Primal Urges

Part Fourteen



The sun shines in on Logan and he opens one eye at the bright light. 'Shit, didn’t I get up this way before?' he thinks as he rubs his eyes. 'Yeah, I did…on that day…that day I almost lost her forever…' a sharp pain fills him, but he squashes it. He looks over to his right side and looks into the face of an angel. Ororo is curled up against him; her lips parted slightly with a small smile playing about them. He uses his fingers to remove a stray hair from her face as he gazes on her. 'Everything about her is so damn perfect…'Logan thinks as his eyes travel down her beautiful body. Sure, she still has scars, and some don’t look as if they are going away…but to him she’s still a goddess, a Nubian princess that someone felt should be his mate. He looks at the bite mark on the side of her neck…very distinguishable and final. She is now his; his to protect and to love for the rest of his days…and he has willingly done it.



His snowy-haired wind-rider shifts in her sleep, reaching out with her arm to feel for him. When she touches his chest, she snuggles closer. As he feels her breath against his skin, those stirrings come back and he lets out a small moan. Ororo hears him and awakens, “Are you okay? I heard you moan...”



“A normal occurrence when I’m around ya’…sleep well?”



Ororo stretches like a cat…making his member awaken even more. “Like a baby…you are so comfortable to sleep next to.”



“Well, now we don’t just have ta’ do sleepin’…” Logan says as he kisses her temple. His rapidly hardening shaft jerks against her leg as he moves over to take her lips in a lazy kiss. She moans into his mouth as her body molds to his. Pulling back, he smirks, “At this rate, we’ll never leave tha’ room!”



“Uh-uh…we have things that still need to be done! Come on, Logan…get up!” Ororo says as she pushes him back.



But, as she tries to get up, his hand reaches out and grabs hers, pulling her back on his lap,
“Awww,’Ro...don’cha like this?” he inquires as he licks her ear before biting it. She lets her eyes drift closed as those tingling sensations run through her.



“Ya’ want me…I can tell…” he moans in her ear.



“That may be, but we still have things to do, Logan…” she groans. As he lets his hands roam down her body, Ororo leans into his ear to let her tongue dip in…feeling his arms tremble. She tells him, “I promise if we get up now and get our day started…I’ll make it worth your while, later…”



His face lights up like a child on Christmas, “Ya’ promise?” he asks a little too eagerly. She looks at him seductively, “Your senses can tell you so much…can’t you tell now?”



A scent as tantalizing as her unique orchid scent drifts up to his nose…assaulting him and making him nuts. “Yer still a damn tease…” Logan groans.



“And you love it!” Ororo laughs as she kisses him before getting up off his lap. She heads into her bathroom as he sits there, waiting for her. He lays back to stare at the ceiling. “Ya’ know, ‘Ro…I was jus’ thinkin’…it’s a little tiresome goin’ back and forth between rooms…”



She steps back out into the bedroom, “Yes?”



He continues to stare at the ceiling, not really sure he wants to see her reaction, “Since we’re…well, ya’ know…maybe ya’ can move in with me?” Logan waits to see if she’s going to answer, but he doesn’t hear anything for a few moments…and he begins to think maybe he is rushing things…



Ororo blinks, not knowing what to say. He wants me to move in with him? Live with him?



Her heart jumps as she touches the bite mark on her neck. Out of all the scars that she has received, this is the only one that she will proudly display…his declaration that he loves and wants her, forever. He has shown me that he loves me, needs me in his life…as much as I love and need him…so why am I hesitating?



“I think that there is much more room up here, don’t you?” she says as he sits up sharply. A beautiful smile lights up his face as he stands to come over to her. “Are ya’ sure, darlin’?”



“I love you, mpenzi. I want you with me always…if you want to…”Ororo returns, suddenly a little unsure. He kisses her, “How can ya’ say that? I’ll bring my stuff up later…and I’ll try not ta’ be such a slob.”



She smiles, “I know…now let’s get cleaned up and get downstairs.” Ororo turns back into her bathroom as Logan stands there watching. She goes over to her closet to get something, coming back to him with it hidden behind her.



“Wha’cha got there?” he asks and she grins, “Well, might as well get this thing started…a welcome present…” she announces as she closes his eyes with her fingers. Amused, Logan waits… “Okay, open them,” Ororo says as he opens to see her holding a brand new toothbrush. Laughing, he takes it and goes into the bathroom with her.



“I’ve officially been inducted into ‘Ro’s room now?” he asks as he watches her turn the water on to brush her teeth. “Um-hum” she says, brushing vigorously. He pops her on the butt as he leaves to let her finish. Logan sits back on the bed, smiling at the brush. It’s nothing fancy, but knowing she gave it to him makes it the most special thing he has. He hears the water turn off, so he stands again as she comes out,



“Your turn…”



He smiles at her before going in and closing the door. Ororo heads to her dresser to pick out some underwear while she listens to his ramblings behind the door. Soon the water is cut off again and he comes out, just in time to see her put on a sexy pair of lacy pink panties and start to fasten a matching bra. His eyes darkening, he walks over to her slowly…and slides his arms around her waist. “Logan…remember our deal…” she tries to say, but the heated kisses on her mark are blotting out every bit of common sense. Logan whispers, “Oh, I remember…I jus’ wanted ya’ ta’ know what’s gonna be waiting for ya’…” and he presses his groin against her buttocks. She leans her head back as he takes his hand to caress her lightly through the panties. A shaky moan escapes her, “Logan, you don’t play fair…” and she is turned around into a scorching kiss.



Logan strokes her hair as he pulls back, “Ya’ don’t either…I already told ya’ what ya’ do ta’ me.” The arching of his brow has her pushing him back and laughing. “Let’s get downstairs…and please remember to take that tray.”



He picks up his clothes off the floor as he spies the tray, “Okay…” Logan says. She has pulled on a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt, and while she is brushing out her hair, Ororo watches him get dressed…admiring the muscles stretching and rippling as he moves. He catches her looking in the mirror and smiles, “Like whatcha see?”



“You are so beautiful…” she murmurs and he winks at her, straightening his shirt. Logan walks over to the tray, and picking it up, he says, “Let’s go…”



They both head out the door…the day starting out pretty well…



But it doesn’t last long…







Logan and Ororo make their way into the kitchen, just to run into Scott and Hank. Hank turns around when he hears people enter and sees who it is, “Morning Logan and Ororo...have a good night’s rest?”



Ororo blushes as Logan smirks…neither one answering. Hank looks at them closely and suddenly realizes that the question may have been a little awkward. “Oh…uh….”



Logan laughs, “Don’t worry…we had a good night…right, darlin’?”



Smiling, Ororo replies, “Yes, a very good night…” Moving farther into the kitchen she asks,“Anything left to eat?” to take their minds off the previous night. By now, they should all know that last night’s storms were not completely natural…



Scott doesn’t look at them….finding it hard to believe that she has chosen him to be her mate. It is still hard to think of her so primal…Logan not so much so. But then he takes a quick look at her and she seems so settled now…at peace. Maybe there is something to all this “claiming”… He looks at Logan and notices the same thing…'What a difference a day can make!' He turns back to the sink area to clean out some glasses when she comes up next to him to grab one.



“May I, Scott?” she asks and as he hands one to her, he spots the bite mark on the left side of her neck. Not thinking, he goes with his first reaction, “’Ro, you need to see Jean about that!”



She looks at him innocently, “About what?”



He points to her neck, “That! It looks like…” and he happens to catch Logan’s sharp glare and Hank shaking his head. Ooops…he thinks as he recalls the conversation he had with Jean and Hank about the mating rituals of animals. That mark was placed there for a reason, and it’s obvious that she knows about it…seems to be proud of it. Ororo takes the glass, smiling and heads back over to Logan. She hands him the glass…a tender look passing between them as he moves over to the refrigerator to get some juice. Logan pours himself a glass, downing it in one gulp as he stares hard at the young commander. He fills it again and gives it back to Ororo, placing the container back in the fridge.



“I’m waitin’ ta’ hear wha’cha think it looks like…” the feral says in a dangerous tone. Scott almost falls for it, but a quick shake from Hank makes him bite his tongue…by the look on his face, Wolverine is being tightly leashed at the moment and the last thing he wants to do is piss him off. The African beauty grabs Logan’s arm and smiles gently at him, the evil snarl he once had is gone…replaced by a tender smile. A finger gently rubs her mark and she blushes again…not noticing Scott watching them. He frowns…they do look like they belong together…but how the hell that is possible is beyond me. Shaking his head, the young man wipes his hands off and says, “Well, the Professor wants to see us…I would hurry if I were you,” and he heads out the kitchen. Logan growls as he passes by and Ororo pats his arm again, “Don’t worry, he’ll understand…”



“We explained…a couple of days ago. I guess he forgot.” Hank reasons, but Logan growls again. Giving her that mark was the most intimate thing I’ve ever done and for someone ta’ think it was a mistake…Ororo sees his face and caresses his cheek, reassuring him. “Logan, I know what it means…it means I am yours, forever…” she whispers, kissing him lightly on the lips. “Everyone else will soon know what I have always known…you are an amazing man and worthy enough to be anyone’s mate…”



“Not anyone’s, darlin’…yers, and yers alone,” he murmurs back, making her smile harder. Hank clears his throat, “Well, I think we need to get to Xavier’s office. There are some things that you need to know.” They both sober up as Logan takes the glass from her, walking over to the sink to deposit it…then they head out.







Xavier is sitting at the window, looking out at the kids walking about on the grounds…a small smile playing at his lips. So much has happened in relatively a short period of time, but it has been more serious than anything. A member of his team has been violated in the most unspeakable way, and though she seems to be coming through it…there will be some hard days ahead. She has Logan, though…and he seems to be the right salve for her.



There is a knock at the door before it opens to admit his team. The Professor turns around and comes over to them, “Please have a seat…unfortunately we have something to prepare for.” He waits until everyone has been seated before he presses the button and the map table appears in the middle of the floor. “Scott and Hank were assigned the task of sending probes to Alkali Lake…and they have found out something very disturbing.” Charles closes his eyes for a moment and the table takes the form of a strange machine. “The probes have sent back these pictures of the machine we suspect is the one they want to use for their experiments. I have Hank and Jean trying to find out what it does and I still have Jean looking into Dr. Schmidt. But the most important thing I need to say is that…” His gaze moves to Ororo, “They have not given up on their quest to capture you, and they have dispatched Wraith and Creed to retrieve you. We have learned that Stryker will be part of this raid to ensure that you get back to headquarters.”



Her face blanches as Logan takes hold of her hand, damning everyone in there for doing this to her…knowing that she needs to be told. She squeezes his hand, having listened to everything Xavier has said…it has become apparent that this all is not going to stop until they stop Stryker, and maybe she has the way…



“They won’t get ya’, darlin’…never again…” Logan says low and menacingly.



She looks at him and nods, but Ororo says, “I know that everyone in here will do their best to try to keep me safe, but maybe this is what we want…maybe we should let them capture me…”



“WHAT?! NO!” cries Logan, eyes wide…Scott and Hank staring at her in shock. Ororo places a hand on Logan’s chest before she speaks again, “Stryker will not stop until he gets me…it seems. It has already been two months and he is getting desperate…if we let him capture me with you following behind, you can stop what he’s trying to do.



“No! I ain’t gonna let ya’ do that! Ya’ can’t…dammit ‘Ro, I can’t…!” Logan yells as she takes his hands.

“Logan, it makes sense. He sends them after me, which means they will more than likely try to hit the mansion, again. Can we risk the kids here, just to protect me? I won’t let you do that…and don’t tell me that the kids will want to.” She stands and walks over to the window, “I have been sitting in here, almost afraid of the world...but I won’t curl up and accept it. I am an X-Man and I will do my part…”



Logan jumps out of his seat…scared shitless for the second time, “’Ro, I know how ya’ feel, but this is gonna be dangerous. Are ya’ sure that ya’ wanna do this?” His pulse is racing…he’s trying his best to be calm, but everything in him is screaming at him to tie her in a closet to keep her safe while he takes them on…Creed will never get near her again!



Ororo turns to him, “You will protect me…and I need to face this…him. I will not keep running scared of him every time his name is mentioned, that’s giving him too much power. I know how to handle myself…” The look on his face doesn’t show any confidence, but she smiles comfortingly, “Mpenzi…please, let me do this.”



“We’ll talk about it later…right now…” Logan starts as he turns back to Charles, “Is there anything else?”



“No…I have to check in with Jean and Rogue to find out what they have learned.” Xavier says. Logan nods as he takes her hand and leads her out of the room. They others sit for a minute…



“Her idea makes sense…” says Hank.



“Logan’s not going to take this well at all.” Scott adds.



Xavier sighs, “She is his mate…I saw the mark. He only knows to protect her at all costs and to open her up to being attacked again by the same man…it maybe too much.”



Hank nods, “But, it’s her decision.”



They all nod…but will she make it?







Logan and Ororo head outside to the gazebo on the other side of the lake…walking quietly and thinking about what just happened. She looks at their joined hands…sure that the raging emotions flaring in him will be discussed. The lovely gazebo sits in a clearing not too far from the lake...the perfect place for someone to loudly express any misgivings about something. As they walk into the structure, she takes a seat while he starts to pace. Ororo folds her hands as she waits for him to explode.



“Ya’ can’t do this, ‘Ro! I can’t and won’t let ‘im near ya’!” he states. Ororo can feel his frustration…and fear. She stands and walks over to him, sliding her arms around his neck. “Please understand…I am afraid to do this, but I cannot afford to be. I am an X-Man…people depend on us to help them when they need it. I cannot sit here while you put your lives on the line while I cower in a corner. Eventually, I will have to confront him again…I will have to learn to combat him. There is nothing more he can do to me…”



Logan’s face convulses and she narrows her gaze, “What is it? What haven’t I been told?”



He pulls away; facing the beckoning trees that surround the lake area, their area…hoping that what he’ll say will change her mind, at least for now. Dropping his head, he says in a low tone, “He did more damage than ya’ know…I told ya’ that you can’t have kids, but…”



“But what, Logan?” she asks, her voice getting icy.



“When I brought ya’ here…ya’ were bleeding so heavy, I didn’t know…didn’t wanna know. Oh, God, ‘Ro…ya’ were
pregnant, but he damaged ya’ so bad… ya’ lost it.”



He hears a thud and turns quickly to see her sitting on the bench again, her face made of stone. He moves over to her, “’Ro…please say somethin’. I’m sorry, baby…so fuckin’ sorry.” Logan tries to take her in his arms, but she pushes him away, jumping up and walking over to the edge of the gazebo…still saying nothing. The feral stays motionless, sensing the anger growing in her…the scent coming off of her in waves. When she does speak, it’s with a cold finality that is so unlike her…



“You told me I was barren, as good as barren…then you tell me that if he wasn’t so brutal, I would have had his child. The Goddess knew what I could handle and what I could not…knew that if we were to find each other again, it would be the one thing to destroy us…so she blessed me and took away that pain.” Ororo turns to him and he’s shocked to see the determined look on her face. “I must do this, now more than ever…this maybe the one thing that will destroy him. Not only am I not able to be the subject they need…I am the proof that Creed destroyed the project with his pathetic sense of revenge.”



She smiles evilly, “Stryker will want his revenge as well…”



Logan stares at her, suddenly not afraid anymore…she has pulled herself up to her full height and presents herself like the goddess she is, how can I deny her? Logan stands to wrap his arms around her, and this time she lets him. He kisses the top of her head, “Darlin’, I love ya’…I’ve never loved anyone more…”



She snuggles into him, “Ninakupenda, Logan. I recall saying that you were my earthbound spirit warrior…my source of strength and reason. I shall need you for this…”



He tilts her head up to his, “Not even death, koibito…will I leave you.”



“Not even death,” she returns as he places a possessive kiss on her soft lips.







They make their way back to the mansion and head straight to Xavier’s office, only to find Hank looking over some papers.



“Logan…Ororo, the Professor is downstairs…is there anything I can help you with?”



Logan frowns, “Yeah, ya’ can try ta’ talk her outta doing this…I’m blowin’ it!” Hank looks at her and sees her resolve on her face. “I don’t think I’ll have any more luck with than you did, Logan.”



“That would be right…my mind is made up.”



“Then we need to talk with Xavier right away…we have to figure out a way to get you captured without them knowing that’s what they’re here for.” Hank says, tapping his chin. Logan looks at her, then says, “If we have those probes, then we’re gonna know when they’re comin’, right? We just have to let them see Ororo hang around more outside…have her do more stuff on the grounds, but still keep her behind the gates to make it look like we’re still watching her.” He walks over to the map table, “You said that they plan ta’ do this within the week and they’re mobilizing Stryker…action will hit us in a couple of days.”



“That sounds like a good plan, Logan…I know this doesn’t sit well with you…” Hank tries to sympathize, but Logan shakes his head. “I need ta’ concentrate on this…I can’t be caught up in anythin’ else.” Hank nods and pats him on the shoulder. As he leaves the room he says, “I’ll alert Xavier…he’ll call you when he’s ready.”



“I’m sure…” Logan mumbles as he hears Hank leave.



Ororo walks over to join Logan at the window. “Well, we still have a lot of stuff we need to do…”



“Like what?” he asks absently.



“You moving in for one…I’m sure you have more than one outfit to wear…” she returns. Logan looks down at her and smiles finally, “I think I do…why don’t we find out?” A brilliant smile covers her face as she leads the way out the office.







They spent the better part of the day figuring out what the hell Logan is doing with some of the stuff they find in his room. He’s no pack-rat, but he doesn’t like to shop either!



“Logan, when was the last time you bought any new clothes?” asks Ororo as she holds up a shirt that has more holes than material. He smirks, “Not really a fashion person…jus’ need the basics; shirt, underwear, jeans, socks, and boots.”



She makes a face, “We really need to do something about this…” she says as she tosses the shirt away. The bed is covered with three piles of clothes; one he’s keeping, one that’s definitely trash and one to be decided later…and that pile is the largest.



Ororo smirks, “We need some bags to get rid of some of this.”



He looks at her surprisingly, “Why? This stuff ain’t all bad…”



“Logan…”



He throws up his hands, “Okay, okay…I give!” Ororo turns back to her folding of the “I don’t know” clothes…and Logan stops to look her over. Her hair is loose, but pulled back off her beautiful face…her clothes fitting her like a glove. His eyes start to flame as he watches her hips move…knowing how they feel against him. Feeling mischievous, he grabs her by the hips and tackles her to the bed. “Logan! What are you doing?!”

Logan nuzzles her neck. “Figured we could take a break…” he murmurs as he starts placing kisses along her jaw. Ororo squirms, but not sure if she wants him to stop. His lips move to the edge of her tee-shirt and she moans…her fingers gripping his hair.



“This is not fair…how can you have such power over me?” she asks as he settles himself between her legs. He gently grinds against her hips as they rise up to meet him.



“Ya’ have that same power over me, darlin’…I can’t get enough of ya’, especially ya’ moans when I do this…” and he nips her nipple through her shirt, causing her to moan. “Everythin’ about ya’ has me burnin’ fer ya’, ‘Ro,” Logan murmurs again as his hands slide under her shirt to massage her breasts. Her back arches as her arms lift so that he can push the shirt up and over her head. “Logan…” she says weakly as he kisses her nipples through the bra, making her squeal. Her hands hold on to his shoulders as he continues to tease those aching tips with his tongue.



“Logan…we still have to finish this…I promised that this would happen later…”



Logan leans up with a wicked smile, “This is later…” and he unfastens the front of the bra, releasing those delectable mounds to his avid gaze. His beast growls as he gazes hungrily at the chocolate tipped nipples in front of him.



“Goddess…” she moans as he lowers his mouth to an aching nub, flicking it back and forth with his tongue. His hands move down to unfasten her jeans as he suckles on her…her hands gripping his hair. Ororo finally gives into her ardent lover…pulling at his shirt so she can feel those muscles under her fingers.



“Yes, koibito…” Logan groans as he kisses her mindlessly, her hands now working on his jeans. They shift awkwardly to remove the rest of their clothes since they don’t want to stop kissing. Their clothes fly everywhere…their bodies now nude, they meld to each other as if they were always made to be. The sensual sounds and husky whispers precede heated pants and muffled screams…ecstasy flooding them both, a sudden storm raging outside. Quite some time passes before the rains ebb…



…then, a peaceful silence.







The wind-rider wakes up in a tangle of limbs and clothes…looking over at Logan who is sleeping peacefully between the pile of ‘definitely’ clothes and the ‘trash’ clothes…snoring lightly. This was definitely not meant to happen, but once his hands started their torturous explorations…she was helpless.



'Damn…how could this man be so good? Maybe I don’t want to know…'



Ororo tries to sit up, but there are so many clothes in the way, she can’t gain any leverage. Her movements stir Logan and he opens an eye to see what’s going on. He smiles as he watches her trying to untangle herself from the clothes and him, but he grabs her by the waist to bring her closer…



”Hey there, gorgeous,” he whispers in her ear. Ororo flinches a little as his warm breath sends shivers through her again, “Hey there, yourself…and let me go!”



“What’s the rush?” Logan asks, still playing around her neck as she tries to pull away…but to no avail. Giving up, she lies back and looks into impish eyes, “We need to get this done, you know.” He rolls to his back, staring at the ceiling…still trying to understand how he got to have all the luck, “I know…but this was so much more fun!” he says as he leans back over to her. 'She’s so damn beautiful…'Logan thinks as he runs a finger across her cheek. She smiles as she is able to gain some kind of leverage to lean up on her elbow…her smooth skin calling out to him to ravish her again. Ororo can see his eyes flame and she hits him, “Oh, no…we have got to get your stuff together if you want to move in with me…we could have been done hours ago…”



“Really?” he asks, quirking a brow.



She relents, “Okay, so maybe moving isn’t so important, but we have to do it…or do you want to keep coming down here for your things?”



“Good point…let’s go!” Logan says, maneuvering out of the clothes and looking around to find his. Giggling, she finds her underwear and jeans, but for the life of her…she can’t find her shirt, so she grabs one of his that happens to be on the bed. The shirt dwarfs her…and when Logan sees it, he smiles. It drops half way down her thigh and the sleeves almost come to her elbows. “That could be a nightshirt…” he offers as he finishes dressing. She sticks her tongue out at him.



“Now, that’s un-goddess-like!” he teases as she smirks at him.



“Let’s just get this done.” Ororo says. They move quickly now, finding old laundry bags to put the discarded clothes in while they pile the stuff he’s keeping into two duffle bags he had in the bottom of his closet.



Once they have cleaned out all of his drawers and straighten the room out a bit, they head up to her room…having made sure that the room is left in a good enough condition so that it can be reused.



Opening the door to her loft, Logan feels a sense of apprehension. So far, things have been great, but he hasn’t come across one of those “bad” days she mentioned that she is sure that she’s going to have. 'Will I be able ta’ take it? Or will she want me ta’ get lost?' He is so caught up in his thoughts that he doesn’t hear her calling him…



“Logan! Are you alright?”



“Yeah…I…yeah, I’m fine,” he says, shaking his head as he places the bags on the floor while Ororo has moved over to her drawers and started to clean out some space. Logan bends over to take some clothes out when he feels her hands lift him up to look at her. “I can tell when you have something on your mind…what is it?”



“Ya’ sure ya’ want me ta’ do this? I mean, this is goin’ a little fast and I don’t want ya’ ta’ regret this. Ya’ haven’t had a bad day yet…I’m not sure that either one of us will be able ta’ take it when it comes…” he says, an uncertain look in his eye.



She looks at him with no expression, wondering how she could answer that. True…I have been pretty good up until now, but will I do the same thing again to him? Will I blame him? She looks him directly in those hazel eyes of his and says, “I cannot tell you how I’m going to act if I do have a bad day, or even if I ever am. All I know is there is a reason we were brought together…a reason why we are so naturally connected. I love you and need you, Logan…and I know you feel the same…” she touches her mark, “This is more precious to me than any ring could ever be…has a stronger meaning to me than saying vows. I am yours, mpenzi, always, and no matter how we may argue and fight…that will never change.”



Logan smiles at her, pulling her into a loving embrace. “I do love ya’, ‘Ro.”



“I know…now let’s get you settled…”



They take the next couple of hours rearranging the room to accommodate his things, but once that was done…they settle on the bed to watch a little television before taking a nap.







About a half hour later, Logan awakens…looking around the room to get his bearings. With all the flora and fauna in the room, he feels more at home here than he ever has. There is a connection to all things in nature here… and as he looks down on the sleeping goddess next to him…he realizes that it’s through her that he can.



Logan sits up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. A soft knock comes at the door, but he ignores it for the moment. It comes again, so he heads over to answer. Logan opens the door to an anxious–looking Remy.



“Logan…ya’ gotta minute?”



“What’s on yer mind, Cajun?” he asks, coming out into the hall so he doesn’t disturb Ororo. Remy smiles devilishly, “Ya’ wanna do some scoutin’?” he asks, pulling a long drag on a cigarette.



“Chuck’d kill ya’ if he saw ya’ doin’ that…whaddya mean scoutin’?” Logan returns as he takes the cigarette from the kid and puts it out of the floor. Remy shrugs but continues his speech, “It seems, mon ami, ‘dat we sittin’ here doin’ nothin’ while ‘dey plannin’ ta’a grab Mam’selle Munroe. Don’t be wantin’ ‘dat do ya’, non?”



“’Course not…but she wants to be the bait…”



“What if we find out what’s really goin’ on...save her ‘da trouble, eh?” Remy offers and Logan’s brow rises. “Ya’ got my attention, kid…”



“Remy thin’ we can get ta’ Alkali Lake in a coupl’ hours and see what’s goin’ on. Then we know what we gotta fight.” Logan nods as Remy smiles, “Remy know ya’ upset ‘bout ma petite…ya’ want ta’ get ‘dat Creed, n’est pas?”



Remy can see the tremor in his jaw and the hand clench as he mentions that name, so he continues, “Remy feel like he did ‘dis…she got hurt ‘cause o’ me. Remy gotta make ‘dis right…”



“I know how that feels, kid….alright, meet me in the garage at midnight. Better ta’ go in the dark…harder ta’ be seen.”



“O’course…be dere…” Remy says as he heads back down the stairs. Logan stares down after him as the plan continues to form in his head. I’ll make sure that bastard is never able ta’ hold another thing for the rest of his miserable fuckin’ life! Logan comes back into the room and heads back to the bed…Ororo still sound asleep. He climbs in next to her, resting his head on the pillows just above her. She moves slightly, whimpering a little…then the sounds start to get a little more frantic. He can hear the words “No” and “Get away” come from her mouth as she starts to squirm…fighting that monstrous foe again, the mutant named Sabretooth.



'So much for no bad day…' runs through his mind as he pulls her to him, holding her gently while caressing her back. “It’s okay, darlin’…you’re safe. I gotcha…” Logan whispers as she begins to calm down. Yeah, the kid is right…I gotta do this fer her…



Anger flares in him as he watches her settle back in…Ororo has never done anything to deserve what happened to her; all she did was love him…death sentence enough. And even with this, she chose to stay with him…chose to become his mate. As he kisses her forehead Logan vows once more, Not even death, darlin’…not even death.







The clock reads 7:13 by the time they get back up. Ororo had been resting comfortably against his shoulder while he spoons against the back of her. Her eyes open and she stretches…feeling safe and warm. She places her hand on the arm wrapped around her waist, bringing it to her lips for a soft kiss. “Logan, we should get up now…”



“Mmmhmmmph…” he says as he turns his face into the pillow. She pushes her butt into him as she tries again, “Logan, time to get up…”



He doesn’t move, but she can feel it move as she presses closer. A warm voice comes to her, “Well, at least a part of me is awake!”



Ororo smiles, “Isn’t it always?”



“Tease…” Logan growls as he places her on her back and leans over her. Glittering blue eyes look deep into hazel ones and they both smile. Logan leans down to kiss her, teasing her bottom lip with his tongue. She moans as she hits the tip of his nose with her finger, “We seem to be getting real good at this…”



“A damn shame…” he murmurs as he kisses her again, the taste of her too intoxicating to let go…but he pulls back to let her sit up. “Now, that we’re officially “shacking up”, what do we do now?” Giggling, she gets up and moves over to her plants, “You can help me take care of these, then we can go out to the greenhouse…my poor babies must think I’ve neglected them…”



“Hardly, ya’ did send ‘em rain last night...” he quips and she slaps him. “Not funny…I’ll show you what to do…” and she proceeds to start him on his lessons of caring for house plants…which is not terribly hard for him. After they have pruned and watered every plant in the room, Logan stretches. “Why don’t we take a break outside by the pool? It looks like it’s a nice night…and we might find somethin’ ta’ snack on?”



“A wonderful idea! I am a little hungry…” Ororo says.



“Ya’ should be…done enough ta’ be more than a little hungry…” he answers. The sexual banter between the two of them is becoming a comfortable thing…both are eager for each other and aren’t the slightest bit ashamed of those feelings. Logan reaches the door before her and opens it, “This way, milady…” he says with another grandiose bow. Ororo curtsies, “Why, thank you…kind gentleman.”



“Uh-uh…don’t ever say the “g” word…my rep, remember?” Logan warns as he follows her out. She looks over her shoulder at him, “I remember…but that doesn’t change the fact that you are.”



“Ya’ did it…I was perfectly happy bein’ a grouch!” he adds as they make their way out of the loft. When they get to the second floor, they run into Scott and Jean…pressed into a corner, kissing passionately. Ororo tries to take his arm to lead him down the stairs, but that damned little imp in him can’t help himself…



“Hey, get a room!” he hollers down the hall with the heated pair jumps apart. Scott stares daggers at him while Logan flashes his most devilish smile. Ororo can’t help but giggle at the dark red complexion her friend has. Jean doesn’t have anything to say…a little startled that they were caught first, and by Logan and Ororo second. She tries to smile, but Scott speaks, “Weren’t you going somewhere?”



“We were gonna get somethin’ ta’ eat…was gonna ask ya’ if ya’ were hungry, but it looks as if ya’ were already eatin’!”



Ororo’s mouth forms an “O” before she bends over laughing…Jean and Scott both stand there, sputtering and red-faced. Ororo grabs his hand and pulls him down the steps before Scott can explode. The embarrassed pair can still hear Logan’s laughter coming back up the stairs to them.



“Bastard…” Scott whispers as Jean still tries to compose herself. After what has gone on, something like this shouldn’t have an effect on her, but she realizes that those hidden emotions she has for Logan have yet to be resolved. She was actually embarrassed to have him seeing her like this…what the hell was I hoping for…him to go berserk because Scott kissed me? That’s not going to happen anymore!



And that is the saddest thing that she has ever had to deal with…



Straightening her face for Scott’s sake, she leans into his shoulder…wanting to calm him down, “He was just playing…take it easy…”



“I don’t know what she sees in him…they are so different!” he exclaims. Jean smiles at him. “They are more alike than you know…Hank told me how you almost stepped in it when you complained about her mark.”



The auburn-haired man had to pause…he did make an ass of himself by doing that, knowing full well what that was there for. The way he shows his love and devotion is with the shiny ring on her left hand…who the hell would have thought Logan’s way would be so…primitive?



It is as binding, even more so…



Scott shakes his head, still not fully understanding how someone so refined and classy as Ororo could even think about having a beast like Logan as a life partner. Jean sees his brows furrow and feels she needs to make one last explanation, “Logan and Ororo are halves to the same coin…they both have the refinements, but both are just as primal as the other. They are truly each other’s complement…and we’ll just go with that.” He nods, so she adds, “They do have the right idea, though…want to get something to eat?”



That visor-covered gaze looks at her, “His first thought was his best idea…damn him!” he returns as he pulls her into another kiss…this time leading her behind their door, closing it softly.







Logan and Ororo head outside to the pool area, their hands full with a plate and a drink each having rustled around in the kitchen for whatever was quick to fix. They walk out to the picnic table sitting on the veranda near the grill. As they get seated, Logan looks around suddenly…something doesn’t feel right…



Feels the same as when…



“Logan, what do you sense?” Ororo asks. She has seen him look like this before, on the mission to New Orleans…knowing that it’s because of something he detects. The feral sniffs again…not really wanting to believe what he smells, but won’t dismiss it again.



“He’s here…or at least not far from here…” Logan says, his repast forgotten. Ororo stands to look in the direction he is…wishing that she could see what he does. “Are you sure?”



“Yeah…will never ferget that stink! C’mon…” he says as he grabs her hand and takes her back into the mansion…leaving their plates on the deck.







“I told you this was a bad idea…Logan knows we’re here!” Wraith says as he lowers the binoculars. Creed continues to watch as Logan leads that African bitch back into the mansion…So, he’s still protectin’ her I see…bet his stomach still twists knowing I had her! A sneaky smile crosses his face as Wraith looks at him, “What the fuck are you looking at? They done went back in!”



Creed lowers the binoculars, but continues to eye the spot where she was…wondering if his scent is still strong on her. His gaze turns lustful as he conjures up those disturbing images of his romp with her…but they weren’t so disturbing to him. Wraith still stares at him, knowing that there is more going on here than he’s letting on. He puts down the binoculars and stares Creed dead in the face, waiting for him to look over.



Victor can feel him looking, so he gives in.



“What?”



“There was more to it, wasn’t there? Logan didn’t do that to you just because he hated you…you did something…takes a lot of hate to do what he did.” Victor continues to give him a blank stare…Wraith plunges on, “What did you do, Vic? What pissed him off so much, he had you laid up for damn near a month?” The mutant teleporter looks back down on the mansion and a bell goes off, “Her…it’s her, isn’t it? You did something to her…” A rise in his furry brow confirms it.



“Shit, Victor…what the fuck did you do?! You…raped her, didn’t you?! Shit, Victor….goddamn you! Do you know what’s going to happen when Stryker gets wind of this?!”



A huge claw comes out of nowhere and picks Wraith up by his neck. Sputtering, he stares at the huge beast hoping that he’ll let up soon. Creed hisses at him, “Stryker ain’t gonna know, now is he? You see she ain’t been hurt…”



“Bullshit, Victor…I’ve seen what you can do and have done! She was completely fucked up if I know you…and you probably thought she was Logan’s girl, too…that’s why you pushed so hard to have Stryker use her! Jeez…” he croaks out before Creed lets him go. Rubbing his neck, he looks at him strangely, “My God, Creed…you did that to her because you thought she was Logan’s…you killed the last woman he was in love with, what the hell is in that demented mind of yours?! We had a mission to carry out and you purposely fucked it up to get at Logan!”



“Yeah, well…it worked. The little runt came after her, and got a nice surprise when he did.” Creed says with a sick smile. Wraith shudders at the thought, “I can understand why he pinned you like that…you’re nothing but a damned animal!”



Creed grips him by the collar and pushes him up against a tree, “Yeah, I’m an animal…the worst fuckin’ animal you’ve ever seen! Logan is one too, he just don’t wanna admit it!” He throws him away as he starts to pace, “We’re alike…him and me…he tries to be somethin’ he ain’t. I have to keep reminding him…make sure he knows I’ll always be the better one…”



“If that were the case, Victor…Stryker wouldn’t have chucked all your DNA samples. No one wants an army of hard-headed, smelly-ass, insecure bastards like you to have to control. Logan is the best one out of us…he knew when to stop.”



“NEVER SAY THAT!!!!!” Creed hollers as his claws extend and he rips through a tree. Wraith stands there smiling, “Same ole’ Creed…could never get past that little thing called ego. Whether you like it or not, Logan will always be the first choice…you’re the one that did yourself in.” He jabs a thumb in the direction of the mansion, “And I’ll bet you that that pretty little thing you tried to damn near kill thinks the same thing that everyone else does…you’re pathetic.”



Rage like he’s never known comes to him in a great wave as he lunges at Wraith, who wisely teleports to the other side. Victor regains his bearings as he turns to strike again, but this time Wraith stuns him with a highly magnified tazer. Victor falls to the ground, unconscious.



“That will calm him down…” Wraith mumbles as he takes his place again at sentry. Now everything makes sense…that’s why Victor was a no-show and why the girl got away. Stryker will know about this, but it won’t be from me…dumbass here will give it away himself.