<<  >>  depicts thoughts

He couldn't take his eyes off her.

From his vantage point he could see every flicker of emotion that passed through her face. He loved to watch her. If he ever had one favorite pastime, that was it. Her eyes would widen one moment and then narrow the next. He loved the way her lips would sometimes part on a gasp. What made him hot though was when her little pink tongue would peek through the corner of her delectable mouth. <<I'd like to take your mouth, baby.>>

Logan and Marie were watching a video, just the two of them. The majority of the household was out, as was the pattern every Friday night. And Friday nights were movie nights for Logan and Marie. It had become an unspoken habit for the two of them. Sometimes the others would watch with them but most of the time it was just them.  They were seated on the opposite ends of the couch. Marie was stuffing popcorn into her mouth without taking her eyes off the TV.  She looked cute in her blue cloud printed pajamas, like a child all fresh and gussied up for bed. But he knew that beneath the fresh-faced innocent look was a passionate woman. He had first felt that passion  two months ago. The night when he disgraced himself by getting so horny that he took advantage of Marie's sleeping and indisposed state by humping her. The next time Marie got her period, he took care of her again--only this time he behaved himself. He promised himself he would take it slow with her. And by God, he would do it even if it killed him.

"Oh, my God, Logan! Did you see that?" Marie reached out to grip his knee as she squealed in terror, but she kept her gaze fixed on the screen.

Logan gave the required loud grunt but continued to stare at her with a half-smile on his face. Marie settled back down again, her hand buried in the bowl of popcorn.

So far, Logan's plan was working. They'd been spending a lot of time together and that was more than he could ask for. Marie rarely went out during weekends, despite Kitty and Jubilee's incessant urgings. She preferred staying cooped up in her room to read or sketch. Logan made sure he would pop in once in a while just to talk. What made him smile with satisfaction these days was the fact that Marie was more accustomed to his touch now. Light random touches on her body. His hand rubbing the small of her back. Ruffling her hair when she was being an imp. Stroking her shoulders when she was tired. She wasn't as skittish as before. Through his encouragement, she had learned to be comfortable in touching him and letting him touch her. But only him. She was still careful whenever she was around the others but she would let her guard down when she was with him.

Logan snapped out of his thoughts when Marie laughed at something from the movie. It was a full-bodied kind of laugh--passionate and genuine. Her eyes closed, mouth opened and head thrown back. <<You're so beautiful.>> Seeing her like that, responding with such abandon to just a simple stimulus, made him think how she would react to the complex stimuli of his hands, his tongue, his...

On cue, he became instantly hard. He was used to it already--his body responding to some unconscious Marie gesture. It had never been like this for him before. A thought or a vision of some woman had never made him aroused that easily. But now, it only took a little for him to get primed for sex. But only with Marie was he able to respond this way. Logan wasn't surprised at all, though, because he knew that with Marie, everything he felt was new, unique and special. He grimaced as he adjusted the front of his jeans and tried to concentrate on the movie.

Marie, still with traces of mirth lifting the corners of her mouth, glanced at him and saw his furrowed brow. He looked uncomfortable and uneasy. Her smile faded. She knew it would come to this.

"You're not enjoying yourself, are you, Logan?" she asked quietly.

Logan was just starting to get caught up in the movie. "What?" he said distractedly.

She scooted closer to him and willed him to look at her. "You know I never asked you to do this. You didn't have to stay with me every Friday night. I'm perfectly content being by myself while you guys go out and have a good time."

"What are you talking about?" Logan reached for the remote and turned down the volume. What had gotten into her now?

Marie couldn't get the distress out of her voice. "You! It's Friday night and you should be out at some bar picking up a girl or something! I can tell that this has become an obligation to you. I don't want you spending time with me just because you promised to take care of me."

Logan threw her a dubious look and turned off the TV. "Okay, tell me what brought this on." His patience was frayed.

She felt his anger brewing so she backed down. She wringed her gloved hands together and lowered her head. "I saw you looking uneasy a while ago. I knew it wouldn't be long before you became bored and tired of our Friday night movie thing. But remember I didn't ask you to do this!"

Logan was silent. After a while, he ordered, "Come here, Marie."

She shook her head stubbornly.

Logan released a deep breath before wrapping his arm around her shoulder and drawing her none too gently to his side. He was tempted to give her the real reason for that "uneasy" look just to make her understand. He pressed his mouth to the top of her head and breathed in the smell of her hair. "I'm here with you because I want to. I enjoy being with you, doing things with you, talking with you. This is not an obligation."

Marie burrowed her head against his shoulder. She had been selfish, wanting his attention all to herself. And even if she didn't verbally ask that he spend his free time with her, she didn't discourage him from doing so either. Logan had a life apart from her, she knew that. But for the past couple of months, ever since the night he took care of her when she had her period, it seemed that Logan's life had become inextricably tangled with her own. She didn't question Logan's motives because there was none. It was all because of that promise. And Logan never went back on his word. And for a while, she just let it happen. Let herself bask in his attentions, in his care. She didn't delude herself into thinking that it was because he had any romantic intentions toward her. Logan thought of her as child, a younger sister to indulge and take care of. But she was in love with him and if that was all she could have, then so be it. Beggars, after all, couldn't be choosers.

She curved an arm around his shoulder and pressed her face even closer to him. She had to let him go now. She had to share him with the rest of the world. As far as she knew, Logan never went out to enjoy himself anymore. Aside from the missions he went along with the rest of the X-Men, Logan never left the mansion at all. It didn't make her happy being selfish--not when she was costing him his social life. But making Logan happy would.

"I release you of your promise, Logan."

Logan instinctively knew where she was going with this. "No, Marie," he said, his voice firm.

"Dammit, Logan, you hardly go out anymore! I know you. I got you in my head, remember? You get restless. You need to prowl. You can't bear to be tied down."

<<Oh, Marie, darlin', everything's changed.>> "Look at me, Marie." He cupped her face in his gloved hands and forced her to look at him. "No one and nothing is forcing me to be with you, kid. Iim here because I choose to do so. I happen to like watching movies with you and watching you sketch in your room. Yes, I've been restless before, but for now, I'm home. Everyone here has made me feel welcome-- especially you. I don't have any reason to be wandering around--at least not for a while." The year he spent in Canada searching for his past had yielded nothing. And when he came back, the Professor advised him to be patient and wait. "Get it into that lovely head of yours that I like being with you. I'm not some teenager who needs to party every weekend. I'm an old man and I need to conserve my energy."

Marie couldn't help but smile at that last bit. She slapped his chest and hid her face against his chest. "And I'm not in love with you," she muttered boldly, knowing he wouldn't hear her.

"What was that?"

Marie ignored his question and instead, laid down on the couch on her side using Logan's lap as a pillow. Blood gathered once again in Logan's loins and he moved her head away from his vulnerable body part. Unaware of her effect on him, Marie snuggled closer to his lap.

"Just don't think that you have to be with me all time, Logan. You know I won't keep you from going out and...meeting women. I mean, you're a man after all and I'm sure you need to...ah..."

Logan chuckled. He slowly stroked her silky brown and platinum locks away from her forehead. "Don't worry about my sex life, kid. I think I have that covered."

Marie couldn't help the resentment growing in her chest. "Really. Do I know her?"

Logan sensed the change in Marie's tone and he grinned. Thank God, she couldn't see his face. "You'll meet her soon, kid. She's beautiful and sexy. She's got the most fantastic-looking breasts--"

Marie cut him short. "You were never particular about breasts before."

"Well, I am now. I'm sure you'll like her when you meet her, Marie." Teasing Marie was his second favorite pastime.

Marie closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to flow out. <<Oh, God, he has someone else! No wonder he's been in a good mood lately. And here I thought I was keeping him from his social life when he's been getting laid all along!>> The pain of his revelation rendered her speechless for a moment. "It must be serious, considering how you want me to meet her. You've always been discreet about your past relationships," she managed to whisper.

Logan tangled his hands in her hair and closed his eyes. He loved the feel of her hair even with his gloves to dampen the sensation. "You're damn right it's serious." <<She's jealous!>>

Marie's brow furrowed in pain. "And there I was worrying about your social life when it's been just dandy all this time!" she exclaimed, trying to sound angry instead of hurt.

"That's why I told you not to worry about it."

"You can bet your tight ass from now on I won't," she grumbled. <<You're such a fool, Marie. You're just his fucking responsibility. Get that through your head.>> Marie reached for the remote and turned the TV on again.

Logan pretended not to notice Marie's hostility and kept right on stroking her hair. Everything was going to be just fine. He grinned wickedly at that thought.

Marie looked around the restaurant wishing she were anywhere but here. It was Friday night. She was supposed to be watching a movie with Logan. But given the new development in Logan's sex life, she decided to  put it off indefinitely. <<Logan doesn't need me hanging around him now that he has...her, who ever the hell she is. I'm sure he'd rather be in bed with her than be sitting on a couch watching a movie with me.>>

Sitting across her was her date who was going on and on about his father's big time construction business like he had taken credit for its success. She rolled her eyes and waited for her chance to escape. He really wasn't her type. He was too boyish, too citified. And he wasn't Logan.

Marie had finally taken up Jubes on her offer. Jubes knew of a rich, good-looking guy and she was forever slinging the idea of a date at her face. Marie had always refused because one, she didn't think she could ever play the dating game again with someone who wasn't a mutant, and two, she was holding out for Logan. She just wasn't interested in anyone besides him. But Logan didn't return her interest. So here she was, trying to get herself a love life because God knew how futile it was to wish for somebody you can't have. If only she didn't have these feelings for Logan, then her life wouldn't be that complicated. <<Love really sucks.>> How she was going to move on without comparing every man she dated with Logan, she didn't know.

<<I wish it were Logan having dinner with me tonight.>> She sighed. She couldn't take any more of this. Having made her decision, she looked at the blonde young man across her who was still talking non-stop. "Hey, uh, Ross."

"--big building about two blocks from here--yes, Marie?" Ross was kinda good-looking, definitely rich, too polished for her taste, not to mention too cocky for his own good.

"Did Jubilee tell you anything--" Marie gesticulated with her hands. "--uh, special about me?"

Ross smiled smugly. "Only that you were absolutely beautiful. And she was right."

Marie released an exasperated breath. " I'm a mutant, Ross. I can suck the life out of you if ever I touch you."

Ross nearly toppled over his chair as he reared back in shock. "Oh, shit, a mutie!"

"Hmm, exactly." Only Jubes would leave out that important fact. Marie gathered her purse and shawl. "It was nice meeting you, Ross. Thanks for dinner." She held out her opera gloved hand for a handshake but Ross shook his head vehemently. Marie just shrugged and with that, she stood up and left the restaurant.

Logan was fuming mad. The hair on his arms and at the back of his neck stood up as he continued to pace inside Marie's room. He clenched his fists, controlling the urge to release his claws. It was almost midnight and Marie wasn't home yet. <<I'll kill the little prick if he tries anything with her!>>

He hadn't seen Marie today. In fact, he only caught glimpses of her in the last few days. The Professor had sent him and Scott for an errand so they were out the whole day. If he hadn't cornered Jubilee in the hallway after dinner, he wouldn't have known that Marie was out on a date. A date on their Friday movie night! Marie never mentioned anything about a guy or a date.

He stopped pacing when a thought occurred to him. He was acting like the jealous boyfriend. But *he* was jealous. And *he* was the boyfriend--only she didn't know it yet. He growled menacingly and tried to pick up the sound of a car with his enhanced hearing. Nothing.

Logan sat on her bed and tried to calm himself. So much for taking it slow. He couldn't bear the thought of another guy moving in on Marie. <<She's mine and no one trespasses on my property.>>

Just then, his ears picked up the sound of a car. He went to the window and looked out. He saw a taxi stop before the mansion's gate. The door opened and Marie stepped out.

<<What kind of a date lets a girl go home in a taxi alone? I swear, I'll rip that little bastard to pieces.">>

He hid behind the curtains as he watched Marie's slow progress along the well-lit driveway to the front door.

Marie adjusted the tight clasp of her scarf around her neck and hitched her shawl higher on her shoulders. The wind was cool and her long sleeveless silver dress was scanty protection against the cold. The ride home had given her a chance to think and as she was making her way to the front door, she was still lost in thought. <<I must be crazy. I mean, I just passed up an opportunity back there. I didn't give myself much of a chance to like him and I never gave Ross the chance to digest the fact that I'm a mutant but... Oh what the hell. It still wouldn't have worked.>>

She kicked a stone along the driveway and nearly fell over her high heels. <<Damn stupid shoes! And damn Logan too! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be in this damned situation. And I wouldn't be fucking swearing either! >> Seething with anger, Marie took her shoes off and walked barefoot the rest of the way.

The mansion was quiet now. She carefully made her way to her room, making as little noise as possible. She had decided that a bath would definitely be a fitting end to a disastrous night. She couldn't wait to get out of her clothes and step into her warm, scented bath. Hopefully, it would set her spirits high again.

Marie was so occupied with her thoughts that she didn't notice Logan standing by the window when she opened the door to her room. She dropped her shoes on the foot of the bed carelessly. She slipped the shawl from her shoulders and was about to throw it on the bed along with her purse when she saw him--tall, dark and brooding -- illuminated by the moonlight. She must've jumped a foot. "Jesus, Logan, you scared me!"

Logan didn't say anything. He just stood there, all imposing with his arms crossed over his chest. "It's about time you got home." He surveyed her from head to toe, noticing the silver dress that clung to every delicious curve of her body. <<Damn lucky bastard. He got to ogle her the whole night!>> Logan swallowed hard at the image of Marie before him. Her hair was tamed in an upswept 'do. Her neck was bare of any adornment, seeming to tempt any man for a taste of her skin.

<<Oh, man, this is going to get ugly.>> Marie threw her shawl and purse on the bed and started to go to him. She laughed nervously. "Uh, yeah. Uhm, dinner was longer than I anticipated." She shrugged her delicate shoulders. "You know how time flies when you're having a good time."

She froze in her tracks when he saw Logan's arms unfold and his nostrils flare in controlled anger. "So you did have a good time with--what's the name of that little prick--Tommy? Shane? George?" Logan's voice was deceptively calm but totally patronizing. "Oh, but I forgot. You didn't tell me his name." He abandoned his position from the window and started towards her. "In fact, you also failed to mention that you were going to be out tonight with some kid that I don't even know."

Marie had never seen Logan like this. She's seen him get angry a lot of times but this was the first time he seemed to get angry with her. She backed away. She was genuinely scared. She knew Logan would never hurt her, but this behavior of his was unfamiliar to her. "Please, Logan..."

Logan followed her retreat. He could smell her fear. "What? Do you have nothing to say?"

Marie felt the wall behind her back. She was trapped.

Logan caged her with his arms, his hands flat beside her head. Then he breathed in her scent. "I can't smell him on you. Don't tell me he didn't try anything?" He chuckled mockingly. "Did your skin turn him off?"

It was too much. With adrenaline pumping through her veins, Marie pushed at his chest. "You bastard! You insensitive, unfeeling bastard!" she screamed at him. "What business is it of yours if I go out on a date? I don't pry into your love life so don't you dare pry into mine!"

"It is *my* business because I look out for you! It's past your curfew. You didn't even ask my permission---"

Marie was angry now, her fear forgotten. "Permission! Why the hell do I have to ask permission from you? You're not my father! I'm 19, Logan. I'm an adult! I can go out with whomever I want, whenever I want without asking you or anyone for permission!"

Logan backed her up against the wall once again and gripped her jaw, forcing her to meet his feral hazel gaze. "Listen to me," he said in a low, dangerous tone. "I don't like the idea of you going out with some punk. And most of all, I don't like the idea of you keeping things from me."

Marie tugged his hand from its grasp on her jaw. "Does that order apply to you as well?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in anger. "Because if I remember correctly, you were the one who first started keeping things from me!"

"What the hell are you--"

Marie cut him off. "You have a woman! You didn't tell me you were seeing someone. Did you ask for my permission, huh? Didya?"

"That's different and you know it!"

Marie leaned in on him. "Tell me how different it is, Logan. You can go out and fuck someone and I can't? How fair is that? And what's with this asking for permission thing? When did we have to start asking for consent for anything? You're not my keeper!"

Logan stepped in and pinned her on the wall with his hard body. He was vibrated with anger and frustration. He pressed his hips hard against her belly. "It's because I'm jealous," he growled.

"Wha-what?" Marie asked weakly. Did she hear him right?

"I said I'm fucking jealous!"

Marie was at a loss for words. She could only stare at him in disbelief, wonder and confusion.

He looked intensely at her big brown eyes and said, "I'm jealous of anyone who gets to be with you, who gets to be near you..." His gaze fell down on her trembling mouth. "...who gets to touch you." Then he kissed her. Hard.

Marie was too stunned to react. Her eyes flew open wide at the initial feel of Logan's hard kiss. The beginning of the pull of her powers alerted her to what was happening and she was able to push him away before it reached Logan. "Are you crazy?" she yelled at him, her fingers touching her lips.

Logan unfurled the light, thin scarf from her neck and then placed it over the lower half of her face. "I must be," he muttered before capturing her lips again with his own.

Marie closed her eyes at the heat of Logan's mouth on her own. It was the most intense feeling she'd ever felt. She forgot how this shouldn't be happening. She forgot everything else except for the feel of Logan's lips. Her lips parted on a gasp as he licked them open.

Logan groaned at the overpowering sensations pouring into him through Marie's lush lips. He sensed her apprehension but he knew passion would take over soon. They might have been kissing without the scarf between them. He softly nipped her lips and tongued the corners of her mouth. He took advantage of the gasp that escaped her by thrusting his tongue in her mouth. He gently coaxed Marie into responding with his tongue, gently tangling his with her own. His hands were on her back, gentling her with comforting touches. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss, growling when he felt Marie return it with equal fervor. His hands traveled down to her hips and pulled her against his straining erection.

Marie broke the kiss and made an attempt to stop him. "Don't, Logan. We shouldn't be doing this. It's not--"

"Stop," Logan ordered in a voice heavy with desire. "Stop thinking. Just feel, Marie. Feel us." Then he kissed her again.

Marie's mind rebelled at the assault but couldn't stop, her body was on fire. She was drowning in sensation and all she could do was feel. She opened her mouth wider and accepted the deep thrusts of his tongue. She felt his arousal against her belly and she leaned closer into his embrace, delighting in the feeling of being wanted. She felt Logan's hand come up and cup her breast, rubbing his palm against her hardening nipple. A sharp ache gathered in the pit of her stomach and an answering sensation collected between her legs.

Logan pulled away, his breathing ragged. He stared at her languorous eyes and swollen mouth and growled. Pulling down the scarf to cover her neck and chest, he swooped down and attacked the inviting skin of her throat. Marie threw her head back to give him better access. Logan soon busied himself by pulling the straps and the zipper down at the back of the dress. He pulled down the front of her dress and feasted his eyes on her breasts. They looked as beautiful and as inviting as the last time he saw them. And her nipples--they were just begging to be touched.

He felt Marie clutch his bicep. "Logan..." There was uncertainty in her eyes, curiosity and yes, passion. "This will feel good, baby. I promise." He pulled the scarf over the alabaster globes and took one tight nipple into his mouth. Marie swallowed a lusty groan and arched into his touch. Logan passed his tongue back and forth, back and forth across her nipple, loving the way they tasted and felt in his mouth. He sucked on her fiercely, sometimes nipping her with his teeth.

"Logan, please..." Marie didn't know what she wanted. She wanted him to stop and yet, she wanted the sensation to go on. Logan transferred to her next breast and lavished upon it the same kind of attention he bestowed on its twin. The throb between her legs grew stronger as she heard the moist suction of Logan's mouth on her breast. She wanted more. She gripped the back of his head and forced him more on her breast. Logan obliged by sucking harder, making Marie whimper in pleasure.

Logan wanted nothing more than to thrust into her tight, warm core. She was better at this awake than asleep, that's for sure, he thought. She was so responsive he was ready to come. He straightened up and hoisted her legs around his hips. The generous skirt of her dress parted and all Logan had to do was bunch the front part of the dress around her waist to get it out of the way.

Marie was surprised at the sudden movement. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she leant back against the wall. Logan thrust his aching erection against her heated core. Even with the layers of denim and lace between them, he could feel her heat soaking up his cock. He wanted to feel that heat. Releasing about an inch of his middle claw, Logan ripped her panties and threw the scrap of lace on the floor. He filled his gloved palm with her mound and both groaned at the sensation. Marie couldn't help the sound of pleasure that escaped her throat, nor could she help the thrust of her hips, seeking more contact, more sensation. Logan's hand moved, his palm stroking the wet curls at the top of her sex, and his fingers dipping in her warm honey pot. His thumb strayed to her clit and started a rhythmic stroking that sent Marie thrashing and moaning. "It's okay, baby, it's okay," he soothed her. His fingers parted her wet folds, stroking them more before pushing a gloved finger deep in her core.

Marie pulled away from the contact but Logan brought her back, whispering in her ear, "Don't be scared, darlin'. It's not gonna hurt. Come on, move those hips for me, baby, please."

The alien sensation of his finger inside her was soon replaced by desire so sharp, she ground her pelvis against his hand. She closed her eyes and let herself feel. Marie made a sobbing sound as Logan continued to rub the sensitive nubbin between her legs. "Oh, Logan, that feels so good. I can't--aah!" Logan inserted another finger inside her and that stole her breath. He maintained a steady rhythm, loving the way her muscles contracted around his fingers. <<I wish it was my cock inside you, baby. I want to feel your heat around me. I want to feel you ripple and flow around me. Oh, baby, yes!>> Logan knew she was close to climaxing. He pumped faster, watching her face for any sign of pain. But all he could see on her flushed face was an expression of pained ecstasy.

"That's it, baby. Come on, now. You're almost there. I wanna feel you come around my fingers. That's it."

Marie arched her back as the storm brewing between her thighs finally broke. She screamed in rapture as she pulsed around his fingers, her hips chasing the waves of her climax.

Seeing Marie come in his arms was pure heaven. The vision of her like that would be forever stamped in his brain. <<You're so beautiful when you come, baby.>> He watched her as she gasped for breath, a flush staining her cheeks down to her heaving breasts. He wanted the same ecstasy for himself. He grasped her hips and tentatively, he started to rub his denim-encased cock against her soaking folds, careful not to make her sore.

Marie opened her eyes and soon the haze that clouded her mind started to clear. There was a dull ache between her legs but it was a good kind of ache. The best. She saw Logan looking at her with hooded eyes and she realized he hadn't come to his release yet. He felt him thrusting and she answered with a thrust of her own. Soon, their hips were moving in counterpoint to their thrusts.

She thought she was beyond sensation now but she was wrong. Another pulse began to beat ever so strongly inside her. She cried out as the rough denim crushed her clit, again and again. She strained against Logan, her hard nipples rubbing against his flannel-covered chest.

Logan pulled her legs tighter around his waist as he moved. He closed his eyes as he felt himself nearing the edge. He felt Marie's gentle hands stroking his shoulders, his hair, his nape. Then he heard her whisper, "Don't hold back, Logan. I want you so much."

That did it for him. He thrust once, twice, before he arched his powerful back and roared in orgasm. Marie enfolded him into her embrace, letting his head rest against her scarf-covered breasts. A moment passed before Logan released his hold on her hips and let her legs slide down to the floor abruptly.

Confused by the sudden movement, Marie looked at him and saw the anger still etched in his face. She balanced herself on shaky legs and tried to regain some of her dignity by pulling the front of her dress up. "Logan?" she asked shakily.

Still conscious of the wetness spreading in the front of his jeans, Logan glared at her. "No one else touches you but me, do you hear? Your body responds only to me. If there's one thing that this exercise has taught you, it should be that. You're mine, Marie. Don't ever forget that." Logan turned on his heel and walked out of the room.

The minute the door closed, Marie crumpled on the floor and cried.

It was a beautiful morning. The sun peeking over the horizon bathed the Westchester area in golden light. But all this was lost on the man standing naked by the window. He stared unseeingly at the mansion's grounds, drawing on his cigar. He leaned on his right arm that was braced above his head against the wall, his powerful body arched in a masculine yet graceful stance. His eyebrow rose upward as he drew on his cigar, exhaling the smoke slowly.

Logan had spent a wretched night. A raging hard-on that lasted the whole night wasn't really a requisite for a good night's sleep. Not only did his body suffer, his emotions did too. <<I really must have it bad.>>  He tossed and turned, berating himself for his loss of control, his hair-trigger temper, not to mention his totally
inexcusable behavior.  <<She must hate me right now. Damn jealousy's blinded me to reason.>> He flinched, as if struck, as the memory of last night torturously unfolded itself in his mind. The way he had pinned her against the wall, his pounding against her and Marie writhing in ecstasy. He had never lost control sexually like that. Only Marie had reduced him to some sex-starved maniac. Objectively he noted that he had given her pleasure, yes, but that didn't excuse him from what he did. Instead of hurrying things up along with Marie, he had landed himself back to square one. <<Great going, bub.>> It was strike two for Logan. First the bed episode and now, the wall episode. He kept putting himself in such awkward situations it wasn't funny anymore. <<Why the hell can't I just go to her and say 'I want you. I love you. You're mine. I want you in my bed?'>>

He wasn't the kind of man who was in touch with his emotions. He had never opened himself up like this to anyone before. Actually, he had never made himself vulnerable to anyone or anything--until Marie came along. He knew what he did last night was unforgivable. He had to explain. He had to make her see. He wasn't proud of himself at the moment. He had to rectify the situation. And knowing Marie, he knew she would retreat into herself. He had to reach her before she did.

Logan wasn't the only one wrestling with his thoughts. At dawn, Marie had given up trying to sleep altogether and went to her refuge instead--the mansion's conservatory. Her room held too many memories of last night that she had to get away.

She sat on a bench, her legs drawn to her chest in a pose that comforted her whenever she was troubled. She rested her chin on top of her knees and tried to calm herself. People were starting to wake up, which meant that her chances of not meeting Logan were dwindling. She wasn't ready to face him. Not yet. Not after what had happened last night.

Logan's anger and his surprising behavior last night baffled her. His reaction to her going out with Ross was completely over the top. He was taking their ward-guardian relationship way too seriously, she thought.  He had no right to be so angry with her for trying to get herself a life. His jealousy and anger were unfounded. She couldn't understand his reaction and didn't understand how anger could lead to something...sexual.

She was mortified, to say the least. She couldn't believe how just one kiss from Logan could make all her defenses shatter. She gave in so fast and so easily, Logan would certainly realize that she harbored feelings for him. Looking back, she hadn't protested that much because she wanted it to happen. There was no denying that.

The sounds she made last night echoed in Marie's head and she blushed scarlet. She didn't know she was capable of that kind of response. Her untutored body had danced naturally to the magic of Logan's hands, recognizing his touch as something good and wonderful, not threatening and dangerous. Her breasts felt sore this morning and there was a slow throbbing between her legs. She couldn't believe that last night really happened! What happened to the sweet and caring Logan that she knew? Last night she saw a side of him that excited and frightened her at the same time. He had been masterful, potent and so sexy. Oh, she had fantasized about making love with Logan many times, but last night's episode was far from her romantic daydreams. It was raw, passionate and so sexual. Her defenses had broken down the minute she felt his lips on her own. She buried her head in her knees. <<Oh, God, how humiliating! I don't think I can look at him in the eye knowing I came apart in his arms. I gave myself away!>> She groaned.

"Hey."

<<Oh my God.>>

Logan's voice startled her into putting her feet back on the ground. She looked at him with wide eyes and a hunted look, all color draining from her face.

Logan noted the dark circles under her eyes and the hunted statement on her face. <<I'm sorry, baby.>> "Can I sit down?" His tone was gruff.

Marie nodded and looked away.

Logan sat down on the bench but maintained a discreet distance from her. He leaned his elbows on his knees and focused his attention on the potted plants placed orderly across them. He cleared his throat, not knowing how to start.

"How are you feeling?"

Color bloomed in her cheeks. "I- I'm fine," she whispered.

Logan turned to her intently, watching her face. "I didn't hurt you?" He didn't know what he would do if she replied in the affirmative.

Marie closed her eyes at the memories. "No."

Logan drew a deep breath. "Do you hate me...for what happened?"

Opening her eyes, Marie pondered the question. After a moment, she met his gaze. "I don't think so," she said huskily. "But I'm confused and a little hurt. I feel like I'm being punished." Her brown eyes implored his. "Was it so bad, what I did? I was trying to lead a normal life, Logan. You know how much I appreciate you looking out for me and seeing to my welfare, but you have to let me go out sometimes." Her eyes turned liquid as she felt tears gather. "I don't understand why you felt jealous. It's not fair that you can have a love life or a sex life, whatever, and I can't. I-I don't question you about--about *her* because I know it's a private thing. So I expect the same thing from you. A-And the way you touched me last night... you scared me a little bit. I didn't expect that--"

Logan's heart beat hard as if pounding him to death. It hurt him to hear her say these things knowing that he had brought them all on her. With a barely restrained growl, he snatched her up into his arms and buried her face against his chest. "Oh, God, baby, I'm sorry!"

Marie went stiff in his arms, trying very hard not to cry but failing. "I don't understand, Logan," she sobbed helplessly.

Logan cradled her tight, gasping against her hair as excruciating pain gathered in his chest. He was a bastard. How could he have let himself hurt her like this? Her sobs tore at his heart, inflicting pain so much worse than any weapon could. "I know, baby, I know," he crooned. "I'll fix it. I'll fix everything. Just don't cry. Hush now, Marie. It breaks my heart to see you cry."

His reassurance melted the last of her resistance and she let herself go boneless in his arms. She cried unabashedly, her tears soaking the front of his shirt, pouring out all her hurt and confusion.

Logan rocked her gently, comforting her the only way he could. He stroked her back gently, feeling her body loosen up. They stayed like that for a while until Marie stopped crying. He lifted her face from his chest, his heart constricting painfully at the sight of her wet eyes, red nose and trembling mouth. He wiped her tears with his thumbs. "Are you ready to listen to me?"

"Yes," she hiccupped.

"The woman I told you about?"

Unconsciously, jealousy flickered in Marie's eyes.

"I was referring to you."

Marie gaped at him.

"I wanted to make you jealous, to see if it would bother you if I were seeing somebody else. And even if you deny it now, I know it did."

"B-but why?" Marie croaked.

Knowing that it was now or never, Logan laid all his cards on the table. "I'm in love with you."

Marie's eyes widened in shock. As if burned, she moved way from Logan to the other end of the bench. It was all too much for her to take in.

Logan ignored the hurt he felt at her withdrawal and continued on. "I realized it when I went to Canada. And when I got back, I decided to win your heart. I maybe stubborn and hot-tempered but I know a good thing when I see one. And that good thing was you. You make me feel things I've never felt before. You made me discover another side of me--my gentle, caring side. You make me want to settle down,"

Marie just stared at him in disbelief.

Logan continued. "I knew I had to take it slow. I know you didn't feel the same way about me. I was your friend, your brother, your protector. I had to be content with that but I couldn't sustain it for long, as I showed you last night," he said rather ruefully. "Last night, I got so angry and jealous. You looked so beautiful and it grated on my nerves to think that you had dressed up for what's-his-face. My patience just snapped."

Logan drew a deep breath. The words just kept flowing and he couldn't stop. He tenderly stroked her cheeks. "The anger I felt somehow turned to passion. I had to have you. I had to make you see that I wanted you. I had to let you know that you were mine. I'm sorry for leaving you like that after I... touched you. The anger returned and I--"

Marie could only whisper brokenly, "Oh my God."

"I know what I did was unforgivable. I'm a possessive bastard when it comes to you and I'm sorry, Marie. Forgive me."

Marie looked at him with disbelieving eyes. Her mouth worked a couple of times, trying to speak. Her heart understood him but her mind was taking a bit longer to process all the information. She stood up and started pacing slowly in front of him.

Logan watched her, trying hard not to squirm in his seat like a child. This was worse than waiting for a blow of death to strike him.

Just then, Marie stopped and faced him. Biting at her lower lip, she contemplated some more before she finally spoke. "You're in love with me." She said it so matter-of-factly that Logan had trouble making out if she was happy or disgusted with it.

"Yes." There was no denying it.

"Then why the hell didn't you just tell me, you jerk!" Marie charged into him and grasped him by the collars of his shirt into standing up. Her face was red with temper now. "Why did you have to resort to some stupid macho stunt to try to tell me you had feelings for me? I mean we've always been upfront with each other!"

Logan could only stare at her helplessly. He knew she was right. "I know,dammit " he said, frustrated with himself. "But I was uncertain of your feelings...and I didn't like it that I was feeling vulnerable..." He took a peek at Marie, hoping she would spare him from explaining more. But he should've known. Marie had her arms crossed over her chest, her foot impatiently tapping on the ground. And possibly another mannerism she got from him, her eyebrow was raised with her mouth pursed completing the look.

"You're not gonna help me here, are you?"

"Nope. It's your show now, darlin'" A mocking smile came with that.

Logan gave a frustrated growl. "I guess I deserve this, huh?"

"Yup." A satisfied smile this time.

He tried again. "I wanted to take it slow. I wanted you to get used to me first. And when I told you about me having a woman, I guess I wanted to speed things up. I wanted to know how you would react. And you'll never know how damn glad I was when you got jealous." He passed a hand through his hair and sighed deeply in frustration. "God, Marie, I know I fucked up last night, but I just couldn't take that all my waiting was for nothing. I took my time with you and some pansy-assed was going to reap all the benefits! No fucking way!"

Marie smiled tremulously at the wonderful, wonderful man before her. She was in awe of his confession and the emotions that went with it. The way Logan humbled himself enough to tell her of his feelings did her in. Logan was a proud man, used to concealing his emotions. He took what he wanted. He said what he wanted and to hell with what everybody thought. But now, the proud Wolverine was nowhere to be found. Only a man named Logan. <<Oh, I love you so much! You're such a maddening man and you make me crazy but I love you!>>

"You do?" Logan's eyes lit up.

Marie realized she had thought out loud. "Yes!" she laughed and cried at the same time. She launched herself at him and hugged him fiercely.

Logan wrapped her up tight in his arms, his eyes closed as relief and his love for Marie washed over him. "Oh, God, Marie, I was so scared that you wouldn't understand. I love you. I love you!"

Marie thought that she had died and gone to heaven. This was everything she had dreamed of. Logan loved her! She pulled away so she could look at him. "I've loved you forever, you know," she whispered. "You don't know how I longed for you the whole time you were away. I knew you'd never look at me the same way you looked at Jean, that's why when you came back, I had to be satisfied with your friendship. I'd rather have that than nothing at all." In an instant, her statement grew angry. "Then you hinted at having a woman and I was so jealous!"

Logan laughed apologetically. It was so nice to see the fire back in her eyes. "I was going for that."

She slapped him in the chest and then sobered up. "I knew that I didn't have a hold on you so I kept my distance. It was the only way I knew that I could cope. I didn't want to be around you when you want to talk about her. So I thought I'd get myself a love life so I could start forgetting you. Like I could. So I let Jubes fix me up on a date with Ross--"

"What kind of a name is Ross?" Logan growled.

" Definitely fitting for someone who's insufferable and so full-of-himself."

"Not to mention no manners. Why didn't he take you home?"

Marie smiled sheepishly. "Actually, I left him at the restaurant. I couldn't stand his company any longer so I left." She stared solemnly into his eyes. "The things I'd do for you. If you had told me you loved me earlier then I wouldn't have subjected myself to that."

He stroked her cheek with gentle fingers. "And the things I'd be willing to put up with for you. God, Marie, you do know how to make a man sweat."

She laughed. "Serves you right and you know it."

"Yeah. Forgive me?"

Marie drew the scarf from her neck and placed it over his
lips. "Yeah..." She kissed him.

Logan's heart thundered in his chest at the feel of her lips. Her untutored mouth had the power to make his knees shake than a long night of sex with some woman could. He didn't respond yet, just letting her do whatever she wanted. Her lips nibbled his, delicately licking and nipping. He groaned loudly when he felt her tongue enter his mouth. He met her tongue with his own and finally, he took over the kiss.

He was gentle this time, unlike last night when anger drove him to touch her. Now it was tenderness and love. He gripped the back of her head, angling her mouth for the slant of his kiss. Marie gripped his arms, lost in the sensation of his kiss.

Logan pulled his mouth away. The scarf lay moist over Marie's mouth but he didn't remove it. "I have to know something."

"What?" She was breathless from the kiss.

"You're sure I didn't hurt you last night...when I touched you? And you know I mean not just physically."

Marie blushed at the memory but met his eyes squarely--eyes that held doubt and self-reproach. "If you mean that you warped me sexually and emotionally with what you did, then no, you didn't. I was surprised and scared at first, but I wanted it, too. As if you couldn't tell."

Logan allowed himself a small smile. "Yeah."

"God, Logan, I--uh, you know, twice! I didn't think my body was capable of that!"

He pulled her closely and chuckled in her hair. "You'd be surprised at what your body is capable of."

Marie remembered a comment he made about a certain body part of hers. "So you like my breasts, huh?" she whispered shyly.

Logan laughed. "Didn't I show you last night, honey?" He breathed in her scent and released it slowly. "But as much as I want to show you how much I want you, there will be no more episodes like last night." He thought of what he said and reconsidered. "Well, not yet, anyway."

Marie giggled.

"I want to make it right this time. I want to make it good for you. For us. Give me that chance, alright?"

"Alright."

"Ahem!"

They broke apart at the sound of Scott's voice. He was lounging in the doorway, trying not to smile. Marie blushed to the roots of her hair and snatched the scarf from her mouth. Logan visibly bristled.

"Sorry to interrupt," Scott said with no trace of remorse. "But breakfast is in five minutes."

"We'll be right along." It was obvious from Logan's tone that he didn't take too kindly at the interruption.

"Okay. I'll see you there." Finally flashing them a full smile, Scott left.

Marie turned to Logan with a question in her eyes. "He knows! What do we do now?"

Logan wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a carefee grin. "Why, we go down to breakfast, darlin'. I can't wait to tell them about my girl."

"You mean you haven't had sex yet?!" Ororo exclaimed, pausing in her sandwich preparations.

"Shh! Not so loud!" Marie whispered as she haphazardly arranged the remaining lettuce, tomatoes and onions on her sandwich before topping it with a slice of wheat bread.

"B-but, Logan...I mean, he can't uh...I just can't believe he's holding out this long!" Ororo sputtered. "I mean, it's been almost a month since you guys became a couple. Not that your sex life is any of my business but..." she lowered her voice a notch. "I don't think he can go long without it!"

Marie giggled. "Well apparently, he can."

Ororo smiled sincerely at the positively beaming girl across her. "He must really love you if he can do this for you."

"Sometimes I pinch myself to see if I'll wake up from this dream. Well so far, I haven't," Marie said wonderingly.

Ororo leaned closer. "Is it the mechanics of the sex?" she asked. "I know it's going to be a little different for the two of you but there are lots of ways you can get around that. I could help you if you want."

Marie smiled and thought how good a decision she had made of opening up to Ororo. Not that she didn't tell Jubes and Kitty any of this but she wanted the point of view of an older woman. She loved Ororo's candor and her open-mindedness. She valued her opinions and respected her ideas. She was glad she had become her friend. Marie reached out to touch Ororo's hand. "No, it's not that. I've already worked it out in my head how we're going to do it. I even have the necessary things we need stashed in my drawer. But Logan, well, he...he wants to take it slow. As old-fashioned as it sounds, we're still in the courtship
period."

Ororo clasped her hands together. "That's so romantic! I didn't think he had that in him. Romantic isn't exactly synonymous with the Wolverine."

"I know! I really love the way he spoils me. He takes me out. He gives me gifts once in a while. But I really feel that I want to be closer to him--physically. But he won't let me."

"But what about the scarf in his back pocket?" Ororo and the others thought it was funny how Logan had taken to tucking a light scarf at the back of his jeans since he and Marie had made their relationship public. It was a badge of sorts that he wore to let everyone know that Marie was his woman and he was the only one had the right to touch her intimately. They all knew that the scarf was used for kissing purposes and Logan didn't mind the occasional ribbing he would get from the others. For their sake, Ororo was glad that everyone was happy for the mansion's newest couple. Nobody questioned their relationship. The Professor had known it was only a matter of time and he let them know  he approved of their being together. Scott kept throwing Logan knowing smiles but that didn't faze him. Sometimes he would even return it with a growling smile of his own.

"Oh, he kisses me, alright. But that's all." Marie raised her big brown eyes to hers. "I want the rest."

Ororo laughed sympathetically. "Oh, Marie! You could--"

"So there you are!" Logan announced out from the doorway. "I was looking all over for you." He walked towards the two ladies and sat on the stool beside Marie. "'Ro." Logan acknowledged Ororo's presence.

Marie quickly glanced at Ororo apprehensively. <<I hope he didn't hear anything!>>

Ororo sent her a reassuring look and then grabbed her plate of sandwich. "Well! I'm going to eat this in my room. Bye guys!"

"Thanks, 'Ro. Later."

Ororo just smiled.

When she was gone, Marie turned to Logan and searched his hazel eyes, looking for a trace that he might have heard their conversation. But she saw nothing. She breathed easier. "Want me to make you a sandwich?"

Logan eyed the bread and fixings on the counter. "I'm not hungry," he said.

"So what is it?"

Logan's eyes traveled from the top of her head, her face then to her graceful neck. "Remember the--" He stopped when his gaze rested on Marie's chest. The espresso printed blouse she wore was sheer enough to expose her pink-brown nipples. She wasn't wearing a bra!

Marie noticed Logan's open mouth and widened eyes. "Logan? Are you alright?"

Logan swallowed hard as his cock sprang to a full erection. He'd been the perfect gentleman so far, taking care not to touch or kiss her too much. He was able to control his ever-present desire for her but four weeks had taken its toll on his body. The sight of her nipples bare beneath her blouse was enough to make his control snap.

With a hungry growl, he stood up and hefted Marie up on to the counter.

Marie squeaked in surprise and grasped Logan's shoulders to keep from falling. "What are you doing?"

Parting her thighs and stepping in between them, he grasped the back of her head and pulled her down for a hard kiss. "I'm sorry, baby, but give me this. Just this once, please."

Marie didn't realize what he was talking about until Logan's quick fingers slipped the buttons of her blouse from their holes. She watched in excitement as he parted her top and gazed reverently at her beautiful bounty.

Logan covered both breasts with his gloved hands and cupped them. "God, how I missed the feel of you, Marie," he whispered, closing his eyes. He learned the white globes like a blind man would, weighing them in his hands and passing his fingers over every curve.

Marie arched her back as exquisite pleasure raced up her spine. She missed the feel of his hands too.

Logan opened his eyes and fixed his eyes once again on Marie's breasts. "You're not wearing a bra." It was a question, not a statement.

Marie moaned softly as she felt Logan's fingers play with her nipples. "They feel tender today."

Logan whipped the scarf from the back of his jeans then spread it out over her chest. "I should be careful then," he said before taking one hardened nipple into his mouth.

Marie couldn't help the small scream that erupted from her throat. It felt good to have his warm mouth on her breast again. It didn't matter that she was a little tender--she just wanted his mouth. She felt Logan's tongue swirl on her aroused flesh, heightening the yearning in her body. She grasped his head with both hands and urged him to suckle more.

Logan's mouth watered at the taste of her. He wanted to suck, lick, nip and swallow her breast all at the same time. He opened his mouth wider, almost taking half of her breast inside the warm cavern of his mouth.

"Ooh, Logan..." she moaned.

"You like that, baby, huh?"

"Oh, yesss... Ooh! Harder, Logan, please!"

"Mmmmm..."

Marie threw her head back, overwhelmed by the desire Logan's mouth brought on her body. Her breasts had never felt so full as when Logan played with them. She felt his mouth move from her nipple to the underside of her breast, licking and then nuzzling the plump flesh. His other hand kneaded its twin, his fingers pinching the hard tip.

With a growl, Logan switched to the other breast, pulling the nipple into his mouth and sucking on it. He just couldn't get enough of her breasts. "I love you here where you're so soft," he murmured against her skin. "And also here where you're hard." He nipped her nipple and Marie yelped. But Logan soothed it with slow licks of his tongue.

"Logan, I-I think we should...ooh, stop now...Right there, yes...! Someone could c-come...come along..." Her contradicting orders were punctuated by the wrapping of her legs around his waist.

"Mmmm, just a little longer baby, please." He enfolded her into his embrace and sucked tightly.

The sound of a door opening and closing, a flurry of footsteps and voices somewhere in the mansion reached into Logan's consciousness. "Fuck," Logan swore under his breath as he slowly pulled away from his feast.

"Logan?" came Marie's confused question. Her eyes were languorous and hazy with desire.

"This isn't the right place, baby. We have to stop now before anyone walks in on us."

Marie was alert now. "Oh!"

With reluctant hands, Logan pulled the scarf away and tucked it back in its place. Logan's heavy-lidded gaze met Marie's for a second before he looked at her still aroused breasts, noting the moisture on the hard ruby tips. Then he started to button up her blouse.

Marie could only watch as Logan arranged her clothing. Her heartbeat was slowly working down to its normal rate after the impromptu workout. She lifted a hand to caress the side of his face.

"Come here," Logan commanded and Marie went into his arms, tucking her face carefully against his neck. "Let's hold each other until the urgency goes away." He closed his eyes and let the scent of her hair calm his body. He didn't know how long he could hold on to his promise. He rebelled at the prospect of more nights spent taking a cold shower. But Marie seemed to be enjoying the present set-up and he didn't want to ruin that. He loved "courting" her; he had no qualms about that. But he was afraid of messing things up again by taking it one step higher like he did the last time.

"Logan?"

"Yes, darlin'?" He rocked her slowly.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

He stopped rocking her as he thought about her question. Then he laughed. "I forgot!"

"You're showing your age, Logan," she teased.

Logan spoke close to her ear and whispered seductively. "Actually, it only shows how distracting you are."

"Flatterer!"

"Only with you, darlin'. Only with you."

Logan didn't understand a thing that was going on in the movie. While Marie was so engrossed in the drama, his concentration was focused solely on the girl sitting beside him on the couch. Her head was pillowed on his shoulder while her arm laid across his chest in a loose hug. For the past four Fridays, their Friday movie night had become Friday cuddle night for Logan. It gave him an excuse to touch her, smell her hair and feel her warmth.

He stroked his hand idly up and down Marie's arm, making her snuggle more closely to his side. He closed his eyes and wondered about the most beautiful thing that had ever happened to him. Loving Marie made more sense to him than finding his past and extracting revenge. She made him happy more than--she made him happy, period. The Wolverine didn't get happy. He got mad and fierce, but not happy. Until Marie came along and charmed him with her innocent smile. She was the only woman who made him randy and celibate at the same time--two extreme conditions that he could only be with Marie. Being near her and smelling her made him hard in an instant. But for her, he was willing to be more patient.

Marie's brow furrowed as she watched the drama unfold on the screen. Her hand moved unconsciously against Logan's chest, stroking it in soothing circles. Her fingers bumped on a masculine nipple and she caressed it through his flannel shirt. As if mesmerized, her fingers focused on it, bringing it into hardness.

Logan's breath hitched and he immediately got aroused. His nipple felt tight and he wanted more than her fingers on it. Marie, still unaware of what her touch was doing to him, continued her ministrations.

"Aah, Marie," he hissed as a sharp wave of pleasure buffeted his body.

"Mmmm?"

"Your fingers, baby..."

Marie raised her head off his shoulder and looked at him curiously. Then she noticed where her hand was and what it was doing. Her gaze dropped to his lap where his erection was straining the material of his jeans.

She quickly withdrew her hand and she went red. "Oh, I'm sorry!"

Logan chuckled painfully. "It's okay, honey. Just, just..."

Marie drew an angry breath. This couldn't continue. <<It's time I put a stop to this. We're both getting frustrated by the day!>> With a glint in her eye, she gave him an apologetic smile. "Okay, I'll behave myself." She plopped down on his chest, keeping her hands to herself and locked her eyes to the screen.

Logan sighed his relief. <<How much more can I take more of this?>>

Marie felt the deep breath he took and smiled evilly.

Logan woke suddenly, his eyes adjusting to the light coming from the TV. He felt Marie's sweet weight against his side. They had fallen asleep on the couch. He grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. Then he carefully gathered Marie into his arms and carried her upstairs to her room.

Marie moaned in her sleep when Logan deposited her on the bed.

"Good night, baby," he murmured. He kissed the top of her head.

Logan was halfway to the door when Marie spoke.

"Logan?" she asked sleepily.

"Yes, baby?"

"Stay with me, please?"

He hesitated only for a second before he removed his boots. "Alright." He settled in beside her and held her to him spoon fashion. Marie's pajamas provided ample protection so he wasn't concerned about any accidents. Marie nestled closer to him and sighed. Soon, Logan fell asleep.

Marie opened her eyes the minute she knew Logan was deeply asleep. She slowly maneuvered herself out of his arms, pretending to shift to another position. Logan's lax arms fell away and she was free.

She tiptoed to her dresser drawer and opened the top drawer. She took out something wrapped in a paper and cautiously made her way to the bathroom. Once inside, she stripped herself naked and opened the package. She sat on the edge of the tub put on the flesh colored pantyhose. Next she put on another flesh-colored top Jubes found in the mall. It was made of the sheerest fabric that hugged her upper body perfectly. It was cut like a tank top and the curves of her
breasts and their rosy tips were clearly visible as if they were without covering. Lastly, she put on her sheer opera gloves. Her outfit complete, she grabbed her scarf, a pair of latex gloves for Logan and condoms and left the bathroom.

Marie put the items on top of the side table and smoothly mounted Logan's relaxed figure. She sat down squarely on his groin and moved her hips caressingly. She planted her hands on either side of his head, her hair shielding both their faces.

"Wake up, Logan," she whispered seductively. "Come on, baby. Open your eyes."

Logan groaned and moved his head. Marie saw his nostrils flare and she knew he smelled her. She laughed delightedly when she felt his arousal between her thighs. She bit her lip as she grinded her heated flesh against his erection.

"Marie," Logan murmured.

She reached over the side table to get the scarf and put it over the lower half of his face. "Yes, it's me." She leaned down, scraping her already hard nipples against his chest and kissed him on the mouth.

Logan woke to the ache in his groin. The smell of Marie and her arousal hit him with a full force that he lurched from the bed, only to be weighed down by Marie herself.

"Logan..." Marie nibbled her way to his covered ear where she sucked on his earlobe.

"Oh, baby, what are you doing?" He opened his eyes see a hint of heaving breasts above him.

Marie straightened and pinned him down with her heated gaze. "I want you to make love to me, Logan. I think you've made me wait long enough."

Logan sat up, nearly dislodging Marie from her perch. "Made you wait? Darlin', I was taking my cue from you! I wanted you to give me a sign that it's okay for us to move on."

"Is this sign big and obvious enough for you?" Marie reached to her left to turn on the lamp and the room became awashed in light.

"Oh God, baby, you're exquisite." Logan swallowed hard as he took his time looking over her body. His hand touched the sheer material of her top. "Nice outfit," he said with a sly smile.

Marie giggled. "Thank you. Jubes picked it out for me."

His hands cupped her full breasts through the material and squeezed. "Tell her to pick more clothes like this for you. I'll pay her back."

Marie groaned. "Okay."

"Does this mean what I think it means?" Logan had to make sure it was what she really wanted.

Marie focused her passion-glazed eyes on him. "Take your clothes off, Logan. Everything. Including your gloves."

Wordlessly, Logan slid Marie off him and stood up by the side of the bed. Marie knelt on the bed, facing him, her hands on her knees pushing her breasts deliciously together. She watched him undress with curiosity.

Logan jerkily took off his clothes. His nostrils flared as he smelled both their arousal and that got him even harder. When he finally took his boxers off, he heard a loud gasp from Marie. She was looking at his engorged cock with a distress that he found adorable.

Marie's eyes went round at his size. She didn't think he would be that big and she swallowed with difficulty. She turned worried eyes to him. "Logan? I don't think it will fit."

Logan's eyes softened. "Oh, baby, it will. Remember when I told you that you'd be amazed at what your body is capable of? This is one of those things. You can take me. Your body just needs to adjust to it. I won't hurt you, I promise." He walked to the side of the bed and opened his arms. "Come here. I want to hold you."

Marie rose on her knees and went into his embrace. Both groaned at the almost naked contact of their skin. Her hair protected his shoulder from her face.

Logan wrapped his arms around her and savored their closeness. She felt naked and it pleased him to no end to feel her nipples stabbing against his chest and the warmth of her belly against his cock.

"Oh, Logan, you feel so good. You're so warm and..." Marie pulled away slightly, looking down at his sex. "Insistent."

Logan laughed. "You've starved it."

"And whose fault is that?" she asked with a saucy lift of her chin.

"Alright, it's mine. That's why I'm making it up to you...starting right now." Gently, he laid her down on the bed.

Marie rested expectantly against the pillows. The initial fear she felt when she saw Logan naked for the first time vanished like mist in the air. Her body hummed with anticipation.

Logan, unashamed of his nakedness, got on top of her.

"Oh, wait!" Marie remembered the latex gloves and handed them to Logan. He dutifully put them on.

"So you can touch me where...where you're not protected." she explained.

"You mean here?" Logan touched her face lovingly.

"Mmmm," she sighed and closed her eyes.

*SNIKT*

She opened her eyes just in time to feel Logan spread her legs and carefully cut a small opening just above her mound.

"And here?" Logan asked as his fingers finally had access to her wet warmth.

Marie arched off the bed in pleasure. "Yes!" She moved her hips, seeking more contact from his fingers. Logan didn't disappoint her, stroking her there, his fingers rimming her entrance.

"Please, Logan!"

Logan moved up until they were face to face. "Later, baby. I want to kiss you first." He reached for the scarf and placed it over her face. He looked deeply into her bright brown eyes, his own glittering with lust. "I love you. You know that don't you?"

"Yes. But I want you to show me how much. Now shut up and kiss me."

Logan chuckled before he lowered his mouth to hers. And so began the mating of their bodies.

He nipped her lower lip, causing her to gasp. He took advantage of her open mouth and thrust his tongue inside, penetrating it in a parody of the mating ritual. Logan fused their mouths together and engaged their tongues in a wild sensual battle.

Marie moaned against his mouth, overcome with the excitement of his hungry kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, trapping him in a fierce embrace. His mouth left hers to move down her neck. The scarf in place, he nipped and sucked at the warm inviting skin, causing Marie to arch and moan. But she wanted more.

"Logan, please...just like before..."

Unable to resist her plea, Logan cupped her breasts and moved his palms against her hard nipples.

"Touch me," he whispered.

Marie placed her hands on his hard chest, feeling the warm muscles until her fingers encountered his tight male nipples. Logan moved to straddle her, giving them space to fondle each others' breasts. Marie played with Logan's nipples, pinching and twisting them until his back curved and he roared. In retaliation, he pushed her milky globes together and lavished them with moist, hungry slashings of his tongue. He bit her nipple until it hurt, until she cried out because the pain had turned into pleasure. He sucked long and hard on the other one until a warm tingling started between her legs. Marie thrashed beneath him, feeling the delicious pull of oblivion come closer. Logan sucked more, not yet having his fill. He heard Marie moan loudly and felt the frantic undulation of her hips--- <<Shit, she's going to come with just my mouth on her!>> Lust hit him hard at the thought and he stimulated her plump breasts, giving her all the sensation she needed for her release.

"Oh, Logan...Oh God...I think I'm...Ooh! Logan...LOGAN!" Marie cried out as her climax hit her, hurtling her into bliss.

Logan stared unbelievingly at the passionate woman writhing beneath him. Then a very male smile appeared on his lips as he realized Marie's capacity for lovemaking. <<I'm a lucky bastard to deserve such a response from this beautiful, passionate woman.>> He grabbed the scarf from her neck and moved down the bed until he was lying between her thighs.

Still gasping from her peak, Marie raised her head to look at Logan. "Logan, what--"

"There's more, baby," he promised as he parted her thighs wide. "I want to make you come again and again." He grinned wickedly at her. "I want to taste you."

Marie could only close her eyes and cry out when he covered her exposed mound with the scarf and kissed her moist nether lips as if it were her mouth. "Hmm, sweet. You're delicious, baby." His agile tongue teased her wet folds and then sucked on the plump lips. He held her thighs down as Marie began to pitch wildly. Then he slipped his hands beneath her soft bottom, grasping them towards his eager mouth. Marie held on to his head with both hands, urging him to do it more. Logan plunged his tongue as far as it would go into her hot passage, thrusting in and out. Marie stuffed her fist in her mouth to keep from crying out. The sensation was too much, too keen. But it escalated more when his lips found her clit and sucked hard. She screamed and for the second time that night, she came.

Marie hadn't even come down from her high when Logan removed the scarf and spread her juices along her slit before pushing two fingers inside her sheath. "No..please, not yet, I..." she begged. She didn't think her body could take any more pleasure. But she was wrong. It seemed that Logan knew her body more than she did because it wasn't long before it responded once again. Logan plunged deep, stretching her, preparing her for the deeper penetration later on. He moved his fingers in and out slowly, the thumb of his other hand stroking the sensitive nubbin at the top of her sex. The he moved faster and rougher, Marie's hips meeting his hand thrust for thrust. She gasped for air until the heat in her loins exploded.

"Oh, yes, Marie...that's it...ooh, baby, you're good...so good..." he said as he calmed her with his voice.

Marie took a shaky deep breath, her body tingling all over. "That was...Oh God, Logan, that was..."

Logan smiled down indulgently at her. "I know, darlin', I know."

Then she remembered he hadn't come yet and grasped his erection in her hand, stroking him gently. She was amazed at his size, his feel, his heat. He was like steel encased in silk.

Logan groaned at the motion of her hand. "Oh, fuck, Marie."

"Yes, fuck," she whispered boldly. "Fuck me now, Logan. I want you inside me."

Logan reached for the condoms and tore off a packet. He put it on and settled himself between her legs. "This is going to hurt a bit," he warned.

But Marie felt no fear. She just wanted to be complete with him. "I don't care. Please, Logan."

Gently, Logan pushed the head of his cock into her entrance. Marie gasped at the feeling of fullness. It wasn't scary; it just felt different.

"You okay?"

"Yes."

Logan pushed some more until he encountered resistance. Male pride filled his chest at the knowledge that he was the first to claim this beautiful and unique woman. "Hang on, baby." Then he speared through her barrier.

Marie gasped at the pain and she bucked her hips, trying to throw him off.

"I'm sorry, darlin'," Logan murmured as he held himself still, giving Marie's tight sheath time to adjust to his invasion.

Soon, the pain began to recede and it was replaced by a promise of pleasure. Logan moved again, restraining his thrusts to a slow and easy pace even if what he really wanted to do was drive into her mindlessly. "God, you're so tight!" He withdrew, almost completely, only to thrust long and firm inside her. Marie lifted herself to him, feeling the pleasure now.

"It's alright, Logan. Let go."

With a feral growl, Logan let his control slip and plunged repeatedly into her hot core. He surged against her, feeling her hot, wet sheath ripple around him, clinging and grasping at his driving cock. Marie clung to his shoulders, feeling the familiar pressure gather in her loins. She wrapped her legs around his hips and absorbed his powerful thrusts with abandon.

Marie caressed her breasts, trying to ease the ache there. She was close. One of Logan's hands settled to where they were joined, flicking at her clitoris. He plunged deeply until he felt her contractions flow around his cock. "LOGAN!" She gave a long, lusty groan low in her throat as her body convulsed.

Logan wanted that sweet tension for himself and watching Marie in her ecstasy did him in. He rode her hard and fast until he howled in almost painful pleasure and spilled his hot seed. "Marie!"

After a long moment, he collapsed, nearly crushing her with his weight, his head resting on her chest. Gasping for breath, he rolled to his back beside her. He pulled the sheet over his chest and shifted Marie until she was lying on top of him. He caressed her back, her buttocks, her thighs, all the while murmuring, "Oh, baby..."

Delighting in the feeling of being one with Logan, Marie closed her eyes and basked in the afterglow. It was the most profound, most beautiful experience of her life and she was glad she was able to share it with Logan.

"I love you, Marie."

"And I love you."

It wasn't long before their heartbeats slowed and sleep claimed them.

Marie moaned in her sleep and fitted her hips more snuggly against Logan's erection. He grunted in response and rubbed against her soft bottom. It was almost morning and Logan was awake; hard and aching. They were in their favorite sleeping position, lying against each other spoon fashion. He didn't want to work her body too much knowing how sore she would be, but his body needed hers. He had taken her again not too long ago, teaching her how to ride him. He had her straddle him and take him at her own pace. He remembered the ecstatic smile on her face as she took him inside her body, clenching her feminine muscles all the way as she went up and down his cock. He had literally laid there and enjoyed the ride. Her breasts, as usual, fascinated him. He had watched in amazement as they bounced up and down and wondered how her slender body could support their weight and fullness. His hands had gripped her hips so tightly that he might even have bruised her, grinding her down, guiding her tempo as they neared towards their peak. At the crucial point, he had held her hips down and he thrust hard and repeatedly until they cried out in shared bliss. They had kissed afterwards; soothing, nipping little kisses until they calmed down. Soft words of love and lust had spilled from Logan's tongue, reassuring and comforting Marie until she slept.

Now, two hours later, he wanted her again. He didn't think his desire for her would ever let up. He needed to be inside her, loving her and making her feel pleasure. For the first time in his life Logan had truly made love. His heart was with his body every step of the way. And it felt so damned good. Marie's body had fit him so perfectly that he was in no doubt that Marie was made for him.

His cock twitched insistently and he groaned her name. The hand that was cupping her breast flexed. He stroked her breasts, warming them and making her nipples jut against his palm. Logan took a deep breath and smiled wickedly at the smell of her arousal. His hand went down her body to cup her mound, grinding the heel of his palm against her clit. Marie, waking up to the exciting sensations flowing through her body, unconsciously raised her right leg over his thigh, granting him access to her body.

Logan chuckled. "You learn fast, Marie."

His ardor rose when he felt her wetness, her body readying itself for him. He slipped two fingers inside her sopping warmth and twisted them. Marie finally woke up and cried out at the sharp ache between her thighs.

"Logan..." she moaned.

"Can you take me again, darlin'? I need you," Logan implored.

In reply, Marie started to turn but Logan held her still. "No. Let's try it this way," he whispered against her ear.

"Alright," she acquiesced.

Logan continued to play at her entrance. His thumb joined in the fun, teasing her clit until she moaned.

"Not fair. I want to play too." With that, Marie reached a hand behind her and grasped Logan's engorged cock.

"Aaah, Marie...! Grip me tighter, baby. Yes, yes...that's it. Now move your hand...like that...!" he instructed. "Rub the head, I'm sensitive there..."

Marie followed Logan's instructions, loving his response to her touch. She loved touching him this way. Maybe some other time she could ask Logan to teach her how to pleasure him with her mouth. But for now, she let her hand do the work.

Logan reached for another condom, knowing he couldn't last without being inside her. He gently removed Marie's hand and put it on. His hand returned to her folds.

"Not too sore?"

Marie clenched her muscles against his invading fingers. "No." Suddenly a feeling of deja vu came over her. Her mind recognized this particular scene from before--like she had done it with Logan already.

"Logan, why do I get the feeling we've done this before?" she panted.

Logan grinned wickedly at the memory of that night. It was time to fess up. "We have, darlin'"

Marie struggled to recall amid the pleasure singing through her veins. It wasn't long before she remembered. "I dreamed about it when you slept with me that night I had cramps."

"It was real, Marie. I don't know how you managed to sleep through it all but I made you come."

Marie couldn't believe it. "B-but..."

Logan rubbed her clit harder. "Don't you remember how my fingers felt? Don't you remember how I had this little baby between my fingers, stroking it until you came?"

Marie's hips jerked madly. "Yes! Yes, I remember...ooh, Logan, please..."

"Tell me what you want. I want to hear you say it." Logan clenched his teeth trying to control himself. He was ready to burst.

Marie was going crazy with wanting. She needed him now! "Give it to me, Logan, PLEASE!"

He grasped her raised thigh and pushed into her in one swift motion that took him deep inside her. Marie's flesh was so sensitized that he hadn't even started before she came apart in his arms. She screamed his name while Logan growled hers. The feel of Marie's frantic muscles milking him triggered his own response. He thrust once, then again, before ecstasy claimed him too.

Marie was the first to wake up this time. The sun was blazing outside now. She was sitting up against the headboard with a silly smile on her face, stroking Logan's hair as he slept beside her. She had never been happier in her life. She didn't think her heart could hold any more happiness. Making love with Logan had been wonderful, beautiful and intense and she was happy knowing that he was hers. <<You're not the only one who has a possessive streak in him, Logan.>>

Logan was lying on his stomach, the sheet only covering his legs. Marie traced his muscle-laden back and buttocks with loving eyes. As a lover, Logan was both gentle and rough, and all hot and consuming passion. Her sore woman's place tingled at the thought. She hadn't thought she had that much passion in her and she blushed hotly as she remembered the things she had done and said to him. Logan had the power to make her lose her inhibitions and that thrilled and scared
her at the same time.

With a rumbling groan, Logan awoke and stretched to his side, facing Marie.

"Good morning," she said with a shy smile.

Logan propped his head on his hand, gazing at her with amused eyes. "No need to be shy, darlin'. How are you feeling?"

"I feel wonderful, only I'm a bit sore."

His eyes clouding with concern, Logan said, "I'm sorry, baby. I--" only to be cut off by Marie.

"Hey, I wasn't complaining. Just stating a fact. And it's not like I wasn't a willing participant," she chided him.

A smile flirted his mouth. "Now that you weren't."

"But there's one thing, though..."

Logan tensed. "What is it?"

Marie assumed a pissed-off look. "I c