Escaping the Past
Chapter 2
by
AnomalousGirl
This story contains characters that are the property of Marvel Comics and Fox Entertainment. This is in no way intended to be an infringement on their rights.
Her mind was filled with a pleasant misty confusion. It was like a form of inebriation; she thought with a smile, although it had made leave taking a little more difficult. She hadn't been able to think of a good reason for her departure, and would have to come up with some kind of explanation later. But for now, she simply did not care. She saw him waiting for her at the door, and the intensity of his gaze ignited a curling heat within her. Out on the sidewalk, he took her light trench coat, and held it open for her. Helping her into the coat brought him close behind her, and she could feel his warmth radiating through the material. He rested his hands on her upper arms and she brought up her own to touch them. Even the small amount of contact did riotous things to her senses. She leaned into him, and she could feel his warm breath tickling on her ear. It sent waves of desire spilling over her. She could hear her own breathing, short and sharp.
"Hold that thought darlin'." He growled close to her ear, and suddenly he was gone. She saw him step to the curb and then into the path of an oncoming taxi. She caught her breath as the cab screeched to a halt. He turned to her with a wry smile, and she had to appreciate his nonchalance. He opened the door for her and she slid across the seat. As he settled himself beside her, she gave her address to the driver. She started to turn to him as the taxi pulled away from the curb, but his look of mild surprise had the unfortunate effect of shredding the lovely mist she had been floating in.
She sat stiffly facing forward now, fervently wishing that rational thought had either reasserted itself before she had spoken the address, or had left her alone to enjoy herself. As it was, the little voice of reason in her head was threatening to totally destroy her previous intoxication. How had this happened? She didn't do this kind of thing. Well, perhaps she did... But not like this, and never, never did she take them home. She had worked very hard, for a very long time to get where she was, and she was content with her life. The continued success of that life depended heavily on keeping the disparate aspects of her nature in their tidy compartments. She couldn't afford to have people start asking difficult questions. Unfortunately, the damage was done. She could tell the driver to take them to a hotel instead, but even if her pride didn't cringe at the thought, it wouldn't do any good. His surprised expression had made it clear that he had heard her address, and that, of course, was the problem. It wasn't that she was concerned to have him in her home, because, while many people probably found his appearance to be intimidating, she didn't feel threatened by him. And on the off chance that a situation did occur, it wouldn't be anything that she couldn't handle. Difficulties could arise, however, if he was reluctant to leave, or if he became troublesome later on. There were ways of handling these situations as well, but the solutions themselves could prove to be problematic, and involve measures that she preferred avoid.
She sighed; this was getting her nowhere. What was done, was done. She would just have to take things as they came and pray that damage control didn't prove to be too costly. Besides, he really didn't seem the type to object to a brief encounter. She felt calmer having come to a decision, although the little voice was still screaming dire warnings in her head. In an effort to drown out the distracting thoughts, she inhaled deeply, allowing the scent of him to fill her mind. She let her head fall back against the seat. It seemed to be working rather well.
Logan had watched the conflict play across her expressive face, uncertain exactly of what had started it. One moment both of them had definitely been on the same page; then suddenly she had withdrawn. She seemed now to have come to some resolution, and he was pleased to see that it didn't involve jumping out of the cab. As she rested her head against the seat back, a tiny smile curved her pink mouth. She looked incredibly inviting. He stretched his arm out along the back of the seat, and leaned toward her slowly. He ached to touch her again, but didn't want to give her any reason for alarm. She must have felt him move closer because she turned her face toward him, and her lashes fluttered open. The smile was in her eyes, and it made him want to smile in return. He grazed the back of his knuckles down the softness of her cheek and along her jaw line, bringing it to rest beneath her chin. Then he ran his thumb across the ripe curve of her bottom lip. She bit it lightly, skimming her teeth across the sensitive pad. The sensation ran through him like an electrical charge, and his eyes snapped up to lock with hers. The invitation there was unmistakable and he closed the distance between them rapidly. He started out slowly, gliding his mouth across hers; her small chin still cradled in his palm. But her fiery response had him crushing her to him almost immediately. He wanted to touch her, all of her at once, to have her naked beneath him. She slid her hands under his denim jacket and open flannel shirt, and was trying to free the hem of his tee shirt from the waistband of his jeans. Meanwhile, her clothing was driving him to rising levels of frustration. There seemed to be far to little accessible skin. Just as he was preparing to remedy that situation, a sharp rap on the plexiglas divider jerked him back to reality.
The driver was grinning at him in the rearview mirror. "It's not that I'd mind the show, but I just thought I'd remind you two that the meter's running." Logan pulled a bill out of his inside jacket pocket and after a cursory glance, shoved it through the payment window. "Keep it." He said roughly, sliding out the door and, pulling her along with him. The momentum made her stumble against his chest as she exited the cab, but she didn't seem to mind. There was a pleasant mixture of desire and amusement shining in her eyes as she leaned against him. Holding her snugly, he glanced up at the high-rise. "This your place?"
"Well, not the whole thing." She replied, a smile playing about her inviting mouth. Her voice was like good ale, rich and full of character. It made him hungry to hear his name on her lips.
The doorman greeted them, as they entered the lobby. "Shit," she bit off sharply under breath, but turned a smiling face to the advancing man. "Hello, Bernie. How are things this evening?"
"Oh fine Ms. DePascal. Something came for you today."
"That's all right Bernie. I'll..."
It's not that heavy, but it's kind of awkward. So I put it on a dolly." He motioned to a largish box setting conspicuously by the front desk.
"Oh...thank you Bernie...I guess you should...go ahead and bring it up then." She gave Logan an apologetic look. He shrugged it off, and they started for the elevator, the doorman following close behind. As the elevator started upward, Logan's hand found hers. He traced circles on her palm with his thumb and was gratified to hear her breathing become slightly uneven. She angled toward him; her gaze fixed on his mouth. They had become oblivious to the doorman and she jumped slightly when he asked her a question, jerking her hand away.
"I'm sorry Bernie, what was that? I am afraid I was...thinking of something else." Logan turned his head away to hide his grin.
"That's okay Ms. De. I was just wondering how you thought the new porter was working out."
"Ambrose seems to be doing a fine job, though sometimes he's a bit over zealous."
"Yeah, I know what you mean; we'll work on that." The doorman motioned to them to exit first as the doors slid open.
The interior of her apartment was elegant but comfortable, decorated in subdued colors and soft materials. After removing her coat, she had accompanied the doorman to a room just off the one Logan stood in, and he could hear her politely refusing his offers of assistance with the box. As he was removing his own jacket, she finally succeeded in ushering the persistent man back to the door. "If you change your mind Ms. De, just call down."
"Thank you Bernie, I will." She took something out of a little stand by the door.
"Thank you Ms. De." The doorman said pocketing the money, and pushed the handcart into the hall. He paused, and with a little sigh she stepped out to him. After a moment she pulled the door closed. Their voices were low and muffled by the door, but with his enhanced hearing, Logan had no difficulty making out their conversation.
"Is there something wrong, Bernie?"
"Are you sure everything is okay Ms. DePascal? You seem...I don't know, a little different this evening. Don't take that the wrong way. I mean, I don't want to interfere or anything but..." There was a pause as his words ran out.
"Everything is perfectly fine Bernie, really. He's an old friend. I appreciate your concern, and...I'd appreciate your discretion as well."
"Oh, of course, Ms. De. That goes without saying."
"Thank you, Bernie. Now if you will excuse me, I have some catching up to do."
"Sure thing, Ms. De. I didn't mean to pry or anything."
"I know, Bernie. It's quite all right."
Logan listened to the man's footsteps recede down the hall. After he heard the elevator doors slide shut, she came back in.
The little smile was back in place as she shut the door behind her and leaned against it. She stood there for a moment, regarding him intently. Then slowly, she reached up and removed the scarf that formed the collar of the suit. Just as slowly she unbuttoned the jacket, and placed it on the stand by the door. Under the jacket she wore a camisole that fastened down the front with tiny ribbons. It was cut high in the back but low in the front, exposing a tantalizing curve of her breasts.
As he watched her unhurried movements, he was consumed by desire. There was a rushing sensation in his head that drowned out everything but her. The sight and scent of her, the sound of her breathing as it became as ragged as his own, even the memory of the taste and feel of her made his blood seem to burn through his veins. It was torment to stand still and watch her step out of the spiky heels. If he had ever wanted a woman with this kind of immediacy, he couldn't remember it. She started toward him slowly, her gaze fixed on him, and his concentration was torn between her eyes and the little ribbons that she was untying as she moved. She crossed to within a step of him, and then, in one fluid movement, she leapt into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and, with her hands buried in his hair, began to ravage his mouth and neck. She had taken him completely by surprise, and unprepared for the impact, he stepped backwards to maintain his balance, coming up hard against the wall. Her aggressive turn only fanned the flames higher, and he returned the onslaught of kisses hungrily, driving them both into a frenzy. Some of the kisses were becoming more like bites, and when the collar of his shirt proved to be an impediment to her questing mouth, she slid her hands down from his hair and tore it, separating the shirt as far as her clinging legs would allow.
His mouth and hands were similarly occupied. When she had jumped, he had caught her by the hips, but, as she seemed very capable of supporting her own weight, he gave his hands free reign over her legs and ass. He pushed up the restricting skirt and found to his enchantment that instead of panty hose, she wore thigh high stockings, and very brief panties. The skin exposed to his searching hands was amazingly soft in a way that seemed vaguely odd, but it felt too good to concern him. He skimmed his fingers along the edge of the panties, then slid them underneath. Her position left her open to his probing, and he explored her slick heat with delight. She was making small incoherent noises close to his ear, and when he eased a finger inside her she gasped and her body convulsed around his hand. His own body gave an answering shudder, and he knew he would have to have her very soon. He stroked her for a moment then slipped another finger into the snug wet core of her.
"Please. Please now. I need you now" Her voice had a desperate quality to it, and he realized that she was trembling. He continued to stroke her for a moment more, then slid his fingers from her slowly, savoring the sweet tightness of her body. He paused to grasp the crotch of the panties, and with a sharp tug, tore through the scrap of material. Then he shifted her up slightly so he could undo his belt and jeans. He was pleasantly surprised to find that she was able to hold her body up and away making it easy to free himself of his clothes. He smiled a little as he toed off his boots. She could cling like a monkey.
When he finished, he supported her by her hips again, and turned around to put her back to the wall. Then he eased her down, pausing for moment just as the tip of his cock began to spread her lips apart. He was trying to reign himself in. She was incredibly tight, and he wanted to go slowly, because he didn't think he could stop once he was inside her, even if she asked him too. She began to squirm in an effort to bring him inside her. He tightened his grip for a second, but her wriggling and little moans of frustration undermined his resolve, and he pulled her down hard, burying himself inside her. She inhaled sharply and sunk her nails into the muscles of his back, but it only intensified the hunger that filled him. He started fucking her as hard as he could in this position, driving himself up into her fiercely, over and over again, his fingers biting into her flesh. But instead of protesting the rough treatment, she reveled in it. She was growling with pleasure and meeting him stroke for stroke, inflaming him even further. It was primitive and passionate, and all too brief. She came suddenly and, the intensity of it pulled him over the precipice with her.
After riding out the storm of their shared climax, he continued to move slowly inside her. It just felt too good to stop. He was leaning into her, pressing her into the wall, but it didn't seem to bother her. After his mind cleared and his heart stopped racing, he pulled back a little. She had her eyes closed and her skin was flushed and damp with perspiration. Her breath was coming from between softly parted lips, and he wanted her all over again. He flexed himself inside her, and she opened her eyes and smiled.
"Hello," she said, her eyes sparkling.
"Hello," he replied. Her smile was contagious. "Name's Logan and it certainly is a pleasure to meet you."
Her smile grew. "My name is Alexa, and the pleasure is all mine."
"Don't sell yourself short darlin'."
She laughed in response and dropped her eyes to his chest, her cheeks turning even pinker. It sent a warmth curling through him that wasn't entirely sexual. He shifted her a little, and brought a hand up to touch her warm cheek. He was fascinated by the softness of her skin. He trailed his fingers along her jaw, and down her neck. She closed her eyes again and tilted her head back. He continued downward. Skimming across her collarbone and down to the tops of her breasts. The rest of their fullness was hidden from his view by a lacy bra. His hands had been too busy before to remove it, but that was easily rectified now. It was a front closure, no problem to open one-handed. Her breasts were round and firm and just large enough to nicely fill his hand. She had generous pink nipples that begged to be tasted, and he was happy to oblige. He ducked his head and took one into his mouth. He felt her body clinch around his renewing erection, and sucked a little harder. She gave a little cry of pleasure and buried her hands in his hair, arching her back to give him better access. She began rocking her hips, locking her legs more tightly around him.
It wasn't going to work this way for him again. He needed to have all of her this time. The first time had been fun, but hardly more than an appetizer. He switched his attention to the other nipple for a minute or two, bringing it to a wet pink peak like its twin. Then he began to kiss his way back up to her neck. "I don't think we're done yet." He whispered in her ear, then ran his tongue along the outer curve. Her laughter was husky with desire. He pulled away from the wall, and turned toward the hallway that he had noticed earlier. He was caressing her incredibly soft bottom and nibbling on her ear and neck as he slowly crossed the living room. "This time I need to lay ya down. I wanna bury myself so deep inside ya, that it takes me a long looong time to find my way back out." He murmured.
"Mmmm, that sounds soo good"
There was one door at the end of the hall, and he sincerely hoped that it wasn't the bathroom. "This time," he said softly, punctuating his words with kisses on her throat. " I want to be able to...touch you...and look at you...all of you..."
Suddenly she stiffened, and threw her arms out trying to stop him by pressing her hands against the walls. She only succeeded in raking the paint with her nails as he continued forward. She began to struggle as they came to the door, and he had to stop and adjust his hold to keep from dropping her. When he held her securely again, he started through the door, but she grabbed the jamb.
"Wait! Wait! Would you just stop a minute!" He gave in as much because he feared hurting her as because she told him too. Her grip had been surprisingly strong and getting her through the door with force wasn't going to gain him anything. He looked at her questioningly, but she refused to meet his eyes.
"You have to go." She said it very quietly, but he heard her clearly.
"I'm sorry. What was that?"
Alexa took a deep breath, and when she lifted her face, it was wiped clean of emotion. She looked at him squarely and said, "You have to leave."
"That's what I thought ya said." He replied, and started through the door again. After another small battle, he relented. "Your husband gonna be home soon?" He found the thought bitter, though it wouldn't be the first time.
"I'm not married." She said, but sounded puzzled by the question and slightly insulted.
"Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Roommate...parents?"
"No, no, I live here alone. What's that..." She watched as a mocking smile curve up one side of his mouth. Understanding hit her suddenly, and she slapped herself hard on the forehead; obviously realizing too late that honesty wouldn't help her cause.
"So if you're not worried about somebody walking in on us, what's the problem?"
She rubbed her hand across her face, and when she looked at him again, frustration was written clearly on her features. "Haven't you ever heard of 'no means no'." She asked acerbically
"Sure, and under normal circumstances, like maybe before ya wrapped yerself around me, I'd respect that. But considering that I'm standing here with my cock inside ya..." He punctuated the statement by thrusting into her.
She gasped, and her walls contracted tightly around him. She set her jaw. "Fuck you." She gritted out angrily,
"Well now, it's nice to hear you've come around to my way of thinkin'."
She snarled in vexation and tried to twist out of his grip. He turned quickly, pinning her between his body and the wall. He spoke quietly, his mouth close to her ear, but his voice was sharp with annoyance. "About two minutes ago ya were sayin' what a good idea this was, and not long before that you were cummin' so hard that I though we were gonna take the damn wall down. Now ya just expect me to pull out and say 'see ya later'?" I think, at the very least, ya owe me an explanation." She was silent, and after a long minute, he pulled away so he could see her face.
When she finally lifted up her eyes, there was a sadness in them that pricked at his conscience, but her expression was resolute. "I know that this is sudden, and you're right you do deserve an explanation. But...I can't give you one that you would understand. I'm sorry. Can't you just take my word that I need for you to leave? Please, don't make this any more difficult than it already is."
He looked at her for a moment and then nodded. "Okay." He said in what he hoped was a resigned tone. He felt her relax, and then he quickly stepped through the door. Her hands shot out, but she was only able to catch a piece of the molding, which she managed to pull partially off the door. "I'll fix that before I go." He said with glance over his shoulder.
"You lying son of a bitch." She spat at him and began to struggle vigorously.
"Hey! Hey!" He said, trying to hold onto her. "I never actually said I was goin' anywhere darlin'." After receiving a couple of uncomfortable blows from her flailing limbs, he grabbed her around the waist and tossed her lightly onto the bed. She bounced once and came upright in a crouching position. He was impressed by her athleticism. She was proving to be quite the little bundle of surprises.
She glared at him. "I asked you not to make this difficult, and you said, 'okay'."
He stepped close to the bed, meeting her angry gaze. "Darlin', you don't wanna see me when I'm bein' difficult." He said with a touch of menace
Instead of looking intimidated, she narrowed her gaze. "Is that a threat?"
He took another step closer; their eyes still locked in a battle of wills, but after a couple of moments, he pulled back and shook his head laughing. "No darlin', it's just a statement of fact." He crossed to the window, and set about opening the pair of casement windows as he spoke. "So let me get this straight. We've established that you aren't a virgin or an overly repressed type of individual. You don't have a husband waiting to break down the door. You haven't suddenly remembered that you are in your fertile phase..."
"And just how the hell would you know that?" She interrupted.
He turned a little and let his eyes glide over her body, then come slowly back up to her face. "It's a gift. And believe me, with as good as ya smell already, I think the scent of ya in season could drive me insane."
"That's something you'll never have to worry about." She bit out harshly.
"Now that's a damn shame." He replied softly and turned back to his task. "So here is the situation. I want you. You want me..." At her derisive snort, he glanced over his shoulder. "Don't start lyin' now Alexa, or I'll have to prove ya wrong."
"I wouldn't think someone of my size would prove to be much of a challenge to a guy like you, or do you generally prefer it that way?" She said scathingly. He spun and stalked to the bed, his expression dark. He knew she was just trying to piss him off, but he accusation still stung. She continued to hold her ground, but this time looked a little more cautious.
"I've never forced a woman, and I don't have any intention of startin' now, but there's a reason everythin' went from all green to full stop, and I want to know what the hell it is." Then in an effort to alleviate some of the tension, he added. "And, by the way, somethin' tells me you could prove to be quite challengin'." He ignored her saccharine smile, and went back to the window, pulling off the flannel shirt and torn tee as he went.
He braced his hands on the window frame, and looked out over the city, letting the evening breeze cool him. The view was spectacular. It probably set her back a pretty penny, and if her chat with the doorman was anything to go by, she didn't usually share it with guys like him. No, she probably cosied up with nice civilized suit types. The kind of guys that, when she said, 'leave', they grabbed their boxers and went. Wouldn't that be the gentlemanly thing to do? Fortunately people rarely accused him of being a gentleman. This wouldn't be the first time that he'd taken a society dame for a walk on the wild side, and it was always a toss up how it would turn out. Most of the time he was pretty lucky. A good time would be had by all, and they would both go their separate ways. Sometimes though, he was apparently a little wilder than they had bargained for. He always hated that. Their reproachful looks and occasional tears made him feel like some kind of an animal. It wasn't that he was intentionally cruel or hurtful, but the less civilized aspect of his nature could sometimes make letting himself go a little dicey. Even worse than the fainthearted ones though, were the women that wanted him to hurt them. He generally passed on those, because even with as much as he enjoyed a good fight, he had never developed a taste for sadism. In fact, he very much enjoyed giving pleasure. He had learned a long time ago that if you made the effort to satisfy a woman, she was usually more than eager to return the favor.
And that's what had him stumped about this one. She evidently hadn't minded that things had gotten a little intense. In fact, she gave as good as she got. Her uninhibited use of her teeth and nails had made him appreciate his healing factor. Behind him on the bed she was still and silent. He would love to know what was going on inside that beautiful head.
He watched as a police helicopter swept in low over Central Park. It hovered for a moment, then moved on. As he turned his head to watch it go, he caught sight of her reflection in the glass of the open window. She was staring at him fixedly, her face filled with longing. Anticipation flared through him briefly, but flickered when he noted her white knuckled grip on the coverlet. He turned from the window and spoke softly, "Alexa?" Her head jerked up, and her expression changed from yearning to dread. When he took a tentative step toward her, she shook her head in silent denial and skittered backward to the far edge of the bed.
"I'm not gonna to hurt ya Alexa." He stopped moving, but she still gave every indication of preparing to bolt. Logan began to cautiously skirt the bed, not going any closer, but trying to work his way between her and the door. This wasn't just about getting laid anymore. Maybe he had been around Chuck for too long, but it seemed obvious that something was troubling her, and it didn't seem right to just walk away because she'd changed her mind. She must have guessed his intention, because before he had taken more than a handful of steps, she made a spectacular leap off the bed and sprinted for the door. He moved to intercept, and she pivoted toward a second door further along the wall. Logan thought he had her as she neared the closed door, but without breaking stride, she whirled and ducked past him, leaving him grasping at air. He spun after her, but she was amazingly fast. She would have made it to the door easily had she not stumbled over the bundled shirts that he had dropped when he had started after her. It only slowed her momentarily, but it was enough for Logan to catch her. He hooked an arm around her waist, and their momentum carried them in a wide arc that brought them around to face the bed.
"Noooo," she wailed in anguish and began to thrash about wildly in his arms. She was astoundingly agile. It was taking all he had to catch and hold her without hurting her, and the adrenaline was screaming through his veins. After several minutes, he finally managed to subdue her. Both of them were breathing hard as he held her flush against her chest.
"I told ya, I'm not gonna hurt ya." He ground out harshly
"Please, don't make me do this." Her voice broke, and she leaned forward against his arms, sobbing.
Guilt and anger warred inside him, feeding off each other, and he fought down the unchivalrous desire to shake her. Okay, so maybe chasing her around the bedroom wasn't the best way to gain her trust, but why did she have to keep casting him as the villain? She'd been on the defensive ever since her about face in the hallway.
An idea began to form in his mind. What if this wasn't about him, or at least not entirely? He was paying for someone else's sins. He would bet on it. It made everything make a little more sense anyway. He knew better than most people did how small things could sometimes trigger unpleasant memories, and he tried to think back to what had happened just before she switched gears. Since she was no longer struggling, he loosened the arm he had encircling her shoulders and smoothed away the hair that had fallen onto her tear-streaked face. He tried to speak soothingly. "Don't cry Alexa. I'm sorry if I frightened ya. You have my word; I won't do anythin' that ya don't want me to." She gave a short bitter laugh, but subsided. He continued to stroke her hair and face, occasionally brushing along her jaw and down her neck. After several minutes, she began to relax against him. She felt so good in his arms, and he had trouble remembering his good intentions.
"It's hard fightin' both of us at once ain't it?" He asked softly. He loosened the arm he had around her waist, and brought the hand to rest on the bare flesh just below her midriff. The muscles in her abdomen jumped, but she didn't pull away. He kept his touch light and undemanding as he caressed her stomach. When she didn't resist, he slowly let his hand wander upward to her breasts, and was pleased when she brought her hand back to stroke his thigh. "You feel so good Alexa." He whispered huskily, his mouth close to her ear. "Your skin is like silk." She made a little sound in her throat and leaned into him, but when he began to slide his hand around toward her back, she gave a strangled cry and tried to jerk violently away. He pulled her back tightly against her chest.
"You're making this so hard." She whispered miserably.
"It doesn't have to be."
"I can't do this. Why won't you understand?"
"Maybe if you explained it to me, I could help you." She only shook her head in response, and he felt fresh tears run down her face. "What are you hidin' Alexa?" He asked her after a moment, and her body went rigid and began to tremble. "It's all right." He said gently. "You don't hafta be afraid of me."
"You couldn't begin to understand what I have to be afraid of."
Everything began to fall into place. In the hall, it was after he had said that he wanted to see and touch all of her that she had pulled away. And just now she had been pliant under his touch until he started to reach around her. It clicked now why the softness of her legs and hips had seemed a little odd. "Do ya think I don't know?" He asked cautiously. She was breathing hard and tried to throw her hands up at face, but the arm he had encircling her shoulders kept them close to her body. "I knew before we ever left the restaurant Alexa."
"What is it that you think you know?" She asked, her voice flat.
"I know that your little striptease was meant to make me so crazy that I wouldn't give a damn if anything seemed a little strange. Usually works doesn't it?" She started struggling again, but with out much determination. "Your afraid that I won't like what I'll find if you let me undress you. You let someone else see, and they hurt you didn't they?"
"Please, don't..."
"I'm not him." Logan said gently. "I know what it's like to have people hate you because you're...different. But you and me, we're the same. I knew it as soon as I saw you, and if you'd let yourself think about it, you'd know it too." She stilled, but this time Logan felt a coiled tension in her muscles and didn't relax his hold.
"I've seen you, and we're not the same."
"Not every mutation is visible on the outside." She turned her face to look at him over her shoulder but didn't speak. "I've already touched ya, and I like the way ya feel. Now let me see ya. I know I'll like that too." He slid both his hands to the waistband of her skirt and found the closure in the back. He eased open the button, but as he started on the zipper, she reached back quickly and grabbed his hands. She spoke rapidly, a panicked edge to her voice. "Wait! I should have thought of this earlier. I don't have to get undressed. I...I'll just lie down on the bed, and you can have me like you wanted." Her breathing was harsh and choppy.
"Is that what you want Alexa, for me to use yer body to get myself off so I'll go away and leave ya alone? That doesn't sound much different than forcing ya to me." He waited for a moment, and she gave him a small shake of her head. "I want ya Alexa. God, do I want ya, but I want ya willin'. I want ya like ya were earlier, eager and on fire. Just trust me a little. It won't hurt; I promise." Her hands fell away, but she held them clinched at her sides. And her head was bent forward with far more an air of defeat than desire. He promised silently that by the time he was through, her opinion would be very different. After finishing the zipper, he eased the skirt over the flare of her hips, and let it slide to the floor. Then he untied the remainder of the tiny ribbons, so the vest parted all the way.
Unhurriedly he let his hands roam her body. Exploring first the more familiar territory of her satiny torso. Then gradually he skimmed his hands downward, onto the plush softness of her hips and legs. It was fur, short and dense and silky, like warm velvet. The feeling was incredibly arousing. He leisurely made his way around the back of her thighs and up the sweet curve of her bottom. He could feel some of the tension leave her, and pressed his lips to her ear. "Alexa," he whispered, drawing her name out. "Do you have any idea how good you feel? You're so warm and so soft. Touching you is making me crazy." As he spoke, his fingers explored the line where fur gave way to skin. It wasn't a sharp line, but more of a rapid taper. He followed it upward and found that over her ribs, the fur reached forward like narrow fingers. He ran his fingertips over them quickly, and she jumped a little and laughed. "Ticklish?"
"A little." He could hear the smile in her voice and pleasure flashed through him. He did it again just to hear her laughter. Then he brought his hands to her shoulders and started to peel back the camisole. Her hands came up to cover his, and he stilled.
"We're almost there Alexa."
"I know. It's... I just want..." She paused for a moment. "I'll do it." Logan slid his hands away and waited. After a deep breath, she hesitantly slid the garment off her shoulders and down her arms. She continued to hold it for a moment, then dropped it to the floor. Even in the darkening room, he could see immediately the reason for her uncertainty. The velvety fur he had touched was a light tan color and continued all the way up her back. It followed the outside edge of her shoulder blade and stopped at the top of it. He believed though, that the greater cause for her reluctance was the longer mane of fur that ran down her spine. It was a darker fawn color like her hair, interspersed with light and dark strands. It started in a narrow point just above the curve of her back and reached upward in a widening V to disappear beneath her hair. He was curious to see more of it, but decided that now was probably not the best time. He placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her back against his chest. He pressed his lips to her hair. "I said I'd like it, and I was right."
"That's very kind of you to say." She said in a very small voice.
"Does this feel like I'm being kind?" He asked, pressing the hard length of his shaft against her. She looked back over her shoulder, and he watched her mouth curve into a fragile smile. He slid his arms around her and rubbed the length of his body against her fur covered skin. The sensation was unbelievably erotic, and it sent desire pouring through him. She inhaled sharply, and he could see that she was similarly effected. "When was the last time you let anyone touch your back?"
"Never," she gasped, "never like this."
"Then we have a lot of catching up to do don't we." He walked them forward to the side of the bed without breaking contact, allowing his hands to savor the delicious contrasts of her body. When her breath was coming in ragged bursts, and she was moving the velvet curve of her ass enticingly against him, he pressed his knee into the back of one of hers to bring it up to rest on the bed. Then he dipped his knees and parted her silky wetness with his engorged head. He entered her slowly this time, luxuriating in the tight wet heat of her body. She cried out softly and flexed like a tightly strung bow to bring him inside her more deeply. Raising her arms over her head, she reached back to caress his shoulders and face. Her head resting against the angle of his neck.
His hands traced the graceful arc of her body in fascination as he slowly stroked upward. Her flexibility was amazing. His hands explored her with delight while he found a rhythm that built a spiraling tension within them both.
He needed more. As exquisite as this was, he hungered to bury himself still deeper. He disentangled her arms and gently pressed her forward. "Kneel down for me Alexa." He whispered persuasively when she hesitated. She brought her other knee onto the bed, and after a moment went forward onto her hands. His fingertips pressed lightly into the soft fur of her hips, and he pulled out just until he could feel the head catch. He teased her by repeatedly grazing the flared ridge in and out past her tight rim. Each short stroke was greeted with a delectable little whimper, and he could feel her body trying to draw him inward. With a growl he drove deeply inside her. She exclaimed sharply and arched into the stroke, her hands fisting on the coverlet. He rocked deeply for a moment, then pulled out to start the pattern over again. A handful of repetitions brought a frenzied quality to her little cries of pleasure, and when he pushed into her again, he stayed deep, basking in the luscious heat of her. As he rocked slowly inside her, his hands traveled upward from her hips, past the dramatic curve of her waist and over the firm muscle of her back. He gave free reign to his curiosity and buried his fingers in the longer section of fur. It was about two inches long and had a fine, silky texture. At its widest point, it spanned the area between her shoulder blades, then it narrowed again as it extended upward to meet her hairline. As he ran the back of his fingers through it, she arched like a cat and began to make small humming sounds in her throat. He was enchanted by her responsiveness. It fanned his desire and made him want to discover ever more ways to bring her pleasure. He began to stroke in earnest, experimenting with angle and depth until together they found a combination that brought her quickly to the verge. She was kneading the coverlet mindlessly as she chanted a litany of half formed words. Just before she went over the edge though, Logan stopped. He held her firmly to prevent her from taking over, and she groaned in frustration.
"Wh...What's wrong? Why did you stop?" She panted looking over her shoulder. He smiled a little at her dismayed tone.
"Just takin' a breather, lettin' everything cool off a little bit." He replied drawing little circles with his thumbs as he held her hips.
"No no. You don't have to stop. It was really good. I liked it like that."
"I'm glad." He said, leaning forward to kiss her shoulder. "I liked it too, and you'll like it even more when we start over again." He flicked his tongue lightly across her salty skin. "I promise." He took a moment to taste her some more, then said softly, "turn over for me. I want you face to face." He withdrew, and she quickly shifted onto her back. Her eyes were dark with desire as she reached up to him. He knelt on bed and allowed her to draw him down, bracing himself with an arm on each side of her. He had almost forgotten how incredibly sweet her mouth was. It was warm and ripe and she kissed with an intensity that threatened his restraint. Her small foot ran up and down his leg and the slightly abrasive feel of nylon reminded him that she still wore her stockings. He pulled away from her persuasive lips, earning himself a tempting little pout. "I'm not goin' anywhere darlin'." He said as he knelt up. "I just want to get rid of these." He brought the wandering foot up to his chest, and slid his hands up her leg to the lacey top of the stocking. He had always found removing stockings to be a very sensual pleasure, and it made him nostalgic for the time when they were common. As he began to roll down the sheer nylon, he found to his puzzlement that there was more than one layer. She must have caught his bemused expression, because she wiggled her toes on his chest and said simply, "It keeps the nap down."
He nodded in understanding. A thought occurred to him as he rolled the stockings down her shapely leg. "How well can you see in the dark?" He asked her as he started on the other leg.
She shrugged a little. "All right I guess, compared to most people, but nothing extraordinary. The light is on my side at the moment." She motioned over her head to the ambient street light filtering through the window. "How about you?" She asked guardedly, as he tossed aside the stocking. He leaned down to plant a kiss just below her navel, then looked up at her smiling.
"I am happy to say that I see exceptionally well in the dark. Hmmm, where were we? Oh yeah, I remember now." He said, and she laughed as he covered her body with is own.
Things quickly became serious again, and as he entered her, she wrapped the warm velvet of her legs tightly around him. When she had been facing away, the fire inside him had been banked and had allowed him a certain detachment, but now, that control was quickly eroding. She cradled him deeply within her body and tilted her hips to meet his every thrust, while her eager hands and mouth sent hot waves of need coursing through his blood. He couldn't seem to get enough of her. The taste and scent and feel of her all combined to feed a savage hunger that began to overwhelm him, and her increasingly frenetic cries of pleasure were only fuel for the fire. The intensity of his strokes was becoming almost brutal and the tiny part of him that was still rational feared for her. He had to stop before he totally lost control.
"Noooo! Oh God, Logan please...please don't stop." She begged as he forced himself to halt, breathing harshly on her neck. It was the first time she had said his name, and the pleading in her voice almost drove him over the edge.
"I don't want to hurt you." His voice was rough with desire
"Then you won't. Please Logan, please believe me, you can't hurt me. Oh God, I want you so much. Pleeesee! Looogaaan!"
It was too much. Madness swept over him, and for the next few minutes he surged along in a sea of sensation in which there was no thought or reason. A distant part of his mind was aware of her mounting passion, and it swirled him even deeper. Suddenly, everything coalesced into a white-hot point of concentration, then splintered into tiny flecks of light behind his eyes. A hoarse roar was dragged from deep within him as he exploded inside her, and as sanity rushed back, he could feel her contracting around him; her exclamations as tortured as his own.
He knew was lying too heavily on her, but it took a few minutes before he could summon the strength to lever himself up a bit. Her small body trembled beneath him, and he could hear her weeping softly. He was filled with regret and damned himself for his lack of control.
"I didn't mean to hurt you Lexa. It wasn't supposed to happen like that."
"Shhhhh....." She whispered, bringing her unsteady fingers up to his lips. He kissed her fingertips lightly and absently registered the scent of his blood on them. Raising himself up a little further, he looked down at her ravaged face. There were small scrapes and bite marks scattered along her jaw and neck, and heavier abrasions around her mouth. Her lips were puffy and at one corner there was a small split, from which welled a tiny drop of blood. He also noticed a few slightly deeper bite marks on her chest and shoulders along with the livid imprint of his hands where he had held her. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead lightly against hers. "I'm sorry. I..."
"Please don't say that... because I'm not sorry at all."
He lifted his head again and looked down at her in confusion. The trails the tears had made were still wet on her face, but her mouth was curved into that engaging little smile.
With his weight on his elbows, he watched his thumb feather across a damp pathway. "Then why the hell were ya cryin'?" He asked softly. When he brought his eyes back to hers, she hid behind her lashes, a flush creeping up her already rosy skin.
"I don't know." She shrugged a little and turned her face away. "I guess that...maybe you could take it as a compliment." She added in an airy little voice, and the flush grew deeper. Logan felt relief and exhilaration race through him, and he rolled quickly onto his back, carrying her along with him so that she lay on his chest. She gave a squeak of surprise that quickly changed to laughter as she balanced herself. Catching her breath, she touched the tip of her tongue to the split at the corner of her mouth. Logan frowned a little and reached up to touch her face. "Are you sure you're all right? I really didn't mean..." He jerked his hand away as she snapped at it with her teeth.
She laughed again at his startled expression. "I'm fine, really. So quit beating yourself up, okay. In fact, I don't know if I have ever been this fine before in my life."
It brought an answering smile to his mouth and he nodded in concession. "Okay, you're fine, but." He paused for emphasis, and took her chin in his hand. "If ya realize later that maybe...everything...isn't so fine, ya to promise to tell me?"
She leaned down to kiss him softly, her hands bracketing his face. When she lifted her head, her eyes were sparkling, and she said softly, "You are very sweet, and yes, I promise to tell you if indeed I am not perfectly fine." He drew her back into the kiss simply for the pleasure of it. When she pulled away a few moments later, she looked down toward their joined bodies, then back up to his face with an arched brow. "Perhaps sweet wasn't the most accurate description after all." He laughed, but she rolled away when he would have kissed her again. She was off the bed before he could catch her and stood laughing just out of his reach. She pointed a mocking-stern finger at him and said through her mirth, "Stay back you fiend. Fun's fun, but I for one need some water and a trip to the bathroom before we commence round three. So you can just...stay put." She walked to the far side of the room, pausing once to turn on a lamp, and disappeared through the door that been closed during their little chase
He watched her until the door closed on what he assumed to be the bathroom, then flopped onto his back. Watching her walk was a pleasure all its own, he thought. She was all well toned muscle, with just the right amount of padding to make her look and feel like a woman should. He couldn't get used to the waifish, emaciated bodies that were so popular today. Women like that might make designer clothes look good, but they weren't very comfortable to bed. Lexa certainly didn't have to worry about that. He smiled a little and let the shortened name roll over his tongue. He liked the sound of it. Alexa was too...uptight for someone like her. Just thinking about her was making him hard again, and he sat up frowning. He'd have to watch that. She may laugh about starting round three after she got some water, but she was going to need some time, especially after his spectacular loss of control. He wondered darkly how fine she was feeling now that she'd gotten a look at the damage he'd done. It had been awhile since he had so utterly lost himself in the savage side of his nature, and this time he didn't even have the excuse of a long period of enforced celibacy. He had almost forgotten how good it felt to not constantly hold part of himself in check, although it probably would have been better if he hadn't been reminded. He just felt lucky that she had taken it so well and that he hadn't caused her any serious harm. The bathroom door opened as he was speculating how long he would be able to keep his hands off of her. She came out wearing a cream colored satin robe that almost brushed the floor, and he realized that without the heels, she was barely five-foot tall. Her hair again fell in a glossy curtain, though it was slightly damp around her freshly scrubbed face. She looked like a Noxzema girl, fresh and pretty and young. Earlier he had pegged her to be thirtyish with good habits and lucky genes, but now as she stood there smiling, with no expensive suit or make-up, she didn't look that much older than some of the girls at the school.
"Is everything okay?" She asked with a questioning turn to her smile.
"Everything's great. Mind if I use your bathroom?" He replied shaking off his frown and went over to where she stood. She slid her palms up his chest and around his neck, drawing him into a kiss. It was easy to let his senses carry him away for a moment, but when she pulled back and smiled up at him, the vague feeling of guilt returned, along with the feeling that there was something he was missing. She looked at him quizzically, but he kissed her lightly on the forehead and stepped past her to the open door.
"I should warn you though." She said, and he stopped to looked back. "It's a very self-indulgent girly bath." He chuckled and closed the door behind him.
She wasn't kidding. It was some kind of Roman fantasy theme, done in marble and painted tiles. There was a whirlpool tub that was surrounded by plants and a separate shower tucked away in corner. On the other side of a glass brick wall he found the toilet, and also a bidet. For the girl who has everything, he thought with a smile. As he stood at the vanity washing his hands, he debated whether it was merely self-justification to decide that, regardless of her age, it was all right to stay, since he had been with her twice already. It wasn't as though she was a minor, and leaving now wouldn't change anything. In fact, she might see it as rejection. He shook his head at his reflection; oh yeah, he wanted to stay for her sake. He splashed some water on his face. He really needed a shave. It was almost two days worth of stubble; no wonder her face had gotten so roughed up. Then it hit him. The answer to that niggling little question. He had been so caught up in her appearance, that he had missed the fact that not one mark remained on her cover girl skin. A thousand thoughts raced across his mind as he quickly dried his hands, but she wasn't in the room when he opened the door, though it was obvious that she had been. The bed was turned down, and in place of the brighter floor lamp, there was a small lamp on the dresser with a pink scarf draped over the shade. On the bedside table stood two glasses and a large pitcher of water. The message behind the scene was very clear, and his mouth curved up as he helped himself to the water. He could hear her in the other room, and after a number of small clicks and a few electronic noises, he could hear her come down the hallway accompanied by some smoky instrumental jazz. She paused for a moment in the doorway, and her classic beauty combined with the sultry music to remind him once again of a time gone by. Her eyes wandered up his body as she moved across the room in rhythm with the music, a sexy smile playing about her lips. He was hard before she even reached the bed.
This time everything was unhurried. It was as if they were each trying to memorize the other's skin by touch and taste. He rolled to his back to bring her on top of him and was again amazed by the lithe power of her small body. His hands explored the glorious contours and textures of her body as he watched pleasure write itself across her face. Tension built in both of them slowly, a narrowing spiral of sensation, and when it at last grew taut, they were slick with mingled sweat. She came with small cry of surprise, her face suffused with wonder, and though he came as well, he found that the pleasure of watching her had far outweighed the physical satisfaction.
******************************************************
They lay together for a while, her fingers drawing patterns on his chest, while his sifted through the mane that ran down her back. The sensation was strange and wonderful, and she wished that it could go on forever. She sighed softly. "I don't want to move, but if I don't get up, I'll starve to death." She felt him chuckle as her stomach gave a rumble of agreement. She pressed her lips to his chest and lifted her head. "How about you? Hungry for anything in particular?"
"I ain't picky."
"I don't know if that's a good thing or not." She said with a doubtful look as she tried to reach the phone without moving off his chest. He shifted across the bed a bit when she couldn't quite make it. She kissed his shoulder and pressed the speed dial. Etienne must be busy in the kitchen, she thought, while she waited for the call to be transferred to the hostess desk. "Could I speak to Etienne, please? Tell him it's Alexa DePascal." Logan was drawing lightly on her arm, and she found it pleasantly distracting. "Bon soir Etienne, comment vas-tu?".
Etienne launched into his usual greetings and admonitions, and she used the time to taste the pulse she could see beating at the base of Logan's throat. His skin was warm and salty and he smelled wonderful.
"Tres, tres bien." She replied with feeling when Etienne finally got around to asking how she was. She tried to steer the conversation directly to food, and for once, she was lucky. After Etienne ran down what he felt was still edible at that hour, she asked him to hold on and shifted up so that she was straddling Logan rather than lying on him. His eyebrows were drawn together in a small frown. She sympathized with him, but Etienne's English was as painful as his French was beautiful. She would try to keep the call short.
"Would it be correct to assume that you prefer your steak rare?
"Very rare." He replied dryly. She leaned forward quickly to brush a kiss across his lips before returning to the conversation. He didn't smile but at least the frown went away.
Etienne's romantic Gallic nature quickly overcame his surprise at her ordering for two, and though he let her off the phone quickly, he made it clear that he would be expecting details the next time they spoke.
She slid the phone back onto the nightstand and reached down to lightly scratch her nails through his exceptional sideburns. He smiled a little and closed his eyes, tilting his head back a little, so she kept it up. She wondered what it would take to get him to really smile. He had smiled briefly a number of times over the course of the evening, but they were usually very small. Many of them were a mere quirk of his lips, drawing them up at just the corner. It was very appealing; he had a beautiful mouth, but she was curious to see what a real smile would do to his rather stern features. He inhaled deeply and opened his eyes blinking. "You'd better stop, or you'll put me to sleep." He said with one of his half smiles, as he caught her hands. He pressed a tiny kiss to one wrist, and it made her pulse flutter.
"I was going to run through the shower before the food came. Why don't you take a little nap?" She asked as she shifted to sit beside him on the bed. He drifted his hand idly up and down her thigh and looked thoughtful.
"How about I join you in the shower? I could scrub your back for you."
"Mmmm, that sounds lovely, but..." She placed a restraining hand on his chest when he began to sit up. "We only have an hour before dinner is here." She said with a meaningful smile. "Anyway, even I need some time to recharge, not to mention some food." She felt like biting her tongue when curiosity sparked in his eyes at her last comment. And when he lifted his hand to brush her hair back off her shoulder, she knew what he was looking for. Well, she didn't really feel like sharing anymore secrets at the moment, so he could just keep guessing. She gave him what she hoped was a neutral smile. Then, scooping her robe up off the floor, she went to take her shower.
She clipped her hair up into a loose knot and turned on the shower. As she stood facing away from the spray, she thought wistfully of his offer to scrub her back. No one had ever done that for her before. Even in the years following her escape, when her body had still been too damaged to produce fur, she had seldom found herself with men who were interested in the mellower aspects of a relationship. She shook the melancholy thoughts away. She was going to have enough trouble not thinking about him as it was.
When she emerged a short while later, she was drawn by the sight of him in her bed. He had apparently decided on the nap, and he lay stretched out on his back, uncovered. He was absolutely magnificent, she thought, as her pulse tripped over itself. He looked both beautiful and dangerous, like a large predator. Not the delicate and refined cheetah, she thought, but not the indolent lion either. She would have to study him some more she decided; it was a very pleasant prospect. She let her eyes roam appreciatively over his sleeping form. Even in repose he radiated power. He had one hand tucked behind his head, and the other lay flat on his corded stomach. She estimated him to be around 5'6 or a little under, and considering her own vertical challenge, that worked out very nicely. Other than his lack of height though, there was nothing small about him. He was broad through the chest and shoulders, tapering down to narrow hips, only to flare out again at his well-developed thighs. Actually, she had been surprised at how quickly he could move considering how muscular he was. Her mind flashed back to their little chase around the room, and she grew warm at the thought. Not that she had thought it pleasant at the time. In fact, she had come very close to doing something that they would have both regretted. She was very glad now that she had not, and she said a little prayer that nothing would happen to change that.
His eyes opened suddenly. Not as though he had been startled, but more like he hadn't been asleep at all. There was a remoteness in the blue depths though that was unsettling. His expression warmed quickly, and he sat up on the edge of the bed, holding his hand out to her. She stepped close, and he pulled her onto his lap.
"You smell really good." He murmured as he kissed her neck. He started to slide the robe off her shoulder, and she laughingly pulled out of his loose grasp.
"You're incorrigible." She said shaking her head. "Did you want a shower before dinner? I tried to save some hot water for you." He ruffled his hands vigorously through his hair and yawned. It left him looking like a naughty troll doll, and Alexa had to bite back a smile.
"That's probably not a bad idea." He replied as he stood and stretched.
"I put some towels out for you, and some other things. I didn't know what you might need." Her voice ran down at the end as she was overcome by an unaccustomed self-consciousness, which he seemed to find amusing.
"I'll make do." He said running the back of his fingers down her pink cheek. He gave her a brief, hard kiss and headed off to the shower.
She stood in the walk-in closet a moment later, not really seeing the clothes, and she wondered what it was about him that made her keep blushing. She couldn't remember the last time that anything had made her feel that awkward sense of shyness. It was very strange, but somehow rather nice. She chose a willow-green set of silk lounging pajamas from the rack. The oversized shirt came halfway down her thighs, and after a moment of hesitation, she decided to forgo the matching pants, at least for the moment. As she walked out into the living room, the pants draped over her arm, she was filled with a mixture of liberation and uncertainty. It was one thing to have him touch her in the heat of the moment, but she seldom left her legs or back uncovered, even when she was alone.
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