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Chapter 10
Maxie stopped in front of the door and lifted a hand to knock but before she could the door swung open.
“Maxie. Everything ok?” Jorlen asked standing in front of her.
She was about to ask how he knew she was at the door when she remembered what he’d said earlier about feeling people. Especially her.
“I guess I’ve just got to get used to that ‘feeling’ thing, huh?”
Jorlen blushed slightly, forgetting that she was yet used to his ways. “Sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize.” Maxie said shaking her head. She didn’t want to offend her newfound brother. “Don’t change just for me, but I guess we both have some things to get used to.” She smiled reassuringly at him.
Jorlen smiled in return. “Yes we do. Please come in.” He moved out of the doorway so that she may enter.
Maxie entered the room and stopped in her tracks. Just inside the door, she encountered a tall, built man that took her breath away. Never had she seen such a man who possessed such beauty. His structure was lean but strong. She could see the outline of his bicep muscles that tightened the shirt he wore. She was close enough to see that his eyes were a dark shade of brown and his lips moist from a fresh lick of his tongue. His sandy colored hair was worn longer than most Antarians and the shine seemed to beg for her fingers to run through the soft looking strands. Her stomach quivered as she looked upon this handsome man.
Lucas in turn scowled at the young woman who’d just entered. But his insides were doing flip flops as his mind tried to register how he could be in total wonder of a female who looked like Max and his best friend. His eyes made a quick trip up and down her feminine form, taking in her luscious curves and bright blue eyes. His eyes locked upon her red plump lips that gapped open a little. He watched, fascinated as her pink tongue slid out between the slit and wet her lips. He felt the blood rush to his neither region and unconsciously fidgeted.
Jorlen stood between Maxie and Lucas was suddenly bombarded with an overwhelming emotion of desire. It swept through his body so quickly that he gasped. This brought their attention to him and the desire calmed and Jorlen’s body was able to relax. Sometimes he really hated his abilities.
Jorlen cleared his throat and acted as if he’d felt nothing. “Maxie…this is my friend Lucas.”
Maxie suddenly eyed Lucas with weariness as she stepped further into the room. She didn’t want Lucas knowing how much his presence was affecting her. She nodded her head at the other man, scared to touch him while her feelings were racing out of control. She composed herself enough and spoke a greeting.
“Jorlen has told me about you.” She was very pleased that her voice did not hold the tremble that her body did.
Lucas bowed his head in respect. “Princess.” His voice was deep and almost a growl.
“Maxie.” Jorlen turned to his sister feeling the tension between the two heighten again. “I did not expect to see you so soon. Is something wrong?”
Maxie tore her eyes from Lucas and looked at Jorlen. “Well, I’m trying to find my brother Dravan. Mother wants to see him before she leaves but I am unable to find him. He is supposed to be with a girl that came with you. I was hoping that you would come with me to look for them.”
“Oh, um…well…” Jorlen said as he felt Lucas’s emotion change a little. It felt almost like jealousy. “I was just on my way out to consult with Tyler about something. But Lucas would be more than happy to help. Dravan is probably with Timberlyn. When you find them, he can escort her back to her parents.”
“I will?” “He will?” Sounded simultaneously.
Jorlen bit back a smile. From what he has learned of Maxie, and what he knew of Lucas, and how their feelings just overwhelmed him, he thought that Maxie was just what his best friend needed. The challenge that Jorlen knew he ached for.
“Yes. You will.” Jorlen said as he was suddenly pushing the two out the door and into the hall.
Lucas and Maxie stood stunned out in the hall looking at the closed door. They were both wondering what had just happened. Maxie finally risked a look at Lucas and found that same scowl upon his face but instead of the door, he was looking at her.
She sighed. “Well, I guess we should get going. I don’t know how long my mother will be able to stay.” She turned and started walking down the hall. She felt his eyes glued to her back but she chose to ignore him.
Lucas stood for a moment still shocked at what Jorlen had just managed to pull. He watched Maxie walk away and was suddenly mesmerized by the sway of her hips and the thought of what they would feel like under his hands. He took a deep breath and let it out in the form of a growl. He was going to get Jorlen for this.
Lucas caught up with Maxie easily and they walked in silence, checking rooms and halls through out the floor before moving to the next level.
Finally Maxie broke the strained silence. “Why are you doing this?”
“I’m looking for Timberlyn. Jorlen was busy so he sent me.” Came his clipped answer. His body was filled with tightness and tension.
“No, I mean why are you here with me? You could easily go in another direction to look for them.” She looked over at him as they continued down a dim hall. “It’s apparent that you don’t like me or trust me.”
Lucas sighed. “I admit that I don’t trust you but I never said that I didn’t like you. I don’t even know you.”
“You don’t have to say a word. I can see it.”
“Oh, so now you are all seeing and can tell me what I’m feeling? I believe that there is only one person here that can honestly do that.” He said through gritted teeth, anger surging through his body. How dare she assume what his feelings were. In fact, dislike was the last thing he was feeling for this dark haired beauty at that moment. Granted, he was against Jorlen getting so close to her too fast. They knew nothing about her and being in a strange land, Lucas was not going to trust anyone but his family for now.
Maxie stopped walking and turned to Lucas. “Do you not think I know the look of dislike when I see it?” She seethed. “I’ve spent my entire life looking into the eyes of a person who is suppose to love me unconditionally only to see cold, emotionless orbs. When on occasion he did show any emotion, it was one of disgust. The person that was supposed to be my father hates me every time he lays eyes upon me because I reminded him of someone he wanted to forget. No matter how hard I tried, what I accomplished, or how good I was at a skill, nothing has changed his opinion of me.”
“Do you think that you are the only one privy to know those things?” Lucas growled. “Do you think that you’re the only one whose life has been filled with despise and controversy? You’re wrong. Yes, I’ve had two loving, wonderful caring parents and a supportive family. However, the view of most of the kingdom was entirely different. I watched how people looked at me while I grew up. In some of these eyes, I saw that cold indifference, the same as you. I went day to day looking at those who gave me those cold glares in the eye, knowing that they thought me inferior to them because I had an extra organ dangling between my legs. No matter how I excelled, they still only humored me because of who sired me. I learned a long time ago, life is not all fun and roses but one has to go with what’s been handed to them. So don’t give me a ‘pity the unloved Princess’ routine. I’m not buying it.”
Electrically charged silence hung in the air as they glared at one another. Their bodies rigid and filled with anger, but it was not really aimed at each other, but at the conflicts their lives had to deal with. Lucas had moved to stand just inches from Maxie as he spoke to her. She was several inches shorter so he looked down upon her.
Simultaniously, Maxie reached up to Lucas while he reached out and pulled her near. Their lips met in a hard, savage kiss. Their tongues dueled fiercely as desire replaced the anger that they felt. Their bodies pressed close together and Lucas was surprised by how well they fit together. Her 5’7” frame seemed to form perfectly to his own 6’1” frame. His hands slid from Maxie’s waist until they cupped her ass and pulled her closer, making his desire for her known. She in turn gasped but continued the kiss, her hands threading themselves into his hair.
After several moments they broke apart, panting and their eyes glazed with desire. Maxie looked up at the man who held her in his arms and she froze. Never had she had these feelings for a person. She knew where they led and she didn’t want to do this. Not here, not now. She wasn’t ready, let alone with some stranger from another land, no matter how breath taking he was. Her hands slid out of the soft texture of his hair until they stopped on his chest. His hard, strong chest. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, resisting the urge to let her hands roam across the muscles. Taking all the strength she could muster, she pushed Lucas away from her and steeled herself from him.
Lucas looked at her and watched the emotions that drifted across her face. He watched fascinated as her bright blue eyes went from a soft, deep blue to a colder, harsher shade.
“Don’t ever do that again.” Maxie said, her voice cold. She turned and started walking off down the hall.
Lucas stared after her stunned. He wondered what the hell had just happened. One minute they were passionately embraced, the next, she was pushing him away and blaming him for the kiss they’d just shared. Frustration bit at his heels as he took off after her. Catching up with Maxie, he took hold of her arm and swung her around, stopping their motions.
“What the hell was…?” Lucas started only to have Maxie shush him, placing her fingers over his lips. He felt the urge to kiss and lick her fingers but the anger at what just happened overrode those feelings.
“Sshhhh…” She said then cocked her head to listen.
Lucas suddenly heard what she was trying to listen for. It was the sound of a piano playing and then it stopped and there was a giggle. Lucas knew that giggle anywhere. Timberlyn was near.
“This way.” Maxie said as she turned and started down the hall again leaving Lucas behind again.
Lucas caught up with her just as she rounded a corner and he heard the piano music louder. He followed Maxie a little further until they came to a door. She slid it open and they both stepped inside. What they saw made them both smile.
The room they walked into was not very large but in the middle was a large black piano. Sitting on the bench were Timberlyn and who Lucas had to assume was Dravan, Maxie’s brother. They were both playing, one on each side of the keys. The music was in time to each other and they were both smiling and laughing. The only thing that bothered Lucas was the closeness that the two sat. Timberlyn didn’t have an older brother to keep watch over her so he and Jorlen had long ago taken up that role. They loved her like a sister and at times, she had them wrapped around her finger and were willing to do just about anything to see her smile.
Maxie was also pleased at what she saw. So much lately, her brother rarely let a smile or even a laugh come to his lips. He was 15 and he seemed angry at the world. Since leaving the Palace, Maxie had tried repeatedly to get Dravan to talk to her but he refused to talk about why he was always so moppy and down. Jason was beginning to worry about him and so were Maxie and their mother.
The two noticed that they had an audience and they stopped. Timberlyn’s eyes widened when she saw Lucas’s scowl that resembled her father’s. She quickly got up off the bench and stepped several feet away from Dravan.
“Lucas.” She said. Her voice was low and she felt as if she’d been caught doing something wrong.
Dravan saw Timberlyn’s reaction and stood also but he went and stood next to her, eyeing the man who’d dared to interrupt them.
“Lucas. This is my brother Dravan.” Maxie said seeing the tension between the three.
At the sound of an unfamiliar female voice, Timberlyn looked over at Maxie. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
“You…you look…” She stuttered, shocked.
Lucas went over to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “She looks like Uncle Max. We know, Kiddo. This is Maxie.” His voice was not harsh but held humor in it at her reaction to Maxie. “Come on, I need to take you to your parents then it’s time for dinner.”
“Can Dravan come with us?” Timberlyn asked. It had been a long time since she’d had a friend her own age. In Pathia, she was always around Lucas, Claudia, and the others. She also really liked Dravan. She was coming up upon her 16th year and it worried her that she would not be able to do her rite of passage here in Antar. She still wasn’t sure if it would be permitted but she felt that she and Dravan really connected with each other. Dravan had told her about his sister and who his mother and father were. They had only met that day but he’d really opened up to her.
“I’m sorry Timberlyn but Dravan must go and see our mother before she leaves.” Maxie said. She saw Dravan’s eyes darken and a scowl etched his face. Lately, every time their mother visited or was even mentioned, Dravan tried his hardest not to see her or talk about her.
“Oh, well, then maybe afterward he can come and meet the rest of my family.” Hope filled her voice as she looked at Maxie.
Maxie smiled at Timberlyn. Just from seeing the smile and hearing her brother’s laughter, she knew that Timberlyn would be good for Dravan. “Sure.”
This brightened Timberlyn’s face. “Ok…well, I’ll see you later Dravan.”
Dravan and Maxie left leaving Lucas to lead Timberlyn back to their family’s rooms. They walked in silence for several minutes before Timberlyn broke it.
“Don’t give him a hard time Lucas. He’s a good guy.”
“Timber…”
“No. I’m almost 16 years old. You can play ‘big brother’ all you want, but don’t you dare try to scare Dravan off.” She looked up at Lucas, her face stern, and her voice hard.
Lucas raised both hands in surrender. “Ok, I get the message, just don’t blame me for what Jorlen does.”
Timberlyn chuckled. “Don’t worry about Jorlen. I’ll take care of him.”
Lucas looked down at the girl who he saw as a sister. She had spunk much like her mother and a stubborn streak like her father. He shook his head and didn’t say a word. He’d let Jorlen deal with her.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Max looked up and found Liz and Alex standing at the door. He saw her stiff, rigid stance and realized that she’d just found him with another female in what he assumed to look like an intimate embrace. He gently eased away from Ava.
“Liz.” His voice was soft and filled with mixed emotions but he somehow kept it even. His love for her grew even more than he could ever believe at that moment. He had known for a long time that Liz was the only woman he ever wanted, and somehow this exact moment seemed to really seal it into place. He had to admit that she was beautiful when her jealousy shined.
Ava turned to the door when she saw that Max’s attention was away from her. Her lips turned down slightly. Silently she observed the one that had claimed Max’s heart, the woman who’d bore his children. Except for their height, they were complete opposites. Ava’s light hair and skin tone paled in comparison to her darkness. Ava decided to hold off any judgment on this woman. Max seemed very happy with her and had had a good life so she would wait and see if she could get to know this foreign Queen.
Liz looked upon her mate’s wife, the woman who her conscious mind was extremely weary of, and noted the closeness between them. She wanted to hate the woman but when she saw the look in Max’s eyes as he looked between the two, she knew that she would probably not be able to hold such a strong emotion toward someone that he held dear. Inwardly she sighed and felt so tired. All she wanted to do was to curl up with Max and fall asleep while he held her close.
“Ava, this is my beautiful Liz.” Max finally broke the silence that filled the room. He could literally feel the air become heavy as the two women gazed upon each other for the first time. He knew that they saw the other as a competitor over his affection but he swore to himself that he would not be put in that position.
Liz bowed her head slightly to the other woman. “Queen Ava.” Her voice was polite but all in the room heard the edge that laced it.
Ava bowed her head addressing another Royal. “Queen Liz.” Her voice was also polite. They both knew the rules enough not to be disrespectful.
Ava turned to Max. “I must go see Jason now. I will see you again when I can.”
Max nodded and smiled. His eyes then turned to Liz and their gazes locked. He did not watch Ava as she left. The room was filled with a tense silence as the two kept their gazes locked, daring the other to be the first to break it.
“Alex, if you would excuse us.” Max said, not taking his eyes from Liz.
Alex cleared his throat and looked back and forth between the two. He was undecided whether he should stay and try to mediate things between them. “Liz?”
“It’s alright Alex. We will see you at dinner.” Liz said dismissing her friend.
They continued to look at each other until they heard the door shut behind Alex. Max was the first to break their gaze. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“Liz I’m sorry about earlier.” Max began. He was now talking to Liz’s back as he watched her turn from him. He saw her shoulders give a little tremble and he knew that she was trying hard not to cry. “I was insensitive about your feelings on this matter. I was so wrapped up in my own shock and surprise that I couldn’t comprehend that others around me are being affected also.”
“It’s alright Max.” Liz said but he could hear the shakiness in her voice. “Ava is your wife. You haven’t seen her in years and just found out you have a daughter.”
Max rushed to her and turned her around. It broke his heart to look down into her dark eyes as tears ran freely from them. Reaching a hand to her face, he used his thumb to wipe away some of her tears.
“Ava is not my wife. You are. You were always meant to be and always will be.” Liz opened her mouth to say something but he continued. “I love you Liz. It is you that holds my heart and my soul. I am nothing without you. Can’t you see that? Haven’t I shown you that in the past twenty years?”
Liz looked at Max, her mate, her love. Tears now ran from his eyes. Guilt filled her nerves. She could kick herself for the doubt she was having. She knew without a doubt that Max loved her. He could have left Pathia years ago but he decided to stay. With her. They were going to grow old together, and see their grandchildren born. They came here to help their son, not because of Max.
“I’m sorry Max. I’ve let my insecurities rule my actions. I should have been here for you to help you through this. Please forgive me.”
Max looked into her pleading eyes and he saw that they had both made mistakes. It wasn’t the first nor would it be the last, but this has just reminded them that the only way that they can get through the trials that are to come is together.
“Let’s just call it even and move on. I don’t want to do any of this alone. Not without you by my side.”
Liz nodded then felt Max’s lips descend upon hers. Their tears mingle as their cheeks met and the kiss deepened. Max drew Liz into his arms and held her close. Liz sighed into their kiss and let her body relax against his. She let the perfect feel of their bodies together push out all other thoughts. Right now, it was Max and Liz. Lovers. Mates. Forever.
Liz felt herself being lifted from the ground and cradled in Max’s arms. She threw her head back as his lips slid down her neck. Gently he laid her on the bed but his embrace never left her. Liz’s hands went to his shirt and began to unbutton it, yearning to feel his skin next to her. She was so engrossed in the feel of his lips and her task of undressing him that she barely realized that she too was becoming unclothed. Within minutes, thanks to years of practice, the two were lying pressed against each other, skin to skin, the heat of their passion engulfing them.
Max turned Liz onto her back and rose above her. She instinctively spread her legs, giving him complete, unobstructive entrance. He kissed her lightly on the lips, his tongue gently sweeping over her lips as he placed the head of his cock right at her opening.
“Max.” Liz pleaded. Her body felt as if it was on fire and if she didn’t have him in her soon, she would explode. Her legs were wrapped around his waist but still he delayed.
Max bent his head and took her mouth in a heated, possessive kiss. He pulled away, leaving her breathless and flushed.
“Mine.” He growled as he thrust deep and hard into her. He grunted as she surrounded him and she let out a pleasure filled cry.
Max’s movements were neither gentle nor slow. He pounded into her with wild abandon as lust, desire, passion, and love all combined. Liz whimpered as pleasure and her own desire flared through her body. Her nails found Max’s back and ran down his scarred skin, leaving a red, welted trail.
“Yes….Max…I…love you…”
“Urgghh…Liz…my…heart…” Max grunted.
Together they climaxed, both crying out as their hunger became sated. Max drew Liz into his arms and held her close and tight.
“I’m never going to let go.” He whispered in her ear as sleep threatened to overtake them.
“Never.” She answered, letting her eyes close and the comfort of Max’s body lead her to sleep.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
“Thank you Larek.” Khivar said to the man sitting across from him. “With this information that you’ve given us, you will have your bride by your side in no time. You are dismissed.”
Larek smiled and rose from the chair. He bowed in respect and left the room. His lips curved into an evil smile as he thought of the power he would wield once he wed and bedded Maximilliana.
Once Larek was gone, Khivar turned to his General, Nicholas. “It’s time to activate our friend in the Resistance. I have the perfect plan to bring my dear Maxie back to us.” He his laugh echoed in the room and an evil glint shone in his eyes.
TBC...