Roswell Fanatics

<center>Chapter Ten</center>

~Liz~

“Sex is a very serious step.”

Lord, kill me now! This is fast becoming my mantra. I’m beginning to seriously consider having it printed up on a t-shirt. Or branded across my forehead.

“Um…Mom, Dad…why don’t you just take that butter knife over there and jam it right here.” I gesture to my jugular vein. “It would be quicker, trust me.”

So I’ve been expecting this conversation. I can even see how they believe the situation warrants it but…I’m fricking eighteen years old! I’m way beyond the sex talk here, people, but they’re insisting and they are my parents so… Like the good and dutiful daughter I’ve always been I endure it…God, do I endure it.

“Sweetheart,” my mother sighs, “This melodrama is hardly necessary. What your father and I want to discuss with you is perfectly natural.”

“Then why didn’t you try it when I was twelve,” I banter back, folding my arms over my chest in a gesture of mutiny.

My father appears both flustered and frustrated by the question. “You weren’t interested in boys at twelve,” he mutters, “God, why couldn’t that have continued?”

“Dad, look at me,” I cry with some exasperation, “I’m not a little girl anymore! I’m in a relationship now and…and I really don’t feel comfortable discussing…well, discussing the personal aspects of that relationship, especially with you guys!”

“Liz, if you’re not comfortable saying the word sex then you’re probably not ready for it,” Mom reasons gently.

I whimper. Seriously. I mean I’m literally mewling here. This is painful. And embarrassing. Mortifying. Humiliating to the 1000th degree. Pick the appropriate SAT word and I’m it. I’d gladly dive into the nearest hole but God isn’t good enough to provide one.

“Okay,” I grunt, “Just say whatever you have to say really, really fast and put me out of my misery.”

Mom and Dad exchange anxious looks before clearing their throats to begin again. “As your father was saying,” Mom resumes austerely, “Sex is a serious step, Liz. It marks the beginning, not only of a physical relationship, but an emotional one as well. You’re not just sharing your body with someone, Liz, but your trust and your self-respect as well. You want to make sure that the partner you choose is worthy of that honor.”

“Mom…” I say with as much dignity as I can muster, “Max and I are not having sex.”

“You’re not far from it,” Dad remarks sharply, “Lizzie, he was between your legs for God’s sake!”

I bury my flaming face into my hands, my stomach lurching with sheer horror. Is it possible to die from embarrassment cuz I swear I’m near a heart attack? “Dear God, let it end soon,” I mutter in prayer, “Let it end soon.”

“Lizzie, you just started going out with this boy,” Mom whispers somewhere above my head, “Your father and I are just concerned. Don’t move so fast, sweetheart. Give yourself the opportunity to get to know him and give him the opportunity to know you.”

“And if he can’t wait…then you know what kind of character he has,” Dad adds.

I don’t look up at them during this sage advice. Looking them in the eye is an impossible feat at this moment. I’d rather chew ground glass! “Are you going to ground me?” I mumble in question.

“No, we’re not going to ground you,” Mom sighs, sifting her fingers through my hair like she used to do when I was little. Her reply surprises me so much that I glance up…momentarily. “You’re eighteen now, baby,” she continues, “We can’t tell you how to live your life anymore or who you can date and we’re not going to try.”

“But there are rules in this house, young lady,” Dad interjects firmly, “You won’t be entertaining him here and not during your shifts either.” And the way he says “entertaining” I just know he’s not talking about magic tricks. “Don’t think that just because you’re my daughter I won’t fire you for that sort of behavior.”

“Jeff!” Mom scolds.

“Well, she needs to know that this kind of thing is unacceptable, Nance!” Dad barks back, “If it were any other waitress she would have been gone today!”

They go back and forth for a while, arguing about me as if I’m not sitting right there in the room with them before I finally garner enough courage to ask, “Can I please be excused now?”

“One more thing,” Mom says and I don’t know why I’m surprised by the stall tactic. After all, the last twenty minutes haven’t been mortifying enough. It needs a topper and sure enough Mom gives me one. “Condoms,” she states flatly and apparently she’s oblivious to the fact my face just exploded, “Use them each and every time, Liz.”

I hug myself about the middle and just rock back and forth in my chair, squirming. But I literally fall out of my chair when my father adds, “Maybe we should think about putting her on birth control, Nance.”

“Okay, that’s it!” I rant, surging clumsily to my feet, “If and when Max and I decide to have sex I will be sure we are protected! Secondly, if I need birth control, I’ll take care of that, too!” They’re so shocked by my outburst that neither of them says a word and by the time their jaws finally start working again I’m already beating a fast retreat to my bedroom.

Once I reach sanctuary, I lock the door and lean back against the wood with a massive sigh. This sort of stuff could only happen to me. I should have known the second I began dipping into that metaphorical bowl of sexual pleasure all hell would break loose. I close my eyes and slide down the length of my door with a long-suffering groan.

“That bad?”

I pop my eyes open again to find Max grinning at me from my bedroom window. “You’ve got some balls,” I remark in dazed surprise.

“I should hope so,” he quips, landing deftly on his feet as he jumps from the window.

“How’d you even know this was my room?”

“Lucky guess,” he ventures.

“It would have been your ass if you’d been wrong,” I tell him.

“And sooo worth the risk.”

We meet each other in the middle of my bedroom and tangle together, our lips meshing in a torrid kiss. My hands go on an expedition for naked flesh almost immediately. I just can’t help myself. There is just something about Max’s body that is so unbelievably touchable. I can’t get enough. His chest, his back, the muscled bunch of his shoulders…all areas of extreme fascination for me.

“What are you doing here?” I ask when we finally come up for air.

“I was going to go home but…”

“But…”

“I had to see you again,” he whispers into my mouth.

His tongue traces a delicious line along my lower lip before creeping into my mouth. I fit my body closer, every nerve ending in my skin alive with prickling awareness as he skates his hands over my skin. “This is so dangerous…your father will skin my ass if he catches me,” he mumbles before covering my lips with his own. His hands sweep down my hips and cradle them so that our groins grind together in a manner that’s blatantly sexual. Just when I’m starting to get into it, though, Max pushes back from me slightly. “What is it about you that gives me a death wish?”

“Huh?” I mumble, still a little lost in the sexual haze he’s created.

“Your parents,” he clarifies, “They’re here right now, aren’t they? I fully believe your dad is capable of murder.”

“Max!” I laugh.

“You might think he’s a teddy bear but to me he’s a grizzly!”

“You’re insane.”

“So where are they?” he persists, throwing a cautious glance towards my door.

“It’s locked…don’t worry,” I tell him, “They’re in the living room right now.”

He cast another fearful glance towards my bedroom door, as if he doesn’t believe the lock will be enough. A myriad of expression flicker across his features, punctuated finally by extreme unease. “I guess I’d better go then,” he says, “I just wanted to make sure everything went alright for you.”

“In a manner of speaking,” I hedge.

“Why? What did they say?”

“They want me to use condoms and to get on birth control,” I inform him flatly.

“Did they talk about how sex is meaningful and how you should wait until it’s the right person?” Max deduces.

“Yeah…how’d you know?”

“I got the same talk from my dad when I turned sixteen,” he says, “I know how humiliating it can be.”

“Yep, but it was worse because I’m really not doing anything…not yet anyway.”

“Oh…” he groans in sympathetic pain.

“Yeah…oh.”

“So…uh…are they gonna have a problem with us seeing each other?” he worries.

“Actually, they were pretty accepting about that,” I tell him, “I’m an adult and I get to decide who I want to be with.”

He looks so startled by my answer that I have to giggle. “They really said that?”

“Yeah…” I whisper, tilting back my head for the kiss I know is coming. We sip at one another’s lips lazily before tempering off to sigh into each other’s mouths. “I wish you could stay here with me.”

“If I do then we’re both going to be in big trouble,” he whispers, “Your body and your bed are a lethal combination, Parker.”

“Okay,” I pout, letting him step out of the circle of my arms, “I’ll be a good girl.”

“And I’ll reward you for it,” he teases, tweaking my nose.

I plunk my hands on my hips and level him with a “yeah, right” look. “How is that?”

“I’m going to invite you to dinner at my house tonight. I want you to meet my parents,” he replies, shocking me so badly that I stumble over into my desk. He grabs me around my waist to keep me from falling altogether but my books and cds go tumbling to the floor instead. He snickers and I groan but he doesn’t release me. No, he steps closer and I find myself trapped between the hard edge of my desk and Max Evans’ hard body. “You’re clumsy and you hyperventilate,” he laughs, “What am I gonna do with you, Liz?”

“Why am I forever making a fool out of myself in front of you,” I mutter in an underbreath.

“Well, I like that,” he whispers. I glance up and find myself locked in his enigmatic gaze, falling into it. “I like you, Liz.”

“I like you, too,” I whisper in return.

“So come to dinner tonight,” he implores, “Meet my folks. I know they’ll love you.”

I don’t even have to think this over. It just feels right. “Okay, I…I will…”

It’s likely I would have been rewarded for my acceptance with another breath-stealing kiss but the remainder of the haphazard pile on my desk decides to give way in that moment and crash loudly to the floor. We both freeze in horror as my dad’s voice sounds in our ears. “Lizzie? You okay in there, honey? What are you doing?”

“I’m fine, Dad,” I call back, “I’m just cleaning up!” Once I’m assured that my dad’s not going to come and investigate my claim further I move Max cautiously towards my bedroom window. “You’d better go now,” I tell him unenthusiastically, “I’ll see you later tonight, okay?”

He grins and yanks me close for a sound kiss. “Tonight,” he confirms. And then he’s gone, ducking through my window and hurrying across my balcony.

I watch him go with a dreamy smile.

Steph: I wanna see RJ pics too! *bats eyes* Pretty please?


<center>Chapter 11</center>



~Max~



“Maxwell Evans, if you lay one finger on that pie, you’ll lose it.”

I glance over at my mother who has yet to even turn around, simply continues chopping vegetables as if she hadn’t a care in the world. “How do you do that?” I mumble, scratching behind my ear sheepishly.

“I’m a mom,” she returns in a wry voice. “I’m the equivalent of a superhero. And I have the power to disintegrate annoying teenage offspring who are about to drive me crazy.”

“I wasn’t going to eat it,” I cross my arms defensively. “I was just checking to make sure there weren’t any nuts… Liz is allergic to nuts,” I add in a soft voice. Just another little tid-bit I learned during one of our extensive conversations.

My mother glances over her shoulder now, a look of amusement on her pretty face. “Is she?” she asks in a knowing voice, causing a flush to rise to my cheeks. “I don’t remember you worrying so much about my cooking when you brought other girls home for dinner.”

“Mom, I’ve never brought another girl home…” I trail off when her lips curve and feel like an idiot.

“Exactly, sweetie,” she walks past me on her way to the sink and tenderly pats my cheek. “So what makes this one so different?”

I lean against the counter, watching as she rinses her hands under the cool faucet. An affectionate smile lifts my lips as I watch her. Okay, I’ll admit it… I’m a total Mama’s Boy. I’ve always been closer to my mother than my father, not that I love either of them any differently. But there’s always been a special… something that allows me to talk openly with her. And she nearly always knows what’s going on in my mind, so I’m not surprised when she zeroes in on my feelings for Liz.

“She might be the one,” I answer quietly, feeling a rush of warmth go through me as I admit aloud the thoughts that have been churning around my mind for days. Hell, years if I’m completely honest with myself.

She pauses, then turns to regard me through solemn brown eyes. “Oh honey… are you sure? You’re still so young and… I don’t want you to put too much emphasis on something that might only be…”

“Mom,” I interrupt, “I’ve always felt something for her. I… it seems like she’s always been here,” I add to myself, unconsciously rubbing a hand against my heart, not catching my mother’s sharp gaze.

She dries her hands on a dishrag and walks over to me. She lets out a sigh, then smiles as she wraps her arms around me. “If you like her so much, she must be very special,” she says in a soft voice. “And I know your father and I will love her.”

I’m about to answer when the doorbell rings. “Uh… I better go…” My feet are already inching towards the living room when the bell rings again, a little more insistently.

My mother’s brow rises. “Impatient, is she?” she teases.

I turn around and jog towards the door, opening it with a smile. “Hey, you’re early…” My smile fades into annoyance as I stare into the inviting expression of Tammy Curtis. “Tammy,” I state inanely, anger building inside me.

She steps a little closer, causing me to back up as I hold the door open. “Hi, Max. It’s great to see you again,” she purrs, her eyes drifting brazenly down my body as she attempts to come inside.

I block the entrance with my body, plastering a look of polite disinterest on my face. “What are you doing here?” I ask bluntly.

She looks honestly surprised, then the coy expression returns as her lips fall into a pout. “Max… I was invited. Didn’t Isabel tell you?”

“Isabel.” My teeth begin to grind together, my jaw locked so tight it would need a crowbar to pry it back open. That interfering, backstabbing… I slam the door in Tammy’s bewildered face as I turn on my heel and shout, “Isabel!”

“God, Max… is it necessary to scream?” my sister appears from the top of the stairs, tossing her hair back as she regards me coolly. “What is it?”

“You have a visitor,” I say through my teeth, my fists clenched at my sides. “Want to explain to me what the hell she’s doing here, Iz?”

“Language!” I hear my mom tsk from the kitchen and try to tamp down on the volume of my voice.

Isabel looks surprised by my vehemence. “Visitor?” she frowns, then her eyes go wide. “Oh! Tammy! I forgot I invited her to dinner tonight.”

I take her arm as she tries to pass by me. “You forgot?” I hiss. “Isabel… you know Liz is coming here tonight… any second in fact. And you invited Tammy Curtis?”

She yanks her arm away and glares at me. “Who cares if she’s coming here, Max? Tammy is my friend, too, and last I checked I was allowed to have friends over, just like you.” With that, she puts her nose in the air and goes to let Tammy inside.

I stand there, wondering what exactly is the penalty against fratricide, when Michael walks through the back door. I stare at him as he comes up behind my mother and lifts her straight off her feet.

“Michael!” she shrieks, slapping at his hands as he grins at her. “Put me down, you silly boy.”

“Mrs. E… looking lovely as usual,” he smacks a kiss on her cheek and tries to sneak around her for a slice of cheese. She smacks his hand again and he manages a pained expression that has her laughing.

“Michael, what are you doing here?” I demand, walking into the kitchen and feeling more than a little put out.

“Since when do I need an invitation?” he asks in a wounded tone, then ruins it by grinning at me. “Besides, there’s no way I’m going to miss this.”

Before I can even question him or kick his ass right back out the door, two more figures walk through. “Kyle! Tess?!” I frown darkly as they join the melee in the kitchen. “What the fuck are you guys doing here?”

“Language!” Michael and my mother say at the same time, a huge mocking grin on my best friend’s face as he shakes his finger at me. Oh, I’ll deal with him later…

Kyle ignores me, walking over to grasp my mother’s hand. “Hey, Mrs. E,” he places an extravagant kiss on her hand which has my mother twittering like a freaking schoolgirl. “You get more beautiful every time I see you. When are you going to ditch these losers and run away with me?”

“Okay, Eddie Haskell,” I growl, folding my arms across my chest. “Someone mind explaining to me why you’re all here and Tammy Curtis is in my living room?”

“Tammy’s here?” Tess scrunches her nose. “That girl is such a hooker, Max. Why’d you invite her?”

I wait for my mom to bust Tess on her language but she just starts humming under her breath, going back to chopping veggies. “I didn’t invite her!” I practically yell. “Isabel did.”

Just then, my dad walks through the door. “What’s all the racket in here?”

The doorbell rings again and I throw my hands up as everyone starts talking around me. I rush out of the room, ignore Tammy as she tries to call out to me, and throw open the door.

“Max.” Liz stares at me with more than a little trepidation and I realize that I must be foaming at the mouth or something. “Are you… okay? Should I come back another time…”

She trails off when I grab her arm and shut the door behind us, dragging her back behind the house. My mouth crashes down on hers as she stifles a surprised squeak, her lips immediately melting against mine.

I slant my mouth the opposite direction and frame her face with my hands. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I murmur against her lips, resting my forehead against hers.

“Wow… well, okay…” she giggles, running her soft hands down my shoulders. “Max… what is it?”

“There’s something I should tell you,” I state grimly, wincing in anticipation of her reaction. “Liz…”

“Max? Where are you?” Tammy calls, the sound of her heels clicking along the pavement as she draws closer.

“Is that… Tammy Curtis?” Liz’s eyes widen and then turn accusing. “What’s going on here, Max?”

“Isabel invited her,” I say quickly, pulling her behind a bush as Tammy continues to call my name. “It’s like an insane asylum in there, Liz. I swear I only meant for you to be here tonight. I’m so, so sorry.”

“Why would Isabel invite…” she trails off, making a knowing sound. “Your sister doesn’t like us being together,” she surmises flatly. “So she found a proper alternative.”

“Hey, look at me,” I chuck her chin, forcing her to retain eye contact with me. “There is no alternative, okay? There’s only you,” I say softly, rubbing the pads of my thumbs along her cheeks as she stares at me with huge eyes.

Her lids droop as I lean closer, lightly brushing her lips with my own. “Max…” she sighs, wrapping her arms around me. “This is… this is crazy.”

“I know.” I don’t even have to ask her what she means because I feel it too. This insanity that takes hold whenever I’m around her. It isn’t purely sexual, but an emotional madness that makes me crave her – body and soul. Listen to me, I sound like a friggin Hallmark card and I love it.

Our lips crash together, tongues tangling as hands grasp for any available skin. I’m about to slide my palm up the hem of her shirt when a loud gasp breaks us apart.

“Oh my God,” a disgusted voice snaps, and we look over to see Tammy frowning fiercely.

Liz stiffens and tries to pull away, but I simply smile lazily, keeping her pressed against me as I eye Tammy through hard eyes. “Oh, hey Tammy.”

“Hi, Tammy,” Liz adds in a soft tone.

“Hello, Liz,” she practically spits, every syllable coated with venom. “Max, your mother says dinner is ready.”

“Great,” I manage to keep my voice level and not curse her for the disdain shining in her eyes towards Liz. “Could you, ah… give us a second?” I ask meaningfully.

Her eyes widen and then her cheeks burn as her lips press together tightly. She throws Liz one last condemning glance before turning on her heel and stomping inside.

“All your friends are going to hate me,” Liz says glumly, unwrapping herself from me as soon as the front door slams shut. “Who are we kidding, Max?”

“Don’t you dare,” I say in a shaky voice. “Are you going to let Tammy Curtis make you doubt me, Liz? Make you doubt us?” My voice is low and pleading as I hold her wrist so she can’t leave.

“I just… I don’t know if I can,” she answers, chewing her lip furiously. “Max… everyone thinks we’re crazy. Maybe we’re just… too different.”

“I’m crazy,” I whisper, jerking her back against me, “about you. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”

With that, I pour myself into the hottest kiss I can manage while stuck inside a hedge, a branch poking me in a place best left unmentioned. She resists at first, then slowly softens into the embrace until her hands are gripping my hips and tiny mewlings are escaping her throat.

We pull away, gasping for breath as we gaze at each other through heavy lids. After a long moment of waiting, she slowly smiles and releases a shaky breath.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

We join hands and turn to face what is sure to be an interesting evening.

I'm back...for now anyway. I've been having some computer problems lately and I don't know if they're all fixed. This is the first time I've been able to log onto the Internet in 2 days. So here's the nex update, but if you don't hear from me again then you'll know why, lol.

<center>Chapter 12</center>

~Liz~

By the time dinner is over I’m still half convinced I should get the hell out of dodge but Max’s caressing fingers does much to influence me to stay. He holds my hand gently beneath the table, giving me a reassuring squeeze whenever the moment warrants it.

If I’m completely honest dinner isn’t a horrid affair despite the circumstances. Still I’m very cognizant of the fact that Max’s ex-girlfriend sits less than three feet away from me. She is tall with long blond hair and bright blue eyes, my complete antithesis. In fact, I’ve noticed that, with the exception of Michael, most of Max’s friends are blond haired and blue-eyed. The beautiful people, indeed. I’m up close and personal here people and I gotta say…not feeling too attractive at the moment.

But then all I have to do is glance up at Max and see the besotted smile he’s not bothering to hide and it doesn’t matter. By some miracle, Max seems to like me fine just the way I am. Where I see lack, he sees only perfection. I wonder if his tendency for looking at the world through unspoiled eyes pertains to everything or just me in particular. At the moment, his gentle way and smile are the only things that keep me from slipping under the table to hide.

Again, I’d like to reiterate…it’s not that bad. But then if I had a choice between electro-shock and this dinner, the former would be mighty tempting right about now. It’s obvious by now that two ninths of the table hates me vehemently, another two ninths is only looking for a good show while the rest genuinely want to know me better. The odds are definitely in my favor.

I take further comfort in knowing that Max’s parents seem to have an understandable curiosity about me. I am, after all, the first girl Max has ever brought home (and I swear I’ve been doing emotional cartwheels over that one ever since.) I had to ask Mrs. Evans to repeat herself because I knew I’d misheard her somehow. No way am I the first girl Max Evans has taken home to his parents! But I am…as amazing as it is, I really am and I can’t stop smiling.

Consequently, I’m so happy that I hardly think to be offended when his parents’ questions become incredibly probing. I gladly answer them, even the incredibly stupid ones from his jock friends. Rather than irritating me, as they might have not long ago, now I’m merely amused. In fact, their gracious acceptance of me helps to take the edge off Isabel and Tammy’s constant and unabashed rudeness. The fact that Max is stroking my palm with his index finger does wonders, too.

“So, Liz,” Mr. Evans booms as Mrs. Evans serves up a piping hot pie for dessert, “Where exactly did you and my errant son meet? You two don’t seem like you’d have a lot in common.” Mrs. Evans elbows him in the shoulder for his trouble and so he attempts a sheepish save. “What I meant is…you don’t strike me as a girl who would find football all that interesting and…well, Max pretty much eats, sleeps and breathes football. You don’t seem like you…um…mesh.”

“Yeah, the brain and the beast,” Michael jokes under his breath. Tess saves the day by jabbing a mean elbow to his gut. He can do little more than squeak afterward.

“What I’m saying is…” Mr. Evans plods on, ignoring his wife’s meaningful stare, “Max has never been all that interested in books and schoolwork.”

Max groans aloud at his father’s comment and across the table Isabel and Tammy snicker behind their hands. They receive a death glare from Max for their trouble. “It’s not like I’m an idiot, Dad,” he grumbles, “You act like I ride the short bus or something. I make good grades.”

“You could make better if you applied yourself,” his mother points out.

I have to agree. I’ve really known Max less than a week but in that short time I’ve discovered the marked intelligence he hides behind that façade of boredom. I know he loves football but I can’t believe he loves it as much as his father thinks he does, not when he’s talked to me about his secret passion for literature and writing. I suspect Mr. Evans doesn’t know his son quite as well as he thinks and that most of Max’s drive for football comes from another source entirely. I have to wonder if playing pro ball one day is really Max’s dream…or his father’s.

“Actually…” I say in answer to Mr. Evans’ earlier question, casting an impish smirk in Max’s direction as I do, “I think our differences are the best part of getting to know each other better. It would probably be incredibly boring dating someone who was just like me.”

“I’ll say,” Isabel mumbles behind her napkin but in a way that it’s obvious she wanted to be heard. Tammy backs her up with a twittering laugh laced with obvious malice.

I suppose I left myself wide open for that one but it doesn’t make me want to kick her teeth in any less. For Max’s sake, I refrain from retorting but he’s all too willing to step in for me. It does not escape my notice nor anyone else’s at the table as Max shoots her the finger under the guise of scratching his nose. Isabel flicks him with a spoonful of corn in retaliation. Max, in return, sends one of his untouched brussel sprouts whizzing past his sister’s head, narrowly missing her temple.

“Hey!” Isabel glares, “You almost hit me, you retard!”

Max snaps his teeth at her. “Next time I won’t miss, Princess Isamee.”

Mrs. Evans swoops in before it can degenerate to a full-fledged food fight. “Children, please. Good heaven’s, Max!” his mother admonishes with an eyeroll, “Not in front of your company.” She offers me a chagrined smile as she slides into her seat. “These two are always giving me grief,” she sighs, “I apologize for their behavior, Liz.”

“No, it’s fine,” I smile, “I’ve always wanted a brother or sister myself. I think it would be nice to have someone to bicker with.”

“No, you don’t,” Max contradicts with a pointed look towards his sister, “I’ve told my parents plenty of times that if they had to bring home a stray from the pound I would have preferred a dog hands down.”

“Hah, hah, whatever. You’re so lame, Max,” Isabel grumbles.

“You’re so lame, Max,” Max mimics in a high falsetto.

I have to smile behind my hand. Not because he’s dissing his sister who, by the way, totally deserves it, but because seeing him in his element is such an unexpected treat. I love how he banters back and forth so easily with his family and friends. It’s like he’s comfortable no matter what even when he’s in the most uncomfortable situation. Nothing ruffles this guy. I don’t know if this is a natural tendency of his or if it’s affected for my benefit but, whatever the reason, I’m glad I have him on my side.

“Liz,” Mrs. Evans declares after directing both her children with a warning glower, “Max says that you’re a real fan of baseball.”

“Oh, I love it!” I exposure, “Ever since my dad took me to my first game. I was seven at the time and not very happy with his choice for recreation but when we got to the ballpark it was like… I don’t know…I’ve just loved the game ever since. I actually caught a fly ball that day.”

“I’m glad you had a good time the other day,” his mother says, “Cameron wasn’t too much of a bother, was he? Sometimes my nephew can be a bit rambunctious.”

“He was perfect,” I tell her, “I loved meeting him.”

“So then you’re not adverse to Sports?” Mr. Evans speculates, I suppose attacking the subject that’s nearest and dearest to him.

I offer him my most dazzling, good-girl smile. There hasn’t been a parent born yet that I can’t win over. “No, sir.”

But Philip Evans is pretty tough. He emits a grunt at that, as if he’s weighing my remark and its implications. “Have you ever seen Max play?” he wonders.

“Only twice,” I confess sheepishly, “Usually I was always too busy with schoolwork to really take part in many extracurricular activities--,”

“Loser!” both Tammy and Isabel cough alternately.

I’m not certain but judging by the abrupt jarring beneath the table as well as the pained expression that passes over both girls’ faces I’m sure someone has kicked them. And hard, too. However, as I glance around at the possible suspects no one is giving anything away…all angelic countenances to be sure. However, Tess Harding and Kyle Valenti seem the most likely suspects. They’re in the perfect position and they appear much too innocent. I offer them both secret smile of thanks.

“Liz is to be commended for her dedication to her studies,” Mrs. Evans chastises her daughter, “You could take a lesson from her, Isabel, instead of spending all your study time shopping and talking on the phone. Perhaps you wouldn’t have barely scraped by in Calculus this year had you followed Liz’s example.”

“Mom!” Isabel screeches, “God, humiliate me, why don’t you?” To my utter relief, she scrapes her chair back from the table. “Come on, Tams…we’ll listen to some cds in my room. This dinner party is lame anyway.”

“Liz, you were saying?” Mr. Evans prompts when she’s gone, apparently unaffected by his daughter’s stormy departure.

“I was saying,” I plod along with a self-conscious laugh, “that I’ve only seen him play a couple of times but, from what I saw, he’s absolutely amazing.”

For the first time, Max blushes. Disaster and chaos has literally been sitting at his dinner table all night but now is the moment he chooses to blush. “You think I’m amazing?” he asks. I’m drawn to his stare like a magnet. I can’t look away even though I know his friends and family must be rolling their eyes over our sappy display.

“Philip, maybe we should leave the young people alone,” I vaguely hear Mrs. Evans suggests to her husband, “Max, why don’t you take your friends into the family room for a movie?”

In the family room while Max sets up the DVD player and simultaneously pals around with Kyle and Michael, I take a seat on the sofa. I’m surprised a few moments later Tess Harding plops down beside me, her blue eyes gleaming with mischief.

“So Max really likes you,” she opens candidly.

I’m both grateful and put off by her uninhibited manner. “You really think he does?” I ask nervously.

“Oh yeah,” she says, “I’ve never seen him act so goofy over a girl before.” I blush a little at the admission. “Do you like him?” she demands without preamble.

I cast a wistful, besotted smile in Max’s direction, of which he is completely unaware. “Very, very much.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Tess continues, “Which actually brings me to the reason why I came over here in the first place. I’m throwing another party this coming Saturday.”

I manage to drag my eyes from Max somehow. “Another?”

“Yeah, I had one last week but Max blew me off so he could go out with you.”

“Oh,” I reply, unable to discern whether she’s peeved about that or what.

I’m thinking she’s not because the next thing she says is; “Now you have to make it up to me. I’ll expect to see you both there on Saturday. No excuses. You can make moony eyes at each other in my living room.”

I’m still blushing over her blatant teasing when Max comes over and unapologetically wedges himself between us. “What are we talking about, ladies?” he asks, looping his arm about my shoulder and gathering me against his side in a gesture that’s endearingly possessive. It’s like he’s marking me as his. I honestly don’t mind.

“Tess just invited us to her party this coming Saturday,” I tell him.

“Another one?” he inquires of Tess, “And your parents are okay with this?”

“You know what they say,” Tess quips laughingly, “When the cat’s away…” However, by the time she finishes with her statement it’s obvious she’s lost Max’s attention. We’re once again staring into one another’s eyes again. “I’m going to go check and make sure the guys have chosen a chick friendly movie,” she says, hopping up from the couch, “Not that either one of you care…”

“So are you having a good time,” Max whispers when we’re alone, “I know this wasn’t the evening you were expecting.”

“You either,” I whisper back, nuzzling against his nose, “But it’s been perfect. I liked meeting your folks. I figure at least one of us should make a good impression on the ‘rents, you know, and since your relationship with my dad is pretty tentative right now that responsibility falls to me.”

“Hah-hah,” he deadpans, “I blame you completely. You’re the one who dragged me upstairs in the first place.”

“Ahh…that’s because I wanted to have my wicked way with you,” I tease, nipping at his lips, “I didn’t want to give the café a show…”

“Is that so?” he asks, smiling as he brushes my lips with light, feinting kisses.

“That’s so.”

Our lips meet in a full out kiss almost the instant we’re both smacked in our faces with a flying pillow. When we look up in disgruntled surprise we find Michael Guerin grinning at us like the Mad Hatter. “This ain’t the Holiday Inn,” he jokes, “None of us here are looking for a peep show.”

“Speak for yourself, Guerin,” Kyle wisecracks.

“Hey, I’m just trying to save Parker’s life, okay,” Michael laughs, “Max might be hazardous to her health. She’s allergic to nuts, remember?”

“Not those nuts, you half wit,” Tess grumbles, smacking him in the back of his head.

Everyone laughs over their antics, especially Max and I. We’re grinning and blushing simultaneously. “You’re such a sick bastard, Guerin,” Max tosses back, “You need serious help, dude.” Michael just laughs and turns away with a shrug. “Try to ignore him,” Max grumbles to me sweetly, “He can’t help but be a jackass. It’s genetic.”

“I heard that,” Michael sings out to him.

We share another laugh and a few more kisses as well. “Are you okay?” Max queries solicitously when we finally break apart, “Can I get you a drink or something?”

“Actually, I’ve got to pee really bad,” I confess with embarrassed reluctance, “Can you show me where the bathroom is?”

I take a few minutes extra to freshen my make-up and brush my hair into some semblance of order before finally exiting the bathroom. When I step out into the hallway, however, I’m a little surprised to find Tammy Curtis standing outside the door waiting for me.

“He doesn’t really like you, Parker,” she declares coldly, “You’re just a new piece of ass and that’s it.”

I’ve managed to make it though all of junior high and high school without getting into a catfight and I’m not about to start now. With an irritated sigh, I say, “Tammy, I really don’t have the time--,”

Tammy basically ignores me. “He’s always really sweet and charming in the beginning,” she goes on, “but once he gets you into bed he’ll dump you flat.”

“I’m not talking to you about this,” I reply glacially, sidling around her. She catches hold of my arm before I can walk off completely.

“Aren’t you curious about why Max and I broke up in the first place?”

“Not particularly,” I say, pushing her fingers from my arm, “Your relationship with Max is over now so it doesn’t matter.”

“He’s a liar and a cheat,” Tammy tells me, “He’ll nail anything in a skirt. I mean, come on, Max Evans interested in the class brain? Not. He just wants between your legs and if you’re stupid enough to fall for his line then you deserve to be humiliated. I just thought I’d warn you before he manages to convince you that it’s love or something and you make a total fool out of yourself…”

After she walks away, I continue to linger in the hallway, my heart pumping furiously in my chest. From a logical standpoint I have to admit that Tammy’s allegations make sense. Since we started dating Max has been moving incredibly fast and he does have a reputation around school for being a womanizer. Could he really just want to seduce me?

My heart rebels at the idea, however. He can’t be that good of an actor. I mean…he brought me home to his parents and he’s never done that before. That has to mean something, right? Right? I don’t know for sure and I’m suddenly really scared of taking a chance. Not necessarily because of hurt feelings. I know I can eventually bounce back from that. It’s because I’m starting to fall for Max Evans, really, really fall… And I think…I hope he’s feeling the same way. I thought he was, but now I’m not so sure. I’m really confused.

He meets me halfway as I stumble back into the family room on wooden legs. “There you are,” he laughs, gathering me into his arms so that he can nibble on my ear, “I was beginning to think you’d fallen in.”

I shrug out of his arms stiffly, deliberately avoiding eye contact with him as I easily sense the confusion in his stance. “Max, I have to go home,” I inform him gruffly, “This was a mistake.”

I don’t wait for his reply but simply beat a quick retreat for the front door. He follows me out, matching me step for step and calling after me the entire time. In the back of my mind I’m vaguely aware that we’re making a scene in front of his friends but I can’t stop running. I’m fumbling around with the keys to my car when he catches up.

“Liz, what’s wrong,” he demands, stepping in front of the car door so that I can’t open it, “Did I do something to offend you?”

I can hardly look at him right then. God, but he does look sincere, all confused and dismayed, like he doesn’t know what the hell is going on. I want to believe in him. I want that so much. “Max, I don’t think that you and I are going to work out,” I croak, “We’re…we’re too different and…”

“If this is about what my dad said,” he interrupts in a rush, “you should know right now, Liz, that there’s a lot more to me than just football.”

“It’s not that,” I mumble miserably.

“Then what?” he asks a little wildly, “Why are you leaving when I thought everything between us was great?”

“Don’t you see?” I cry suddenly, frustration, anger and confusion suddenly brimming over, “I like you, Max! I really like you! And…I wanna be with you! I want that so much…but…I wouldn’t just be with you but everyone you’ve been with before me, too…and everyone they’ve been with and… Well, I’ve never been with anyone at all so that’s a little scary for me…”

“Huh?” he bleats in confusion, “Liz, what the fuck are you talking about?”

“Sex,” I clarify softly and everything quiets between us. The chirping crickets outside suddenly seem incredibly loud. “I’ve never done that before, Max. I…I’ve never made love or even been close.”

“I know,” he whispers in a hushed tone.

“But you have,” I insist plaintively, “And I have to wonder just how serious you really are about me because of it. Is this only physical or do you really have feelings for me? I want to believe you do but everything in my head tells me that I’m deluding myself.”

“Liz,” he groans, closing his eyes and leaning back fully against my car, “I think there’s something I need to tell you.” When he looks at me again, his eyes are dark with chagrin. “There’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to blurt it out and hope to God you believe me afterwards…”

Here it comes. The big confession. I’ve been dreading it since the moment I realized that we were getting serious. While I admire his willingness towards full disclosure there’s a small part of me that wants to be kept in the dark. I’m totally expecting his number of sexual partners to be up there in the double digits. My stomach churns at the very idea.

“I’m a virgin,” he blurts suddenly.

I drop my car keys as well as my jaw in shock. Seriously, I don’t know whether I should laugh or cry. “What?”

He shrugs, grinning a little over what I imagine is the most comically incredulous expression he’s ever seen. His smile only widens as he reiterates once more, “I said…I’m a virgin, Liz. I’ve never made love before either.”

Here I be! Hope you all enjoy...

hugs,

Linds


<center>Chapter 13</center>


~Max~



Ever heard the expression “You could hear a pin drop”?

Well… I’ve never put much stock into it until right this very second. As I stare at Liz, my breath held anxiously as I await her reaction, I honestly feel like I could hear a pin drop over in East Asia.

She just continues to stare at me, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. If this weren’t so serious, it would be comical. “Liz?” I ask tentatively, reaching out to wave my hand in front of her face.

She jerks and snaps out of her daze. “What did you say?” she whispers, looking like she just saw a ghost. “You… you’re a…”

“Virgin,” I mumble, feeling like a complete idiot. Good God, how many more times do I have to say it?!

I don’t know what I expected – maybe for her to be happy, or even stay a little surprised. What I didn’t expect, however, was the fist that suddenly pummeled itself straight into my stomach.

“What the - oof!” I stumble back, my breath whooshing out as she shoves me back a full step. “What was that for?” I cry out, rubbing my tender abdomen.

“How could you say that?” she cries back, raising her fist again. “How could you?”

“Whoa, slugger!” I raise my hands in surrender, backing away as she glares at me. “I thought you’d be… happy…?”

“You thought I’d be happy?” she shouts, her cheeks burning with offense. “That you would rather lie to me than be serious about our problems?”

Lie? “You don’t believe me?” I ask, and hell, now I’m offended. We stare at each other with dark frowns and crossed arms in the middle of my driveway.

“You expect me to?” she bites off. “Max… everyone in school knows you aren’t a virgin, okay? I’m not an idiot.”

“Did you ever stop to think maybe it’s all bullshit?” I return, my voice rising with frustration. “For fuck’s sake, Liz… why would I sit here and tell you I was a virgin? Do you think that’s something guys like to announce?”

She bites her lip, conceding the point. Then she thrusts her chin up defiantly. “Not unless you think it will help you get a piece of ass.”

“A piece of…” I trail off, seeing red as my fingers twitch. “I’m going to spank your ass for that comment,” I promise darkly.

“See! That right there!” she hops up and down, pointing a finger at me triumphantly. “No virgin would threaten to spank me!”

I roll my eyes, jaw locked tight as I growl, “Hey, I may be a virgin, Parker, but I’m still a man. Don’t push me.”

“What are you gonna do?” she snaps back. “Why don’t you just tell me the truth, Evans?”

I resist the urge to rip my hair out. “I am telling you the truth! Christ, Liz… where is all this coming from? All of a sudden you’re freaking out and-“ I trail off as a disturbing thought springs forth.

Her expression becomes uncertain at the complete transformation that takes over me. I stalk forward, nostrils flaring as I utter in a low voice, “What did she say to you?”

“W… who?” she whispers. It’s blatantly obvious that she knows exactly what I’m talking about.

I take her arm, careful not to hurt her due to the maelstrom churning inside me. “Was it Isabel? Did she say something to you?” I demand gruffly, pulling her closer to me.

“No!” she hisses, trying to pull away from me, and still not meeting my eyes.

My eyes flash as I pull her up short. “Tammy,” I mutter darkly. “Of course. What did she tell you, Liz? What lie did she say to make you doubt me?”

She turns her head even further away, proving the truth. I squeeze her arm, forcing myself to gentle my tone even as the need to pound something fills me. “Baby? Tell me,” I whisper huskily, using a finger to turn her chin towards me. “Please.”

“She didn’t say anything I didn’t already know!” she cries out, a choking sob escaping her throat. “Max… look… she was right, okay? We’re just too different-“

I crush her to me and kiss her to stop her from talking. The second our mouths meet, she melts and throws her arms around me. “Do you feel that?” I whisper against her lips, running my hands up and down her back as I rest my forehead against hers. “We’re not too different. We’re perfect.”

“Max…” she sighs, nuzzling her nose against mine. “I just… are you really a virgin?”

I groan, pulling back to mock glare at her. “Listen up, Parker, because I’m not saying this again.” When I’m sure I have her full attention, I frame her face with my hands and gaze at her sincerely. “I’m a virgin, and I have no intention of making love with anyone… but you.”

She nibbles her lip, then smiles shakily. “Okay.”

“You believe me?” I ask uncertainly.

She leans forward and places a light kiss against my lips. “I figure it this way,” she says softly, her fingers playing with the hair at the back of my neck. “Whenever you’re in a relationship… like we are, I guess…”

“You guess?” I growl playfully, nipping her lip. “You better be sure, Parker.”

“Okay… like we most definitely are,” she corrects with a giggle. “Whenever you’re in a relationship, you’re opening yourself up to a lot of risk. You have to trust someone else, and that’s hard for me because… I’ve never been in a relationship like this.”

My chest swells as an embarrassed blush stains her cheeks and she looks down. “I’ve never been in a relationship like this either,” I assure her thickly, wanting her to know that with her… it’s different.

She glances up at me through a wealth of silky lashes. “The thing is, Max…” she does the nibbly thing that drives me absolutely wild, and blurts out in a soft tone, “You’re a risk I want to take.”

“Baby… I’m not a risk,” I manage to say through the emotion swimming inside me. “I’m a sure bet.”

She smiles at me, and reaches up to stroke my cheek. “I’ll see you Saturday, okay?”

And like that, I watch her drive away… a sappy smile on my face as I stand there with one hand raised. But the second I turn around, the smile fades. I stalk towards the house, throwing open the door and ignoring my mother’s voice as she calls out to me.

I stomp up the stairs, heading down the hall to stand in front of Isabel’s bedroom door. The sounds of muffled female voices and blaring music can be heard and without bothering to knock, I throw the door open.

“Max!” Isabel screeches, jumping up from the bed to glare at me. “Hello… knock, much? What if we’d been changing or something?”

“I’ll take my chances, no matter how disgusting,” I growl, my gaze seeking out Tammy, who sits on my sister’s leather chair, one long leg draped over the other as she watches me. “My room,” I utter in a deadly tone of voice.

My sister catches the warning rumble in my tone, and her eyes widen at the heat in my tone. “Max, you can’t just -” I cut her off by walking across and pulling Tammy out of the chair and dragging her out of the room.

“Max, what is wrong with you?” she snaps, tossing back her blonde hair as I slam the door behind us. “If you’d wanted to be alone…” she trails off suggestively, taking a step forward. I turn around, and she freezes.

“Stay the fuck out of my life,” I say slowly, and succinctly. Her eyes widen as I walk towards her, backing her into the wall as my eyes shoot flames. “If you say one thing to make Liz feel uncomfortable about being with me, Tammy… I will make you regret it.”

She swallows, then smirks. “What’s the matter, Max? She can’t keep up with a stud like you?” she purrs, reaching out to stroke her hand down my chest. “Admit it, you’re just in it for the pussy, Max. Everyone knows how you are.”

“Is that right?” I answer softly. “Then explain to me why I never had yours. You offered it freely enough.”

She gasps, her cheeks burning as her hand comes up to strike my cheek. I easily catch it and shove it against the door. “She’ll never believe you aren’t using her,” she snaps triumphantly. “Not with your reputation.

“A reputation you started,” I growl, seeing red. “I’m warning you, Tammy. Have your fun somewhere else. Leave Liz alone.”

“Not until I get what I want,” she throws back, a manipulative gleam in her eye. “I want what should have been mine, Max. You… in my bed.”

“Get real,” I jerk away from her in disgust. “Get out of my house, Tammy. If I see you here again, I will make your life the living hell you’ve made mine.”

“What’s so great about that little brainiac anyway?” she sneers. “She can’t give you what you want… what you need,” she purrs. “I can.”

“The only thing you give me, is a headache,” I mumble, turning my back to dismiss her. “Get out.”

“Max?”

Isabel’s head pokes through just in time to see Tammy turn on her heel and storm out down the hallway. She stares at me in shock. “What did you say to her?” she accuses heatedly. “She’s my friend, Max!”

“You need new friends,” I spit back, spinning around. “Do you have any idea what she did tonight, Iz? She almost ruined what I have with Liz.”

“So what?” Isabel rolls her eyes. “You’re being overdramatic, Max. Who cares what Liz Parker thinks?”

I stare at her in disbelief, then shout, “I do!”

“Jeez, take a pill,” she mumbles, then turns to leave. “What a loser.”



<center>***</center>



“Are these things always so… big?” Liz asks hesitantly as we make our way up Tess’s driveway towards the front door. People are scattered in the front yard, cars are parked at odd angles along the cul de sac and music is blaring from the brightly lit house.

“Tess’s are,” I respond wryly, shaking my head with a grin. “Don’t worry… this’ll be fun.”

Just then a guy speeds past on a skateboard, holding a girl on his back as they scream. Liz jumps, grabbing my arm before letting out a shaky breath. “Whatever you say,” she answers doubtfully.

“Hey,” I look over and tangle our fingers together. “Don’t worry… you’ve got me, and Michael and Kyle… hell, you’ve got Tess. The girl’s got a tongue like a snake.”

Her nose wrinkles at the imagery, but she giggles. “I still can’t believe Alex is here,” she laughs. “I hope he knows what he’s doing. Thanks Max, for getting Tess to hire them for this.”

“No problem. I’ve never heard your friend play,” I say cheerfully. “Is the band any good?”

She laughs. “They better be, or Tess might rip you a new one with that vipish tongue.”

“Hey, I have you to protect me,” I whisper into her ear, delighting in the shiver that works its way down her spine. “You wouldn’t let her hurt me, would you?”

She opens her mouth to speak, when the door is thrown open, revealing the hostess herself. She smiles widely, waving the hand that holds a cup of beer and jumps up and down. “Hey guys! I was wondering when you’d get here!” With that, she snaps her fingers and Michael and Kyle appear.

The each grab one of our arms and yank us inside. “Where’s the fire?” I laugh, wrapping my arm around Liz to help her keep her balance. Music and conversation echoes around us.

“Maximillion!” Michael chortles, slapping me on the back as he smiles drunkenly. “Where’ve you been dude?”

“Hello, pretty lady,” Kyle slurs to Liz, then leans forward to kiss her on the lips. She twitters as he stumbles into her, then laughs as I catch him by the collar and pull him back.

“I don’t think so,” I say pleasantly. “Find your own woman, Valenti.”

“I have,” he mutters sorrowfully, his eyes turning towards Tess. “She just won’t heel.”

“Oh, please,” Tess rolls her eyes, although there’s a hint of flirtation in her gaze that makes me wonder what’s really going on between those two. “I can do better than a sloppy, drunken football player.”

“You’ll never have better, baby,” Kyle puffs out his chest arrogantly.

“And on that note…” I incline my head. “We’re going to go check out the keg.” I glance towards Liz, who is staring at a couple making out heavily on the staircase. “You want a drink?”

She glances back. “Did I just see that?”

I glance over and grimace as Tommy Bolin tosses the shirt he just yanked over Pam Troy’s head, exposing a silky black lace bra. “Uh… just try to ignore it,” I mumble, trying not to laugh as Tess smacks Michael and Kyle in the head for ogling Pam’s obvious attributes.

“Slut,” Tess grumbles. “I’ll be back.” She stalks over and yanks on Tommy’s ear. We all laugh as he howls and steps back as Tess begins chewing them both out.

The sound of music blares from the backside of the house, and we all exchange glances before heading that way. When we get to the large den, we see Alex and the rest of his band seguing into the next set.

I glance over and see Isabel kissing on some guy from college she’s been seeing… Jesse something. With a shudder, I turn back in time to see Alex glaring at the couple. Judging by the glazed look in his eyes, its easy to see he’s been partaking of the festivities as well.

He grabs the microphone, getting everyone’s attention as he slurs, “Hey everyone. This next one goes out to a certain blonde-haired Ice Queen with a heart of stone. Ready boys?”

The drummer clacks his sticks together three times and a sinking feeling fills my stomach as the opening notes of Jesse’s Girl sounds from the guitars on stage.

“Oh my God,” Liz moans, covering her mouth so as not to laugh as Alex begins belting out the lyrics in a drunken tone. “Oh, Alex…”

Kyle and Michael start to crack up as everyone realizes who the song is about. Isabel turns bright red, glaring at Alex as he over emphasizes the line “And she's lovin' him with that body, I just know it”.

My friends start to whoop and holler, clapping as the rest of the crowd starts singing along. I can’t help but grin as Isabel jerks away from Jesse and stalks up to the stage, probably ready to ream poor Alex out for daring to humiliate her.

Boy, I can tell this night is going to be interesting.

<center>Chapter 14</center>

Liz

Note to self: beer and karaoke are not a good mix.

Okay, technically, it’s not karaoke…it’s Alex’s stage equipment but such items are still dangerous in the hands of a drunk. Unfortunately, the drunk in particular happens to be my boyfriend. Lovely. And what is his magnificent goal this evening? To serenade me before the entire student body to the crooning tune of When a Man Loves a Woman. I want to die.

Yet, I don’t know why I’m surprised. After all, the theme for tonight’s festivities has definitely been public humiliation. Why should I be any different? However, I totally blame Michael Guerin and Kyle Valenti. In their equally intoxicated states, Moe and Curly actually managed to convince my seemingly reasonable boyfriend that romancing me with song was a good idea.

Additional note to self: alcohol and Max Evans should not be mixed either.

Yet, the completely irresponsible side of me has to admit it’s kinda sweet and he is kinda cute, staring at me with all the forlorn adoration of a puppy as he cranks out the hook. Plus, there’s no way I can ignore the lyrics. When a man loves a woman…he can’t keep his mind on nothing else… Is Max Evans trying to tell me something? Does he…and somebody slap me for my general naiveté…love me? What other possible explanation could there be? He’s up there right now, making a total ass out of himself while rather oblivious to the fact the every eye is trained directly on him. The den echoes with the raucous hoots and hollers of our classmates.

The moment would probably be eight billion times worse had Isabel not chosen to leave earlier with her college man in tow. But I’m sure she’ll hear about it later, courtesy of Tammy Curtis who looks absolutely mortified right now. Okay…so yeah, maybe I’m smiling a little. How can I not be just a tiny bit smug here?

However, before my ardent Casanova can begin belting out his own personalized rendition of Hoobastank’s The Reason, Tess Harding and I spring forward to hustle him off the stage as we are the only two people present sober enough to care that he’s making a total fool out of himself. We are summarily booed for our efforts.

“What are you, a freak of nature?” Tess grouses as we guide my stumbling boyfriend down the hall towards, what I assume, is her bedroom, “Do you have any idea how stupid you looked up there? God! No more alcohol for you.”

“I was serenading my woman,” Max announces with a drunken grin directed at me, “Did you like it, baby?”

“You’re a moron,” is my romantic reply.

“Yup, she did,” he quips happily, “She liked it.”

He throws back his head and begins another verse of sappy love song as Tess and I can only roll our eyes and shuffle his dead weight down the hall. When we finally make it to her room we deposit him onto her bed in an unceremonious heap. “Sleep it off, Romeo,” Tess tells him, “And if you puke in my bed I’m kicking your ass.”

I start to flounce after her as she makes her exit but Max snags hold of my wrist. “Are you leaving?”

“You’re drunk and you’re stupid and I don’t think I like you very much right now,” I declare with a disdainful sniff. So that’s not entirely true but at least one of us should act as if our head isn’t tucked up our ass.

“You’re mad,” he surmises with a pout.

“And you’re not as oblivious as you pretend to be,” I toss back. I try to leave again but he keeps a firm hold. “What?” I sigh, exasperated.

“I meant what I said.”

“I’m sorry…did you say something?” I jeer, “I thought it all was incoherent babble under the guise of song.”

“I love you, Liz,” he declares softly, no fanfare, no fireworks, just plain, naked honesty. I think I’m going to cry.

“Max, you’re drunk,” I say as a way to excuse the unbidden pronouncement.

“It’s true,” he insists, “I love you. Why do you think I had to drink eight beers just to say it?” His eyes connect with mine in a liquid stare. “You scare me, Liz.”

Finally, I sink down beside him with a sigh, more moved by his candid appeal than anything else. “Why do I scare you?” I wonder shakily.

He shrugs. “I guess because…I’ve never loved anyone before.” He grimaces then, evidently displeased with the way that came out and amends quickly, “I mean that I’ve never been in love before now…before you.”

“Max, you’ve only known me a week,” I reason.

“Actually three years,” he corrects, “Longer than that if you count ninth grade.”

“You’ve known of me,” I clarify, “But you haven’t known me. We’ve only just started dating, Max.”

“You don’t think I know that,” he cries, “You don’t think I realize how completely ridiculous I sound telling you I love you after six days? But it’s how I feel…trying to keep it inside was making me crazy.”

“Max, I--,”

He reaches up to silence my words with his fingertips. “I’m not expecting you to say it back or anything,” he whispers, “I didn’t tell you for that. I just wanted you to know.” His eyes roll closed then and his fingers fall away. It takes me a few seconds to realize that he’s passed out because I’m crying over the incredible sweetness of his words.

Because I can’t believe Max Evans loves me.

<center>***</center>

I wake up with my cheek cushioned against Max’s abs and his fingers buried in my hair. For a second, I’m groggy and uncertain of my surroundings but then I remember. We’re in Tess Harding’s bedroom because Max was too drunk to walk a straight line.

My original intention was to leave Max there to sleep it off but after his declaration wild horses could have dragged me from that room. Consequently, I curled up next to him and fell asleep, too. Now I must have done some serious tossing and turning during my nap because when I open my eyes the first thing I see is Max’s groin.

His fly is literally inches from my nose.

Of course, the good girl in me is mortified by the reality, the mere implication. But the bad girl in me, the one who has been asserting herself quite frequently since Max and I began seeing each other, is curious. I think back to the other night when we went to the movies together and how he had felt pressed against my palm. Suddenly, I’m wondering what he looks like…what he feels like…

He has me an advantage on me. Already he’s explored those secret parts of my body pretty thoroughly while I know next to nothing about his, other than the fact he feels rather massive underneath his jeans. And I wonder…is it real or illusion? I’m eaten up with the desire to know.

I lift off of him slightly, nibbling my lower lip in careful vacillation. To touch or not to touch, that is the question. I mean, he is asleep. More specifically, he’s passed out drunk. Isn’t it a little presumptuous of me to assume I can touch him when he’s in this state?

Well, maybe I won’t touch. Maybe I’ll just take one quick peek and then it will be over. Just a peek… I mean, he’s looked at me; surely I can indulge, too. What can it hurt?

As I carefully flip back the button at his waistband I watch his face for some flicker of consciousness. He continues on in heavy, blissful slumber. But I can hardly crow over the victory because when I move to his zipper and slide it down the sound is as loud as two tracker trailers colliding. I hold my breath, waiting for him to wake up at any moment. He snuffles, grunts and shifts a little before falling still again. That’s all. However, it takes several minutes before I can work up my courage enough to continue.

Thankfully, he has on those button fly boxers so all I have to do is flip back the button and lift the flap. I’m a little surprised by what I find. Not the monstrous appendage I’d envisioned but a rather docile thing, lying placidly against a nest of pubic hair. I’m not revolted or anything. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it was…cute.

I push the flap back further for more detailed study. That’s a mistake because I’m not merely satisfied with perusal anymore. I want to touch him now.

Promising myself to be quick, I sweep my fingers lightly over the rounded tip. His skin is surprisingly smooth and soft and beckons me back for another caress. This time I give the base a gentle squeeze. He feels soft…squishy but not unpleasant. I’m intrigued. I realize he’s not aroused and that it’s not supposed to look the same still I’m fascinated by the difference. Growing bolder, I trace the tip of my finger up and down the length, circling the plum-like head before descending again.

My interest is growing more avid, my body tingling with the exploration when, without warning, the “docile” little thing begins to lengthen. I gradually halt in my ministrations and turn a deliberate and mortified gaze up to Max. He’s not sleeping anymore.

His eyes are half-mast, heavy-lidded and regarding me with unconcealed amusement.

“Hi,” I whisper inanely.

“Hi,” he whispers back, “What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” I lie and then I drop my eyes as his eyes gleam with my response, “I should stop…do you want me to stop?”

“No.”

My startled eyes zigzag back to his face. “No?”

He reaches down to where my hand lays harmlessly against his abdomen and moves it further down his body, where he is fully aroused. “No.”

I swallow hard, suddenly frightened by the intensity that has sprung up between us. “What should I do?” I ask him as he curls my fingers around his erection.

“Whatever you want,” he invites gruffly, closing his eyes again, “Just don’t stop.”

He has to help me find a rhythm because I’m too nervous to begin on my own. His hand cradles mine as we begin a gentle stroking up and down the length of his cock. Max makes the choked, whimpering sounds in response and they’re almost as exciting as touching his burning hot skin.

And he is hot and hard and so amazingly smooth and soft I can’t believe it. I stare at his body in fascination, noting the veins that trace their way through his penis. I’m overcome with the desire to trace them with my tongue and the idea makes me blush. Uncertain, I glance back up at Max.

His head is thrown back as he mutters hot, unintelligible words, his body jerking beneath our mutual touch. I’m making him feel good. The realization smacks me like a tsunami. Suddenly, I want to give him more. I want to make him feel the way he made me feel that night in the back of his jeep. I want to send him to the stars.

Never ceasing in my pumping motions, I lean up onto my elbow and dart my tongue against the tip of him for an experimental lick. Max freezes at the gesture and so do I. When I look at him again I find that he is watching me with surprised longing but he makes no effort to push me away. On the contrary, his eyes beg me to go on.

Almost unconsciously, I dip my head lower so that my breath wafts against his fevered skin. He contracts his fingers against my scalp as if to say, “Go on. Finish what you’ve started.” So I do.

I take him into my mouth and begin to suck. His taste is surprising and unexpected. This isn’t the part where I romanticize on poetically, likening him to strawberries or sunshine or some other ridiculous shit like that. His liquid oozing from his body tastes tart, faintly metallic but oddly arousing just the same. Honestly, I garner more pleasure from his excited gasps than anything else. I bob my head faster, following the unconscious guidance of his hands, listening to his body so that I’ll know what to do next.

As I take more and more of him into my mouth his hips tremble beneath me and his hands fist reflexively into my hair. Max surges into my mouth with penetrating, uncontrolled thrusts and I quickly learn to use my tongue as leverage to keep him from sliding too far down my throat. On the final lunge he grunts then whimpers then floods my mouth with the warm, creamy tide of his orgasm. I swallow slowly, accustoming myself to the taste and deciding that I like it after all.

I lift my head again and offer him a tentative smile. “Was it okay?” He nods jerkily. “Good.” He pulls me back up against him and we snuggle together on the bed, close and silent. I wonder if he’s drifting to sleep again and I’m surprised because I feel wide-awake, as if my every nerve ending is singing. I give his side a careful squeeze. “Max?”

“Hmm?” he mumbles drowsily.

“Why did you wait?”

I’m not surprised that I don’t have to elaborate further. Max has this uncanny ability to understand me no matter what. “I was waiting for you, Parker,” he tells me solemnly, “That’s all. I was waiting for you.”

Sorry for the delay guys!! Here's some fluffy transition for ya! Enjoy!!!

hugs, Lindsay


<center>Chapter 15</center>


~Max~



“So, are you gonna give it to Liz?”

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. The sound you just heard was indeed my eyeballs popping out my head and my jaw hitting the ground. I stare at Cam, arm hanging in suspension as he watches me curiously.

“G… Give it to her?” I manage to croak out, glove dropping from my hand. “What are you talking about?”

He shrugs, shifting his cleated feet in the dirt as he slings his bat across his shoulder. “I dunno… I heard Michael and Kyle saying you were. What are you giving her, Max? Is it her birthday or something? I wanna give her something, too.”

I resist the urge to laugh hysterically, and make a mental note to beat the crap out of my friends. “No, Cam… it’s not her birthday. Michael and Kyle are idiots, remember?”

He narrows his eyes. “Then why do you hang out with them?”

“Because… guys like buddies who are dumber than they are,” I mumble in righteous indignation. “Now, are we gonna practice or sit here talking about…” I can’t even say it. Jesus Christ.

“You sure are acting weird,” he drawls, but adjusts the brim of his ballcap and takes up his batting stance. “I hope when I go all goofy over a girl, I can at least remember to buy her a present.”

“It’s not her birthday!” I feel agitated enough to point out. Then I realize I’m arguing with an eleven-year-old. And he’s winning. “Just hit the damn ball,” I grumble, preparing to launch it at him. And possibly not in the strike zone.

“Language, Max,” he sings in a frightfully good mockery of my mother. Oh… this kid is going down.

I lob the ball, watching it sail through the air… only to connect with Cameron’s bat as he swings, sending the ball across the field. I shade my eyes and look up, admiring the distance as he lets out a whoop. “Not bad,” I murmur with pride. “You’re getting pretty good, Cam. Try it again.”

“Bring it on.”

After an hour or so, we trudge towards the parking lot laughing and tossing equipment into the back of the Jeep. Cam hops into the passenger side as I crank the engine. I glance over at him while pulling out of the parking slot. “You hungry?”

“You buying?” he shoots back and I reach over to thump him in the head.

“Unless you’re suddenly rolling in the dough with that paper route, then yeah I’m buying. Now shut up and pick a place.”

“All right, don’t get your Jockey’s in a twist,” he grins at my warning expression. “Let’s go to the Crash so I can see you act like a dodo by drooling all over Liz.”

“One of these days, munchkin,” I roll my eyes, sliding on a pair of sunglasses. “And for your information, I have not nor will I ever, drool.”

“But you act like a dodo, right?”

“Wanna walk?”

“Hey, I’m cool.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Unfortunately, Liz isn’t there when we walk into the crowded café fifteen minutes later. We’re met by none other than Maria DeLuca, who takes one look at me and smirks.

“How’s the head?” she asks, all sweetness despite the wicked amusement in her verdant eyes.

“Head?” I repeat, then flush in realization. “It’s fine,” I mumble, glaring as she starts to snicker. “Didn’t even get sick.”

“Well, that’s good,” she says airily. “After all… if you’re going to make a fool out of yourself, you shouldn’t be too ill afterwards to enjoy it.”

“Very funny,” I mutter. “How’d you find out about it anyway? Did Liz tell you?”

“Oh honey…” she clicks her teeth sympathetically. “Even if Liz hadn’t told me… it’s all over the high-school grapevine. It isn’t everyday the School Stud himself pronounces love for the School Brain at a kegger.”

“What’s she talking about?” Cameron asks in a loud whisper, drawing Maria’s attention.

She looks startled, then smiles broadly. “Well, if it isn’t Mini-Me. You’re a cutie, huh?”

“You’re a cutie, too,” Cam winks shamelessly. “You got a boyfriend, goodlooking?”

“Oh, nice influence,” Maria laughs at my embarrassed expression. “And as a matter-of-fact… I don’t. Wanna be my boyfriend…?”

“Cameron,” he grins. “And you’re Maria.”

Her eyes widen and she glances at me in surprise. “How’d he know that?” she asks suspiciously.

“It’s on your nametag,” Cam answers innocently. “I’ve heard Michael talk about you before. He says you’re fiesty, but you have a stick up your butt that needs pulling.”

I choke, turning away so as not to witness the steam literally pouring from Maria’s ears at this comment. “Oh hell,” I snicker. Michael’s in for it now.

“Michael Guerin?” she asks through her teeth. “He says I have a stick up my butt? You can just tell that ignorant, deluded, chauvinist prick—”

I cough loudly while Cameron looks on in fascination. “Maria,” I try to break in, wincing as her voice begins to carry and capture the attention of the nearby customers.

“—that I’ll pull that stick out of my butt and lob him over his porcupine head with it!” she finishes in a high-pitched screech. The entire café is quiet as she takes a deep breath and turns around. “What, what, what?”

People raise their brows, but go back to their conversation and dining. Cameron is openly laughing and I’m trying to figure out how to stop the storm that’s brewing in Maria’s temper when the door chimes behind me.

Maria’s face darkens and I don’t even have to look to know who just walked in behind me. I let out a long-suffering sigh, and do the only thing I can – grab a seat nearby to watch.

“You,” she breathes in a tone that nearly causes the ground to shake beneath us. She stalks forward, antennae bobbing on her head as Michael watches her approach with surprised trepidation.

“Hey, Blondie—“ he cuts off when she plants her hands on his chest and firmly pushes him back outside. “Hey!”

Maria glares at him, shuts the door in his face and turns the lock before turning back around with a smile. “So… would you guys like a table or a booth?” she asks in a prim waitress voice, as if there wasn’t a teenage male outside yelling to be let in.

Before I can answer, Mr. Parker walks up. “What is going on?” he demands, looking from Maria’s flushed face to Michael’s aggravated one behind the glass. Instead of appearing angry, he sighs and places a hand against his head. “Maria… I thought I told you that you couldn’t just lock customers out of the café?” he says in a pleading voice.

Cameron laughs again, and I have to admit… I’m pretty close to losing it over here, too. But Gigantigor’s frown in our direction is enough to have me staying stoic.

“Mr. Parker, I was following CrashDown policy,” Maria returns. “Dogs aren’t allowed in the general café area.” She looks over her shoulder and glares. “And that was one mangy mutt.”

“God help me,” Mr. Parker mumbles. “Maria, take five. Actually, take fifteen,” he adds. “And… sniff some cedar oil or something.”

“But Mr. Parker, I—“

“Now, Maria.”

With one last growl, she turns and stalks into the backroom. Mr. Parker shakes his head before turning towards me and Cameron. “Women,” he grumbles, sending me a surprising look of commiseration. “It isn’t too late to turn back now, Max.”

A small smile lifts my lips. “Yes it is, Mr. Parker.”

He studies me for a moment, and whatever he sees seems to satisfy. “Good. And you can call me Jeff. Who’s this?” he nods towards Cameron. “Little brother?”

Cam looks extraordinarily pleased by this. “No sir, I’m his cousin. His favorite cousin.”

“Pretty much,” I grin, slapping his back. “This is Cameron. Cam, this is Liz’s dad.”

“Cool,” he nods. “I like Liz, a lot.”

“So do I,” Mr. Parker grins. “Well, I better go let the ‘mangy mutt’ in. I’ll see you guys later. Oh, and Max… Lizzie is upstairs studying for a summer program. I’m sure she’d love to see you,” he says pointedly, and at that moment I realize… he finally trusts me.

“Thank you, sir,” I say quietly, accepting his overture for what it is. “We’re going to have some lunch, but then… yes, I’d like to see her, too.”

He nods, then heads off.

I gaze longingly at the door that leads to the upstairs apartment until Cam clears his throat.

“Dodo…”

“Bite me,” I growl, and reach over to put him in a headlock as Michael comes storming up, Kyle and a few other guys trailing behind with obvious looks of amusement.

“Where is that psycho?” Michael demands in a low growl, his cheeks flushed. “I’m about to pull that stick out of her ass and knock her over the head with it!”

Cam and I exchanged interested glances. “She’s back there,” Cam points towards the break room. “But I don’t think she wants to see you.”

“Do I look like I care what she wants?” he snaps, then stalks over, slamming through the flapping doors. A shriek sounds… then nothing.

“Twenty bucks she kicks his ass,” Kyle wiggles his brows. “Come on, Cam… throw in the pot.”

“I only got twenty,” he shakes his head. “Find another sucker.”

“You’re a cool-headed eleven-year old,” Kyle answers with pride. “All right… we’ll make it five.”

“I’m in,” Cam nods. “Double or nothing they’re in there making out.”

“You’re crazy, kid,” Kyle shakes his head. “But hey, you want to kiss ten bucks goodbye…”

Before he can finish, the doors open again and Michael spills out, his hair disheveled and the first three buttons on his shirt crooked. A lipstick print mars his cheek and he touches his mouth before walking right back in.

Kyle’s mouth drops open. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Pay up,” Cam smirks. “Sucker.”

Linds, you're probably going to kick me, but I feel like celebrating tonight! Whoo-hoo! And no...still not finished with Octoroon. I'm halfway there, though.

<center>Chapter 16</center>

~Liz~

Booklets. Brochures. Applications, applications, applications!

I am on my bed surrounded by paper. My eye itches. My butt is asleep and, for the past half hour, I’ve been watching the suspicious migration of a spot on my wall. Essentially…I’m bored out of my mind.

I miss Max.

The realization provokes an internal growl. Not because I don’t want to miss him but because it’s all I seem to do these days. I can’t concentrate on anything anymore! Specifically, I’m wondering why he hasn’t called. We’re entering the afternoon hours here and I haven’t heard so much as a peep.

Now I argue with myself that this is actually a good thing. I have many things to do, very important things and without Max distracting me I can get those things accomplished….in theory. It’s too damned bad that every thought I’ve had since waking this morning has revolved around him.

In a little more than two months I am going to start my study abroad program and I have yet to organize a single detail for the trip. What’s worse than that…I’m not even sure I want to go anymore. My head and heart are all turned around. It’s ridiculous. I’ve known the guy for eight frickin’ days and already he’s got me second-guessing my life plan! But I can’t help it.

I love him.

And thus ends my self-denial. I’m in love with Max Evans and I don’t want to leave him. Not for a day, not for a week…not ever.

Geez, now I’m really depressed.

The last thing I want or need is the gentle knock on my bedroom door. Parental hovering is not high on my list right now. Still, I put forth a grudging effort. That is what good girls do, after all.

“It’s open, Mom,” I call out.

A second later I hear the creak of my door and a laughing voice sounds over my shoulder. “Um…guess again, baby.”

Okay, it’s ridiculous how he can make my heart trip over in my chest just by speaking but he does. Somehow I manage to restrain myself from leaping off the bed and straight into his arms as I swivel around to face him though I’m close…damned close. Instead, I shove my brochures aside and remain where I am, hiding my hurt and insecurity that he hasn’t called all morning behind a façade of sarcasm. “Mom, you’ve changed.”

“Hah-hah,” he responds mildly, “Do you wake up snarky or is it something you save especially for me?” I don’t say anything, my expression clearly transmitting the fact that I’m waiting for him to explain himself. He squirms under my scrutiny and gives his ear a sheepish scratch. “So I…um…woke up and you were gone,” he stammers nervously.

“Yeah…I called Maria for a ride,” I tell him, “You were…kinda…incapacitated.”

“Yeah…” he agrees with a grimace and then carefully shuts my bedroom door so my mother can’t overhear us. “Liz, I’m so sorry about last night,” he whispers sincerely as he approaches me, “I normally don’t drink that much but I was a little nervous and…God! I can’t believe you had to call Maria for a ride home…”

“Which part are you sorry for?” I query softly, “Making a complete ass of yourself or telling me you loved me?”

His mouth stretches in an impish smile and my heart goes tripping again. “For the former…of course,” he answers, stooping down before me, “Because I definitely love you, Parker. I’m not taking that part back.” I try not to react his declaration but he begins fiddling with my bare toes and my stomach flutters in reaction. He’s looking at me much the way he had when he was singing to me last night, like he can see straight through my clothes.

Is it hot in here? “So…uh…is that why you didn’t call?” I stammer as he leans in to kiss my throat. His fingers are inching slowly up my bare shin and my thoughts start to scatter. Why was I pissed at him again?

“I was scared,” he mumbles into my skin, “I thought you’d be mad.”

I shove at his shoulders, determined not to give into his seduction act…not yet anyway. “How do you know I’m not?” I challenge, “Do you know what I had to endure last night because of you? Maria chewed me out the entire way home. She thinks I’m turning into a pod person or something. She says I’ve even managed to ‘turn’ Alex, whatever the hell that means.”

He smirks at me. “A pod person?”

“Just a nickname we have for the beautiful people,” I mumble with a dismissive wave of my hand, “Anyway, it doesn’t matter! The point is…you were too drunk to take me home and then you proceeded not to call! It’s not looking too good for you right now, Evans.”

“So noted,” he says, “But, for the record, the reason I didn’t call was because I was ashamed and…nervous…”

I frown at him. “Ashamed I get, but why nervous?”

“Well, I was wondering if…that maybe you…um…well, you were...um…” he hedges in a stammer, his eyes falling away from mine.

“It might make more sense if you toss a verb in there somewhere, Max,” I return dryly.

“You know what happened between us last night,” he hisses in a whisper, a faint blush staining his cheeks, “I thought you might regret it.”

The forceful reminder elicits a blush from me as well. “Oh…so you remember that,” I breathe weakly.

“It was pretty unforgettable,” he replies in a low tone, “Why’d you do it?”

“I…I just wanted to, I guess,” I murmur in answer, “I was curious.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“Did you like it?”

“Did you?”

Throughout the course of our whispered bantering we’ve drifted progressively closer, until our mouths are within inches of each other. “Yeah,” he whispers, sliding his fingers into my hair to frame my face for his kiss, “It’s all I could think about all day…how it felt to have your hands on my skin…to be inside your mouth... I want you to do it again, Liz…I want to do you…”

His honest reply leaves me moaning but before he can stoke the fire crackling between us by giving me the kiss we both crave my bedroom door flies open. Max whirls away from me in a guilty flash, knocking over my lamp in the process. He catches it before it can crash to the floor and I have to swallow back my answering snicker at his uncharacteristic clumsiness.

My mother cocks a warning brow at us both. “If he’s going to be in here, Liz, the door stays open,” she declares succinctly with a meaningful glance directed at us both.

“Thank you…Mom,” I choke.

“Yes, Mrs. Parker,” Max manages respectfully, but he sounds like he’s dying.

“Very good,” she says, nodding, “Carry on.”

Only when she’s gone do I snort with laughter, rolling across my bed in hilarity. Max’s expression is so priceless that I can’t help myself. He’s frozen in place, the lamp still in his hands. “You can move now,” I chortle, “She’s gone, Max.”

“Damn,” he groans, replacing my lamp onto my nightstand, “Why does that keep happening to me?” He flicks me with a worried glance. “Do you think she’ll tell your dad? I just gained his respect, Liz, and I--,”

“What’s to tell,” I interrupt softly, inexplicably moved that he cares so much about my dad’s opinion. I think I love him even more than before. “We weren’t doing anything,” I tell him, “We didn’t even kiss…”

“…yet,” he finishes for me.

“Yet,” I concur softly.

“So about last night…”

“Yeah?”

“I really liked it,” he whispers, “No one’s ever done that for me, Liz. I…I never thought you would want to do that so… It was really special for me.”

I’m melting. Physically, I’m sitting in the middle of my bed. Figuratively, I’m a puddle of goo. Max has that effect on me. “Really?” I sigh, “You thought it was special?”

Max nods, approaching me slowly. “I hated waking up and finding you gone though.”

“Well, you had a big night with your concert and all,” I tease him, “You needed your beauty rest.”

He nibbles on his lip in self-consternation. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

“Why should I?” I query laughingly, “Besides you’re so damned cute when you blush.”

He grins. “You think I’m cute, huh?”

“Did I say cute? I meant passable…decent… You’re better looking than the average hunchback.”

Laughing, he lopes over to me, giving a rather good impression of Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell ringer. “So do you forgive me for last night?” he asks, “And for not calling this morning? It’s not because I didn’t want to… I just thought maybe you wouldn’t want to talk to me.”

“Well, you thought wrong,” I reply without scorn, “But you’re forgiven anyway.”

I swear his entire face lights up like the fourth of July. “You think you can give this hunchback a kiss then?” he asks, falling down beside me.

“I think that’s doable,” I whisper, leaning up onto my knees to grant his request. It’s just starting to get good, his tongue sliding between my lips in a deliciously slow way, his fingers pressing into my bottom to bring me down against his body, when my mother’s voice sounds from somewhere out in the hall.

“Off the bed, you two!”

Max whips out from beneath me quickly and rolls from the bed to assume a post halfway across my bedroom. I roll my eyes. “Is that really necessary?”

“I have to put some distance between us,” he explains, “Otherwise I won’t be able to control myself and your mother’s going to be forced to kick me out.” Even with the distance between us his fervency is palpable. “I want to be with you, Liz.”

I don’t have to ask what he means by that. “I want to be with you, too.”

“Um…my cousin’s downstairs right now,” he explains, “I promised I’d spend the afternoon with him but…later tonight can I come and pick you up? There’s someplace I want to take you.”

I give him an unhesitating nod. “Should I bring anything special?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “Just you. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

He looks like he wants to step forward and kiss me again but with my mom lurking out in the hallway he doesn’t dare. “So I’ll see you later…around six o’clock maybe…”

“Six o’clock,” I confirm.

He nods, his eyes glowing with a sultry light. “Alright then,” he says, “I’ll pick you up at six.” I know this is the point where he’s supposed to leave but he doesn’t move and I’m not disappointed that he doesn’t. “I’d better get back downstairs…” he says inanely, “Cam’s waiting.” But he still doesn’t move.

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

We rush each other then and meet in the middle of my bedroom for a brief but undeniably torrid kiss that sends me straight up into the stratosphere. I’m floating on such a high that it doesn’t completely dawn on me until he leaves a few minutes later.

Oh. My. God.

I’m losing my virginity tonight.

For those of you who want to put a face with Cameron, our resident stud in the making, lol, here's an awesome banner that Linds created. Isn't it beautimous???

<img src="http://img44.photobucket.com/albums/v13 ... maxcam.jpg">

Hey guys! I told you I wouldn't leave ya hanging for too long! First off, let me thank everyone who wished us congratulations... Dee and I are pretty shocked and excited by the awards. We definitely couldn't have done it without you guys, so thank YOU!

Secondly, in case you missed it... here's the link to the Max/Cam banner if you want to see what Cam looks like. I had a few pms about it, plus it's always easier for me to have a face with the character, so here ya go!

Max and Cam

Lastly... this part is definitely NC-17, so if you don't want to read it... skip the end. Okay, that's pretty much it. Hope you guys enjoy!!

Hugs, Lindsay


<center>Chapter 17</center>

~Max~



Oh. My. God.

I’m losing my virginity tonight.

Wait… I’m cool. I’m collected. I’m… hyperventilating like my damn girlfriend.

“Max? Are you okay?”

“No!” I bark, glancing over to see Cam watching me with raised brows. “I mean… of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

“Because you just tried to put your arms through a pair of pants?” he asks, grinning impishly as he watches me from across the room, lounging across my bed as his head hangs over the edge.

I glance down, and sure enough find myself up to my elbows in jeans. “Dammit,” I mutter, yanking the denim down and tossing it to the ground. “It’s not funny,” I mumble as he starts snickering. “Why don’t you go… bug Isabel or something?”

“She loves me,” he brags, sitting up to run a hand through his tousled hair. “But maybe I’ll go bug Aunt Di for some food. Let you have your little freak out…”

“I’ll give you a head start,” I raise a brow meaningfully, and watch as he laughs and starts out of the room. I can’t resist smiling at his departure, but when the door closes loudly behind him, I’m once again alone with my thoughts.

Okay. I can do this. I’m a high school graduate, for God’s sake. This is just… sex. Just sex.

Oh, it’s not just sex! It’s the first time I’m making love… with the woman I love. What if I don’t do it right? What if I do do it right? What if—

“Max! Get your minion out of here!” Isabel screeches into my thoughts, causing me to jump. Biting back a smile, I open the door to see Cameron standing by innocently as Isabel fumes in front of her door, her face blood red.

“Nice undies, ladies,” Cam sings, wiggling his brows as the girls in Isabel’s room giggle and start whispering. “See ya, Iz.”

“Ohh… you’re turning him into you!” my sister snaps, catching my amused expression before turning and slamming the door. I hear her yell out, “He is not cute! He’s eleven years old!”

I wink at Cam and he sends me a thumbs up before sliding down the bannister. I shake my head and return to my room, checking my watch as I realize it’s nearly time to pick Liz up.

Well, nucking futs.

I speed-dress and am just grabbing my car keys in preparation to head out the door when my mom stops me with a quiet, “Honey?”

I pause, glancing over to see her watching me with an unreadable expression. “Uh… yeah?” I ask, trying not to look like I have naughty thoughts on my mind. Even though I do. Oh, boy do I.

“Are you going out with Liz tonight?” she asks pleasantly, although there’s a hint of… something that gains my attention.

“I’m picking her up right now,” I answer slowly. “We’re going to…” I trail off and just know my face is turning red as her eyes grow knowing. “Mom…”

“I trust you, Max. Your father and I trust you to make the right decision,” is all she says. But the hidden meaning is well understood.

“Yes, ma’am,” I mumble, feeling sufficiently chastised. “I’ll be careful,” I add, hoping to God she doesn’t ask me—

“If something happens, Max… promise me you’ll use protection.”

“Mom,” I groan, feeling my entire face go up in flames. “I’m leaving now.”

“Max, promise me.”

“Okay,” I state firmly. “I promise.” Before she can start talking again, I’m out the door.


<center>***</center>


“So.”

“So.”

“So… are we going to leave?” Liz asks, glancing at me with a half-smile as I continue to stare at her, hands clenched around the steering wheel. The Jeep sits in front of the CrashDown, as it has since I came to pick her up.

“Uh… yeah, yeah sure,” I mumble, clearing my throat and begging myself to get a handle on it. I reach down and flip on the radio, wincing when a Linkin Park song blares out of the speakers. “Sorry,” I mumble, blowing out a breath as I quickly turn it down.

“Max, are you okay?” she reaches over and lightly touches me on the arm. “You… look a little…”

“I’m fine,” I snap, then close my eyes as I catch the hurt look on her face. “Sorry,” I mumble again, tugging on the collar of my shirt. “You look… really good, Liz.”

“Thanks,” she answers softly, not meeting my gaze as she folds her hands in her lap, staring out the window. Ouch.

I blow out a beath, shifting to wrap my arm around her headrest. She stiffens slightly as I brush against her neck, but doesn’t look my way. “I’m sorry,” I murmur huskily. “I’m just… kind of nervous, and you look so… incredible…”

Out of the corner of her eye she glances at me. “Nervous?” she asks in a small voice. “Why?”

As if she didn’t know.

I swallow, and allow my fingers to tangle in her loose hair. “Because… I have you all to myself… for the whole night…” I whisper sensually, tracing the contour of her neck as she shivers. “Aren’t you nervous?”

“Maybe,” she whispers, turning her head to meet my gaze full on. Tension crackles in the air, and her lids begin to lower as our mouths draw closer together.

The sound of laughing people breaks the moment as a group enters the café, and I clear my throat before offering her a small smile. “Okay, let’s go.”

She nibbles her lip, but nods. “Okay. So… where are we going?” she asks curiously, running her palms down the knee-length skirt that flitters across her legs. “I didn’t know…”

“You look perfect,” I assure her, trying to keep my eyes on the road and not the curve of her shapely calf. “You always look damn perfect, Parker. But… it’s a surprise.”

Her lower lip pokes out, but she smiles. “You’re no fun,” she replies in a teasing purr.

Oh, baby… let me show you just how fun I plan to be. No, no. Drive, Evans. Drive and concentrate on the road.

I’m unable to resist glancing over and swallowing when she shifts, the skirt traveling high upon her leg. I pull into the parking lot, determined to make it a quick stop. “Okay.”

She glances up and the teasing smile fades from her face to be replaced with a look of shock. “Uh… Max…?”

I look over and see her staring at the huge Chuckie Cheese's sign in front of us. “What?”

She opens her mouth, then smiles and bites her lip, shaking her head. “Nothing,” she says, reaching over to open the door. I’m about to tell her she can stay in the car, but she’s already out and waiting on me.

When we walk inside the building, the scent of pepperoni pizza and children’s sweat automatically overwhelms me and has me grinning at memories from long ago. I look around until I spot the sandy-head in the corner, and make my way over.

“Hey,” I tap Kyle on the shoulder and grin as he turns to face me. “Long night?”

He rolls his eyes. “I only took this job for the unlimited skee-ball. I didn’t realize I’d end up cleaning barf out of the ball pit every damn day. I’m up to my knees in pepperoni chunks, Evans.”

“Wow, that’s… nice,” I wrinkle my nose in disgust as he grimaces at me. “Anyway… do you have them?”

“Yeah, yeah… I brought them,” he digs into his pocket and produces a set of keys. “Thanks for letting me use the cabin, buddy. You’re a definite life-saver,” he winks.

“No problem,” I murmur, glancing over to see Liz taking a seat at a nearby table. “What’s she doing?”

His gaze follows mine and he lets out a chuckle. “Looks like she’s trying to keep Chuckie from hitting on her,” he says ruefully as the giant mouse-man approaches and starts talking to her. She shakes her head politely, but I can tell by the way her hands are clenched together in her lap that she isn’t loving the attention.

“See ya,” I mumble, waving to Kyle as I make my way over. “Get lost, Chuckie,” I firmly push the figure away and take Liz’s hand. “What are you doing?”

She looks at me with surprise. “I was sitting down… I thought this was…”

Realization washes over me, along with amusement. I struggle not to laugh and maintain an offended expression. “You thought I was bringing you to Chuckie Cheese’s for our date, Parker?”

Her eyes narrow at my teasing tone. “We are here, Evans,” she retorts, folding her arms across her chest and glaring at me.

“Not for long,” I promise, pulling her to her feet and placing a chaste kiss against her cheek, well-aware of the children running around us. “I had to pick something up… but now everything’s ready.”

On the subsequent drive, the conversation grows slightly uncomfortable as we near our destination. It’s like we both know what’s going to happen once we’re there, and neither of us are sure what the other’s thinking about it.

“Frazier’s Woods?” she asks uncertainly. “What’s here?”

I look over, meeting her questioning gaze. “My family has some property out here,” I say softly, watching her eyes widen with realization. “It’s just a little cottage… but it’s nice.”

Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t look away. “Isn’t the land over here pretty expensive…” she trails off at my raised brows. “Right. Never mind. I guess I’m just not used to spending time with the wealthy and beautiful,” she adds wryly. I want to comment on that, but as I pull in front of the small cabin, her entire face lights up.

“It’s so cute,” she smiles, leaning forward. “It’s like a little doll’s house.”

“You can thank my mother for that,” I grimace goodnaturedly. “Wanna go inside?”

She turns to me, hesitates before nodding. “Yes, I do.”

I swallow, following her out of the Jeep as we walk the short distance to the brightly painted door. I fumble with the keys in the growing dark, cursing my thick fingers and the nervous ball of energy swimming in my stomach.

Finally, the door opens and I walk inside. Turning around, I’m about to open my mouth when she shuts the door and throws herself at me. “Liz,” I mumble in surprise, catching her as her lips crash down against me. “Whoa…”

“Max,” she whispers in a shaky tone. “Max, I want…”

Words are lost as her hands start flying across my clothed chest, sliding underneath to rake across my skin. My eyes roll into the back of my head as my fingers tangle in her hair, dragging her lips harder against mine. “Oh, Christ… slow down…”

“I can’t,” she whispers again, pulling my head back down as teeth and tongues nip.

“Liz?” I whisper gruffly. “Are you sure? God… we don’t have to do this… we don’t have to—“ I trail off with a groan when she reaches down and boldly cups my erection through the denim.

“I think you want to,” she whispers back thickly, tracing her fingers across the taut material and nearly bringing me to my knees with the gentle caress. “And so do I.”

“Oh, Christ,” I whistle through my teeth as her nails rake across my groin, and my hands fall to her hips, pulling her closer as our lips meet in a scorching kiss. Heavy breathing. Quiet moans.

“I have to be inside you,” I pull back gasping, gazing at her through half-lidded eyes. “I can’t stand it anymore, Parker. Let me be with you.”

“Be with me, Evans,” she whispers, licking her lush lips that are now swollen and glistening from my own. With a groan I lean forward and capture them again, sliding my hands down to grasp her bottom and drag her upwards so that our lower bodies are nestled together.

As if it’s the most natural thing in the world, she rears up and wraps her legs around my waist, locking us together as I stumble towards the small bedroom. I pause against the doorframe, pulling back to tear her shirt over her head. My lips press against her naked collarbone, nipping as she arches her head back and purrs in a tone that has me gritting my teeth in anticipation.

My own shirt joins hers on the floor, and she begins to run her fingers across every groove in my chest before pulling me closer so that our upper bodies meet for the first time without the barrier of clothing.

It’s so damn hot.

That’s all I can think as we near the bed, collapsing onto the mattress, our lips never leaving each other. She lands on top of me, but I quickly reverse our positions until I’m hovering above her, and without any reservation, my lips find her nipple.

“Oh, my God!” she gasps, hands tugging my scalp as I suckle her hungrily, unable to ebb the torrent of desire that’s been building inside me for too damn long. “M…Max…”

“I want to eat you up, Parker,” I admit huskily, glancing up to meet her blurred gaze. “I want to taste every damn inch of you. God, you’re a fucking delicacy.”

I switch to her other breast before she has a chance to reply and give it the same treatment. My other hand is busy inching up her skirt, molding the flesh of her thighs. I bypass the heat in between, and reach for the band circling her hips. One swift jerk and the band snaps.

“You… you’re making a habit of that,” she manages between mewling moans. “Ripping my underwear.”

“I know. I kind of like it,” I murmur silkily. “Maybe I’ll keep these.” My lips curve at her disbelieving expression, and I watch with unconcealed pleasure as her eyes go wide.

“What are you doing?” she demands in a mortified whisper as I stuff the lace into my back pocket. “Max!”

“You talk too much, Liz,” I answer in a sensual rumble, sliding her skirt down so that she'’ completely uncovered to my gaze. As I glance down, every breath leaves my body and I find myself dumbfounded by the first sight of her entirely naked body. “Wow.”

She reaches a hand down to cover herself, even as I capture her wrist. “Don’t hide from me,” I whisper in a voice much harsher than I intended. “Never hide from me.”

“I… I know I’m not what… you’re expecting…” she stammers, a pretty flush lighting her cheeks even as she stares at me with stark desire.

My chest swells at her uncertain expression and I bend down to kiss her lips. “Hey, virgin here, remember?” I murmur playfully against her mouth. “I’m not expecting any of this. And how do you know I won’t be what you expect?”

She shoots me a wry glance. “I really doubt that will be possible,” she purrs, making me gulp as her gaze travels down my chest towards my low-slung pants. “Take it all off, Evans.”

I groan. “Now she gets all commanding.” But I can’t help but grin as I stand up, holding her gaze as my hands fall to the button on my jeans. I cock a brow as she sits half up, licking her lips. “A little eager, are we?” I chuckle, unbuttoning the clasp.

She doesn’t answer, but her eyes widen as the zipper starts its slow descent. My heart is beating so loudly in my head, I barely make out her softly uttered, “Oh, my God…”

Burning from the inside out, I put an end to modesty and shove my pants and boxers down my legs, stepping out of them and trying not to growl as her eyes immediately zero in on the hardness jutting out between my legs.

“I had no idea,” she says to herself, and I smile again at the faintly scientific tone in her voice. “It… You’re perfect.”

“I’m perfect for you,” I answer quietly, waiting for her to look up again before I sit down on the edge of the bed. “God, I’ve thought about this for so long, baby. I.. it’s going to hurt you,” I say sorrowfully. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Her eyes go soft and she touches my cheek. “I know. But make love to me anyway, Max Evans, because if you don’t… you’re going to kill me,” she whispers fervently.

Our mouths meet again, naked limbs brushing as she pulls me up and over her. Hands fumble with foil as together we sheathe my cock with protection. She opens her legs, allowing me to settle myself against the place where she’s slick and welcoming.

I break away as she arches up, causing me to sink an inch inside of her. I squeeze my eyes against the silken clasp and whisper roughly, “Wait.”

She stares up at me, breathing heavily as her hands stroke across my back. “I don’t want to wait,” she says, hands dipping further until they slide across my buttocks. “I want you.”

Another inch. I can feel the sweat pouring down my back now. “I… I want to make this good for you…” I state urgently, knowing fully well that I’m hazardously close to blowing this. Literally.

Drawing my lower lip between my teeth, I reach between us until I find that pulsing point that makes her gasp and tremble against me. Slowly circling with the pad of my thumb, I rest my forehead against hers. “I love you, Liz.”

“Oh… Max…” she gasps, her eyes going soft and luminous. “I love you, too.”

I take her lips in a hot, deep kiss as I thrust inside her, causing us both to gasp in differing sensations. She goes rigid beneath me, and I hold still knowing that any movement on my part would simply make it worse.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, head resting against her breast as I fight the natural inclination to stroke her inner walls. “Oh, God… you’re tight.”

She breathes heavily, hands clenched around my hips. A minute later she lets out a long breath and hesitantly moves her hips. “It… it feels so… full.”

“Does it still hurt?” I wonder achingly, looking up at her and brushing my thumb across her cheek. “We can stop, baby.”

“It’s too late for that,” she gives me a small smile. “Don’t back out on me now, Evans.”

“Never, Parker,” I groan as she pumps lightly against me, creating a friction that threatens to make me blind. “Never.”

The ability for words is lost when I rear back and slide inside her again, our moans mingling as we each feel the inner stroking. It starts long and slow, and becomes faster as the edge approaches.

“Look at me,” I manage as I feel her tensing beneath me, forcing her chin up as she stares at me through unseeing eyes. “With me.”

I take her hand, tangling our fingers together as on the next thrust, she begins to contract around me, crying out and drawing forth my own climax. I bury my head against her neck and groan long and low as her free hand strokes my slick back.

For a long moment, neither of us says anything. Then in a quiet voice thick with emotion, she murmurs, “You make me feel invincible.”

I glance up, surprised by her words if not the emotion behind it. “Invincible,” I repeat softly, nuzzling her nose. “Like Wonder Woman?”

She doesn’t laugh at my teasing, but her lips quirk. “Something like that,” is all she says, before we drift off to sleep.

First of all I want to thank everyone for their congratulations. Still feeling a bit surreal for me at the moment but I'm adjusting, lol. I also want to send out congrats for all the winners and runner-ups. I was reading somewhere that, underneath all the hoopla, we want to remember that the readers make this possible and it's so true.

So this is my official thank-you for all you feedbackers and lurkers out there! We (writers) literally couldn't do it without you!

Okay, onto the part. Be warned, it's NC-17 and not very good. I'm going to go hide now.

<center>Chapter 18</center>

~Liz~

“Do you like it when I kiss you here?”

Max nibbles behind my knee and I giggle an affirmative. It’s an unnecessary question though. We’ve been at this for three hours now since we woke from a brief nap and Max definitely knows what I like. Now that the initial awkwardness and embarrassment has passed we’ve become comfortable with teasing and touching one another. Very comfortable. “What about here?” he queries now, darting his tongue up my inner thigh.

“That’s nice, too,” I sigh in pleasured contentment. I wiggle beneath him. “Can you move a little higher, please?”

“You mean like…here?” he says, finally nibbling his way to my sensitive clitoris to bestow biting little kisses. I groan then gasp when I feel the circling of his facile tongue.

“You know I do…” is my moaning reply. He hums an answering laugh into my body, his kisses becoming more avid.

“Which do you like better?” he prods in between nuzzling caresses, “This?” He whisks his tongue across my clit and I bow off the bed with the sensations that go streaking through my body. “Or this?” he wonders, right before stabbing his tongue within me for a series of quick, plunging movements.

I clench my fingers in his hair reflexively and moan out his name in a staccato gasp of pleasure. It only takes a few swirls of his tongue and the careful strumming of his fingers against my swollen sex to send me over. Vaguely, I hear him mumble laughingly, “Well, that answers that question.”

As the last currents of my orgasm wink out Max stretches out behind me and smirks his satisfaction. “I just love doing that,” he teases, nuzzling my lips for a sex-flavored kiss as I half twist to face him, “You look so beautiful when you come.”

I blush. I can’t help it really. He’s just so blunt…so unapologetic about what he feels and wants. I like it. It’s refreshing…and disconcerting, too. “You watched me…” I groan out in horror, mortified when I think of the horrendous faces I must have made, “I can’t believe you watched me. God…I want to die.”

“Why?” he asks, looking genuinely perplexed, “You don’t have to be embarrassed, Parker. I mean…we’re lovers now… There aren’t any secrets between us anymore.”

Wow. It doesn’t really hit me until he says it aloud. We are lovers. Max Evans and I are lovers! I feel like I’ve entered the twilight zone but it’s a good alternate universe instead of uber creepy. Still, unbelievable, too…

“Yeah, I feel the same way,” he laughs at, what must be, the completely stupefied expression on my face. He cuddles me closer, wrapping his naked body around my own. “I never thought in a million years I’d be here with you like this…”

“Me neither,” I mumble, somewhat distracted by the seeking kisses he drops against my bare shoulder. Delicious shivers run through my body as his hands go on a roaming expedition over my breasts and belly. Behind me I can feel his erection throb to life. “So I guess that means you weren’t disappointed tonight, huh?” I whisper, shifting in his arms completely so that we lie face to face.

“Disappointed?”

“With me,” I clarify meekly, “I…I just don’t know if I made it very exciting for you…not like you did for me.”

“Are you kidding?”

I drop my eyes at his incredulous tone. “I really didn’t…I didn’t know what to do,” I stammer out, “Or…or what rhythm you liked… I felt really awkward and… I dunno…I’m not as confident as you are about things like this.”

“You think I’m confident,” he snorts dubiously, “Hah…that’s a laugh! I’ve been a nervous wreck this whole night.”

“But Max, you’ve been wonderful!” I blurt in a gush. Really that’s an understatement for how incredibly sexy and exciting he’s been, how sexy and exciting he’s made me feel. Before I wanted to cover myself because I was afraid he’d be disappointed but once I realized how much he enjoyed looking at my body I took extreme pride and pleasure in exposing myself to him. It was just as I told him earlier tonight…he makes me feel invincible.

“You’ve made me feel so…so cherished and beautiful,” I mumble in chagrin, “I just wish I could please you the same way you please me.”

“You don’t think you do?”

I shake my head slowly. “I’m not sure what you like,” I confess in low tone.

“What I like?” he echoes thickly, “Do you wanna know?” I nod into his throat, my face flaming over the direction our conversation has taken. “Okay,” he murmurs, cresting his hand down my back to cradle our lower bodies closer. When we’re touching, the hot length of his arousal pressed against me he begins to roll his hips slowly. “Move with me,” he instructs gruffly, “You want to know what I like, baby? I like to feel you against me. I like the way your skin feels soft and warm next to me…I like the way you moan my name…” I close my eyes and do just that. “Move with me, Liz…” Mindlessly, I obey his enticing command, mimicking the rolling motions of his hips.

Very gradually our movements become more intense, frenetic and we seek out each other’s mouths for a hungry kiss. The circling of his hips becomes jerky thrusts against my body. Max then flips me onto my back and lifts my leg high against his hip for better leverage, so he can fit even closer to my burning heat. And then his hand disappears between us and a moment later I can feel the tip of his erection brushing against the most sensitive part of me.

He only breeches my body slightly, just a gentle rocking of an inch forward but the friction he causes inflames me. I shamelessly attempt to draw him deeper.

“Wait…condom,” he pants into my mouth.

“Not yet,” I implore brazenly, “I want to know what you feel like…”

It doesn’t take much more convincing than that and seconds later Max is stretching inside me fully. We both groan with the mutual sensation. “Liz…Liz…oh, baby…” he gasps, “You’re so fucking wet…” He rocks inside me, sliding his hand beneath me to hold me steady for his penetration. The friction is unbearable…maddening…so damned hot that I feel like I’m going to come apart. “Baby…I should stop,” he mutters against my shoulder, “I’m going to stop…just a little bit more, Liz…just a little and I swear…”

I have no idea what he’s talking about and, at that second, I don’t care. The crescendo is building inside me once more. I can feel my inner walls begin to quiver in response to his stimulating thrusts and just as my orgasm takes hold he pulls from me abruptly, spilling the sticky warmth of his ejaculation between our bellies. We meet each other’s eyes in the low light as the sensual haze begins to clear.

“Well…that was close,” Max remarks thoughtfully, rolling over to retrieve a tissue from the bed and wipe away the residue between us. He seems to have a difficult time meeting my eyes. I have the same problem. “I…I’m sorry, Liz.”

“Why?” I murmur, staring at his chest, “Why are you sorry?”

“I didn’t mean to lose control like that,” he mutters in self-deprecation, “It’s just seems…whenever I’m around you I start thinking with the wrong head…”

I can’t quite swallow down my shocked giggle over his reply. Have I mentioned the way he has with words? God, I wish I could shut off my filter sometimes without sounding like I’m stuck on stupid. “I like that you lost control,” I confess fervidly, “And I liked how you felt inside me, Max…without the latex…just skin to skin.” And then I decide to take a page out of his book and go the full distance by opting for unabashed candor. “I don’t like using the condoms, Max. I’d rather feel you…just you.”

“I want to feel you, too, Parker…” he returns in breathy agreement, “But we have to use something, don’tcha think?”

“Like what?” I wonder, “What are our options?”

This is uncharted territory for me. I know next to nothing about birth control methods other than the pill and I have only a vague notion as to how to get a prescription for them. It’s unlikely that my boyfriend is very knowledgeable in that area either because he is just as inexperienced as I am. This is going to be a learning experience for us both.

“I guess I could go on the pill,” I venture, more to myself than to him.

We settle back into the rumpled sheets together and cuddle as we consider this. “How do you do that exactly?” Max asks me.

I shrug. “I dunno… I guess I’d have to go to the doctor, like a gynecologist or something.”

He grimaces. “A gyno-what?”

“A gynecologist…you know…female doctor?” I giggle in explanation; “I think I’ll have to make an appointment to get a check-up before they’ll put me on the pill.”

“A check-up?” Max queries worriedly, “Why do you need a check-up? Plus…wouldn’t your parents know?”

“Probably,” Liz considers, “Since it’s their health insurance.”

Max balks visibly at that idea and shakes his head. “Do you want them to know?”

“No.”

“Me neither.”

“What’s our other option?”

“We could go to a free clinic,” he suggests, “They’re always giving out condoms and shit like that…why not birth control, too?”

I narrow my eyes in a decidedly suspicious stare. “How do you know so much about it?”

“I have friends, you know,” he answers with a roll of his eyes, “We talk.”

“Oh,” I say, unsure of how I feel about this bit of knowledge. Since he, Michael and Kyle obviously “talk” does that mean he’s talked about me and…what we do together? On the one hand, I understand the natural desire to want to share with your friends. Hell, I’ve had to force myself to keep quiet about most of the stuff that’s happened between us. But, on the other hand, I feel like what’s happened between us is incredibly sacred and private and I don’t want him sharing that with anyone just quite yet.

“I won’t tell them anything, Parker,” he whispers, somehow reading my thoughts though I haven’t said a word, “What happened between us tonight is about us and no one else. I want to keep it that way.”

“Okay,” I whisper, handing over my full trust. I’m surprised by how easy it is.

“Okay,” he smiles, “So about this birth control thing…when should we go?”

“We?” I parrot in surprise, “You want to go with me?”

“Yeah, I want to go with you,” he says, “Don’t you think we should go together?”

“Well, I don’t know…”

“I mean if you’re going to be buying condoms then I can go with you to the clinic when you get the birth control,” he reasons glibly.

“Wait a minute,” I interrupt before he finishes, shifting up onto my elbow so I can frown down at him, “Who said I was going to be buying condoms?”

“Liz, it’s your turn!” he balks, “I got them this time!”

“Max, I can’t buy condoms! I’d die of embarrassment…not to mention what would happen if somebody recognized me and told my parents!” I cry, “I can’t do it.”

“Yes, you can,” he insists, “You just walk into the store wearing a ball cap and sunglasses, slap the condoms down onto the counter really quick without ever making eye contact with the cashier and then haul ass outta there once you pay. It’s a breeze.”

I choke on a giggle, mortification forgotten. “Is that what you did?”

“Did I forget to mention that I disguised my voice, too?” he deadpans, “I didn’t want to be recognized either.”

This time I laugh full out. “You’re insane!”

“I love you,” he responds fervently, rolling into me once more so that I’m half pinned beneath his body, “I love the fact that we can talk to each other…you know…about anything.”

“I love that, too,” I whisper, “I love you, Max.”

“Okay, so let’s make a promise then,” he requests, “No matter what happens, we’ll always talk. We’ll always be honest. Deal?”

God, he’s so sincere right now, so nakedly vulnerable how can I not love him? How can I not want to make his smallest wish come true? I wrap my arms around his neck and bring him down for a thorough kiss. “Deal,” I sigh contentedly into his mouth, “And, in the spirit of being honest and open, I think it’s only fair to tell you…”

“Tell me what?”

“Don’t hold your breath on me buying any condoms.”