Disclaimer: Marvel=not mine Greek Gods=not mine either Radio Shack=also not mine Radio Shack sales guy= friend of mine who begged me to write him in the story somehow. Okay...maybe not begged....
Chapter 3
"Look, darlin', Ah know this is yer job an' all, but really Ah don' want all that extra stuff," Rogue smiled sweetly at the sales guy who was pushing for her to buy all the extra gear with her new cell phone. He was pretty good at it too, she actually wanted to just splurge and buy it all, but she was keeping herself in check.
"You sure? I mean, this w-."
"Yeah Ah'm real sure darlin'. Ah'm kinda in a hurry," She'd tried being sweet, she'd tried being kind, but now snappish seemed the only thing left for her to do. And it worked. The sales boy sighed and looked a little shocked. She felt bad, sure, but she really didn't feel like hanging out in the Radio Shack all day.
He lead her to the check out counter and rang her up. She had to set down all her bags to get out her credit card from her purse. She'd been shopping all day, getting a jump on Christmas. And this last stop had been a spur of the moment kind of thing. She'd seen a gorgeous cell phone that she just had to have; all rich green with silver sparkles. Sort of a Christmas present to herself.
"Well at least Ah c'n never accuse m'self of bein' a Scrooge," She muttered to herself as she looked at the receipt, arranging her many heavy bags on her arms, while she left the store. "All that cash fer a dang cell phone! Ah swear sometimes Ah'm such a-"
WHAM! Rogue found herself sprawled on the tile floor of the shopping mall, her bags all scattered, her purchases spilling out and strewn all over the floor. She wasn't hurt but it felt like she'd run smack into a wall and bounced off. But it wasn't a wall, oh no. It'd been a person, she could see his shoes and jeans through the curtain of her hair. She shoved her hair back from her face to give him a piece of her mind about watching where he was going, but the words died in her throat.
He was probably 6'5" maybe 6'6", muscular but not bulky, and a handsome face that brought to mind the phrase "all-american good looks". His hair was golden blond, grown just a little long so that stray locks of gold could fall boyishly over his stunning silver eyes. It made her fingers itch to brush those stray locks from his face, right before tangling her hands in his hair and bringing that full mouth, which was smiling at her..God that incredible smile.what she wouldn't do to make him smile at her like that all the time...
She blinked and shook her head. What was the matter with her? She collides with a random guy and suddenly she's all loopy over him? Get a grip River Rat. He's not that good looking.
"I'm so sorry, Miss. I wasn't looking where I was going. Here let me give you a hand up," he said. No this man didn't say things, he purred them. Rogue had just about enough of this ridiculous reaction to this clumsy jerk who could watch where he was going, so she turned up her nose as he offered his hand to her.
"No thanks. Ah c'n manage jus' fine." She started to push herself up when he firmly grabbed her hands out from under her.
"Please. I insist," he leaned in close to her, she could smell his cologne, it smelled faintly sweet and a little tangy. Then he whispered softly, intimately to her, his silver eyes locked onto hers. "Though you're outfit is becoming on you, you're about to reveal more of yourself to the public than I think you'd be comfortable with."
"Oh," was all she could say as her eyes widened in understanding. Her skirt, she'd forgotten about it. Her awkward sprawl had likely left her in a bad position. She wondered if he had seen up her skirt, that could be what prompted him to help her in the first place. She nodded bashfully and let him take her gloved hands, and as he lifted her to her feet she wondered if he liked what he'd seen- Snap out of it!
"Allow me to get you're bags. It's the least I can do," He didn't even give her a chance to turn him down or accept and was already gathering up her bags as quick as you please. Once he had them all, neatly arranged in both arms he graced her with another smile. "I hope I don't sound too presumptuous, but why don't I carry these out for you. They seem like they'd be quite a burden on you."
"An' jus' what is that supposed t'mean?" Her green eyes flashed fire at him. Pig headed ass. How could she ever have thought him attractive? "Ah c'n carry mah own bags, thank ya very much. Ah was doin' jus' fine b'fore ya came along an' knocked 'em outta mah hands."
"That is true, isn't it?" He laughed, the sound so deep and rich and masculine, it seemed to wrap around her body, making her breath catch and her breasts and thighs tingle warmly. She was starting to get very pissed at herself, and this inhumanly gorgeous man in front of her. "Alright how about this? I'll carry half and you carry half. That way you retain your independent-woman dignity and I can retain my reputation as a chivalrous gentleman."
"Alright, fine." She had no idea why she said yes. Well, yes she did. But what was the harm in letting him carry her stuff for her to her car? Not like she was interested in him anyway, well not as a person. And if he were planning on mugging her or kidnapping her he'd be in for a big surprise. Yeah that was a good way to think of him- a potential bad guy disguised as the most delectable man she'd ever laid eyes on, whom she wouldn't mind eating up in slow savoring little bites. "Got a name, Mr. Chivalry?"
"Apollo," that damn smile again! "I know it sounds ridiculous. My mother had a slight obsession with greek mythology. She named me after one of the gods from the myths."
"Well, Apollo, mah car's this way."
