Chapter II

Nate's father, Scott Summers aka Cyclops, had been a founding member of the now infamous X-Men. Although the father/son relationship had always been a difficult one, Nate could've had his pick of any team: domestic, foreign, galactic or interdimensional. But Nate was his father's most vocal critic. He championed the orphans and widows created by Xavier's dream, and – following a vow of pacifism – became a doctor.

He left medical school with a mountain of student loan debt. Even on a doctor's salary, he'd be saddled with the financial burden all his life. Uncle Alex offered an easy out. If Nate worked four years as the resident MD for X-Force, the X-Men Corp would settle his loans. Luckily, X-Force worked mostly in mutant P.R. Nate and his co-workers never fired a shot. Consequently, he was able to pursue his passion in pediatric mutations.

The work was soul crushing. He watched dozens of beautiful, wonderful children die slow, horrible deaths. But he was convinced his efforts would found more fruitful endeavors. Presently, his kindness and expertise helped cushion the merciless blow of death.

Why else would he do it?

Current case required stabilization in a three-year-old pyrokinetic. In his lab, Nate set up multiple components and observed the chemical reactions. Dull, tedious stuff, really. Did nothing to purge Honor from his thoughts. At the end of the day, he went to his enormous, empty suite and read alone with his T.V. dinner.

This was the life he'd sought.

At seventeen, he'd contracted the terminal Legacy Virus, which transformed mutant flesh into dead steel. Half his body was ravaged; the other half struggled for life. His telekinesis gave him use of his metallic bits and kept the virus in check, but it was a losing battle. One day the virus would corrupt the part of his brain that controlled his mutation and he'd be toast. With no guarantee of seeing fifty, he'd shunned companionship, new friendships, and any thought of children. He wasn't unhappy. His life had great meaning… But Christ! Honor made everything look like shit in comparison!

He showered and climbed into bed around 11. Then, unable to sleep, he called her via telepathy.

'You awake?' he asked.

'Just getting ready for bed… We've got all three kids and of course, they're never tired.' She referred to her brother and sisters, who were just entering their teen years. Her father's children spent the school year in New York with their grandmother and migrated to New Orleans every summer. Her mother's child lived in New Orleans year-round.

'Just me and the fish,' Nate said. 'Nothing to keep me awake but you.'

'Nathan… I know what this is. Look, it was super-hot, but it was a one-time deal. That's the rule.'

'Since when do you follow rules?' he tried not to sound desperate.

She paused. 'I'll talk to Tess.'

'No,' he blurted. 'I don't want Tess. I want you. Sorry it took me so long to realize, but I love you. I'm in love with you. I know it complicates things, but I can't just be your friend. I love you, honey.'

'You love hot sex with me! I'm sorry you can't tell the difference! How dare you try to hold our friendship hostage? That's why it's one-and-done. Call me when you're sober.'

That had gone as badly as it could have. Shockingly, he didn't feel any worse. He expected to come to his senses in a couple days and realize her friendship was good enough, but it wasn't. She could never go back to being 'just' a friend, and he couldn't pretend that he didn't have feelings for her.

In the lab, he found a way to stabilize the volatile pyrokinesis. It wasn't a cure – not even close – but it was a remarkable breakthrough. He published his findings and awaited peer reviews. Meanwhile, he continued to monitor the long-term effects in a living specimen.

Uncle Alex pressured him to attend a charity ball to fund a mutant school. Principally, Nate and Alex were against segregation, but several mutant interest parties would be there; including Dr. Kao, creator of the so-called mutant cure. One vial from her and Nate would be free of his fatal virus. But being a mutant wasn't a genetic flaw. It was who he was. If the choice was conversion or death, then he would die in the name of intolerance like millions before him.

Everyone knew his story. By merely attending, he turned the theme from 'build a school' to 'save the freaks!'

At $1500 a ticket, he couldn't expect his team to tag along for moral support. He was pleasantly surprised – and then annoyed – to see Honor.

Time slowed for his Venus. Ruby gown: couture and tailored, no doubt. Nude stilettoes, exposed leg, plunging neck line that exposed no bra, and a curtain of strawberry blond hair that revealed a gotchya grin.

"What're you doing here?" he asked her. "You don't really support these people."

"Why not?" she smiled prettily. "I have three school aged siblings. If Zucker can offer more than Grey, I have a responsibility to be informed."

Espionage. He should've known.

"Bringing them home?" he asked.

"Yep. Two months flew by… What're you doing here?"

"Came to see you."

"Really?"

"No, not really. Tess with you?"

She looked miserable. "No. She's on a plane to Afghanistan. She'll be gone for a month."

He should've asked why, but he didn't really care. "Does she know about us?"

"Of course."

"Then she's either very foolish or very kind."

"Neither," she drained her champagne glass. "She's pragmatic."

Seamlessly, she returned to the sharks, armed only with her charm and wit. He'd lost the heart to fight. He thought he could live without her, but now that she was here, he knew better.

Disgusted and insecure, he isolated himself until the school's patron and ball's star – Allison Blaire – made her much-anticipated speech. Then he washed away unseen by her admirers. He'd heard rumors of her interest in politics and realized the appearance had been staged to test the climate. The White House was about to get a disco ball.

"Isn't it awful?" Honor said, leaning against the hood of his car. "Everyone's using everyone else."

"What're you using me for?"

"A ride, obviously."

"Cut the crap. You told me to beat it. Now you show up uninvited looking like a million bucks while your wife's away and start throwing innuendos at me?"

"…You think I look like a million bucks?"

"Are you blind or desperate for compliments? I'm not screwing around. What about us? You and me. I love you. I can't make love to you and pretend like it means nothing."

Her knees buckled and she fell into his arms. Her kisses said more mere words never could. She loved him. Every corrupted and complicated bit – she knew and loved.

Together, they stumbled into his car: a tangle of greedy kisses and roaming hands. She straddled him and pulled her gown up, but as much as he wanted her, he knew the car was a bad choice. Soon, the parking lot would be full of valets and patrons leaving. Plus, these quarters were much too cramped.

"Your place or mine?" he asked.

She groaned his name and put his hands on her breasts.

So fucking impatient, he thought, but massaged them while sucking her nipples. A flood warmed his crotch and his erection strained to meet her. Damn these unjust pieces of fabric that kept them apart! Again, she groaned his name and fisted his hair.

He heard voices approaching. Time to leave.

He threw her aside and peeled out. She watched him with a smile. Then, she reclined her seat and pulled her dress up over her hips. Her bouncy breasts were still exposed and she began to touch herself.

"People can see you," he warned.

"You can make them not."

"I can do more than that."

Using his telekinesis, he pinned her hands above her head and stimulated her erogenous zones. He built her up, then backed away. Again and again and again. Thoroughly enjoying himself, he decided to take the long route home, but she didn't notice. Finally, she was bucking and begging for release.

"Look at me," he said and she obeyed. "Come."

Her whole body arched and shook, and he watched her eyes turn misty and unfocused. Relaxed, she panted, but he kept her hands bound. Two fingers slid inside her cunt. Pleased with the way she gasped and jumped, he then shoved them in her mouth. She eagerly sucked her juices, rolling her tongue exquisitely.

Enough foreplay.

He didn't even park in a parking space. It was possible he'd jumped the curb.

"So this is X-Force HQ, huh?" she marveled.

He stood, tucked back his erection, and opened her door.

She emerged naked.

"Honor?!"

"No point dressing to undress," she smiled.

It was a huge turn-out watching her walk around naked in public. Of course, no one else could see her: his telepathy made sure of that. But her level of shameless trust in him was touching. He could've made her extremely vulnerable if he'd wanted, but she knew he wouldn't humiliate her.

In his suite, his pants couldn't come off fast enough. She laughed, drunk on her power over this powerful man.

He doesn't even bother taking her to the bed. Her mouth, her breasts, her ass – he had to have her! He caressed and kissed her breasts again, but when she tried to take him, he pushed her groin away from his.

"On your knees," he said hoarsely. She obeyed. "And hands."

Smiling, she dropped her head to the floor and gave him a spectacular view of her round, snow-white posterior. He stroked her and sensed disappointment. Girl liked violence.

Timidly at first, he spanked her. Arousal rolled off her like heat off a volcano, so his blows increased. He forced a dry finger into her unprepared ass and when she tensed, he commanded her to relax as the smacks continued. Panting, she struggled to comply – desperate to accommodate this twisting digit in her bowels.

"Good girl," he allowed, adding another finger. She flinched momentarily. "Enjoying yourself? I wanna fuck you like I fucked your wife. You'd let me, too, wouldn't you?"

"Feels gooooood," she groaned.

God, this woman would be the death of him! He snatched her ear lobe between his teeth and showered a trail of kisses down her spine to her flushed orbs and that sweet little sex nestled between her thighs.

Tess must go down on her all the time, he realized. Second best wouldn't do. Not when expressing his love. She must be as pleasured as she was pleasant. So he exploited her hidden desires to convey his immense devotion. His tongue cooled and soothed her burning, throbbing cunt, probing every crevice and collecting every drop of essence. He regretted the abuse, the months of silence. In his heart, he knew he could never undo the damage, but he would place her needs before his pride. His sacrifice said 'I love you and I'm sorry', and it brought tears to her eyes. She'd never felt so loved. She'd never been so loved.

They both cried out when she climaxed. All of her pent-up fears and anxieties exploded against his empathy. He was literally knocked over by the truth she was hiding from herself. She loved him and was afraid he'd reject her.

Oh, how could he? How could anyone?

He kissed her tears. Her nose. She was confused and frightened, but knew how to distract herself. With tender kisses, she maneuvered into the superior position and took his painful erection into her soothing cunt. Mother of God, he was in heaven. She loved him. Although she didn't realize it yet, she knew something was different this time. Slowly, she rode him and tried to forget. Her eyes fluttered and she leaned back, giving him a full-frontal view. Strong thighs, tapered waist, full breasts – all wrapped in soft, creamy skin. Other women may have possessed these qualities, but they lacked her sinister, dark eyes that sliced through thickest bullshit. They lacked her easy laugh and sharp tongue. If a million universes existed for a billion years, no woman would ever outshine her.

"What're you doing?" she asked, alarmed.

She tried to pull away, but he sat up and pulled her back. Something foreign and bright had invaded her. Somehow, he claimed more than the allotted sex organs, and she wasn't entirely sure this possession was pleasant.

But he held her tenderly and begged, "Let me love you."

In a moment that eclipsed all others, they were truly one being. He saw the ugly lies and faults she worked so hard to hide and he accepted them as easily as she accepted his scars.

Trembling, she chanted his name. She was close. Her mind might've been frightened but her flesh fed off his ecstasy. Guiding her hips, he met her thrust for thrust, pushing her over the edge before he followed. A healthy chunk of his heart splattered at the bottom of that cliff. He would've gladly given it all to her. He could deny her nothing.

They slept in each other's arms and he awoke to find her still there. This, he thought, is how everyday should be. He was dismayed when she disagreed.

"I have work! I can't just drop everything and move in!"

"New Orleans can be managed from here," he argued. "You have understudies. Tell them you've decided to go with Tess to Afghanistan. They'll buy it."

"But Tess will know. Besides, if I spent a month in New York, wouldn't I stay with the twins?"

He hadn't considered that. She was right; of course, her siblings deserved her time much more. But he couldn't go to New Orleans. He, too, had important work.

In the end, they used Uncle Alex's portal to move back and forth. Sometimes he visited her, but more often, she visited him. It was all very secret, of course. The portal was "only to be used in severe emergencies". But that was part of the appeal. Stealing from his uncle to have hot sex with his married best friend made everything else in his life look so damn boring.

…

To Be Continued…