Losing Control And Finding Your Heart Chapter 2: Dinner Plans and Other Decisions

Disclaimer: Same as before. Poor college student who isn't fortunate enough to own X-Men Evolution, if I did maybe Rogue and Scott would find the happiness they both deserve. Please don't sue.

Dedication: Still to my beautiful fiancée, the woman who helped me find my own heart. Special Thanks: to all those who have read and reviewed so positively so far!

And without any further ado...

A short while after leaving Scott sitting in the hot tub, Rogue was curled up on the couch in the study, wearing her usual green top with black halter over it, black mini-skirt and black leggings, and of course protective gloves, indulging in one of her guilty pleasures. Namely reading a steamy romance novel, chock full of the "heaving bosoms" and "powerful rods of manhood", that made for, in her opinion, good reading. In fact, such novels were often the reason for her being a late riser in the morning, she would wait until Kitty was fast asleep before turning on the lamp by her bed and settling in for a chapter or two. Just because she couldn't touch didn't mean that she couldn't fantasize about being able to, and she would often imagine that she were the female protagonist in the story as she drifted off to sleep. This book in particular, was her favorite, " Forbidden Passions", mainly for two reasons: one, the male protagonist's name was Scott, much more to her liking than the stereotypical Dirks and Victors of other novels; and two, because the love scenes were rather detailed. Usually it was a great way for her to unwind from the stress of the day and could hold her attention even though she'd read it at least five times.

Today however, her mind kept wandering back to the basement and the handsome young leader of the X-Men she had left in the hot tub. * Was he actually flirting with me? * She wondered as her gloved finger flipped the page. She desperately wanted the answer to that question to be yes, that he'd finally noticed that she was indeed a girl, just like Jean, or hell, even Kitty. * Naw * she decided, as she re-read a sentence for the seventh time * Ah'm not that lucky. Ah'll always be just his friend, and besides what would it matter if he was? It's not like we can touch, let alone kiss. Nothing could come of it*. Rogue sighed, not for the first time cursing her "gift" that left her so isolated from everyone else and forced herself to re-focus on the book. She was so intent on reading that she didn't hear the elevator in the hall stop on the ground floor, nor did she notice the object of her thoughts standing in the doorway to the study.

After sitting in the hot tub for half an hour by himself, trying not to remember how amazing Rogue had looked in her bikini, * her thong bikini! * his mind had delighted in reminding him, he decided that colder water was probably a good idea and swam his usual fifty laps, in the pool trying to reassure himself that it was the vigorous exercise and not mental images of a certain team member that had his heart racing. He'd then gone back up to his room and changed into a pair of black jean shorts and a light blue tank top before going to look for Rogue to discuss dinner plans. He found her in the study, curled up on the couch with her back to him, obviously reading something, but he couldn't tell what. * I'm probably risking being punched out * he thought * but sneaking up on her twice in one day; just too good to pass up*. Being careful to avoid squeaky floorboards, Scott made his way onto the carpet and quietly crept up behind the couch. " What're you reading?," he asked slightly louder than normal, trying to keep the amusement out of his voice. The results were even better than he could have hoped for. Rogue jumped nearly a foot off the couch and spun to face him, at the same time stuffing whatever it was she had been reading under a pillow. "Scott! Do that one more time, and Ah swear to God that Ah am going to kick your ass into next week," she growled, doing a fairly good impression of Logan, in Scott's opinion. He grinned unabashedly, " Anyone ever mention that you're beautiful when you're threatening people? And what was it that you were so involved in that you didn't hear me coming?". " N..nothing important," Rogue stammered, " Just a book. Pretty dull actually, Ah'm just tired and that's why I didn't hear you come in". Scott raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing her, " Uh-huh, sure. Then you won't mind if I do this..". With speed that would have made Quicksilver proud, Scott dodged around Rogue's body on the couch and grabbed the book from under the pillow before backing away from the couch.

It was a rather standard looking trashy romance novel; some busty brunette half falling out of her top, in the arms of some muscular blond guy with hair far too long. " Forbidden Passions?" he asked, a smirk pulling at his lips as he looked down at the worn pages of the obviously well read book, " Don't tell me you actually enjoy these things". Getting over her initial shock, Rogue's eyes narrowed and she thrust her hand towards Scott, growling dangerously " Unless you have a serious death wish, Ah suggest you give that back right now and forget you ever saw it.". Scott's smirk blossomed into a full blown smile, amusement evident in his voice " My god, you are! You actually read this stuff!!" he flipped the book open to a dog eared page, clearly the last she had been reading and began to read it aloud in his best imitation of a feminine voice, " Rebecca's hands twisted in the rumpled bed sheets as waves of ecstasy crashed over her body; her full breasts heaving in the throes of passion as Scott's powerful pole invaded her very depths". Rogue's face reddened with equal parts embarrassment and anger as she slowly slid off the couch and stalked towards Scott with murder in her eyes, " Ah'm giving you one more chance Summers. Put the book back in my hand right now and forget you saw it, or else." " Or else what?" he challenged, closing the book and holding it over his head, well out of her reach. " Or else, the gloves come off." She stated, matter of fact. " I'm so sure" he teased, standing on his tip toes to put even more distance between Rogue and the book. True to her word, Rogue slowly pulled off one glove and then the other, glaring at Scott the whole time,

Ah warned ya Scott".

With the suddenness of a striking snake, the young woman launched herself at Scott's midsection, tackling him to the carpet behind the couch. Despite the surprise of the assault, Scott managed to hold onto the book and stretched his arm as far as he could to keep it from her, "Nice try Rogue, but not enough I'm afraid" he said, smiling up at her. Rogue returned his smile with an evil smile of her own and kept silent as her hands carefully found Scott's sides, covered by the material of his tank top and proceeded to tickle him. Shocked, Scott threw the book back onto the couch and instinctively reached down to grab her hands, realizing just in time that they were bare and pulling back. " Ah warned you sugah," Rogue smiled sweetly, continuing her tickle assault , " But you just didn't want to listen" . Scott writhed under her attack, laughing uncontrollably and desperately trying to find a way to turn the tables * Only her hands are bare! * he realized. Quickly, his own hands found her well covered sides and tickled in retaliation. Rogue squealed in shock, it had been years since anyone had dared to tickle her and she had forgotten just how ticklish she was, " No fair Summers," she managed between fits of laughter, " Ah was only tickling because you provoked me into attacking". *My god, she's beautiful when she smiles * Scott thought as he continued tickling the young woman squirming on top of him * She should do it more often *. " Hey," he said, trying to hold back laughter himself, " turn about is fair play. You should never underestimate your opponents. You can consider this training without the risks of the Danger Room". Rogue laughed, " Oh, Ah'm sure that the Professor and Logan are just working us up to the challenge of dangerous tickle attacks." Scott grinned, his comment had had the desired effect and she had paused in her tickling. Grasping her hands at the wrists, covered by the sleeves of her shirt he quickly pulled them over her head and rolled over, pinning her against the floor and staring into her eyes. " Oh, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss unconventional tactics," he said, " no matter how unconventional they seem. Surrender?" "Never." She replied, staring back into his eyes.

They laid like that for what seemed like forever, breathing heavily but not solely from the tickle fight they'd just had, their lips just inches apart. * I wonder if her lips are as soft as they look* Scott thought, his head lowering slightly towards hers. * Oh my god! Is he going to kiss me? * Rogue wondered, wishing she could just give in, even for a second and let her dreams come true but knowing the consequences of that momentary loss of control. Her eyes darted around for a distraction and settled on one that would serve to break the intimate moment, unfortunately. In their wrestling they'd moved close enough to her book for her fingers to brush the pages. She arched her body up against Scott's committing the sensation to memory and stretched her left hand just enough to close around the book. "Ah told you Ah'd never surrender," she whispered, her lips close enough to his that he could feel her breath on them. Scott paused, puzzled by what she meant until his eyes slid along her arm to the book in her hand. "Stubborn," he laughed, rolling off of her and offering her a hand up. " You know it sugah," Rogue smiled, putting her gloves back on before taking the offered hand and standing up. * Close one Summers * Scott berated himself * what the hell were you thinking? You keep playing with fire and you're going to get burned*. Scott led Rogue back to the couch and waited until she sat down before taking a seat beside her. " So, what did you want before you decided to harass me?" Rogue asked, " Ah presume that harassing me wasn't your only intention in coming in here." " Actually." Scott smiled impishly, " no it wasn't. I was getting ready to go out grocery shopping for tonight and was wondering if you wanted to come along?" Rogue smiled, the prospect of dinner alone with Scott seeming even more appealing after being pressed against him * Ah don't need to be thinking about that * she chastised herself, " Actually Scott, Ah think I'll just stay here if you don't mind. Ah seem to have worked up a bit of a sweat just now" she blushed as the words left her mouth and she realized how that must have sounded. Scott however didn't notice as thoughts of other ways to build up a sweat with Rogue flitted through his mind. " Out of curiosity," Rogue asked, " what are you planning on making?" Scott smiled, thankful for a mundane topic to focus his mind on, " Only the world famous, Scott Summer's chicken parmesan in a homemade sauce on top of angel hair pasta," he replied with more than a little pride. " World famous, huh?" Rogue smiled, " Ah can't wait." " You won't have to wait long anyway," Scott said as he stood up, " I'd better get going so I can get started on it at a decent time. I'll be back in a bit." With that he walked out of the study and headed for the garage. *What's up with you Scott Summers? * Rogue wondered * Why did you try to kiss me? Could you actually like me as more than just your friend?*. Rogue looked longingly towards the garage, * Only one way to find out *. Grabbing her book once more, Rogue headed out of the study and up to her room to change.