Slow and Steady Steps

"You ever going to move?" Max asked crossing her arms looking down at Logan.

"Eventually," he replied with shut eyes.

"Why don't you go take a shower and crash for awhile…If you still want to do dinner when you wake up you can call me," her foot poised and ready to turn.

"No," his hands pushed up on the sides, "I'm up. I swear."

" Logan," she laughed, "it's no problem really. I'll head back to my place, see what OC's up to-"

"I said I'm up," he said looking over with slightly annoyed eyes as he stood.

"Good," she smirked, "I was afraid you were going to stink up the whole apartment…This area has way to much cross ventilation."

He took a whiff down of himself, "It's not that bad." Hell for almost three days and everything he'd been up to…he thought he smelled pretty damn good.

"Just the same hit the showers Cale," she grabbed the hand towel Bling always brought out for the work outs and whipped him with it gently.

His hand caught it on its return trip to Max; he looked over with a smile, "Don't suppose I could talk you into joining me."

"Already took my shower, I'm good."

"They say you can never be too clean," he offered with an easy smile.

Her head shook and she couldn't believe she was acting like this, like a cheesy flirty girl who couldn't stop smiling. "Shower Logan," she said releasing the towel "before I have to bail for the sheer survival of my nostrils."

"Fair enough," he nodded.

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He smiled as he spied the shower chair suddenly once more in his shower stall despite its removal earlier in the week. He shook his head as he bent down to remove it as that nagging little voice was pointing out that she really did care. An odd realization to finally have.

He frowned though as he twisted the dial as he started to strip, staring at the cascading water. At least he thought it was caring…Compassion. Was it just pity? He shook his head and quickly discarded his clothing stepping under the stream.

Had it just been pity?

Had he really mistaken that for something else?

Had she really been trying to simply soothe his battered ego?

The shower door opened, "Decided most of the stink had to be washed away by now," she smiled.

He simply looked at her as she stepped in with her nose scrunched up in a sniff.

"Pretty good, though I would have expected soap by now." Her hand reached out and grabbed the bottle, "Need some help?"

He was about to snap, he could hear the words, 'I'm a grown man I can bathe myself.' Then he realized Max was in the shower with him. Had he really grown so accustomed to seeing her body in the past few hours that it wasn't his first thought? He was pretty sure they'd take away his 'man card' for that despite his ability to once more be able to pee standing up. "I am a grown man," he heard his words light and teasing instead as a body wash drenched loofah came in contact with his skin, "I can bathe myself."

"Didn't look like you were doing a very good job at it when I came in?" she smirked.

"Well then by all means, if you think you can do a better job…"

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The loofah didn't get far in its job just a few rough movements against his back as they kissed underneath the rain of water. She finally stepped back, although not far and tossed it at him. "Wash yourself Cale."

"I thought that was your job?" he asked retrieving it from the floor with a smile accepting the bottle she extended a second later.

"I'm just here to make sure you don't dawdle." Her eyes looked up at him innocently, "I was promised a nap if you don't recall."

His eyes looked over with interest and a furthering hunger.

"You're not going near that bed until you shower."

"Last time I checked," he said taking a step in closer, "you didn't actually need the bed."

"Tortoise and the hare, remember Logan? I'm a big fan of not busting my ass against the tiles so I think that's waiting a few weeks."

Damn he forgot he'd been walking with a cane only a few days ago. "Raincheck?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Definitely," she said with a knowing nod. "Now get to it."

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She managed to end up pinned up against the shower wall as she'd gone to 'help' him with the shampoo. Just faint trickles of water occasionally making their way past the barricade of Logan's body to reach hers. "Don't even think about it Logan," she ordered as she felt what his hands and his body were itching to do.

He groaned, "I bet I could have a step installed by the end of the day."

She laughed, "What do you know? Kendra was right yet again. Patience is a virtue Logan, your mom forget to pop that in with all the rest of her pearls of wisdom?"

"Patience is highly overrated," he said before following it up with another deep and hungry kiss as slick hands caressed with growing intensity.

She pushed him back a few moments later as he tried yet another not so subtle move. Against the opposite wall as her hand deftly turned off the water. She'd meant to pull them out of the shower, but instead his hand pulled her back into him and the next thing she knew they were crumpling to the floor together.

Thanks for reading!