Here you go, guys, just like I promised! I hope you all like it!

Hanging out with the X-men in public was quite different than hanging out with them back at the mansion. There were a few obvious differences, of course. Remy's sunglasses never came off, Warren had to put on his harness for his wings before he left the house, Kurt and Hank dressed a little more carefully though they didn't full on hide. But it didn't stop them from having fun. Logan ordered the first round of drinks on him and it started the night off on a cheerful note. Tucked in at his table, sitting beside Logan, Spencer looked around at everyone who had come out. Aside from Logan and Remy, there was also Scott, Bishop, Kurt, Warren, Bobby, Rogue, and Hank. It amused Spencer to see that the only girl that had come was Rogue. He'd heard Jean complain about Harry's often enough that it was no real surprise that she wasn't coming, and he honestly couldn't picture Ororo in a place like this. Or, in any bar, really.

Scott dropped down suddenly in the open chair at Spencer's side—Remy was up at the bar, getting more drinks—and he grinned at the genius. "You just plan on hiding out here at a corner table, Spencer?"

Humor danced in Spencer's eyes as he looked at the usually serious field leader. In so many ways, Scott could be uptight and annoying and far too serious. Right at the moment he was more relaxed then Spencer could ever remember seeing since he'd met the man and he was giving a sharp grin almost worthy of the Wolverine. It should've worried Spencer a little. That grin could only mean trouble. Instead, he gave a smile of his own. "Did you have something else in mind?"

"Come play some pool with me. No one else wants to play."

There was a slight flash of something, a hint of emotion that got past Spencer's tight shields, and Logan gave a low snort of amusement. Ah, so it was like that, was it? Spencer tipped his head just a little and let his bangs go over his face. Well, two could play at this game. Spencer's smile became just a little bit shy and he gave a small shrug of his shoulder. "It's been a while since I've played." He admitted, totally honest. It had been a while.

Scott's smile turned into a bit of a smirk. "That's fine. Come on, come play with me."

"Well, okay…"

The two headed off over to the pool table about the same time that Remy came back with some drinks. The Cajun set the glasses down on the table and cast a curious look over at his bondmate. He could feel Spencer's enjoyment and his humor. "What's going on over dere?" He asked the table.

Hank, who was on the other side of Logan, laughed lowly. "Our Fearless Leader has found himself a new victim."

Remy watched as the two men reached the pool table and picked out their cues. He watched as Spencer picked up the cue and held it in hands that looked unsure, which was at total odds with the increase in humor in their bond. "Well, now, dis might be a bit in'eresting." Remy murmured. He hooked the chair by Logan with his foot and twisted it a bit before dropping down into it. Now he was free to talk with his friends and still be able to watch the pool tables. Something told him this was going to be a fun show to observe.

Money was being placed on the edge of the pool table, under a glass. Logan laughed when he saw it. "You might wanna look out for your boy there, Gumbo. Bad enough One Eye's got a new victim. You don't wanna let him fleece the kid, too."

"Have a little faith, Wolvie." Rolling his head back to look at Logan, Remy winked. "T'ink m'boy might surprise y' a lil."

Most of the people at the mansion had played pool against Scott at one point or another. They'd even been, as they put it, 'dumb enough' to come back for seconds. Scott was known for his skill at the table and his ability to hustle pretty much anyone he played. None of them were dumb enough to play when there was money on the table. So when they saw Spencer up there with Scott, the money on the table, they all laughed to one another and shook their heads.

Spencer didn't really notice it. He was too busy fighting his own amusement. He watched Scott carefully as they played, taking note of the man's style and form, of the way that he moved around the table. For the first half of the game, Spencer threw most his shots, playing under the pretense of trying to remember how to play the game. They chatted casually as they played, too, a perfect sort of distraction. Just normal, basic things. Scott asked if he'd heard from anyone back home, how his friends were doing, how he was doing. Just little things. And Spencer answered his questions easily. He also watched the way Scott played, studying the man's skill. He was good. Really good. When it became Spencer's turn, he made sure to keep his shots to the image he was presenting. Someone who played pool only rarely and not very well. It was working, too. He could see on Scott's face that the man figured he had the game in the bag.

It was the second half of the game that Spencer finally made his move. Each man only had a few balls on the table. When Scott straightened up from his shot, Spencer looked the table over and he saw two different options for himself. One, he could keep playing the way he was, draw this out a little bit and really play up a lack of skill. Or two, he could end this.

One peek at the cocky expression on Scott's face when he thought Spencer wasn't looking and the decision became much easier. Using his hair as a screen, Spencer hid his smile when he bent back over the table. Across the room he caught Remy's eye and gave the man a wink. Then he lined his cue up and took his shot.

A few minutes later, Spencer straightened up for the last time, a smile on his lips. That smile grew when he looked at Scott's amused and surprised expression. "Well, hell." Scott said.

Spencer let out a low laugh. He scooped the money off the side of the table, thumbing through it quickly to count out the bills. "You play well, Scott."

"Yeah, you too. You little shit."

Amusement turned just slightly smug. "Pick your mark better next time."

The crowd nearby shifted and Spencer's attention was drawn away before Scott could form a reply. Three guys broke free from their friends and one of them was moving right over towards them. The guy was close in height to Spencer, but he was built more like Derek, and Spencer was smart enough to angle himself a little more towards Scott. Safety in numbers, after all. But the guy wasn't looking to cause trouble. He stopped beside the table and flashed the two of them a grin. "You two just finish your game?" He asked, eyeing the cash in Spencer's hand.

Spencer and Scott exchanged a quick look and Spencer projected a bit of reassurance towards Scott when he felt his worry. Then he looked back over to the new guy. "We did. Were you looking to use the table?"

"Looking for a good game. How much to play?"

Now this could prove to be fun. It's been a while since Spencer's done this with anyone but friends. He knows he should just politely decline, walk away and go enjoy his time with his friends, but there's a bit of a devil in him that wants to play. He debates it for just a little too long and the guy's smile turns to a smirk. "What, kid? Afraid of a little challenge?"

Those were the magic words. Spencer pushed back his automatic annoyance and made himself smile shyly at the man. "Let's play."

Back over at the tables, Remy caught the comment and he felt Spencer's annoyance flare at that. Laughing, he shook his head, already knowing how this was going to go. Sure enough, Spencer was laying money down on the table a moment later, as was the new guy, and the two were starting their game as Scott made his way over to their table to join them in their watching and drinking. He took a seat beside Warren, who had joined them right before Scott and Spencer had finished their game. Scott was smirking when he dropped into his chair. He mock scowled over at Remy. "You could've warned me."

Remy didn't even bother to pretend to not know what he was talking about. He leaned back in his chair, kicking his feet up on a nearby empty chair, and he smirked as he lit a cigarette. "An ruin his fun?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

"Aw, getting grumpy there, Cyke?" Logan taunted him. "What, can't stand that the kid beat ya at your own game?"

Conversation around the table dissolved into good natured bickering. Remy tuned it out and turned his attention over towards Spencer. The one place his attention always seemed to wander back to. It was no real hardship to watch the man as he moved around the table and bent here and there to take his shots. More and more often, Remy found himself admiring that slender form as it moved. A form that he was starting to know as well as he knew his own. He and Spencer had been getting closer this past week. Learning how to work together under Scott's tutelage had seemed to strengthen their bond. The two were becoming closer than ever and with that closeness seemed to come a few other things that Remy hadn't quite let himself think about yet. One of those things seemed to be this appreciation for watching Spencer. He'd admired the man's attractiveness before this. He'd just always pushed it away. Now it seemed to sit there, all the time, a constant thing each time he looked at him. Not overpowering or anything. Just…there. Always there.

He wasn't unaware of Spencer's appreciation for him, either. That had been there from the get go. Remy was used to that, though. He was used to people looking at him and finding him attractive. That was just normal. What sort of threw him sometimes, what he didn't really have much experience handling, was that Spencer seemed to show he was more attracted to Remy when they were just sitting around and talking. It was like the genius was more attracted to him than he was to his body. That was a new concept for Remy and one he didn't quite know what to do with. Yet it warmed him inside. Who wouldn't be flattered by something like that?

A burst of amusement and satisfaction pulled Remy from his thoughts. He hadn't realized just how lost in them he'd become. When he blinked his eyes to clear them, he saw Spencer straightening up from a now empty table and smiling at his opponent.

The guy wasn't smiling back. A scowl touched his lips and had Remy sitting just a little more alert. "You were lucky." The man growled out, his voice just loud enough to reach the table here. "Double or nothing."

Spencer's eyes flickered briefly over to Remy and the others and then back to the guy. He shrugged one shoulder casually. "I've got time for one more game, I guess. But then I really should get back to my friends. I didn't come here to spend the whole evening away from them." With that, he was very clearly letting it be known that he wasn't alone. Spencer was no fool. He'd sized up his opponent and he knew that there was the risk for trouble if he won again. At least, so long as he was alone. But guys like this tended to be a lot of bluster if they knew that the scrawny guy wasn't alone.

Remy wasn't the only one to have noticed what was going on. A big hand clapped on Remy's shoulder, keeping him in place as his feral friend rose up from the table. Logan helped matters perfectly by going to pass by the pool tables and calling out. "Hey, brat! You need a refill?"

Looking up, Spencer smiled and nodded. "Yes, please."

The guy and his buddies didn't really pay any attention to that until Logan came over to the table to bring Spencer a fresh glass. Then they looked up and did a bit of a double take. Logan clearly had the look of a brawler to him for anyone to see. Off to the sidelines, Remy smothered a snicker. Scott had a sharp grin on his lips. "He's done this before." He said.

"What do you mean?" Bobby asked curiously. He looked from the group back over to Scott.

Scott gestured with his glass towards the group now playing their pool game. "Spencer knows he's small and he knows people would see him as an easy mark to beat up to get their cash back. If he wins a second game, it's likely they'll get pissed and want to take it out on him. By letting them know he's not alone, and with Logan going up to act growly and show his muscles a little, he's pretty much made sure they'll think long and hard before trying to start anything with him. Plus, they'll watch Logan, see him come back over to us, and know that Spencer has even more people on his side."

"A Fed that's a con man. How surprising." Warren said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. Still, the words didn't hold any real bite to them.

That had Remy's snicker turning into a full blown laugh. "A good one, too, mon ami."

"I didn't picture him the type." Bobby said.

Logan had just returned to their table by then and he let out a snort at Bobby's words. "Ya kidding me, Icecube? The kid grew up in Vegas and then spent a few years going to college near LA. Don't let that innocent face of his fool ya. The kid's a hustler at heart."

That had everyone laughing. Even Warren and Bishop both chuckled, and those two were two of the ones still slightly hesitant around Spencer. It wasn't that they didn't like him, at least not that Remy could see. They just took longer to warm up to people than the rest of them did. At least they weren't rude to him. Remy had worried about that at first. It was no secret that neither man would never be a part of Remy's fan club. He'd worried that they'd take it out on Spencer; that he'd be considered guilty by association. Luckily, while they treated him coolly, or avoided him, they weren't outright rude to him. Not that anyone could be once they got to talking with him. There was just something about Spencer's shy awkwardness that made it difficult to be rude. You kind of felt like you were kicking a puppy.

The game up at the table was wrapping up. Remy saw that Spencer had just two balls left and he could see that his bondmate wasn't messing around anymore. He was eager to end the game. One shot and then Spencer was straightening up and giving that shy smile of his to his opponent. Remy kept a careful watch here, ready to move over and help the instant Spencer showed any signs of needing it, but it didn't end up being necessary. After a moment's conversation that Remy couldn't hear, Spencer picked up the money and started to make his way over to them. Remy pulled his legs off the extra chair in just enough time for Spencer to drop down into it. A mischievous light danced in Spencer's eyes and his lips curved up. In that moment, he looked like the little imp that Remy often called him.

Remy couldn't help but laugh at him. "Having fun, Imp?"

"It's been a while since I've had the chance to play pool." Spencer said happily. He folded the cash in his hand and leaned forward, surprising a few of the others by reaching out and slipping the money into Remy's coat pocket.

"Won't your friends play with you anymore?" Hank asked him in a teasing voice.

Spencer smiled even as his cheeks heated a little. "Rossi does, occasionally. He's a pretty good pool player."

"You hustle him, too?" Scott asked. His lips were quirked up slightly in that amused smirk of his. He sat back in his chair, eyeing Spencer overtop his beer.

Lifting up his own glass, Spencer bit his lip for a second and Remy felt his momentary hesitation as he probably tried to debate just how upset Scott really was. He must've decided that there was no worry because his indecision melted away and a smile took its place. "As often as I can." He admitted, making the table laugh. "Rossi's determined to see if he can figure out all my 'tricks', as he puts it. He's one of the only ones that will still play cards with me, too. The others refuse."

Bishop leaned forward a little, finally joining in the conversation here. "Why?"

The laughter around the table grew a little when Spencer flushed and looked down. Scott was the one to answer the question for him. "He probably cheats worse than Remy does. Hell, with your brain, you can probably count cards as easy as breathing. Remind me never to play poker with the two of you."

"Like you never cheat." Warren threw out.

Scott lifted a hand and laid it over his heart. "I would never! How could you suggest it, War?"

"Yeah, uh huh." Warren snorted at him an shook his head. "Pull the other leg, Scott."

Ignoring everyone's laughter, Scott mock glared at him. "For that cheek, you can go get the next round of drinks."

There was some good natured grumbling, but Warren still ended up getting up. Surprisingly, though, Spencer rose as well. "I'll give you a hand." He offered. Warren raised his eyebrows and gave Spencer a funny look, but he didn't stop him from going with him. Remy watched the two start to make their way over towards the bar together. When they reached the bar, they stood side by side, and Remy could see Spencer angle himself towards the other man. Even without being able to feel Spencer's concern, Remy still would've been able to tell that something was worrying the man. It was there in the way he leaned a little towards Warren, something he didn't typically do, and in way he moved his hands in low movements instead of his usual expansive gestures.

"Everything okay?"

The low question snapped Remy's eyes away from the pair at the bar and over to Scott. The man had scooted just a little closer to Remy and he'd pitched his voice low, keeping his question mostly private. A look at the rest of the table showed them in a debate about something—football, from the sounds of it. Remy brought his gaze back over to Spencer and Warren. "Spencer's jus' a lil worried bout somet'ing, dat's all." Remy paused and debated for a second. He didn't often comment on these things, not wanting to invade someone's privacy too much. Finally he gave a mental shrug and added "He's talking to Warren bout somet'ing dat's got him worried."

"You think there's something wrong between the two?" Scott turned now too, looking over at the pair.

Remy shook his head. "Non. Warren, he aint felt dat happy lately. Dere's somet'ing dat's upsetting him. I t'ink Spencer just wants to make sure he's okay. He don't like feeling people hurt."

"It can't be easy to constantly have to feel what everyone around you is feeling."

"It's hard on him." Remy admitted. "I don't know if it's de empath or de healer in him, mais he can't stand seeing someone upset or hurt wit'out wanting to help. He just…he sees t'ings wrong wit' people, de way dey feel, and he just can't help but try an fix em."

"He's got a big heart." Scott said softly.

Watching his partner start back towards the table with a now smiling Warren at his side, Remy felt warmth grow around his heart. "Oui, he does."

This evening was turning out to be a great idea. Spencer was more relaxed than he had been for quite a while. Not even the aches and bruises he carried from his training sessions were bothering him right now. He felt happy and content here in his chair at the table with a group that he was gradually becoming rather close with. It wasn't the closeness of his friendships back home, true. But he and the team had been through a lot to reach the level of closeness he had with them. Time would bring a closeness with the people here around the table. For now, Spencer was content to start building the friendships.

Though he'd only had a couple drinks, there was a pleasing warmth spreading through Spencer. He watched as Remy finished off the last of his beer and wondered in the back of his mind if maybe their ability to feel one another so strongly meant that he might actually be feeling some of Remy's drink as well as his own. That was an interesting question. If Spencer stayed sober and Remy got drunk, would Spencer feel it too? He made a mental note to talk to Hank about that at another time. No need to ruin the relaxed air around them right now with questions like that. He just let himself enjoy the evening until Scott finally called out that it was time for everyone to head back.

Remy went with Scott to go pay the tab while the others made their way out of the bar. Spencer waited close to the entrance for them. The warmth from the alcohol had grown a little and Spencer could actually feel his cheeks flushing from it. He leaned against the wall by the door and let his eyes drift through the crowd until he found his partner. There was something there, something in their bond that kept calling for his attention.

He watched as the two finished paying. What was this strange feeling? It bugged Spencer enough that he kept his eyes locked on his bondmate, watching as Remy worked his way through the crowded room, exchanging words with people as he passed them. There was the random smile and wink mixed in with the Cajun's trademark flirting and yet Spencer noticed just how many heads were turning as Remy neared another group of people. This didn't quite look right. Something was off about it; the changes in body language, the way both sexes were unconsciously moving closer to him, the eyes focused on him, his body, his smile, his lips... Spencer found himself slowly becoming on guard, the pleasant haze of alcohol starting to fade as his worry grew at the way the tension in the room appeared to be rising so rapidly. Spencer found himself wanting to grab Remy and yank him close. A part deep inside wanted to march in and grab him and snarl at the people who dared to look at him like that.

Somehow he managed to keep enough control to stop from doing that. However, he did reach out with his empathy, cooling the fires flaring around the room, dropping the tension back to the level it had been at before Remy had left his side. But he didn't let his guard down. He watched intently, constantly assessing the situation until Remy was once again at his side. Then, and only then, did he relax and breathe a sigh of relief.

Spencer didn't mention anything about it to Remy or Logan or any of the others. His friends were busy chatting away, talking and laughing, and Spencer didn't want to disturb it with this formless sense of worry that was in him. Maybe it was just the alcohol in him. This was the first time he'd really drank since he'd been bonded. Maybe the strangeness and the warmth he felt was just a side effect of not only his drinking but Remy's as well. Maybe. He hoped so.

They clambered into Logan's truck and joined the rest of the convoy to head back to the mansion. Bobby was riding with them, taking up the passenger's seat, while Spencer and Remy took the back of the cab. The other three kept up a steady conversation the whole ride home. Spencer just watched them, still trying to place this feeling. That strangeness in the bond grew a little more and Spencer found himself analyzing it. It wasn't a bad feeling. Like he'd felt before, it was warm. Very warm. There was another kind of heat there, though, that had grown a little from before and Spencer took quite a bit to finally place it. When he did, he had to fight a blush. It was lust.

Oh. Well, hell. That would explain the warmth. Spencer dropped his head and let his hair screen his face. In a better frame of mind he would've recognized the emotion much sooner. Now that he knew what it was, he tried to ignore it. He didn't really need to think about Remy being horny. He fought to pull his shields up a little higher until he didn't have to feel it anymore.

It didn't clue in for Spencer that it was more than Remy just being horny until they reached the mansion. That was when he started to notice some other things that told him that maybe there was more going on than he'd thought.

The cars were parked and everyone was unloading from them. Spencer stood beside the car, watching as Remy slid out, his body seeming almost boneless. The way that he moved really shouldn't be legal. He just sort of flowed from one place to the next. It had Spencer's throat going a little dry. He'd always found Remy attractive but he'd managed to keep it under control. The way the man was moving now wasn't helping him with that control.

That was when Spencer noticed the first thing that clued him in to something being wrong. IT wasn't just him that was watching Remy like they couldn't help themselves. Logan kept sneaking glances at him. The feral lifted his chin and…did he just scent the air? Spencer watched as he did it again and realized that, yes, Logan was sniffing like he was trying to catch some scent. His eyes were on Remy the whole time, too. What the hell?

Spencer looked around, glancing at the others to see if they might have some clue as to what was going on. What he found surprised him. Everyone was watching Remy. Everyone. All their eyes were on him as the man stretched his arms over his head. Bobby's gaze clearly landed on the strip of skin that showed as Remy's shirt lifted with his stretch. Even Scott was watching, his hands clenching slightly at his sides. What the hell was going on here?

Carefully, hesitantly, Spencer lowered his shields, intending on just testing the air around him. What he found almost knocked him off his feet. Lust, thick and heavy, filled the air like smoke so that one couldn't breathe without drawing it in. And in a flash, Spencer knew what this was, though he'd only heard about it before now—Remy's charm.

Spencer didn't even stop to think about it before he pushed out with his shield. More and more his and Remy's shields seemed to be fusing together in some ways. They could raise or lower them individually, but they were getting tied together in ways they didn't even seem to understand. This was one of those moments. Spencer reached out just as Remy had done for him when he'd lost his shields and he used his own strength to wrap around the man. Just a breath later and he was shielding Remy, holding his charm inside for him so that it no longer linked. Unfortunately, it had a startling side effect.

Lust hit Spencer, hard and hot, a jolt through his whole body that turned into a wildfire. There was no way he could stop the sucked in breath, or the low, moaned "God" that tore past his lips in a voice gone husky. He was suddenly, agonizingly, achingly hard and beyond grateful that the jacket he wore would cover that.

"Stretch?" Logan's deep voice broke into Spencer's thoughts, the worry obvious.

There was a soft sound that told Spencer that someone was stepping towards him and he quickly held a hand up, palm out. "Just a minute." That was all he could manage to get out, the best he could do, and the words still held a definite husky sound to them. God, God! It was taking every ounce of willpower Spencer possessed to keep from grabbing Remy and jumping him right here and now without a care to who was watching them. Remy's charm power filled him, undiluted lust racing through his body, and he had to do something, fast, before he did something they'd regret later. Spencer gathered as much strength as he could and he forced his focus inwards on their shields. A little twist here, a change there, and…his whole body slumped in relief as he penned Remy's charm safely away. Thank you God.

He blinked open his eyes and found everyone staring at him. It wasn't the others that Spencer's attention was on, though. It was Remy. Even with Remy's charm penned safely back, there was still a part of Spencer that felt it. It was in their bond and there was no way he could block or ignore their bond. But that was just an echo of it, the echo that Remy himself felt, and it was nothing like being hit directly with Remy's charm power. Yet it was just enough that he knew his eyes would be dilated with lust and his body was still hard. Remy was looking at him, eyes raking over him, taking in all the signs of Spencer's arousal, and Spencer felt Remy's own arousal grow with what he saw. Aw, shit. They needed to get the hell out of here and away from other people before they embarrassed themselves. Maybe away from each other, too.

"We'll see y'all in de morning." Remy said suddenly, his voice just slightly lower and raspier than Spencer had ever heard it before. The sound sent a shiver down his spine.

Spencer moved on autopilot, following Remy inside the mansion and over the familiar pathway to their rooms. He wasn't that surprised when Remy bypassed his own room and went to Spencer's. They spent quite a bit of time in here. Spencer had the private bath and they enjoyed taking advantage of that in the morning. Right now, Spencer couldn't help but wonder if it might be a bad idea for them to be alone like this. That arousal still ran through them both, stronger than it ever had before. Spencer had almost grown used to it being there as an undercurrent in most things they did. But out in the open like this, so damn strong, he had no idea what would happen.

It looked like Remy didn't know either. He stood in the middle of the room just watching Spencer. His eyes were uncovered now, the sunglasses gone somewhere, and he made no effort to hide his staring. It should've made Spencer uncomfortable, but it didn't. God, it was wonderful. He felt himself shiver underneath that heated gaze.

Spencer didn't realize that he was moving forward, actually going towards Remy, until he stumbled slightly over something on the floor. Remy reacted as always and darted out to catch him and that was it for them both. The minute Remy's hands touched him, the control Spencer had over his shields, over the shield that held back the charm, wavered and almost vanished completely. The charm slammed into him with the force of a freight train and Spencer couldn't keep the low moan from falling past his lips. The heat of Remy's hands on his hips burned through him and he found his own hands catching at Remy's arms, clenching down in his jacket. A shudder ran down Spencer's body. He dropped his head down so that his forehead pressed against Remy's shoulder. Lust burned bright in him than it ever had before. "Oh, fuck."

A sharp gasp from Remy and a surge of arousal had Spencer lifting his head. Remy's fingers dug into his hips and he yanked them close together. Twin moans echoed in the room as hard met hard. Spencer met those devil eyes one last time. There was no telling who moved first, who was the one to finally lean in, but Spencer swore the world stopped when their lips connected. The heat inside seemed to roar up and their bond was singing, a symphony of sensations like nothing they'd ever felt before. No kiss had ever been like this. Nothing had ever felt this good. They pressed together until there wasn't room for a breath between them. They clung, hands moving to grab and hold, their bodies seeking to get as close as humanly possible while the bond was pulsing more and more, drawing in their emotions and playing them over until they couldn't tell who felt what and it didn't even matter. They wanted only to get closer. To climb inside of one another and connect themselves in every way possible. Emotionally, mentally, physically. The need to be one was as strong as the lust that still burned through their insides.

Loud banging on their door broke through their moment. Spencer heard it and a part of him knew he should answer it. He should answer that voice that shouted out to them.

It took every ounce of self-control Spencer had ever possessed to make himself jerk back and out of Remy's touch. If Remy had tried to stop him, he never would've succeeded. Luckily, Remy seemed to be of the same mind and he too had jerked back. Spencer didn't stop until he felt the wall at his back. Looking up, he saw Remy had done the same. The Cajun was on the opposite side of the room, pressed back against the wall the same that Spencer was. They were both panting as they stared at one another.

Another bang on the door had their eyes snapping over towards it. This time they were finally clearheaded enough to recognize the voice on the other side as belong to Logan. "You two all right in there?" Logan called out sharply.

The growl to his words suggested it wasn't the first time he'd said it and clearly warned them that they better answer before he decided to take action. Remy was the one to recover his voice first. "We're fine, Logan!"

"Everything's okay." Spencer called out as well, adding his own voice in so Logan wouldn't worry.

There was a moment of quiet before they finally heard Logan's footsteps heading away from the room. Only then did the two dare to look at one another once more. They stood there for a few long minutes while they tried to get their breathing and their bodies under control once more. Eventually, Remy drew in a shaky breath. "I'm gonna go hop in de shower." He announced.

Spencer fought back the moan at the image that presented in his mind. He swallowed down the lump in his throat and nodded jerkily. That was probably a good idea. Get them apart for a bit.

Another pause and then Remy made his way over to the bathroom door. But, when he reached the door, he stopped for a moment, hand resting on the frame. Once more his eyes sought out Spencer across the room. The heat was still in them and it stole Spencer's breath away and pinned him in place. He couldn't even look away from that heat or the intensity. "Remy?"

"I do want y', Spencer." Remy said that as casually as if he were stating that the sky was blue. There was nothing but honesty in his words. "I've wanted y' from de start. But y'r too important to risk on a quick fuck brought on by m' charm. When we do dis, I want y' clear headed, able to say oui or non. Not overwhelmed cause m' charm is pulling y' in."

Oh sweet God. He noted how Remy said when, not if, and the heat pooled in his gut again. Spencer swallowed against the lump that had built once more in his throat. "I want you too." He admitted, knowing that Remy knew this but needing to give the man the words just as Remy had given the words to him. They had honesty between them. That was something they'd maintained for a while now. Spencer made himself give it now. "But you're important to me, too. I want you to want me because of more than your charm, and I don't want to be a rebound. I want you to come to me for me, not because you're still hurting from her."

The words made Remy flinch, but he nodded and there was understanding on his face.

Quiet fell over the room. Neither man said anything else; there wasn't anything more to say. Remy gave Spencer one final look, blew out a breath, and then turned and shut himself in the bathroom. Spencer stayed frozen in place until he heard the shower turn on. Only then did he let himself sink straight down to the floor. "Holy shit." He breathed out. He pressed one hand flat against his stomach and tried to draw in a straight breath. He needed to meditate, now, and purge out not only his own lust, but the lust he'd picked up from the others and the lust that was Remy's that still burned inside of him. If he didn't, there was no way in hell they were going to be able to get any sleep tonight. So he drew himself in, crossing his legs and settling his body into position right here against the wall, and he did everything possible to clear his thoughts and not think about the warm, wet body showering in the next room.