Logan opened his eyes, blinded for a moment by brilliant daylight pouring in the window as he stared at the ceiling. For a moment he couldn't remember where he was. and it wasn't because the events of the night before were unclear. He grinned to himself, remembering. No, the events of last night were perfectly clear...he just wasn't sure if he had dreamed them or not.
He was resting on his back in a soft bed, and there was something warm pressed against his side...Logan inhaled the scent coming from beside him, savoring it, and a slow smile spread across his face.
Vanilla...so it hadn't been a dream after all.
He moved his head and looked down...and there she was, Ororo, nestled against his side and sleeping peacefully. She was every bit as beautiful in the morning sun as she had been in the candlelit darkness of the night...the face of a goddess, her lips slightly parted in a sweet smile, her thick hair lying disheveled across the pillow and over her shoulders. He gently stroked its white softness with his fingers, remembering how it had shimmered like silver in the darkness as she moved, responding to his touch.
Last night...he certainly hadn't expected what had happened. All he had cared about, ever since he had discovered that the doctor he'd been looking for was dead, was getting back to Ororo. Logan wanted to tell her he'd been wrong, that he'd changed his mind...before it was too late. Maybe it was the knowledge of the doctor's death that had done it...he didn't know for sure. He just knew, with sudden unarguable certainty, that he'd been a fool. Life was fragile, and he'd been close, dangerously close, to losing the only beautiful thing he had.
He watched her sleeping and thought about it...maybe he'd been alone and unhappy for so long it had become old habit. Hard to break, even when a chance for real happiness was staring him in the face. Or lying beside him right now, for that matter... Logan could just barely see the uppermost curve of her breasts peeping above the covers, and with a grin he leaned down and pressed his lips to her flesh, elliciting a small murmur of pleasure from her.
Her brown eyes fluttered open sleepily, and she gave him a small smile. "Good morning," she said softly.
"It is now," he said with a quiet laugh. He turned on his side and slid closer to her, letting his hands stroke slowly up her waist, enjoying the feel of her warm skin under her fingers. "I'd like to wake up like this every morning."
"Mmm," she murmured, snuggling closer. "Play your cards right and maybe you can."
"Oh, yeah?" He lifted an eyebrow and grinned wider. "Is that a challenge or an invitation?"
"Both." She slipped her arm around him, and the covers fell away from her breasts completely, exposing her dark nipples to his gaze. He was becoming aroused again by the sight...Ororo seemed to notice as well, laughing softly and pressing her hips against his.
Logan's hands tightened on her waist, and he bent his head swiftly to her breasts, taking a nipple into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue as it hardened beneath his touch. She sighed, wrapping her slender arms around his shoulders and letting her head fall back against the pillows, her eyes half-closed, watching him in the morning light.
"Logan," she murmured, rubbing against his stiffening erection. "Wouldn't you rather have some breakfast?"
"This IS my breakfast," he growled against her skin, and she giggled again.
"No, really." She tilted her head, trying to look out the window. "The sun is too bright...we must have slept in extremely late."
He lifted his head and kissed her deeply. "We had a long night," he replied, winking at her and making her blush prettily. Damn...she was gorgeous...Ororo traced gentle fingers over his chest, and he caught her hands in his and pressed them against his skin, watching her face as a subtle change came into her eyes, darkening them as she pressed her hips against him again and purred softly.
There was a faint humming sound, then a burst of air rushing through the ceiling vents as the air conditioning kicked on. It made Ororo jump, then she laughed and leaned forward, pressing her lips lightly to his, then moving away before he could make it last longer. "The electricity must be back on," she said. "Either that, or Scott fixed the generators...no thanks to you."
"I was busy," he said with a grin. He drifted his hand along the smooth length of her thigh, slipping it slowly between her legs into the warm heat he found there. She sighed with pleasure, and he leaned closer, kissing her neck, testing the smooth flesh with his teeth.
Vanilla...he inhaled deeply, a shudder of desire running through his body. "God, you smell delicious..." he whispered. "Good enough to eat."
"Oh, really?"
She sat up, pulling off the covers and pushing him over gently on his back. He watched her, pleasantly startled, as she sat up and leaned over him, her long hair brushing his stomach softly. One brown hand slid over his upper thighs, her touch soft and light as a feather, then she brought her hand closer and let one slender finger gently stroke his erect cock, making him gasp and tense his muscles tightly.
"What?" she asked, feigning innocence and watching his reaction with a slow smile. She touched him again, and he growled deep in his chest.
"Dammit, Ororo..." He hissed softly as she closed her fingers around the base of his shaft. Her smile was seductive, her white hair tumbling down over one eye as her pink tongue flicked out of her mouth and licked the tip of his cock...Logan groaned and closed his eyes, concentrating on the sensation she was giving him.
"Does that feel good?" she asked softly, a note of laughter in her voice.
"Hell, yeah, it feels good." He raised his head and looked at her, marvelling at the devilish grin on her face. "I thought you'd never..." He paused, gasping for breath as she brought the head into her mouth, sucking lightly. "Where in the hell did you learn how to do that?" he asked.
"This is my first time." She blushed again, but that didn't stop her from swirling her tongue across his standing flesh, teasing him from base to tip. "I just want to make you feel good."
"You're certainly doing that." He groaned again, gritting his teeth...dear God, the woman was a natural. Ororo sat up, carefully adjusting herself until she was straddling his legs, then she lowered her head once more, using her fingers and mouth on him, sucking gently at first, then more insistently as he growled.
He closed his eyes, letting her work her dark magic on his body, her fingers skimming over the tightness of his legs with a butterfly's touch. Her mouth was hot and soft...Logan had been with a lot of women over the years, but none of them had the power over him that Ororo had...he made a strange sound in his throat, like a strangled gasp, and his hands stole up to the headboard to grip it hard, lost and fighting for control against the feel of her lips on his flesh.
So close...so close...Ororo suddenly stopped her attentions, watching with obvious enjoyment the tortured expression on his face as she began to kiss his stomach. His muscles flinched involuntarily as she pressed her warm mouth against his skin, the soft tendrils of her hair sweeping his stomach and chest as she crept up his body. His cock brushed between her legs for the briefest moment, and she gasped a little, then she was straddling his waist, her full breasts against his chest and a sultry look in her eyes.
"C'mere," he growled, putting an arm around her tightly. She leaned closer, intaking her breath sharply as he reached up and touched her breasts with his free hand, squeezing them gently and bringing them to his mouth. He sucked first one nipple, then the other, watching her carefully...she closed her eyes, leaning over him and supporting herself on her hands to either side of his shoulders as he sucked hungrily.
Logan grinned and pushed himself upright, wrapping muscular arms around her as he sat up with Ororo in his lap. His cock was pressed firmly against her backside, and she smiled wickedly, squirming against him with a sound somewhere between a laugh and a gasp.
"Jesus, Ororo..." he murmured, burying his face in her neck.
She shifted her knees, spreading her legs wider, the tip of his erection free to nudge against the tender flesh between her legs. Logan felt a brief flash of worry that she might still be sore from the night before...he'd tried so hard to be gentle, but toward the end of their lovemaking he'd kind of lost control. Such thoughts seemed to be a long way from Ororo's mind, however. She moaned softly and pressed against his chest, lowering her head to suck lightly on his neck, her breath a sweet whisper in his ear...Logan slid his powerful hands beneath her legs, cupping the smooth, firm cheeks of her ass as he shifted her weight on his lap...there was resistance, hot and steaming wet, then his cock slid inside her, making Ororo clutch his shoulders and cry out against his neck.
"Oh, Goddess..." Ororo lifted her head, her eyes half-closed and smouldering fire as she caught his face between her hands. Her hips moved against him, slowly at first, then faster as she picked up his rhythm and rode with it on her own. Logan drew her lips to his, kissing her deeply, catching her tongue between his teeth and sucking it as he concentrated on the feel of her body around his like a tight glove.
Long minutes passed, filled only with the sound of their harsh gasps. Her breath was soft against his face as he thrust upward against her...he was trying to be gentle again, but his body overrode the dictates of his mind and began matching Ororo stroke for stroke. She broke free of their kiss, a low, ragged moan escaping her lips, then she lowered her head, her lust-scented hair falling around his shoulders and face as she murmured in his ear.
"Harder..." she whispered.
Logan's restraint broke completely, the husky passion in her voice robbing him of all pretense at nobility. He kissed her hard, ravaging her tender lips, but she only gasped and clung to him tighter as he did so, speeding up the rhythm of his thrusts and snarling against the pressure building inside him. Rational thinking shut down...his senses were aware only of the scent of mating surrounding them, mixed with the sweetness of her perfume, and the soft, gasping shrieks coming from this beautiful creature, her nails scraping the skin of his back with barely felt pain as everything suddenly exploded...
Ororo buried her face in his shoulder and shrieked breathlessly, her legs locking around his waist. Logan held her tight in tensed arms, fighting for air, his chest heaving, kissing her on her lips, her eyelids...she collapsed in his arms limply, and he slowly leaned back with Ororo across his chest as he spent himself inside her, relaxing against the pillows and holding her close as he fought to regulate the pounding of his heart.
She lay quietly on his chest, her breaths slowly diminishing to silence. Logan closed his eyes, feeling the adrenaline-charged tremble of his muscles, stroking her soft hair with one hand as he enjoyed the tired feeling that was washing over him. Her fingers drifted up and fluttered over his chest, brushing a sensitive spot and making him jump.
"Unnh..." He grabbed her hand and laughed softly. "Sorry...I'm ticklish."
She moved her head slightly and looked up at him with sparkling eyes. "I know," she said, smiling impishly. He grinned back and kissed her forehead, his arms tightening around her.
There was a sudden knock on the door.
Ororo jumped, her eyes widening, as Logan lifted his head and stared at the door. Both of them had frozen at the sound, wondering who could possibly be knocking...Ororo giggled a little, blushing furiously and pulling the blankets over her head.
"What are you doing?" he whispered, trying hard to suppress a chuckle. She peeked out at him from beneath the covers and shushed him with a finger to her lips.
"Shh...maybe whoever it is will just go away." She giggled again, burying her face in his chest as she hid once more under the quilt.
Logan couldn't keep from laughing anymore...she was just too damned cute. "Ororo..." he began, but then the knock sounded again, this time accompanied by a familiar voice.
"Ororo?" Jean called from the other side of the door. "Are you okay?"
Ororo sat up straight, still straddling Logan, her head cocked toward the door. "Uh-oh," she giggled softly. "I think we're busted."
Logan grinned. "Does that bother you?"
"Not at all."
"Ororo?" Jean called again. "Who are you talking to in there?"
"I'm fine, Jean," Ororo called back, smiling down at Logan and wiggling against him. Logan growled quietly, letting his hands slide up her thighs and over her hips...this woman would never cease to amaze him. Shy last night...a dizzying temptress this morning...he grinned and pressed his hips against her, earning a lascivious glance from those sultry eyes.
"Are you sure?" Jean asked, her voice muffled by the door's thickness. "You've been asleep a long time...it's almost noon!"
Ororo's eyes widened. "I told you it was late," she whispered to Logan, then louder to Jean, "I'm sorry, Jean. I guess I was just tired after last night."
Logan snickered, and Ororo snatched up one of the pillows and whapped him hard across the head. "Ssshhh!" she hissed, trying to stifle her own laughter. "She'll hear you!"
There was a long pause on the other side of the door, and when Jean spoke again her voice held a funny note. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked. "I thought I heard someone in there with you."
Logan groaned and flung an arm over his eyes. "You'd better go answer the door, 'Ro," he said. "Before Jean thinks Magneto has you tied to the bed."
"Oh, all right." Ororo scooted off him gently and got off the bed, bending over quickly to scoop her bathrobe off the floor. Logan rolled over on his side, his head propped in his hand as he enjoyed the view of her shapely rear...she glanced at him over her shoulder, slipping her arms into the sleeves of her robe and favoring him with a teasing smile.
"What?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Nothing," he said with a grin. "Just enjoying the view."
Ororo blushed again as she carefully wrapped the bathrobe around her and tied it shut, crossing the room to the door. She looked back at him only once, then unlocked and opened the door with one quick movement.
The look on Jean's face was priceless.
She was standing in the hall, one hand raised to knock on the door again...her eyes fell on Ororo, then went past her into the room to see Logan lying on the bed, bare-chested with only the sheet pulled up to his waist. Her mouth dropped open...Logan grinned and waved at her, enjoying her expression immensely.
"Oh God, 'Ro," Jean mumbled, backing away from the door, her cheeks a bright red. "I'm so sorry...I didn't know...I didn't mean to interrupt anything..."
Ororo laughed and waved her hand. "Don't worry about it...you didn't know. You didn't interrupt anything, either."
"The hell she didn't," Logan snorted, earning an amused, exasperated look from Ororo. He smiled in spite of himself and rolled over on his back, putting his hands behind his head.
Jean looked as if she wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. "I'll...um...just be going back downstairs now," she said.
"Okay." Ororo smiled. "We'll be down in a little while."
"Um...everybody wants to know where you guys are," Jean continued, her face burning. "What do you want me to tell them?"
"Whatever you want to tell 'em," Logan bellowed from the bed. "Tell 'em we're...indisposed."
Jean was so red now she looked as if she might spontaneously combust on the spot.. "Um...okay," she said. "I'll tell Scott to go ahead and cook lunch for you guys, too...if you want it."
"Sounds wonderful...I'm starving," Ororo replied.
"Okay." Jean shook her head, gave Ororo an embarrassed grin, then turned and headed back down the hall to the landing, Ororo closing the door softly behind her.
Logan waited until the door was locked, then he kicked off the sheet and got out of bed. He crossed the room with an easy stride, smiling inwardly at the look Ororo was giving him. He felt oddly pleased that she found his naked body attractive...the feeling was definitely mutual.
Ororo looked up into his face as he came to stand in front of her. She smiled, and he put his arms around her waist and bent his head down to hers, giving her a slow, leisurely kiss.
"What are you going to do now?" he asked, holding her dark brown eyes with his own.
"Take a shower, I suppose," she murmured. She slid her arms around his neck and returned his kiss ardently.
Logan growled softly against her lips, his hands leaving her waist long enough to untie her bathrobe once more. It fell open, and he slid his hands inside, caressing her warm, smooth flesh and pulling her close to his body.
"Shower can wait," he whispered, burying his face in her neck.
She giggled a little breathlessly. "Why? Do you have something better in mind?"
Logan lifted his head and grinned at her. "Oh, yeah..."
* * * * *
Jean walked out on the back patio of the mansion, the bright sunlight a little painful after the cool darkness of the house. Scott was standing at the grill, flipping hamburgers with his back to her, and Xavier was parked in his wheelchair beside the swimming pool, a cold drink in his hand as he watched the kids splashing and rough-housing in the water.
Scott must have heard the light scrape of her shoes on the brick, because he turned around almost as soon as she stepped into the sunlight. "Hey...did you find her?" he asked.
Jean blushed again and sat down in one of the deck chairs, an amused smile on her face. "Oh, yes...I found her all right."
"And?" Scott asked, turning back to the grill.
Jean shrugged, trying to keep from laughing. "She said she'd be down in a few minutes."
"She's not ill, is she?" the professor asked, joining the conversation as he moved his wheelchair closer to Jean. "Ororo is such an early riser...it's not like her to sleep in so late."
"Oh, trust me, she's fine." Jean met the professor's eyes for a minute, then giggled, covering her mouth with one hand.
Xavier raised an expressive eyebrow, exchanging bemused glances with Scott.
"I'm sorry," Jean said, getting herself under control with some effort. "I just got a bit of a surprise when I went up to check on Ororo. I need a chance to recover." She grinned again and crossed her legs casually. "Of course, I suppose I shouldn't have been too surprised, all things considered. It's about time, actually."
"What in the world are you talking about?" Scott asked, looking particularly silly in his "Kiss the Cook" apron, the metal spatula in his hand frozen in mid-air.
"Let's just say..." Jean said, leaning closer so the kids in the pool wouldn't overhear her. "Ororo had a guest last night." She laughed like a schoolgirl and met the professor's eyes, nodding as a slow dawning spread over his face.
"Who?" Scott asked.
Xavier didn't seem to hear him. "Well..." he said, beginning to smile broadly. "You're right, Jean...it was about time."
Scott looked back and forth between them, irritated as usual at their silent conversation...it was almost as bad as whispering behind his back. "Who are you talking about?" he asked again.
"Think about it, Scott," Jean said. "Who have we been...as much as I hate to admit it...gossiping about for the past six months?" she continued, linking her hands over her knee.
He stared at her, his brow furrowing above his sunglasses. "No," he said. "You're kidding, right?"
"Nope." She laughed again, her eyes twinkling. "I think Logan got a rather nice welcome home last night."
"Jean!" Xavier scolded, trying to hold back his own laughter.
"Sorry...I can't help it." She stood up and moved closer to Scott, pressing a sweet kiss to his cheek. "You had better turn those burgers, love," she told him, pointing at the grill.
"Hey...I'm the chef here. Back off," Scott laughed. He flipped the burgers and shook his head. "Ororo and Logan...that's got to be the most unlikely pair I've ever heard of."
"Not if you really think about it," Jean said. "I think it's sweet, actually."
"Yeah, you would," he muttered, and she poked him in the ribs, making him jump. "Hey!"
"Watch it, buster," she laughed. She stretched languidly, watching the kids splashing in the pool. "I think I'll have a swim, too," she said. "Before we eat...want to join us, professor?"
"No, I think I'll stay up here and get some sun instead," Xavier replied, closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. "I look a bit pale, I think. Too much time indoors this winter."
"Okay," she said, then she headed for the cabanas beside the pool to change into her swimsuit.
* * * * *
It was another hour before the burgers were done, yet Logan didn't appear until everyone was out of the pool and beginning to crowd around the table.
"Logan!" Rogue spotted him first and rushed over to him, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. "Jean told me you were back! Ah'm so glad to see you!"
"Hey, kid," he replied, hugging her back. "Good to see you too." He looked over her head at Xavier and grinned.
"Hey, Xavier...how's it going?"
"Very well, Logan." The professor extended his hand and shook Logan's, smiling warmly. "It's good to have you back...I trust you slept well?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.
Logan stiffened, looking back and forth between Xavier and Jean for a moment, but when he saw the way they were smiling at him he relaxed, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Yeah..." he mumbled, flushing a little. "Slept real good."
"I'm glad to hear that," Xavier replied, and he sounded as if he meant it. "Hungry? Scott grilled cheeseburgers."
"Sounds great...I'm starving." Logan took a seat beside Jean, Rogue squeezing in next to him. "Pass the grub, Marie," he said, using her real name and making her giggle.
Jean handed the ketchup over to Bobby, a movement at the door catching her eye. "Oh, hey there, 'Ro," she said, noting with glee the way Logan jumped. "Come in and have some lunch."
"Thanks, Jean." Ororo came in and sat opposite Logan, giving him a secret smile. "Mmm...smells good. What are we having?"
"Cheeseburgers and potato chips," Kitty replied, passing a plate of burgers down to her. "Which flavor do you want...Doritoes, Sour Cream and Onion...?"
"No chips for me, thanks." She took the plate and served herself, passing it along down the table. "I'll take some soda, though."
Jean watched Logan over the top of her sandwich, grinning at the way he was looking at Ororo. Good grief...you would have to be completely obtuse to not know there was something serious going on between these two...Logan couldn't stop looking at her, and everytime Ororo caught his eyes on her she would blush prettily and give him a sweet smile...Logan would smile back, startling Jean with the way the smile softened his face. The harsh lines that had seemed permanently imprinted there smoothed away, making him look positively handsome. No wonder Ororo loved him so.
Rogue was watching them, too. Her eyes met Jean's for a moment, then she raised her eyebrows and grinned. Yep...it was obvious, all right...Jean grinned back at her and shrugged, returning her attention to her cheeseburger.
"Hey! Quit hogging the Coke, Kitty!"
"I'm not hogging it!"
"All right, guys," Scott began, then he stopped and looked out over the front of the lawn, shielding his eyes against the sun. "Hey, professor," he said. "Someone's coming up the front drive."
"Oh?" Xavier wheeled over to the edge of the patio and looked toward the front of the house. "Strange...I wasn't expecting anyone today."
"I'll go check it out," Scott replied.
"Yes, and take Logan with you," the professor said. "I don't think its trouble, but one can never be too careful."
Logan stood up, giving Ororo a wink and following Scott back into the house, through the hall to the front door and down the short steps to meet their unexpected visitor. A brand-new red pick-up truck was coming to a stop in the curve of the driveway, and by the time Scott and Logan reached the edge of the pavement the door of the cab opened and a tall man stepped out into the afternoon sunshine.
Scott slowed down once he caught sight of the man, then a slow smile spread across his face. "No way..." he said.
The man looked at them. "Scott?" he asked. "Is that you?"
"No way!" Scott whooped and sprinted across the lawn, leaving Logan to stare after him bemusedly. "Forge! Where have you been, man?"
"Oh, here and there." The man was tall, taller than Logan, and his skin was as brown as tanned leather. Long, sleek black hair was pulled back from his face into a loose ponytail at the back of his neck, and when he clasped Scott's hand in friendship he flashed very white teeth in a pleased grin. "Good to see you again, Cyclops."
Logan stood his ground, watching the interplay with his arms crossed over his chest as the man Scott called Forge looked at him and nodded.
"Hello," he said, extending a hand toward Logan. "I don't believe we've met."
Logan stared at him for a moment, just long enough to make the man uncomfortable, then he grudgingly shook the guy's hand in return. "My name's Logan," he said gruffly.
"Logan joined our team about six months ago," Scott added. "He's also called Wolverine."
"Interesting name."
Logan said nothing, and Scott continued, "Forge was a member of our team a few years ago, before you came." He chuckled. "You should see the stuff this guy can invent...it's damn near incredible."
"I'll bet," Logan remarked dryly.
"Well, come on," Scott said. "The others are up on the patio, eating lunch."
"Any left for me?" Forge asked, grinning slightly.
"Sure! Come on..." Scott turned and headed back toward the house, Forge walking beside him and Logan bringing up the rear, watching Forge intently. He wasn't sure if he was going to like this guy yet...something about his smile, maybe. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Wow," Forge commented as the moved throught the dim hallway. "This place hasn't changed a bit."
"Never does," Scott replied, then he opened the patio door and walked through, holding it open for Forge and Logan. "Hey, professor!" he called. "You're not going to believe who's here!"
Everyone at the crowded table looked up as they entered, and the professor wheeled his chair around to see. "Forge!" Xavier exclaimed, propelling the chair forward. He shook the man's hand heartily. "It's good to see you again!"
'The feeling's mutual, professor." Forge grinned, then Jean caught his eye as she stood up from the table. "Hello, Jean," he said. "You look as pretty as ever."
"Thank you, Forge," she said with a smile. She gave him a warm hug, but Logan also saw her eyes dart over to Ororo for the briefest moment, a look of concern on her face. Logan's eyes narrowed imperceptibly.
Forge released Jean from his embrace, his eyes drifting over the table and coming to rest on Ororo as well. Logan scowled slightly, feeling a twinge of jealousy at the way the man was looking at her.
"Hello, Ororo," Forge said softly, giving her a gentle smile.
She didn't smile back, and Logan felt oddly pleased. "Hello, Forge," she replied, her voice as cold as ice.
There was an uncomfortable moment of silence at the table, then Xavier cleared his throat. "Students, this is Forge, a previous member of the X-men." There were a few murmured hellos, then Xavier went around the table and introduced each of the kids individually.
"Are you a mutant?" Jubilee asked once the professor had finished.
Forge grinned again, flashing those perfect white teeth. "Yes, I am...Jubilee, was it?"
"Yeah...so what's your power?"
"Forge invents things," Xavier said, smiling at Jubilee. "Not that his inventions are his mutation...after all, anyone can be an inventor if they work at it long enough, but Forge here has a very special cerebral gift that allows him to invent in almost any field, without needing to do background research or blueprints."
Rogue raised an eyebrow and took a sip of her drink, leaning over to whisper in Logan's ear as he sat down beside her. "Some mutation," she hissed sarcastically. "Can't wait to see how he improved the potatah peeler." Logan grinned...damn, he loved this kid.
"Will you be staying with us, Forge?" Jean asked, watching him as he took a seat beside Ororo. Logan wasn't sure if he liked that, but he kept his silence.
"Yes, if you'd be so kind, although I must tell you I'm here on a bit of official business." He took a burger, casting a glance over at Xavier. "I won't discuss it now, but after lunch, professor...if you're free...?"
"Certainly, Forge."
They returned to eating, Logan allowing the conversation to wash over him as he watched Ororo. She'd been so animated earlier, but ever since he had returned with Scott and Forge she'd sat in absolute silence, not touching her food. He didn't want to draw attention to her, but he couldn't stand the frozen look on her face...as he opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong, Forge suddenly leaned close to her, dropping his head and whispering something in her ear.
Logan's fists clenched beneath the table, and it took every ounce of control he had to restrain himself from reaching across the table and ripping the guy's face off. The sight of this strange man's lips so close to Ororo's skin...Logan felt his face flush with anger.
Ororo recoiled away from Forge, the color draining from her cheeks. "How dare you!" she hissed, soft enough that only Forge and Logan heard her, then she stood up and stalked away from the table quickly...but not so quickly that Logan didn't see the tears welling in her eyes as she disappeared into the house.
Rage boiled up inside him, and he jumped to his feet with a snarl. "What the fuck did you say to her?" he barked, reaching across the table and grabbing Forge by the shirt collar, lifting him bodily out of his chair.
The girls at the table screamed, drinks knocking over as Forge struggled against Logan's iron grip. "Let me go!" he demanded, trying to pry Logan's fingers away from his shirt. "Are you insane?"
"That's enough, Logan!" Xavier said firmly. Logan growled and shoved Forge back into his chair, leaving the occupants of the table staring at him in astonishment as he stalked from the patio and back into the house. Jean made as if to go after him, but the professor stopped her with a look and she sat back down, quietly helping the students clean up the spilled soda.
* * * * *
Logan prowled through the dark house, sniffing the air as he looked for Ororo. He didn't know what in the hell that guy had said to her, but he knew it had upset her pretty badly...the guy was lucky that kids had been present, or he'd have been wearing his guts for garters right now.
He inhaled deeply...there. The faintest trace of her scent, coming from the open door of the library. With a soft tread he walked into the room, her fragrance mixing with the spicy smell of old books as his eyes found her at last, sitting alone in an overstuffed reading chair.
"'Ro?" he asked softly. She had her face buried in her hands, and he could see her shoulders hitching slightly. Logan knelt down in front of her and gently pried her fingers away from her face. "What is it, darlin'?"
She shook her head, her cheeks stained with tears, and he felt something give inside him, making him swallow painfully. "What did he say to you?" he asked, wiping away the wetness on her face with a tender hand.
"He just said...that he missed me."
Logan felt a small measure of relief...that was a lot better than what he thought Forge had said, but now he was even more confused. "What's so bad about that?" he asked.
Her face crumpled again, and Logan caught her in his arms, closing his eyes and holding her tightly as she pressed against his shirt. "He has no right to miss me," she sobbed. "That bastard...he has no right to be nice to me."
Logan was becoming thoroughly confused. "What are you talking about, 'Ro?"
"Forge was...I mean, we..." She choked a little, her voice hoarse with tears. "You're the only one who doesn't know about it, because he was here before you...he was my...my..."
Logan sighed, the memory of her words from the previous night coming back to him and suddenly making everything crystal clear. "He was the other man you told me about," he said quietly.
She nodded, and Logan felt his heart clench painfully. Did this mean she still had feelings for Forge? Logan didn't think he could bear it...to have been so close, then to lose everything he wanted so desperately...
"He loved me once, or so I thought," she continued, her sobs calming a little as Logan reached up and stroked her hair. "He even...he even asked me to marry him..."
"What did you say?" he asked softly.
"I told him yes, of course," she said. "I loved him..."
Logan's arms tightened around her, the only outward sign of what those words did to him. "Do you still love him?" he asked, needing to know, yet dreading the answer at the same time.
"No," she whispered, bringing a relieved smile to his face.
"Then why are you crying?"
"Because of the way he acted, when he saw me again just now." She pulled away, wiping her eyes with the tail of her shirt. "He broke off our engagement, Logan, just before he left to take a new job with the government...he said our engagement was a big mistake." She sniffled and looked down at her hands. "I've never been so hurt, Logan...it took me so long to get over it. I felt that there must be something wrong with me...and then he has the nerve to come back here, telling me he missed me and acting like everything was okay between us."
He held her hands between his. "Is that why you're so upset?"
"Yes...and no," she whispered. "It's just...seeing him again brought back all those painful memories, Logan. I was so happy before I saw him, after last night and this morning..." She looked up at him. "But then I saw him, and all those old feelings that there was something wrong with me came flooding back, and I knew...I knew..."
"Knew what?" he asked.
"That you were going to leave me, just like he did." She bit her lip, watching him with tear-filled eyes.
Logan stared at her in amazement. "I'm not going to leave you, darlin'," he said.
"But he did." She opened her mouth to say something else, but Logan cut her off.
"I'm not him, Ororo," he said. She dropped her gaze, but he gently lifted her chin and forced her to look at him. "It's me, darlin'...Logan. Not Forge, not ever."
She smiled then, a slow, trembling smile that soothed him greatly, and he tightened his arms around her and kissed her. She sighed against his mouth, her slender hands slipping over his shoulders, and he lost himself in the taste and scent of her surrounding him.
They didn't hear the soft footfall in the hall, nor did they notice Forge as he paused in the doorway, watching their kiss with black, unblinking eyes.
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