Winner - Round 1
Kiss the Flame
http://www.roswellfanatics.net/archive/ ... 15984.html
Rope the Wind Parts 1-22 (WIP)
http://www.roswellfanatics.net/archive/ ... 27326.html
Title: Rope the Wind: Sequel to Kiss the Flame
Couple: Who else?? M/L of course!
Rating: Ya’ll know me…probably just Teen, but who knows?
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything Roswell, GH, M/L, J/B
Summary: Sequel to Kiss the Flame. Seriously complicated so it really would be best to read that one first. BUT…Max has asked Liz (Kendall) to marry and she said yes, then proceeded to disappear to L.A. to start a brand new life under the name Rachel Harris.
Hey all!!!
Wow. I know it's been forever. I am soooo very sorry about that. The GOOD news (hopefully) is that I have the next chpt almost done so it should be out soon. To kinda recap since I've not reposted all previous chpts...Max and Liz kinda set each other up at the office and Max was going to give her a surprise evening. I will explain what happened at the office, but thought it might not be such a bad thing to jump into the evening portion since there is so much to cover. I hope that it's not confusing for you and that you enjoy. As always would LOVE to hear what you think and if you want me to continue. Your support and patience is...way beyond. I can't tell you 'thanks' enough. Hope you enjoy!!!
Hugs,
Ashton
p.s. If you need the previous chpts, they are all on my egroup list at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMDreamerFanfiction/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ chapter 23 ~
Max merely smirked at Liz and leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head. "Ms. Harris, met Father O'Neil. He's here to conduct your wedding…"
"My WHAT?" Liz practically yelled as she forgot all about trying to cover herself. Her hands hit her hips in instant anger. "To who?"
A blank expression was Liz's response only seconds before Max lowered another bomb. "Why…to Mark Barton, of course…"[/I]
Vaughn's mouth dropped open. "You're kidding."
"Mike, my friend, it looks like Duke here just won your 'balls of steel' title." Eric Weiss piped up as his admiring gaze shifted to Duke. "I can't believe you just walked in on them like that."
"I can't believe you're still alive." Steve threw in as he punched Duke's arm playfully.
Holding his hands up, Duke began to grin. "Hey, I told you it was a close call. The wedding angle was a stroke of genius that Max just came up with on the spur of the moment." He began to chuckle. "I have to admit, it couldn't have gone any better if Max and I had weeks to plan this."
A little more cautious in his praise then his companions, Mike's green eyes narrowed with protective concern. "And uh…how exactly did Liz react?"
Duke's grin was bright as his eyes began to twinkle. "Let's just say whatever frustrations Max had before I walked in, he definitely worked them off with the 'discussion' that followed." Chuckle escaping him, Duke shook his head and let out a sigh. "I'll tell you now, you'll never know the meaning of the word 'explosive' till you actually watch Max and Liz go head to head in battle…"
"Mark? MARK?" The pitch of Liz's voice hit an all-time high as she furiously flipped her hair behind her shoulders, her blazing eyes boring into Max's. "Just who the hell do you think you are?"
Lips twitching with amusement, Max shrugged nonchalantly. "Max Evans last time I checked. Then again, maybe you know something I don't." Lowering his voice, the seductive shift of his tone sent a rush of heat straight into Liz's cheeks as his eyes openly raked over her. An added wink caused her chest to hitch in anger as desire shot through her with that one simple gesture. His eyes met hers knowingly when his hands began lightly caressing her silky smooth legs. "You are, after all, the one sitting, oh so provocatively, on my lap."
"Jackass." Exasperation rippled through Liz's body as she pushed Max's roaming hands away and swiftly, smoothly emptied his lap. She began to storm out of the room and Duke fully expected to hear the slamming of the door behind her nicely retreating form.
Max held up three subtle fingers of delay in Duke's direction and winked. Each finger disappeared in time to the mouthed words "three, two, one" as a smirk of victory haunted Max's lips when what he silently predicted became reality.
Surprised by Max's accuracy in anticipating his beautiful opponent's next move, Duke watched with growing interest as Liz reached the door, stopped abruptly, spun around and marched straight back to Max's side. Hands on hips, her entire focus was the antagonist in front of her, having completely forgotten anyone else. Including the 'priest'. "You know what? You are without a doubt the most intrusive, meddling, annoying, exasperating, presumptuous…"
Holding up a restraining finger in response to Liz's string of accusatory adjectives, Max quirked an eyebrow at her seeing the word her mouth was getting ready to form. "Now, now. Watch the bad language. We do have a priest here in case you forgot."
A flicker of embarrassment raced through Liz's eyes before she did something entirely unexpected. Instead of falling all over herself with apologies…she enlisted the priest's help. Addressing Drake while never taking her hands off her hips or her eyes off her target, Liz's eyes darkened with a challenge. "Tell me, Father…is the word 'jackass' in the Bible?"
Duke shot Max a look, but Max wasn't paying attention. He was too focused on the fireball standing in front of him. Too mesmerized by her glare. Too enchanted by the angry flush spreading across her cheeks. With no obvious help forthcoming from his fearless leader, Duke cleared his throat and nodded. "Uh…yes, yes, actually it is."
An eyebrow of triumph raised. "And isn't one of the Ten Commandments 'Thou shall not lie'?"
"Uh…well, technically its 'Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor' but yes, that is what it means."
Victory danced in her dark eyes. "See? It can't be bad language if it's in the Bible. And I'm only telling the truth. Pure and simple." A deliberate insult instantly fell from her lips. "But what would a manipulating liar like you know about that?"
From his station near the corner of the room, Duke plopped into a chair, leaned back and prepared to enjoy the show. And what a show it was…
"Manipulating liar." Max repeated. He winced dramatically. "Ouch." A dark eyebrow raised as Max imploringly held his hand out to Liz, a small pout beginning to pucker his lips. His long lashes batted a few times resulting in the age-old puppy dog look. "Oh, come on, now. You know you don't really mean that. Especially after last night..."
"Last night?" Liz's eyes began to glow with fury. "Last night?!" Leaning forward, Liz's voice lowered dangerously. "Last night, I was drunk. Last night, I didn't know what I was doing. And I certainly didn't know the man I let into my bed. But I can tell you with increasing certainly that it wasn't you! **That's** for sure!"
"No?" A small smirk floated over his lips. "Because I seem to remember waking in heaven with an angel wrapped in my arms. One that looked a lot like you. Granted, this particular angel could double for the devil anytime she wants given her wandering hands and addictive kisses. Not to mention her most recent penchant for romantic interludes in locked offices…"
Seething, Liz ignored Max's obvious baiting and pulled in a ragged breath, answering his previous question. "The man in my bed last night was kind and sweet and gentle. He cared enough about me to not take advantage of me or…or play games. He held me and protected me. Even from myself. He made me feel safe and wanted. And now you…**you** want to push me off onto the first stranger that strolls into your path!"
Still enjoying the upper-hand of surprise that he obviously held, Max leaned back and laced his fingers together behind his head before propping his feet back up on the desk. When he spoke, his tone was a tad on the condescending side. "Mark is hardly a stranger, Kendall. He's Jaedan's father. A man that you admitted to being in love with just last week. Someone you say you're committed to." A dramatic sigh and a shrug of his shoulders. "Then again, that didn't seem to stop you from trying to jump me last night. Or this morning, for that matter."
Letting out a groan of frustration, Liz ran her fingers through her hair. "Why are you doing this to me?"
"Doing what?" The innocent question only fueled Liz's rage.
"This…this…" Hands flying furiously in the air, her stutter was adorably cute. Duke had to bite down on the inside of his cheek to keep his laughter from interrupting the entertaining show. "…this wedding you've planned for me. I mean, come on, Max…what is so damn important about getting me married off? Do you think I am so utterly pathetic that I need someone to plan every second of my life even down to who I marry and when?"
"Is that what I'm trying to do?"
"Aren't you?" Her retort was as heated as the fire blazing in her eyes. "First, you propose, then you follow me here to propose again. And now…now this! A marriage to a man that doesn't even…" 'Exist' echoed in her mind a split second before finding its way to her voice. Liz bit down on her lip, abruptly stopping the disastrous confession.
Max instantly picked up on the unfinished sentenced. His eyes narrowed and his heart began to pound. He'd trapped her sooner than he thought and now, it was going to be fun to see her wiggle her way out of it. "A man that doesn't…what, Kendall?"
Frantically trying to remember the story she'd told Max about Mark, Liz spat out the most obvious reason. "That isn't free!" She took a step forward, righteous indignation racing through her eyes. "You do remember, don't you, that I told you Mark was married? Not to mention the other reasons we've kept our relationship such a secret."
"Ohhhh. Right. His career and…" Nodding in feigned remembrance, Max pursed his lips. "…national…"
"…security." Liz ended for him. She crossed her arms with an air of triumph. "Exactly. So, you see…no matter what you've planned, Mark and I simply can't get married."
Another pause.
Duke leaned forward in his chair, lapping up the energy sparking in the room. Waiting on the edge of his seat to see exactly how Max was going to pull this off. And of course, what her explosive response was bound to be.
As Max's mind was in constant motion, it only took a second to find a proper counter. Face brightening with a smile, Max shrugged away her reasons. "All taken care of." He continued, not missing the utter panic that raced through Liz's expression. "Mark and I talked it all out. We're both very powerful men with extensive resources so security is no longer an issue. As for his career, he's been dying to leave his position for a while now. I was able to convince him that private life is so much more appealing…and lucrative. And it seems you were entirely correct about his feelings regarding his wife. Their divorce was finalized yesterday."
"Oh." Liz's instantly knees turned to jello. Her brain froze. All the fight left her body.
Deflated. Stunned. Blinking slowly, she absently sank down into the chair behind her. Though, honestly, the position of the chair was the furthest thing from her mind. She would have undoubtedly landed on her butt had the chair not been there. As Liz tried to wrap her mind around the latest turn of events, curiously, something else was missing instead. That little thing we, the living, like to call fresh air.
It became absolutely suffocating in the room. Hot. Oppressive. Liz's head started to spin. Large black dots discoed in front of her eyes. Her chest tightened with a searing chill. Before Liz knew what was happening, her breaths came in short, frantic gasps. Waving her hands in the air, Liz's eyes were wide with panic. "C-can't…c-c-can't…b-b-b-re-breath."
Amusement at Liz's obviously overwhelmed reaction to his news swiftly turned to concern when Max realized Liz was hyperventilating. His face paled instantly. Opening and slamming desk drawers, Max's frantic gaze flitted across the room when his search came up empty. Duke instantly shot out of his seat to join the search. Turning to a side table, reaching deep inside a barely used drawer, Duke retrieved a brown paper bag and rushed toward Liz with it. Max sidestepped the desk and snatched it out of his hand, waving him back.
Duke backed off. The protective fire flashing in Max's eyes said it all: this was **his** girl. **He** would take care of her.
Falling to his knees in front of Liz, Max stuffed the bag into her hands and guided the opening to her mouth. "Ok, hon…breathe deep. Long, slow, and deep." Gazing intently into Max's eyes, Liz attempted to follow his orders as Max nodded his encouragement while he gently, reassuringly rubbed her back. "That's it, sweetie. There you go. Just keep breathing slow…"
But now…Liz Parker couldn’t breathe for an entirely different reason. It wasn’t because of the shock. It wasn’t because there was no air. It wasn't because she was hyperventilating. It was because…
The absently reassuring brush of Max's fingers against Liz's bare back was setting her skin on fire. Sizzling. Searing. Scorching. Wherever skin touched skin, Liz felt a bolt of penetrating lava shoot straight to her gut. As her hair got unconsciously tangled in his fingers, chills shivered down her spine. She watched his lips form a perfect 'O' as he absently breathed right along with her. Long. Slow. Deep. Shutting her eyes against the sight, those three words drummed out a perfect rhythm as visions invade her mind. Visions of those lips doing the most wicked things in the most intimate of places. And fantasies of his body mimicking the cadence pulsating through her body...
As color flared in Liz's suddenly flushed face and her breathing, though still erratic from an entirely different form of stimulus, began to settle, Max took his own first real breath since her crisis began. The relief in his eyes was evident until her eyes, ebony with indescribable hunger and pervasive fear, met his. Max's own breath caught in the middle of his chest. The sheen of desire in her eyes was dazzlingly enchanting. The tremor in her touch when she deliberately pushed his hand away, staggering. And when Liz gulped a few last slow breaths, removed the bag from her face and glared at him, her voice low and intense, Max Evans got a glimpse of his unintended affect on her. And the lengths she'd go to keep him from knowing. "Don't…you…dare…'sweetie'…me…"
Max cracked a smile.
Duke bit back a chuckle.
Liz squared her shoulders for battle.
So did Max.
Flashing her a smile, Max resumed his game, confident the crisis was over. His eyes began to twinkle with teasing. "You know I've heard of cold feet and wedding jitters, I just never expected them in the form of hyperventilation."
Rolling her eyes in exasperation she tossed the bag onto Stephanie's desk, stood and pushed her way past Max heading straight toward the window behind the desk. A million questions crammed into Liz's brain. Why he was doing this to her? Did he really want her married off to some other guy? What exactly was up his sleeve because it was pretty obvious he was up to something? Especially since she knew for a fact there was no Mark Barton.
Or was there?
Eric. Of course. He must have shown up and Max ran into him before Eric ever made it to Liz's office. Naturally, he would have gone with their established plan and introduced himself as Mark Barton. Which was perfect. At least he was on her side. They could easily come up with a plan for this newest curve ball Max had thrown. And if worse came to worst, pretending to marry Eric wouldn't be that awful. In fact, it might work best to her advantage. It would never be legal and she could get Max to back off...
But until she could get a moment alone with Eric, she'd have to do her best to halt this dreadful wedding plan in its tracks.
Crossing her arms in front of her, her gaze was steady with determination. "For your information, I am not getting married. Not today. And certainly not because you say so."
Sliding into the seat Liz had just vacated, Max leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees. His penetrating gaze settled on her back as she stared out the window. "So, what exactly is the problem here?" An innocent tone of voice asked the question, giving a fleetingly false sense of security before going in for the kill. "Are you upset that I've planned your wedding without your consent? Or are you upset I've planned your wedding…" Pausing, Max's eyes darkened with secret insight. "…to someone other than me?"
A disbelieving smile spread over Liz's lips as her gaze met the ceiling. "Oh, no, you don't." Shaking her head, Liz immediately saw where Max was heading. Her jaws tightened as her voice lowered with determination when her eyes met his as she turned to face him. "I am not falling for that trap."
"What trap?" Amusement danced in his eyes as he tried to keep the smile out of his voice.
That smug smirk of his set her off. "You know damn well what trap." Liz shot back angrily as she crossed her arms in front of her. "The one where you push me until I get so angry I'll admit anything you want me to."
"Hmmm. That would be nice for a change." Gaze having drifted in deliberate thought, his eyes snapped back to meet hers to concede the truth. "But I know you too well. Even when you know I'm right, you won't admit it. Because to you, my dear, that would be giving me too much control."
"Control." Liz repeated. "Is that what this is all about for you? What it's always been about? From the moment we met, you simply haven't been able to wrap your mind around the fact I will not be controlled. By anyone. For any reason." Her eyes shimmered with emotion. "And this…this wedding you've planned? It's nothing more than you're pathetic attempt to play God with someone else's life." Pushing herself away from the window, Liz took a demanding step forward, her eyebrow raised inquiringly. "So, tell me, Max, does it make you feel superior to ruin other people's lives like you're ruining mine?"
"And how exactly am I ruining your life?" An edge entered Max's voice for the first time.
"How?" Blinking rapidly in disbelief, Liz tossed her hands into the air in an exasperated gesture. "I don't know, Max. Planning my wedding to a man you barely know. A man who, by the way, hasn't even proposed to me. Being the ultimate Prince Charming to my daughter. Making yourself so much a part of our lives that we'll never get over losing you. By just **being** here. You're ruining everything for me! God, don't you get that?"
Max was out of his seat in a heartbeat. Towering over her, his gaze bored penetratingly into hers. "What I get, Kendall, is that you want me so bad you can taste it. I get that it terrifies you to be so out of control around me. I get that you've done everything in your power to push me away. It's not working. You know it's not working. And that terrifies you even more." His eyes darkened as he took a flying leap into the truth and waited for her reaction. "You've even gone so far as to make up this fictitious lover…"
Her nearly inaudible gasp registered in Max's mind. As did the instant flush on her cheeks only seconds before she ignored his accusation and lobbed a few of her own. "Me? ME making things up? My God, you never stop, do you?" Eyes blazing with refueled anger, Liz pushed Max backward a step then took a step forward. "Which one of us lied about what happened last night, huh?" Her righteously indignant finger jabbing the center of his chest, Liz took another step forward, forcing him to take another step back. "Which one of us pretended to have had the best sex of his life?" Another jab. Another step. "Which one of us was willing to let the other seduce him right here in this office…"
"Hey!" Max raised an imposing finger as his chest brushed against hers when he moved to tower over her. His piercing eyes flashed defensively. "I was **trying** to tell you the truth before you went too far, but you didn't want to hear it."
"And I was trying to prove a point, you moron!" Liz retorted.
"Yeah? Well, the only point this little exercise of yours proved is that you can't resist me. Fortunately, I don't have that dilemma!"
Hands on hips, an eyebrow raised. "Oh, yeah?" The disbelieving sarcasm dripped from every syllable.
"Yeah!" Max shot back heatedly.
An unexpected blur of movement. A body colliding with his. Hot hands grabbing his face, pulling him firmly forward. A demanding challenge was unleashed as her lips met his in a heated kiss. A stunned Max stumbled forward and responded with explosive eagerness a split second later. His fingers dug into her silky hair and control instantly shifted from Liz to Max as he tilted her head to deepen the kiss. Lips, tongues and bodies dueled with a feverish intensity.
Liz's moan of pleasure signaled her certain defeat until Max dipped lower to better gather her in one strong arm as a hand began to roam over her hip and down to her exposed thigh. In a clear sign he was losing control, Max's hand curled around the back of her leg before hiking her into his arms with one swift move. Her legs instantly wrapped around his waist and Max spun around and sat Liz on the desk never once breaking his assault on her lips as he stepped between her legs.
A silent observer caught between voyeuristic pleasure and embarrassed discomfort hiked himself out of the chair. Duke grinned from ear to ear as he shook his head. No telling exactly where this little battle was going to lead given the utter unpredictability of the leading lady, but he certainly couldn't stay to watch. There were some things that weren't meant for prying eyes. Explosive passion like Max and Liz's was definitely one of them…
The moment his posterior cleared the leather, however, Duke stopped as the action in the center of the room halted with a heatedly breathed question. "What were you saying…" Max groaned in protest and nipped at Liz's lips, trying to initiate a newly explosive kiss but she pushed him away. Both hands on his chest, the distance between them grew. Eyes dazed with passion raised to meet his as a victorious smirk flitted over her lips. "…about being able to resist me?"
Blinking with dazed incomprehension, Max pulled back abruptly, his chest rising and falling. One look in her eyes, he knew he'd been had. His hands dropped to his side as his chin raised in defiance. Max opened his mouth poised to shoot back a heated retort. The knowing look in her eyes halted his speech. The sharp ringing of Max's cell phone interrupted the intense staring contest between the two. Eyes still trained on his opponent, Max flipped the phone opened and shouted his abrupt greeting. "What?!"
Max entire demeanor melted when he heard the voice on the other line. It was Alex. But Liz didn't know that. Liz only knew that she'd won a point by kissing him. She'd gained the upper-hand by pushing him into a contest of resistance. Well, he was about to win that upper-hand back. The smirk was slow. His eyes took on a glow of…seductive triumph. "Bambi."
Liz stiffened perceptibly. Her eyes hardened. Her chin raised as her arms crossed defensively in front of her.
"Bambi?" Max could practically hear the crinkle of Alex's forehead as it wrinkled in confusion. "Uh…no. It's Alex. Your buddy. Your pal. Your partner who is definitely of the human, and might I add, **male** persuasion."
"Hey, baby." Max practically cooed into the phone as his smile broadened and his eyes danced with devilish delight.
Entire body strumming with envious energy, Liz jumped off the desk and angrily knocked into him as she pushed past Max, her piercing glare deadly in its silent vehemence.
"Baby? Baby!?" Alex tapped his finger against the mouthpiece. "Is this thing working right? Cuz I thought I just heard you call me 'baby'."
Max turned to face Liz who was gallantly trying to act uninterested and unaffected by his intimately toned conversation. "I was just thinking of you. Just this very second actually." His voice lowered meaningfully, suggestively, as his eyes locked with Liz implying his answer to her earlier question. "Oh, I was just imagining I was kissing you. Touching you. The fantasy was quite vivid. Almost like you were in my arms. Would you like the details of our mid-day rendezvous?"
Liz's back stiffened and her hands clenched and unclenched unconsciously by her side. Profile turned to Max, her stormy gaze settled on a point in the distant city skyline as she struggled to erase the infuriating, sickening images of Max touching any other woman...
"Dude, that's just…ewww. What is wrong with you? Are you on crack or something?" As if a light suddenly switched on, Alex began to chuckle. "Oh, wait. I get it. Liz is there isn't she? Giving you trouble so you're giving a bit back." He sighed into the phone. "You two need to just do it and get it over with, man. I mean…how long can you really hold out before one of you explode?"
"You want the details in person? Oh, I think that can definitely be arranged." Casually leaning back against the desk, Max continued his imaginary conversation, practically purring. "Why…now, of course. You know I always have time for my number one girl." Max nearly sighed with anticipation. His eyes held a silent challenge to the woman only a few feet away as his double edged words hit their intended target. "Nope. Nothing of any real importance here. I'm as free as a bird, in fact. Nothing and no one tying me down. So when and where do you want…"
Liz had heard enough. Spinning on her heels, she crossed the distance between them in a flash and grabbed the phone from Max's hand. Her tone was clipped and cold when she spoke into the mouthpiece. "This is the operator. Please deposit five-forty five in change to continue this call." Without missing a beat, her eyes narrowed as her gaze locked with Max's. "Oops. You're time has elapsed. Try again in, say…never!" Liz clicked off the phone with an obvious look of satisfaction flitting across her expression.
Instantly jumping to his feet, Max blinked and sputtered in shock. "W-wha…what the…what the hell did you do that for?"
Toe to toe, Liz glared up at him. "You do **not** make play dates with your snow bunnies when we are in the middle of an argument!"
"I'll do whatever I damn well please!" Max held out his hand commandingly. "Now, give it back."
Hiding the phone behind her back, Liz's expression was adorably innocent. "Why? So you can call her back?" Shrugging, she took a cautious step backward as Max stood to his full height, his eyes glowing warningly. "Oh, don't worry. She's probably sitting by her phone at home looking for five dollars worth of change to put into a non-existent slot." Liz's eyes raked over him scathingly. "Believe me, with her IQ, she'll still be searching looong after I'm done with you…"
"Give it." Authoritarian and low, Max's issue was absolute.
"When hell freezes over." Liz shot back stubbornly as her shoulders squared.
A growl of impatient frustration echoed in the room. "In that case…" Snatching his shirt from the floor, Max threw it in Liz's face. "…you might need that because it's going to get really chilly, really fast. Now…" His determined gaze locked with hers. "Give. Me. The. Phone."
"You want it, lover boy?" Waving it in front of his face, a delightfully impish look danced in Liz's eyes as she inched backwards. "You'll have to come and get it."
A moment of intense silence reigned as the two eyed each other suspiciously, cautiously, challengingly. Then Max made his move and all hell broke loose. Wide-eyed, Duke watched the most hilarious few minutes of entertainment he'd seen in years as Max lunged for his phone. With a shriek of alarm, Liz danced out of his way barely escaping his grasp. His advancement was hampered by the chair Liz managed to shove forward as she slipped by it and rounded the corner of the desk.
They circled the large mahogany desk for endless minutes, Liz always two steps ahead of Max. But he finally gained speed as he rounded the outer corner and reached out barely touching Liz's shoulder before the room erupted into a volley of choice expletives when Max stubbed his toe against the heavy leg of the massive desk. Liz took the opportunity to escape him for good as she jumped on the desk and slid along the top of the grained wood, landing with a thud on the other side.
"Wait, wait, wait." Spinning to face him, Liz threw up her hands and tried to catch her breath when she was safely a desk-length away from Max. "Look at us. Do you have any idea how ridiculous this is? Max, chasing girls around a desk are for old men with reluctant secretaries and little boys with crushes."
"Hey. You started it." Max shot back, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths, the wince of pain not quite disappearing from his expression.
"I did not." She blinked with deliberate innocence.
"You're the one who kidnapped my phone!" Arms waving in disbelief, Max's tone jumped an octave before he took a deep, much needed calming breath, placed his hands flat on the desk and raised his head to meet her gaze. The moment his eyes met hers, they instantly began to dance with laughter and a smile began tugging the corners of his mouth upward. He fought the smile though he could do little wipe the general expression of merriment from his face. "Look. The irony of this is just…" He paused. "I mean…you do see what you're doing, don't you?"
This time her innocence was real. "What are you talking about?"
Max took way too much pleasure in explaining it to her. It was evident in his eyes. The smile crawling over his lips. His entire body language screamed his delight at having the opportunity to point out the obvious. "According to you, you don't want me. You don't love me. You never will. In fact, you want nothing to do with me. And yet…" He paused allowing his point maximum impact in the silence. "…you can't stand the thought of me with any one else. The very idea of me touching anyone the way I was touching you, kissing someone the way we kiss…you looked positively ill. And jealous. And…"
Liz instantly scoffed and rolled her eyes as she cut him off. "Oh, please. That is soo not what this is about."
"Really? Then what is it about?"
The patronizing tone of voice went hand in hand with her condescending expression. "Max. I'm simply trying to keep you from making a horrendous mistake."
"A mistake."
Nodding her head vigorously, Liz's finger deliberately ran over the edge of Max's cell phone tauntingly. "I know you, Max. I know what you really want."
A smirk was her response. "Oh you do, do you?"
"Uh-huh." Liz paused as her eyes met his. Her voice softened unexpectedly. "You want the fairy tale. And you want it with someone who is your equal." Ebony eyes glowing with a warmth she was unable to hide no matter how hard she tried, Liz cleared her throat and attempted to maintain a distant control. "Bambi is not that someone. So, by keeping your phone, I'm saving you from yet another unfulfilling encounter with a brainless bimbo that leads to nothing but emptiness."
"Oh, I see. So you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart as opposed to, say…uncontrollable jealousy?"
One nod. Liz placed her hands on the desk, mirroring Max's stance. Meeting his challenge. "That's right."
Max pursed his lips in contemplation. "So…my equal, huh?" An instinctive knowledge caused his eyes to dance with golden light. He seized the new opportunity to tease and prove his point all in the same breath. "Well. In that case, she'd have to be a knockout because…" A slight nonchalant shrug. "…just look at me." The arrogant tilt of his head caused Liz's heart to literally skip a beat. She swallowed hard when he winked and held out his arms in a look-at-me gesture. "Need I say more?"
"Riiight." Jumping immediately into the newest game, Liz pushed the desire to jump across the desk and attack Max's lips as far from her conscious as possible. It was not an easy task. Her eyes began to sparkle with taunting laughter. "And with statements like that…a sense of humor wouldn't hurt her either. And that thing about opposites attracting? In your case…" Her nose scrunched up adorably. "…I would suggest someone with a healthy dose of humility."
"And on **that** note…" Max's smirked. Love of their spontaneous banter danced in his eyes. His retorts were quick. His object never forgotten. "…she'd have to be quick. Clever. Witty. Not afraid to speak her mind." Leaning forward slightly putting more weight on his extended arms, his eyes caressed her lips with heated intensity. "Throw in a deliciously sassy streak, and she'd be just about perfect."
"Oh, I don’t know about perfect." Liz commented glibly though pebbles of desire were doing jumping jacks in the pit of her stomach. "I mean, let's not forget her intelligence level. I'd think she'd have to have an IQ that's at least fifty and no higher than seventy-five." Fighting the flush rising rapidly throughout her body, Liz raised her chin defiantly. "You know…to keep up with such brilliant, riveting dialogue as this."
Ignoring her obvious attempt at an insult, Max sparred back without missing a beat. "And the chemistry. It would have to be out of this world." His hand raised to brush back a strand of hair that had fallen across Liz's cheek. Eyes trained on his task, the gravelly tones of his voice sent a ripple of electricity along every nerve ending in her body.
He tucked the hair behind her ear. "Undeniable." Grazing his fingers against the soft skin along Liz's cheek down to her jaw and over to her chin, the tantalizing sparks igniting against her skin were downright torturous. "Profound." As his thumb lazily brushed over her supple lips, Liz's eyes drifted closed and her breathing became slightly erratic. "Volcanic." She barely bit back a moan as his heated whisper breezed across her skin. "Like spontaneous combustion."
She felt his breath mingle with hers. Sensed his lips only a hair away from hers. Swam in the sudden warmth that was Max as he leaned across the desk, lulling her into a state of desire, leading her to certain pleasure.
The heat of his kiss caressed her lips long before physical connection was achieved. She nudged her face forward, nuzzling his nose against hers before seeking the softness of his lips. Her lips quivered. They burned. They ached. The gentle brush of his lips against hers was in direct contrast to the fire boiling in her blood. Tender. Warm. Wet. The graceful dance began. In. Out. Over. Sensuous. Possessing. The delicate tug on her bottom lip nearly brought her to her knees with desire as Max pulled back.
Fingers tangling in her hair, Max lost himself in the sensations of Liz's kiss. The floating. The fire. The dreamy haze of pleasure. The kiss was slow and sensuous. Barely brushing. Tenderly caressing. Moving with rhythmic depth as they breathed each other in. Who needed air when they had this? Each other. The intimacy of the moment. The delicious taste of surrender…
Every cell of her body ached to be taken by this man. Every nerve screamed to connect with their counterpart in the intimacy of his embrace. Every bone-deep desire reared its head. Her heart longed to nestle deep inside of him and take root. To become so much a part of him, he'd never let her go. Her mind was the only objector. The only part of her that registered the danger. That recognized the warning signs of the treacherous game she was playing.
A game that would end in certain death. For her. For Max. For Jaedan.
Two to one. Heart and body against mind. Soft and quivering against determined. Empty and flushed against stubborn. Two to one. Not surprisingly, cognizant fear over-ruled the two the moment Liz thought of her defenseless daughter…
Liz's eyes snapped open unexpectedly. She jumped back from Max and quickly pushed his hand from her face. Clearing her throat, Liz's chin raised in defiance as her eyes met his with determination. "I wouldn't know anything about that."
Recovering quickly, Max's eyes danced with adoration as his hand dropped to once more brace his weight on the desk. "Did I mention stubborn? I mean, I have a tendency to be a bit on the stubborn side, you know. So, I would expect my equal to have a spine of steel."
The sarcasm hung heavily in the air between them. Her eyes met his challengingly. "You don't say."
"Oh, yes. She'll definitely have to be able to hold her own against me." His gaze shifted from Liz's pursed lips to the long creamy neck framed by luxurious cascades of chocolate hair. "It's important to have a partner who won't allow herself to be walked all over. Someone who will take a stand for herself. Be independent." Max unconsciously licked his lips as his gaze drifted to the cleavage produced by Liz's current pose. "That way the occasional battles of will tend to be a bit spicier." Voice lowering huskily, his eyes snapped back up to hers. "And you do know what they say about make up sex, don't you?"
"I've heard rumors." Liz quipped as her gaze dropped to his tilted, irresistible lips.
"Hot. Explosive. Passionate." Eyes descending to the color of midnight, Max's tone lowered seductively. Gravitating toward her, he was practically hovering over the desk. "That's the word around town, at least."
She quirked an eyebrow, her tone matching his in intimacy. Despite the danger, she too leaned forward. Unconsciously. Pulled toward him by an intense, invisible force. "You've never experienced it yourself?"
A casual shrug. "Never made up with a girl before. Most women I've been involved with don't get close enough to reach the fighting stage. And if they do, obviously it won't work and its time for us to go our separate ways."
"What about Kenna?" Unexpected. Honest. Curious. Without hint of antagonism.
Swallowing hard, Max paused. Hit by realization. The difference between the two women was…astounding. Glaring. Obvious. Gaze lowered, unable to hide the hint of pain she always saw when the illusive woman's name was mentioned. Soft. Truthful. His answer was straightforward and revealing. "Kenna and I never fought."
"Lucky you." Responding quietly, Liz's gut felt like it had been kicked with the full force of a sumo wrestler. Of course they never fought. Kenna was the love of his life. His perfect woman. His one true soulmate…
Max's eyes snapped up to meet her gaze catching a hint of hurt and sympathy before an imposed distance took its place. "I wouldn't be so sure." He licked his lips unconsciously. The sincerity darkening his eyes nudged her heart, quickening its pace. "Seems to me the emotions needed to fight are just as raw and primal and…real…as the emotions needed to love. An element of passion permeates a fiery anger just as much as it does the deepest devotion. I'm not quite sure you can really love without being able to fight. Opposite each other. For each other. Side by side, against the world."
It was Liz's turn to swallow around the lump that had risen in her throat. She was ashamed of how shaky her breath sounded in her own chest. Clearing her throat, she attempted to sound more confident than she felt. "Sounds rather idealistic to me."
"Not if you're my equal." Max responded softly, meaningfully.
"Who says I am?"
"You do. Every time you look in my eyes." Eyes flickering with sudden warmth, Max's smile was a mixture of sincerity and devilish taunting. His grin widened as he made his subtle point obvious. "After all, who have we really been describing this whole time?"
The intensity of the silence permeated the room. Duke once more felt like an intruder who desperately wanted to fade into the woodwork, disappear and give the two obvious would-be-lovers much needed privacy. But he was terrified to move. Afraid any disturbance in the air would break the wicked spell of desire weaving a beautiful dance between Max and Liz.
In all of his years of knowing Max Evans, Duke had never seen his friend so taken with a woman. So…in love. So intense. And never so determined to win her heart. Not that Max seemed to have much work to do on that front. Liz Parker was as head over heels in love with Max as he was with her. If the two of them could just get on the same page at the same time…if they could just break down the stubborn walls they had built to protect each other from the horrors of their past…Duke truly believed they could, **would** make it.
If only…
Liz instinctively knew she had to get out of there. The desire was suffocating. The intense urges ripped through her at lightning speed. Shattering her into aching fragments of a deep, soul-piercing hunger. Pulling her in so many directions, her head was swimming. Light-headed. Dizzy. Irrational.
He was right. She was his equal. He knew it. She knew it. Hell, by now, the entire world probably knew it. It made her giddy with happiness and tortured with the impossibility of it all. In the midst of the delightful torment of the deepest truth, there was only one way Liz Parker could possibly escape this latest stunt of Max's unscathed. Only one way to evade ultimate truth for a while longer.
She would simply…agree with him…
"Alright." Liz's eyes began to dance with sudden mischief. Leaning forward suggestively, her smile widened brightening her eyes in the process. "I'll do it."
"Do it?" Max sucked in a breath as her suggestive tone and carefully selected words him hit his sense full force. A dark eyebrow raised in question as a teasing smirk skipped across Max's lips. Voice lowering seductively, Max leaned toward Liz slightly. "Why…Ms. Harris, I had no idea you were the 'night of unrestrained passion after just one date' kind of gal…"
Liz mirrored Max's questioningly raised eyebrow. "You call last night a first date?"
Shrugging nonchalantly, a smug smile drifted over his lips as he let out an arrogant sigh. "Well…I **was** in your bed." Wiggling his eyebrows, Max's eyes danced with suggestive teasing. "For me that **is** pretty much how a first date ends."
Grin deepening, Liz rolled her eyes. "Correction…you are ON my bed. You are way too full of yourself. And if your idea of a typical first date is a taking an intoxicated woman home, securing her virtue by being a true gentleman and then lying to her like a scoundrel the next morning, then I now know why you've a reputation for being such a playboy." She shrugged at Max's inquiring gaze. "It only makes sense. Since the women you normally date have Swiss cheese for brains, they'll believe anything you say."
"Since I'm not one of those women and I do have you all figured out…" Liz shrugged. "…the great Max Evans mystique is gone. So…alright."
"The Max Evans mystique?" A dark eyebrow raised in inquisition as confusion raced through Max's eyes. "What does that…" Breaking his question off mid-thought, Max jumped to the immediate question dancing in his mind. "Wait. Alright?" Shaking his head, Max's face registered a comical level of incomprehension. "I don't understand. Is that an invitation?"
"It's an answer."
A grin began to weave its way through Max's expression. This woman was truly unpredictable. As well as he felt he knew her, he never quite knew what she would do next. "Did I miss the question?"
"It was implied."
Standing to his full height, Max crossed his arms in front of him and eyed Liz warily. She was clearly up to something. He couldn't quite tell what yet, but… "And exactly what was this implied question?"
And then…Liz Parker turned the tables…
Taking a deep breath, Liz mirrored Max's actions. Dragging her hands from the desk, she stood and tilted her head to the side. "I'll marry Mark."
The grin disappeared. Shock raced through his eyes. His shoulders slumped. His voice sounded small and unnerved. "You…you will?"
Nodding enthusiastically, Liz grinned. "Uh-huh. I mean…your case is solid, Max. Mark and I belong together. He is, after all, Jaedan's father not to mention the love of my life, and…now that we're both free…"
"But…but what about…" Panic began to shift through Max's stormy eyes. His hand waved dramatically through the air between them. "…you know. This. Us. Spontaneous combustion. You being my equal."
"Oh, Maaaax…" An appropriately sympathetic pout traced Liz's lips as she gripped Max's phone in her hand and slowly rounded the desk stopping in front of him. Eyes bright with delight, Liz gazed up into Max's distraught face. She reached up and touched the frown lines forming around his lips. "I'm not your equal. I'm your better. And although spontaneous combustion with you **is**…" Her smile widened as she let out a dreamy sigh. "…out of this world…I like my feet planted firmly on the ground. Mark does that for me."
"Though I do have to admit…" Running her finger lightly over his lips causing them to tremble under her touch, her voice lowered in a whisper. "…you are the most **fabulous** kisser I've ever known."
Liz's hand dropped to her side. A deepening smile. A wink. A flip of her hair and Liz Parker spun on her heels, walked to the door and paused. "Oh, Max…" Turning back to Max, the condescending tone permeated her whole demeanor. "…don’t worry about Bambi distracting you from your search for Ms. Right." Dramatically holding his cell phone over a pitcher of water, Liz sent him one last wink.
Taking a lurching step forward, Max's loud gasp echoed in the room as she let the phone slip through her fingers to land with a loud plop in the ice cold water. "Now." She clapped her hands together as if knocking the dust off after a hard day's work. "I'm off to find my fiancee'." One last nod of acknowledgement indicated Liz hadn't entirely forgotten the presence of the priest. "Father. I'll see you at the altar. In the meantime…" She pointed to Max. "…whatever Hail Mary's I just racked up can be assigned to him. You see, I'm not Catholic, but I hear Max has plenty of practice in the confessing and atoning for sins department." One more mischievous wink and Liz disappeared.
The moment the door slammed behind Liz, the room was instantly filled with a burst of laughter and a growl of frustration. Tears forming in the corner of his eyes from all his laughter, Duke approached Max who had slumped into a nearby chair and buried his face in his hands. "That is one fiery woman you got there, Max. Unpredictable. Gutsy. You truly have your hands full with her."
Rolling his eyes, Max flopped back into the chair. "She wasn't supposed to say yes."
"Which is probably why she did. She really does have you figured out." Leaning against the desk, Duke cracked a smile as his blue eyes danced with laughter. "You two are uh…" Unable to find the right word, Duke just shook his head with a chuckle.
At Duke's dangled sentence, Max's lips began to twitch as his gaze met Duke's. "We are, aren't we?"
"Uh…yeah." Agreeing, Duke shifted his weight against the desk and questioned Max's next move. "So…this wedding. Exactly how are we going to pull this off?"
"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Max looked slightly annoyed. "Like I said, she wasn't supposed to say yes."
"But now that she has…" Duke prompted noting the hint of mischief slipping through Max's eyes as a smile, and a plan, began to form.
"Now that she has…" Max repeated as his gaze fixed on a point in the distance. "Now that she has, I'm going to give her the wedding from hell…"
"From hell." Duke repeated. "Right." Duke uncrossed his ankle, pushed himself away from the desk and clapped Max on the back. "So, uh…good luck with that. I’m just going to, you know…escape the wrath of Liz…"
"Oh, no you don't." Max stopped his suddenly retreating friend. "One for all and all for one…"
Rolling his eyes, Duke groaned and plopped into a chair. "Fine. But if she breaks anything of mine in a fit of rage, you buy it." Chuckling, Max nodded his agreement. Duke sighed with resignation and propped his feet up when Max leaned forward, a devilish twinkle in his eyes. "Alright, pal. Hit me with it. What disaster are you planning for Liz Parker's fictitious wedding?"
Max's grin deepened. "Only the most spectacular disaster of all…Homer Thickbottom for a groom and a perfect best man…"
Tbc…
Anyway...hope you enjoy this part. It's kinda fluffy but setting up for things later too.