He was topless and his feet were bare when he came to join her on the plant enshrouded balcony of her attic loft. The soft secret smile that lit up her face when she sensed him was hidden from his view, but he knew she was smiling. He was standing so close when she turned around in all her naked glory. Her breath hitched at the sight of him. Broad muscled shoulders sloped down to a wide muscular chest. His abdominals were so ripped that every chiseled crevice was evident. Everything was forested with dark springy hair that grew wildly as the hair on his head.
His heart stopped at the breathtaking sight of her when she turned around. Christ! She was every bit the Goddess he found out she was worshiped as in her native Africa. He didn't deserve her, didn't deserve to touch such splendor.
Was it her imagination, or was his hand trembling when he reached up to smooth it down from the crown of her head, past her ear, to rest on her shoulder? Still keeping space between their bodies, he leaned down to kiss her sweetly on the mouth. The kiss was agonizingly tender as his lips pressed upon hers, held, and then moved. Her lips parted for the reception of his tongue and he didn't disappoint. When their tongues touched, the passion they held for each other erupted into a frenzy of suppressed longing.
"'Ro," he grated against her lips. His hands roamed up and down her back. "I've waited so damn long fer ya. I want ya. Now."
"Yes, Logan. Yes." He moved closer and she felt the contours of his body adjusting to fit hers.
"Christ, 'Ro." His fingers tangled in her hair and forced her head back. His mouth claimed hers again in an all-consuming kiss. His breath in her ear had caused chills to race along her spine. Instinctively, she moved closer towards him, wanting to feel everything that made him so strong, so warm.
He stepped back from her and staring directly into her eyes, took one of her hands and brought it to the front of his worn out jeans. Holding his stare, her eager fingers released the button from its hold, then drew the zipper down with excruciating slowness. When the zipper tab was at the end of its track, she separated the two panels of the jeans and slipped her fingers inside to caress him. The heat and springy hair that greeted her fingers were thrilling to her. Logan give a guttural groan at the contact he had wanted from her for a very long time.
Gently she lifted him out of the confines of the jeans and marveled at the blatant girth of him and the heat it radiated. Unconsciously, she licked her lips and tightened her fingers around his length. His breath came out on a cross between a hiss and a groan. Suddenly, unable to take much more of her teasing and wanting to feel her beneath him, he pulled her against him and caught her under her knees and back and lifted her to carry her to the bed. He laid her down carefully and was only away from her long enough to rid himself of his jeans. In one swift motion, the confining clothing was gone and he was marvelously naked, looking down at her hungrily.
"Yer mines, 'Ro," he grated, as he gradually lowered himself over her. Her legs instinctively parted, ready to receive him.
With the sweetest, most desire-laden expression he had ever seen, she whispered, "Come to me, Logan. Come to me…"
The shrill beeping of the damned alarm clock ripped him out of the erotic dream. That dream or some variation of it had visited him at least twice a week in the past several weeks. Not that he was a stranger to erotic dreams, but these with Ororo began coming to him after he had accompanied her to the nursery and they had ended up on that impromptu jaunt. He could count on one hand the amount of times he'd had an erotic dream with Ororo as his main woman since he took up residence at the mansion, however, those he never paid any attention to. Until now. God! He needed to get laid badly. He groaned as he sat up, running his hands down his face. How much longer Xavier's ban was going to last, he did not know. But what he did know was that he was a hair's breadth moment away from snapping. For someone like him, being grounded was inherently bad news. Especially when he was dreaming of a particular weather witch and being driven crazy by her very existence in real time.
Over the past few weeks, he had done everything under the sun to keep busy and keep his mind off of coveting the enchanting woman. He had spent numerous hours in the Danger Room until his healing factor refused to cooperate with his stupidity of fighting makeshift enemies at extremely high levels. He had fixed at least four more of the vintage vehicles currently showcased in the garage. He had practice his martial arts and meditation to the point of insanity. They were all in vain. And it didn't help that his beast was more restless than ever, driving him up the wall with its incessant demand for him to claim Ororo as their mate.
Yeah, he definitely needed to get laid, but as soon as the thought appeared in his head again, he doused it. He wanted and needed one woman and a roll in the sack with some random broad to appease his frustrations was not what he truly wanted. He wanted Ororo. Hell, he needed Ororo. And there was only one way for that to happen. So, it begged the question…was he going to continuously avoid her? The answer that resounded in his head instantaneously was no. And he readily admitted that he didn't want to. His decision to keep his distance and stifle any and all feelings he held for her, now seemed like the stupidest thing he could have ever done to himself. He growled at his lapse in judgment as he jumped up off the bed. He sure as hell wasn't doing himself any favors staying away from her and lusting after her in the same breath.
Even though she had made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him, he knew that that was something he couldn't just accept. The Wolverine had never backed down from a challenge and he wasn't about to begin now. As he stepped under the spray of the lukewarm shower, Logan realized that he had his work cut out for him. Hell, he had to try, even if she would never want someone like him. But first, he needed to stop the childish games, as she had called them. He needed to stop being surly with her for daring to call him out about his interest in Jean. As a matter of fact, he should thank her for spurring him into doing something he knew he had to do. Stopping the madness with Jean was something he had wanted to do for a long time. Ororo had unknowingly helped him in following through with it. Deep down, he knew he wasn't angry with Ororo for forcing him to do something he needed to do. He was upset with the fact that he had allowed the foolishness with Jean to go on for as long as it did and to balloon into something it totally wasn't.
Christ! He had a lot to atone for and the sooner to better. He sighed as he cleansed his body, wondering what he could do to change things between him and Ororo. The answer came to him as he was toweling off and pulling on his underwear. He needed to find a way to spend time in her company, to learn and study her. He had no idea where this was going to lead, but he was going to throw caution to the wind and dive in head first. It can only be one of two things anyhow. It was either something came of it or not and the only way to find out was to try. He grinned. Xavier's grounding of the mansion's residents was about to work in his favor after all. Besides, didn't she want them to start over?
The weather outside was absolutely gorgeous, but it wasn't her doing. On days like these, she preferred to let Mother Nature do her thing and not usurp her authority. She quietly and quickly walked across the patio and disappeared behind the building to get to the deepest part of the mansion's lawn. The section she was hurrying towards was just outside the sunroom, a scarcely used part of her imposing home. Once she reached her destination, shaded by a thick expanse of various trees, Ororo spread the quilt with various patterns of African symbols on the cool lush grass and gracefully took a seat. She knew summer was quickly approaching, as she took a deep breath of the many scents surrounding her, hoping that it will help clear her mind of the thoughts swirling around and the emotions warring inside of her. She was at an impasse at what to do regarding Logan. Her task to make him her own was failing and she was seriously considering aborting the mission.
She sighed as she laid down on her side, flipping through the pages of the history book she brought with her, thinking about the mule headed man that had her heart and was driving her absolutely crazy. Logan was avoiding her. She had no idea why and had thought their little outing a few weeks ago had signaled a change in the tide of their relationship. Maybe he just didn't see her in the same light as she saw him. Maybe he had always simply tolerated her presence and even less now that he no longer panted around Jean because of her. Oh Bright Lady, what was she to do? Should she continue pining away for a man who held no interest in her? Or should she fight for what she truly wanted? Fight dammit! Fight as you've never fought before, that niggling voice reverberated in her head.
Was it worth it to fight for this one? She pondered all of her previous relationships. Yes, all two of them and how she had never fought for those. T'Challa. She never fought for him and what they had after he had decided that he couldn't build a relationship with her and rule over his country simultaneously. She had gracefully bowed out, tearfully accepting his decision and left. She didn't fight for him, didn't have the desire too. Then there was Forge. She never fought for him and what they had after he retracted his marriage proposal all because he believed that she couldn't be a member of the X-Men and the wife he wanted at the same time. Again, she had quietly accepted his decision, never fighting.
Here she was now, in another situation in which it was either she fight or took flight. Again, was it worth it to fight for Logan? What was the one factor that made fighting for Logan and what they could possibly have together a necessity? She knew that the feelings she held for him were natural, as if the universe itself had chosen them for each other. She knew that their connection to nature had forged a deep intense bond between them that wasn't going to go away. If she gave up on him, what was she truly given up on? Unadulterated love, that's what. Primal love. It was the one thing she never shared or had with T'Challa nor Forge. It was the one thing that was not present to propel her, and give her the incentive to fight. Until now. Until Logan.
Giving up on trying to concentrate on the book, Ororo groaned as she turned over on her stomach and propped her chin up on her folded hands. Closing her eyes, she conjured up an image of Logan. His hard muscular body was outlined beneath those white sleeveless tank shirts he loved. She had seen those muscles in action during the many missions they went on and she could remember each and every single one of his movements. Precise, efficient and deadly. Then there were those sterling grey eyes of his that beckon her every time and were as contradictory as ever. They could be hard as steel when he was enraged, then soft and gleaming when he was satisfied, like when he was working in the garage. She envisioned that image staring at her with desire and longing for her and only her and wondered if she wasn't deserving of the love of a wonderful man. Her answer was forthcoming, but with stipulations. Yes, it told her, she was more than deserving, but she had to be willing to fight for it. The question remained, was she willing to fight for it, to fight for Logan's love? The slow, easy smile that burst forth on her face was her answer. Yes, she was willing and resolved. She had no idea of the outcome of her mission, but she can only step out on faith and hope that it ended with her and the Wolverine exploring something worthwhile.
Ororo smelled the faint, oddly comforting scent of one of those Cuban cigars he loved so much, before she spotted him. She thought that she was the only one who knew of this specific area of the mansion. She smiled at the absurdity of that thought knowing that Logan was as much a nature buff as she was. Of course, he'll know of this secluded space. She also knew that he was aware she was there. She cocked her ears, attempting to determine which direction he was coming from. She manipulated the elements around her and determined he was about to materialize from the left of where she was positioned. She fixed the long pleated maxi skirt she was wearing and tucked her legs neatly under her. Picking up the long forgotten book, she feigned interest in it, as she awaited his arrival.
Logan had long ago scented her delicious aroma before he emerged from the trees to behold the magnificent creature before him. Right then and there, he realized he would never tire of looking at her. He walked over to the tree nearest to her and leaned against it, puffing on his stogie. He studied her intently as she quietly sat there, her hand getting ready to flip the page of the book. He knew she knew he was there, if the increase in her heart rate was any indication. He heard her breaths expel in rushed puffs, as if she was…aroused? He tilted a bushy eyebrow at that. Were his senses failing him? To hell they were. He grinned at his discovery. Maybe the weather goddess wasn't so impervious to him after all.
Ororo wished he would say something, but as he stood there, relaxed against the tree, she knew he wasn't going to any time soon. Having enough, she decided to break the unnerving silence. "Hello, Logan. Are you going to stand there all afternoon looking at me?"
"Maybe I like what I see, Goddess."
Ororo slowly laid the book down besides her and looked at him. That was a compliment, right? She laughed inwardly. "Is that so? I was not aware that I was your favorite person to admire."
Logan grunted as he drew himself up from the tree, stubbed the remnants of the cigar out against the tree trunk and then walked over to where she was seated. Ororo sat staring at and admiring his approach. The man was sex personified. "So what ya gonna do if I wanna stare at ya all afternoon?"
"I cannot stop you from doing that, can I?" She replied in a singsong voice.
"Maybe I'll do just that then."
Was he flirting with her? This was certainly interesting. She was going to call him out on it. "Be careful, Logan. If you were anyone else, I would say that you were flirting with me."
"And if ya were any other woman, I'll say ya were flirtin' back." He raised his eyebrows, silently asking for permission to join her on the quilt.
She scooted over a bit, giving him as much space as possible to accommodate his wide frame. "As you are out here, I would assume that you are through tearing up the Danger Room?"
"Yeah. Hank wanted me ta test out a new program."
"If Henry wanted you to test out a new program, I am sure it was a painfully difficult one."
He rolled onto his back and clutched his hands behind his head with a groan of satisfaction. "Ya have no idea. And me sayin' that is sayin' a lot."
She agreed. He was the only one that almost never complained about the Danger Room programs. In the rare instance that he did, you better take notes. If the Wolverine said a program was difficult, you best believe it was.
"So what do I owe the pleasure of your company this afternoon, Logan?"
"Nothin'," he grumbled. "Can't a guy just come out and enjoy the day?"
"Yes, you most definitely can," she replied. "But I was under the impression that I was the only one who knew of this secret spot."
"Ya don't have dibs on this spot," he said somewhat irritably. Dammit! This getting to know her better was harder than he thought, especially when she was looking like she was now and giving off her potent scent in waves.
"I did not claim to mark this spot as my very own, Logan."
"So why the hell ya bring it up fer?" He growled.
"Please, let us not get into another argument. It is too beautiful a day for that."
He shook his head and closed his eyes. Ororo stared at his frame as he laid on the blanket besides her. Appreciatively, her eyes roamed over his hard body, admiring its strength and predator-like bearing.
"Likin' what ya see?"
Ororo blinked at the sound of his rough voice, then blushed furiously. She was caught looking at him and now he was staring at her with mirth in his eyes and a smug grin.
"I...I..." She murmured unsteadily. She lowered her eyes to her lap.
"Ya can look all ya want."
Ororo laughed lightly. "Thank you for your permission."
He grunted in reply and rolled to his side facing her and propped his head on his hand, when a sudden breeze washed over them gently. He looked up and grinned at her. He lifted his brow in inquiry.
She smiled in return. "That was all Mother Nature."
A lock of unruly hair had fallen over his forehead and impulsively, she moved closer to him and pushed the hair back. He didn't move an inch as he felt her delicate fingertips touch his forehead. He could have sworn his heart stopped at her gentle caress. Being this close to him, she inhaled his masculine scent of leather, tobacco and the outdoors and her head spun at the aroma. As her fingertips swept his incredibly soft hair, she felt a multitude of sensations blazed through her body. It was both thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
She was trembling slightly as she moved to pull back her hand, but Logan caught her wrist before she could. .
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed, while he sat up and moved closer to her. He released her wrist, then sat back on his heels. He speared her with an odd and unreadable expression. "Beautiful," he rasped unevenly.
A long moment of silence existed between them as Ororo's heart hammered inside her chest. Suddenly, Logan cleared his throat and stood up in one fluid motion. "I gotta go," he said gruffly.
"All right," she replied, keeping her gaze directed to the forgotten book that had now become the most interesting thing before her. Logan nodded at her before he retraced his steps from where he came, his long legs taking him out of sight. Ororo watched him leave, the sensations bursting into flames inside of her.
He had called her beautiful. Forge and T'Challa had always told her how beautiful she was, but there was always a hint of derision in their words. She sensed no form of ridicule from Logan when he uttered the word. She didn't know what prompted him to say it, but what she did know was that that single word meant everything to her at that given moment.
