Author's note: First off Hi, how's it going eh?! I know virtually nothing about New Orleans, so I'm sorry in advance if any readers find anything wrong or out of place. I had to do research to find out the things I did put in, so that's why it took me so long to post again . That said, thanks for all the great feedback, and keep reading. I hope you enjoy it.
III
New Orleans, Louisiana.
The next day…
Rogue pulled open the balcony doors and stepped outside onto the terrace, dressed only in her silk robe, as the sun began to rise over the city in a rainbow of bright colors.
New Orleans spread out before her for as far as the eye could see, people already bustling to work or like her, off on vacation to explore the city. She breathed in deep, smelling all the scents she had long ago associated with the south and home. The smell of flowers, Spanish moss, fresh cooked southern food and most of all, the near by Mississippi. No matter how much time she spent in New York state or how long she lived in the Mansion as part of the team, the South was still home and she'd missed it more then she'd ever realized, even if she was from Mississippi and not Louisiana. With everything that had happened lately, it had seemed like the perfect time for a vacation, a trip home to the south, but not exactly home, because she obviously wasn't in Mississippi, since she hadn't taken more then a day off for years, since long before Trey was born and now she felt she'd needed it more then ever.
She breathed in as she looked over the bustling French Quarter where her hotel was located, smelling the scent of freshly made Beignets and bread coming from the bakery down the street, and the smell of strong Cajun coffee coming from the café located almost right under her balcony. A warm breeze brushed by her face, sending her hair flying around her shoulders as she sipped her coffee, and thought about what she and Trey could do in the days ahead. She'd taken ten days off, the longest she'd ever taken off for anything besides emergency medical leave, and maternity leave, for some much needed rest and relaxation, and since New Orleans was famous for being relaxing and fun, she'd decided it was the best place to come, plus it would give her a chance to teach Trey a bit about his Cajun heritage.
Rogue glanced back towards the hotel room, Trey was still sound asleep, probably would be for another two hours yet, so it had seemed like the perfect time to sneak out for a bit of quiet time before what she knew was going to be a hectic day, in more ways she suspected then one if everything went the way she'd planned. She'd have liked to have taken him on vacation during Mardi Gras but it fell during the school year when she was teaching, so now would have to do. She knew he was looking forward to exploring the city, and possibly traveling outside the city to take a tour of the bayou so he could see some of the animals there. She smiled, she'd have to be careful, if they did that or else he'd get himself in trouble, trying to communicate with an alligator or something equally dangerous.
Trey's powers were still growing but he was very adept at being able to tell her exactly what an animal was feeling and why they were feeling it at the moment they were. She'd have to put her foot down when he got older or she suspected that they'd have a menagerie of pets to look after. Right now she'd stopped it at a pet goldfish even though the word ferret had been floating around her apartment for months, she prayed it would go away quietly or else she might have to kill the idea and Logan for putting it in her son's head.
She winced at the brightness of the sun as it rose further and decided it was going to be a hot after all, a good ol' southern scorcher, just like she'd wanted. With a final yawn, she watched a vendor pushing a flower cart up the street and decided it was time to get her day under way. Rogue turned from the balcony and went back inside the hotel room, suddenly glad it was the one she'd chosen after all.
Her room was gorgeous, done in a soft moss green antique style with cherry oak furniture, she'd loved it as soon as she'd seen it . An oak writing desk stood against one wall while the other wall sported a full length mirror and an armoire. The floor was carpet under her bare feet in a rich brown color that matched the wood furniture while on the balcony a wicker set of furniture allowed a private place to eat meals and socialize. The masterpiece of the whole room, though, was the huge four-poster canopied bed done in a soft ivory color, she'd practically sunk into it the night before when she'd seen it. It even had old fashioned bed curtains that allowed total privacy for the sleeper, something she rarely ever got at home.
Through an adjoining door, Trey's room was identical to hers except he didn't have access to the balcony for obvious safety reasons. Off to the left of the connecting door was a living area with a kitchenette, several couches, a TV and a huge bay window that over looked the street. To her right was a huge master bathroom with an old fashioned claw foot tub and a sunk in hot tub that she had yet to use, plus a variety of scented soaps and oils that she was dying to try.
It was in that direction she headed, knowing she had a few hours to relax before she and Trey hit the streets as soon as their tour guide arrived, if he arrived on time like she was expecting him too. She stepped inside the bathroom, pulling the door closed, except for a tiny crack so she could hear if Trey woke and came in, and began to fill the tub, dropping in a generous amount of bath oil as she did so. As the scents of bergamot, rosemary and lemongrass began to fill the room, she dropped her robe and slipped into the water with a contented sigh, setting her coffee on a nearby table. She began to wash slowly, enjoying the soothing scents and warm water immensely as she did, letting her mind drift into a world of fantasy's where everything was easier and simpler then it was in reality.
She began to wonder what the others in the team were doing, sleeping still probably if Scott didn't have them in the training room, or else Jean would be feeding the baby and everyone would still be at breakfast. Rogue missed them already, it was amazing how close you could get to people, she thought, when you spend every day with the, The team really was her family now, as much as Trey was, or even Remy if she'd ever let him get that close again. At the thought of Remy, she tried not to laugh and finally succeeded in pushing all work related thoughts out of her mind and tried to concentrate on washing both her body and her mind free of all stress and baggage.
She hadn't come on vacation to worry, she'd come to unwind and spend time with her son. So far, in a city that promoted time off, she was still feeling as wound up as ever, she prayed that two weeks in New Orleans would do something about that. She really wanted to have a good time, so she didn't know why something felt like it was missing so far. She just hoped that things got better as the vacation went on, so she could enjoy herself for the first time in ages, and she suspected it was going to be a day to remember.
Forty-five minutes later, Rogue slipped from the tub wrapping a towel around her nonchalantly as she went back into her room to get dressed and order breakfast. She phoned an order of Eggs Benedict and bacon into room service for herself then slipped her robe back on to wait for the bellhop to bring her food, leafing through the tour books the hotel had given her. She absently began to make a list on a scrap of paper of places that they would go to have some safe fun.
She was amazed at all the attractions that the city had to offer, she didn't know where to start, let alone what Trey would like to see and not see. She knew some of the city's history, but not a lot of it, so she decided the best thing to do was to take an offered historical carriage tour, of the old parts of the city. Then there was a tour of New Orleans's supposedly most haunted houses, a tour she'd have loved to take but wasn't recommend for small children, so it was out for the moment, even if the hotel had a reliable day care. She didn't like the thought of leaving Trey with strangers, having to explain his eyes, or other personal details that she was afraid they'd ridicule him for.
There was also a riding stable nearby in the old quarter she would have loved to go too, and she knew Trey would as well, so she penned that down on her list as well as several garden tours and a children's museum that offered interactive tours about the native animals and foliage of Louisiana. She sipped at her coffee again and winced as she found it had gone cold, oh well it was forbidden anyways although she saw no reason why she shouldn't treat herself while she was on vacation.
With a sigh she went and dumped it down the sink, wondering if the morning paper was outside her room yet. She rose, checking on Trey as she went to make sure he was still asleep and , slipped on a pair of full length leather gloves and then went to open the door to get her morning paper. She opened the door, bending low to grab the paper and came eye to eye with a pair of well worn black boots that she knew so well as she suppressed a grin and tried to look serious for the moment. She looked up, past a brown trench coat to meet an angry pair of red eyes, glaring down at her, over a pair of Rayband sunglasses.
So her plan had worked after all.
She straightened up , holding the top of her robe closed as she gave Remy a good glance over, feeling relief course through her as she saw he had shown up like she'd though he would. She'd been afraid for a few hours, he wouldn't turn up and then things would have really been screwed up. She'd have had more explaining to do when she got back then she did at the moment. Especially since the Ragen Cajun looked like he was going to explode and rage all over her hotel room.
He was leaning against her doorframe, sunglasses covering his eyes, dressed in a pair of faded black jeans, a white t-shirt and his brown trench coat, legs crossed at the ankles, calmly shuffling a deck of playing card from hand to hand as he gave her the same glance over she was giving him. She felt her heart pick up a pace as they scoped each other out warily, he'd never look better to her then he did at that moment.
He opened his mouth to speak as he stuffed the cards into his coat pocket, and she knew exactly what was going to come out of it. Girl, you got one hell of an explanation to give to Remy, …again!. She could almost see the words form before he spoke them. However before he got the chance to speak or even think about speaking, she'd reached out, grabbed him by the front of his shirt, and slipping a silk scarf she'd been carrying in her robe pocket out of her pocket, she used it as a barrier to give him the hottest, most earth-shattering, passionate, kiss she had ever given him before.
Remy for his part, was so shocked, he did the only thing he could. He kissed her back, settling his hands at her waist as she wound her arms around his neck, pulling him close as the kiss intensified beyond anything she'd ever thought possible. Only vaguely aware that they were standing in the doorway to her room and any of the other clients in the hotel could have been gawking at them from their doors, but she didn't care as long as the kiss could continue the way it was or better yet the way it was making her feel.
When they finally broke apart, Rogue could see the totally baffled look on Remy's face but she didn't say a word. She just turned, slipping the scarf back into her pocket and retrieved her paper from the floor where it had fallen when she'd grabbed him, and whirling on her heel went back into her room.
Leaving the door open for him to follow her.
He promptly did, still shocked enough to be silent as he tried to figure out what in the name of hell exactly was going on, and which world he'd stumbled into. Especially when he walked in and found Rogue calmly sitting at her kitchenette table, reading the morning Gazette and sipping a glass of juice she'd ordered earlier. With a perplexed look he stumbled to the table and sat down across from her, waiting for her to speak, his intense anger gone, replaced by utter confusion.
It began to dawn on Remy that he might have been set up.
No.
That he had most definitely been set up.
After a moment, Rogue lowered the paper with a smile as she glanced up at Remy innocently. " Good morning."
" Good morn"- he started to say then cut himself off. " Dat's all your gonna say to Remy, good morn'in!"
" What do you want?", she asked, playing along with her plan to the fullest extent. " Good day, how are you feeling?, what's the weather like?"
" How's about an explanation?", he said. " What dat hell are you playing at girl? Remy comes home, find you and da little one gone, without a word, pitches a fit and Red tells me where you'd gone to. So I follow angry as a wounded alligator to find out what da hell your doin"-
-" Its called a vacation.", she said with a nod and a grin.
" Remy got dat part." He said dryly before continuing. " Den when Remy shows up here to confront you, you give him what can only be constituted as as…", he shook his head. " Remy don't even know what it was chere."
" Its called a kiss.", she said patently. " And it was a damn good one if I do say so myself."
" Dat was no kiss.", he said waving a hand at her. " Dat was a mouth orgasm, and a multiple one at dat, chere, dare's a big difference."
" So?" She said calmly.
" So?" he exclaimed, jumping up from the table. " SO!"
He forced himself to sit down and look at her calmly. " Have you completely lost your marbles girl?"
" No." She said calmly, hearing a knock at the door. " That's my breakfast, hold on."
Leaving him, she went and let the bellboy in, accepting the food and giving him a generous tip before she sent him on his way out of the room and carried her plate to the table. She settled down to eat aware that he was watching her, " Do you want some?" She offered him her plate with an blameless gaze.
"No", he said through gritted teeth. "I ate already on da jet."
" Well don't mind me.", she said " Ah haven't eaten since yesterday."
"Do you realize you're completely insane?" he said, raising both eyebrows.
She looked up at him, trying not to laugh and decided she'd bewildered him enough for one day. " Do you realize when your being set up Cajun?"
Remy opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out as he realized he'd been right at his first thought. He had been set up by his P'tite and set real good too if he did say so. " What ya mean, set up?" he asked.
"Ah mean set up Sugah." She said with a laugh. " Ah set this up Remy, all of it"
" Why?" He asked, shaking his head as the last of his anger faded to curiosity and annoyance. " Ya got a wish to make my blood pressure as high as yours, cause its reaching its limits. Trust me."
" Because we needed some time together and Ah knew we wouldn't get it at the mansion, a vacation was the perfect time.", she said taking a bite of eggs.
" Why didn't you say something?" He said " Instead of just taking off?"
"Surprise, Sugah." she said.
" If ya wanted to play ' Catch me Cajun' you could have said something.", he said as he smiled seductively. " We could have done dat at da manor, in private chere."
Marie rolled her eyes. "Ah needed a vacation and Trey's never been on one."
" So you pick here, he said " New Orleans, my hometown. Why?"
" Because nether Trey nor Ah have ever been here." She said as she finished her meal and set her plate aside silently, moving to the bay window to gaze out over the city " And since Ah knew you'd show up, Ah knew Ah'd have a willing tour guide."
" Oh you knew Remy'd show up huh?", he said moving to stand beside her, feeling more relived now although he still more then a little mad. " And just how'd ya know that Rogue."
" Because Ah did.", she said leaning against the window's edge. " You said a few weeks back, you knew your chere very well. Right?"
" Right." He said, as he leaned against the window edge beside her.
"Well Sugah" she said with a soft smile as she laid a hand on his chest. " Now Ah'm telling you, Ah know my Cajun, very, very well."
She leaned up with a ready scarf, and tipping his chin towards him kissed him again as she wrapped her arms around him. Without any regrets, his anger long gone as the prospect of spending ten days alone with Rogue and Trey sunk into his head, he kissed her back, winding his fingers in her hair as the kiss deepened.
He had a feeling that, that kiss would be forever burned into his mind as long as he lived, even more then the kiss at the door, because it was so purely Rogue, his Rogue. It was hard outwardly, but soft in every other way, and it was strong, full of fire and intense heat, just like her. It was like steel incased in pure silk, warmth and passion seemed to radiate from it, just like her and he loved it. She tasted like coffee, and smelled like soap and bergamot, and it made him want her even more. He was hard pressed not to take her in his arms and carry her to the huge bed in the center of the room, where he could make love to her until they both couldn't move. " Chere,", he whispered in French as they kiss continued unbroken but for an instant for air. "Mon belle chere."
When they finally pulled apart, he smiled down at her. "You really be crazy you know dat. You be the only person in da world who Remy can't stay mad at, no matter what. Remy loves for ya to much for dat."
She smiled back at him, it was the first time he'd said that to her since his return and she was amazed at how much she'd longed to hear it. She stroked his cheek with a gloved hand. "Ah love you too Cajun." she said softly, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off of her chest.
He grinned at her response and a moment later they kissed again, as they looked out the window and watched everyone passing below. "So" Rogue said "Are you willing to be our tour guide for the next ten days?"
He grinned a cocky grin at her as he wrapped his arms tighter around her waist and laid his head on her shoulder. "Chere, dis be my town, of course Remy'd love to show you around."
"Good." She said "Because Ah really thinks it would mean a lot to Trey if you did, even more so then you think." She took a breath, inhaling his scent and closed her eyes. "And it would mean a lot to me."
"Den say no more." he said "Remy would love to be your escort, after all da women who sets all this up is, deserves the best guide of all, and P'tite, Remy be da best there is."
"At many things." She said with a sage nod.
She leaned her head against his chest as he looked down at her. The sun had risen fully and the city below was bustling as they stood silently and watched for a moment. As if on cue the connecting door between the two rooms opened and Trey practically flew out at them in his pajamas .
" Papa, Papa!", he said making a beeline for Remy and Rogue.
Remy smiled at his son, and caught him easily as he barreled towards him. He scooped him up on his arm and picked him up the little boy laughed. " Hey son, what'cha been doing?"
" Nothing.", Trey said " Mama said were on vacation." He stumbled at bit over the word before getting it out. " Are you on vacation too?"
" Guess so." Remy said as he winked at Rogue and she smiled back .
" With us?" Trey said excitedly.
" Yup." Remy said " According to your Mama, least."
" Good." Trey said as Remy set him down.
"Why don't you go get dressed?" Rogue said as Trey came over to her and gave her a hug. "And then we'll go someplace for you to get breakfast."
"Okay." Trey said then darted off to his room.
"Ah better go with him, make sure he looks alright when he's done." She said pushing off of the window.
"How's about you getting dressed yourself while Remy help's him." he said taking of his trench coat and tossing it over a chair nearby.
"Sounds like a plan Sugah." she said "Ah'll meet ya in Trey's room in about half an hour?"
He nodded and started for the connecting doors between the rooms. "Alright, sounds good to me."
When he was gone, Rogue felt all the air go from her system in a loud whoosh.
She couldn't believe that her plan to get him to follow them had actually gone to plan. He'd showed up, he wasn't pissed at her much, and he was going stay with them. She laughed as she made sure the door between the rooms was closed for privacy, feeling relived because she knew things could have easily gone in the other direction.
She moved back to the bed area, opening her suitcase and began pulling cloths out, looking for what she wanted to wear. After a moment of deciding she dropped her robe, pulling on a sheer body stocking, followed by a pair of black cut off shorts, and then decided to wear her favorite white off the shoulder top.
She cursed as she searched through her suitcase, unable to find the item of clothing she was looking for, even though she was sure she had packed it. She rifled through the cloths, tossing items aside as she went until she finally located the gauzy top. She was so engrossed in her work she didn't even notice Remy come back into the room until he was standing almost right beside her. She turned and yelped, dropping the shirt to the floor, as she found him leaning against the bed post.
Realizing she was virtually naked from the waist up through the transparent stocking, she made a grab for the top on the floor as her face flushed, but he beat her too it. Lifting the silky top off of the floor with the tips of his fingers he handed it to her silently, raising an eyebrow as he did so. As he did she was more aware then ever of how he made her feel as her body reacted to his heated gaze.
"Remy needs to borrow your brush," he said thickly and she knew he was reacting to her as well. "I can't find Trey's"
She pulled on the top quickly, and grabbed Trey's brush from her suitcase. "Its right here got mixed in with my stuff Ah guess." He nodded, taking the brush from her shaking hand as he turned to leave.
As he did a plan of his own began to form in his mind and he suppressed a grin until his back was too her, so she wouldn't see it and suspect anything was running through his head.
So his Belle Chere wanted to play games with him.
Well that was fine with him, after all, two could play at games easily enough and everybody has their game to play. In a place like New Orleans, this was the first thing one learned, and people quickly learned to scope out people's games to their own advantages.
Rogue's game, as he was figuring out, was using the art of surprise to her advantage.
Remy LeBeau's game, as she was about to find out however, was the fine art of seduction.
And at it, he was without a doubt a Master.
He grinned again, tapping the brush against his hand with a soft laugh as he went back to his son. So she wanted to play games, did she? Well she was playing with the best and she was about to realize two really could play at games, but now the game was in Remy's court without her even knowing it.
By the end of this vacation, he decided, he was going to seduce his Rogue, and it was going to be the sweetest seduction he'd ever accomplished in his life.
The games were on and his chere was going down but he was going down with her.
And what a hell of a way to go down it was going to be.
Twenty minutes later, Rogue opened the door to find Remy sitting on the floor with Trey as he showed him what appeared to be a card trick, As Rogue came in, he gathered the cards together guiltily and settled them in his jeans pocket, rising to meet her. "Please tell me you're not teaching our three year old son to gamble." she said shaking her head.
"Nope.", he said innocently.
"Papa was teaching me twenty-two.", Trey piped up as he looked from his mother to his father.
"Its twenty-one, son." Remy said absently aware of the glare that Rogue was giving him, as he glanced down at his son with a wince. "And you're not helping Papa, here at all."
Rogue looked at Remy and he winced again. "Ah thought we agreed, not until he's older."
"He is older then he was." he said innocently.
"By three weeks!" she said as she settled a hat on Trey and tried to slather sun screen on the squirming child. "Ah don't my son to be a card shark by the time he's nine."
"Why not?" he said taking the bottle from her and holding Trey still so she could apply the sun screen. "Remy was and he turned out fine."
"That's arguable at the best of times." she said sardonically but she was laughing as she said it. "Ah've got to go grab my purse, ah'll be right back." She turned and darted from the room back to her own.
As she did, Remy picked up Trey and set him down so standing on the bed, so he could adjust his hat. "Son you and I need to have a talk." He said lightly.
"'Bout what.", the little boy said seriously.
"About what we tell your mama and what we don't tell your mama." Remy said with a laugh.
Rogue entered the room a few moments later, with her purse and cell phone in tow. "Ah right", she said to Remy and her smiling son. "Let's hit the road and get this show moving."
They all turned and headed for the door, the day stretching ahead of them like a glorious stretch of free time.
As they left the hotel room, with Rogue locking the door securely behind them as they went. "Ah know there are thieves in this town, after all." she said to Remy and they both laughed.
"Chere, the thieves Remy knows here, ain't gonna be stopped by a lock on da door." he said as they entered the elevator to go down to the main lobby.
As the elevator doors closed behind them, Trey looked up at his mother with a smiled. "Guess what mama?" he asked.
"What Sugah?" She said ruffling his hair as she slipped a pair of sunglasses from her shoulder bag and settled them on Trey before putting her own sunglasses on.
"Papa says it's alright not to tell you everything, like if he shows me card tricks, because it's for your own good."
"Oh really!" she said shooting a dagger look at Remy. "How interesting."
Remy sighed and passed a hand over his face as he turned to his son. "Son," He said after a moment, feeling like he was going to cry as he saw the look on Rogue's face. "Remind me never to take you gambling when you're older."
"Why?' Trey said.
"Cause I get the feeling, you'd cost your papa a lot of money at da card tables."
As they left the hotel a few moments later, Gambit stole a look at Rogue and was relieved when she gave him a half smile. Maybe he wouldn't be spending this vacation on the couch after all. As they left the hotel Rogue turned to Remy for a moment. "Ah forgot to ask, where are you staying sugah? Ah know it's not this hotel, their booked solid for the next week."
He laughed as he wound an arm around her shoulders. "Ya forget, chere, like I said, dis is my town and I was living here until a few weeks ago. Remy still has his apartment in da Garden District." He raised an eyebrow at her. "If ya had asked me before flyin da coop, we all could have stayed there instead of you and him in a hotel and me half way across da town."
A look crossed his face as they stepped outside, and she cocked her head and looked at him worriedly. "Something wrong Sugah?" She asked as she settled Trey in a stroller she'd just rented.
"Nope.", he said with a reassuring smile that she didn't buy for an instant.
"Remy." She said warily as she looked at him from behind her sunglasses for a moment.
"It's nothing Rogue." he said. "Remy was just thinking 'bout the fact, that dat the Guild head office is here, dat's all."
"And you think there could be trouble if you don't check in?" She said steering Trey down the street to the nearest café.
"No.", he said reassuringly with a shake of his head. "Remy was only here a few weeks ago, but maybe I should make a trip dare alone at some point."
She nodded as they entered outdoor café and the waiter seated them, trying not to feel as apprehensive as she did. "If you think so."
By noon, a few hours later, Rogue had completely fallen in love with New Orleans. After wandering in and out of shops in the business district, and the French Quarter, she was completely charmed with the city's antique look and feel. She'd never been there before and yet she felt completely at home, as if she'd lived there for hundreds of years.
She and Remy wandered in and out of little shops looking at items and trinkets while Trey eventually dozed in his stroller. In one new age shop they just happened to wander into, Rogue found an antique amethyst crystal in the shape of a lightening bolt on a long slim silver chain, that Remy insisted on buying for her despite her protests. "It'll protect you", he said "If Remy's ever not around."
She laughed as they left the shop but inwardly she was thrilled. "A) Ah can protect myself, B) you actually believe in that sort of thing?"
He shook his head as he took the stroller from her and began steering it down the street. "Remy's a Cajun, chere, its part of da blood to believe dat sort of thing." He looked down at Trey, sound sleep in the stroller and then back up to her. "He seems to be havin an enjoyable time."
"Ah figured he'd sleep at some point." she said with a shrug as they entered another store.
After a brief stop for lunch, she let Remy guide them around the city until finally they wound up in Audubon Park. "Mama, it has a zoo!" Trey said excitedly as they walked in.
"Remy knew he'd like this", he whispered to Rogue as they entered the petting zoo and she was touched that he'd thought of it. They wandered over to where Trey was looking at sheep in bewilderment and Rogue realized he'd never seen one before. A moment later she found herself petting the animal like it was some sort of long lost pet as Trey watched in fascination. "It's soft, see?" she said as to him as she fed the animal some food. "Its okay for you to touch him if you want.
Remy watched as Trey shook his head nervously, and walked over squatting down beside Rogue as he petting the sheep while he smiled at Trey. "Come on." he said "Its all right."
Trey reached out and touched the animal with a laugh. "He feels funny." Trey said and Remy watched as the little boy looked perplexed for a moment. For the first time Remy remembered his son's powers and what he could do. "What's he thinkin?" he whispered to Trey, so just he and Rogue could hear.
"He doesn't like it here." Trey whispered back as they moved on. "Its too small for him."
A few moments later Rogue was laughing as she watched Trey chase after a flock of ducks curiously. She could see out of the corner of her eye that Remy for his part was waging his personal war with an unlikely adversary and he was losing badly.
"Chere.", he called to her as she tried not to laugh at the sight that met her eyes. A monkey had come out down from one of the trees, and had settled on Remy's shoulder while a trainer watched from near by. Remy was trying to get rid of it as fast as possible but it didn't want to go and it wasn't making qualms about screeching in Remy's ear and letting him know it. "Ca c'est assez, little help would be nice." She watched as the monkey made a grab for Remy's sunglasses and he tried to stop it in vain. He grabbed the glasses settling them back on his head as he tried to shoo the monkey away to no avail. It sat stubbornly on his shoulder and tried to wrap its little arms around Remy's head as he struggled to get away.
"Need some help?" she said as she fought her away to him, through a crowd of children.
He gave her a look over her sunglasses and she couldn't help but laugh as she watched him. "Get dis rat off Remy's head chere, before it becomes gumbo." A trainer hurried over and pried the animal away as Remy shook his head lightly from side to side.
With a sigh, Rogue walked up to him and reaching up, she brushed the hair off of his face and back into place with a sigh. "Don't be such a baby." she chided him "It's just a monkey." He opened his mouth to speak but before he could she had wound her arm through his and pulled him close, leading him away. He smiled, surprised and pleased at her sudden show of public affection and wound arm around her waist, pressing a kiss to her hair, as they walked over to where Trey was waiting for them.
Before Rogue knew it, the day was fading, night was falling and she and Remy were heading back to the hotel after a fantastic dinner at an out of the way diner. "So" He said as he wheeled a sleeping Trey into the hotel's lobby. "Do you like what you see of Belle Orleans's so far?" He said to her as they returned the stroller to the front desk.
"Ah like it," she said as she picked up Trey and settled him against her shoulder as he murmured in his sleep. " Ah could easily stay here, feels like home already." This answer clearly pleased him and she slowly began to realize how important it was to him, that she liked his home town and everything in it.
They reached the hotel room in no time and she let Remy open the door while she waited with Trey . " He's exhausted.", she said as she moved to carry him to his room. " But Ah know he had a great day." She looked around the room, noticing housekeeping had been in while she was gone, and nodded to a bottle of wine that was chilling on a table near by, wondering where it had come from until she saw the look on Remy's face.
With a sigh she gave up and decided to just enjoy herself for once. " Why don't I put him to bed while you pour us each a glass of that." She said nodding to it and prayed that the situation wouldn't get to far out of hand. He nodded and she turned and went into Trey's room, quickly settling him in his pajamas and slipping him under the covers. He didn't move or wake up for even a moment and she knew he needed all the sleep he could get if they were going to be out early the next day. She gave him kiss on the forehead and slipped out of the room, leaving a nightlight on and closing the door behind her.
" He's out for the night," She said as she accepted a glass of white wine from Remy and curled up on the couch beside him as he turned the stereo on to some light jazz music. She smiled and kicked off her shoes, curling her feet under her as she settled in. " Thank you," she said " For the zoo today, Ah know he really loved it."
He smiled and sipped at his drink, glad he had had the presence of mind to pre-order it before they'd left that morning. " Wasn't nothin chere, just tryin to be a good papa, dat's all."
" You are, he's a lucky little boy", she said setting her drink on the coffee table and curling up close to him, laying her head on his chest as he slipped an arm around her covered shoulders.
For a moment silence reigned but Rogue didn't mind, she'd never felt so content and safe in her life as she did in those few minutes. She closed her eyes and listened to his heart beating steadily while he stroked her covered arm easily. She loved him more she'd ever realized and it was at that moment that she realized it would be an easy step for her to ask him to stay the night. She shivered inwardly at the delicious thought of spending the night making love with him and tried to will her blood to calm.
A thought began to dawn on her, and her eyes flew open as it struck her, they were rapidly evolving into a couple. In their own way, in their own time, like usual for them, they were becoming what they had once been and Rogue couldn't have been happier. Six months before she would have denied harshly that she had any feeling left for him, and if someone had told her that they'd get a second chance to make things right, she'd have scoffed. Now, she was willing to admit she loved him, hell she'd even told him so, and the thought of being part of a couple( Something she'd never thought she'd be again) made her happier then she'd been in a long time and she knew he felt the same. She opened her eyes, aware of the fact he was watching her with a smile.
" What'cha thinkin 'bout chere?", he asked.
" The fact that Ah love you, totally and completely.", she said setting her glass aside as she looked up at him.
He looker at her seriously and took her chin in his hand . " Ah love you too Rogue,", he said looking down at her. " With all my heart." He grabbed a scarf off of the coffee table and kissed her through it as she held onto him for dear life, feeling her heart slip away. Knowing it would land squarely in his hands and it would be safe from harm.
When they broke apart, she curled up against his chest again as he buried his face in her hair, both feeling affected as intense emotion collided through them in waves. After a moment she spoke in a soft shaky voice, that she almost couldn't believe was hers " Remy when did this happen to us again?",
" What P'tite?" he asked .
" Us.", she said as she laid a hand on his chest." When did it happen again, and why Ah didn't notice when everyone else seemed to?"
He laughed and stoked her hair. " Da key word dare is again, chere. Remy doesn't think it had ever stopped to begin with, even when we were apart."
" Really?" she said.
He nodded and kissed her temple through the scarf. " Da reason ya never noticed girl, is because it was always dare, it always has been, it was just broken dat's all. We just needed to fix it, for both of us to feel things again like we're supposed too.", He turned serious for a moment as he looked down at her. " You and I, Rouge, we got something special between us, something strong. Stronger den Remy'd ever seen between two people, even Cykes and Jean don't got it like we do, chere. We fight, and we cuss, and we hurt, but in da end, we come out stronger den before. Its da damnedest thing Remy's seen but it's always been there chere, it's never left, just we did."
" So we're just getting back to where we're supposed to be.", she surmised, feeling like he was right about everything.
" Exactly," He said. " We just took the long road around, dat's all."
She looked up at him, and without a word leaned up and kissed him again, settling her hand at the base of his neck as he leaned in closer. When they finally pulled away, they were breathless. She brushed her lips lightly against his through the scarf, once, twice as she leaned back against the sofa. " What the hell are we doing?" she asked raggedly as she strained against him.
"Remy ain't got a clue chere." he said, as he eased her down onto the sofa and, bracing himself on his arms looked down at her. " But it feels, damn good to figure out, Non?"
" True.", she said as they kissed again. " Very true Cajun."
As they kissed he began to massage up her ribcage until he reached her breasts, pausing a moment before beginning to stroke her through the thin fabric of her t-shirt. She let out delighted sigh and he felt her body tighten under him, her nipple hardening at his touch. He played with her mercilessly until she was moaning against his lips and panting for breath, then sure she was wearing a body stocking, he slipped a hand under her shirt, feeling the heat reading from her body and began to stroke her swollen flesh again. She placed a hand over his and guided him, feeling her body begin to rise to its peak.
When they finally broke apart, she leaned against him for support she tried to catch her breath . Her sense kicked in and she almost began to cry in frustration. " Remy.", she said, " We can't do this here."
She thought for a moment he was going t cry in frustration as well. " Why not chere?"
" Because these rooms aren't sound proof, and Trey is right through that door. He'll hear everything." She said as she sat up and pulled her shirt back into place. " It would be different if we were home, the rooms are sound proof but here, its too risky."
He nodded and ran a hand through his hair, knowing she was right. She smiled at him. " Don't be too disappointed Cajun." She said " Because once we do get home…", she let her voice trail off as she watched the look on his face.
" Your gonna be da death of me, ya know dat girl.", he said with a grin as he settled down on the couch and pulled her down with him. " But it's a death, Remy'd gonna enjoy 'til the last minute.", he wrapped his arms around her as they lay there, legs tangled like the old days.
She grinned as he turned on the TV to an oldies station, that she knew they both liked and Bewitched blared across the screen. He pulled a blanket over them and they settled in for the night, both happy and content to just be with each other then anything else.
Before Rouge knew it, or quite believed it, they had been in New Orleans a week and she begun to think she had found a second home.
As she finished her lunch, she smiled as she thought of what was planned. Remy had rented a car and was taking them on an authentic Bayou tour, run through a nature guide an hour outside of the city. Trey had been so excited about going he had barley slept the night before, and to be honest Rogue was excited herself about seeing some of the natural sites.
She smiled again as she thought of Remy, he'd been the perfect guide to the city and there hadn't been a day that they hadn't done something fun. Whether it was a trip to the Aquarium of the Americas, riding at a local stable or shopping in the city's business core, it had been the best time she'd had in forever. Just the day before they had gone to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and had spent the entire day there until dark.
The hotel staff was so used to seeing him with her and Trey, that she knew they thought they were a married couple, and they didn't question Remy's coming or goings. She could handle that to a degree, it didn't really matter to ether her or Remy. Although the first time the front desk clerk had called her " Mrs. LeBeau", she'd nearly had a massive coronary and died on the spot, she'd been so surprised.
Rogue hadn't felted stressed in days and she'd been sleeping much better, possibly because of the stubborn Cajun who had taken to sleeping on her sofa, although she'd offered to share the bed on neutral terms until they got home. It might have also had something to with the fact, that, said Cajun, had phoned room service and told them not send any coffee up to her rooms again, even if she asked or begged for it.
She sighed as they eyed the cup of Jasmine tea on the kitchen table and winced, wondering what it would take to get room service to sneak her up a cup of coffee then decided it wasn't worth the risk. She looked around the room, Trey was coloring while they waited for Remy to get back. He had said he had to go out for a bit and take care of some errands in the morning before they left in the early afternoon, and had gone out at the crack of dawn. Rogue had figured it was guild business and hadn't asked anything else because she really didn't want to know .
She hadn't more then thought of him then Remy came in through the door, still talking on his cell . He quickly cut the conversation off and slid the phone back into his pocket as he kissed the top of Trey's head and smiled at her. " Sorry it took me awhile, are we all ready to go?"
" Sure.", she said as she gave Trey his hat to put on and they headed out the door. " Did you get everything done, you wanted too?"
"Sure did.", he said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. " Now let's go have some fun."
An hour, and one long, hot car ride later, Rogue found herself standing with three other couples, waiting to board a small river boat that would guide them safely around the bayou for the afternoon. The guide was a man, who made her glad she had Remy with her, because she could barely understand what he was saying, his Cajun accent was so thick.
As the boat began to move, she looked around and was amazed that what was actually a swamp could be so beautiful. The water was calm and still, with the occasional willow tree hanging low over the water with their sweeping branches, moving in the wind. A mist swirled around them, and gave the land an eerie calm, like something out of Marion Zimmer Bradley novel, she thought as the guide began to talk about the region and the plant and animal life. They glided by trees, covered with hanging Spanish moss and Rogue felt her breath catch in her chest. " It really is beautiful here in its own way.', she said to Remy as she leaned against him.
" Told ya chere,", he said, whispering low in her ear " Nothin like da bayou, not at all."
" Look," Rogue said to Trey as she pointed out a white tailed deer on the bank near by. " Isn't she pretty?"
Trey nodded, fascinated as they watched a brown heron, take off from the water and swoop low over the boat before heading back the way they had come. A moment later Rogue watched as a pair of otters, slid off the bank and into the water.
The tour went on, and they watched gators, glide through the swamp watching them back warily with an intense gaze that Rogue found creepy. She shivered and turned her attention to a grey fox that was burying something on the shore line, dinner for another day and tried to pry her mind off of anything but enjoying herself. They cruised under the Spanish moss again, listening to the call of a mockingbird, and then a moment later a pair of loons calling across the water to each other.
She let Remy point things out to Trey as they cruised along and tried to ignore the water snake that bobbed by the boat as it tried to catch a small fish of some sort.
Before she knew it the boat was cruising back into the dock and they were getting off and thanking their guide, or at least Remy was thanking him in rapid fire French, and paying him extra for giving them such an enjoyable tour.
" So?", she said to Trey as they pulled up to the hotel, " Did you like it?"
Trey nodded and smiled. " Yes.", he turned to Remy. " The man there talked like you, only worse Papa.", he observed as they started inside. Rogue bit back a laugh, seeing Remy didn't quite know how to take that one.
As they entered the hotel, Remy turned to Rogue with a grin. " Gotta surprise for you chere", he said as they settled in the elevator. " I made us plans to go out tonight, just the two of us."
" What?", she said, raising an eyebrow as they entered the hallway where her room was. " Remy, I mean it's a nice gesture how are we going to pull this one off?, we don't have a babysitter and the daycare's closed."
He grinned even wider as he unlocked the hotel door with her spare key. " It's okay, Rogue.", he said as he clocked his head at her. " Remy thought of dat."
'"So?", she said.
" So?", he said, opening the door wider and watching as her jaw dropped to the floor. " Remy flew in a Jubilee, custom order from New York State."
" Hi", Jubilee said from where she was lounging on the couch reading a book. "How's your vacation going?"
" Good.", Rogue said, in shock as her gaze darted from Jubilee to Remy.
" Jubilee's gonna watch Trey for the night." Remy told her. " So you and I can go out on da town." He glanced at the clock above the fireplace. " You should go change, if we're gonna make it to dinner. Places fill up fast on a Friday night in this town, so Remy made reservation for an hour and half from now."
He grabbed a tote, off of the floor, something she hadn't even noticed he'd brought in earlier. " If ya wanna shower and change in da bathroom, Remy'll go shower and change in da boy's room."
Rogue was still in shock as she watched him go, everything was happening in a blur. She turned to Jubilee with a shake of her head as Trey hugged her waist with a grin. " Ah had no idea he had this planned, did you?"
Jubilee shrugged. " He called last night, and asked if I wanted to baby sit for the night, I said sure, no problem and then I realized he meant here, instead of when you got back. He had Storm fly me in on the jet, I got here just after you left this afternoon chica, the hotel staff knew I was coming so the let me in. That's all I know, honest"
" Ah don't know whether to kiss him or kill him", Rogue said as she picked out what she was going to wear for the evening and started for the bathroom to get ready. " Or both."
Jubilee laughed as she tousled Trey's hair. " Hey if it was me, I'd be thrilled that a guy would go that far out of his way to do something romantic."
" That's true" Rogue said as she shut the bathroom door and began to strip off her shorts and t-shirt, " Very true."
She was touched that Remy had done this for them, she thought as she stepped under the shower's hot spray and began to lather her hair. It would be a good way to end their vacation, since they were supposed to be leaving the next evening. A thrill shot through her at the thought of spending the evening with Remy alone, she wondered what he had planned for them .
When she emerged from the bathroom a little while later she was dressed in a black lace dress she had bought the day before. It had a sheer body shell that came down to her knees and then that was covered with black lace. The bell sleeves were mid arm and she'd even bought a pair of lace gloves to go with them. She slipped a black body stocking on under that, wound a black velvet scarf around her throat and would her hair up on her head, letting a few stray curls wind down around her face as she slipped her feet into a pair of black heels that added an inch or so to her height.
She watched the shocked but pleased look on Remy's face as she grabbed her purse from the coffee table. He was dressed in a blue dress shirt and a pair of black dress pants with a blue sports jacket draped over his arm. " Are you ready to go?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at him the turned to Jubilee. " Ah don't know how late we're gonna be Sugah, sorry."
" Don't worry about it." Jubilee said as she grinned down at Trey. " We can find something to do I'm sure. Have a great time, enjoy yourself."
" We will." Remy said as they turned to leave.
" Be good for Jubilee." Rouge as she gave Trey a kiss and a hug. " Don't give her any trouble or we'll hear about it."
" I won't.", Trey said with a yawn.
Rouge mouthed the word " Bedtime.", to Jubilee who nodded softly and then she and Remy went out the door closing it softly behind them.
Remy eyed her as they started up the hall, hand in hand. " You look beautiful chere." He said as he appraised her.
" You clean up pretty good yourself .", she said as they got on the elevator and it started down. " Really good in fact."
As they left the elevator and started across the lobby, she wound her arm around his and lean her head against his shoulder as the front desk clerk smiled at them and wised them a good evening. When they got outside Rogue was stunned to find a black limo waiting for them and she turned to Remy in surprise, who just smiled and moved to open the door for her. She slid in and he followed, pulling the door shut behind them before giving the driver instruction in French to where they were going.
" So,", she said leaning back against her seat with an amused glance. " Are you going to tell me where we're going Sugah?"
" Non", he said " Ya just gonna have to wait and see. Trust Remy, chere, he promises you won't regret it."
" Ah never thought Ah would.", she said as she pushed a strained of hair back into place. " Ah'd just like to know what ya' ll got planned for us that's all."
" Well, you'll just have to wait and see, like Remy said.", he whispered.
Rogue decided to approach him a different way, to see if she could figure anything out about their evening. " So how long have you been planning this?", she asked as she slid closer to him.
" How do you know its not a spur of the moment thing?" He asked.
" Because Ah know you.", she said " And this type of thing takes planning, even for a charmer like you are."
He grinned. "It took awhile, Remy'll admit but it was worth it to see the look on your face girl."
" Ah'm glad Ah amused you", she said mock angrily, crossing her arms over her chest.
He reached out, and for the first time she saw he was wearing a pair of thin leather gloves, tipping her chin towards him,. " Remy was hoping tonight could be about both of us, amusing ourselves P'tite."
Oh dear God.
Rogue wasn't sure she wanted to know what he meant by that.
"So that's where you went this morning?" she asked, trying to catch her breath. "To get Jubilee?"
He nodded and leaned back against his own seat"Had to meet da jet, and stash her at my place till we were gone, as well as do a few other things."
The car stopped and the driver moved to open he door for them, and Rogue could see that they were at one of the most well known Creole restaurants in the French Quarter. As she stepped out of the car , Marie noticed that the sky was graying down. "Ah think it's gonna rain." she observed to Gambit as they hurried inside.
When they entered, they stood for a moment while the waiter went to make sure their table was ready and Rogue looked around curiously at her surrounding. The restaurant wasn't large, in fact it was quite the opposite, Xavier's dining room at the mansion was bigger by far, but it gave it a cozy air that Marie instantly liked. Tables were clustered around the restaurant center, while others sat back in secluded alcoves along the side walls. Black lace curtains provided privacy to couples who obviously wanted an intimate atmosphere while candles lit the tables giving off a soft lit glow. The soft jazz music that Rogue had come to associate with New Orleans, permeated the air as a live jazz band played on a platform off to the restaurants edge.
It was to one of these secluded tables that the hostess led them, not to Rogue's surprise as she slid into the booth, setting her purse beside her as she watched Gambit peruse the wine menu. He picked a bottle off of the list and handed the list back to the waitress, before turning to her with a smile. " Well.", he said as she left to get their drinks. " What'cha think chere?."
" Ah like it.", she said with a nod as she glanced over the menu with a barely concealed smile.
" Good.", he said picking her hand up and kissing it from across the table as she felt her heart jump. " Because Remy aims to please."
The waitress returned with the wine, pouring them a glass before taking out a pad of paper to take their orders. " Ah'll have a tossed salad and then the Crawfish Etouffee ." Rogue said handing her the menu .
Remy looked at the menu for a moment longer before closing it and handing it to the waitress. " I'll have a tossed salad as well and den da Jambalaya.", he said as he handed it to her.
" Ahright.", the waitress said as she took it down and hurried off.
Rouge took a sip of her wine, and smiled as she listened to the music coming from the band. " So, your really not gonna tell me what you've got planned?", she said.
" It's drivin you crazy, girl, isn't it?,", he said with rakishly wide smile as he buttered a piece of bred and passed it to her. " Not knowing what Remy's got up his sleeve."
" Besides an Ace of Hearts?" She said mock innocently as she took it, battling her lashes at him.
He made a face at her. " Very funny ."
He looked out at the band and then turned with her. " It's gonna be awhile 'till the food comes P'tite .", he said and then beckoned over his shoulder to the small dance floor where a several couples were dancing. " Ya wanna dance?"
" Ah'd love too Sugah", she said rising and taking his hand as he stood and offered it. Rogue let him lead her out on the dance floor as the band began to play a slow song.
Automatically Remy wound an arm around her waist, pulling her close as he rested one hand in the small of her back and the other between her shoulder blades. She rested her head against his chest, loving the warmth from his body and its strength, draping her arms around his neck as they swayed to the music.
For a moment, everything seemed perfect, suspended so that nothing existed outside. Time seemed to still and everyone else on the dance floor was gone, all except them. The lights seemed to dim and fade away to a defused glow and it was all Rogue could do not to sigh in tranquility, she'd never felt as close to anyone as she did at that moment.
" Ah don't want this to end.", she whispered looking up at him.
" It won't Mon Coeur." He said as they continued to dance. "It won't, Remy won't let it."
Eventually though, the music slowed and came to a stop, much to her regret and, they were left on the floor alone for a moment before turning and returning to their table. Unaware of the glances they were getting from the other patrons in the restaurant, not knowing how much of a striking couple they actually made.
A moment after they had returned, their waitress brought their food and set it in front of them with a flourish. The smell alone was enough to make her mouth water as she began to eat . It was spicier then she'd thought it would be and Remy laughed as she took a sip of wine trying to get the burning sensation out of her mouth. " Its good.", she wheezed, wondering if her taste buds would survive the night.
" It's Cajun,", he said as he dug into his own with a fervor. " If it ain't good and spicy then something wrong."
Rogue shook her head, she was used to spicy food, it was just a shock that something could be that spicy and not come with a warning label of some kind. Still she had to admit, it was good food, the best she'd had in along time, ironically enough, probably the last time Remy had cooked dinner for her.
Dessert, came in the form of double caramel pecan fudge, cheesecake that Rogue was sure would add ten pounds to her hips just by looking at it. The taste however was enough to make her out all other thoughts out of her mind. She took a sip of another sip of her Brandy Alexander and tried not to think about the fact that if she kept eating the way she was eating, none of her cloths would fit by the time she got home. "Ah can't believe you won't let me drink coffee but you'll let demolish this", she said, finished, as she watched him finish off his own Peach Cobbler.
He shrugged and set his own fork aside, taking a sip of his own drink as he beckoned the waitress for the check. "Jean didn't say you couldn't have any of that."
Trust the Cajun to find a good excuse and plausible for everything.
When they left the restaurant a few moments later, it had begun to rain, a slow steady warm drizzle that Rogue knew would probably turn into banger of a thunderstorm before long. They hurried to the waiting Limo and slid inside as the rain began to fall lightly against the roof as they began to make their way to wherever Remy was taking them. He still refused to any where he was taking her, despite her badgering.
When the limo stopped some ten minute later, Rogue knew that they had left the French Quarter, and now where somewhere in the city, she just didn't know where that somewhere was. She looked out the tinted window beside her and was surprised to find that they had stopped in front of a large building in the Garden District, The museum of Creole culture, or at least that's what the sign outside said. "What are we doin here?" she asked him perplexed. "Ah thought you said we were going for drinks Sugah?"
"We are." he said as the driver opened the door and they stepped out" At the best place, Remy knows of." He saw the questioning look on her face and just smiled with a shake of his head as they continued on their way, running to get out of the rain that was rapidly coming down.
He paid the limo driver and then took her by the hand, leading her up the pathway to the building's main doors. It was then she noticed, another oak door, set right beside the main set of front ones. It was this door, Remy opened with a key, stepping aside so she could go first. He took her by the hand again as she looked around and led her down a hallway to an elevator, which they both stepped inside. "Where are we going?" she asked as the elevator began to go up.
"Well ya see", he said as the elevator ground to a halt "It's only the bottom half of the building that's a museum chere, the top half is… home."
"Home.", she said, looking at him as he opened the elevator door. "Wait, this is your place Sugah?"
"One and da same," he said pulling her out of the elevator.
As he did, Rogue got her first good look at his apartment. It was a loft, taking up one whole floor of the building, with huge bay windows lining one wall. She could see practically the whole city from where she was standing just inside the door. As Remy hit a switch the lights came on dimly and she could see, it was carpeted in a deep blue. The furniture, both couches and a recliner, in the living area were leather while coffee table was a solid polished oak. A large screen TV sat off to the side of the sofa as well as a top of the line stereo and entertainment system.
Off to her left was a large kitchen table and a fully stocked kitchen with stainless steel fixtures and raw wood countertops and off to the left of that was a large fully stocked liquor cabinet. To her right was a pool table, and a large oak bookshelf, full to overflowing with novels and magazines.
The masterpiece of the whole place though was clearly the king sized bed that was set near the bay windows . It was huge, the headboard a deep cherry wood, and it was covered with a navy blue comforter. It was clearly the master of the house, dominating all the other furniture by far . It figured though, that a man like Remy would have the best bed possible, given the fact he flirted with everything that moved. Rogue let herself grin, or at least he used too.
As she looked around the room she began to notice things, like the fact that there was roses and wine, and scarves sitting on the kitchen table and every other flat surface like the coffee table, or that fact that he'd turned the stereo on and soft music was playing.
Rogue was beginning to think she'd been set up.
She looked over at Remy and got the look. The, I'm irresistible, I'm able to seduce anything female that breathes look, that only Remy got. The one that always worked on her, no matter what her mood was or how hard she resisted and knew she was in big trouble.
He took a step towards her and she took a step back warily darting around the sofa as he made a playful grab for her. He chased her around the sofa, finally catching her as she laughed and let him. " Do you realize your completely insane Cajun?", she asked as he dipped her low over his arm.
" Do you realize when you're being set up Mon P'tite ?" he asked as she looked up at him.
"So that's what tonight was about?" she said "To get me here, to seduce me into bed."
"Maybe", he said "Or maybe it was partly about showing you a good time in my town and partly that."
She looked up at him, mock seriously. " Ah aught to be furious at you"
" Are you?", he asked, gazing at her heatedly again with his red on black eyes.
" No,", she said reluctantly after a moment.
" Good.", he said as he grabbed the nearest scarf off of the coffee table. "Because dat means the rest of da evening can be as fun as Remy planned." He leaned down and kissed her through the scarf as she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
A part of her was chastising herself for falling for his charms yet again, saying she should resist until they had been together longer while another part of her was crying out for his touch, for the feeling his body pressed again hers and the strength and safety it provided. The latter won out, as the kiss intensified and deepened as much as it could, he reached up and cupped her cheek, stroking softly.
When they broke apart, he set her on her feet, still holding her close as they listened to the rain pounding on the roof in droves. "You're awful has anyone ever told you that?' she said good naturedly.
"Hey you started dis", he said kissing her temple. "Remy's just continuing it."
He pulled back, serious for a moment as he looked at her and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. "Seriously though chere," he said as he tucked it behind her ear affectionately "Remy set dis up for you and he, but if you want to go, if you'd rather we wait awhile longer, den we'll go. If you don't want to be here den we'll go get dat drink or go dancing, and I won't say a word about it."
He was giving her an out, she knew, in case she wasn't ready and if anything it made her want him and love him , even more then she already did. He was all about seduction, but he then he wasn't going to pressure her into doing she didn't wholly want to do.
Rogue slipped the scarf between them and pulled him close, kissing him tenderly as she rested her arms on his chest. After a moment she pulled back and smiled up at him. "Remy." she said "If Ah didn't want to be here, then Ah'd have walked out that door the minute Ah figured out what ya were planning.", she settled his hands at her waist and looked into his heated gaze. " Ah'm here because Ah want to be and, no, Ah don't want to leave, Ah want to stay here with you."
It was all he needed to hear, as he swept her up in his arms, all his plans for a long slow seduction gone, as a primal need swept through both of them. She wound her arms his neck as he lowered his head and kissed her through her neck scarf, trying to maintain his control and fighting all the way. Rogue kicked off her heels as he steered them towards the bed, never breaking the contact between them for an instant. He set her down on the silk comforter, pausing for a moment to kick off his own shoes, and then crawled down on the bed beside her, realizing just good she looked on his bed, how much she truly belonged there.
He eased himself up beside her, tracing the curve of her bodily through her dress with his hand as he did so, until he was at her side. He stared down at her for a moment, smiling as he did so.
" What?", she said nervously.
"Nothing ." He said " Remy's just amazed at how beautiful you are."
She slid closer to him, running her gloved fingers up and down his arm, as the sexual tension began to build between them. " Ah love you, Remy."
" I love you too Mon Chere", he said as he leaned in and kissed her through her scarf .
The spark between them shot to life instantly as she rested her hand on his neck and drew him closer to her, she wanted, no she needed, to feel him against her as close as possible. The kiss intensified and Rogue let herself fall completely into it as she arched her body against his in a vain attempt to ease the tension that was coiling in her body. His legs brushed against her, tangling with hers and she sucked in her breath, feeling his arousal pressed against her thigh.
As they broke apart, Remy reached down and around, undoing the zipper on her dress, and slipping a hand inside against, her body stocking covered back for a moment, letting her feel him, until at last he moved her dressed foreword, baring one of her shoulders, and kissing down word from the base of her neck to the covered flesh he had just exposed.
She stroked the back of his neck encouraging him on, as she pulling his shirt out of his pants and began to fumble with the buttons, popping a few in her haste to push the shirt off of his shoulders. When she had, she tossed it across the room, leaving him clad only a pair of dress pants while she was still fully dressed. He began to work her dress down over her shoulders, pulling the lacy fabric away until she was clad only in the dark, silky, full covering body stocking she had chosen to wear under her dress that evening.
He settled her arms around his neck, while he kissed the base of her neck again, letting his mouth drift down to capture one of her nipples through the body stocking's sheer fabric. Rogue cried out in shock and pleasure, as he swept his tongue over the turgid peak, sucking gently, while he captured her other breast with his hand, stroking mercilessly until she was gasping incoherently. She arched her back, trying to draw him closer into her as she grabbed onto the silk comforter for support.
Rogue could feel his erection against her tight, and absently she reached down and ran her fingers lightly down him, undoing his zipped and slipping a gloved hand inside his pant, as he sucked in his breath and his red on black eyes flashed up to hers. She cupped him with her fingers, caressing gently, feeling the weight of him in her palm as she teased him with nimble fingers. She could feel him straining against her hand, and she felt a thrill go through her as she realized the power her touch could have over him.
She pushed him to the brink, feeling as his control slipped away, until she knew he was close to coming as she stoked up and down his hard shaft, cupping the head of his penis in her hand, feeling the smooth, hot head until she thought he was going to scream. Finally he reached out and stopped her with a gasp, and she knew he was trying to maintain control. She smiled as he kissed her again and knew he was as lost in them as she was, but wanting more, wanting everything, like she did.
He reached down, finding the slit in her body stocking easily and began to stroke her, glad he had remembered to wear his gloves, finding her wet and ready for him. Remy grinned, and slipped a finger inside her as she arched her back again, and muffled a cry, finding her swollen clit and teasing it with his fingers as she cried out, thrashing her head on the pillows. She could feel herself building to her climax as he continued to stroke her but turned his attention back to her breasts; Lavishing attention on one and then the other as she hugged his head against her and ground her hips against his erection.
Suddenly Rogue came with a cry, feeling her body fly as she let go and fell, feeling sparks shoot through her body as her body shuddered and came back down . She reached down and pulled him up and against her, not wanting to wait anymore, wanting to feel him inside her so badly.
" Remy.", she whispered against his shoulder as she helped him removed his pants. " Ah can't wait anymore…",
She could feel him shaking and she knew he was as close as she was. " Remy can't ether Mon Coeur", he whisper as he reached around her and grabbed a condom from where he had set them earlier on the night stand. She took it from him, and rolled it down his shaft expertly, giving him one long final stroke before she wrapped her arms around him again.
He looked down at her, and kissed her again as with one thrust he slid comfortably inside of her, sheathing himself in her body, feeling more in tune with her then he had ever been with anyone else.
For a moment they hung there, letting their bodies adjust as they came together for the first time in three years. Then he began to move slowly, gliding almost of her completely before plunging into her totally, driving both of them to another higher peak then the ones they had been to before. It was more then sex, more then a physical joining, it was like a re-joining of two halves that should have never been part and both Rogue and Remy, knew and felt that.
Rogue matched his thrusts, grinding her hips against his, as she dug her nails into his back, and called his name, feeling herself going higher and higher until all she could feel was him, and nothing else mattered. She groaned as he reached between them and found her clit again, stroking her even as he was deep inside her and knew she wouldn't be able to last much longer. He was whispering French endearments to her, words she loved, even if she didn't quite understand them all and she arched a leg over his hip drawing him even closer inside her still as she tighten her muscles around him and let herself go.
A moment later she came with a cry, holding him close as he gave one final thrust and came an instant later, calling her name and collapsing against her with the force of it. They soared and fly together, and the world disappeared until it was just the two of them, and nothing else mattered as they fell back to earth and fell asleep in each others arms.
The next morning, they sat together on Remy's balcony, watching the sun come and Rogue didn't want the night to be over, she wanted things to stay exactly the way they were. She kissed his temple as he looked up at her, she was sitting on his lap wrapped in a blanket while he was dressed in a pair of jeans. " Ah wish we could stay like this forever.", she murmured leaning against him.
" Who says we can't ", He said as he held her. " Just cause we're going home, don't mean things have to change much?"
' Ah know", she said as she stole a sip of his coffee . " Promise me one thing though, okay Cajun?"
" Anything", he said, toying with her hair.
" Never get rid of this apartment if you can help it Ah mean, Ah want us to be able to come back here, okay?" She said and he laughed as he wrapped his arms tighter around her.
" You got it chere,", he said as he kissed her through the blanket.
"Promise?", she asked again
"Remy promises", he said with a nod as he picked her up and carried her back inside to their bed, so they could enjoy the few hours left they had before they had to leave.
The sun could rise the rest of the way without them.
To be continued…