[ussbansheec] Sparks of Attraction

_Unexpected Sparks of Attraction
_by Adam Laughing Eyes & Jubilation Lee


 "Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought. Our brightest
 blazes are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks."--Samuel Johnson


***part two to 'Caramel Apples'
There was something perfectly normal about walking down a strange street in a small town with a complete stranger. Something about doing that made Jubilee's heart skip a few beats. She and Adam walked together quietly though he did exchange greetings with a few of the people they passed, including some of the people in black clothing.
"You know a lot of people here," she finally ventured. "Did you grow up here?"
"Nah, I'm from North Dakota but my dad's from here. I've been here over ten years, though. That help?" he asked.
"So you know a lot of people any way. Do they..." She didn't quite know how to as the question that was sitting on the tip of her tongue. She made a little motion toward his hands. "Has anyone ever..."
"Ah--that." Adam shook his head. "The Amish--they know. Everyone else? Prob'ly not. If they do, nobody's said a thing." 



"Amish?  Those the people in black?"
"Yeah, that's them. The oldest Mr. Byler saw me fishing once an' I kinda startled him. They're lovely people really. Their take on mutation is that it's God's will and who're they t'question Him?," he replied, his eyes looking ahead at nothing in particular. "Mind you, I'm not an adherent of that way but...well, it's nice t'not be looked at like a freak."
Still holding onto his arm, Jubilee looked up at him. She'd heard that wistful tone of voice so many times, both from newcomers at Xavier's and from herself. "No, we're not freaks. We're people alright. Let me guess: you've heard the freak line before."
"Oh yeah. My one sister hates me an', quite frankly, I'm not to fond of her either," Adam snorted. 



"I'm sorry," she said softly.
"Don't be--it isn't your fault an' it's goin' on almost twenty years anyway," he shrugged again.
By then, they'd reached the diner and he held the door open for her. Again, Jubilee noted the charm and manners he displayed, holding them up to Remy's imagined scrutiny. They were, she thought, still standing up pretty well. Hell, he almost sounded like him at times. From behind the counter, a waiter waved at them both. 



"Take where you want, Adam.  Somebody'll be right over."
Jubilee sat opposite him, almost giggling as she realized how very long his legs were. "Awfully tall, aren't you?"
"6'7", just like my dad. My brother's just a hair shorter but he's older'n me. What? Tall men aren't your sort?" he asked with a playful glimmer in his eyes.
She propped her chin on an upraised palm and grinned. "Well, let's see. My father was pretty short and so's Wolvie but Remy's not. You're taller than him though," she began, the same sort of playfulness showing in her tone. "Listen, this isn't just because we're both..."
"No, like I said before: you're cute. You're also pretty. You buy gifts for friends which means you're thoughtful. Oh and you share caramel apples with total strangers. I like you, Jubilation," Adam began. He set a work worn hand on the table, covering one of her hands. "I'm guessin' you aren't in town t'stay but I'd still like t'make a better acquaintance of you. What d'you say?"
The hand was larger than hers but its touch was so gentle. The finger tips were clean except for a hint of what looked like wood stain. "I think I'd like that, too." Suddenly shy, Jubilee felt her face warm and any intelligent thought fly right out of her head. Don't be stupid, Jubes. Say something! "So, um, not married? No kids?"
"Nope, neither and the second's because of the first. I'm kinda old fashioned about that. I do have a niece an' three nephews, though. That's one of the things that stinks 'bout bein' up here. I don't see 'em as much as I want," Adam said, smiling in honor of his niece. "Tessa's a serious terror. I think she's four goin' on fourteen and' she's the apple of Grandpa's eye. Mine, too." 



"Bet ya have pictures on you, too," she said brightly.
"Well, yeah, I do but I'll show you later because I'll never shut up about 'em. What about you? None of any for you either?" he asked. The conversation was interrupted as they each ordered coffee and Jubilee added a piece of chocolate cream pie. "Some fiend must've eaten that apple you were carryin'."
"Some vicious caramel eating fiend," she agreed with a wink. "And no--no kids. None of us have any yet." 



"Who's us?  You got sibs?" he asked.
"My folks died when I was a kid so I really don't have any blood sibs." Jubilee always sounded wistful when she talked about her parents but she didn't realize he'd heard it. She almost jumped out of her skin when he brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. It was a soft touch, a sympathetic one. "It's alright. I have a ton of adopted ones. They're the ones I bought all that stuff for." 



"Like the one who made the sweater?" he asked.
"Mmm hmm. That was Maria but there's Briar and BB and Ilyana and...not too many guys but there's Dom and David and...well, you get the idea. I've been there since I was twenty except now I teach," she explained.
Under any other circumstances, Jubilee would have been starving, definitely ordering more than coffee and pie (which she ended up sharing with Adam), but she found herself too engrossed in talking to her new acquaintance. He didn't complain that she talked too much (at least, he never made any sign that he thought so) and, in her opinion, he had the sexiest accent.
When their snack was gone and paid for, Adam offered to walk her back to his truck. He grinned happily when she agreed. It seemed perfectly natural that, instead of offering her his arm, that he should slip an arm around her shoulders. It wasn't until then that he realized just how slender she was. 



"Getting' chilled?" he asked as she snuggled closer.
"It was nice before but it gets cold awfully quick, doesn't it? You don't mind, do you?" she asked. "I promise not to paff you like I did to Sparky."
Adam chuckled, pulling her a little closer. "Yeah, Sparky wasn't wearin' clothes now was he?"
She humped up at him, giving a playful, sly smirk. "I wouldn't burn you, Adam."
"Oh yeah?" He liked that about her, that she brought out the silliness and playfulness in him. "Just what would you do?"
"Make you see fireworks," she retorted, stopping on the sidewalk directly in front of him. The innuendo sounded bold to her, very bold. Jubilee was outgoing and perky but she wasn't...her face flushed mightily. "If you wanted to that is."
"I think I'd like that very much," he said softly, raising his hand o that his fingers could brush her cheek.
"Do you live nearby?" she asked casually, one slim finger tracing the line of buttons on his flannel shirt.
"Not really but it's a nice place. It's comfortable and quiet." He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing the finger tips lightly. "Come with me?"
She nodded mutely, unable to speak over the butterflies flitting about her stomach. "Don't be a psycho killer or something or a bunch of people will kick your ass," she finally squeaked.
"I am not a psycho killer," he said as he took her hand and started walking again. "I eat caramel apples. I sing when I drive, work, or cook. My niece says I cook as good as her mama and my brother and dad agree. I also speak a whole bunch of languages but I am /not/ a psycho killer."
By then, they'd reached his truck. He opened the passenger door for her and helped her in but Jubilee stopped him from closing the door. "You going to sing for me now?"
"Yeah, I am but," he began, walking around to the driver's side and getting in, "it's not gonna be in English. I do really bad in English."
A moment of indecision struck Adam as they started out. You idiot, you better make good on what just came out your big mouth. Finally, he sniffed in a moment of self deprecation before starting on a song in Ojibwe. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as he drove. Gods but she's perfect! She's adorable, so bright and pretty. He thought over their conversation in the diner which to be honest, it was more a monologue on her part but he hadn't minded. Her voice was a reflection of her: warm and bright.
"That's very pretty," Jubilee said softly when he was finished. "What was it?"
"Ojibwe." He laughed softly. "It's called 'Ojibwe Love Charm'. My dad used t'sing it to my mom an' now he sings it this lady friend. I kinda always wondered if he was singing just t'sing or if he thought it'd work."
"Both maybe. It's sweet," she stated as she let her hand rest on his leg. "Tell him it works though." As much as she could without disturbing his driving, she edged closer and, with a happy sigh, rested her head on his side. 

~~~~~~~~~~
From the outside, the house looked like a log cabin and that, in Jubilee's opinion, was going to suck. Rustic and woodsy was the kind of thing that Wolvie went for her: not her. She supposed though that the welcome mat out front should have given her a clue to the contrary. Adam took her hand and led her inside which was when she gasped in surprise.
"Oh it's beautiful! And you live here all by yourself?" she asked as she took in the country-ish decor. It was by no means the rustic heap she thought it was.
"Mmm hmm. It's quiet enough and the neighbors are a good ten minute walk away in case you're still thinking' I'm a psycho killer," he said, smiling bemusedly as he pointed out a window.
"That wasn't what I was thinking," she said idly, stepping so close that, when she looked up at him, her chin was touching his chest.
"No?" His eyes were sparkling as he rested his arms on her shoulders. "Can I guess then? He moved his arms to settle his hands at her waist then lifted her off her feet until her eyes were level with his. Wrapping an arm around her to steady her, he kissed her, first gently then more insistently, more deeply, as she responded in kind. "Did I guess right?" 

~~~~~~~~~~
She knew he was funny and sweet. She knew he was a good businessman and a talented artist. She also knew that, with one exception, that he loved his family. She didn't know it would all tie up in a man who could set her senses on fire. Who knew he'd laugh in sheer wonderment when he told her nobody had ever made him feel so good.
"/Still /think I'm a psycho killer, Jubilation?" he asked, cuddling her to his side as he stroked her hair.
"Well, you could be but I doubt it," she told him, lazily tracing the lines of his muscles. She giggled when her fingers made sparkles on his skin and when that made him twitch from the tickling sensation. She pressed her cheek to his chest, inhaling the scent of him. "Can I stay tonight?"
Adam's mouth curved into a smile as he kissed the top of her head. "Stay all week if you want. I'll give you a key."
She was too sated and ridiculously happy to think much beyond the fact that she was comfortable and in the arms of a sweet and sexy man. "Good because I'm too comfy to move."

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