His tongue was probing, forcibly demanding entrance to her mouth. His fingers, just as persistent, sliding lower and parting her milky white thighs. The skin where he touched her felt like it was on fire, a trail of flames working its way down her torso; passion burning relentlessly, an inferno longing to be quelled.

Turning her face up to gaze into his eyes, it amused her how much the bright red she saw there resembled the glowing embers of his own fiery need. A need which was soon to be satiated… she hoped.

Only it wasn't to be, it never was. Just like the previous night, and the one before that, Rogue's needs were not going to be satisfied and neither was the lust of her dream lover, Remy LeBeau.

Remy LeBeau.

It was hard to believe that those two little words could cause Rogue such pain. She sighed loudly, the noise swallowed up by the emptiness of her lonely room. It always struck her as ironic that her lovely room, with it's large four-poster bed, would only ever be inhabited by her; that the only romance and passion that room would see would be in her head whilst she slept… The only ardour that she herself would ever feel would likewise be in the realm of her dreams for her mutation, both a blessing and curse, prevented her ever having skin-on-skin contact with another living thing.

Pulling her knees up to her chest and hugging them tightly, she let the tears flow. Several minutes later, still sniffling, she pulled her robe on over her ankle length nightdress and made her way to the window, which she opened wide before flying out into the night. As always when these dreams plagued her sleep she went to the one place she was sure to find peace - the roof of the mansion.

Up here she admired the beautiful night sky for a time, gazing wistfully at the rolling clouds which encircled the full, bright moon. Sliding off her robe and hitching her nightdress up just above her knees, she settled herself on the edge of the roof, her feet dangling over the brink into oblivion.

Most people would have shrunk away from the chilly night breeze, but for Rogue it was comforting, a soft touch on her skin that for once wasn't her own or concealed by a glove. Closing her eyes, Rogue let the cool night air wash over her, so many gentle fingers stroking her hot flesh, calming the fire within.

Breathing deeply, she let her mind wander. What she wouldn't give to be able to go down there now and re-enact her dream for real with the French talking, dark-haired, card-lover that had stolen her heart. She knew the Cajun shared her… lust. She refused to call it love, love was too painful a notion, too beautiful a concept to be forever denied…

Somewhere in the distance, under the cover of trees, two bright, glowing eyes were watching the Goddess on the roof. The lust in his eyes was indisputable, as was the sadness that resided alongside it. It pained him that the two of them had to deny their feelings, that their love for one another would never be expressed. He would give anything to relieve that beauty of her burden, just for one night. One night would be all he needed to satiate that exquisite beast…

Watching her up there, all alone, was making him angry. Snarling, he punched ineffectually at a towering beech tree, resisting the urge to use his powers, knowing the resulting blast would alert Rogue to his presence and renew her anguish. Turning sharply, his long coat whipping around behind him, he stalked off into the darkness to be alone with his fury.

Up on the roof, the cool night air had done its job. Just as the mutant known as Gambit was sloping away to deal with his mounting rage, Rogue's own anger had ebbed away, blown off into the distance by the same gentle wind that had cooled her flesh and subdued her passion.

Remy may never be able to touch her, to caress her skin, but she always had the breeze…