." A pale, slender hand began rubbing across his belly, making him sag a bit, knees already weak from the kiss Lex had given him. "What might Lana want?" He suddenly realized he'd said it out loud.

"Well, you've tried for just cool and popular. Maybe..." The Devil nuzzled him behind his ear. "Maybe she wants a sensitive guy."

Clark turned that around in his mind for a moment. A guess as good as any. "I wish to be sensitive, caring *and* Lana's boyfriend - apart from of course still being cool and popular."

"Ouch," the Devil laughed out loud. "You're getting much better at this."

Clark couldn't stop the sigh from escaping his lips. Having your belly rubbed was... good.

"Well, your wish is my command."

Once again the world around Clark went pitch black.

TBC in part 4