Title: At The Crossroads
Series: End of the Road
Author: Karen
Disclaimer: Sara, Ethan, Hayley and the Abbott's are my creations, but everyone else belongs to Marvel.
Summary: Logan continues to date Hayley and even manages to be the quintessential gentleman with her, but is unable to suppress his baser instincts – which invariably leads him into all kinds of trouble when he finds someone willing to be his secret concubine.
This 3-chapter part of the series picks up right after "Logan's Little Zoocapades".
Author's notes: As this is part of the "End of the Road" series, I just wanted to remind everyone that Marie and Scott both wear suppression bracelets, which is how Marie can touch people without draining them and Scott doesn't need to wear the ruby glasses. (Although he does still need the visor on missions to control the force of the beams)
Chapter One: Random Acts Of Grrrr
Logan walked into the kitchen the morning after the disastrous trip to the zoo and Marie did a double take at the sight of his clean-shaven face.
"A donkey ate one side, so I had to shave it all off just to even it up," he offered in way of explanation before she had a chance to ask.
"Oh," Marie replied, a smile tugging at her mouth, "Well, it's a good look on you."
Inwardly Logan was thrilled that she'd had that response, but outwardly he just shrugged nonchalantly.
Marie then informed him that she'd acquired two extra tickets for the ballet as a 'thank you' to him and Hayley for taking Sara to the zoo.
"The ballet?" Logan sputtered, "A case of Molson's would've worked."
"Well, I think Hayley would prefer sipping champagne at the ballet to slugging back a beer on the patio," Marie said, then added, "Anyway, don't you wanna show her how stylish you look in a tux?"
"A tux?" Logan choked out this time.
Marie nodded affirmatively and Logan swore she had a glint in her eyes.
"Oh, no – you're not getting me in a penguin suit – uh uh," he said with a firm shake of his head.
"Scott'll be in one," Marie offered.
"Scooter was born wearing one," Logan replied.
"Oh, he was not," she said with a roll of her eyes.
Just then Scott entered the kitchen, poured himself a mug of coffee and then turning to Logan said with a smirk, "I hear you and Hayley are joining us at the ballet on Saturday?"
"I haven't said 'yes' yet," Logan huffed.
"Oh, I've already spoken to Hayley and she loves the idea," Marie said.
"What? You should've asked me first."
"You should learn to pry yourself out of bed a little earlier and then you might have a say in the decisions around here. Besides, I had to mention it to Hayley now, she needs time to shop for a dress," Marie said with an air of finality.
Passing Logan on his way out of the kitchen, Scott patted him on the side of his arm and said, "Give it up, Logan – you'll find it's a lot easier if you don't fight these things."
"Ah, the battle-cry of the truly whipped."
"Yeah, and as president of the local chapter of 'Whipped Men', let me be the first to welcome you to the club," Scott said with a laugh – then noticing the glare he was getting from Marie, added, "Gotta go." And then wisely made himself scarce.
Logan turned back to Marie ready to protest some more, but she dismissed him with, "You have a self-defense class that you're now late for," she said as she pointed at the clock on the wall, "So you don't have time to stand here trying to weasel your way out of it. You're going. End of discussion."
Logan muttered something under his breath that sounded like "Bossy" and stomped out of the kitchen in defeat.
When Logan returned to the kitchen at lunchtime to fix himself a sandwich he found Scott and Marie already in there fixing their own lunch, and Lord help him, making out like a couple of horny teenagers. Marie had eaten a baby carrot that had been dunked into some ranch dressing, but she still had a tiny smear of it on the corner of her mouth, which Scott leaned over and licked off. She then took her finger, dipped it into the dressing, smeared a smidgen on Scott's lips and then proceeded to reciprocate by licking it off of him, which turned into a heated kiss.
"Christ you two, get a room," Logan snapped, irritated by the sensual display.
"What a good idea," Scott said as he lifted Marie up and tossed her over his shoulder as she let out a squeak.
"Well, it is noon," Marie giggled as Scott walked them out of the kitchen.
Logan rolled his eyes, but waited until they were gone before slamming his fist onto the marble counter. He'd never get used to seeing them together, especially acting like that, even if they all lived under the same roof for the next several decades. And now Scott was taking Marie back to their room to do God knows what to her and it had been his idea. Obviously he knew they did things, but he didn't have to encourage them. God he was such a dumbass at times.
After polishing off some leftover chicken and two beers Logan decided to go work off some of his frustrations in the Danger Room, where he could at least pummel a holographic Scott if he couldn't get his hands around the throat of the real thing. He went upstairs to change and had to pass Scott and Marie's suite on the way to his own. His heightened senses picked up the distinct sound of Marie moaning in the throes of ecstasy and he torturously lingered within earshot. He closed his eyes against the fantasy of kicking in the door, yanking Scott off of her, tossing him out the window and replacing him in the bed. Marie crying out Scott's name as she climaxed snapped him right out of the daydream. He practically ran back to his room, quickly changed into a pair of sweats, foregoing the shirt, and went down to the Danger Room where he fiercely pounded poor holographic Scott into a pulp.
Later as he was pulling a bottle of water out of the refrigerator Marie came bouncing into the kitchen. She looked and smelled like she'd just been fucked hard. Logan stepped aside to let her pull a jug of ice tea out of the fridge and even though he tried to ignore it, he could smell Scott's scent all over her. He fought the urge to clear off the counter, throw her down on it and mark her with his own scent. It didn't help when she squeezed past him and her breasts, barely contained in the thin tank top she was wearing, brushed against his bare torso. He let out a low growl as the brief contact made him hard. She went over to the glassware cabinet and was straining to reach a glass on one of the upper shelves, so he moved in behind her and reached up to retrieve it, pinning her between his bare chest and the countertop in the process. He handed her the glass, but didn't move away and knew she could feel his erection pressed into the small of her back. Expecting a horrified reaction to his overt action, he was stunned when she simply let out a low sigh as she poured the tea into the glass. Bolstered by what he viewed as a positive sign, he reached around her and brazenly cupped her breasts, which immediately earned him an elbow in the ribs.
"What the hell was that?" Marie demanded as she scrambled away from him, now displaying the reaction he'd expected moments ago.
"I thought…." Logan began.
"Well, you thought wrong," Marie snapped as she snatched up her glass of ice tea and marched out of the kitchen, leaving him standing there with a hard-on and a completely perplexed expression.
Logan returned to his room and yanked off his sweats. He flopped down onto the bed, closed his eyes and began stroking himself. He tried to conjure up an image of Hayley, but a certain brunette with platinum streaks shimmied before him instead. He sat up and opened his nightstand drawer to dig out one of the photographs of Hayley that he'd snapped last week when they'd gone to the park for a picnic. He was hoping that a tangible image would help him to focus on the one he could actually have, as opposed to the one he really wanted. As he rummaged through the small stack of photos he came across one of Marie that he'd taken out of one of the numerous albums in the rec room. It was a close-up shot, her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail and she wore a dreamy, almost wistful expression. Her white v-neck top displayed only the slightest hint of cleavage. He'd had his choice of several, sexier poses of her in clothing that revealed a lot more now-touchable skin, but this particular one had captivated him. It had a far more sensual quality to it than the ones that were more blatant, so he'd stealthily removed it from the album - rearranging the remaining photos on the page so that it wouldn't be too obvious that one was missing.
He closed the drawer, having chosen the picture of Marie instead of one of Hayley and tried not to dwell on the magnitude of that significance. He closed his eyes as he sought to remember her scent – vanilla, always overlaid with a slight hint of arousal – or was that just wishful thinking on his part? The memories of the intoxicating fragrance that was uniquely Marie came to him easily, but then so did how she'd been thickly enveloped in the scent of that jerk she was sleeping with instead of him and it was enough to bring a screeching halt to his fantasy. It also caused his erection to deflate. Frustrated, he opened the drawer and tossed the photo back in.
Deciding to go back down to the kitchen and crack open the new twelve pack of Molson's that was calling his name, he pulled his sweats back on for the trip, but opted not to bother with a shirt. He yanked open his door, stepped into the hallway and slammed straight into Jubilee – knocking her over.
"Sorry, Jubes," he said as reached down to the young woman who was lying spread-eagled on the polished wood floor.
Then it hit him with all the subtle force of a herd of stampeding elephants. Jubilee was 'in heat' and the aroma she was producing was making the animal in him, that part that always seemed to be lurking just below the surface, crazy with renewed lust. He lifted her up, pushed her against the wall and pressed himself into her, burying his face against her neck. Startled by his actions, Jubilee froze, unsure of exactly what to do in this particular situation. How does one handle an obviously aroused Wolverine? A low growl followed by a long slide of his tongue over her pulse point caused a flush of arousal in her. Her panties dampened and he immediately noted her scent had become even stronger. Jubilee was able to move her legs to wrap them around him as he rocked his pelvis into her hard enough for her to detect his erection. He flicked his thumb over one nipple and she gave a low throaty moan.
Kitty happening upon them and exclaiming, "What the hell?" broke them both out of the lust-induced fog they were in. Logan released his grip and Jubilee slid back down to the floor – readjusting her pale lemon-colored skirt that had ridden up.
With a cursory snarl, an embarrassed Logan wordlessly took off down the hallway.
"What was that about?" Kitty asked a flushed Jubilee.
"I have no idea, Kit Kat, but I sure as hell enjoyed it," she replied as she watched Logan's rapidly retreating ~ and damn fine ~ rear end.
"I always thought we'd find him with Marie pinned to the wall, not you," Kitty said.
When Logan finally reached the kitchen he quickly retrieved the case of beer from the fridge and headed for the patio – one bottle already drained by the time he stepped outside. Bobby was sitting on the steps leading down to the garden and at the sight of the resident badass heading in his direction he almost swallowed the cigarette he'd been sneaking. He dropped the cigarette, ground it out with the toe of his sneaker and kept his foot over the crushed stub.
"I know you smoke, icicle," Logan informed him as he parked himself next to Bobby.
Logan held out a bottle to Bobby, who accepted the offering with a questioning look.
"If I give you one, then it's okay. I just get pissed off when you and flameboy dip inta my stash without asking," Logan explained before draining his second bottle and reaching for a third.
"Thanks," Bobby managed to say as he took his first tentative sip, expecting Logan to change his mind about sharing and snatch the bottle away from him.
When it became apparent that wasn't going to happen, Bobby relaxed slightly and took a long slug this time.
"Smooth," he commented, and then let out a noisy belch.
"Yeah, too bad you're not," Logan chuckled as he handed him a second bottle and finished his third.
"So," Bobby said regarding his new drinking buddy, "Wanna go into town and pick up a couple of loose women?"
"Only two? What are you gonna do, watch?"
From the look on Logan's face Bobby couldn't tell if he was joking or not. Taking into consideration Logan's sexual history, Bobby figured he probably wasn't kidding, but he laughed anyway.
"If you could have any woman in the mansion, who would you pick?" Logan asked.
"You mean *have* - like as in sexually?"
"No, to do your fucking laundry. Of course I meant sexually."
"Are we talking about fucking or making love?" Bobby asked for clarification.
"Oh right, there's supposed to be a difference," Logan said with a smirk.
"Well, I suppose if we're talking about making love, I kinda like that new girl Jenn. For straight out scrape-yourself-off-the-ceiling-afterward fucking, I'd have to go with Ororo."
"You get a woody over 'Ro? That's interesting," Logan said as he drained his fourth bottle and reached for another one.
"No need to ask who you fantasize about nailing – that's the worst kept secret around here," Bobby said, his bravery fueled by the buzz from the two beers.
Then he shot a glance towards Logan, expecting the larger man to release a claw and hack off a limb for that comment.
"I think maybe that's why I haven't been pushing it with Hayley," Logan said quietly.
Bobby was greatly consoled that he was going to end the afternoon intact, but he wasn't prepared to deal with 'confessions of the Wolverine' and couldn't think of an appropriate response, so he simply nodded and let out a small "Hmmm."
Just then Logan slapped Bobby on the back and said, "But why am I talking to you about my sex life? I'd have better luck getting decent advice from the Pope."
"Good one, Logan," Bobby replied, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.
Standing up, he told Logan that he had to go because he'd promised to help Jean balance her checkbook. He knew the excuse was a weak one, but was relieved when Logan bought it and dismissed him with a beer bottle salute. Bobby turned and quickly went back into the house before Logan changed his mind and laid out his problems or worse, detailed his sex dreams. He, along with everyone else in the mansion, knew about Logan's obsession with Marie, but he really didn't need to hear any of the man's fantasies about her. After all, if he could keep his desire for the beautiful Southern belle firmly in check ever since she'd chosen Scott, then so could Logan.
In a mansion overflowing with gorgeous women, the very-married Marie was still number one on most of his friends 'Women I'd Like To Do' lists. Amazingly, even having two children hadn't bumped her down their lists a few notches. John now jokingly referred to her as a M.I.L.F. – but never in front of Scott or anyone else who'd ever tell him. Scott worked them all hard enough in the Danger Room sessions as it was without punishing them for having crude thoughts about his wife. So they all cleverly kept quiet about Marie's status as the East Wing's choice for 'Walking Wet Dream' and let Scott think that Logan was the only one who wet himself over her. The only thing that irritated the Fearless Leader as much, if not more than Logan's not always subtle actions towards Marie, was his attempts to muscle in on Scott's parental territory. Bobby had been surprised when Logan had managed to convince Scott and Marie to let him take Sara to the zoo the day before. Of course, he'd heard that Logan was now obligated to go to the ballet under the guise of a 'thank you' gesture. Scott was beginning to get sneaky in his dealings with Logan.
The next day Logan found himself dragged to the mall to buy a tuxedo, because as Scott informed him – every man should own one. Logan's reply to that comment earned him a suggestion that he should make an effort to come up with responses that were a little bit more original than simply giving 'the claw'. The only bright spot in the whole potentially miserable mall expedition was that it was Marie who was doing the dragging. Logan trusted her to make sure that if he had to dress like a penguin that at least he'd be a stylish penguin – after all, she dressed Scott everyday and he always looked like he'd just come from a GQ photo shoot.
At the formalwear shop the flamboyantly gay sales assistant just about wet himself helping fit Logan for his tux. To Marie's amusement and Logan's annoyance, Jon-Pierre got flustered and took an inordinate amount of time measuring Logan's inseam. The little warning growls that Logan aimed at the hapless clerk just seemed to get him more excited. Marie thought the poor man was going to be tossed through the storefront window if he *accidentally* brushed his hand over Logan's crotch one more time. By the time he had to measure Logan's chest, he was shaking too badly to hold the tape measure, so Marie had to do it. Logan couldn't suppress a grin as Marie looped the measuring device under his arms and around his body. She read the number off to Jon-Pierre and then let her fingers brush over his pecs in what Logan swore was a caress. He flicked her a raised eyebrow and she flashed him a warm smile that did something to certain parts that made him glad Jon-Pierre had finished being up-close-and-personal with that particular area.
After picking out a shirt, tie and even new shoes – as apparently boots were a 'no' with a tux – and given instructions to pick up the altered tux after 2pm the next day, they were finally done. Logan had survived the ordeal with his manhood more or less intact.
They stopped at the food court to eat lunch and Logan had to chastise himself as he watched Marie eat her sandwich and imagined putting something else in that pouty mouth. Not wanting his time with her to end just yet, on the way back to the car he asked her if there was anywhere else she wanted to go while they were already out.
Marie pursed her lips together and wrinkled her forehead in thought before replying, "We could go to a motel and you could put that hard-on you've been sporting to good use."
Logan's mouth dropped open in shock and then realized she was just yanking his chain and asked, "Didn't your mother ever teach you it's not a good idea to tease animals?"
She stood on her tiptoes, brushed a kiss against his mouth and said, "Who's teasing?"
"Marie!" Logan growled softly before hauling her against him and leaning down to cover her luscious mouth with his own.
Instead of shoving him away in horror as he'd expected, she parted her lips and he sunk his tongue into the warm moist cavern of her mouth.
When they finally parted to catch their breath, he gave her a questioning look.
"A smart man wouldn't spend a lot of time speculating about the situation," she said huskily.
Logan may be many things, but stupid when it comes to a beautiful woman offering herself to him wasn't one of them. He wanted to get her into a motel room, stripped naked and under him before whatever medication she'd apparently taken had had a chance to wear off.
They headed towards a motel that was conveniently across from the mall and Logan was anticipating that at any moment now she'd slap him on the back, call him a pervert and inform him that she'd just been kidding. They checked in and she still hadn't run off laughing maniacally at his gullibility. When they got into the room and closed the door he wondered just how far she was going to go with this little joke before she pulled the rug out from under him and left in an indignant huff. She placed her purse on the dresser and turning to him, flashed a seductive smile. He decided to play along and in one fluid motion stripped off his black t-shirt and then reached for the little pearl buttons on Marie's white sweater. One button undone, now two and then three - and still no protest or swatting away of his hands. He finished unbuttoning the sweater and spread the fabric apart to reveal creamy breasts that were barely contained in a white lacy bra. Marie shrugged out of the sweater and let it drop to the floor as he reached for the button on the waistband of her jeans.
"You first," Marie said as she kicked off her sandals.
Okay, so that was the plan – to get him naked and then leave him standing there, bare-assed and humiliated. Fine, but she was going to get a good look at what she'd be missing. He removed his boots and socks then unbuttoned, unzipped and let his jeans drop to the carpet – and as he'd gone commando he was now standing there with a pool of denim around his ankles and displaying an impressive erection. Marie's gaze zeroed in on the target area and her eyes snapped wide open. Logan grinned triumphantly and figured that now she'd call an end to this little game. He wasn't expecting her to lick her lips. He stepped out of the jeans and then took a step towards her, determined to call her bluff. This time when he reached for the button on her jeans she didn't stop him. He pulled them down her slims hips and helped her step out of them – leaving her in just the lacy bra and matching thong. Despite the arousal he smelled coming off of her in waves, Logan was still expecting her to bring a halt to all of this at any moment now. When she popped open the front clasp of the bra and let her breasts spill out he decided that he'd have to terminate this himself or she'd end up raped when she did finally try to stop him.
The bra hit the floor and Logan temporarily lost his train of thought. He glanced down at her rosy-tipped breasts and thought maybe just one quick lick across each nipple before he voluntarily walked away. After all, he should get something out of all this teasing. He leaned down, circled one nipple with his tongue and gave it a light suck before doing the same to its twin. Marie let out a breathy moan. He smelled her arousal kick up a notch and debated on whether or not to investigate just how wet she was by this time. As her hands explored his chest and combed through the crisp dark hair he hooked his fingers into the edge of the damp thong and then began pushing it down – brushing his hands over the smooth cheeks of her nicely rounded little ass in the process. The thong dropped to the floor and she stepped out of it as she dropped a kiss on his chest just above his heart.
He took a hold of her by the upper arms and pushed her back a step away from him.
"Marie, this has been real fun, but the game is over," he said, deciding he should be awarded a medal for the kind of restraint he'd managed to muster up despite the almost overwhelming urge to claim her.
"I told you I'm not playing with you, Logan. What do I have to do to convince you?" she said in a breathy voice that made his dick even harder.
'Lay down and spread your legs.' Logan was sorely tempted to say, but swallowed hard before quietly replying, "Enough, Marie."
"Don't you wanna make love to me?" she asked, despite the prominent erection that left no doubt as to exactly what he wanted.
"You know I do," he answered in a defeated tone. If she was dragging this out just to wrangle a confession out of him, then so be it – she'd won. Now she could go back to the mansion and share a good laugh with Kitty and Jubilee about what a pathetic idiot he was.
Instead of the triumphant response he'd expected, she stepped closer to him and pulled his head down towards her. The next thing Logan knew he had his mouth crushed against hers and they were devouring each other in a hungry kiss.
When they parted Marie warned, "If you even think about accidentally-on-purpose letting Scott find out about this, it will never happen again."
Again? Holy shit, did she just say ' again'?
Logan mumbled a promise before descending on her mouth once more as he lifted her up and carried her over to the bed. He laid her down gently and then gazed at her lying there – her hair fanned out around her and looking flushed and ready for him. This was why he hadn't pushed it with Hayley; because he hadn't wanted to insult her by pretending she was someone else. He'd have to keep dating her, of course, to cover his affair with Marie, and probably eventually sleep with her – but he was pretty sure that Marie was going to continue having sex with Scott, so she'd hardly be in any position to protest if occasionally he was in another woman's bed.
Okay, dumbass, quit thinking and concentrate on the fact that you're about to make love to your dream girl.
Logan moved over Marie, nudged her legs apart, and deciding to give her a 'preview of things to come' orgasm, he lowered his face to the juncture between her thighs and began to lick at her. She was apparently more far-gone than he'd initially realized because it didn't take long before she came in a little gush of sweet-tasting wetness. While Logan was eager to get to the 'good stuff' he did take the time to explore her body with his mouth – peppering her with little moist kisses everywhere as she wriggled beneath him. He thought he was going to explode from the sheer happiness of it all and his body was literally humming as he moved into position to finally penetrate her.
"I love you, Marie – I always have," he confessed as he slid home.
"I've always loved you too, Logan," Marie declared as she wrapped her legs around him, her nipples pebbling as his chest hair brushed over them.
Logan threaded his finger through her silky hair and showered her neck with kisses as he began to pump into her in long, slow strokes. She raised her hips to meet each deliberate thrust and moaned softly, which made him determined to repeat this with her as often as possible. He tried concentrating, not wanting to finish quickly like some overeager teenager. His mouth sought hers and he thrust his tongue into it, as lower down his cock imitated the same action deep inside of her. Then his mouth returned to the pulse point on her neck and he sucked on it gently until he left a little bruise. He already knew that Marie was a 'moaner', but it was something else to know that he was the reason for the breathy little noises coming from her right now. She combed her fingers through his hair as she ran her tongue along his currently smooth jawline up to his ear.
"Mmmm, you taste so good," she whispered before sucking his earlobe into her mouth and nibbling on it.
Logan hadn't realized until now that his earlobe was an erogenous zone and he had to will himself not to explode into her as she continued to nibble on it. He thrust into her a little harder and although he didn't want it to end, he knew his control was hanging by a thread. Marie's control gave out before his and she came, crying out his name and bathing his cock in her juices as she did. The smell of her surrender finally pushed Logan over the edge and with a final deep thrust he spilled himself into her.
"Logan," she sighed contently. Then she repeated his name, only it wasn't a sigh this time.
"Logan!"
Logan snapped his eyes open and stared across the table at Marie.
"Have you even heard a word I've said?" she asked.
"Huh? What?"
They were still sitting in the food court and he'd apparently drifted off into an erotic daydream. Well, at least they'd 'finished' this time – usually his dreams about her got cruelly interrupted before they'd gotten to that point.
"I said I won't be going home with you. Hayley's meeting me here and we're gonna shop for new dresses. Then she'll just give me a ride home."
"So we're done?" he asked, his voice tinged with disappointment. No heated lovemaking at the Comfort Inn for him today.
"Uh huh. Unless you wanna accompany me to Victoria's Secret?"
A flash of Marie sauntering toward him in a sheer concoction flitted through his brain and his mouth turned up in a crooked little smile.
"Scott wants me to buy some garters and stockings."
And just like that Logan's bubble was burst. He wasn't about to help her pick out anything for Scott's entertainment. Not even if there was a possibility of her modeling the outfit for his opinion, which would actually make it worse – knowing he wouldn't be the one who'd get to take it off of her.
"Thanks, but I think I'll pass," he said as he stood up and prayed that his hard-on had subsided enough that it was no longer straining so obviously against the denim.
Down, boy. I know Marie's in the vicinity, but behave yourself.
Marie stood up as well and gathered their lunch plates to throw them away.
"I think Hayley's gonna be very impressed when she sees how handsome you look on Saturday night," she said, then added, "I know you're not thrilled about going to an event that doesn't involve bloodshed, but trust me this will make Hayley very happy. And in the end maybe you, too." She finished with a conspiratorial wink.
Logan's only response was just to give her an unenthusiastic half smile. Somehow it seemed inappropriate to discuss his potential chances of scoring with another woman with the woman he really wanted.
Just then the other woman in question came bouncing up to them.
"Hiya, stud," she addressed Logan as she threw her arms around him.
Logan tried to fend off her attempt to give him a passionate kiss, but soon found himself participating in a rather heated display of affection. When they finally broke apart he glanced over at Marie to see if he could detect any hint of jealousy and was mildly disappointed when he couldn't. Mumbling a quick goodbye, he turned and headed toward the exit.
"I hate to see him leave, but I sure like to watch him walk away. God, that man has the finest ass I've ever seen," Hayley said with a sigh.
Tamping down the urge to comment on any part of Logan's anatomy, Marie asked, "So, are you ready to go shopping?"
"I have a brand new credit card that's just begging to be broken in," Hayley replied as she patted her purse.
"Perfect," Marie said as they headed out of the food court.
