Shopping Spree part 6

Clark clutched the bag with his new CD to him shyly. He really looked forward to listening to it and to visiting Lex to listen to it.

Lex smiled at him, obviously pleased with himself. "Where to now... Clark? Gregory's?" He stepped closer to Clark, to avoid colliding with a little old lady. He draped his arm over Clark's shoulder and gave him a friendly squeeze. "We still haven't picked out your swim wear."

Heat rushed to Clark's cheeks. The very thought of how much a pair of speedos would reveal... If possible the jeans seemed to be growing tighter by the minute and not just because they were wet. It was almost horrifying that Lex's touch and words were such a turn on. They should't have been. Clark was pretty sure he should be appalled by it. The wet shirt made his skin crawl, sliding against his nipples and definitely *not* doing anything to improve his current state. He was invulnarable, but it didn't mean his skin wasn't sensitive enough for him to react to it. And the thong he was wearing wasn't exactly taking his mind off sex either, really, he'd rather have been entirely without. But he did not want to do without Lex's warm hand - though it was obviously a strictly friendly gesture, his libido couldn't help reading more into it. "No, Lex, it's fine, I... can't we just have a look around here?" Clark tried to calm his frantic breathing. "I rarely get a chance to visit..." he looked around, desperate for an out. "Bookstores!" Eyeing one not too far away.

Lex stepped back and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't want to go change?"

His eyes swept up and down Clark's body, making Clark shiver from the attention, from the heat of that look. "Na-ah, not necessary." He waited for Lex to start moving toward the store, so he wouldn't have to walk in front of him. He squirmed a little, the wet shirt was actually a little uncomfortable, but it was worth enduring if he could avoid going back to the men's wear. He was reminded of the being wet thing again, when he tried to enter the store. One of the clerks stopped him, explaining that water and paper didn't mix well. Clark nodded. "Is it ok if I drop the shirt? The jeans are pretty dry by now." She gave him a strange, confused look, but nodded. Well, what could he say - he didn't want to loose sight of Lex, didn't want to be here all alone. The clerk was pretty nice though, offering him a plastic bag for the shirt.

So, Clark stripped the shirt, finally getting the wet garment away from his skin. The shirt went into the bag and he hurried to catch up with Lex. He was standing in a corner, leafing through a large coffee-table book. A photography book apparently. With lots of photos of... almost close to - but not quite - naked men. Clark flushed hotly, '- was Lex looking at porn!?' No, it was only a book of vintage Men's Physique art photos. He had to get a hold of his errant mind before embarrassing himself even more. What would Lex think of him? It was one track thoughts like this that led him to misinterpret Lex's brotherly overtures again and again.

---

Lex was lost in thoughts, not quite seeing the pictures in the book, only fragments of them. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the smooth glossy paper, as his eyes caressed the provocatively posed athletes. Black hair... like Clark's. Six-pack abs, nowhere near as nice as Clark's firm, tanned stomach. Pouting lips, not even close to equalling those of Clark lucious, lickable pair. Without volition, his tongue crept out to wet his own. He tilted his head to the side when he felt Clark's electric presence next to him. "Oh... Clark," Lex's sideway glance turned into a full body sweep. Again wetting his dry lips Lex wondered, not for the first time, if Clark actually knew what he was doing to him. His breath caught in his throat when his gaze came to rest on Clark's nipples, hard and begging to be nibbled on, licked and gently bitten. It seemed easier than usual to imagine Clark without his shirt on... - Hey, wait a minute.

"Lex?" Clark's voice filled with uncertainty, pulled him back. He looked up into Clark's eyes, noticing the confusion there. 'Don't get your hopes up, Lex, or for that matter anything else.' He discretely adjusted himself.

"They wouldn't let me keept the wet shirt on - you know, because of all the books."

It sounded as if he'd be giving quite a tip before they left. A very generous one. In the meantime: "Have a look at this book... Clark. You're into ...sports, right?"

Clark stared at the book, wide eyed, his ears turning a charming shade of red. Quickly he picked up a book lying next to him on the display table and held it out to Lex. "Actually, this is more my style."

Lex looked down at the large, illustrated Gay Kama Sutra Clark was brandishing at him. '*Score!*' Grinning wildly, he looked back up at Clark's face. He couldn't believe his plan to coax Clark out of the closet had succeded so easily. And with so little effort on his part! One little shopping trip and the man was putty in his hands.

Clark looked at him earnestly, then seemed to take pause at Lex's overly enthusiastic expression. Slowly his gaze sank to the book he was holding; and he tottered at his feet as all the blood drained from his face and he turned deadly pale.

Alarmed, Lex supported him before he could fall, and cursed his own insensitivity. First he put the pressure on Clark with the nude males, then he jumped to conclusions when Clark in his perplexity grabbed the first, the best book to steer the conversation off the awkward topic. The undisguised lust that must have appeared on his face amounted to sexual harrassment. He was deeply ashamed of himself. This was no way to treat his best friend - the *only* friend he had ever had.

---

Clark regained his balance and haltingly thanked Lex, gently shaking his hands off him. When Lex started grinning, obviously assuming his choice of book a joke he should have left it at that. But his blatant reaction must have demonstrated to Lex with all possible clarity that it was anything but. He couldn't look his friend in the eyes. Deperately he cast about for something to change the topic and end this... torture. Hopefully Lex could forgive him some day. He resolved to keep his mind on the straight and narrow; he wanted at all cost to avoid seeing that horrified look on his friend's face ever again.

"Let's just go.. I don't see anything in here I really wanted anyway" he said plaintively.

Lex nodded gravely and gave him a gentle, apologetic smile. "How about we just stroll around a little while, see what catches our attention?"

Silently they left the store, each lost in his own thoughts.