He was so caught up in his thoughts that he never sensed Ororo as she made her way to him and wrapped her slender arms around him from behind.
"Hello, my love," her smoky voice had three instantaneous effects on him. One, his heart rate accelerated, two, he grew painfully hard in his jeans and three, his beast rose to the surface.
"Hey babe," he replied, his hand reaching up to caress her arms. "How was yer trip?"
The ladies of the mansion had all taken an excursion to the mall, mercifully excluding the men. "It was alright." She buried her face in the crook of his neck. "I missed you." He could always count on her not to hide her true self from him, always revealing to him her emotions at any given time.
Logan smiled tenderly. She never failed to bring to life that warm feeling inside of him. He encouraged her to come around the bench and have a seat on his lap. He embraced her fully. "Missed ya too, darlin'."
They sat that way in silence for a long time, enjoying the evening sounds that surrounded them. Ororo burrowed deeper into him, feeling the strength of his embrace with her right hand resting on his chest, just over his heart. Logan inhaled deeply, her glorious scent wrapping itself around him, making him intoxicated.
As he held her in his arms, enjoying the feel and smell of her, the idea that he was wracking his brain for came to him in a rush. Forget the pomp and circumstance of pulling off the perfect proposal. The sun was setting and its colors were lighting up the sky heralding twilight. The moment as it stood right now was perfect for what he needed to do.
Logan sighed, breaking the silence. "What is it dearest?" Ororo asked softly.
"Dance with me, darlin'."
Ororo's eyes showed her confusion at his unusual request. "What?"
He looked up to the sky, then back at her. "Dance with me, darlin'." He repeated. Despite his dislike for flying or anything having to do with his body not on solid ground, they've done it a handful of times and it was actually the perfect way for him to propose to her. He wanted to bang his head against a tree for not thinking of this sooner.
"You want to dance?"
He nodded. "Yes, but up there."
Her sculpted brows shot up in surprise. "You want to ride the winds with me? Now?" This was certainly not what she was expecting when she joined him. She knew his distaste for anything having to do with flying. So for him to put aside his aversion and ask her to do this was very strange and significant to say the least.
"Yes."
The look in his eyes told her just how important his request was and she got up from his lap without further question. She gifted him with a beautiful smile, her eyes going back and forth between milky white and sapphire blue, as she held out her hand for him to hold. Logan was completely mesmerized as he held her gaze and clasped her hand.
Before he could question his decision, her arms wrapped around him securely as a strong updraft walloped them. His arms automatically went around her and he held on to her tightly as the wind tore through his hair and sent a shiver through him. Ororo, on the other hand, boasted a peaceful loving smile as her hair whipped around them and became charged with a renewed shot of energy. The remaining light from the setting sun encased her in a mythical glow that left him in a complete daze.
"Are you ready, my love?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, darlin'." His voice was hoarse.
He felt the raw power she commanded pulse through her and flowed into him as a Jetstream came out of nowhere and lifted them into the air. He knew he left his stomach somewhere on the ground and an odd noise of what can only be described as a cross between a scream and a growl was torn from his lips. He felt as if he was caught up in a tornado as the sound of the winds pulverized his sensitive hearing.
Ororo looked at him and smiled gently and he submit to her command, as always trusting her to keep him safe. He felt their pulses and heard heartbeats as she escorted them through a series of aerial acrobatics between the clouds. Logan looked up and saw the twinkling stars as night made its entrance. Energy that can only be gained being with this woman, coursed through him and he knew it was now or never for what he wanted to do.
"Darlin'…" He began, knowing that she could hear him through the air currents. "Yer everything 'Ro. Everything I never expected and don't deserve."
Storm turned to face him, a frown marring her beautiful face. "What are…" her words were interrupted by his index finger on her lips.
"I just need ya ta listen ta me, baby."
She nodded as she guide him in another aerial twist.
"I've lived a long life, darlin'. Seen a helluva lot, been through a helluva lot and did a helluva lot. And it all brought me here…ta ya." Purposefully, he allowed the Wolverine to take over, his obsidian eyes boring into her pupiless ones. "What I'm tryin' ta say darlin', is that I love ya. Ain't no words ta tell ya how much."
Storm's arms instinctively wrapped him tighter. "And I you, dear heart." Her voice was echoing eerily. She stilled their movements, keeping them afloat on a powerful air current.
One of the many things the Wolverine was known for was never showing vulnerability to anyone. But he gave her one now, revealing the man she had come to love. That one look completely arrested Ororo, causing her closely held emotions to rise to the surface. In it, she saw, pure raw and possessive love and it was all hers. "Baby, yer mine now and forever. Marry me. Let me give ya the family ya always wanted."
Instead of breaking down in tears, Storm murmured from the deepest depths of her being. "Baby, I am yours now and forever."
With his loving annoying smirk, the Wolverine asked, "Is that a yes, wind rider."
"Yes, my mountain man. Yes to marrying you." With an impish smile, she added, "and definitely a yes to you getting me pregnant."
Logan's rich chuckle echoed amid the clouds, as Ororo began their air dance again. They danced and laughed the evening away, secured in their love and loyalty for each other, knowing that this was always going to be the ultimate reward for them as they navigated the various stages of their relationship.
When their feet were back on solid ground, and they were once again Logan and Ororo, he reached into his front pocket, pulling the small blue velvet box out. When he flipped it open, its contents caused Ororo's mouth to literally fall open. Her eyes shifted to the look of adoration on his handsome mug and she knew that he had spent quite a bit of time designing the ring himself before he had it made for her. She also knew it was the most intricately designed, expensive and beautiful piece of jewelry she'll ever own. The rings she received from both T'Challa and Forge didn't even begin to compare to the one this man who was so much more than the hardened man the world saw, was now presenting to her.
"Logan," she said with feeling. "This…this is…"
"Worthy of a Goddess," he finished with deep conviction.
She looked up at him, the tears she held at bay while in the air, now flowed freely. "Oh dear heart." She extended her left hand, prompting him to slip the ring on the appropriate finger.
