Finally! the next chapter is up. Sorry it took us so long, but we have been kinda busy...And thousand thanks to Alaidh who offered to beta our story. Sorry if we are too stubborn to change some things, we really appreciate your help!!!!
***
Penguins and polarbears
They stepped out on the street again and Max stifled a yawn.
"So, now that you have a dress and matching shoes, what else would you like me to get you?" Logan said with a sly grin, when they were back on the street. The sun was lower now, and the evening breeze was getting a little chilly.
"Jeeze, how long are you gonna hold that against me? You were the one who started all this! I never asked you to get me the dress in the first place. Not that I'm not grateful...saved me a night of cat burglary." The twinkle in her eyes told him she didn't really mean it.
Logan chuckled at Max's speech. "No I'm serious. I learned that women like to buy a complete outfit with the right accessories once they get started."
"Really? Good to know..." she nodded in mock seriousness.
"Well, Mr. Cale, then I'm afraid I'm in need of delicates." She tried hard to sound matter-of-fact.
Logan felt his face get red. He sped up a little, hoping that Max wouldn't notice. "Well...ahem...whatever you say..." he muttered.
"What? I didn't get it." She enjoyed the fact that he was apparently even more nervous than she was.
Giggling, she rushed after him.
"Nothing, I was just saying that it's...ahem okay with me..." he felt a new wave of blood go to his head. 'Geez, calm down already,' he told himself. 'You're just talking about delicates. What will happen, once the plan is put into action!!?'
Max caught up with Logan and motioned to a small store just ahead of them. "I think this is it. You can wait outside if you don't feel like coming in," she smiled slyly.
"I....no! I...mean… I don't know...it's...unless...you..." Logan stuttered, feeling stupid as if he was a little boy who was peeking through a forbidden keyhole. What the hell was wrong with him? He had seen many women in his life wearing nothing at all, so why was simply talking about it upsetting him so much? He looked at Max who was still standing at the door, waiting for a coherent sentence to come out of his mouth.
Finally, she let out a laugh and, instead of waiting for Logan to make sense, she stepped into the shop and held the door open invitingly.
Max let her gaze roam around the store. Taking in her surroundings, she didn't really feel comfortable. Two very arrogant looking women, one of them about her age, the other slightly older, were watching their new customers. Instead of coming over to offer their help, they tried hard to look busy untangling bras and clipping them on little plastic hangers. Max decided that she wouldn't let those women bother her. All she needed was underwear, and then they would be out of there.
Logan, who was still pondering his unexplainable insecurity, relaxed a little at Max's inviting gesture and followed her into the shop.He was taken aback by the two saleswomen's curious looks.
Max had a look over her shoulder to see if Logan was inside, then she went straight to business. 'No need to prolong that,' she thought. She sensed that it wasn't going to be as nice as in the other stores.
At least Logan wouldn't need to try anything on. She smiled at the thought, though, catching herself picturing Logan in nothing but boxers. She chided herself for that, then turned back to Logan, who had stopped in the doorway, and was looking around uncomfortably.
"I'll try to be quick," she whispered.
Max scanned the bras and found something that seemed to be acceptable quickly. She cast a glance at the two women who still hadn't made a move to help her. 'I wonder what they're paid for,' she asked herself.
On the other hand, she sure didn't need someone to comment on the underwear she'd chosen.
Having put on a cream-colored satin ensemble, she peeked out between the curtains looking for Logan. He hadn't moved much from where he was when she'd left him.
"Give me the bag with the dress please, I'm just gonna check out if it works," she called out, waving for him to come over. Logan did as he was told without saying a word. Max grabbed the bag and disappeared behind the curtain again. She felt a little uncomfortable about leaving Logan out there all alone, but she would try to be as quick as possible.
Logan stayed near the fitting room hoping that Max would be finished soon. Right now all he wanted to do was get out of this store, away from those open stares. With Max out of view, he now was the only object of interest. He wondered what those women were thinking. About him? About Max? About him and Max together? Did they think they were a normal couple? Or maybe they just thought of him as her 'sugar daddy'…buying her the right attire for a night he'd be paying for. He shook his head at the disgusting thought. What the hell was he thinking?? But that was probably just what they thought, he figured, judging from the whisper and chuckle behind his back.
Not sure what to do or where to look he just sat there, waiting for Max to come out. He didn't dare look around; that would have made him even more uncomfortable. He didn't want to give those women any more to fantasize about.
Meanwhile, Max efficiently slipped the dress on over the undergarments and noticed, with relief, that they were perfect.
"I'll be out in a sec. It fits. But I'll show you at the hotel if it's okay with you,"
she said only loud enough for Logan to hear.
"Hold this," She slipped her arm through the curtain, dangling the undergarment in front of Logan's face.
Logan sat there speechless. Did she just ask him if it was okay if she showed him later??? He hadn't expected her to show him at all; although he had secretly hoped for it.
"Uhhm...sure," he finally muttered, turning around now to make sure the two women had not caught any of Max's words.
But the two women were trying to look busy, hanging bras on plastic hangers over by the counter.
"OK, I'm done." Max stepped out, her hair looking slightly dishevelled from the quick undressing and redressing.
Logan sighed, relieved, and looked down at the delicate piece of cloth that Max had just handed him. He tried to ignore the thought that Max had worn this...incredibly sexy...thing...only seconds ago.
Logan tried to regain his composure and nervously cleared his throat.
"Okay, let's pay for that and get out of here," he said uncomfortably, following her to the counter.
Max shot the two women unfriendly stares while she waited for Logan to find his wallet in the depths of his pocket. Nervous as he was, it seemed to take ages to get the wallet out of his pocket where he had stored it away after the previous incident. Remembering that didn't make him feel any better.
"Ah, good choice!" the older of the two women commented, "A dream of lace and satin. Will make any man go crazy!" she added, giving her colleague a meaningful side-glance. Max rolled her eyes and impatiently stuffed the bra and panties in the other bag the moment the girl had scanned it in. Logan handed his credit card to the woman, frowning. As much as he wanted to buy Max whatever she liked, he'd rather have her pay for herself now. The woman raised an eyebrow, and then busied herself with the paying procedure. She finally handed Logan his card and the receipt, displaying a fake smile.
"Have fun with it," she directed at Max.
Max grabbed the bag from the counter mirroring the fake smile of the girl.
"Don't worry" she snapped. Then she preceded Logan to the door.
Logan followed Max outside. The words of the young woman and Max's response were ringing in his ears. Once outside, Max let out a loud breath. "God, nasty women. It's not all good down here either."
Logan didn't say a word. This day was slowly but surely turning into his personal nightmare. And it had been so nice and relaxed before. He felt sorry for being in such a bad mood now, but he just couldn't help it. Max took a few steps before addressing him. "Do you want to walk back to the hotel?"
She was unaware of his state of mind. Only when he didn't give her an answer did she realize
"What's up?" she stopped. "Those two women didn't seriously bother you that much, did they?"
"I'd like to go back to the hotel now, if you don't mind." Logan said coolly, completely oblivious to what Max had just asked him.
"What was I saying?" Max asked, shaking her head.
"I believe something about those women...." Logan said absent minded.
"You didn't listen at all, did you? They were probably just bored and....curious?"
Logan suddenly snapped out of his thoughts, catching up with what Max had said: "Yeah right," he muttered.
"There's an excuse for everyone..." he added under his breath.
"An excuse for what?"
"Staring!" Logan said out loud. He couldn't believe, Max hadn't noticed.
Max shook her head. Why did he have to be that sensitive again? "Maybe they weren't staring because of the chair, that thought ever occured to you?"
Logan pushed the wheels of the chair a little harder, so he was ahead of Max now. "Why would they be staring then?" he asked back, not really anticipating an answer.
Max stopped and threw her hands in the air in a gesture of hopelessness. "Because you might be a cute guy?"
Logan stopped abruptly and gave a sarcastic chuckle. "Yeah right!"
"You seriously don't believe that, do you?"
"No."
She was still standing behind him, his face was still turned away from her, and she suddenly felt all the insecurity that ate at him.
"Believe me, Logan, please. You are a hot guy."
"I've heard enough excuses. Sometimes, they were intolerant old people or ignorant jerks or innocent kids…or whatever. There's an excuse for everyone. But this one's the worst by far Max! Really!"
He sounded tired and unnerved.
"Why can't you believe me? Do you remember the first time we met, when you hit on me like there was no tomorrow? You knew you were hot back then..."
Logan swallowed and looked at her for a second, then turned away. "Well that was then Max." he said, trying to sound indifferent but nearly choking on the words.
"And do you really think things have changed that much?"
Max still stared at his back, seeing him tense and fighting to keep his composure. "Let me tell you they haven't."
Logan sat there motionless for a while, letting her words sink in and trying to sort them out. "Do you mind going back to the hotel now?" he finally said.
"Sure." she stepped beside him. She put her hand onto his shoulder and looked at him. "It was a nice day, after all. Try to relax." She smiled enigmatically. "Besides, I got you something, too."
Logan looked up at her puzzled. "What???" he asked, confused.
She rummaged around in the huge bag she was carrying and triumphantly held up a pack.
Logan raised an eyebrow. "You got me something?"
"I'm not sure they fit, didn't have time to check more closely. She threw it into his lap for Logan to investigate his new boxers. Logan felt himself blush again. "Max, you shouldn't have...I..." he looked at the pair of boxers in his lap.
"I thought you could use them, and those women weren't nice enough to deserve honest customers. Sorry I just stole you something."
Logan looked at the boxers more closely, and then a smile crept onto his face. They had little penguins sitting on ice floes all over them.
"Penguins, Max?"
"Ooops."
"You didn't see that?" Logan asked, grinning at her.
She shrugged. "Guess I'm a little rusty when it comes to basics."
She held her hands to her heart, pretending to be hurt. "Besides, it's a present, and you really should pretend to like it. That's how it works, you know."
Logan chuckled: "They're nice! Funny. "
"Too late, but I appreciate the effort."
"Hey look! There's even a polar bear on them!" he teased, earning himself a slap on the head from Max.
"No really I appreciate that. Thank you."
Max just nodded and quickened her steps.
"Come on, I'm starving."
"Max? What now? Are you pouting?" he couldn't help but smile at the thought, though he hadn't really wanted to upset her.
"No," she insisted. "Why should I? Because you made fun of my present? Because you constantly tease me? I'm an X5; I can take it."
"I'm sorry. It's just that I don't get boxers from a girl everyday," he added softly. "I don't know why you're so sensitive today. I mean we've joked around like this before."
"Logan! I'm not serious!!" she laughed. "Come on, you know me."
"Oh, okay." Logan said. He couldn't deny that he had somehow hoped that she had been serious; that she had been insulted by his reaction because she really cared. But then, this wasn't like her. She wouldn't just start pouting over some stupid remark he made.
He brushed the thought aside and grabbed his wheels to catch up with her.
"Listen, I have to thank you for everything today. I mean, you really shouldn't have..."
Max had turned around.
"It was my pleasure," he said, looking up at her smiling, his head slightly cocked to the side.
Max smiled back at him and then, on impulse, bent down to give him a kiss on the cheek.
She then straightened up as if nothing had happened and set off toward the hotel without looking back.
" Especially if that's what I get as a reward." Logan muttered under his breath.
"Now let's go get changed and then grab something to eat," he called after her.
TBC
***
Penguins and polarbears
They stepped out on the street again and Max stifled a yawn.
"So, now that you have a dress and matching shoes, what else would you like me to get you?" Logan said with a sly grin, when they were back on the street. The sun was lower now, and the evening breeze was getting a little chilly.
"Jeeze, how long are you gonna hold that against me? You were the one who started all this! I never asked you to get me the dress in the first place. Not that I'm not grateful...saved me a night of cat burglary." The twinkle in her eyes told him she didn't really mean it.
Logan chuckled at Max's speech. "No I'm serious. I learned that women like to buy a complete outfit with the right accessories once they get started."
"Really? Good to know..." she nodded in mock seriousness.
"Well, Mr. Cale, then I'm afraid I'm in need of delicates." She tried hard to sound matter-of-fact.
Logan felt his face get red. He sped up a little, hoping that Max wouldn't notice. "Well...ahem...whatever you say..." he muttered.
"What? I didn't get it." She enjoyed the fact that he was apparently even more nervous than she was.
Giggling, she rushed after him.
"Nothing, I was just saying that it's...ahem okay with me..." he felt a new wave of blood go to his head. 'Geez, calm down already,' he told himself. 'You're just talking about delicates. What will happen, once the plan is put into action!!?'
Max caught up with Logan and motioned to a small store just ahead of them. "I think this is it. You can wait outside if you don't feel like coming in," she smiled slyly.
"I....no! I...mean… I don't know...it's...unless...you..." Logan stuttered, feeling stupid as if he was a little boy who was peeking through a forbidden keyhole. What the hell was wrong with him? He had seen many women in his life wearing nothing at all, so why was simply talking about it upsetting him so much? He looked at Max who was still standing at the door, waiting for a coherent sentence to come out of his mouth.
Finally, she let out a laugh and, instead of waiting for Logan to make sense, she stepped into the shop and held the door open invitingly.
Max let her gaze roam around the store. Taking in her surroundings, she didn't really feel comfortable. Two very arrogant looking women, one of them about her age, the other slightly older, were watching their new customers. Instead of coming over to offer their help, they tried hard to look busy untangling bras and clipping them on little plastic hangers. Max decided that she wouldn't let those women bother her. All she needed was underwear, and then they would be out of there.
Logan, who was still pondering his unexplainable insecurity, relaxed a little at Max's inviting gesture and followed her into the shop.He was taken aback by the two saleswomen's curious looks.
Max had a look over her shoulder to see if Logan was inside, then she went straight to business. 'No need to prolong that,' she thought. She sensed that it wasn't going to be as nice as in the other stores.
At least Logan wouldn't need to try anything on. She smiled at the thought, though, catching herself picturing Logan in nothing but boxers. She chided herself for that, then turned back to Logan, who had stopped in the doorway, and was looking around uncomfortably.
"I'll try to be quick," she whispered.
Max scanned the bras and found something that seemed to be acceptable quickly. She cast a glance at the two women who still hadn't made a move to help her. 'I wonder what they're paid for,' she asked herself.
On the other hand, she sure didn't need someone to comment on the underwear she'd chosen.
Having put on a cream-colored satin ensemble, she peeked out between the curtains looking for Logan. He hadn't moved much from where he was when she'd left him.
"Give me the bag with the dress please, I'm just gonna check out if it works," she called out, waving for him to come over. Logan did as he was told without saying a word. Max grabbed the bag and disappeared behind the curtain again. She felt a little uncomfortable about leaving Logan out there all alone, but she would try to be as quick as possible.
Logan stayed near the fitting room hoping that Max would be finished soon. Right now all he wanted to do was get out of this store, away from those open stares. With Max out of view, he now was the only object of interest. He wondered what those women were thinking. About him? About Max? About him and Max together? Did they think they were a normal couple? Or maybe they just thought of him as her 'sugar daddy'…buying her the right attire for a night he'd be paying for. He shook his head at the disgusting thought. What the hell was he thinking?? But that was probably just what they thought, he figured, judging from the whisper and chuckle behind his back.
Not sure what to do or where to look he just sat there, waiting for Max to come out. He didn't dare look around; that would have made him even more uncomfortable. He didn't want to give those women any more to fantasize about.
Meanwhile, Max efficiently slipped the dress on over the undergarments and noticed, with relief, that they were perfect.
"I'll be out in a sec. It fits. But I'll show you at the hotel if it's okay with you,"
she said only loud enough for Logan to hear.
"Hold this," She slipped her arm through the curtain, dangling the undergarment in front of Logan's face.
Logan sat there speechless. Did she just ask him if it was okay if she showed him later??? He hadn't expected her to show him at all; although he had secretly hoped for it.
"Uhhm...sure," he finally muttered, turning around now to make sure the two women had not caught any of Max's words.
But the two women were trying to look busy, hanging bras on plastic hangers over by the counter.
"OK, I'm done." Max stepped out, her hair looking slightly dishevelled from the quick undressing and redressing.
Logan sighed, relieved, and looked down at the delicate piece of cloth that Max had just handed him. He tried to ignore the thought that Max had worn this...incredibly sexy...thing...only seconds ago.
Logan tried to regain his composure and nervously cleared his throat.
"Okay, let's pay for that and get out of here," he said uncomfortably, following her to the counter.
Max shot the two women unfriendly stares while she waited for Logan to find his wallet in the depths of his pocket. Nervous as he was, it seemed to take ages to get the wallet out of his pocket where he had stored it away after the previous incident. Remembering that didn't make him feel any better.
"Ah, good choice!" the older of the two women commented, "A dream of lace and satin. Will make any man go crazy!" she added, giving her colleague a meaningful side-glance. Max rolled her eyes and impatiently stuffed the bra and panties in the other bag the moment the girl had scanned it in. Logan handed his credit card to the woman, frowning. As much as he wanted to buy Max whatever she liked, he'd rather have her pay for herself now. The woman raised an eyebrow, and then busied herself with the paying procedure. She finally handed Logan his card and the receipt, displaying a fake smile.
"Have fun with it," she directed at Max.
Max grabbed the bag from the counter mirroring the fake smile of the girl.
"Don't worry" she snapped. Then she preceded Logan to the door.
Logan followed Max outside. The words of the young woman and Max's response were ringing in his ears. Once outside, Max let out a loud breath. "God, nasty women. It's not all good down here either."
Logan didn't say a word. This day was slowly but surely turning into his personal nightmare. And it had been so nice and relaxed before. He felt sorry for being in such a bad mood now, but he just couldn't help it. Max took a few steps before addressing him. "Do you want to walk back to the hotel?"
She was unaware of his state of mind. Only when he didn't give her an answer did she realize
"What's up?" she stopped. "Those two women didn't seriously bother you that much, did they?"
"I'd like to go back to the hotel now, if you don't mind." Logan said coolly, completely oblivious to what Max had just asked him.
"What was I saying?" Max asked, shaking her head.
"I believe something about those women...." Logan said absent minded.
"You didn't listen at all, did you? They were probably just bored and....curious?"
Logan suddenly snapped out of his thoughts, catching up with what Max had said: "Yeah right," he muttered.
"There's an excuse for everyone..." he added under his breath.
"An excuse for what?"
"Staring!" Logan said out loud. He couldn't believe, Max hadn't noticed.
Max shook her head. Why did he have to be that sensitive again? "Maybe they weren't staring because of the chair, that thought ever occured to you?"
Logan pushed the wheels of the chair a little harder, so he was ahead of Max now. "Why would they be staring then?" he asked back, not really anticipating an answer.
Max stopped and threw her hands in the air in a gesture of hopelessness. "Because you might be a cute guy?"
Logan stopped abruptly and gave a sarcastic chuckle. "Yeah right!"
"You seriously don't believe that, do you?"
"No."
She was still standing behind him, his face was still turned away from her, and she suddenly felt all the insecurity that ate at him.
"Believe me, Logan, please. You are a hot guy."
"I've heard enough excuses. Sometimes, they were intolerant old people or ignorant jerks or innocent kids…or whatever. There's an excuse for everyone. But this one's the worst by far Max! Really!"
He sounded tired and unnerved.
"Why can't you believe me? Do you remember the first time we met, when you hit on me like there was no tomorrow? You knew you were hot back then..."
Logan swallowed and looked at her for a second, then turned away. "Well that was then Max." he said, trying to sound indifferent but nearly choking on the words.
"And do you really think things have changed that much?"
Max still stared at his back, seeing him tense and fighting to keep his composure. "Let me tell you they haven't."
Logan sat there motionless for a while, letting her words sink in and trying to sort them out. "Do you mind going back to the hotel now?" he finally said.
"Sure." she stepped beside him. She put her hand onto his shoulder and looked at him. "It was a nice day, after all. Try to relax." She smiled enigmatically. "Besides, I got you something, too."
Logan looked up at her puzzled. "What???" he asked, confused.
She rummaged around in the huge bag she was carrying and triumphantly held up a pack.
Logan raised an eyebrow. "You got me something?"
"I'm not sure they fit, didn't have time to check more closely. She threw it into his lap for Logan to investigate his new boxers. Logan felt himself blush again. "Max, you shouldn't have...I..." he looked at the pair of boxers in his lap.
"I thought you could use them, and those women weren't nice enough to deserve honest customers. Sorry I just stole you something."
Logan looked at the boxers more closely, and then a smile crept onto his face. They had little penguins sitting on ice floes all over them.
"Penguins, Max?"
"Ooops."
"You didn't see that?" Logan asked, grinning at her.
She shrugged. "Guess I'm a little rusty when it comes to basics."
She held her hands to her heart, pretending to be hurt. "Besides, it's a present, and you really should pretend to like it. That's how it works, you know."
Logan chuckled: "They're nice! Funny. "
"Too late, but I appreciate the effort."
"Hey look! There's even a polar bear on them!" he teased, earning himself a slap on the head from Max.
"No really I appreciate that. Thank you."
Max just nodded and quickened her steps.
"Come on, I'm starving."
"Max? What now? Are you pouting?" he couldn't help but smile at the thought, though he hadn't really wanted to upset her.
"No," she insisted. "Why should I? Because you made fun of my present? Because you constantly tease me? I'm an X5; I can take it."
"I'm sorry. It's just that I don't get boxers from a girl everyday," he added softly. "I don't know why you're so sensitive today. I mean we've joked around like this before."
"Logan! I'm not serious!!" she laughed. "Come on, you know me."
"Oh, okay." Logan said. He couldn't deny that he had somehow hoped that she had been serious; that she had been insulted by his reaction because she really cared. But then, this wasn't like her. She wouldn't just start pouting over some stupid remark he made.
He brushed the thought aside and grabbed his wheels to catch up with her.
"Listen, I have to thank you for everything today. I mean, you really shouldn't have..."
Max had turned around.
"It was my pleasure," he said, looking up at her smiling, his head slightly cocked to the side.
Max smiled back at him and then, on impulse, bent down to give him a kiss on the cheek.
She then straightened up as if nothing had happened and set off toward the hotel without looking back.
" Especially if that's what I get as a reward." Logan muttered under his breath.
"Now let's go get changed and then grab something to eat," he called after her.
TBC