Chapter 11
Logan found Brianna later that afternoon, camped out on top of the hay bales in the barn, right where he knew she'd be. The stacks formed quiet alcoves, perfect for relaxing and collecting one's thoughts. He figured she had a lot to think about.
"Hey, Vix." Logan hauled himself off the top of the ladder that was propped against the wall of hay bales. She had moved a single bale out, using it as a backrest in her fragrant hideaway.
"Hey, Wolvie." It irritated Logan to no end when Vixen called him that, which was precisely why she did it. A soft growl from him brought a giggle in response. He'd never met such a perplexing woman.
Brianna grinned broadly as he threw himself down on the hay next to her and stretched, joints popping loudly. He groaned with pleasure and folded his arms behind his head, looking like a large, contented panther. "You're very pleased with yourself," Brianna remarked.
"Beat the crap outta Cyke in the Danger Room," was Wolverine's smug reply. "He didn't stand a chance."
They fell into a companionable silence, each lost in their own thoughts for a change. Logan caught waves of confusion from Brianna, but he didn't press her with any questions. She would tell him about the Professor's request in her own time. He hoped.
For once, I wished that Logan would leave me alone. The decision I had to make was hard enough, without his presence influencing me. I fought to ignore him, but it was useless. Like iron shavings to a magnet, my eyes were drawn to him and took in the strong muscular lines of his legs and torso, quite apparent even under the gray sweatpants and jacket he was wearing. The zipper on the jacket was open just enough to offer a tantalizing glimpse of well-defined chest and the silky hair that made my fingers tingle from wanting to touch it. The air of unbridled sexuality that rolled off of him made it very difficult to go five minutes without thinking of being crushed in those powerful arms and thoroughly ravaged by those soft, sensuous lips.
"Window shopping again, Vix? Or do you plan on taking a test drive this time?" Logan was looking at me, a cocky smile playing across the lips in question, one eyebrow arched in amusement.
"Huh? Oh, hell." I grumbled. "You weren't supposed to read that. Get outta my head."
"When your eyes glaze over like that, and you mouth's hangin' open, I don't need to read your mind, darlin'," he responded, the smirk growing wider at my discomfort. Scowling, I swung a punch at the chiseled abdomen I'd just been admiring. Logan caught my fist easily and pulled me to himself, his other arm snaking around my waist, securing me quite firmly to his chest. My fingers involuntarily curled themselves into the soft mat of chest hair I'd been longing to feel. Logan gently stroked my captive fist with his large calloused thumb, placing a soft kiss between each knuckle where my claws were safely sheathed. When he looked at me, the inscrutable expression he usually wore was gone, replaced by longing and something too powerful to define. "Are you gonna take Charlie up on his offer?" Hs voice was low and rough with emotion. "Or are you planning on running again?"
My own voice sounded strange to me as I stammered, "I…I…I don't know." The hand on my back was making slow sensuous circles, creating turmoil with my train of thought. "How'd you know about that, anyway?" I made a feeble attempt to escape Logan's unwavering embrace.
"It was a team decision. Jean and I talked about it, and Storm and Nightcrawler agreed it was a good idea. Cyclops, well, he's just an ass." He was calling the X-men by their codenames, like I was already one of them. Too much pressure. There was no way I could make a rational decision with…God, I wish he would… My empathic energy revved up and I discovered a new manifestation. Confusion caused whirlwinds of air that sent loose hay swirling in all directions around us. Logan looked around in amusement. "Things are never dull with you, Vix," he remarked and took advantage of my distraction by drawing me down into a very thorough, extremely sensuous kiss. Fireworks went off in my head, sparks of beautiful color that excited me to my very soul. I gave myself up to the sensation. I'll think about that tomorrow…A line from one of my favorite old movies floated through my mind as hands caressed, lips explored and passion came to a full, rapid boil.
Suddenly, a feeling of panic bloomed in my head so strong that it was almost a physical sense. Something was terribly wrong. I tensed, struggling even as Logan continued his amorous assault. I had to get away or… what? All I knew was that the terror was growing, threatening to explode in my mind. Using my empathic energy, I shoved against Logan as hard as I could, sending us both sailing across the hay stacks.
My fists clenched tightly, I battled mightily against the urge to unsheathe my claws and drive them all fully into Logan's chest.