I only read through it once so forgive me. I wanted to thank all of you for the feedback and wanted to let you know that I will make updates on this as often as I can. My goal is to finish it before Christmas, which means there isn't too much left to this story 
and which means I better get writing *lol*In any event, thank you for your patience and I will be back as soon as I can.
Chapter 44
It had been an entire month, and Liz wasn’t sure how much more time away from Max she could handle. He had thrown himself into his work, which didn’t bother her too much, but the fact that she had no idea why he had, did.
Ever since they had found out about the pregnancy, Max had been different. She wished she could just push the thoughts that ran rampant in her mind away, but it was futile.
They hadn’t made love; they hadn’t discussed anything to do with the pregnancy other than if she was feeling well or not. He spent a lot of time with Alexis, which was great, but did she not exist to him anymore? Which of course she knew was absurd, but he kept his distance. Maybe he was afraid of hurting her and that’s why he didn’t initiate love making of any kind.
However, when she did, he simply told her she needed to rest and that he himself was tired as well. He would hold her and kiss her, but that was the extent of their intimacy. She missed him, longed for him and he didn’t seem affected in the least.
Settling back against the cushioned couch, she placed her book down to see how her daughter was doing in the pool. Today was her swimming lesson; she had them three times a week. Liz would catch up on her reading during this time, since after Alexis went off to school, she would straighten the house a bit and then nap on and off. She was so tired most days, she couldn’t remember being this tired while she was pregnant with her daughter.
“Mommy, can you see me?” Alexis asked her voice echoing off the walls loudly.
“Of course I can baby, you are doing so great.” Liz smiled and watched her daughter for a few more minutes. The lesson would only last for an hour and then Liz would finish preparing dinner.
Of its own accord, her mind wandered back to Max and their current stand still situation. Before she met him, it was easy to ignore the natural desires her body had. But ever since he’d showed her how making love could really be, how it should be, she didn’t know how to control her natural urges for him. Max wasn’t the type to go a long period of time without any sex, especially with her and she knew it, but suddenly it was like he flipped a switch and the desire went away.
Maybe she was unattractive to him pregnant. That could be a very big possibility and in lieu of hurting her feelings, he chose to make excuses for not making love to her.
She sighed in defeat; she would never figure it out, which only left one option. To ask him, but she couldn’t do that. She wouldn’t want to read the answer on his face, so she thought…she’d show him how much she still wanted him, and hoped he wouldn’t turn her down.
There was only one problem; she had no idea how to seduce her fiancé. She needed some help and luckily she knew exactly where she could get it.
<center>****</center>
“Max you’re not being realistic here.” Michael was losing his patience for his best friend, and quickly. Funny how Max turning into a concerned, selfless person would irritate him so much. He had known Max had it in him, but now Max wanted miracles to happen.
“What are you talking about? I think it could work,” he retorted coolly.
“You’re serious aren’t you? I thought after a month you would get over this idea that you could have a house, the size you’re asking me for, built in a few months…”
“Eight,” he corrected.
“Whatever, the point is even if you hire a crew of fifty guys to work in shifts for twenty four hours, it’s not going to happen.”
“Why the hell not?” Max placed his hands on his desk and stood. This made no sense, surely if he had a team of guys working on the house day and night it could be done. Why was Michael being so narrow-minded?
It would probably help if he told Michael that Liz was pregnant, but they had agreed to keep it to themselves for the first couple of months, at least until Liz couldn’t hide the pregnancy any longer. Besides Max was trying to give Liz everything, a new house and a wedding before she gave birth.
Michael stood from his place behind Max’s desk, and half sat on his friend’s desk.
“Max, you want a house that’s roughly twenty-four thousand square feet, you realize how big that is right?”
“Of course I do, but it’s smaller than the house we’re in now. I still don’t see the problem.” He let out a defeated sigh. Michael did not look convinced.
“Max, I’m telling you it won’t happen. A house that big, that detailed, will take closer to two years to finish. We could narrow that down to a little over a year but that’s with a serious sized crew. So help me understand why you can’t stay where you are now? It’s big enough right?” he eyed his friend suspiciously, something was going on but he just couldn’t figure it out. Max had been acting funny for a few weeks, and he wasn’t sure how to broach the subject properly.
“I guess it doesn’t matter, since you say it can’t be done.” Max threw himself back into his thick leather chair. Michael let out a little laugh, his friend looked like a kid who’s parent just told him he couldn’t have ice cream before bed.
“What is so funny?” Max grumbled out.
“Nothing, but you are so damn spoiled. You need to get over it. Now tell me the truth, and don’t give me this bullshit, you think it’s too big. That’s not going to fly with me right now.” Michael settled back in his chair, and crossed his arms, daring Max to lie to him again.
He knew if Liz found out she would be upset with him, but it was taking all of his power to lie to Michael day in and day out, or rather keep such a big secret from him.
“Mike, the reason why I’m trying to rush things to get them done is because I am on a time frame.”
“A time frame?”
He nodded. “Yes, because…Liz and I…actually just Liz, but she’s pregnant…with twins.” Max couldn’t keep the smile from his voice or his face at that point.
Michael however sat frozen in place. “Liz is…you and she are going to…” he was speechless and Max simply nodded his head in affirmation.
“Twins! Can you believe it? Look whatever you do don’t tell her I told you, we wanted to wait a while longer before we shared it with anyone.” Max went on to explain hoping that Michael wouldn’t be upset about him keeping such an important thing from him.
“No, of course. But wow! Max I knew you had it in you, congrats.” Michael stood and walked around his friends’ desk, pulling him up for a quick hug.
“Thanks. Now you see why I’m trying to get things done?”
“I do, but Max, I’m sorry it’s not going to work. I hope you have a backup plan.”
“Of course I do, but I’m not happy about it at all.” Max pulled open his top drawer, grabbing his keys he explained they needed to go for a little ride.
<center>****</center>
The next day, Liz saw Max off to work and put Alexis on the bus. Now she was dressed and ready to go shopping. Luckily it was Friday, which meant that Serena would fly in that morning. Liz had made plans to pick her up from the airport, in lieu of Kyle sending over a car. She was a little apprehensive in calling Serena to help her with her current situation, but with Maria working the oddest of shifts at the hospital it left Liz with little alternative.
Serena was Max’s sister, how could she thoroughly explain the situation without it getting completely inappropriate? It didn’t matter, and it was too damn late to change her mind.
Liz paced the airport corridor waiting for Serena’s arrival. That morning she had a glass of orange juice and some toast, and suddenly it decided it wasn’t happily content in her stomach and she quickly dashed for the nearest restroom.
A few minutes later her cell phone rang, and she prayed it wasn’t Max. She didn’t want to lie to him even if it was a little white one. She looked at the caller ID screen and saw it was Serena.
“Hey, are you here?” she asked over the phone.
“Yes, I should be there in about five minutes. I already called Kyle and let him know I had a few errands to run so he wouldn’t be altered to anything.”
Liz smiled. “Good, see you in a few.” After hanging up the phone, she looked through her purse in hopes of finding a brush. She looked a fright and needed to compose herself enough so that Serena wouldn’t think to ask if anything was wrong.
She knew that Serena would be so happy to find out she was going to be an aunt again. Liz couldn’t help but smile at the conversation she’d had with Serena after Alexis’ birthday. Serena was so happy and proud and told Liz if she ever needed anything she would be there without question for her and her daughter.
After fixing herself up and applying a small dab of lip-gloss, she existed the restroom and as soon as she did she spotted Serena.
“Hey stranger!” Serena dropped her bag and threw her arms around Liz.
“How was your flight?” Liz asked as they walked through the airport towards the parking garage.
“It was bumpy, but I’m so used to it. Although, the guy next to me was sick as a dog. It was actually pretty entertaining.” Serena smiled and let out a little laugh.
“You and Max have a weird sense of humor,” Liz said shaking her head in amusement.
“How is my brother doing?” she asked as they made their way outside. It was a bit breezy but it felt better than the stagnant air on a plane.
“He’d working himself to the ground. You know the usual.” Liz laughed and they continued out of the airport in light conversation.
<center>****</center>
“Are you taking Liz there tonight?” Michael asked as they pulled up to the job site for the day. They had a few job sites to check up on and after that they had to give some estimates for three new homes to be built.
“I am, after we have dinner.” Max sounded somewhat distant and Michael usually let him mull over his own thoughts, but he could tell something was on his friends mind that he wanted to talk about.
“What’s going on?” he queried lightly as he pulled the keys out of the ignition.
“You first.”
“What?”
Max turned to his friend, he knew Michael had something on his mind for a few weeks but he’d neglected to ask, as a good friend should have.
“You’re worse at lying than I am, and you know it. So what’s going on with Maria?”
He shrugged and looked out his windshield, his eyes narrowing from the reflection of the sun off the hood of the car. “She told me she loved me and I just froze. She’s not really happy with me right now.”
Rather than ask why Michael didn’t reciprocate the sentiment to his girlfriend, Max went to the heart of the matter, because for Michael the how and the why were completely insignificant.
“You love her too.” It was a statement, but Michael nodded anyway.
“I know you have a problem dealing with your feelings, but if she loves you then that means two things.”
“Yeah what?” Michael turned to face him.
“First of all you took my advice to find time to spend with her, no matter the amount of time. And two you need to get your head out of your ass and apologize and tell her how you feel. I won’t lie, it’s the best damn feeling in the world, hearing those words.” Max admitted, trying not to allow the conversation to grow too deep. However it seemed Michael needed more of a push.
“How,” he shuffled in his seat uncomfortably before proceeding. “How did you feel when Liz said it?”
Taking this as a serious moment, probably one of only a handful he and Michael had shared in their lifetime together, he chose his words carefully.
“I fell in love with her and I never thought it was possible, but she loved me back. I thought I was completely incapable of being loved by someone like her. And Alexis thrown in the mix, I was terrified. I was terrified that I would mess them both up, that I wouldn’t do anything right and I sure as hell didn’t know how to make them happy. This was me, Max Evans, trying to settle down and think of someone besides myself and my happiness.” His voice was still filled with the disbelief that it was actually possible.
“So you were sweating bullets?”
“Hell yes! It’s the scariest thing but the best thing that’s ever happened to me all at the same time, if that makes sense.” Max looked at his friend and noticed the change in his demeanor.
“Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I don’t want to fuck this up. You have been my only family for as long as I can remember, letting her in was really hard but what if…” he looked away, the conversation was getting too heavy. He should have never started it up to begin with.
Max realized how uncomfortable Michael was, he could understand, a guy being sentimental was just not comfortable to two men like themselves. Taking a moment to compose his thoughts he looked away and spoke.
“It’s a chance you have to take, but if she’s worth it then no matter what happens in the future, you have right now. It’s your life to make the most of, don’t waist it because you’re unsure of the future. If you love her, love her now, love her with everything you have and if in the end it doesn’t last forever, you can at least say you loved someone once. Some people never get the chance to say that.” Max gave a small nod before exiting the car and letting Michael have his time alone to think.
<center>****</center>
“I could never wear that!” Liz hissed at the outfit Serena brought into the dressing room. She had tried on what seemed like twenty pieces of lingerie but hated every single one of them.
“Why not? Liz, I’m sure Max has a big appetite, I think he’ll be very happy with this.” Serena said unabashedly.
“Serene, you’re his sister, don’t you…I don’t know…”
“Oh you mean, why doesn’t it bother me to know about my brother’s sex life? I guess because this is all new to me and I don’t know what’s okay and not okay to talk about, so I make the rules up as I go. Besides, I’m helping you, my friend with her fiancé. I don’t care that he’s my brother, then again it could have a lot to do with the fact that I have no shame and will talk about any and everything,” she let out a laugh at Liz’s shocked face.
“Liz, come on! I’m helping you, now try this on.” Serena pushed the garments at Liz and smiled in satisfaction when she grabbed them and slammed the dressing room door.
Liz tried to get herself into the outfit, but she wasn’t quite sure what to do with most of the pieces. The bra, she had no problems with, it was the rest of it that she did.
“I don’t think it fits!” she shouted over the door.
“Let me see,” Serena offered.
“No!” Liz hissed. Serena could not see her, it was clearly obvious she either gained weight or was pregnant.
“Please, it’s nothing I haven’t seen.” Serena said already pushing the door open, before Liz had a chance to close it.
Quickly she turned and covered herself. She was standing in a pair of black panties and the white bra that came with the outfit she was trying on.
“Well the bra looks great. Let’s see about these stockings and garter. How do you feel about a corset?” Serena asked already pulling the garter from the seat in the corner, where Liz had obviously thrown it.
“I don’t think a corset would be good.” Liz let out a sigh and turned. Serena hadn’t noticed, and if she did she didn’t say anything as she helped her with the other pieces.
“There! Now once you get home you can put on these cute white panties.”
Liz looked at herself in the mirror; she had to admit she did look sexy.
Sexy enough for Max?
She hoped so.
“Do you think I should wear white? Maybe black, or red, aren’t those sexier?” Liz asked pushing her hair back away from her face.
“You’re kidding right?” Serena looked in the mirror at Liz in disbelief.
“What?” she asked in confusion.
“Liz, despite your age and the fact that you have a six year old daughter, you look like a teenager. Well, maybe a little older, but not much. I mean you’re beautiful but come on, clearly you see it!” Serena watched the confusion grow even deeper in her future sister-in-law’s’ face.
Shaking her head she pushed Liz’s hair back over her shoulders and pointed out the things she obviously didn’t see, but that her brother clearly saw.
“You have a clear complexion, creamy skin, a petite little body, perky breasts, an adorable nose and a great smile. Not to mention the beauty marks scattered all over and big round brown eyes. Add all that up together and you get every guys fantasy.” Serena stepped back and allowed Liz her time.
Was Serena right? Was that what Max saw when he looked at her? No…could it? Persuing over her reflection in the mirror, a small smile tugged on her lips. Now she understood why Serena chose the color white. It was pure, it was flirty and it gave the appearance of innocence.
Turning around with a bright smile, Liz wrapped her arms around Serena in thanks.
“You are very welcome. Now I think my brother has enough money to buy you a couple more things.” Serena offered Liz a wink and a smile before leaving the dressing room promptly to find a few more choice items to complete their shopping excursion.
<center>****</center>
“Daddy, I wanna stay here with you and mommy!” Alexis had fussed for the second time since she’d been told that Serena and Kyle were going to pick her up to go watch a movie and have dinner.
“I know you do, but mommy and I have something we need to take care of. Besides I thought you liked to spend time with them?”
“I do, but…” Ever since Max had legally become Alexis’ father, she’d been even more attached to him. Liz had explained it was probably because she was afraid of losing him; so he took extra care to do something with her every night before bed, just the two of them.
Max lifted her in his arms and kissed her cheek before shifting her against his hip. “Now, tomorrow mommy and I are going to have a surprise for you. Tonight mommy and I need to do some things so we need you to be a good girl and have a good time tonight. Can you do that?” he asked and smiled when she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Yes I can. Is it a secret?” she whispered.
“It is and tomorrow we will tell you about it too.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course.”
“Mommy looks really pretty.” She whispered out to him as they stood at the base of the staircase and she looked up.
Max turned and saw her descending the stairs and couldn’t help the tightness that formed in his chest. Not being with her was wearing at him, and now she looked like an angel, and he hoped his willpower held out to get him through the night.
Swallowing thickly he smiled at her.
“You look so beautiful,” he said as he kissed her cheek.
“Thank you handsome. Now is my baby girl ready to have fun tonight?” Liz turned to her daughter. Max was burning a hole through her and it would take all her control to not drag him upstairs to their bedroom.
“I am mommy!”
“You ready to go?” She turned back to Max who was watching her every move but still hadn’t answered her.
“Daddy! Mommy is talking to you!” Alexis helped out and it seemed to work because Max snapped back to reality in that instant.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
<center>****</center>
“Max, can I look now?” She couldn’t bite back her smile.
“No, just one more minute. Stop being so impatient!” He placed his hand at the small of her back and helped her up the stairs. He hoped she liked it, he did, but he wanted it to be perfect for her.
“Okay, but hurry!” she giggled and he couldn’t help but laugh. Taking her hand in his, he stopped her at the top step and pressed a cold object into her hand.
“Open your eyes, Liz.” He held his breath for her first reaction.
She did, and she looked down at the silver key in her hand and then up at his face.
“Wh—” And then her eyes grew wide. She was standing in front of two solid oak wood doors and she had a key to them.
“Is this?” she hedged on softly.
“Yes it is, if you want.” He watched her closely as she nodded her head and tried the key. The clock clicked and she reached for the doorknob with a shaky hand. He reached out and closed his hand over hers.
“Liz…”
“Don’t say anything,” she whispered out as she pushed the door open. He flipped the light switch on next to the doors and heard her gasp.
The house was exquisite. It was simple in design, yet grand in its enormity. Her eyes roamed the long corridor, the staircase at the end of it, and the sparkling wood floors that lay before her. She walked further inside, to take in the living area with a grand fireplace, and massive windows that filled the room from floor to ceiling.
They continued through each room, from the kitchen, to the bedrooms, the pool and then made their way outside where the view alone was enough to take her breath away. It was lakefront, with a garden that was completely lit and flourishing.
Max stood directly behind her, assessing her reactions and thus far things seemed to be going better than he expected, but it wasn’t until she finally turned around to face him did he truly understand the impact it had on her.
With tears streaming down her face, and one of the brightest smiles he’d ever seen, she jumped in his arms.
“It’s amazing! And so beautiful and perfect! Is it ours?” she asked after peppering his face with kisses. Max reared his head back to look at her.
“It’s ours and I know some of the rooms need to be fixed up but we have plenty of time for that.”
“Max,” she was getting all choked up again, as he placed her back to the ground, she looked up and saw the house. It was magnificent. It was older, and it held so much character, it was everything she wanted and more.
“I love you, Liz. I wanted you to have the perfect house, and since I can’t give you the one we originally wanted, when I saw this one,” he motioned towards the house behind them, “I thought of you.”
“Well I love it, and I love you.” She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips, shivering at the feel of his warm hands on her back and the feel of his warm body pressed up against hers.
“How about we go back inside?” he asked as they pulled away. She didn’t want to leave that spot but she still had her surprise for him waiting at home.
“Sounds good. Thank you, Max. Thank you for everything,” she didn’t know how else to express her feelings.
“I know but it could never compare to what do you for me.” He pulled her to his side as they made their way back inside.
<center>****</center>
What the hell was she doing in there? He lay in bed waiting for Liz to come out of the bathroom. He’d asked her if she was sick, but she assured him that she was perfectly fine.
His mind wandered as he waited about the evening and how it turned out so well. Now all he needed to do was work with her to find a place to get married. He couldn’t wait to marry her.
A moment later her heard the click of the bathroom door and then saw her, his breath rushed from his body instantly. However, his body came to life, quicker than he could ever remember it doing so.
How the hell was he supposed to resist her wearing those tiny white scraps of material? He sat up on the bed, and tried not to stare, but he couldn’t help it! She was trying to kill him and it was working.
She was nervous, her heart was thrumming harshly against her chest and her palms were sweaty but she did exactly as Serena had instructed her.
“Max, I need to ask you something.” She crossed the room and kneeled at the edge of the bed. She tried to calm her nerves but when he licked his lips and wouldn’t meet her gaze, she knew she had him and it excited her.
“Are you listening?” He shook his head from the fog that clouded every single nonsexual thought.
“Y-yeah. What did you need to ah…uhm…ask me?” She moved closer and he leaned back fully against the headboard.
“Why don’t you…” she bit her lip nervously, he didn’t look like he wanted her to move closer. She felt the excitement deflate instantly. She was reading him all wrong.
“Yes?”
“Never mind,” she mumbled out, shrinking from the bed and standing up.
“Where are you going?” he asked almost too quickly.
“I was just going to change.”
“Why the hell would you do that?” he asked in confusion.
She shrugged her shoulders and tried to cover herself. Like lightening it hit him, of course he’d known he was neglecting her in that way but thought it was best to wait until after the pregnancy. He didn’t want anything to go wrong, had he miscalculated his attempts?
“Max…”
“Liz, come here.” He pulled back the sheets and reached out a hand to her. She quickly took it and curled up next to him.
He pulled her up and over to straddle his lap. Taking his time, he ran his hands up her arms and over her shoulders. He cupped the back of her head and pulled her down to kiss her. She melted against him and he couldn’t contain his smile. Their lips rubbed together softly at first and then he slid his tongue between her lips, licking her before the delicious intrusion.
Liz moaned softly into his mouth, and couldn’t help the way her body ground against his. He slipped his hands up her back and pulled her down against him fully. With their bodies completely aligned she could feel his arousal press tightly against her inner thigh.
“Liz,” he panted, ripping his lips from hers.
“Yes?”
“Is this okay? I mean…I…” he tried to form a full sentence, but the feel of her warm, soft body against his was driving him mad. He would stop if she told him to, but God he didn’t want to.
“Do you want me still?” she asked softly.
“I never stopped, why would you say that?” he asked, pushing her hair away from her face. She’d adverted her eyes and he didn’t like it.
“Tell me, baby.”
“You haven’t touched me since we found out I was pregnant. I thought you just didn’t want me because…” His lips over hers muffled the remainder of her sentence, how could he have misjudged things so badly to make her think he didn’t want her?
He would make up for it right now.
“Forgive me. I was afraid I would hurt you or the babies, but don’t ever think I don’t want you.” He kissed her again; this time there was nothing soft about it. He took her mouth roughly, dragging his lips over hers until she gasped out for air. Taking her waist in his hands he pushed her into a sitting position.
“You have no idea how much I’ve wanted you. I think you want to send me to an early grave with that outfit though,” he winked at her and she blushed.
“Do you like it?” she asked and his hips thrusting up to hers answered that question, loudly.
“I think that answers the question, but incase you need more proof,” he said before he slipped his hands over her backside, successfully grinding her against his arousal.
“You look too damn sweet for me to do anything with,” he growled capturing her lips in another heated kiss.
“That was the plan.” She smiled against his lips as his hands roamed her body.
“I don’t think I want you out of this,” he said as he pulled her up a little higher against his chest.
“I don’t think I can wait,” she whispered against his ear, and that was what he needed to push his control over the edge. His hands and mouth were everywhere, her lips, her neck, and her breasts. His lips and tongue feasted on her warm, creamy skin.
When he’d heard her moans and gasps come in short pants, he knew he couldn’t wait to have her. Reaching between them, he pulled the lace separating them to the side and entered her slowly. He clenched his teeth as he felt her body stretching to accommodate him.
“Max,” she whispered out as she settled completely against his lap, he didn’t move and it was slowly driving her mad.
“Please,” she begged and watched as he licked his dry lips.
Max obeyed her plea and leaned up to wrap his arms around her. He watched her as he made love to her. Her eyes were closed, her lips were dry and parted, her chest heaving with the force it took to take breaths. His eyes traveled lower, to where they were joined and he wondered if she knew how perfect she was for him. And then higher they moved and he couldn’t help but move one of his hands to the bump on her belly that seemed to grow by the day.
“Max,” she whispered out and their eyes met that next instant. He took in her flushed features, her warm body moving deliciously over his, and closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. He reveled in the feel of the warm puffs of air leaving her sweet mouth and brushing against his cheek, the smooth movements of her taking him in and out of her body, her body tensing in preparation as he struggled to hold out for her.
He opened his eyes, meeting hers passionately. “I love you,” he said as his body grew tight, holding…holding…and then released at the exact moment hers did.
With their eyes still locked and their breaths still mingling, their long serrated moans filled the room.
Max quickly pulled her into a fierce hug, feeling as though she might disappear if he didn’t. He struggled to control his breathing, even as hers seemed to be calming. They lay silently, not a word until his next thought burst from his lips.
“Marry me, Liz.”
“I already told you I would.” She leaned up and searched his face for an explanation.
“No, marry me, now. I don’t want to wait, Liz. I can’t.” He shook his head trying to explain what he wanted and then he saw the recognition on her face. She smiled brightly.
“I know the perfect place.” She snuggled up against his chest.
“Really? Where?” he asked, running his hands through her damp hair.
“Our new home,” she leaned up and looked to him for approval, and she received just that, with his kiss.
TBC…
Okay...so here goes the next part. I wanted to thank all of you for the feedback...and for your patience between parts! Hope you enjoy!!
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