Logan opened the door of the truck for Marie. It was the first time he'd ever done that in all their years together, and like that moment when he'd first helped her into her coat, the change from their usual routine made her blush. Something in him had switched over. It made her feel strange and unsure, and very aware these little changes were likely indicative of a much deeper shift. Everything was different now.

And yet, everything was still very much the same, too. He was still himself, just... more.

She knew this night would change things between them. There were probably going to be repercussions that she hadn't even considered, and she'd been thinking about this a lot. Even being with him in the cab felt odd. Not quite right; like some vestige of the past that didn't quite strike the right note anymore.

"Logan?"

"Yeah, kid?" He slid into the driver's seat and closed the door, reaching for his keys.

"This doesn't feel right."

Surprise followed by intense disappointment flashed across his face before he could school it into stoic impassivity. "S'ok, darlin'. You're in charge tonight. Nothin's gonna happen that you ain't ready for. We can just go to dinner instead if you wanna." It hurt more than he thought it would and that surprised him. He'd hadn't realized how important an adult evening with her had been to him until it had been ripped away.

"No. Not that. I still wanna go."

"Then what?"

"I just meant the truck feels... wrong somehow? It's a night of firsts, isn't it? I was thinking maybe the bike instead?" He was mildly annoyed with her for phrasing that so poorly now that he knew what she was really after.

"Oh?" His brow arched at that idea, however.

A ride on the bike with him fell into the same category as watching him fight always had; a flat denial and a hard look that said there would be no further discussion.

"I figured I might as well swing for the fence since I'm already on the field tonight."

She'd surprised him again. He'd been looking forward to talking to her on the way there. Something more suggestive and openly sexual than their usual conversations. A warm-up for tonight and the things they'd see and experience together. He was sure she'd have questions. Probably a lot of really probative ones knowing her. She seemed to live to find the chinks in his armor. He had a few of his own questions, too. The bike wasn't really conducive to talking, though he wasn't sure that would really matter. He didn't imagine he'd be too articulate with her hands on his body and her thighs wrapped around his hips.

"Go big or go home, huh?" How like her to inadvertently land on the biggest chink of all.

"Exactly."

"Gonna be cold later." It was nice now. The temperature had been on the upswing this week, pushing into the mid sixties during the day but falling to the low forties in the evening. More snow was coming next week. Winter wasn't quite finished with them.

She was surprised he hadn't said no outright. "You'll live." He chuckled at her sass. "And I'll take my chances."

He looked into her eyes, searching. Finally he just shrugged. "If you wanna." She was right. It did feel wrong. Too small somehow in a way that wasn't at all about the physical space.

Marie was elated for a moment before something else occurred to her. "Do you? Want to, I mean." She put her hand on his arm. "The truth now, sugar."

He nodded.

Letting out a deep breath, he turned to face her. "Yeah, I do. For a while now." To be frank, there had never been a time when he didn't want that. But wanting something and it being okay to have it were two entirely different things.

Marie blushed when he got out, walked around and opened the door of the truck for her. He'd never let her see that part of him before. To be honest, she wasn't sure he even knew that part of him was still in there. That's definitely not how he'd been in her head. There were women. Lots of them. But he didn't go on dates.

It was awkward. She stood by the bike, unsure what to do, feeling a bit like a scared rabbit chased down by a predator, heart slamming, frozen, and not quite sure what move to make next. "So how do we...?"

He looked her up and down, head tilted. "First, tuck your scarf inside your jacket so it doesn't get caught in the back wheel and kill ya." She complied with a sheepish, apologetic smile. "Second," he swung his leg over and the bike dipped under his considerable weight. It made her wonder what it would be like to be pinned under his powerful body. What would a thrust with that kind of weight behind it feel like? She shivered under his intense gaze that seemed to know everything and miss nothing. "You get on and-"

"Wait. You're not gonna try to make me wear a helmet?"

"I'm not your your father." He shrugged. "Last I checked, you could vote and drink so that decision's yours, ain't it?" Her eyes were very wide now. "If you don't see yourself as an adult, how is anyone else supposedta?"

Wow. Okay. You could have knocked her over with a feather. Every time she thought she'd found her footing with him, the sand shifted under her again. She hadn't meant it quite the way he'd taken it. She'd been more curious why his usual assertive protectiveness hadn't been more vocal, but there was a kernel of truth in what he was saying.

"I- I don't want to wear one."

"Reason? And it better not be 'cause you don't wanna mess up your hair."

"Not that I have to answer to you..." She smiled, thinking. "But I zip myself into the leather pretty regularly. We do some pretty hairy stuff. People, scary people with powers, try to hurt us, really hurt us all the time and nobody makes me wear a helmet for that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that seems like a whole lot more dangerous than a short ride into the city, sugar."

"Fair enough. And you ain't wrong." As long as she'd reasoned it out, he had no complaints either way. "And we both know I'd just heal ya if it cameta that."

"I know," she said softly. "But I'm not reckless with myself just because of that, you know? I don't think of you like some kind of safety net."

"You should," he said seriously. That's what they were to each other. A safe place to fall. Emotionally. Physically. Pretty much everything but sexually. Logan wondered if that part would ever change. He knew there was a time she'd wanted it to. He wasn't sure anymore, despite the conversations he'd overheard in the last few months. A tidal wave had obliterated that bridge a long time ago.

They were close now; a deep relationship that defied explanation. What would happen if they fucked with that dynamic too much? Their connection was intense — volatile and messy even without sex. There was a very real chance they could both lose what little peace they'd found in this life. The condoms felt heavy in his pocket, but it didn't change his desire to push the boundaries with her a little. They couldn't stay in this limbo too much longer. It was hurting them both.

"I love that you want to. I just hate what it costs you to do it."

"Paid it gladly, both times. I would again, as many times as you needed, kid."

"I know. But I don't want to be that."

"Be what?"

"Just another person who takes things from you."

Something warm flared in his chest. "No chance of that." Not now, and not in the larger sense as well. He was taking someone barely legal to a sex club and she thought she was the one taking and not giving? That was just so Marie. She filled him up with good things all the time.

"I'm taking plenty tonight," she pointed out. "First your bathroom, and now a bike ride, and let's not forget the rest of the evening while we're adding things up."

"Plannin' on takin' a little more, huh?" The idea pleased him immensely.

"Oh yeah." Her expression was somewhere between cocksure bravado and acute embarrassment.

He smiled darkly. "Darlin', you might be the one callin' the shots tonight, but it ain't just for you. I want it, too. For me." He let her make of that what she would. He had no plans to elaborate.

"Oh." Her eyebrows were practically at her hairline.

Heh. Good.

"So," he cleared his throat. "That sweet little ass a'yours goes here." He patted the seat behind him. "Feet go there." He indicated to the pegs, grunting as she slipped behind him. "Hands around my middle. High or low, up to you. As long as you keep 'em north of the Indian, we're fine." That damned buckle! She rolled her eyes at his teasing but he didn't miss how her breath had caught. "You might wanna tuck 'em up under my jacket so they don't freeze once we get goin'."

He felt her small hands move up his sides and slip under his jacket experimentally. "You mean right here?" she squeezed his sides softly and felt him shudder. His body was so warm and solid under her hands; thick bands of muscle, full of tension. "Right on this I'm-not-at-all ticklish skin, sugar?" She was itching to wiggle her fingers like crazy, but torturing him wasn't likely to endear herself to him and she didn't want this first ride to also be her last. She'd behave. For now.

"Marie." It was a warning that had a little edge to it.

"Yes, sir." She had no idea why those words elicited another shudder, but it shook his powerful frame. "Now what?"

He sat up, reaching back with his hands to pull her into him before his palms slipped down her thighs, pressing her legs into his and against the bike's lean lines. "You ever ridden a horse?"

"Y-yeah. Um, yes." Sweet baby Jesus. She was touching a whole lot of him. That had been the general idea, but she was suddenly understanding why they'd never done this before. It was overwhelming. And really, really hard to keep in the flirty-but-friends realm. Logan was between her thighs. She could feel his solid heat. He felt and smelled so good. It made her want to push her face against his throat and lick him. Her head spun.

"Well it's pretty much the same with bikes and men, darlin'. The harder you squeeze, the better the ride." Satisfaction burned through him at the playfully scandalized look on her face. "Heh."

She recovered quickly. "Does that also mean they both misstart on occasion, both have a temperamental tendency to choke up, and both quit working when they run out of gas?" Pressed up against his back, she felt the rumble in his chest as well as heard it.

He was really starting to have a thing for that Rogue; her nimble mind and her wicked mouth. The little fingers just shy of his belt buckle were doing it for him pretty good, too.

"Not every man runs out of gas, baby."

He planted a foot and leaned up to kick-start the bike, effectively cutting her off with a grin before she could make some suggestive crack about a pump that never ran dry. That girl could make anything sound dirty. He approved. Especially because in this case, it was all too true. Settling back on the bike, he waited a moment for her to insinuate herself against his back once more.

"Tighter," he palmed her thigh. The touch was sensual. More a caress than true direction. He'd never touched her like that before. Like a woman.

Like a woman he wanted to touch again.

"Logan?"

Another firm stroke in response. "Just move with me, darlin'. And don't let go."

Words to live by.

Up next: Crazy Train. The wheels are in motion and they're gaining momentum. Even if they come off the rails, it's gonna be one helluva ride…

I know, I know. Get on with it, already, right? I promise the next chapter [and the half a (smuty)dozen that follow] are actually going to be at the sex club… ;) Also, I'm totally taking suggestions for rockin' 80's songs. Share 'em if you got 'em!