*Careful...Lemons ahead...*
The music in the club was loud and drowned most conversations, but none of them really minded. They were there to dance. Jean, Scott, Rogue, Bobby, Jubilee, Pyro, Remy, and Piotr immediately took to the floor. Ororo and Hank found a secluded booth out of sights where they could sit without people staring at Hank's blue fur. Eve and Logan stood staring at the crowded room for a moment.
"Want a drink?" asked Logan, sensing her intimidation. Eve nodded and they headed over to the bar. Finding just one seat, Logan let Eve take it and stood protectively behind her, signaling to the bartender that he wanted two whiskeys and two waters.
They looked out at their friends. Remy and Piotr were both vying for the attention of Rogue. Jubilee had been approached by two men already and was doing shots. Eve would have been nervous if Bobby hadn't been right by her, though Bobby was also eye-flirting hard with a guy standing close to Eve and Logan at the bar. Logan chuckled at the pent-up tension that was being released in floods. He looked down at Eve to share a smile, but her face was grimacing instead. Sensing her inner turmoil, he leaned into her ear and said, "If you're thinking you have to apologize for this morning, forget about it. I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable, but I'm glad you came out." Eve looked up into his blue eyes and saw genuine concern for her.
Why shouldn't I trust him? He clearly trusts me. And I haven't met someone who's made me feel so safe in such a long time. Eve raised her hand to touch his face and Logan leaned into her palm. His chin scratched her skin lightly, but she enjoyed the warmth she felt. He was leaning in so close that if Eve tilted her head just a few inches, she'd be able to kiss him like she desperately wanted to…
"Oh my gosh, Eve, you have to come out to the dance floor!" Jubilee basically screamed next them as the two men behind her ordered more shots. "You can't look that good and not put it to use." Jubilee grabbed Eve's hand and dragged her onto the floor after taking two more shots with her new posse. Eve looked back at Logan and mouthed, Help me! Logan just smirked and raised his glass in amusement.
The music pumped a bass heavy electro house remix of Sweet Dreams. Jubilee threw her hands in the air and danced with abandon. Eve started to swing her hips as the music lent itself to her favorite style of dancing, Indian belly. Eve could feel the beat in her chest and the lights flashed quickly, creating a haze that made her feel drunk even though she had only had a sip of whiskey. Her hands wrapped in her hair as she danced more freely. She looked over toward Logan who was watching her every move. His mouth hung open and Eve could see the lust in his eyes. If he wants to watch, why not put on a show. Eve closed her eyes and sunk into the music. Several minutes went by until she finally opened her eyes and saw all of her friends had stopped and were staring at her. Eve went still. Jean ran up to her side, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, why? I was just letting loose a little bit." Eve was getting nervous. What did I do?
Jean breathed out a little, "It's just that when you were dancing, the black on your fingers started to creep up your arms and your whole body started to turn black like it was being dyed. It's so dark in here that no one else noticed, but we thought maybe something was happening…"
Eve suddenly flushed red. "No, no, I'm quite alright. I think perhaps I should go sit down though." She turned on her heel and walked back over to the bar. Logan was not anywhere to be seen so she sat at the end of the bar and signaled to the bartender for another glass of water.
Stupid, stupid. She could see that her skin had returned to normal. It had been so long since that had happened that she had completely forgotten it could. Apparently my feelings for Logan are deeper than I first thought.
As Eve was lost in her thoughts, she didn't see the tall man walk over to her, sit down at the bar stool next to hers, and slide a drink toward her hand. "Hello," his voice oozed, "I saw you dancing out there. Quite the performance and I'm not just talking about your little skin thing. Relax, I'm not here to tattle. I'm an admirer. Besides, it's not like your eyes aren't a dead giveaway."
Eve took a breath, swirling the drink in her hands before taking a sip of the whiskey. "Of course, I know my abilities are obvious, it just wasn't intentional for that to happen."
The man chuckled, "What wasn't? Your skin changing color or the sensual display of your exquisite body on the dance floor?" He leaned in closer.
Eve suddenly felt very uncomfortable and much more light-headed than she should have felt after so little alcohol. She looked around for Logan again. "Um, what did you say your name was again, sir?"
"I didn't-but my friends call me Viper nowadays. I'm hoping you'll be a friend, too" He slid his hand onto her exposed thigh and smiled. Eve pushed him off and got up to walk away, but immediately lost her footing, the room spinning around her. The man caught her and held her up against the bar, "Now, now. There's now reason to run away-not that you could." He ran his fingers through her hair and down her torso.
"Get your slimy hands off of me, you snake," Eve mumbled, desperately trying to push him away unsuccessfully, having lost most of her strength. She heard a growl and the man was spun around quickly. Logan was standing there, looking furious. "I believe the lady gave you an order to leave, creep. I'll count to two and if I still see your face, your face will be seeing my fist." The man sneered, but walked away.
Without the man holding her up, Eve began to sink toward the floor, but Logan caught her. "I think we'd better head home." Eve's eyes closed and the bit of consciousness that she had been clinging to, drifted away.
Logan texted the others that he was taking Eve home and they shouldn't worry. No need for them all to get their panties in a twist.
He made it to Eve's bedroom and laid her onto the bed. He mentally shouted for Charles, "Chuck, I'm pretty sure Eve's drink was spiked. I stepped in before she got hurt, but should I be worried about her getting sick?"
"No, to my understanding, her abilities will kick in soon enough and purify her system. She might appreciate some water and fruit for when she wakes up."
"Thanks."
Logan pulled a blanket from a chair and covered her up. He went to the kitchen and grabbed a big bottle of water and some oranges and then headed back toward her room. He didn't want her to wake up alone so he grabbed the rocking chair in the corner and pulled it closer to the bed so he could prop his feet. After slipping off his shirt, he sat down and watcher her breath in and out before falling asleep himself.
Eve rolled over and saw the clock blink 3 AM. She saw that she was in her room and heard Logan snoring over at the other end of the bed. Thank goodness for him. That could have been awful. Picking up the water and downing at least half of it, she used the electrolytes to help clear away the remnants of a headache. After a few moments, she was certain that the toxin was clear of her body.
She walked over to the bathroom, quietly, not wanting to wake Logan and shut the door. Eve splashed some water on her face and willed away the makeup, jewelry (except her necklace) and club clothing. With a thought she had a simple short black chemise and black panties. She'd normally prefer to sleep in the nude but since Logan was there, she'd want a little more coverage.
Looking back into her eyes, she remembered dancing at the club. It only happened when she felt completely comfortable and thinking about Logan made her feel very comfortable and safe. Safe enough to be herself, with jet black skin. That was how she had been born, but it scared most people. Her natural skin looked like oil-inhuman and fake. She had never met anyone else with a mutation similar to it.
She turned the light off and walked out of the bathroom to her bed. Logan was no longer snoring and she looked over to him, finding him awake.
"How are you feeling?" He said sleepily.
"Fine, thanks to you. Thank you, Logan."
"You're welcome. Just be a bit smarter next time about where you get your drinks."
Eve nodded, "I'm sorry." Her voice had cracked a bit as though holding back a tear.
Logan got up and sat on the bed next to her, "Hey, it's alright. Nothing happened. It's not you who needs to be sorry. It's that asshole."
"I didn't mean sorry for tonight. I meant, I'm sorry for acting strangely yesterday. It's been a long time since I've….since I've met someone like you."
Logan held his breath. He knew exactly what she meant. He'd had to go splash water on his face at the bar, because when she was dancing, all he could think about was going over to her and ripping her clothes off. He'd felt an almost uncontrollable desire for her which was just layered on top of the actual feeling he'd developed since getting to know her. He started to speak, "Eve, I…"
She held up a hand to his mouth, "Wait, let me explain before you say anything. It's not easy for me to let loose because part of my genetic code, my mutation, is the need to protect others. It's only those who don't need protecting that I can relax around." She noticed that Logan was shirtless and his breath was ragged. It was distracting her, but she continued. "I haven't been able to even think about love or...sex..." She heard the tiniest of growl's from Logan's chest, "...for a long time."
Logan was looking at her with understanding and his gaze stopped at her necklace. He picked up the chain and his fingers fondled the coin and the jade arrowhead. He let them fall between her breasts and asked, "Did they give these to you?" Logan didn't specify who he was talking about, but they both knew. Her loves. The only two she'd had.
Now Eve took the necklace in her hands. She held them in front of her for a few seconds before answering.. "Yes, they gave them to me before they went to war, to show me that they would come back." She swallowed painfully. "But they didn't."
"They died?"
Eve shook her head, "I told you that war changes people. They left to fight but it wasn't them who returned. It was someone else."
"Who were they when you knew them?"
"One was gifted very much like you. Killed a lion with his bare hands. They called him Hercules. He saved my daughter Persephone from certain death. When I knew that he was nearly as indestructible as myself, he was no longer a child, but my equal. And he loved me back for as long as he was able."
"And the other man?"
Eve shook her head, "The other was a woman. A warrior named Tomoe. A samurai from the 12th century. She was strong too, but not the same woman I fell in love with after she fought. She needed a caretaker more than a lover." Two tears fell from Eve's eyes and she brushed them away.
Logan took her hand and brought it to his lips. "You know it doesn't have to be your job to look out for everyone. Besides, what if someone wants to look out for you, are you gonna let them protect you?
"I don't need protecting, Logan. Okay, maybe tonight was a mishap but I was only distracted because of you. Protection isn't a need, but I think I might need something else. I haven't let myself think about it for a long time because I always end up getting it hurt by it. My mind won't let passion come forward because everyone needs protecting."
Logan lifted her chin and Eve looked into his soft eyes."Not everyone, darlin'."
Eve got up and started to pace the room. "Logan, I don't know if I can. I want you, but…" She turned to find his body suddenly mere inches from hers. She stepped back out of surprise and her shoulders hit the bedroom wall. Logan pressed one hand on the wall next to her head and used the other to bring her downturned chin up to look her in her onyx colored eyes. They were glassy and the tears had left a trail of saltiness on her skin. Logan whispered to her, "I don't need protectin'." Then he touched his lips to hers and found them to be soft and welcoming. The kiss was innocent and pure at first, designed to gauge her comfort and then after she had accepted his boldness by placing one hand on his chest and the other on the back of his neck, he stepped even closer and wrapped one hand around her waist and the other found her thigh which he pulled up to his side as he stroked the soft skin there. Her breasts were pressing into him and he was pleased to feel that they were heaving when they broke apart for a few seconds.
Eve looked at him and sighed with curious hesitation, " Logan…"Logan hushed her with his hand on her mouth and wiped the tear from her cheek. "I can give you passion like you've only dreamed, darlin', if you'll let me." She nodded and a small trusting smile turned her lips.
That was the consent Logan needed to pick her up and carry her over to the bed. He lay her down delicately atop the plush stone-colored silk duvet. Her soft curls sprawled out around her face with one falling along her collarbone. She gazed at him with doe eyes and an expression of demure affection and arousal. He slid his jeans down onto the floor before crawling onto the bed over her. She traced his chest with her fingers, curling the tips in his chest hair and sending shivers along his spine. He bent down to kiss her again but no longer maintained the facade of innocent intention. He meant what he said, he could and wanted to show her passion, but the lust of the Wolverine was also driving his needs. His lips coaxed her mouth open as he bit her plump bottom lip, and then plunged his tongue into her, massaging her own as his hand lifted her chemise and explored her fleshy hips.
As his kiss deepened and his hand crept higher up her abdomen, he slipped off the little clothing she still had on. Looking back down at her, he saw that her pink nipples were erect from the shock of the cold air and he groaned. He kissed her once again on the mouth and then moved slowly down her neck and collarbone, placing his lips on as much of her skin as he could. He reached her breasts and used both hands to grasp them. He slowly massaged then and flicked his thumb across the most sensitive bit. He bent to tease the left with his tongue and Eve closed her eyes and bit her lip. Logan sucked and flicked his tongue, causing Eve to arch her back up to meet him. At the sight of this, Logan felt his erection grow harder and larger still than it already had been but he didn't want to stop giving the pleasure he knew that she craved. It just so happened that while she squirmed, her knee slid along his hardness and she let out a surprised and excited, "Oh.." He watched her hands reach down to his waist. Now it was her turn to look at him with lust and desire in her eyes. She pulled him close so that her lips grazed his ear and whispered, "I want you… now." Then she bit his earlobe and he growled with pleasure. He took a single second to soak in her glorious body and mentally noted that he would need to make sure that he showed her just how much he appreciated it.