Tags…

I don't own them – and this has been brewing in the back of my mind for a while. I'm not sure where it's going – so I don't know what warnings to put on it.

If those tags could talk, what stories they could tell.

Chapter 2

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They walked down the dingy street, his arm resting comfortably over her shoulders. She was his – and damned well knew it. Her head was back, shoulders straight, she walked tall and proud at his side and he couldn't contain the grin. She was proud, and he'd be damned if she didn't make him proud. The soft clank of the metal as she moved drew his attention and he let out a soft growl.

"What's your problem" She sighed.

"Those…" He snarled reaching over and running a talon under the metal chain. "Why the fuck do you wear them…the Runt ain't worth your time."

"I wear 'em 'cuz you did, ya big ass." She said with a grin.

"I wish you wouldn't." He said a low snarl in his voice. He couldn't help it, everything about Logan rubbed him the wrong way.

"Tough shit…you lost yours."

"I didn't either…I put them up while I was workin with Erik…"

"Uhh –huhh…"

"WOMAN!"

"You replace 'em, I'll wear yours." She had a sly smirk on her face as she said it. He pulled her close against his side as he guided her into the lobby of the shabby hotel. He could remember when she cowered away from people but now, her confidence as she walked across that room made every man there envious of HIM – not that they weren't anyway.

At first she'd been just a kid, someone to talk to while he hid out after a big job. The backwoods of Mississippi were a good place to hide, and he'd told her the truth, the farmer that owned the land he camped on knew he was there – they were old hunting buddies, human hunting. Sometimes you just don't know about those good upstanding citizens.

He remembered the first time he'd scented her, her body's need. She was barely blooming, nowhere near the woman she was now, and he'd never been one to resist such a potent temptation.

"You just gonna stand there kid?" He growled low. He couldn't believe what he smelled from the kid.

"Ah brought you a book – somethin' else ta read. Its poety, I ain't sure you'll like it but…" She stepped into the sheltered circle created by the low hanging willow branches. He had been out of the country and hadn't been in this neck of the woods in a few months – and it had made a difference in her, she definitely didn't look like a kid anymore.

He let out a low possessive growl. She had no idea what it meant – but her body did. He could smell her. She walked over to the circle of the small cooking fire he had banked against the cool autumn air. She sat down, her legs crossed Indian style on the ground and it did NOTHING for his concentration, her heavy jeans were no barrier to her musk. She reached out to hand him the book and he grabbed her arm instead.

"Thanks." He purred low, sliding his hand down her arm and taking the small leather bound book from her trembling hand. Her skin was as soft as velvet under his fingers and he had to force himself to keep from grinning at her body's response to his light touch. "I like poetry."

"Good. You stayin' long this time?"

"A couple weeks; things got a little hot for me this time."

"Why do ya do it? If it's dangerous?" She grinned at him.

"That's why, DarlinAin'tya ever done anything you weren't supposed to, just ta get away with it?"

"Well…I come out here ta talk ta you. I bet my parents would freak if they knew."

"Darlin' your parents would lock you up and throw away the key…" He chuckled low, and watched as her eyes dilated and her breathing slipped into a ragged gate. He set the book down and took the hand that had given it to him; brushing the pad of his thumb across her palm...he didn't want to frighten her – yet.

"Why's that? You ain't done anything they'd know about…" She said, her voice becoming breathy as he massaged her palm.

"True…but look at me Darlin, one look at me and they'd lock you up good."

"I still don't get…" He yanked hard on her arm, dragging her to him as he sat up. His other hand tangled in her soft mahogany hair as he pulled her in.

"I'm VERY dangerous to a girl like you…especially to a girl like you." He whispered as he brushed his lips across her soft ones. She wasn't fighting him, which surprised him, and he leaned in to take full possession of her mouth. She opened her lips for him either in surprise or protest he didn't know or care. He slipped his tongue along the side of hers coaching her response.

He rolled pinning her body under his as his senses were assaulted by the results of his careful coaching. Her arousal was growing and his body was responding. Her mouth tasted sweet and it didn't take her long to be openly responsive to him. Her skin was soft under his hands as he gently eased them under the hem of her T-shirt. The slight spikes of fear quickly diminished under his skillful hands and he lifted his lips from hers with a grin.

"See what I mean." He purred.

"I do…but I…"

"Don't talk Darlin." He whispered as he leaned down to kiss her again.

"Victor, I don't know…"

"Right, I got ahead of myself." He didn't want to hurt her, she was one of the few people he considered a friend. He started to pull away to let her up but her hands on the back of his neck stopped him. "Darlin, yes or no, there's no maybe in this game." He growled.

"I don't know what ta do –you'll have tateach me." She whispered. He moaned and leaned down to kiss her again.

"Anytime, Darlin."

"What're you thinkin' about?" She asked as he absentmindedly slipped the key into the door.

"You."

"No really – what are ya thinkin?" She walked over to the bed and sat down.

"About you – and me – and Mississippi."

"Really?"

"I may be an asshole – but I can be a sentimental asshole." He growled as he locked the door behind him.

"As long as you remember you're MY sentimental asshole." She snapped.

"What does that mean?"

"I heard about what you pulled with Storm – in the station and on the Statue…"

"Darlin, that was just for show."

"You ever touch her again – you'll be a PERMANENT resident in my head – got me."

"Don't THREATEN ME little girl…" He roared, grabbing her by her scarf clad throat and glaring into her angry eyes. "I told you that's just for SHOW damn it."

"Alright…I just don't like it." She slipped a gloved hand around his wrist, gently stroking along the sensitive inner skin with her thumb.

"Darlin, we've had this discussion." He said as he eased his grip and slipped his thumb up to trace her bottom lip. "There's gonna be times I can't be faithful."

"I KNOW that…I just don't want it ta be with someone I KNOW – damn it."

"I'll try – that's all I can promise."

He slipped his hand around behind her head and pulled her up to him for a quick kiss. "Darlin…"

"I know, Baby…I got you in my head, remember. I know. I just hate that ya touched her – that you CAN touch her, and you can't touch me anymore." He wiped the single tear from her cheek with a lock of her hair.

"I touch you every time I see you Baby."

"But not like that…not without worryin' or havin' ta pull back. I hate this, I hate what I am."

"Don't say that…you are beautiful." He didn't understand the ache he felt when she got like this, but he'd given up fighting it, if she made him soft, well she was his right?

"I'm dangerous – deadly to those I love, even you – after what happened with Logan – Victor my skin could KILL you!"

"You already thought I was dead once."

"That's different. I know now that I'm the only person on earth that could kill you, and you're the last person I'd ever want ta hurt."

He pulled her close against his chest, and brushed his lips across the top of her hair. His body reacted to her sweet scent but she didn't need him pawing at her right now.

"Not much longer, Baby…and it won't matter. We'll be together and we'll find a way, I promise you that." He snarled.

"Think you could find a way ta make me feel better now?" She purred as she buried her head against his T-shirt.

"Darlin-I can ALWAYS find a way to make you feel better." He grinned and eased her back on the bed. His lips brushed the tip of her nose as his hands stroked the undersides of her breasts through the thin top. She'd worn a skirt and tights today and he could feel her legs wrap around his hips as he settled between them. He moved his hands to her thighs pushing the skirt up and out of his way – DAMN! That was his girl…thigh highs and a garter belt. He chuckled.

"What?"

"Nice surprise there, Darlin."

"I try…" She grinned at him, though her eyes were still damp.

He slipped his hands up her thighs and grazed them over the bare expanse of skin. She rewarded him with a sharp intake of breath and a low moan as he reached the crotch of her panties and slipped a claw underneath. He cut cleanly through them and her moan deepened.

He pulled back and reached into the front pocket of his jeans. He pulled two packages out that he knew he was going to need and a thin piece of cloth. One pair of thin latex gloves, and with regret he sheathed his claws. He didn't want to cut the latex, even if she missed them. The other package he wasn't quite ready to open yet. He had other plans before he needed to worry about a condom.

"What's that?" She pointed to the thin cloth on the bed next to her.

"That's for me…I want ta taste ya."

"Victor that's too dangerous."

"Darlin- I live for danger, remember? And I can taste ya through the silk." He slipped it over her mouth and leaned in for a long kiss. She was moaning and breathless when he was done.

"That works – I could taste you." She whispered.

"I told ya Darlin, I always take care of my girl."

"I know ya do. Victor, I lo…"

"Don't…I don't need that frail shit."

"I do."

"Darlin…" He wasn't ever going to say those words, no matter what he felt. He only knew one way to let her know, and he leaned down, with nothing between them and kissed her. He put everything in it, and refused to pull back when the pain of her skin started. He wanted her to know.

"Victor – STOP!" She cried.

"I…" He shook his head to clear the cotton from the effects of her skin. He was getting used to it, and it took longer for her to hurt him, but it still nearly knocked him out.

"I HATE it when you do that…but I lo…" He slipped the damp silk across her lips and silenced her with his mouth.

"I said don't"

"FINE!" She pouted and he sucked her pouty lower lip in between his teeth and nipped through the silk. She moaned and quickly forgot all about that frail crap, and it wasn't long until he forgot about it too.