The weeks passed by slowly, spring dragging its feet into the waiting arms of early summer, and Ororo felt like she was dying just as slowly, every day dawning more lonely and desolate than the last. It had been close to three months since Logan had left...a month filled with teaching and helping the kids make preparations for the dance, staying busy, trying not to think about him and the last thing he had said to her before the elevator door closed, taking him away from her. "I already do," he had said...he loved her. He loved her as surely as she loved him, yet now he was gone and she wasn't sure if she'd ever see him again.
Please let him come home...she whispered this to her empty room every night, when the darkness seemed to close around her so tightly she couldn't breathe. I miss him so much...there's so much I need to tell him.
Just let him come home.
The day of the dance finally came, and the girls were so excited it was everything Jean and Ororo could do to keep them in line. The boys were considerably less enthusiastic, but Rogue and her cronies didn't let it trouble them in the slightest...they were too busy finishing the decorations in the mansion's ballroom and deciding how they were going to wear their hair.
At that particular moment Kitty was sitting on the floor in the TV room, her back against the couch as she rested between Ororo's knees. Ororo was busy braiding Kitty's hair...the girl had insisted on a twisted french braid for the dance, and no one but Ororo knew how to do the style. Jean was sitting beside them, watching the television intently.
"Oh, God, Jean...do we have to watch the Weather Channel?" Kitty groaned. Ororo smiled and continued to braid.
"Yes, Kitty, we do." Jean turned up the volume slightly with the remote, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I want to hear about the storm."
"No pun intended, Miss Munroe," Kitty snickered, earning a withering look from Ororo. "Sorry...couldn't resist."
A radar image flickered across the screen, the meteorologist's voice intoning over it. "As you can see, all areas north and west of the green rain bands can expect severe thunderstorms beginning tonight and lasting until dawn.," he said, prompting a sigh from Jean.
"That's us," she said, pointing at Westchester County on the radar map. "We're going to get nailed."
"Significant wind damage can be expected, as well as the possibility of hail," the television voice continued. "Travel tonight is not advised."
"No problem," Jean said. She sighed and looked over at Ororo. "I don't suppose you could do something about this?" she asked.
Ororo smiled at her over Kitty's head. "I could, but I will not," she replied. "Thunderstorms are necessary...as all of nature is necessary."
"I thought you'd say that." Jean grinned. "Oh, well...Scott checked the generators this morning. We should be fine."
"I think we will." She finished braiding Kitty's hair, then swept it under and pinned it tightly. "There you are, Kitty," she said. "All done."
Kitty patted her hair experimentally. "Great! I can't wait to see how I look." She stood up and moved to walk out the door just as Rogue burst in, out of breath.
"Help!"
"What is it, Rogue?" Jean asked, laughing. "Calm down."
"Mah gloves!" Rogue cried, thrusting a pair of green silk opera gloves out in front of her. "Ah popped a button off, an' Ah don't have any thread that matches!"
"I highly doubt that anyone would notice..." began Jean.
"No! It has to match!" Rogue interrupted. "Bobby will notice...trust me!"
Jean sighed and stood up. "All right then, wait here and I'll see if I have some matching thread in my sewing box." She threw an amused glance at Ororo, then took Rogue's gloves and left the room.
Rogue looked, her gaze falling on Kitty. "Looks good," she said, cocking her head to the side as she studied the girl's hairstyle.
"Thanks. I've gotta go put my makeup on now, before John sees me." She blew a boisterous kiss at Ororo. "Thanks again, Miss Munroe."
"You're welcome, Kitty," Ororo said, watching the petite brunette bounce out of the room. Rogue flopped on the couch beside Ororo with a sigh.
"Have you heard from Logan, yet?" Rogue asked.
Ororo stiffened at the mention of his name...she'd been trying not to think about him. "Um, no...I haven't," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Have you?"
"Nah," Rogue said. "He sure has been gone an awful long time." She sighed and smoothed the plain leather gloves on her arms. "Ah wish he was here...Ah wanted him to see me dressed up."
Ororo smiled at her. "I know. I'm sure he would have liked to see you as well."
Rogue cocked her head to the side and looked at her carefully. "You miss him, don't ya?"
"Very much," Ororo murmured, turning her gaze to the broadening rain bands on the television screen.
"Aw, he'll be back soon, Ah'm sure of it," Rogue said brightly. "He's got no reason to stay away."
Yes, he does, Ororo thought to herself, but she said nothing and tried a smile for Rogue instead. No one knew about her last conversation with Logan...not even Jean...
Ororo didn't think she could bear for them to know.
There was a rumble of thunder outside, and both of them looked up at the window beside the sofa. The sky was an angry charcoal gray, and they could see the branches of the trees waving wildly against the lowering clouds.
"I think the storm will soon be upon us," Ororo mused. "Hopefully we won't lose the electricity like we did during the last storm...I think I'll go get dressed now, just in case."
"Are you gonna dress up, too?" Rogue asked.
"Of course." She stood up and winked at Rogue. "Just because I'll be DJing doesn't mean I have to let you girls get all the attention."
Rogue laughed and clapped her hands together. "Cool! Ah've never seen you really dressed up before. Ah can't wait!"
"I'm sure we'll all be surprised by you ladies as well," Ororo replied with a smile. "Jean should be back in a moment...I'll see you later, okay?"
"Okay."
Ororo left the room and mounted the stairs slowly, glancing through the open doors of the ballroom as she went. The kids had really done a wonderful job decorating...balloons, streamers, glitter everywhere...the evening should be very nice, even if she didn't get to dance. Oh, she wouldn't deny to herself that she had harbored fantasies about dancing with Logan...but even if he had been there she knew that such a thing would never happen. Logan dancing? Not hardly...he'd probably never slow-danced in his life.
Of course, such thoughts didn't matter now...she came to the second floor landing and saw Scott standing in the hall with John, helping him knot his bowtie.
Scott looked up at her. "Hey, 'Ro."
"Hello, Scott." She stopped beside them and looked at John appraisingly. "I'm impressed, John. You look very handsome."
John blushed to the collar of his dress shirt. "Thanks, Miss Munroe," he mumbled.
"What time is it?" Scott asked.
Ororo glanced at her watch. "Almost six. I planned on starting the music at seven o'clock."
"Sounds good." Scott poked his tongue out the corner of his mouth, concentrating on finishing John's tie. "There you go," he said finally. "You look great."
"Thanks, Mr. Summers."
Ororo smiled at them both and headed across the hall to her room, unlocking the door and turning on the light as she entered. Thunder rumbled again, sending a little thrill through her. Goddess...how she loved a good thunderstorm!
She let the door shut behind her and crossed to the bed, where her dress was already laid out. It was a deep, dusky rose silk, cut in a simple princess style with a scooped neck and large bell sleeves. She'd picked it out this morning, from the four or five formal dresses she owned but never had a chance to wear...even behind a DJ booth, she welcomed the opportunity to wear the dress at last.
Even if there was no one to appreciate it.
* * * * *
Kitty hoisted another stack of CDs onto the narrow table and began to arrange them into two stacks. "Let's see," she murmured. "Slow...fast...slow, slow....hmmm, I think this is a fast song..."
"Whatcha doin', Kitty?" Bobby asked, taking a seat beside her. He picked up one of the CDs and read its title slowly. "'The Great Pretender'...never heard of that one."
"They're songs from the '50's," Kitty snapped, snatching the CD away from him with a sniff. "Honestly, Bobby...don't you listen to anything other than Metallica?"
"Of course I do...Godsmack, Rammstein..." He scowled at the face Kitty was making. "What?"
"Nothing," she sighed. "Here...this is some of our music." She thrust a larger stack toward Bobby. "Sort these into two piles...slow and fast."
"What are we going to do, mix 'em up?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah...the theme is the '50's, but I think we should play some of our music too." She watched Bobby for a minute, then frowned. "I said two piles, Bobby! Not three!"
Bobby tapped the third pile. "This is for music we're NOT going to be playing...I'll get rid of it once we're done."
Kitty reached forward and grabbed one of the CDs in the pile. "This is the Backstreet Boys!" she yelled. "Of course we're going to play this!"
"But they suck!" Bobby retorted. He moved to take the CD away from Kitty, but then his eyes focused on something behind her, prompting a long, low whistle from his lips. "Whoo-hoo!" he said. "Check her out!"
Kitty turned around to look, a slow grin spreading across her face. "Miss Munroe!" she said breathlessly. "You look fabulous!"
Ororo smiled from across the room and began to make her way toward them, the rose-colored silk of her gown swishing against her ankles. "Thank you, Kitty...you look wonderful, as well."
"Aw, thanks to you...I never could have made my hair do this." Kitty stood up in her pale blue formal, moving out of Ororo's way. "We were just getting the music organized for you."
"Thank you, but I think I'll manage okay." Ororo picked up Kitty's dropped CD curiously. "The Backstreet Boys, hmmm?"
"Yeah, but you don't have to play that if you don't want to," Bobby said, elliciting an elbow in the side from Kitty. "Owww!"
"Don't listen to him, Miss Munroe."
"Where did you get these?" Ororo asked, taking a seat and pointing at the stack of '50's-era music.
"From the professor," Kitty said. "He's got a huge collection."
"I see." Ororo smiled at them, then lowered her head and began readying the booth system. "What time is it, Bobby? I didn't wear my watch."
"Ummm...five minutes to seven. When are you going to start the music?"
"Right now." Ororo finished adjusting the sound balance, then smiled up at them. "Maybe you two should go find your dates."
"Let's go, Kitty," Bobby said, and the two of them left to find their friends.
* * * * *
Altogether, the dance was quite a success. Although it was primarily a "prom" of sorts for the older students, everyone was welcome to attend, and soon the mansion's ballroom was filled with nearly every student in the school, as well as the faculty.
Jean and Scott both looked wonderful...Jean in a deep wine satin, and Scott dashing in his well-cut tuxedo. Rogue had chosen a dark emerald green...Jubilee, a tasteful, subdued gold. The boys didn't look nearly as good as Scott, mainly because of the stiff, uncomfortable expressions on their faces, but everyone was looking at the girls anyway, so it didn't really matter. Ororo smiled and watched them all from behind her booth, playing song after song and sipping the punch the professor had so thoughtfully brought her.
Oh, the kids looked so good together! Slow songs, fast songs...they didn't care, they danced to them all. Jean and Scott spent most of their time chaperoning, but they took the floor and danced together whenever Ororo played a slow song, and the kids would dance with them and clap when it was over. Ororo watched them, trying not to be overly sentimental, but "Love Me Tender" had been the worst...Jean and Scott in each others arms, her head on his shoulder, and Scott looking down at her as if she were the only person on earth.
The lights had flickered once, the muffled rumble of thunder echoing in the huge room. While the kids murmured among themselves, laughing nervously, Ororo found her thoughts drifting to Logan for the millionth time that night. Was he out in this weather? She hoped not...let him be somewhere safe...or at least, warm and dry.
Around eleven o'clock the dance began to wind down, the younger students herded off to bed, and Rogue and her friends slowing considerably. They finally stopped dancing altogether, but Ororo kept the music going softly while they began cleaning up the glitter and empty punch cups.
"You kids go on to bed, if you want," Jean said with a smile, watching them sleepwalk around the room. "We'll get the trash...you guys can get the rest of it tomorrow."
"Are you sure?" asked John sleepily.
"Positive," Jean replied. "I'm almost done in here anyway."
"Okay," John said. "Thanks for everything, you guys."
"Yeah, thanks a bunch," Jubilee said. "This was really great."
One by one they left the room, the girls clutching their high heel shoes in their hands, the boys escorting them like real gentlemen. Ororo watched them go with a smile, then began putting the CDs back in their cases and collecting them together.
Scott helped Jean pull the full bag out of the trashcan and tie it off. "I'll go take this out," he said.
"Okay. I'm going to put the leftover food away." She turned and sought out Ororo through the dim lighting. "We'll be back in a minute, 'Ro!"
"Okay. I'm almost done here myself," Ororo called back.
Jean nodded and left the room behind Scott, leaving Ororo alone in the cavernous ballroom. She stacked CD cases on top of each other...she'd carry them upstairs for the night, and return them to the professor and Kitty in the morning...when one of the CD titles caught her eye. "The Greatest Hits of Nat King Cole"...Ororo smiled to herself. Her father had loved Nat King Cole. She could dimly remember her parents dancing together, back when she was small and times had been good, Nat's buttery voice smoothly singing of love and redemption...
Thunder rumbled and the lights flickered again, causing Ororo to glance up and around the room...and her breath stopped in her throat.
Someone was standing in the doorway, looking at her. A tall man, with broad shoulders and wild hair silhouetted against the light from the downstairs hall...Ororo stood up, trembling, unable and unwilling to trust what her eyes were seeing.
"Logan?" she breathed.
"Hey, darlin'," he said, moving into the room and the warm, soft light. He looked around at the decorations and smiled wryly. "Sorry I missed the party."
It was him...it was really him. Without thinking, Ororo rushed around the table and across the floor to where he stood, throwing her arms around him tightly. He stiffened, and for a split second she thought he was going to pull away...then his strong arms came up and around her and he was holding her close.
"I was so worried," she murmured, her face against his shoulder. "You've been gone so long."
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I had a little trouble finding my contact...it took me longer than I expected." He hesitated, then lifted a hand and stroked her hair with a surprisingly gentle touch. "I came back as soon as I could."
She pulled away slightly and looked up at him. "Did you find your contact?" she asked, her eyes searching his face.
"No." He shook his head and smiled ruefully. "The doctor I was looking for apparently died two years ago. I was chasing ghosts."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." He took her hands in his and looked down at her dress. "I've never seen you dressed like this before," he commented softly.
She permitted a small grin to touch her lips. "What do you think?"
"You look beautiful," he said. "Like a queen."
She blushed and lowered her eyes. "Thank you."
"I wish I'd been back in time to see you."
She cocked her head and looked at him. "To see me doing what?"
"Dancing." He reached out and caressed her cheek, then stopped and let his hand drop as if ashamed of the gesture. "I'll bet you looked incredible."
"I didn't dance, Logan," she said, pulling free of him and walking back to the DJ booth. "We talked about this before, remember?"
And thank you for bringing it up again, she thought silently to herself.
Logan was watching her, a thoughtful expression on his face as she picked up the CDs and began stacking them once more. "What?" she asked, a little irritated, thunder outside rumbling over her words.
He raised an eyebrow, then grinned and began shrugging out of his leather jacket. "Put some music on, 'Ro," he said, laying the jacket over the back of a chair.
"Why?" she asked, confused.
He laughed quietly and shook his head. "You're going to make me do this the hard way, aren't you?" he said, coming toward her. With a sweet, gentle smile, he held out his hand.
"May I have this dance?" he asked softly.
She swallowed hard, unsure whether she had heard him correctly. "What did you say?"
"I'm asking you to dance with me, Ororo," he said, still holding his hand out to her.
Ororo didn't know what to say, so stunned was she by this rare display of gallantry. "You...you know how to dance?" she asked.
"Yeah, I do...believe it or not," he replied. "Put some music on, 'Ro...or are you going to leave me standing here like an idiot?"
She laughed...she couldn't help it. With shaking fingers she put the first CD she could lay her hands on into the machine, then pressed play and stepped around the table. Logan still had his hand held out to her, and she smiled and laid her fingers on his.
The soft sound of strings floated from the speakers...Logan pulled her close and slipped his arm gently around her waist, holding her hand against his chest as he swept her out onto the floor. Ororo knew this song...she had put on the Nat King Cole recording, and the sweet melody made her lips curve in a tender smile as she looked up into Logan's eyes.
Each time I look at you
Is like the first time,
Each time you're near me
The thrill is new,
And there is nothing
That I wouldn't do for
The rare delight of the sight
Of you...
Ororo was pleasantly surprised...Logan was truly a wonderful dancer. He led her confidently, dancing in that old school style of slow-dancing that nobody seemed to know how to do anymore. His hand was warm on her waist, his fingers gently brushing the silk material as he looked at her without a word...Nat's voice poured from the speakers like warm honey, and she pressed closer to Logan, timidly leaning her head against his chest. He didn't seem to mind, and she found herself hoping...hoping that this moment would never end.
The more I see you,
The more I want you,
Somehow this feeling
Just grows and grows
With every sigh
I become more mad about you,
More lost without you and so it goes...
"I missed you," she said suddenly, surprised that she dared to say it aloud.
He brought her hand to his lips and startled her by pressing a gentle kiss into her palm. "I missed you, too," he said, a rough edge to his voice.
She shivered at the touch of his lips to her skin, closing her eyes against the dreadful pain clutching her heart. Was he torturing her on purpose? Not Logan...even he couldn't be so cruel...but didn't he know what his touch did to her?
"Don't do that, Logan...please," she whispered.
"Why?" he asked.
She blinked back tears. "Because...it hurts too much."
"I'm sorry."
"Me too." Her breath hitched, and a single traitor tear slipped down her cheek.
Logan saw it fall, and he winced a little. "I tried to stay away from you so I wouldn't hurt you, darlin'," he murmured. "Looks like I'm not doing a very good job."
She looked up at him, her dark eyes shimmering. "It only hurts because..." She swallowed hard, fighting to keep the tears at bay. "Because I love you, Logan. Because I love you...and you keep telling me that everything is so impossible."
"Maybe it is impossible."
"Maybe it's not!" she shot back. "Why are you so hellbent on being alone?"
"It's not like that, Ororo," he said.
"Then what is it?" she whispered, holding his gaze with her searching eyes. "Why did you come back, Logan? What did you come back for?"
He didn't answer for a long minute, watching her with haunted eyes. "Because I can't live without you, 'Ro," he said finally, his voice breaking. "I'm terrified of hurting you, of not living up to your expectations of me...but I can't live without you." He pulled her close, burying his face in her hair. "Either way, I'm damned."
Can you imagine how much I love you?
The more I see you as time goes by,
I know the only love for me can only be you,
My arms won't free you, my heart won't try...
Ororo didn't know what to say. She let him hold her in silence, the only sound the soft voice of Nat over the speakers and the muffled thunder outside, then the hand she rested on his shoulder drifted up to his head and stroked his rain-damp hair, trying to tell him without words what he meant to her...what he would always mean to her.
"Why do you love me, 'Ro?" he asked into the silence, his voice a whisper against her hair. "I have nothing to give you...nothing at all."
"Do you love me?" she asked softly.
He lifted his head and looked at her, his eyes dark with longing. "Yes," he whispered. "God help me...I've loved you so long."
"Then there is nothing else for you to give," she murmured, the tears finally spilling down her cheeks as she turned her face up to his.
I know the only love for me
Can only be you,
My arms won't free you,
My heart won't try...
He looked at her in silence for a long heartbeat, then with infinite gentleness he lowered his head and kissed her cheek, capturing her tears with his lips before finally seeking out her mouth with his. They had long since stopped dancing, and now his arms wrapped around her tightly as she kissed him back, the feel of his lips both hard and soft and more wonderful than anything she had ever imagined. Ororo's hands slipped into his hair, feeling the dampness from the rain mingling with the hot insistence of his mouth on hers, and she opened her lips to him and let Logan taste her with his tongue, thrilling at the sound of a low growl rumbling in his chest.
Then the room was plunged into darkness.
Logan pulled away from their kiss in surprise, the two of them holding each other in the pitch blackness as thunder rumbled again, louder this time. The ballroom was as quiet as a tomb...no sounds of the air vents running, the song on the stereo abruptly ended. Only silence, broken finally by Logan's quiet laughter.
"Damn," he said. "That was one hell of a kiss."
Ororo surprised herself by giggling, and Logan squeezed her tightly, his lips finding hers again in the dark. The entire house was blanketed in silence...the only sound she could hear was Logan's breathing mingling with hers, and the faint rustle of her dress against his jeans.
With a soft gasp she pulled away, laughing breathlessly. "The generators should have come on by now. I wonder what's wrong?"
"Who cares?" Logan growled softly. She felt his hair brush her cheek, then his lips stole another kiss from hers. "This could be interesting."
He pressed closer to her and she sighed with pleasure, closing her eyes against the blackness around them as Logan's mouth moved down her neck, kissing her slowly. This was a new experience, for her anyway, and she found herself enjoying it immensely.
Alone, in the dark...
With the Wolverine.
"Ororo!"
Scott was calling her, his voice echoing from somewhere in the direction of the door. Logan stiffened and growled against her neck.
"Fuck," he whispered, and Ororo heard him sigh in exasperation. "One-Eye...it figures."
"Sshh," she hushed him with a soft laugh. "I'm okay, Scott!" she called, her voice echoing in the empty stillness. "I'm still in the ballroom."
"Hang on," Scott called back. "I'm coming with a flashlight."
"Great," Logan commented dryly, releasing Ororo from his embrace. A beam of light flickered along the paneling out in the hall, then Scott rounded the corner, the flashlight making Logan squint. "Perfect timing, Cyclops," he said, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "As usual."
"Logan?" Scott stopped short and stared. "When did you get back?"
"I just got here," Logan replied, shielding his sensitive eyes from the light. "Do you mind? Get that damned thing out of my face."
"Sorry." Scott trained the beam on the floor and came forward to shake Logan's hand. "Good to have you back."
"Glad to be back." Logan nodded his head toward Ororo, suddenly acting as if everything was normal. "'Ro here says you guys have generators...why aren't they working?"
"I was just on my way to find out," Scott replied. He quirked a grin at Logan. "Want to give me a hand?"
"Sure." Logan glanced at Ororo, his expression unreadable in the darkness. "What are you going to do, 'Ro?"
"I'm not sure...where's Jean?"
"She's upstairs checking on the kids." Scott switched the flashlight to his other hand and pulled another out of his jacket pocket. "Here," he said, tossing it to Ororo. "Why don't you see if she needs any help?"
"Okay." Ororo caught the flashlight and flicked it on, careful to keep the bright beam out of Logan's eyes.
"Right. Come on, Logan." Scott started back out the door, and Logan turned back to Ororo, his eyes glittering darkly.
"Don't go to bed right away," he whispered, his voice deceptively soft. "We need to talk."
"All right," she said, her pulse quickening. How could she possibly go to bed now anyway, after what had just happened?
Logan looked at her a moment longer, then nodded and followed Scott out of the room, leaving Ororo alone...
And very, very awake.
* * * * *
By the time Ororo made it upstairs in the dark, Jean had already finished checking on the kids and was on her way to her room, pausing for a moment when her flashlight beam picked up Ororo's movement on the landing.
"Hey," Jean said. "Everything okay down there?"
"Logan and Scott are checking on the generators right now," she replied.
"Logan? He's here?"
Ororo smiled. "Yes. He came in just a few minutes ago."
"Well, goodness...this night is just full of surprises." Jean grinned at Ororo from the shadows. "I'm done checking on the kids...I guess I'll go to bed and wait for Scott. What about you?"
"I'm going to bed, too, I suppose," Ororo lied, hoping Jean couldn't pick up on it. "Maybe I'll read for awhile...I have some candles in my room."
Lightning flashed in the hall's only window, thunder rumbling close behind as rain began to hammer against the glass. Jean jumped and laughed nervously.
"God, that was close!"
Ororo opened her door. "Sleep well, Jean," she teased.
Jean stuck her tongue out and made a face as Ororo waved and walked into her room, shutting the door behind her. Lightening brightened the window again, illuminating her room for a split second before plunging it back into darkness.
Using the flashlight to guide her, she went into the bathroom and located the few scented candles she kept on the side of the tub, gathering them carefully and bringing them back into the bedroom. There were matches in the drawer of her nightstand, and after all the candles were lit she turned off the flashlight, smiling to herself. There...it wasn't as bright as she would have liked, but at least she could see enough to move around without stubbing her toe, and when Logan came she would be able to see his face while they talked.
If they talked...Logan said they needed to, but she was reasonably sure that wasn't his only reason for wanting to come to her room. She went to the mirror, her hands shaking a little as she unpinned her hair and carefully brushed it, experiencing for the first time a little thrill of fear at the thought of Logan touching her. She wanted him so badly, and yet there was the smallest bit of uncertainty in that desire...Logan was a bit primal, used to acting on his instincts, and she was...well, she'd never....
Ororo shook her head. Better to wait and see what happens. Trying not to think about it, she went into the bathroom again and washed her face in the sink, then returned to her room and rummaged in the dresser for something to change into. One nightgown caught her eye, and she studied it carefully. She didn't want Logan to get the wrong idea when he came in...at least not yet, and this one should do just fine. The gown was ankle length, a white satin with thin straps...with her bathrobe on over it, it should be fairly modest.
She undressed quickly, slipping the nightgown over her head and adding the blue robe, making sure to tie the belt around her securely. Just in time, too. There was a soft knock at her door, making her jump and swallow hard.
"Ororo?" Logan's voice was a low whisper on the other side of the door. "It's me."
She crossed the floor shakily and opened the door, the faint candlelight flickering on his face. He was leaning against the door frame, stripped down to only his jeans and a black T-shirt, his eyes black pools as he let them roam over her body, noting the change in her dress.
Ororo couldn't move. She froze on the spot, one trembling hand on the doorknob, until Logan quirked a grin at her and spread his hands wide in question.
"You gonna let me in?" he asked, a note of laughter in his voice.
Ororo opened her mouth to speak, but no sound would come out. Instead she stepped aside and held the door for him, watching in silence as he passed her and moved around the room as if prowling. He didn't look at her, preferring instead to wander aimlessly through the shadows, studying the flickering candles as if they were intensely interesting.
"Did you find out what was wrong with the generators?" she asked finally.
He shook his head, pausing to look out the window at the storm. "Nope. Scott thinks the transfer connection is loose, but we can't see well enough with the flashlights to tell for sure." He picked up one of her candles, inspected it, then put it back down with a shrug. "We'll just have to make do with candles 'til morning, I guess."
"Oh." She closed the door softly, her entire body shaking like a leaf, silently praying that he wouldn't notice.
It was a wasted prayer. Logan took a deep breath, scenting the air, then he turned slightly and looked at her over his shoulder.
"You're frightened," he said. It wasn't a question.
She leaned against the door, welcoming its solid pressure behind her back. "I suppose I am, a little," she said with a nervous laugh. Logan watched her in silence, then he approached her slowly, his expression mysterious in the soft light.
"Afraid of me?" he asked, placing a hand on the door to either side of her and leaning close. When she nodded slightly, he smiled, his eyes softening. "Don't be afraid of me, 'Ro. That's not what I want."
"What is it that you do want?" she whispered.
He chuckled softly, cupping her chin in his hand. "That's a bit of a loaded question, don't you think?" His fingers caressed her cheek, sliding down to trail over the soft skin of her neck with the gentlest of touches, and he leaned closer to her and pressed a soft, hot kiss against the hollow of her neck.
"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" he whispered, his breath warm against her throat as he continued to kiss her with maddening slowness. His mouth was at her ear now, his hands trailing up her back as he laughed quietly. "Damn, you feel good." he whispered, nipping her ear lightly with his teeth. "I should go...before I do something we both regret."
"Like what?" she murmured, her hands slipping over his chest to rest lightly on his shoulders as he laughed softly against her neck.
"Are you sure you want to know?" he asked.
"Tell me," she said, running her fingers up the back of his head and letting them sink into the softness of his hair. He growled a little, pressing his body close to hers, and she rubbed against him almost without thinking, provoking a deeper, wilder growl from the depths of his chest that caused a pounding heat between her legs.
"I'd rather show you," he rasped in her ear. His hands moved from her back to her waist, before sliding up her torso to cup her breasts through the thin material of her robe. She gasped softly at the unexpected touch, and Logan lifted his head at the sound, kissing her lips with more force than before as he caressed her nipples lightly.
"If you want me to go, now's the time to tell me," he whispered against her lips.
"No," she murmured, returning his kisses with a passion she didn't know she had. "Don't stop touching me, Logan, please..."
His hands left her breasts and slid over her waist, fingers tugging gently at the belt of her robe as his breath came harsh and ragged in her ear. "Are you sure?" he asked softly.
"Yes."
Logan untied her thin belt and opened the robe, pushing it off her shoulders slightly and exposing the smooth, creamy brown of her skin to the candlelight. He watched her carefully, savoring her response as he dropped a soft kiss to her bare flesh, his gentle tug on her robe slipping it off her arms and into a heap at her feet.
The sheer gown clung to her every curve. Logan slid his hands down her waist and over her hips, gathering the satin of her nightgown in his fingers.
"I want to see you, Ororo," he whispered.
She nodded, lost in sensation as a soft blush stained her cheeks, and he gently lifted the nightgown up and over her head. She lifted her arms to help him, shivering slightly as the cool air touched her skin, then Logan had the gown off and was standing there watching her, the nightgown slipping from his fingers unheeded onto the floor.
"You're beautiful," he whispered hoarsely. He reached out and slipped his hands around her waist, making her sigh with pleasure both at his words and the rough touch of his fingers on her body. His head dropped to her shoulder, lips pressed to the soft skin above her breast. "So beautiful..."
Without another word he picked her up in his arms, carrying her to the bed and laying her down atop the quilt. She made no attempt to cover herself, content to lie still against the pillows, her breast rising and falling with her rapid breathing as she watched him standing over her. Logan grabbed his T-shirt at the bottom and pulled it over his head in one smooth movement, the muscles of his chest tightening deliciously as he did so, then he knelt swiftly on the bed beside her, capturing her in his arms.
"Gotcha," he whispered, stealing her breath with another kiss. He stretched out over top of her, the cold metal of his belt buckle pressing against the smooth flesh of her stomach, and her legs slipped apart without a thought as he moved against her, startling her with the hardness of his arousal pressing against her through the rough denim of his jeans. He lowered his head to her breasts, his hair brushing her face as he cupped her flesh in his hand, brushing her nipple gently against his beard stubble, then he brought her nipple into his mouth, making her cry out softly and arch against him as he sucked the sensitive tip.
"Logan..." She moaned his name into the candlelit shadows, and he rolled her nipple lightly between his teeth, making her gasp.His mouth left her breast and traveled down her stomach, kissing her slowly, teasing, taking his time as his fingers slipped into the lace panties she wore and drew them down over her hips. He inhaled her scent, his breath hot against her skin, and she clutched the blankets on either side of her body in her hands, twisting them as her breath and her pulse quickened under his expert touch.
He pulled her underwear off and tossed them carelessly to the side, reaching up and running his expert fingers over her legs. She lay still, her heart pounding, watching him beneath half-lowered lids as he sat up long enough to unbuckle his pants and push them off. At first she couldn't see him clearly, then he turned around, the muscles of his powerful body rippling in the candlelight as he climbed back on the bed. The light of the flames danced along the length of his torso, and her eyes widened a little at the sight of his erection as he moved over her, lowering his mouth back to the softness of her breasts.
"Logan, I..." she began quietly, her voice shaking. "I've never..."
She hadn't expected him to stop right away, but something in her voice must have cautioned him. He raised himself on his arms, his face over hers as he watched her carefully in the flickering light.
"Never what?" he asked softly, studying her face as he considered her unspoken statement.
She blushed and dropped her eyes, the feel of his bare skin against hers making it hard to think...but she knew she had to tell him. "You should know...there's only been one other man in my life, and, well...it never got as serious as this." She swallowed hard, afraid to look at him.
"That's good to know," Logan replied, the faintest hint of laughter in his voice.
"No, I didn't mean..." Her voice failed her, and she tried again. "It's just...I've never..."
He dropped a soft kiss to her lips, catching her by surprise.
"You've never been with a man before?" he asked, his voice a whisper.
Ororo shook her head, her cheeks burning.
"Look at me, Ororo." He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes, and she was startled by the gentleness on his face. "That's nothing to be ashamed of, darlin'...trust me." He took her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly, lingering over the taste of her lips beneath his.
"Do you want me to stop?" he asked softly. "I will if you ask me to."
"No." How could she possibly want him to stop? She'd had no idea he could be as gentle as this. With a soft sigh, she surrendered herself to his kisses, whispering against his lips.
"I don't want you to stop."
Logan continued kissing her, leaving her mouth and slowly weaving a path of gentle touches down her breasts and over her stomach. His hands traced down her waist, over the soft curve of her hips, then he gently spread her legs, letting his mouth tease along the inside of her thighs. She gasped again, feeling the roughness of his sideburns against her skin as his mouth moved.
Logan looked up at her, holding her eyes with his. A slow, wicked grin spread across his face, and with gentle fingers he spread her labia open, lowering his head while never taking his eyes off her face. His tongue darted out and licked her softly, stroking the bud of her clitoris and startling a ragged moan from her lips. She clutched at his hands, and he allowed her to entwine her fingers with his and hold him tightly as he continued to nibble and caress her most sensitive place with his mouth.
"Logan..." She whispered his name, then hissed sharply as he nipped her clit lightly with his teeth. Logan growled, enjoying the taste of her and watching with dark eyes as she writhed beneath his touch. He buried his face between her legs, quickening his movements, letting his tongue bring her excitement to a fever pitch...then he would retreat, only long enough to make her beg while he kissed her slowly along the insides of her thighs, Ororo moaning and twisting on the bed beneath him. Time stood still, silent except for the tortured sound of Ororo's breathing and Logan's soft growls of pleasure. She tightened her grip on his hands, her head thrashing back and forth on the pillow, the touch of his tongue and lips on her flesh nearly driving her insane. He stopped, his warm lips teasing her skin, and a soft sob of pleasure escaped her lips...then just as quickly Logan's tongue slipped inside her, and she had to bite her lip to keep from screaming.
"Oh, God..." she moaned softly. "Logan...please..."
"Say it, Ororo," he whispered. "Tell me what you want..."
"Make love to me, Logan..."
He pulled his hands free of her and slowly moved his body over hers, supporting himself on his arms as he maneuvered between her thighs. She could feel his erection pressed against her now and another shiver of apprehension passed through her, but this time her body's cry to feel him inside her was stronger.
Logan's face was over hers, the soft light of the candles flickering across his handsome features, outlining the wild disarray of his hair against the darkness. He bent his head and kissed her deeply, the sweet musk of her own body surrounding him, and she slipped her hands over his back as he pressed his hips forward and eased himself inside her.
A quicksilver of pain startled a soft cry from her lips...Logan continued to kiss her slowly, capturing her pain between them, taking his time until he'd entered her completely. He groaned, and she dug her fingernails into his back, provoking a soft growl from him. He kissed her again, his hands stroking her breasts and her arms, and she began to relax, the pain already diminishing, replaced by a throbbing pleasure that made her moan softly and tighten her legs around his hips..
Logan withdrew slowly, then pushed inside her again... her breath was a sweet murmur beneath his lips, and he slowly began to move against her, rocking his hips gently against hers in a shared motion. Her breasts were pressed against his chest, teasing him with their softness, and he bent his head down and caught one of her dark nipples in his mouth, sucking it gently...Ororo ran her fingernails along the hard muscles of his back as he buried his face in her neck, his breath hot and moist against her skin. She closed her eyes, a almost painful wave of something indescribable beginning to build somewhere inside her, but not yet...not yet...
"Logan..." she moaned, gripping the powerful muscles of his shoulders in her slender hands. His name on her lips seemed to inflame him...Logan's breathing became a harsh pant in her ear as he slipped his hands under her hips, lifting her slightly as he thrust into her harder and faster with every ragged breath.
The wind began to howl against the walls of the mansion...he slipped his hands up and over hers, interlocking their fingers as he lifted her arms and held them down on either side of her head. He was kissing her hard, and she arched her back, returning his kiss with a passion she didn't know she had, the pleasure inside her mounting and mounting with his every thrust until she thought she would die from it if there wasn't some relief...
Lightening flashed in the window...Ororo flung her head back and cried out, a clap of thunder drowning out her voice as something exploded inside her, filling the dark space behind her eyelids with every color imaginable. She pressed against him, her legs locked tightly around his hips as Logan clenched his teeth, every muscle in his body taut and his body shaking as he buried his face in her neck, groaning in release.
Long silence passed, the room quiet except for the sounds of the storm outside and the soft, ragged breathing between them. Logan let his head rest gently on Ororo's breasts, and she softly brushed his dark hair away from his face, listening to the rain on the windows, listening to the rhythm of her breath as it slowed down into exhaustion and enjoying his heavy weight against her body. He lay very still for a long while, then she could feel his fingers on her skin, caressing her tenderly, and she stirred beneath the gentleness of his touch, taking his hand in hers and holding it tightly.
He lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed them, then raised his head and looked at her. The candle on the nightstand shivered and went out, hiding his face in the shadows and turning his eyes the color of midnight.
"Did I hurt you?" he asked softly.
"No," she murmured, giving him a beautiful smile.
Logan rolled off her gently and onto his side, wrapping his strong arms around her and pulling her into his embrace. She gave him a sigh of contentment and nuzzled her head against his shoulder, letting her fingers trace lightly over the dark hairs on his chest.
The storm still howled outside. Ororo shivered, and Logan shifted her in his arms so he could free the blankets underneath them, covering them both. His arms were warm around her, and when he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, she smiled and snuggled closer.
"I'm sleepy now," she murmured, smiling softly. "No offense, but it must be nearly two in the morning."
"None taken." His laugh was a low rumble in his chest. "Besides, it's normal to be tired after what we just did...I hope you're not planning on kicking me out of this bed anytime soon. I'm tired as hell."
She giggled drowsily, her head nestled against his chest. "Actually, I was rather hoping that you would stay." Her fingers played a light rhythm over his skin. "You will stay, won't you?"
"As long as you want me to, darlin'."
She sighed, and Logan allowed his head to relax against the pillow, his own eyes slowly closing as Ororo drifted off to sleep. Before long, he was asleep as well, a gentle smile on his face.
For the first time since he could remember, he slept in peace.
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