17 years and 58 seconds
Chapter 8
In the morning, I knew I had to talk to Logan again - no matter what. I couldn't let it end this way. I *will* fight for him. (I hoped a small offering of coffee and cheese danishes would give me brownie points.)
Since Logan was working with the lumberjacks, he was living in their apartment building/dormitory. I found Logan's room at the end of a hall and knocked. No answer. I knocked again and called his name. Same result. I tried the knob and it turned easily.
It was a small apartment: a tiny kitchenette, a living room and bedroom. I walked through the apartment quietly. It was messy, dark, sparsely furnished and practically shrieked 'single man lives here'.
I found him in the bedroom, passed out on the bed, still dressed. Four bottles of whiskey were lying on the floor. He snored gently. I put the coffee and danishes on the small table by the bed and called his name again. A loud snore, but he didn't wake up. I was about to touch his shoulder to wake him up when I remembered how he'd awakened once before - claws first - and thought better of it.
I decided to clean up a little while I waited for him to wake up. In the midst of picking up old newspapers, beer bottles and old pizza boxes, I found something surprising. Beside his bed, on the floor, was a piece of paper. A letter. MY letter, to be specific. I couldn't believe he still had it. I picked up the letter and saw it had been folded many times. I got choked up thinking about him reading and re-reading the letter.
I sat on the floor and tried to think what this all meant. Eventually, two things became clear. One, I have the opportunity, NOW, to tell him how I feel and make sure he listens. Two, I'm alone with the man I've been dreaming about for years, in his bedroom.
It's now or never, Marie.
I took a deep breath and climbed onto the bed. I rolled him over slowly until he was on his back, then straddled his hips. I was thrilled to feel the heat of his body through our clothes ... I couldn't resist running my hands up his chest, so warm and firm. I smiled to myself thinking of the things I've always wanted to do to him.
It was my hands on his chest that finally got through his booze enhanced sleep. He started to stir, felt my weight on his hips and slowly opened his eyes. For an instant, he smiled a delicious smile at seeing me. But the moment disappeared and his eyes hardened to me. I quickly pinned his arms down to the bed and he pushed against me but then realized I suddenly had the superior strength. Eventually he stopped struggling against my grip.
"What are you doing? Get off of me. Leave me alone." Our faces were mere inches apart as I held him down. I could smell his breath, heavy with liquor.
"Get out." he growled. I shook my head.
"I need to talk to you." He turned his head away from me, frowning.
"Get out." More forcefully this time. I shuddered at his ferocity, but didn't release my grip.
"'..I was only really alive for those precious seconds with you.'" His head snapped over as I repeated the words I'd written so long ago.
"Stop it." He pushed against me, but I held him down. I needed to continue.
"'In the next life, I fully intend to find you and spend the rest of my life making up for what we didn't get to do in this one.'"
"Stop it! Stop it! You think I don't know what that letter says? I've read it a hundred times. Jesus ... don't ...."
"Every word I wrote is true - still IS true. I never wanted you to feel guilty. I wanted you to understand how much you meant -STILL mean- to me."
I leaned back and released my grip on his arms. My body reacted to our hips moving against each other. I hoped he wouldn't notice, but I knew he noticed everything.
"I have Mystique to thank, of all people, for making me appreciate the amazing gift you gave me." I touched my chest over my heart. "Few people get a second chance ... I've been given a third! I can't waste it."
I leaned forward and kissed him quickly, a peck. For just a fraction of a second, our lips met and then I pulled away slightly. (I had gambled that my power wouldn't kick in on such a short contact, and luckily I was right - nothing bad happened.) His warm breath made my skin flush with desire. I kissed him again quickly and with my face still close, I licked his lips with the tip of my tongue. With my eyes closed, I tried to memorize the taste and feel of his lips.
"Marie" he sighed, "don't. Stop it." he pushed against my shoulders lightly.
"I need you. I want YOU, Logan. Can't you forgive me?"
He shook his head but didn't push against me. I nodded, tracing his face with my gloved finger.
"Forgive me?" I leaned back so that I was straddling his hips again. I pulled his left hand close to my lips and licked a finger slowly. "Don't you want....?"
He reached up and touched my hair, his fingers weaving through the strands.
"Honey, if we 'could' ... we most definately 'would'."
He smiled as his hand trailed down from my hair, over my shoulder to caress my breast lightly through my shirt. I closed my eyes as the feel of his hands burned through me. Subconsciously, I started to grind my hips against his.
"Ohhh. Don't ... don't stop." I whispered.
Both of his hands caressed my breasts with tenderness and thoroughness. My shirt separated, exposing my bra. He leaned forward and put his mouth on the lacy material. The heat and moisture from his mouth was a heavenly torture. I was on fire and in danger of losing control. Thankfully, Logan brought me back.
"Darlin', if we don't stop now ... you might kill me with 'kindness'" he smiled and closed my shirt, gently. I took a deep breath to calm myself.
"Did you come here to seduce me?" he chuckled as he stroked my back softly.
"I did come with a peace offering." I said. He looked at where I was sitting on him and raised an eyebrow with a leer. I smiled and motioned toward the coffee on the table. Without breaking contact with his body, I leaned over and retrieved the coffee and danishes. I felt his hands on my hips, steadying me as I returned to my original position on his body.
He removed his hands from my hips and used them to push himself into an upright position. Now, I was straddling just his legs. I handed over the breakfast and started to get off the bed. But he grabbed my arm gently, and shook his head.
"No ... stay." I grinned and returned to my position on his lap, facing him. We ate in a comfortable silence. When we finished, he looked at me for a minute, then leaned forward. As I held my breath, he leaned closer and used his mouth and tongue to remove a stray crumb from the corner of my mouth. I felt the sexual pull begin again.
"I ... I should let you get up now." I swung my body off of his and instantly missed the heat, the contact. I stood and tugged my shirt back into place.
"Babe, I've been 'up' for a while now." he grinned and got up out of bed. When I saw the proof of his arousal I nearly lost my self control. He stretched with a playful grunt and took off his shirt. I stared at his bare chiseled chest and was transfixed. I think I might have been drooling when he said he was going to shower quickly. With a lighthearted push, he moved me out of the bedroom and into the living room so he could shower.
When he came out a few minutes later, I could smell the clean aroma of his soap and breathed it in. He was dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a red and black flannel shirt with a white t-shirt underneath. I could have torn it off of him in seconds. He watched me checking him out, but didn't comment.
"Do you have to work today?" Casual, I told myself. Keep it casual.
He shook his head and sat on the coffee table, directly across from me on the couch. He looked serious.
"About last night ..."
"About last night ..."
We laughed at ourselves for each saying the exact same thing and I motioned for him to speak first.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you." he said. "I was just ... it was just a shock to see you. I'm not ... mad at you."
"No. It was my fault. I wanted to see you and talk to you so badly ... I never really allowed myself to think about what you'd been feeling. I'm sorry."
"Hon, I'm glad you found me." He smiled crookedly and my heart melted. He reached over and held my gloved hands in his own. As his hands lightly encompassed mine, I feel a liquid fire run through my body.
"Um, do you want to have dinner together tonight?" I asked.
"The selection of four-star restaurants is a bit sparse up here, you know." I laughed and shook my head.
"That bar, the Brass Mug, is fine with me."
We agreed on a time later that evening and I left as casually as I could without betraying my eagerness. I promised myself I wouldn't smother him, I wouldn't fill my life with only him, so I spent the rest of the day exploring the town. I found they had a library and on a whim, I checked it out. To my surprise, I found myself completely absorbed there until I had to meet Logan later.
---
Chapter 8
In the morning, I knew I had to talk to Logan again - no matter what. I couldn't let it end this way. I *will* fight for him. (I hoped a small offering of coffee and cheese danishes would give me brownie points.)
Since Logan was working with the lumberjacks, he was living in their apartment building/dormitory. I found Logan's room at the end of a hall and knocked. No answer. I knocked again and called his name. Same result. I tried the knob and it turned easily.
It was a small apartment: a tiny kitchenette, a living room and bedroom. I walked through the apartment quietly. It was messy, dark, sparsely furnished and practically shrieked 'single man lives here'.
I found him in the bedroom, passed out on the bed, still dressed. Four bottles of whiskey were lying on the floor. He snored gently. I put the coffee and danishes on the small table by the bed and called his name again. A loud snore, but he didn't wake up. I was about to touch his shoulder to wake him up when I remembered how he'd awakened once before - claws first - and thought better of it.
I decided to clean up a little while I waited for him to wake up. In the midst of picking up old newspapers, beer bottles and old pizza boxes, I found something surprising. Beside his bed, on the floor, was a piece of paper. A letter. MY letter, to be specific. I couldn't believe he still had it. I picked up the letter and saw it had been folded many times. I got choked up thinking about him reading and re-reading the letter.
I sat on the floor and tried to think what this all meant. Eventually, two things became clear. One, I have the opportunity, NOW, to tell him how I feel and make sure he listens. Two, I'm alone with the man I've been dreaming about for years, in his bedroom.
It's now or never, Marie.
I took a deep breath and climbed onto the bed. I rolled him over slowly until he was on his back, then straddled his hips. I was thrilled to feel the heat of his body through our clothes ... I couldn't resist running my hands up his chest, so warm and firm. I smiled to myself thinking of the things I've always wanted to do to him.
It was my hands on his chest that finally got through his booze enhanced sleep. He started to stir, felt my weight on his hips and slowly opened his eyes. For an instant, he smiled a delicious smile at seeing me. But the moment disappeared and his eyes hardened to me. I quickly pinned his arms down to the bed and he pushed against me but then realized I suddenly had the superior strength. Eventually he stopped struggling against my grip.
"What are you doing? Get off of me. Leave me alone." Our faces were mere inches apart as I held him down. I could smell his breath, heavy with liquor.
"Get out." he growled. I shook my head.
"I need to talk to you." He turned his head away from me, frowning.
"Get out." More forcefully this time. I shuddered at his ferocity, but didn't release my grip.
"'..I was only really alive for those precious seconds with you.'" His head snapped over as I repeated the words I'd written so long ago.
"Stop it." He pushed against me, but I held him down. I needed to continue.
"'In the next life, I fully intend to find you and spend the rest of my life making up for what we didn't get to do in this one.'"
"Stop it! Stop it! You think I don't know what that letter says? I've read it a hundred times. Jesus ... don't ...."
"Every word I wrote is true - still IS true. I never wanted you to feel guilty. I wanted you to understand how much you meant -STILL mean- to me."
I leaned back and released my grip on his arms. My body reacted to our hips moving against each other. I hoped he wouldn't notice, but I knew he noticed everything.
"I have Mystique to thank, of all people, for making me appreciate the amazing gift you gave me." I touched my chest over my heart. "Few people get a second chance ... I've been given a third! I can't waste it."
I leaned forward and kissed him quickly, a peck. For just a fraction of a second, our lips met and then I pulled away slightly. (I had gambled that my power wouldn't kick in on such a short contact, and luckily I was right - nothing bad happened.) His warm breath made my skin flush with desire. I kissed him again quickly and with my face still close, I licked his lips with the tip of my tongue. With my eyes closed, I tried to memorize the taste and feel of his lips.
"Marie" he sighed, "don't. Stop it." he pushed against my shoulders lightly.
"I need you. I want YOU, Logan. Can't you forgive me?"
He shook his head but didn't push against me. I nodded, tracing his face with my gloved finger.
"Forgive me?" I leaned back so that I was straddling his hips again. I pulled his left hand close to my lips and licked a finger slowly. "Don't you want....?"
He reached up and touched my hair, his fingers weaving through the strands.
"Honey, if we 'could' ... we most definately 'would'."
He smiled as his hand trailed down from my hair, over my shoulder to caress my breast lightly through my shirt. I closed my eyes as the feel of his hands burned through me. Subconsciously, I started to grind my hips against his.
"Ohhh. Don't ... don't stop." I whispered.
Both of his hands caressed my breasts with tenderness and thoroughness. My shirt separated, exposing my bra. He leaned forward and put his mouth on the lacy material. The heat and moisture from his mouth was a heavenly torture. I was on fire and in danger of losing control. Thankfully, Logan brought me back.
"Darlin', if we don't stop now ... you might kill me with 'kindness'" he smiled and closed my shirt, gently. I took a deep breath to calm myself.
"Did you come here to seduce me?" he chuckled as he stroked my back softly.
"I did come with a peace offering." I said. He looked at where I was sitting on him and raised an eyebrow with a leer. I smiled and motioned toward the coffee on the table. Without breaking contact with his body, I leaned over and retrieved the coffee and danishes. I felt his hands on my hips, steadying me as I returned to my original position on his body.
He removed his hands from my hips and used them to push himself into an upright position. Now, I was straddling just his legs. I handed over the breakfast and started to get off the bed. But he grabbed my arm gently, and shook his head.
"No ... stay." I grinned and returned to my position on his lap, facing him. We ate in a comfortable silence. When we finished, he looked at me for a minute, then leaned forward. As I held my breath, he leaned closer and used his mouth and tongue to remove a stray crumb from the corner of my mouth. I felt the sexual pull begin again.
"I ... I should let you get up now." I swung my body off of his and instantly missed the heat, the contact. I stood and tugged my shirt back into place.
"Babe, I've been 'up' for a while now." he grinned and got up out of bed. When I saw the proof of his arousal I nearly lost my self control. He stretched with a playful grunt and took off his shirt. I stared at his bare chiseled chest and was transfixed. I think I might have been drooling when he said he was going to shower quickly. With a lighthearted push, he moved me out of the bedroom and into the living room so he could shower.
When he came out a few minutes later, I could smell the clean aroma of his soap and breathed it in. He was dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a red and black flannel shirt with a white t-shirt underneath. I could have torn it off of him in seconds. He watched me checking him out, but didn't comment.
"Do you have to work today?" Casual, I told myself. Keep it casual.
He shook his head and sat on the coffee table, directly across from me on the couch. He looked serious.
"About last night ..."
"About last night ..."
We laughed at ourselves for each saying the exact same thing and I motioned for him to speak first.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you." he said. "I was just ... it was just a shock to see you. I'm not ... mad at you."
"No. It was my fault. I wanted to see you and talk to you so badly ... I never really allowed myself to think about what you'd been feeling. I'm sorry."
"Hon, I'm glad you found me." He smiled crookedly and my heart melted. He reached over and held my gloved hands in his own. As his hands lightly encompassed mine, I feel a liquid fire run through my body.
"Um, do you want to have dinner together tonight?" I asked.
"The selection of four-star restaurants is a bit sparse up here, you know." I laughed and shook my head.
"That bar, the Brass Mug, is fine with me."
We agreed on a time later that evening and I left as casually as I could without betraying my eagerness. I promised myself I wouldn't smother him, I wouldn't fill my life with only him, so I spent the rest of the day exploring the town. I found they had a library and on a whim, I checked it out. To my surprise, I found myself completely absorbed there until I had to meet Logan later.
---