The problem is that these truces never last long enough, Clark thinks as he licks down Lex's spine, and sucks kisses across his back. It gets harder and harder for them to make up, and sometimes it looks like Lex is starting to try and find an escape hatch from the whole relationship.

"Clark," Lex murmurs against his ear, "please," and he pushes Clark over, onto his back. "I can't -- I have to -- "

Their bedroom is dark -- it never used to be dark, they used to always do this with the lights on, so they could see each other -- and now Clark can only see the way the streetlight hits Lex's eyes, how it shines there. He can see the way the shadows hit Lex's face, how they cling to the lines of his muscles, but not Lex's expression, not his mouth -- his mouth, God, Clark loves Lex's mouth, how it feels against his skin, as he keeps murmuring to Clark, as he keeps saying over and over:

"I need you, Clark, I do, God, I just -- fuck, Clark, can I? Please?" and Lex feels like iron where he's thrusting lightly against Clark's hip, and Clark's so hard, so ready for this, he needs this too, he needs *Lex* needs for this to be more than a truce, and so he blurts out,

"Anything, Lex just -- anything, I love you, I just -- "

Lex kisses him, sucks his lower lip, runs calm hands over Clark's torso, and cool fingers around Clark's hole and they're wet, they're already wet and then they're in and yes, yes Lex has always been inside, and he always will be, and oh, it's so *good* that Clark's whole body goes taut and he roars Lex's name.

"I'm here," Lex says against Clark's shoulders, "I'm right here," and he is. For right now he is, and there's another finger (more of Lex, Clark wants more, wants all of Lex, wants it always) and it's even better. Lex is fucking him with his fingers, and Clark spreads his legs as wide as he can, is wanton with his want.

"More, more, more," he chants, and he isn't even really sure if he's saying it out loud or not, but he must be because Lex -- Lex gives him what he needs. Lex pulls the fingers out, grips tight onto Clark's hip, and pushes in slow, all the way in, and yes -- yes -- this is what Clark needs.

This is always what Clark needs. He's just afraid it's not what he'll always have.

"Don't stop," he urges Lex, frantic, "please, just keep -- keep going, don't stop, don't ever stop," and Lex is moving in him now, fast and hard and just right, Clark can *feel* him, "don't stop, need you, always need you, so fucking *sorry*, I love you Lex -- "

And Lex kisses him again, keeps kissing him until the end and they crash against each other over and over, they try to crawl into one another's skins, to bite and scratch their way together. When Clark comes, he comes so hard that he has to squeeze his eyes shut because he's afraid that he'll set Lex on fire, that maybe Lex is already burning, because he feels so *hot* inside.

After, Clark leans over, he turns on the light, and he looks over at Lex. He holds out his hand, and he says, "I'm sorry."

Lex looks at him for a long moment, and then kisses his palm, and licks his fingers. He says, "So am I."

And for now, that's all they need.