DBTMend

********************************************************************************************

Okay, that had been a bad idea, Ororo thought as she exited the car. How she always attracted the most arrogant, self centered men on the planet she'd never quite figure out. Goddess, he wasn't even from this planet, she reminded herself. She supposed she should feel a bit guilty for leaving him in that bar, but Forge was a big boy. Let him find his own way back.

She was still fuming as she strode into the darkened kitchen, dropping the keys to the Jaguar several times before managing to place them on their designated hook alongside all the others.

She could not recall a time when she'd been more insulted by a man in her life. He seemed so charming at first. Opening her car door even though he insisted on driving. Ordering for her at the restaurant they went to first. Apologizing later when she told him she could order her own drinks at their impromptu stop at Harry's. Perhaps that was part of his game.

Maybe he was trying to impress her with all his tales of his many adventures, but after a while it got boring. She'd been so relieved when he finally asked her to dance. Anything to avoid listening to his ongoing monologue for another hour.

She never expected the complete personality change when they got on the dance floor. The open possessiveness even though she barely knew him.   The way he kept pulling her too closely to him every time she stepped away. Needless to say, they sat the next dance out.

She was wondering if she was sending the wrong signals. She liked him, but Goddess not like that. She was about to tell him so, when she noticed his attention elsewhere. On a pretty redhead across the room. She caught him smiling at her the minute she looked away.

Of course, she really hadn't expected him to take her seriously when she finally told him to go ask the woman to dance. So when he actually left her there, she was more than a little stunned. She sat there for about five minutes in shock before scooping the keys off the table and walking out the door.

"Back so soon?" a unexpected voice said softly from somewhere in the room.

She glanced up with a little gasp, her eyes adjusting in the dark to make out a shadowy figure seated at the kitchen table. Logan. 'Just perfect.' she thought with a groan.

"What are you doing in here?"

She was met with silence.
" I am not a child, Logan. You don't need to wait up for me."

She heard the scrape of something against the table and had to squint to see the bottle he raised to his lips.

"Glad to hear it, sweetheart... cuz I wasn't waitin' for ya."he said, after taking a deep swig.

She stared into the darkness, trying to make out his features through the faint light from the window. She should have known he'd be frowning at her.

"Where's yer date?"

"Forge?"

"No, the Easter Bunny."Logan deadpanned. "Who else do ya think I meant?"

"I have no idea where he is" she said, dropping her gaze from his scrutiny.

His chair scraped loudly against the floor as he stood. "Okay. What does that mean?"

She took a step back as he approached her.

"What? Did he stand you up?" he was asking, incredulously.

Too embarrassed to admit what happened, she could do no more than shake her head. He'd probably laugh his head off if he knew she'd been passed over for a better offer.

His sudden grip on her upper arms scared her. "What's going on, 'Ro? Did he...try something?"

"No...of, course not." she said, her breath catching at his nearness. Goddess, she hoped he couldn't hear how loudly her heart was pounding. What was she thinking? Of course he could.

"Then why are you so nervous?" he asked, his eyes glittering in the dark.
             "
You...scared me." she stammered.

He frowned, uncertain about the truth of her words.

"You can let go of me. I am fine." she told him.

"Not until ya tell me what happened with Forge." he demanded even as he loosened his grip slightly.

"He did nothing, Logan. I promise." she said finally, when it became obvious he meant what he said.

"Yer hiding something. There's some reason why yer standin' here and he's not, Ororo."

She remained silent, straining against his hold.

"I can smell him on ya, Ro. Tell me what happened or I'm gonna go find out."

"Damn it, Logan...He didn't hurt me and I don't need you going off half cocked trying to prove what a big man you are." Ororo said, growing angrier by the second. "Why are you being so pigheaded? Leave me alone."

"Fine." he snarled, releasing her so quickly she nearly stumbled. A flash of dry lightening illuminated the kitchen briefly as she watched him stalk out of the room.

It took a few minutes to find him in the entry hall, mainly because she was very hesitant about following him. Common sense won over her own pride, as she did not want him going out looking for Forge.   She'd seen him on the warpath before.
"Logan, wait." she called out, as he was opening the front door. She placed a restraining hand on his shoulder when he brushed her off.

He stiffened under her touch before turning to face her. "What? Did you forget to add another insult?"
"No. I just want to make sure you are not going out looking for him."

His mouth took a stubborn slant as he spoke. "Then maybe you should tell me what happened tonight."

Ororo gave him a weak smile. "You just refuse to allow me to have my privacy, don't you."

He was quiet for so long she thought he missed what she said. His eyes softened somewhat as he stepped closer to her. She stood her ground, even as his hand lifted to her hair.
"I care about you." he said clearly and precisely, rubbing a strand between his fingers as he spoke. "I can tell he upset ya, Ro."

She swallowed hard, trying not allow his touch to distract her. She'd come to realize the dangers of letting him get close to her. It made impossible to think about anything other than the heat racing through her veins. She felt a longing to finally do something impulsive for once and pull his mouth down to hers.

The breathlessness in her voice only added to her embarrassment as she opened her mouth. "I left him in a bar, Logan. He found...someone more...interesting to occupy his time."

She was mildly amazed at the quick display of emotions on his face. Relief. Disbelief. Anger. A mixture of all three. And then he focused on her.

"He's a damn fool." he told her, his hand drifting through the thick fall of her hair to rest at the nape of her neck. His touch was so hypnotic she couldn't resist the pull towards him. "A real damn fool." she heard him murmur before his lips settled on hers.

Ororo swore she felt her entire body melt from the contact, and she could do no more than grab his shoulders seeking support as he slowly kissed her. Her entire world suddenly consisting of nothing more than the firm but unexpectedly gentle pressure of his mouth. Her vocabulary reduced to a low needy moan from somewhere deep inside her when his heated tongue slipped past her lips.

His answering groan finally prompted her to kiss him back, need and red hot lust pushing past her natural shyness. She was vaguely aware of being lightly pushed against the wall as she busied herself learning the textures and tastes of his mouth. Wondering wildly if it was the traces of the tequila he'd been drinking or the feel of his fingers drifting from her nape to the base of her spine that was making her so lightheaded. Not that she cared.

Goddess, who knew he could kiss like this? Every nerve in her body was on fire and he'd barely touched her. Stroking his tongue with her own, she delighted in that familiar purring hum the action elicited. The knowledge that she could have that kind of power over him was almost addictive as his taste. Her fingers tightened their grip on his shirt when his hips collided with hers. The awareness of his arousal causing her to pull away reluctantly.

He was quiet for a long time after he released her, stepping away. Most likely expecting her to slap him or something.

Even if she wanted too slap him, she couldn't she realized. Her legs were shaking so bad she could barely move. She leaned heavily against the wall, watching him watch her until she could barely stand the intensity of his dark gaze. Leaning her head back, she looked anywhere but at him.

"If you think I'm gonna apologize for that, you're gonna be disappointed." he told her a bit roughly.

Her gaze drifted up, noticing the sprig of mistletoe she'd completely forgotten about and gave a surprised little laugh. She'd asked one of the kids to hang it up there as a joke a few weeks ago.

"Good." she said, dropping her gaze back to his. "If it makes you feel any better, you can blame it on the mistletoe."

TBC?

A/N: Yeah, I know I suck for not finishing it but this is is where I left off. I wanted to continue but life and other plot muses wouldn't let me give it any real attention. But if anyone has the urge to pick up on my ideas (or their own) and turn this into a series, please go ahead.

Back To Heavenly Holidays Challenge Home

Back To Kindred Souls Home