Roswell Fanatics

Okay, I lied! No full on m/l interaction yet, but definitely in part 12! I have a whole big scene blocked out.

Eleven

Liz sighed heavily and shoved her antennae into her work locker. It had been a busy night. She had managed to avoid speaking to Michael, but he was still shooting her wounded glares whenever she picked up an order. Maria had been giving her sly looks and winks when she wasn’t arguing with Michael, and her father was keeping a very close eye on her.

She felt bad about Michael. He was, in truth, as much her best friend as Maria was. He was the only person she could talk to about her real life, her secret life, but not about boys. He hated hearing about what she and Kyle had done over the weekend. That was Maria’s job. But he was the only one she could tell her hidden fears to. The only one who understood how scared she was.

She shouldn’t have treated him the way she had. But he needed to trust her judgment. Max was not the threat. There was something else, something bigger, and it had come to Roswell.

“Liz.”

Liz sighed, “Yes, Dad?” She turned around to face her father. He had a cloth apron on, and a dish towel over one shoulder. His blue eyes were serious.

“Straight up to your room young lady,” he ordered, “You get one phone call, then do your homework, and go to bed.”

She nodded, “Yes, Dad.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and the headed up the stairs to their apartment.

Her parents had been waiting for her when she got home from school. They had lectured her profusely about lying to them, staying out all night without a phone call, and they had just gotten her report card. She was grounded for two weeks.

In a way, it was almost a relief. She could be normal again for a tiny bit of time. But it wouldn’t last long. She nodded to her mother, who sat reading a magazine at the kitchen table. “Dad said I had one phone call,” Liz told her, picking up the portable.

“Five minutes,” her mother told her.

“I know,” she replied, heading for her bedroom. She bit her bottom lip as she dialed the Valenti’s phone number. She always snapped at her mother, even when Nancy hadn’t done anything wrong. There was just always a barrier between them. The line picked up. “Hello?”

“Liz, that you?” Kyle asked.

“Yeah, can I talk to your dad?”

“Sure.” She could hear the tentativeness in his voice. Kyle was unsure where they stood after that morning, and she wasn’t doing anything to help. She’d talk to him soon, Liz decided. In the distance, she felt Max wake up. She closed down the connection immediately.

“Liz?” Valenti inquired, “Why aren’t you out patrolling?”

“I can’t,” she said, “I’m grounded. You’ll have to wait until Michael gets off his shift.”

“Grounded,” he repeated.

“Yeah,” she confirmed, “And I can’t sneak out for a few days.” Her dad was anal, he’s wake up every hour on the hour to check on her for the first couple of days for her punishment. “I’m sorry.”

“Liz!” Nancy shouted, “One minute!”

“Okay, Mom!” she yelled back, “I have to go, Valenti. I only have forty more seconds to talk. I’ll get the scoop tomorrow, bye!”

“Liz-“

She hung up, cutting him off just as her mom walked in, hand held out for the phone. Liz smiled at her and gave it up. “I’m just going to finish up my homework,” she said sweetly, “And then I’m for bed.”

Her mother looked at her suspiciously, but kissed her daughter goodnight. “Sleep tight, sweetie,” she murmured, ruffling Liz’s hair.

“I will, Mom,” she promised, “Good night.”

“Night,” Nancy said as she shut the door.

Liz sighed and rested her head on her desk. This being Slayer thing was complicating her life way too much. She shifted, staring at her backpack, and groaned. Liz pulled out her Biology book and began work on creating a meiosis lab for class on Monday.

After the basis for her lab was done, she moved onto geometry. Math was not her strong suit, and proving theorems was tricky enough without distractions. With them, it was impossible. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, trying to ignore, as she had for the past two hours, the quiet, insistent tugging on her mind.

She couldn’t deal with Max now. She had bigger things to worry about…like passing the tenth grade. And she managed to set aside the connection for a while, but it slowly began to grow stronger, and her awareness of it increased until it was impossible to resist.

She opened her mind to him, and she knew she was no longer alone.

Liz spun in her desk chair to stare at him, so dark and beautiful. He stood by her window, his face inscrutable; his black hair ruffled by the wind, and looked out of place in her small, delicate room.

“Why have you shut me out?” he demanded, amber eyes black with fury. And the Slayer trembled.

To be continued...

I'll be posting a one-parter tomorrow called Little Chosen One for Shiri's b-day. It'll be about how Liz became the Slayer.

Anyhoo, please post some feedback!

*blake*

Little Werewolf

See link to tag fics on page 1, the first post.

Little Chosen One

Link to tag fics on page 1, first post.

Twelve

His wrath was nearly palatable, and he made an effort to tone down the projection of it, but it did not help that much. When Liz stood, her expression wary, he could feel her heart beating wildly. He could see the slight trembling that shook her seemingly delicate frame.

Hunger raged at him, and Max was ashamed that he could not separate his hunger for her body from the hunger for her blood. It made his rage at her actions today rise. “Tell me,” he demanded harshly.

“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” she informed him, her eyes flashing.

Max’s eyes narrowed. He had felt it when she left him that morning, felt her confusion and rejection of their connection. It had hurt him in a way he should not be able to be hurt. “I am your master,” he replied stiffly, and then cut her off when she scoffed, “And I am your lover. In my mind that means you do have to explain.” He took a step closer and was disappointed when she took a step back. “Tell me now, ma petite."

“Lizzie?” A man’s voice, her father’s, came through the door accompanied by a knock. Silently Max let his physical form dissolve and he drifted out the window, watching as Liz looked back to him, surprised by his disappearance and then opened the door for her father.

“What is it Daddy?” she asked sweetly.

“I thought I heard a boy,” he replied, peering around suspiciously.

Liz smiled, “I’m grounded Dad, why would I have a boy in my room? And even if I weren’t, have I ever had any other boy but Alex up here?” Max frowned and slowly began to reform. Who was this Alex?

“I know honey bear,” her father said, “And I trust you completely.” Max laughed to himself as her father checked under her bed and in her bathroom before looking out onto the balcony. Material again, Max drifted into a shadow and studied his lover’s father.

The man was taller than Max, with blue eyes and brown hair and a worn, caring face that reminded the long-dead vampire of his own father. Max picked the man’s name from his mind, Jeff Parker. It was obvious to Max that Jeff loved his daughter dearly and wanted to protect her from the world. It was sad how unaware this man truly was of his own child’s life.

Her father kissed her forehead as he left the room. “Get to bed sweetie, you have to work breakfast.”

Max could feel Liz roll her eyes as she said goodnight. It was a full minute before she moved from her position listening through her door. He watched her as she walked cautiously to the fire escape window to peer out into the dark of the night. Max thickened his patch of shadows so that her eyes roamed over him without acknowledgment and moved forward when she stopped looking.

She struggled as he pulled her through the window one-handed and trapped her against the brick wall. “You will tell me now.”

“No,” Liz said, shoving at him.

Max moved back and allowed her step away from the wall, but no further than that. Their close proximity allowed him access to her thoughts, but they were so chaotic he couldn’t isolate why she was trying to lock herself away from him. “Do you know what I have felt like since you ran away this morning?” he asked, his voice deceptively soft, “I’ve felt every second of your turmoil, Liz. I’ve felt every change in your mood as it went from confused to angry to scared to lost to panicked. Do you know how I was feeling as I experienced that?”

She shook her head, not looking at him. “No.”

“I was going out of my mind, Liz.” He gripped her arms and shook her, forcing her to meet his eyes. “I felt helpless trapped under that earth, unable to rest, because I could not go to you and comfort you. Because you would not let me!” he shouted.

Her eyes darted toward her room, “Quiet.”

“The wind steals my words, your father will not interrupt us again.” She met his gaze once more and stared at him, half-frightened and half-angry. She was still Liz Parker. The Slayer was dormant while she faced off with her lover and not a vampire. “Tell me,” he coaxed, his voice seductive.

“I’m not supposed to feel this way about you,” she whispered, eyes wide, “I’m not supposed to ache for you as if I’d die if I never saw you again.”

He felt a knot untie in his stomach and he gave her a half-smile. “We discussed that ma petite, it is all a part of our connection.”

“You don’t understand,” she said, “I don’t want to feel that way. I don’t want this connection. I want to be normal again. That’s why I shut you out.”

It hurt again. She did not want him. He looked at her, so fierce and yet so fragile, and he could not see his eternity without her. “Are you saying you never want me to touch you again?” he inquired, his voice hypnotic, “That you don’t want my body beside yours ever again?” He moved up behind her, breathing in her ear. Liz swayed back against him, her body betraying her. “Never want me to kiss you again?”

Max’s mouth crashed against hers as she turned in his arms, wrapping herself around his body. He bore them down to the chaise lounge, his hold on her never breaking as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. She made a small sound, and her small tongue tangled around his, taking control of the kiss. Max gave into her demands, his hands slipping under her shirt to warm his skin against hers.

Liz arched underneath him and her tongue scraped against a fang, drawing blood. The beast within him rose before he could counteract it, feeding off of her concentrated blood. It slid down his throat smooth and thick and it drove him insane.

The roaring in his ears started and a red veil came down behind his eyes. He could feel his incisors lengthen as the pressure began to build in him. The need to drink…to drain was so intense that it was only Liz’s strength saved her from the driving hunger of the monster.

“Max, no!” she exclaimed, tearing her mouth from his and pushing up against his chest. Her frantic tone penetrated the haze in his brain and he stopped, his form going completely still. He did not breath and his heart did not beat, he simply stared down into those large, frightened brown eyes.

“I apologize, ma petite," he said thickly, “I have not fed this night. We would, neither of us, find pleasure with my being so weakened.” She swallowed, the taste of her still in his mouth. “It would also be very dangerous.” He stood in one smooth motion, extending his hand to her. She ignored it and stood on her own, arms wrapped around her body tightly.

“Go away Max,” she ordered him.

“Que?”

“Leave, I don’t want to see you again. I can’t see you again.” She looked at him, tears in her eyes. “I don’t want to have anything to do with you.” There was blood dripping down the corner of her mouth. Max stared at the drop, horrified by his actions and her words.

“We are connected-“

“Turn it off then.”

She was serious. Max started toward her, but she held up a hand to halt him. “You do not understand what that would do to you, Liz. What it would do to both of us.”

“I don’t care,” she responded, “I want you out of my life now.”

“I’m sorry that I lost control. It will not happen again, but you cannot expect me to stay away from you. It is unacceptable.”

“No,” Liz said, glaring at him. She gripped herself tighter. “What happened between us is unacceptable. You are a vampire. An abomination.” He came toward her angrily, stopping only when he felt a stake pressing at the skin above his heart. He looked down at it, and then at her. “Don’t make me dust you,” she breathed, her eyes full of tears, “Just leave me in peace Max.”

He took a step back and then another, and then disappeared. His final words lingered harshly in the night air. “It will be as you wish ma petite morte.”

To be continued...

Not what you expected huh? Don't worry, they're making up will make up for it. Please leave feedback.

Just adding another tag fic! See link on first page.

I should add a warning, this is a Tess/Max based part. It's rated R for sexual situations and a little violence. Oh, and a disclaimer: I'm not a history buff, my knowledge of the third Crusade is limited to Jennifer Roberson's Lady of the Forest which I allude to in this fic.

Little Mistress

For Becca.

Thirteen

What was the matter with her?

A month. It had only been a month since that night on her balcony. Four measly weeks since she had ordered him to leave her in peace.

It had been an eternity of torment.

Liz struggled, each day seemingly longer than the last, against feelings of despair and abandonment. She felt as if her heart had been torn still beating from her body, as if the world was about to collapse at any given moment…As if she would die if she went another instant without his touch.

We are connected-

Strong, that was what she had tried to be. The Slayer fought against the depression she had awoken with the morning after. The Slayer stood firm against the emptiness that had been created in her soul. At least for the first few hours.

Since the night Max had disappeared, their connection had been severed, just as she had wanted, but it left her more bereft than she had ever thought possible. Her dreams at night had gone from nightmares of past Slayers’ deaths to visions of silk and heat. So real that she could feel his skin sliding smoothly against hers, his breath warm on her throat. Liz would wake aching for her lover, reaching out to him in the darkness, only to meet with the barrenness that had replaced the connection between her and Max.

Turn it off then.

Was he feeling this way too? Was he yearning to be with her as she yearned for him? How could he? How could he feel this way and not come to her? She could not believe he wouldn’t come if he was. She could not believe that someone as innately arrogant as he would fail to pursue what he wanted simply because she had asked him not to.

He was still in town. Liz could sense his presence. Though only in that vague sense that came with her Slayer abilities, she could no longer feel his mind as if she were a part of him. It hurt her in a way she had not thought possible. She had thought the confusion and wrongness of their relationship was as bad as it could get. She had not been prepared for the confusion and wrongness of their separation, which seemed a hundred times worse.

You do not understand what that would do to you, Liz. What it would do to both of us.

She understood now.

“Liz?”

Her head jerked upward, and Liz forced herself to focus on the blurry from in front of her. “Maria?”

“You’re acting like Spaceboy,” her friend pointed out, sending a glare slightly to the left.

Liz shifted. “Michael,” she stated, suddenly realizing she wasn’t completely alone. She looked around, slowly recalling the fact that she was outside eating lunch with her friends. Michael on one side and Kyle on the other. Maria sat across from her, Alex and Isabel mirroring the other two boys.

“You okay?” the werewolf muttered, his brown eyes concerned.

She smiled slightly, “Yeah.” She turned her attention back to Maria. “What is it?”

They had noticed how off she was. As her friends, they couldn’t not. Alex and Izzy were worried in a general sense, unaware of Liz’s secret life. Valenti was troubled about how her current state affected her duties and schoolwork. Kyle was anxious due to the fact that he had been demoted to just a friend with no idea why. Maria and Michael knew about Max, and so he growled about ghosting the vamp while she slyly inquired into Liz’s sex life.

“There’s a party at Neil’s tonight, we’re going.”

“Oh,” Liz breathed, “I don’t think I’m up for a party. I really need to study for our math test.”

Green eyes narrowed, “The test is Monday, Liz, that’s three days away. You need to have some fun, it’s obvious you’ve been lacking in that department.”

Fun. She couldn’t remember the last time she had had actual fun. Maybe…Maybe it would be all right to let loose for one night. Liz shot Kyle a glance, silently questioning about patrol. He in turn leaned back to look at Michael. They both nodded. “Okay,” she agreed, “I’ll go.”

Maria squealed happily, oblivious when Michael clamped his hands over his ears and glared at her. Liz giggled, and it felt good. “I’ll come home with you today so we can get ready.” Her voice was muffled as she turned her head downward, searching through her pink backpack for something. With a jangle, Maria threw a set of keys at Michael. He stared at it, bewildered by the many little ornaments, of which there were more than there were keys. “If one scratch shows up on the Jetta, you’re dead,” the blonde informed him, “That car is the key to my and my mother’s relationship.” She narrowed her eyes once again. “Got it?”

He smirked, “I think I can handle it.”

She opened her mouth, only to be interrupted by the bell. Liz sighed in relief, gathering her things. She felt more awake right now than she had in the past few weeks and she was going to take advantage of it. Perhaps the emptiness was temporary; perhaps she was over the loss of Max.

By the end of the school day, she knew it had been a false hope. Liz dragged herself out the doors that served as both exit and entrance, only to be met by a perky Maria. “Let’s go, girlfriend!” the other girl exclaimed, “I’ll raid your closet while you shower, and then we’ll do hair and make-up, okay? You don’t mind if I borrow an outfit, right?”

To be continued...

Feedback is always appreciated!

Strawbehrry Shortcake: Anime is the coolest, I love Sesshoumaru-sama! As for my other screenname, you haven't been neglecting me, because I'm also dreamangel. *jaws drop in shock* I never tell people, and most can't guess because my style of writing differs, but it is me. Well, cat's out of the bag now. *blush* I hope everyone doesn't hate me for not telling. In placation, I offer a new part of Little Slayer!

Fourteen

The house was silent. Max prowled around it like a caged animal, the beast within him getting harder and harder to contain since Liz had banished him. With a muttered curse he picked up a vase and threw it at one of the freshly painted walls. He continued to stare at the pieces, growling low in the back of his throat.

What right did she have? She was his servant, bound to him by blood, she should have no say in what he chose to do or not do. And yet he had been weak, he had given in because he could not stand the sight of her tears. Could not bear to be the cause of them.

He was nearly one thousand years old, one of oldest vampires walking this earth. He never had to explain himself nor never had he questioned his actions. To be brought to such a place by a mere mortal girl, a Slayer at that, was nigh unthinkable. How had he put himself in this position? How had he let emotions he had long forgotten he could feel overwhelm his rationality?

Anger was now his constant companion, and he drove a fist downward, smashing the high table the vase had been sitting on. Max was seething, unused to this feeling of loss he was encountering. It was both similar and dissimilar to the feeling he had experienced when he had regained his soul. Then he had bemoaned the horrific acts of cruelty he had committed through the centuries and mourned the loss of something intangible, his vanished future, whereas now he craved Liz Parker, and regretted the pure, staggering loneliness her absence caused.

He should never have indulged her. He should have wrapped her mind up tight within his and kept her by his side for eternity. But he had not. Max sighed, and moved through his home towards the sitting room. He had always been an idealistic fool in his youth, a fact that had led to his undead life, now that he had his soul back there was no reason to believe he would not be the same fool. Oh, but he had tried to hide it, hadn’t he? He tried to maintain that cool exterior and prideful nature that he had had for so many, many years.

And then she came and it all went straight to hell.

The brandy decanter sat on a small end table and Max pored himself a glass, the red liquid reminding him that he had not fed this night. He gulped the contents of the tumbler in one swig, and set it back down on the serving platter with a clatter. One finger pressed into the silver, circling the tray’s outline. The stinging sensation the metal produced managed to clear his mind.

He was not human. He should stop acting like he was. Tonight Liz’s little fit of rebellion would cease, and if she did not come to him willingly he would simply make her.

Yes, he nodded decisively. There would be no more games. He would no longer enter her dreams at night, and he would no longer reach out with his mind to make love to her. Max would have her body again, in the flesh, tonight.

Noise blasted down the street. Curious, Max moved to the large picture window and flicked the heavy drapes aside. Across and down a few houses, one home was lit and cars were parked haphazardly on the lawn, driveway, and street. Teenagers were everywhere. Perfect, he thought. He would feed on one or two of them, clouding their minds to forget the event, and then he would find Liz wherever she was patrolling and bring her back with him. Where she belonged.

Max did not bother to unlock the door, merely turned to vapor and seeped out through the cracks. He materialized in the shadow of a tree and watched. It seemed as if the party was just beginning, as the cars piling up rapidly suggested. A great number of young men and women got out of them, more sometimes than it seemed the vehicle would hold. There were shouted greetings between groups as they all trooped in through the open front door.

The vampire waited for a bit. He could enter the dwelling as well, mingle among the humans as if he were still one of them and not look out of place, but he did not. Concentrating, Max beckoned two straggling boys over. They were athletes to judge by their sizes, much bigger than him, but he held them in thrall easily, drinking his fill. Girls were much more tender, but he had found that the beast did not respond well to females who were not Liz, wanting to tear their throats out. His tenuous control over the monster within was shaky tonight, and so, he did not risk it. He sent the boys on their way, modifying their memories, and then took to the air.

Max dropped back into his corporal from when he reached the cemetery. The sounds of fighting reached his ears, and while he did not sense his lover, he went to investigate anyway. It was one demon, a slime demon by the smell of it. He watched, amused, as the two teenage boys went at it.

“Jesus Kyle, aim!”

“I am! Why don’t you hold it still, damn it?!”

A growl. “You think this is easy? Why don’t you try it?” The boy, Max recognized him as Liz’s wolf, held the struggling demon as still as he could why the other boy, only human, took a swing and sent the head flying. Green blood spurted before the body disintegrated, landing on the werewolf.

The boy with the axe looked at the other and grinned. “That’s a good look for you Michael.”

The wolf, covered head to foot in slime in blood, growled a warning. “You’re dead meat, Valenti.”

For the first time, Max acknowledged that he knew who this Kyle Valenti was. It was there in a flash of Liz’s memories, the picture of this boy’s face and the guilt and regret associated with that face. His amusement died. This was the boyfriend then, the one she had been so worried about. Max’s eyes narrowed and he moved toward the two still arguing humans, clapping mockingly. “That was truly pitiful.”

They turned to him in surprise. The unworthy one shifted his grip on his weapon and glared at Max suspiciously. Max did not bother to address him, but focused instead on Liz’s friend, who was trying to look as intimidating as possible covered in green goo. “Where is the Slayer?” he inquired.

Michael cracked his knuckles, “Way I hear it, that’s none of your business Evans.”

A brow arched, Max took another step towards him. “You heard wrong. Now stop trying to divert me, wolf, where is Liz?”

“Evans.” The contemptible boy spoke, sounding surprised. “Maxwell Evans, the vamp we’re not supposed to dust, that’s you?”

Max turned to him, eyes cold, and regarded him with the same sort of contemplation scum deserved. “What of it?”

“Liz didn’t tell us you had died so young,” he stated, and though the suspicion had left his eyes, it had entered his voice.

His smile was devious, his words held a hidden meaning, “I’m sure there is a lot that Liz did not tell you about me.”

Kyle’s frown deepened, but Michael moved in front of him, aware of the bloodlust in Max’s eyes when he looked at the blonde boy. “Liz isn’t here, now leave.”

Max stared at him and gave a sardonic grin. “So loyal to your mistress, it shows good breeding,” he taunted. Michael snarled, Max’s grin widened, and then he left.

Where was she? His mind was racing furiously as he returned to his home. She had not been patrolling, and she had not been at her home. Her bedroom had been empty but for clothes strewn about and the lingering of her scent and another of the sea. He opened his mind and ceased breathing as the connection flowed over him. He felt content as he realized she had been feeling just as bare as he had been.

Max probed her mind gently, making sure that she was unaware of his intrusion, as he tried to ascertain her location. And then it happened, her presence brushed past him like the wind and he rushed again to the window to stare out of it. There, he sharpened his vision, getting out of a car at the party house down the street. His eyes drank her in as she walked toward the open door, arm in arm with another girl.

A plan formed in his mind and he dimmed down the connection to a low simmer, so that she was not alert to it even in her subconscious, and he exited his home and strode down the street wrapped in darkness.

To be continued...

Please leave me some feedback!

Okay, this part turned out different than I expected, so no actual "cementing" yet, just some party fun.

Fifteen

Darkness had fallen early it seemed. Liz hoped the boys were doing all right in their patrolling. The beasties had been slightly increasing in numbers lately, ever since that night Max had ‘rescued’ her. A sense of déjà vu was intruded on her memories. The neighborhood seemed vaguely familiar to her, but she was sure she had never had a cause to be on Murray Lane before.

“Liz, is this rockin’ or what?” Maria exclaimed, interrupting her thoughts as she pull Liz into the house.

Liz spared the room full of drunk and groping teenagers a glance and looked at her friend. “It rocks my socks, Maria,” she stated seriously.

The blonde let out one of her musical laughs. “Lighten up, Lizzie. You need to get your mind off of whatever problems you and sexy French guy are having.” She grinned a very mischievous grin and tugged Liz further into Neil’s home to the kitchen, where Pam Troy had a funnel down her throat and was chugging Vodka. Ignoring the hated girl, Maria grabbed two plastic cups and filled them from the keg. She handed one to Liz and sipped the other.

“Think we should stop her?” Liz mused, not drinking.

“Why?” Maria asked, “She wouldn’t listen.”

“But still…” Liz bit her lip and put the cup down on the counter. Elbowing a few jocks out of the way, she approached Pam. “This is dangerous,” she informed the other girl over the chanting crowd. Pam rolled her eyes and glared. Liz looked at Tommy, who was pouring the alcohol.

“I think she wants to say ‘screw you’,” he shouted, expression apologetic. Liz nodded and managed to squeeze her way back out of the group of people and to Maria.

“Told ya.”

“Let’s go,” Liz replied.

“No!” Maria cried, green eyes wide, “We just got here.” Liz gave her the death glare she normally reserved for hyped-on-their-own-strength vamps right before she dusted them. It had no effect on the lively blonde. “C’mon Lizzie,” she pleaded, pouting, “Forget drinks, we’ll dance!” And, excited, Maria again pulled the brunette into the living room where couples were indeed dancing.

“Maria.” Their host, Neil, was suddenly there, one hand extended to Maria, a charming grin on his face. “Care to dance.”

“Sure,” Maria agreed, simpering. She turned to hand her drink to Liz and winked. “It’s the bra,” she whispered.

Liz rolled her eyes and watched as the cute senior wrapped his arms around her best friend. Maria had brought her amazing Aqua Bra to wear under the blue blouse she had borrowed from Liz, and it really accentuated her assets. Ahem.

The Slayer glanced down at her own outfit consisting of just a soft red shirt and black, pleated skirt. Her heels were only a half-an-inch off the ground, her make-up light, and her hair fell in soft waves down her back. She felt like a shadow to Maria brightness.

“Hey babe.” Not amused, Liz scowled at the short young man standing in front of her. She knew Octavio, he was a stoner, and showed up at parties only for the jello shooters and to dj. “Wanna dance?”

“No, thank you,” she responded icily, looking away.

“C’mon-“

“She said no thank you.” Surprised, she lifted her head to stare at the unknown man. He was glaring at Octavio and towering over her as well.

“Sorry, dude, didn’t know she was taken.”

“Well, dude, now you know.”

Octavio backed away, hand held out in a gesture of placation. Slightly annoyed, Liz opened her mouth to tell the stranger that she was perfectly capable of fending off irritating little worms, but never got the chance.

“Hi,” he said, holding out a hand. His grin was disarming and infectious. Liz smiled back. “I’m Doug Shellow.”

“Liz Parker,” she responded, shaking his hand. He was tall, dark-eyed and dark-haired, and he had a great smile. Not as nice as Max’s but… She mentally shook her head. This night was about escaping the drama having a vampire lover caused. It was about being normal. “You don’t go to West Roswell.”

“No,” he blushed, “I go to UNM, just home for the weekend.”

“Home?” she inquired, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m Neil’s older brother.”

“Ah,” she nodded, “And what are you studying?”

“Archaeology.” His face grew animated, “I’ve just signed up to do some summer research with Dr. Sorenson around here. He found some odd bones while he was surveying the land for MetaChem’s new facility. He’s gotten a grant to do some investigating. It’s really a great opportunity for me.” She nodded, and his smile became sheepish. “Sorry, I don’t mean to talk about myself so much, I just-“

“No,” she corrected, smiling, “It really is interesting, my grandmother is actually working on some dig sites in Egypt right now. I find the process fascinating.”

“It is!” he exclaimed. He nodded decisively and then met her gaze questioningly. “But what would be even more fascinating is dancing with you,” he said.

Liz felt her lips quirk upward at the awkward invitation, but she nodded and put down Maria’s drink. “Why not? It’s the least I can do for my hero.”

He blushed again, but drew her into his arms as a slow song started playing. Liz leaned against him, eyes closed, and tried not compare his body to Max’s, but it was so hard. Especially when her entire being was rejecting another man holding her. She squeezed her eyes tight against the images being played on the insides of her eyelids, images of Max’s solid form hovering above her, his lips on her skin. Liz drew in a breath at the rush of longing that went through her.

The brush of power was unexpected. She felt it and was instantly alert. Doug started choking. She stared at him, confused, as he drew away, hand on his throat. “I’m gonna get some water,” he coughed, as he left her in the middle of the dancers. Liz ignored his departure, focused solely on finding the source of that power.

It brushed by again, this time like large, warm hands caressing her body. She closed her eyes and shuddered. A delicious laugh rolled through her mind, Ah ma petite, how I’ve missed you. Liz gasped at the seductive voice and spun around, eyes searching frantically.

There.

She stilled, caught by his intense gaze. He stood, dressed incongruously in jeans and a T-shirt, watching her. Her body tightened as his amber eyes looked her over from top to bottom. She could see the desire swimming in the golden depths and felt herself responding. Those phantom hands slid down her waist, invisible lips kissed her pulse points. Liz blinked, and he was gone.

Come. His voice was in her head again; their connection roaring to life so powerfully that she could scarcely draw breath. Come, he repeated insistently, and she went.

Liz walked as if in a daze, out of Neil’s house and down the street. She walked until she came to a front door and turned the knob, unsurprised when it opened. A single light burned in the entry way, and Liz stopped to shut the door and lock it. She looked around curiously until she was arrested by the sight of a pair of Converse All-Stars white canvas high-tops. It was absurd to think of Max wearing them, but she kept her giggle to herself and slipped off her own shoes to rest beside his.

She hesitated, not sure where to go. The power source was coming from below ground. Visions swam in her head of his hardness against her softness, his mouth on hers, and wine dark satin sheets. Swept away, Liz found herself moving without volition, her mind caught within his.

It came as no shock when she found herself in the basement bedroom. She moved into the room, her mind her own again, and stared at Max. Nude, he gave her a small half-smile that made her think of all the things he could do to her. He turned toward her, every line of his masculine body illuminated in the fire light.

“Take off your clothes.”

To be continued...

Muahhaha! I'm so evil! Please leave me feedback!

*************AUTHOR RESPONSE*************

Okay, we all know what this means...I will be updating within the next two days. Normally it would be tomorrow, but that's my mom's b-day and I don't know if I'll have time. Plus I have two papers due for English. *sigh* I should actually be finishing Sweet Rosalyn, but I'm not in an angsty mood. I'm in a sexy mood, and vampire Max is sexy.

I want to thank everybody for their bumps, that interest in the story remains strong in the face of my unreliableness is heartwarming, thank you. *hearts you all*

sunrise102: Don't worry about nitpicking, I do it myself. I look at the neighborhood dilemma like this: Max sleeps during the day, protecting himself with wards to keep out other unnatural baddies. Neighbors would naturally visit during the day, in which case Max would not be able to answer the door, and they would assume he was working, or at dusk when Max could either let them visit or plant suggestions of leaving him alone into their minds. Vampire powers are handy! Hopefully this makes sense. If not, we could always just say it was a very unfriendly neighborhood. (God, the comma-splicing I just did! I will go down in the annals of english as a bad grammarist (is that even a word?)!!)

Just so you know, I have been stretching my writing muscles. SR29 is 3/4 done. And I've been dabbling in tag fics for A Dragon's Heart. (Not sure if anyone's interested in these, but I've got ideas. Of course after seeing my list pf planned fics, everyone's probably thinking; No new ideas! Bad Nicole!) I normally just sit down and write out a part, and rarely think past two parts further until I'm there, but I don't have enough time and work to actually crank out a part (especially as writing cementing scenes with another person hanging over your shoulder is weird. ) I've got some fun ideas to get us to the end of Little Slayer though, I was inspired tonight. My use of random characters and details scare me sometimes...

Ugh, I babbled, didnt I? I'm sorry. Just know a part is coming and it will be NC-17 (just a warning).

*blake*