Just know how much you are all appreciated. Enjoy the new chapter...hugs, Linds
Chapter Eleven
Liz drifted along the pleasant world between consciousness and slumber, a faint smile on her features. She had no intention of waking just yet and facing the many questions that were already beginning to plague her mind. Unfortunately, a tickling sensation against her nose threatened to drag her forcefully from her enjoyable state and confront reality head on.
Wrinkling her nose, she sniffed lightly, turning on her side to escape the irritating tickle. A low chuckle filled her ears, then the sensation returned. She batted at her nose weakly, muttering, “Gerroffme.”
“Come on, sugar. Wake up for me,” a very convincing voice purred against her ear. She smiled against the pillow, enjoying the scent of warm male that filled her nostrils. At least until he added, “Stop being so lazy, Liz.”
One brown eye popped open in annoyance. “Hello Pot, meet Kettle,” she mumbled nastily, but couldn’t suppress a nervous smile at the sight of Max Evans in all his naked glory – head propped on her shoulder as he gazed at her through sleep-heavy eyes. Thick brown hair fell across his brow and he absently ran a hand through it as he returned her smile.
“Hi,” he whispered, lips turned upwards. There was an anxious gleam in his eyes that matched her own, and it did more to cease the tension building inside of her than a thousand words could have done.
She bit her lip, shifting to meet his stare head on. In this vulnerable position with Max hovering slightly above her, she was immediately reminded of their intimacy the night before. Fighting a faint blush, she echoed, “Hi.”
He appeared to debate with himself silently for a long moment before he blew out a breath and asked softly, “So…no regrets?”
It was so like Max to cut straight to the chase. His expression was so intense it made her apprehension return full force and she couldn’t suppress a swallow. She managed to shake her head, but the small gesture seemed to satisfy him. A slow smile crossed his features and he moved closer.
“Good.” The silky, sinful voice had returned.
Liz smiled weakly. “Great.”
They stared at each other for several seconds before she blurted out, “What about you? I mean…do you have any—”
She was cut off as Max hauled her up against him and kissed her soundly. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she threw her arms around him and returned the heated embrace. His hands came up to frame her face, his teeth catching her lower lip on his retreat. He laid his forehead against hers and said softly, “Does that answer the question, Parker?”
Still slightly dazed, she opened her mouth to speak but to her complete shock and horror, tears filled her eyes and she could only manage a choking, “Max.”
He didn’t seem to require an explanation, but simply gathered her in his arms again and rocked her gently. “I know,” was all he could say. “It’s okay.” He pressed his lips against her hair, skimming them across her cheek until he could breathe against her mouth. “I love you, Liz.”
She didn’t hesitate, but plastered herself against him, uncaring that he could see and feel every inch of her naked body. Shyness had taken a back seat to need, and right then she needed Max Evans more than she could ever remember. Just the sound of his voice was able to calm her like nothing else. Of course, it could also make her quake with nerves and burn with desire. A heavy dose of the latter was currently working its way through her system.
She straddled him, feeling the brush of his hardness against her stomach as he hissed softly. His mouth tangled with hers, but he pulled back after a moment and panted, “Liz…we should probably talk.”
“Unless it involves you telling me how much you want to be inside me, let’s just table the convo for later,” she breathed excitedly. Rocking experimentally against him, she let out a purr of satisfaction when he released a soft groan.
“But Liz—” Whatever he’d planned to say stuttered to a halt when she came down over him, his flesh sliding sleekly inside her own. “Shit,” he muttered hoarsely, gripping her hips tightly and swallowing as he gazed at her through heavy eyes.
“No regrets, right?” she whispered, running her hands up and down the muscles of his back. She wondered why she felt the most insane urge to laugh – she’d never been this forward with any man in her life. Only minutes ago she’d been on the verge of an emotional breakdown, and now here she was…practically mauling her best friend-cum-lover. Not that he appeared to mind.
“Right,” he answered, voice cracking slightly as she undulated her hips, sending him deeper. “N-No regrets.”
She rolled over him again, unable to keep from moaning at the feel of him stroking her from the inside out. “Because I just wanted to…to make sure we’re on the same page, you know?” she ended breathlessly.
“Same page, definitely,” Max returned, biting his lip as he leaned back against the wall to better allow her control. His hands continued to guide her hips, both of them damp in the early morning heat.
“Great. Because I just—“
“Liz!” he interrupted in a half-amused, half-exasperated voice. When she met his gaze, he smiled devilishly and whispered, “Stop talking and make love to me.”
She flushed. “Oh. Right. I forgot we agreed to talk…” She trailed off with a gasp when he simply bent and drew her nipple into his mouth. “…Later,” she squeaked, losing all coherent thought.
The only sounds to be heard for long moments were the erotic resonance of sex and ragged breathing. Liz tangled her fingers in Max’s tousled hair, desperately trying to drag him closer as they inhaled each other. He drank from her mouth like a man who’d thirsted for years; making soft sounds of pleasure that fanned the growing flame inside of her.
Her completion drew nearer and nearer, until she finally broke away and held his head to her breast as her mouth fell open on a silent scream. Pleasure unlike anything she’d ever experienced with anyone else streamed through her, leaving her shaky and defenseless. She could feel Max trembling beneath her, reaching his own crest as he groaned hoarsely.
They sank down together on the bed, a tangle of limbs. Liz pressed her cheek against Max’s chest, staring at the wall as he weakly stroked her hair. Now that the sexual necessities had been taken care of, she was right back to where she’d been before. Happy, yes. But also uncertain and cautious.
Without looking at him, she tried for a casual tone of voice. “Maybe we should keep this between us for the time being.”
She felt him still beneath her, then his fingers slowly began their stroking again. “Between us?” he repeated in a strange tone.
Still unable to look at him, she swallowed carefully. “I-I just think…for awhile, maybe…until we figure everything out…you know?”
She half-expected an angry denial, or at the least an affronted questioning. But he remained silent for several seconds before murmuring, “All right. We’ll keep it between us…for the time being.”
She frowned. Was it her imagination, or did she sense a hint of relief in his deep voice? She shifted to meet his gaze, but there was no sign of anything untoward in his eyes. “You don’t mind?” she questioned suspiciously. She had to admit – a part of her was offended that he apparently had no qualms about keeping their newfound relationship a secret.
He must have read her mind, because he hastened to say, “If it’s what you want, why would I mind? I’ve waited long enough for this to happen, Liz. I can wait until you’re comfortable to have it out in the open.”
His words succeeded in distracting her from her misgivings. She flushed a dark red and ran a finger along the whorl of his nipple. “You…you’ve waited for this? For a long time?” she asked softly, unable to look at him as her heart pounded.
He made a tsking sound. “Silly rabbit…” he chuckled. Then more seriously, “I can’t remember a time when I haven’t wanted you, Liz.”
She flushed again, but this time the sensation was from absolute pleasure. She glanced up at him, eyes sparkling as she punched him softly in the stomach. “Well, why the hell didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Why didn’t you?” he returned quietly. Her smile faded slightly as he continued. “What was I supposed to do, Liz? I thought I was making myself clear that night…” He trailed off, not needing to explain what night he’d meant. He shrugged, a half-smile lighting his features. “You were worth all the trouble, though,” he teased.
She glowered in embarrassment. “Oh…just shut up.” She laid her head back against his chest and let out a deep sigh. “So, we don’t tell anyone? Not even Michael or Maria?”
“Sure,” Max responded without hesitation. Once again she felt like she heard the same relief resonating in his voice, but before she could attempt another line of questioning, he rolled over and stood up to stretch. “Mmm…I’m starved. What’s there to eat around here anyway?”
She propped her head up on her palm and simply stared at his profile. The sunlight streaming through the window cascaded across his flesh, lending him a golden, healthy glow only compounded by the flush of their morning activities. He was sexily rumpled, scratching lazily at his arm as he turned to grin at her.
“Hungry?”
As if on cue, her stomach growled and she slapped a hand over it in mortification. “Um…”
He only laughed, walking over to kneel at her side of the bed. He reached out to brush her hair back, watching her with an unreadable expression. “Go take a shower and clean up. I’ll take care of breakfast, okay?” He pressed a kiss against her forehead, then turned to go.
<center>***</center>
As soon as the door shut behind him, Max’s smile faded and he fell against the door with a soft thud. Swallowing hard, he closed his eyes and struggled for a calm he didn’t feel. When Liz had casually suggested that they wait before telling anyone of their relationship, he’d been torn between frustration and intense relief. He wanted nothing more than to openly make Liz his own, but there were still so many things she didn’t know…things that he needed time to make right. If he even could.
Could she have possibly suspected anything? He thought he’d done a good job of hiding his anxiety from her, but she’d always been able to read him so well. He’d been desperate to get out of there before he broke down and admitted every deep, dark sin he’d ever committed. Part of him wanted to do just that, but the larger part of him still battled with the shame and degradation of so long ago.
Shaking his head, he blew out a breath and moved away from the door just as the telephone chose that same moment to ring. He made his way to the kitchen, pausing to pick up the phone receiver on his way. “’Lo?”
“Where have you been?” a feminine voice demanded. “Do you have any idea…any idea the shit I’ve been through the last few days?”
Max winced at the curse from his sister’s mouth. It was proof positive that Isabel Evans was not happy. Isabel always conducted herself with the utmost class and often got onto him for what she referred to as his gutter speech. He took his time opening the refrigerator and pondering the contents before answering. “Hey, Iz. “I wondered when you’d get around to harping on me.”
His words had the desired effect, and a long sigh was heard across the other line. His sister’s voice immediately turned compassionate.
“I’m sorry, Max. I just wish you’d given me some kind of warning. Pamela was here,” she added unnecessarily. “She’s not exactly happy at the moment.”
Max snorted. “Like I give a damn. What’d the bitch – “ he corrected himself when Isabel growled over the line, “I mean, what’d the devil woman have to say?”
“What do you think?” Isabel responded sarcastically. “You treated her like crap, lied and cheated…then dumped her without so much as an explanation. Max, she even told me you refused to return some of her things.”
Max felt a bubble of anger working its way up his chest, even as he responded coolly, “She’s a fucking liar.” His fingers clenched on the refrigerator door and he struggled to control his breathing.
There was a long moment of silence before Isabel answered softly, “I know. Max, you know I believe you.”
But Pamela’s sly manipulations had succeeded in pushing him and his sister apart in the past, and Max was too angry to keep from blurting out angrily, “Do you?” He regretted it as soon as the wounded silence met his ears. He sighed heavily, reaching up with two fingers to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Isabel, I’m…”
“I guess I deserved that,” she whispered sadly. “Are you ever going to forgive me, Max? I made a mistake…I have to live with that mistake every day…” She trailed off, her voice watery and Max felt like complete shit.
“I do forgive you,” he answered immediately. “I’m sorry, Isabel, I’m just…things are just crazy right now. I don’t know what I’m gonna do,” he admitted, collapsing heavily against the kitchen counter.
“What happened?”
Max bit his lip. If there was anyone he could talk to about his situation with Liz, it was Isabel. Because she was the only other person who knew everything that had happened. He glanced around furtively, but there was no sign of Liz. The sound of the shower turning on down the hall helped make his decision and he turned towards the wall and breathed into the phone, “I slept with her.”
“Slept with… oh, Max. Oh, no!” she whispered. “Why would you…does she know…?”
“No!” he hissed. “It just happened. I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world,” he added softly. “I love her, Isabel. You know I do.”
“But Max, what about when she finds out—”
“I’m going to tell her,” he interrupted. “I swear I will, I just…I need to find the right way.”
Once again he was met with silence. Then, “Are you crazy? Max, when you tell her…she’ll never speak to you again!”
His hands were beginning to feel clammy, but he brushed aside the sick feeling in his stomach and pressed on. “It’s a chance I have to take. You wouldn’t understand, Isabel. You’ve never let anyone get close to you…” he trailed off, realizing how his words sounded. “Isabel, I…”
“No, you’re right,” she said softly, although there was a thread of bitterness underlying her words. “I’ve never found anyone I could feel that way about, Max. If Liz is…if she’s it for you, then do whatever it takes. All I want is for you both to be happy.”
“Liz would be shocked to hear that,” Max answered with a half-smile. “You don’t exactly act like her biggest fan.”
“Well, things aren’t always what they seem, are they?”
The words wiped any amusement from him and he answered solemnly, “No. Sometimes they’re even worse.” And that was what he was afraid of.
Anyway, it's pretty transition-y, in that there's zero Max and Liz interaction. Wait for the next chapter for that. 
Here's the new chapter, and this time I can't make any promises about the next update...because I really don't know when I'll have the chance, and I don't want to break my word. Again. lol
