Reaching for The Moon by ThePekingNoodle

AN: So you didn't like my jungle symbolism? Gee I thought it was kind of poetic. And hot and steamy and… Of course I could do the butterflies and flowers if you want instead. And by the way do you really think I have any control over this thing? Hah. Keeping those two away from each other is next to impossible. As if that's what you all really want anyway. PN

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Chapter Forty-Eight: There's Got to be a Morning After

In which our hero finds out that a cat in heat is no easy force to reckon with…

A shaft of sunlight fell across Logan's face, and he muttered and turned his head to escape it.  That worked for a moment but then he felt a hand shaking his shoulder.

"Logan. Get up."

"Can't anymore right now. Gotta wait a while," he mumbled pulling the sheet over his head.

There was a giggle "Not that up, Logan. Up as in out of bed."

He finally recognized the voice. "Go 'way, Ken." he said. "'M resting."

"Logan, Mom is gonna be on the warpath for sure, if you don't get your butt out of bed and downstairs for her Crystal Brunch thing."

Logan groaned and sat up, slowly opening his eyes.  The bed and the room were empty except for him, and for his cousin standing looking down at him.

"Wow. What happened to you? You look like something the cat dragged in." Kendra commented. "Too much wine at dinner? Or was it something you had after dinner? Where did you and Max vanish to anyway?"

"None of your business, Kendra. Turn around."

"Like I haven't seen it all before anyway. And like we didn't grow up together. Whatever. Men have the weirdest sense of modesty." She shrugged and complied.

Logan climbed out of bed and slipped into his boxers which were lying on the floor. Suddenly it hit his groggy brain. "Where's Max?" he asked in alarm.

"She went downstairs to brunch. I told her I'd get you moving."

Logan put a hand to his head. "Dammit." He looked around for some clothes only to be stopped by Kendra.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?"

"Getting dressed. I need to get downstairs to Max."

"Logan have you looked in a mirror? You better shower and shave or Mom will have your head. Max is a big girl. She can take care of herself without you holding her hand."

"If you only knew…" he muttered to himself. He looked at her, but she stood blocking the door to the room. "Fine. I'll shower and shave. But you get downstairs and stick with Max. Do not let her out of your sight. I mean it."

"Logan what is it with you and Max? I've never seen you act possessive before." Kendra giggled. "Logan the lady killer has finally fallen. What a hoot."

Logan glared at her. "Get_down_ stairs_ and_ stay_ with_ Max," he repeated slowly, emphasizing each word.

Kendra just gave him a smug smile and waited.

"Please."

"You owe me. Big time."

"Ok I owe you. Now go."

"Aye Aye, mon Capitan." Kendra tossed him a mock salute and was out the door. He heard her laughing as she left.

 Logan had never taken a shower and gotten dressed so quickly in his life. He winced when the hot water hit his back, stinging the scratches that Max had left there. Good thing the weather was too cool for swimming he thought as he looked at his chest. He didn't want to have to explain this to anyone else. Of course Kendra had seen, and he was sure he hadn't heard the last from her.

He was showered, shaven and dressed within ten minutes. He glanced briefly at the tangled mess of sheets that was the bed but he didn't have time to do anything about it. Let the maids think what they liked. The door shut with a sharp snap behind him as he left the room and headed down to look for his wife.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Max had already been up and showered when Kendra had knocked on the door. She was standing looking out the window, while Logan slept the sleep of the exhausted in the huge bed.  When she opened the door to Kendra she held a finger to her lips and nodded in his direction.

Kendra smiled knowingly when she saw the red gown hanging crookedly from the top of the tall armoire that housed the room's entertainment center. She looked from it, to her sleeping cousin, to Max. "You're glowing. I told you that gown would make him your sex slave. And I was right wasn't I? Admit it. You look like a cat that just ate an entire bowl of cream."

"Kendra!" Max protested blushing. If she only knew…cat for sure.

"It's all good." Kendra assured her. "How come you're so bright and cheerful though and not passed out with him?"

Max shrugged. "Guess it's true what they say about females having more endurance than males." Especially a revved up, in heat, genetically enhanced one. It's a wonder he's still alive this morning. That last time had me a little bit worried about him.

Kendra laughed. Then she reached out and hugged Max. "I'm so glad Logan found you. He needed someone like you."

Max suddenly sobered. "Maybe." 

Kendra looked at her closely. "Max? It is all good with you two, right?"

Max forced a smile. "Of course it is." She changed the subject. "Why are you here now anyway?"

Kendra clapped her hand to her mouth. "Ooops. Almost forgot. My mom has this big fancy brunch buffet starting in a few minutes. If you and Logan don't make it down for it, he is going to take shit from her over it for months. Maybe years. I figured I'd better make sure you two were awake and all…" She winked at Max.  "Look you're dressed already. Why don't you head down now and hold the fort while I roust my lazy cousin out of bed."

"I can do it." Max started to protest. Oh yeah. Getting Logan up… that'll be fun…

"Yeah sure you can. And then we'll never see you two again." She hadn't missed the look Max had shot toward Logan. "Go. I know how to get him up. Years of practice."

I know how to get him up too. Better than you I bet.

Stop it. She's right. Better if she gets him out of bed.

We can check out the rest of the toms while we wait for him.

We will not. Behave.

"Max?" Kendra broke her out of her reverie.

"Yeah, okay. Where do I go for this thing?"

"Just head out to the terrace. They're probably already serving the Mimosa's. I'll be down as soon as I drag Logan's lazy bones out of that bed."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Max made her way down the terrace after only a few dozen wrong turns. As she stepped out onto the flagstones, she saw that Kendra had been correct. The terrace was filled with elegantly dressed guests and uniformed waiters circulated among them, carrying trays filled with glasses of what looked like orange juice.

She stood there for a moment watching. A particularly good looking waiter caught her eye and she felt a rush of hot blood in her veins. Stop it now. Logan said he'd take care of you and he certainly did last night.

But why be exclusive Maxie? Variety is the spiicce of life. Meooww. Look at those shoulders and that butt…mmmm…

No, you slut. I let you have Logan. You better be satisfied with him.

Spoilsport. Logan better show soon then. This girl has needs to fill.

This girl needs some self control.

That's no fun.

"Max?" A hand touched her elbow tentatively, and she turned to look into the beaming face of Arnold. "I was hoping to see you here."

Her hormones took over in a rush at the proximity of a male, any male, and she gave him a seductive smile in return. "Why, Arnold. How nice to see you this morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Oh yes. I was dreaming of…umm… I mean." He stammered suddenly shy.

"Of me I hope?" Max purred.

Stop it now.

So stop me.

Stop.

No. I have an itch. I'm scratchin' it.

Logan

Isn't here. I'm in charge now.

Arnold blushed as Max ran a slim finger up his arm and looked into his eyes. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"Oh yes, of course."

"Good. So am I." She ran her eyes over him. "Shall we?" She took his unresisting hand and began to lead him away.

"Max, the buffet is that way." He protested.

"I know something better than the buffet. Hush. Just follow me."

Arnold hushed and followed along with Max.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Not two minutes after Max and Arnold had walked away, Logan walked onto the terrace. He spotted Kendra's blonde head instantly but there was no sight of Max.

"Where is she?" He demanded as he came up to her.

"I don't know." Kendra wrinkled her forehead.

Just then Margo sailed over to the two of them. "Nice of you to join us, Logan. Your little wife was just here. Not that she had the courtesy to say good morning to your family before she took off somewhere with that Arnold idiot. You really do need to teach her some manners…" She trailed off as she watched Logan's retreating back. "Where is he going?" she asked her daughter petulantly.

"I think he's gone to get Max." Kendra giggled as she watched Logan asking various people something. One of them finally pointed in a direction, obviously indicating where Max had headed and Logan quickly headed off that way.

Margo gave Kendra a look as her daughter continued to giggle, "Go find your father and brother. I'll deal with your cousin later."

"Yes, mother."

Kendra continued to smile as her mother stalked away. Then she headed after Logan. Arnold might be an idiot but he didn't deserve to die. Given the look on Logan's face she thought he might be in dire peril of doing exactly that.

End of Chapter Forty-Eight…TBC…