Disclaimer: Don't own them, don't profit from them, just like to play with them.
"Logan, once again you have surpassed yourself. That was absolutely delicious." Max settled back in her chair contentedly pushing her empty plate away. Logan smiled at her pleasure in such a simple thing as food as he sipped from his wineglass.
"I figured we deserved a good meal after the past few days. I do need to set up that feed from Sebastian though so would you mind cleaning up while I get it going?" Max smiled and began to clear the table as Logan headed off to work on his systems. As she worked at rinsing the dishes and cleaning up the remnants of their meal she contemplated the events of the past days. Most amazing to her was the easy rapport that had developed between her and the man in the next room. Other than Original Cindy she had never allowed herself to feel this level of trust in anyone other than her Manticore siblings. But Logan was different, he was… special. From the first time she had looked into his intense blue eyes over the barrel of a gun she had known this man was different. It had taken her long enough to act on it but she had no regrets.
"Hey" Max was so lost in her thoughts that she jumped when Logan's voice sounded in her ear.
"What in the world were you thinking about? I can't remember you ever letting me sneak up behind you like that before." She blushed and muttered something, embarrassed to be caught daydreaming about him and certainly not about to admit to it. Logan grinned and catching her hand pulled her along beside him as he headed his chair to the other room.
"Feed's all setup but nothing interesting is going on right now. We'll just have to wait and see what turns up in the next few days. So, can I interest you in a movie?"
Max smiled, grateful that Logan seemed willing to keep things on a casual basis. She wasn't ready for a serious conversation about their relationship just yet. Picking out a movie and starting his DVD Logan transferred to the couch from his chair and patted the space next to him.
They spent the next few hours engrossed in watching old movies and eating popcorn in an unspoken agreement to not deal with anything serious for the evening. As it grew later, Logan began yawning and finally he announced.
"I've had it, Max. I know you don't need much sleep but I'm dead. If I don't get some sleep I'll be totally useless tomorrow. " he hesitated then added, "Stay with me tonight? No strings and most likely no action either - this all too human body is calling a halt to anything until I catch up on some of that sleep." This last accompanied by one of his patented smiles, the ones that made Max's inside flutter.
"Do you mind if I stay up a while? I'm still kind of wired." she asked hesitantly. The idea of sharing a bed with Logan and just sleeping was somehow more frightening to her than the fact that they had spent the last few nights together making love. It seemed somehow more intimate, more permanent and she wasn't sure she was ready for that.
"Max, you can stay up all night out here if you want or you're more than welcome to come join me anytime. The choices are all yours right now. I'll take whatever you want to give me." Logan leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips then smiled at her "Sweet dreams princess, I'm off to bed." With that he easily transferred to his chair and headed off to his room.
Max spent a while sitting on the couch staring out of the window at the lights of Seattle below.
Surprisingly enough she felt no urgent need to run from the situation. Logan, by the simple act of
making no demands on her had bound her more tightly to him than demands or pressure would have done. As always he affected her as no other man had ever been able to do. Smiling to herself she decided that sleep wasn't such a bad thing. Even she had her limits and her body was very close to them. She rose and stretched catlike than headed down the hallway to Logan's bedroom. Entering the room quietly she saw that Logan was fast asleep, blankets pulled up only to his waist. He wore no top and the moonlight shone softly on the light furring of hair on his chest. Admiring the play of muscles in his arms and chest as he stirred restlessly she quickly undressed and slipped in beside him. Logan muttered in his sleep and his arm came around her pulling her to him. Strangely content, Max sighed and dropped a light kiss on his chest as she snuggled close to him and let herself fall into sleep.
She awoke next morning to a gloomy Seattle sky outside the window and a delicious scent in her nostrils. The bed next to her was empty and judging by what her nose was telling her, Logan had performed one of his culinary miracles once again. Quickly rising she hurried into the bathroom to wash. She found the red robe Logan had bought for her laid out waiting for her there so she slipped into it and then headed for the kitchen.
Logan was sitting at the table sipping coffee, an empty plate in front of him. He looked up at her and grinned.
"Danish are in the oven keeping warm, coffee's right there and there's fresh squeezed orange juice in a pitcher in the fridge."
"Logan. you are a god among men." Max declared as she filled a plate with fresh baked cinnamon rolls and headed for the table. She quickly polished off a roll and reached for a
second as Logan regarded her with amusement. As they sat in companionable silence drinking their coffee a sharp beeping suddenly filled the air.
"Something interesting on the feed – I programmed an alarm to go off." Logan explained as he headed for his computer room. Max followed filled with anxiety.
"Holy hell, Max, will you look at this?" Logan exclaimed.
Leaning over his shoulder Max read the message that had popped up on his screen.
"I know you're watching Eyes Only. I need to speak to you and Max urgently about matters of mutual interest. This is not a trap – I'm the one who needs your help".
She stared at Logan unable to believe the signature – Donald Lydecker.
TBC