The moon was still hidden behind a cloudy sky but the landscape was easy for the two to travel, the sounds of the river making its way to the swampy bayou breaking the silence between them. Anna waited patiently each time Laura stopped to explore the terrain on her own, the young girl asking no questions and Anna offering no information. The two figures wandered together, no words exchanged between them, as the clouds cleared and the wind died down, the air becoming humid and still again.
It was some time before Anna heard Laura’s heart slow to an even beat, although the young girl’s eyes still displayed her distrust. They walked for hours, Anna making sure to cover all the estate’s grounds from the Pearl River to the west, the low-lying swamp lands to the east, the flat fields to the north and the beach to the south, knowing the feral girl needed to become familiar with her surroundings. The sun had just begun to crest when they stepped off the light brown sand to make their way back to the main grounds of the academy and once there, Anna followed the less tense Laura to the stables. The powerful animals reacted skittishly to Laura’s scent but calmed down when Anna patted them down reassuringly, and when Laura held her hand out to the largest stallion, her eyes glittered in amazement when its head nuzzled into her open palm.
The sounds of breakfast being prepared by the house staff carried towards them as they walked alongside the fence of the corrals and Anna heard Laura’s heart begin to race, her eyes darting to the dormitory buildings near the main house. Without breaking her easy stride, Anna told her, “No school for you today, Laura.”
They entered the main house, the coolness of the marble floors soothing to the healing soles of their feet. Anna led her to the large kitchen and while there, gathered up some fruit in a basket along with two paring knives, greeting the bleary-eyed staff warmly. Laura raised an eyebrow, surprised, when Anna passed her one of the knives but Anna just turned her back and stepped up an iron spiral staircase located in a far corner of the expansive room. It led all the way up past the third floor into the attic, which currently housed various pieces of draped furniture and holiday labeled boxes.
Anna popped open a dormer window and disappeared through it, climbing effortlessly along the eaves trough before vaulting herself onto the steep shingled roof. She sat down cross legged on one of its peaks and settled the basket of fruit on her lap, Laura dropping down beside her. She threw an apple to the young girl and they sat in silence.
She watched the young girl deftly peel the apple with the razor sharp utensil, slicing the skin so thin it curled into a continuous, long transparent ribbon. Laura cut her eye at her and Anna twisted her mouth into a wry smile, letting her know she noticed. Laura didn’t return the smile, stuffing the entire peel into her mouth instead, but there was no denying the self satisfaction that scented the air from the young feral.
It was going to be another hot day, late spring usually was in Mississippi, and sweat was beading on both their bodies, their skin shining from it. Anna passed another apple to the young girl and began to peel herself an orange, still invigorated from their hike despite being up all night. They both watched as more and more staff appeared below them, exiting and entering the various buildings throughout the grounds, the new school day beginning. The sounds of waking children soon followed, and in time students began making their way from the dormitories into the main house for breakfast. Anna didn’t make a move to leave and after a while, Laura looked at her questioningly.
“I can hear them asking for you.” Her voice was soft, and like Anna expected, it sounded much older than it should have.
She shrugged, popping the last of her orange into her mouth, taking her time, enjoying its sweetness. Anna had heard them as well, including Scott’s voice down in the kitchen. “Right now, I’m with you.”
“I can take of myself.”
Anna observed the young girl for a few moments. The words were said without a trace of surliness, delivered in a fact based tone and Anna forced herself to not react compassionately, knowing Laura would resent sympathy.
“Good.”
Laura looked to her, surprised.
“Everyone sees a lost, abused little girl when they look at you,” Anna told her. “But, I don’t.”
“What do you see?” The question was thrown at her, full of challenge.
Anna stood up, grabbing the empty bowl off the slanted roof beside her. “I see someone who thinks she’s a monster.”
She was well aware of the growing anger being directed towards her and Anna held out her hand, looking pointedly at the paring knife that was now gripped in Laura’s hand. “Are you done with that?” she asked quietly, her eyes connecting with the girl’s.
A full minute passed. With a grunt, Laura handed the knife to Anna, breathing hard, head held high. “Why did you agree to take me in then?” She sounded like the young adolescent she was, sullen and petulant.
Anna gave her a steady look. “Because, you deserve the opportunity to find out if you are.” She walked away, leaving the brooding young girl on the roof.
Logan stretched out his body, reaching up behind him to grip the solid oak headboard and curled his toes downwards, tendons and muscles warming and refitting against his adamantium skeleton. He had slept comfortably, half forgetting luxuries like king-sized beds and his eyes looked about him lazily, taking in the sumptuousness of his surroundings. There were twelve foot ceilings, large crown moldings and thick baseboards framing pale cream-colored walls, the rich damask burgundy drapes preventing the sun from pouring in from the large French doors beside him. He stood up slowly and made his way over to them, pushing the thick material back and grimacing before becoming accustomed to the bright sunlight that hit him.
He could see children running back and forth between the buildings that flanked a large courtyard, noticing the large pool off to the side and the stables beyond two fenced-in corrals. Across to the opposing side were tennis and basketball courts with a field running alongside them that had both football and soccer posts on its far ends, the large estate mostly bordered along its west side by one hundred foot tall willow trees that bent over towards the river. He pushed open the French doors and immediately put to memory every sound and scent for deeper exploration afterwards, impressed that Marie knew to surround the academy with this fortress style set up, all lines open in case of attack. He planned to go over the rest of the layout to ensure there wasn’t anything she might have missed, just to be sure, but he doubted he’d find anything. He knew he had taught her well.
He turned back into the bedroom and pulled off his jeans, throwing them carelessly onto a chair, striding naked into the bathroom. It was painted in the same pale cream with matching marble basin and tub and when he stepped into the large separate shower stall, he welcomed the automatic spray of hot water that poured over him, his thoughts focusing on owner of the junior academy.
Marie had done well for herself, achieving success on the world stage to create a sanctuary for mutant children, far removed from that starving, freezing teenager he found huddled in his trailer. The animal in him scratched forward, snarling, and Logan drove it back down, rejecting the Wolverine’s revulsion to her autonomy. He was proud of her, and her accomplishments, but he should have been by her side, helping her, protecting her. Loving her.
God, her body was so perfect, so fucking ripe. With a groan, he began stroking himself, envisioning those long legs holding him between them, those full lips close and panting in his ear, that sexy voice begging he sink himself deep into her hot, luscious flesh. His fist pumped faster, his breathing harsh until he finally felt the tightening coil at the base of his spine snap, and he gasped her name, resting his forearm against the marbled wall in front of him, every powerful muscle rippling but still tense, still unrelieved, wanting more, wanting her.
His hands began to shake, thinking about the men who must have kissed her, touched her, tasted and fucked her. He thought of the man who was fucking her now, and he roared, claws shooting out, a murderous rage overtaking him.
She’s MINE!
Growling, he positioned his head directly under the spray of water, trying to calm down, reminding himself that it was his fault. All of it. He pushed her away and now she was with that perfect, all American poster-boy.
Please, please, don’t do this.
He winced, remembering. She begged. His beautiful Marie had begged.
Just let me have this, Logan. Just one night, with you.
He had been wrong – horribly, horribly wrong. It was one thing for Jean to love that rigid Boy Scout, she had thrived under that ice princess veneer, but that wasn’t Marie. Marie was fire and sass and heat, and she was his.
His.
Walking out of the bathroom, he immediately noticed the envelope he had given her last night, resting on the nightstand. Reaching for it, he pressed it to his nose, and his chest expanded, taking in her bewitching scent, eyes darkening.