We got to the hotel in no time. Bobby and Kitty hurried off, chattin' so nervously it was obvious what they were up to. He reached for her arm, sort of touched her then saw me watchin' and let go like he'd been stung by something. They kind of bounced off each other, far enough apart to put a good look on it, never too far though. St John lingered, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, his eyes narrowed.
"You sure she's all right? She looks like she's going to fall over," he remarked as I helped Rogue slide out of the seat. She'd almost fallen asleep during the ride, but she'd woken right up again, cheery and bleary and her bare hands reaching out for either of us. "Here, I can help her back to her room."
I gave him a look that warned him off, so harsh that he took a step back. "Sure you will, bub. No, I've got 'er. Do me a favor, will you? Singe the ice cube's hair when you see him next."
He looked confused for a moment, and blinked, unsure what I meant. Then he nodded and uttered a harsh laugh that sounded strained. "Oh, you mean Bobby? Yeah." He glanced down at Rogue, who beamed up at him, her eyes slitted. "He's a fucking bastard for what he's doing to her. She loves him. I don't know what she sees in him, but she loves him, and he's flirting with Kitty and on the make for every other available girl, mutant or not." He gave sort of a shudder, like the idea of a non-mutant girl disgusted him. I knew why, or could guess anyway. Some mutants have it easy; they grow up in great homes with parents who understand them or at least give it a try, but not Pyro. Nobody really knows his history, 'cept he doesn't have family like Bobby did up in Boston, and he'd been hurt by some prejudiced types along the way. Of course, the time he spent with Magneto couldn't have helped.
"He doesn't know what he's got right here," I said, squeezing Rogue a little tighter. "All right, kid, better get you off to bed. Hey, Johnny, you check in with Storm for me, will you? Let her know we got back all right, no trouble, and we'll go with Chuck to the courthouse in the morning if he needs us. I'm gonna drop Rogue off and turn in myself."
"Yeah, okay. G'night Rogue."
"Night Johnny," she sort of sighed, eyes closed. She was falling asleep again, drifting on her feet, so I pulled her a little closer and then gave up the pretense as St John disappeared and just picked her up. She settled easy into my arms like she was comfortable there, and it felt right. With one hand she touched my hair and kind of smiled, then she was still.
I got her to her room and put her down on the bed, nice and easy. I got her shoes off of her feet no problem, but then I stood back for a couple of minutes, debating whether I ought to try and wake her up so she could dress herself, or if I should do it. Course I wasn't modest or afraid; I've seen more naked women than I can count, but this was Rogue. If she looked a little older, radiated sexuality like a conquest, she was still my little Marie, the kid. I'd never laid a finger on her in lust. Well, maybe that isn't wholly true. I'd desired her before, or let the thought work it's way into a cozy corner of my mind, but I'd never tried anything. The most I did was hug her a little too tight, or shift at the right moment when she passed in the halls so our bodies might brush.
She saved me the trouble of deciding what to do when she opened her eyes. "Hey," she whispered, drunk and somber, half asleep. "Can you hand me that nightgown out of my suitcase?"
"Yeah." I tossed over the scrap of fabric. "Want me to leave?"
"No, no, just turn your back while I change, okay?"
I turned, but I could still see her reflection in the mirror directly in front of me, and like any red blooded man I stood still and watched, my eyes getting big as she lifted up her shirt, exposing a cream colored bra that she unsnapped easy as anything. Wriggling around, she slid out of her uniform pants and threw them onto the floor. Her hair got in her eyes and she brushed it out of the way absently, pulling on the pajamas.
"You can look now."
Slumped back against the pillow in a little piece of white cotton, she looked unbelievable. Her lips were real red, but not from lipstick. There was nothing artificial, not a hint of makeup, just the ghost of her perfume left, barely detectable. Her eyes were shining deep brown and curious but sort of happy too, sparkling a little, and her hair fell over her shoulders, mostly brown except for the pale streak.
"God, kid," I kind of breathed out. I caught myself though, caged the beast. "You look really pretty," I said, like something one of those boys she was friends with would say, kind of timid like too. I couldn't tell her she was gorgeous, that I wanted her, that my blood sang songs of lust dedicated to her in that moment. My gaze dropped to the floor as though I was shy to look at her, and she sort of smiled and patted the spot beside her on the bed.
"Stay a few minutes, okay, Logan?"
"Yeah, all right, kid." I sat down on the bed beside her, just on the edge so not to spook her. My body was givin' off all kinds of scent, but she didn't have my senses so she probably couldn't tell, might just be reading the faint scent of musk in the air that hovered between us.
"Are you angry?" she asked after a couple of seconds. I must have shown confusion on my face, because she shrugged a little and picked at an imaginary speck of lint before saying, "about me kissing you, I mean? I probably shouldn't have." Her gaze dropped so she was staring at the blanket instead of at me. "I've really wanted for a long time and I guess I didn't think it through. Having this control -- I should've waited."
Reaching for her hand, I slid over a little closer. "Are you kidding? It was great. Look, kid, don't worry about stuff like that. I get it, you wanted to know what it was like, now you know. Hope I haven't ruined it for you," I added, jokingly to cheer her up. "It's been a while for me."
Her face burned red, her cheeks blushing hot. "I thought you were really good. Actually, it was better than I thought it would be."
She was radiating heat off her body, just beggin' for me to get a little closer, so I did. I draped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her against my body, feeling a rush of intoxication like the whiskey's I'd had back at the bar had finally kicked in. "Good enough that you might want to try it again? We've got ourselves some privacy now."
Her dark eyes shone as she looked up at me, her somber mood gone and replaced with nervous apprehension and excitement. Delicately, she reached up one hand and placed it, palm flat, against my cheek. The warmth of her body made me close my eyes for a minute, just 'cause it felt so good, and before she could answer me one way or the other, I leaned forward and kissed her.
It started out rough. I caught a fistful of her hair to guide her, and because I thought her modesty might get the best of her and make her pull away now that she was a bit more sober. I licked her mouth and she parted her lips slowly, yielding to me as my tongue slipped past her lips and caught her taste. She raked her fingernails down my back, sharp, just the way I like it, and the heat of her breath billowed against my neck.
Somehow, we ended up horizontal. I leaned her back, letting her relax under me, and my hand slid into the cotton nightgown, craving the feel of her. My mind was howling, rejoicing at my ability to touch her now, after so many months of gloves and long sleeves. Truth was, I would've risked her power for a kiss, but she'd have felt so guilty after I couldn't make myself do it. She kissed me back, tentative at first and then warming up, her hands going under my shirt and caressing the skin of my back.
"You need me to stop?" I asked her, because despite the Wolverine howling and urging me on, I managed to remember that she was Rogue and that she wasn't ready, probably.
She shook her head. "No." As if to prove her point, she arched her hips beneath me, rubbing against my erection, and her fingers fumbled around my belt buckle, looking for a way to undo it.
I kissed her neck and her shoulder, giving her an affectionate nip with my teeth but being careful not to draw any blood from her. She pushed me away and I pulled back, thinking' she'd had enough and trying to figure out how I was going to make it through the night without her, but all she wanted was to slip out of the nightgown. She tried to sit up and lift the thing over her head, but I grabbed a handful and tore it off of her. It got dropped carelessly on the floor and my shirt joined it a moment later.
While she writhed underneath me, I kissed her all over, pausing to lick her throat like a predator. I could feel the subtle rhythm of her pulse beneath her skin and it made me crazy. My hands roamed her body and I let her touch me back, letting her explore my body. It was all unfamiliar to her, and she seemed curious but also urgent, batting those eyelashes at me.
"When are you gonna take this off, sugar?" she asked sweetly, tapping the belt buckle.
"You want it off, you got it off," I told her, and unhooked it quickly, tossing the belt aside. I kicked off my jeans and kissed her real hard, then I slid myself against her, letting her feel my arousal. She shuddered underneath me and kissed me back, following my lead. I could feel the dampness of her body. There was a thin sheen of sweat covering her skin, and her panties were soaked. I caught hold of the panties and ripped them right off, causing her to gasp in surprise before grinding against me.
Her hair stuck to her forehead and she brushed it aside, touching my face again. "Logan," she whispered, making me shiver. I'd never made love to a woman, never slept with a woman who knew my name. It was different with Rogue than with anyone else. I sort of marveled as I looked her over; this was Rogue, who I protected, who I loved, so much better than a faceless fuck I'd met in a bar. I felt kinda unworthy as she stared up at me, warm and welcoming.
"You sure you want this, kid?"
"Definitely," she said, and her fingers slid down to my hip to prove it.
She didn't have to ask twice. Poised over her, I took a good look at her face, drinking in the sight of her eyes half closed, her hair in glossy tangles, her cheeks pink. Then I took her, and she screamed and clutched me, and I went a little wild. With the sound of my name echoing in my ears, I grabbed her and bent to kiss her, finding a rhythm and guiding her hips so she joined me. Her breath came out in little startled bursts, and she opened her eyes for a minute, and they were all shiny and bright. Then she wrapped her arms around my neck, murmuring into my ear.
The Wolverine surfaced and I sped up some, making her cry out in a way that made me shiver. She wrapped her legs around my body, fusing us together so close I felt like I'd probably die when there was cold air around me again instead of her body heat. Keeping the pace, I licked her breasts and then kissed her again, making all sorts of promises and declarations. I lost my hold on consciousness as the Wolverine took over, and started seeing things in flashes: here, her bare stomach beneath my fingers; there her bucking against me, letting me go deeper inside her body. I kissed and nipped, holding her tight all the while like I was never going to let go. Finally, it was all over and I felt all my energy leave my body just for a few seconds. I slumped against her, holding her hand tight and kissing her still, even as her eyelids fluttered and she relaxed completely, already half asleep.
"Kid? Hey, kid -- Rogue," I amended real quick, because what we'd just done wasn't childish at all and I owed her that. "Are you okay?"
She nodded tiredly and smiled at me, closing her eyes. "Mmm, yeah, Logan, I'm great." She opened her eyes just for second and looked at me. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. I ought to be worshippin' at your feet," I answered back, and it wasn't a line. Despite her inexperience, she was the best I'd ever had. Our bodies had moved in a kind of harmony I hadn't ever known before, and it had been her, in a room suffused with her smell, with her voice callin' out. I shivered a little, looking at her. Her face was smooth, peaceful, her eyes closed again. Her hair was a halo of brown and she was just lyin' there without a stitch on, not even caring anymore. I was sort of moved by the miracle of her, and lustin' for her again already. I kept my hands off though, 'cause I could see she was worn out, so I settled for planting a kiss on her forehead and drawing back.
She sensed the movement of the mattress as I got up, and opened her eyes once more. "Where are you going?"
"Back to my room."
"Why?"
I had no answer for her, no answer I wanted to give anyway. In the past, when I'd slept with someone I'd met in a bar or at a fight, I'd always left right after. There had never been anyone I'd wanted to stay the night with; when the sex was done, I usually sauntered out for a beer and a bite to eat, or continued on my way, but not only couldn't I do that to Rogue, I didn't really want to go. I wanted to stay where she was, to watch over her, to feel her stir in the night, to fall asleep to her heartbeat and the sounds of her breathing.
"You want me to stay?"
She nodded a little. "Yeah, unless you've got someplace to go."
"I haven't got anything more important than you," I told her. I dropped the pair of jeans I'd been about to put on and switched off the lamp before crawling back into the bed. She slid over to give me room and let me hold her close so that her head rested on my chest. Within a few seconds, she was asleep. Her breathing took on a gentle rhythm and she laid still. I touched her hair for a while, sort of rubbed her back too, but pretty soon the alertness I've always known faded a little and I was able to fall asleep, with Rogue in my arms.
