The M

  Rogue stirred as the first light of dawn filtered through the tent, painting the fabri soft golden hues. She reached out instinctively, expeg to fier's warmth beside her. But her ha only the cool, crumpled sleeping bag. Her brows furrowed, and she opened her eyes fully. She looked around ihe tent. In the air came the faint sound of rustling leaves and a cheerful chirping of birds, but nothing else was ient.

  She sat up rubbing her eyes, a out a soft yawn. She looked down at her wrist watch. Barely 6 a.m. "Where'd you go, sugar?" she murmured to herself and stretched her arms.

  She put on her jacket a outside. Her breath could be seen in the fresh m air. It was silent and peaceful out at the camp with the fire down to glowing embers.

  As Rogue approached, she halted, missing a beat in her heart. There, in the cool water of the ke, eter. o the actual nakedness, his back was to her as he waded waist-deep into the shimmering surface. The water rippled around him as he dipped his head under, ing up dripping with droplets casg down his toned shoulders and back, catg the early sunlight.

  Rogue instinctively ducked behind a nearby tree; her cheeks flushed to deep crimson. Lord have mercy, she thought, peeking out warily. Her breath hitched as she took in the view. Peter seemed utterly at ease, movements fluid and rexed as he washed his body.

  At the same time, she covered her mouth to hide her giggle as he muttered to himself, apparently aggravated as he tried to scrub out a pesky smear on his arm. "Guess magic doesn't fix everything," he grumbled, shaking his head.

  Without intending tue's mind began to roam. Her eyes followed the outlines of his body, her ideas growing sharper and more alive. What it would be like to trace his damp body with her fingers, to push against him as the water tumbled over them. Shiver ran down her spi from the chill.

  Get a grip, girl. She tossed her head to dismiss the flush creeping up her cheeks. But still, her eyes returo Peter, standing in the shallows, stretg his arms over his head. The movement showed every ripple of muscle, and Rogue had to bite down on her lip to keep from making a sound.

  "Wow," she murmured to herself.

  As if he sensed her presence, Peter turned, a wide smile spreading over his face. "Good m, sleepyhead!" he called out cheerfully.

  Rogue straighteoo, and attempted to look all posed, but she couldn't help the smirk tugging at her lips.

  "Mornin', sugar."

  "How'd you sleep?" Peter asked casually as she moved closer to the ke's edge. She also walked closer with her eyes stu his well-toned body. She could feel the heat rising with her.

  "Pretty good," She replied, trying to ighe way his hair was tousled a. "Though Ah gotta say, Ah'm surprised you're up this early."

  He chuckled. "Well, habit, I guess. Besides, it's a beautiful m. Didn't wanna waste it."

  Rogue aking in the view around them. The forest was bathed in golden light, and the air was cool and , refreshing her lungs. A sense of peace washed over her as she smiled.

  "It is a nice m," she agreed. "And the view... Ahem... It's somethin' else."

  Peter's grin widened. "I knht?"

  She let out a soft chuckle. "Ah don't think anyone could argue with that."

  "So," He grabbed her leg and pulled her into the water. "Wanna join me?"

  "Peter!" Rogue gasped as she went uhe cold water enveloping her. She surfaced very quickly, clearing her eyes from the water. Peter started ughing, and Rogue, still shaking her head, found herself uo help but join in.

  "You are so gon for this," she said with mock sternness as she spshed him pyfully.

  Rogue's spsh hit him square in the face as Peter ughed, and droplets flew all over him. "Oh, is that how it's gonna be?" he teased with his mischievous grin.

  "You're askin' for trouble, sugar," Rogue warned, her lips curling into a smirk. She lu him, hands outstretched, but Peter deftly sidestepped her, the water parting around his movements.

  "Too slow!" he called out, his ughter eg across the ke.

  Rogue narrowed her eyes. "Alright, Spidey. You y?" She swam forward, catg him and tag him into the water. They both went under with a spsh, surfag a moment ter, ughing and gasping for breath.

  Peter wiped the water from his face, still ughing. "Okay, okay, you win. I surrender!"

  "Darn right, ya due said, flipping her damp hair back. Her victory smirk softened as she noticed the eter was looking at her—his brown eyes warm and filled with admiration.

  "You look beautiful," he said softly, his voice sincere and without hesitation.

  Rogue felt her cheeks warm despite the cool water. "You’re yin’ it on thick today, aren’t ya?" she teased, though her voice was tinged with shyness.

  "Just telling the truth," Peter replied, stepping closer. His hands found hers uhe water, his touch ge grounding. "You’re incredible, Rogue. I don’t say it enough, but you mean a lot to me."

  Her teasing expressioed into something softer as she gazed up at him. "Peter..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

  He took a step closer, closing the distaween them. "You don’t have to say anything," he said, his voice steady. "Just… let me show you."

  Peter cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing against her skin as he leaned in. Rogue tilted her head slightly, her breath hitg as their lips met. The kiss was slow ale, the woing into a haze around them. The water rippled softly around them, cool against their skin but uo be pared with the warmth of the moment.

  Rogue's hands crept up to lie against Peter's chest, toug his muscles, trag the lines of his physique as she went into him. The kiss deepened, a spark friween them. Finally, they broke apart, chests heaving, and they leaned forward, their foreheads grazing each other's.

  "Wow."

  "Yeah," Peter gri her. "Wow."

  Her eyes sparkled, raising her eyebrows and shaking her head. "You really know how to sweep a girl off her feet, don't ya?"

  He sounded light when he spoke, but his expression was serious. "I try."

  Rogue ed her arms around his ned clutched him tight. They just stood there ier, embrag each other.

  "Promise me somethin'," she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

  "Anything," Peter replied without hesitation.

  "Promise we’ll keep doin’ this—findin’ these little moments for just us."

  Peter tightened his hold on her, his voice firm as he answered. "I promise."

  .....

  Peter gently pulled back just enough to look intue's eyes. They were still close, the water pping around them, but her expression had shifted—uainty flickering in her gaze.

  "Something wrong?" he asked softly, his thumb brushing over her cheek.

  Rogue hesitated, biting her lower lip. "Ah’ve been wonderin’... why haven’t ya tried to... y’know, take things further between us?"

  Peter blinked, surprised by her sudden vulnerability. He didn’t speak immediately, sensing the weight of her words.

  "Ah mean," she tinued, her voice dropping to almost a whisper, "ya seem so... patient. Like ya don’t even wanna..." She looked away, her cheeks flushed. "Is it ‘cause ya don’t like me like that? Maybe... Ah’m not what ya really want?"

  He felt the strike of her words and a shiver of guilt shot through Peter. Softly he took her hands, m her with his touch.

  "Rogue," he started out, his voice stern but loving. "I love you."

  Her eyes snapped up to his, wide and shocked, her lips slightly open.

  "I haven't made a move because I do want you," he admitted, his voice steady. "I didn't want to push you or make you feel like you had to do something you weren't ready for."

  Rogue stared at him, her breath hitg. "Ya mean. ya were waitin' on me?"

  Peter nodded. "You're not just someone I hysically, Rogue. You're someone I care about—someone I respect. I want us to be ready wheake that step, and I want it to be on your terms, not because you feel like you o prove anything."

  His siy pained her heart, the warmth of his voice dissolving what had bee of doubt. She swallowed hard, her hands slightly shaking as they tensed over his.

  "Prove it," she whispered, her voice quivering but firm.

  Peter raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side. "Prove it?"

  "Yeah," she said, her voice gathering ce. "Show me you're really ied in me, sugar. Ah'm tellin' you, Ah'm ready. Ah trust you."

  Peter's lips curved into a soft smile, his heart pattering fast as he leaned in, forehead against hers. "You sure?" he whispered, voice barely louder than a breath.

  She nodded, "Ah’ve never been more sure ‘bout anything."

  --['favorite' the chapter if you liked it.]---

  Support Link: .pat reon./XcaliburXc [Remove the space]

  ?Read 16 advance Chapters? [No double billing.]

  ----