Chapter 1

The blistering heat of the sun scorched her skin and cooked her brain. For someone who had to cover her skin up because otherwise it would be dangerous for everybody around her; this sizzling, brain-frying weather wasn't exactly a picnic.

Rogue was in need for a cool refuge, one where she could undo as much of her clothing as she needed to breathe in the so much desired coolness. Her damn gloves drove her crazy as well, what she wouldn't give to be *normal* right now…

Swimming wasn't an option in her opinion; she couldn't risk exposing her skin, no matter how much she wanted to be self-centred for once and just *take*that darn dive in the soothing, cool water.

She wondered what would be worse; her friends having to endure her penetrating sweaty scent, or the sight of the beads of sweat trickling down her face and neck, erupting spontaneously from her killer skin like boiling lava.

When the dip between her nose and upper lip had magically harboured a well which seemed to spout salt water only, she had left her room. Her disgusting sweat moustache was probably the result of her room being even stuffier and sultrier than it was outside.

Now she wandered the grounds outside, in search for that miraculous place that would enlighten her burden.

She only found temptation and disappointment however, in the form of her friends and fellow-students having a blast chasing each other around, scarcely clad in their bikinis, bathing suits and swimming trunks, near the Olympic size swimming pool.

Sounds of laughter, splashing water and screams, combined with the sights of wet-haired, relaxed, brightly coloured swimming attired as well as tanned fellow-students made her yearn so much to be normal for just *once*, her heart broke.

Wallowing in self-pity Rogue drifted away from the pool, ignoring the cries that were addressed to her. Cries that were meant to lure her into the pool and act as if there was nothing wrong with her skin. She didn't fall for them, if they *really* came from her friends; they wouldn't try to make her expose her treacherous skin around them.

SSSPLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!" Rogue screamed her longs out when sudden wetness soaked her clothing and hair. She shivered with coldness and anger, and looked up to see who had done this to her.

"You?!"

"Sorry, kid. Couldn't resist. You looked so flustered, I had to do *something* to get you to loose the outfit…"

Logan looked relaxed; he was holding a bucket with one hand and with the other hand he managed to draw on his cigar. He was dressed in nothing but skin-tight, black swimming trunks which looked like tight boxers and left nothing to wonder for Rogue's imagination.

Rogue was stupefied by the whole situation and the image that penetrated her brain now; firmly nesting it self somewhere where she had easy access to it and meanwhile assuring itself never, ever to be forgotten. His firm, tanned body, strained in his trunks probably made her drool just by looking at it, but she didn't care.

"You think this is funny, mister?" Rogue felt upset, not just because of her dripping wet hair that soaked onto the wet, heavy clothing that hung on her, but also because of the confusion and arousal building inside her.

'How can I be angry at Logan? Christ, just look at him!' Rogue thought feeling flustered.

He looked positively gorgeous, sending her right into mischievous daydreams with that body of his. The dampness of her clothes which weighed heavy on her shoulders, made her want to get naked even more...

"Just thought I'd do both of us a favour, that's all…" His gaze went over her body, following the outfit that seemed to be painted on her; accentuating her curves which stood out very well.

Rogue followed his stare down her body and discovered what he had meant by his remark. Not only did her clothes cling to her like a second skin; but her white T-shirt eagerly showed off her two greatest accessories; which in their turn showed Logan that either they were extremely cold, or that they thoroughly enjoyed his attention…

As if their forwardness and provocative-ness weren't enough, they were actually showing their true colours as well!

Hastily Rogue grabbed her T-shirt and tried to hold it out in front of her, to keep Logan's stare from wandering over her body too much. At the same time she cursed her self for not wearing a bra today, getting more and more embarrassed by the moment. Also she blamed the freaking hot weather of this morning for making her decide notto wear the restraining, sweaty bra.

Now look what it got her: Logan's undivided attention...

He seemed to be enjoying every wet inch of the scene he had created, which made Rogue become hotter and hotter again. Even her wet clothes didn't provide her with the necessary coolness now…

She trembled on her feet with the arousal that scorched her body, but she didn't like the smug look on his face. Taking advantage of his stare, she grabbed the bucket from his hand and ran for it in the direction of the pool. As quickly as she could, she filled the bucket up with the chlorine drenched water, and then turned around again to search for her victim.

He eyed her with a look of pure arrogance, like he didn't expect her to fulfil the simple task of showering him with the water. That look sent her over the edge! She ran for her target, determined to drench him like he had drenched her!

Unfortunately Logan seemed to have regained his senses and admitted his vulnerability by taking off. He led Rogue after him through the trees of the mansion's garden, dragging her further and further away from the noises and the crowdedness of the pool.

He ran towards the boathouse near the lake and Rogue persisted her chase after her prey, if anything she became more fanatic for every yard he ran away from their initial spot.

Her wet clothes hindered her movements, but she had her mind set on drenching that perfect body of his, thus becoming victorious. Even though the bucket's weight seemed to grow heavier with every step she took, and spilled so much water Rogue was afraid there wasn't gonna be anything left in the end…

Oblivious to the environment or the lack of people around them, Rogue chased Logan's powerfully built form. His muscled tightened and relaxed, showing their true form over and over again with every step he made, co-existing with every heartbeat of her craving heart.

Getting closer to his tightly wrapped up ass and bronzed body was gonna be reward enough she thought; the longer she tracked him.

He unleashed feelings in her that she had never experienced before. Sure, she always had had a soft spot for him, even a tiny crush; but the desire raging through her now, consuming the last bit of sanity inside her, was unknown to her.

'God help me, when I finally *do* get close to him…' Rogue was shocked by her own thoughts.

Logan disappeared around the corner of the boathouse, but was easy to follow because of the scent that his cigar left behind. Rogue approached the corner where she had last seen Logan and ran around it, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

Instead, she bumped into his lean, hard body with a painful bang; startled she dropped the bucket in the process of their collision. Every precious drop which was supposed to have led her to victory spilled over the boardwalk and seeped right through the boards into the eagerly awaiting lake.

Logan hastily stepped back, thus avoiding most of the water. Even though he had to have seen Rogue's reaction coming, he still dropped his cigar in the course of action.

"Crap!" Marie exclaimed, heart felt.

"Fuck!" Logan mourned the loss of his cigar.

"All that trouble for nothing…" Rogue's stare went from the bucket that had betrayed her after all this time, to the feet that were conspiring with it. Masculine feet that offered their support to masculine calves, which in their turn carried the weight of very muscular upper legs.

Those upper legs took her breath away, and she followed them until they disappeared in tight, *very tight*, black swimming trunks. The bulge she spotted in there caused her throat to feel as dry as sandpaper and made her swallow away something in her throat that wasn't there before.

That bulge couldn't be mistaken, nor could it be overlooked...

She could have sworn Logan was aroused, and it flushed her cheeks immediately. She wanted to stop staring at it, but she couldn't, no matter how hard she tried. The exertion she had put herself through, suddenly kicked in. She was panting like a maniac and her breath sounded ragged, while her ashamed thoughts made it even harder to breathe normally, "Christ! He's got a boner!"

"Marie, I'm over here…"

Logan's remark was all she needed to bring her back; flushed she tilted her head and gazed into his hazel eyes. Wondering whether or not he had noticed her lingering stare on his manhood seemed abundant, considering the remark he just made. The pleased smirk on his face made her skin crawl with embarrassment, questioning *his* sense of shame at the same time.

She had a hard time thinking straight, because of the lack of oxygen caused by her strain andthe feeling of being caught in the headlights like a dear, but she managed to ponder whether or not she should apologise for it. Instead she thought he had treated her with the same lack of respect!

"Let's call it even, sugar. You looked at my goodies, I looked at yours…"

"Still doin' it, darlin'." Logan replied dry but shamelessly honest.

"Is that why you're…eh…" Marie couldn't ask him if that was why he was aroused, she just couldn't. The blush that crept up her neck almost caused her head to explode with heat and forced her lips together. Hoping for a hole in the ground to swallow her now, she stared at her feet and was afraid that Logan wasn't gonna answer. Or maybe she was even more afraid that he *was* going to answer…

"Why I'm *what*, Marie?" Logan urged her to answer so persistent that Marie yammered.

Suddenly his hand touched her face right at the spot where it was surrounded by her wet, sticky hair; which created a safe spot in that manner for his hand to linger and draw her chin up.

Her fearful eyes met his provocative, darkened eyes. The depths of his eyes sent a shiver down her spine, making her fully aware again of the wet clothing clinging to her.

The effect of his stare soared through her entire body, but focussed mostly in her nipples which were immediately poking at him again, begging him to *please* release her from her misery.

She whimpered again, wishing she hadn't been so bold in the first place. Look what a mess she got herself into! She had to ask *this* man, the embodiment of divinity times a hundred, whether he was aroused by *her*…The embodiment of pathetic loneliness times life draining skin. He probably just teased her because he felt sorry for her…

"Why you're… aroused…" Marie mumbled and withdrew her chin from his hand so she could safely stare into the ground again, hoping it would finally open up for her.

She waited for his laugher to cut through her soul, or maybe even Wolverine's rage being unleashed on her, bur she heard nothing.

"You do turn me on, Marie," Logan's voice sounded hoarse.

Marie felt a flush creeping up her face again, forcing her eyes to stare even harder into the ground. 'He didn't just say that…he didn't…he didn't…' The words echoed through her head, every "didn't" was accompanied by a heartbeat.

Rapidly increasing its tempo, and with it the tempo of Marie's thoughts, her heart pounded so loud and hard, it plainly hurt. She felt that if it went on at this rate, it would thump its way up to her throat and out of her mouth so it could land in Logan's lap, where it seemingly desired to be. 'Cause it sure as hell *tried* to get there!

"You didn't just say that…did you?" Fearful eyes stared into Logan's, awaiting his verdict; nevertheless scared shitless for his answer.

Logan reacted by postponing his answer, then smirking a little; no doubt because he wallowed in the power he had over her pitiful being.

"So what if I *did* say it? Would it change things between us?"

"Cut the crap, Logan. Did you just say that I turn you on, or not?" Rogue was through being toyed with!

"How's this for an answer?" Logan grabbed her gloved hand and led it to his swimming trunks where he rested it on the bulge which had led to their conversation in the first place. It all happened so fast Rogue didn't get a chance to protest, she just felt what he was hiding under his trunks, shocked about his boldness.

Marie didn't have any experience with guys, but *that* definitely felt like an erection.

Its hardness confused her and turned her on beyond belief. The gesture Logan had made by grabbing her hand and putting it there scorched her skin and insides. Immediately her nipples

turned to two little rocks again and excitement raged through her entire body, boiling like hot lava.

Her eyes registered with disbelief what her hand was doing, but then she guided them up to

Logan again, seriously aroused and questioning. "So, Logan…Now what?"

"You tell me…"

"Is this the first time then?"

"Oh no, darlin'. I've been watching you a lot more lately…"

"Wow…" Marie didn't know how to feel about that. Her hand resting on his erection didn't improve the thinking progress at all.

Logan had been eyeing her some time already. Was he nothing but a creepy stalker? But it was what she had always wanted, wasn't it? For Logan to finally notice her...

And now the moment was here and her mind went blank. What to do? Give in? Risk their friendship? Risk his life in the process?

It seemed impossible…

"Logan…I…"

"Sssssshhh darlin'. Just follow me; I think I know what to do."

Logan just turned around, leaving Marie's hand to dangle in the open air, already craving and missing what it had just touched. She hesitated for a moment, but then she followed Logan into the boathouse; her curiosity seemingly stronger than her fear.

Stuffy air penetrated her nostrils; it wasn't exactly cool in there. Logan was uncovering a small rowing boat; his muscles were straining as he leaned forward; his tight butt rising in the air. Marie had to bite her lip to stop herself from screaming out loud at the sight of this much deliciousness.

Logan had finished showing off his Godly body by ending the jerking around of the cloth, and he stepped into the little boat. He thumped his hand beside him, thus beckoning Marie to join him. "Wanna come with me? We'll row up the lake a bit; maybe you can take a swim over there."

"But I don't have a bathing suit, silly!"

"I know, silly!" Logan imitated her girly word choice and arched his eyebrow.

It amazed Marie that that little gesture she had come to know so well, had different meanings every time. What amazed her more was that that little gesture turned her on beyond belief. Especially at this moment; it was so charged...

To be continued…