Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 4:04 pm
Hi everyone...
I have recently heard the sad news about Cherie. I cannot tell you how shocked and saddened I was when I heard it. Cherie has been one of my many regular and long term 'feedbackers' for ages now. I cannot remember writing a story that she did not leave me some feedback on.
I'm told that Cherie really liked my 'scenes' in Parisienne Walkways, and she talked about them with my Beta team when they all met up recently. So it is with that in mind that I would like to dedicate my story, Parisienne Walkways, to the memory of Cherie. I'm sure that they have the internet in Heaven, Cheris. I hope you're enjoying the rest of the story.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I'm glad that you enjoyed the reunion. WHen I came to write that piece, I checked the flight schedules from Paris to Albuquerque and found those layovers... I thought oh oh. So it kind of made it m=neat that Max had to make a choice, and that he chose correctly.
No delays this week... Makes a change. 
Erina - Wow! You wait up just for me??? I guess you learned to take what I say in my coments with a pich of salt, huh?
Morning Dreamgirl - Okay, I won;t tell a oul that you consider me your favorite author. Max was unable to contact anyone, so there was no way he could have spoken to Michael to get him on a flight he didn;t even know.
guelbebak - Thank you
Jason's Lover - Was ther any doubt?
mezz - Yeah, sorry about that. I'm a victim of my own success. I post regularly and when I'm late, it's noticed. MaybeI should change to a random schedule.
(Really messy indeed.)
FSU/MSW-94 - YOu might say it was... destiny. Of course, it was probably higher than a mile.
bluesands - And it's next friday already
BehrObsession - The worst of the angst? Yeah. I think so. Maybe.
smokie - Heh heh. It's good to know that I am not totally predictable. Of course I rtemember everything! I even remember I had to beg someone to read this story.
IluvMaxEvans - I doubt that will go very well, do you?
Thanette - Kyle will probably be very accepting. Heh Heh heh.
LairaBehr4 - Liz can't help it if Max is such a distraction, can she?
POM - And you should have known better YOu've been a regular for ages now! Glad you enjoyed it.
Michelle in Yonkers - Well... you know that from an authors POV, having Liz tell Max was too easy. Have to keep the suspense going a little bit you know. As for what to do after 2 countires are marked? Canada... Germany, Spain, England, Switzerland... you get my drift? Oh, making love in the snow on Mt. Blanc! Melt the glaciers. LOL I think they will have planty of time for private and time to enjoy during the coming winter months. It gets cold in Boston, I'm told. There was snow on the ground when I was there.
Up to the challenge? You mean after 20 chapters of gratuitous sex, you are still not gratified?
begonia9508 - No, she did nothing wrong, but will Max see it that way?
omwf - Well, I certainly glad that I wasn;t extradited and sent to this place, "la sante"... unless it would have invloved lots of coffee and cakes with friends I haven't met yet afterwards.
BelevnDreamsToo - I thought Liz putting Max up to speak with the accent was funny. And showed that she really has forgiven him. Oh well.
LegalAlien - Thank you. She's not dragging it out., She is trying. Not hard enough is all.
frenchkiss70 - Do you think MAx will react THAT badly? I'm sure he will understand. Come on, a girl goes to France and comes home with a Frenchman? Who really is American? Practical Joke??? Oh well. "I" thought is was funny.
VeronicaB - LOL> Well, if he was not so sexual, Lix would never have even had to lie to him.
martine - I think Liz had forgiven him long before she read that letter. And she WANTS to tell Max.
Earth2Mama - 2 updates? Any more and you would have been fired! Glad you like it. And I'm sure Max and Kyle will meet. After all, they have someone in common.
lazza - Yes. I do believe you are right.
clueless - Luckily, I only kept you waiting the standard week.
Aussie_Dreamer - Thank you. While I think getting nominated is nice, I think the fb I get each week is better than awards. I hope I've posted early enough to catch you at the right time.
Alex Balex - Even faster!
NorafanofMaxandLiz - Well, she tried. And I'm sure she'll try again... and again...
Alien614 - I'm sure that once they are over the shock, and see that Max plans to stick around, they'll accept him. But they are Liz's parents first.
Shadowlynxbehr - Aw, making it a dream was the easy way out! Too Dallas for me.
Michelle in Yonkers - But remember, Liz has only lied by omission. She never said she wasn't married. And Max never asked her.
SmileeUK - I had to work one of my favorite songs in somehow.
Luzser1800 - Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Parisienne Walkways
Authors IMPOTANT note. Because we are back in the US now, italics no longer indicates French. Okay?
Chapter 20 -
Saturday 16th July - Two Wrongs Make a Right
Sitting in the back seat of her father's car, Liz found her mind in two places. On the one hand, she wanted to devote as much time to her parents, and to Maria, who had not seen her for two weeks and deserved as much time from her as they could get. But on the other, she wanted to be with Max, following behind them in a rented car. She knew, however, that her parents would want to question her. Maria, too.
"The looks on your faces," Liz couldn't keep in a giggle. "When you thought that Max was French..."
Although her parents did not seem terribly pleased with her little 'joke', Maria had seen the funny side to it.
"I can't help thinking that part of that's my fault," Maria laughed.
"How's that?" Liz gave her friend a funny smile.
"'Cause I told them how I hoped you would meet a Frenchman who would love your socks off. And you did."
"Close," Liz whispered with a chuckle. "Everything else but the socks."
"I still think it was a mistake to let him come home with you, Liz," Jeff called over his shoulder. "After all. We don't know a thing about him."
"'You' don't know a thing about him, you mean," Liz smiled. "Yet. Which is why I've brought him home. I wanted him to meet you as much a I wanted you to meet him." She paused to let them take in her words in. "I'm in love with him."
Maria squealed, almost bouncing on her seat. Nancy spun in her seat with a gasp to gape at her daughter. Jeff started to spin, but the sudden swerve of the car dragged his eyes back to the road.
"Can we get home in one piece, Dad?" Liz rolled her eyes, ignoring the other reactions around her.
"Liz, honey," Nancy spoke at last. "I know that you suffered a pretty big shock before you went away... but isn't this kind of sudden? I mean... Isn't it too early to be talking of love?"
Liz opened her mouth to speak, but her mother beat her to it.
"Two weeks ago," she pointed out, "you were in love with Kyle."
"No I wasn't," Liz shook her head. "I only thought I was. I was upset, yes. Of course I was. But five minutes after meeting Max, he had me smiling again. And after spending the day with him, I was actually looking forward to seeing him again. Before I knew it, I had forgotten all about Kyle and couldn't care less what he had done to me. Okay, so I have to endure the sniggers and whispers behind my back, but I don't care. Because now, I have Max."
"So I take it," Jeff spoke at last, "that he's okay with the idea of dating another man's wife?"
"That's only on paper, Dad," Liz defended. "Just as soon as I can, I want that marriage annulled, or whatever. But... I haven't actually had the chance to tell Max yet."
"Do you think that you're treating him fairly?" Nancy asked. "Do you think you're being fair to Kyle?"
"Being fair to Kyle?" Liz's mouth dropped open. "You must have me confused with someone who gives a damn. I don't owe Kyle anything. Fairness least of all. And as for Max... no. No, I'm not being fair. Right up to the last minute, I kind of thought that when the holiday ended, the romance would too. But he loves me enough to have followed me, so... I plan to tell him just as soon as I can. I know he's going to be pretty mad at me when I do tell him, but I believe that what we have will stand that. I believe that when he's told me off, we'll be all right. Then we can start moving forward at last."
"Just so long as you do it soon, Chica," Maria smiled. "'Cause as soon as the news hits the street that you're back in town, the rat's going to be beating down your door. He still believes you're going to forgive him. And if he hears that you have this hot stud in tow... It's not going to be a pretty confrontation if Max doesn't know what it is he's confronting."
The car fell silent. As Liz once again twisted to look through the back window at Max, following behind, Maria attracted her attention. She performed a mime that suggested she was eating something from a bowl and spoon. Liz groaned inwardly at Maria confirmation that as soon as they could, they would be talking over ice cream. All she wanted to do was get some alone time with Max. The gods were definitely conspiring against her telling Max sooner rather than later.
* * *
As the car pulled up in front of their house, Max pulled in behind them. It was all Liz could do to stop herself from running to him and leaping into his arms. Instead, she gave him a warm smile and hoped he could see the promised in her eyes that she would make it up to him, later.
To distribute the load, they had placed the luggage in Max's rented car. He had already opened the trunk and had lifted out one of Liz's suitcases when Jeff arrived to take the other. With a look over her shoulder, Liz disappeared inside the large house, escorted by Mrs. Parker and Maria. Max followed Mr. Parker inside.
"Where should I put this, Mr. Parker?" Max looked up the stairs.
"Leave it there, Max," he nodded. "By the stairs. I'll take them up later."
"Are you sure? It's no trouble if..."
"That's okay," Jeff had already placed his suitcase down.
Liz, still accompanied by her Mom and Maria emerged from the kitchen. She gave Max a sympathetic smile.
"I'm just gonna..." she pointed up the stairs.
She climbed the steps, followed by the other two ladies. With a wry smile, Max went through to the main room where Jeff had already gone moments before.
"Can I get you anything, Max?" Jeff asked him as he sat down in an easy chair.
"Sure," he nodded, wiping his hands on his pants. "A soda will be fine. Water if you haven't got any."
"I think we have a soda," Jeff nodded, going through the dining room and into the kitchen. He emerged a few moments later with two cold sodas in his hand, one of these he gave to Max.
"Thank you," Max nodded, popping open the tab.
"So," Mr. Parker copied him, and sat in another easy chair. "What is it you do for a living, Max?"
"I, uh..." Max looked around the room at all the photographs of Liz, from baby pictures, through her gangly youth and her awkward adolescence, to her recently taken graduation photograph. "I'm still at college, actually."
"I see," Jeff nodded. There was less brittleness to his voice. "Are you aware that Liz is on her way to college?"
"Yes, sir," Max nodded. "She already told me."
"Liz tells me that your parents are in politics."
"My father is," Max nodded.
"Is he a Republican, or a Democrat?"
"Does it matter, Mr. Parker?" Max gave a crooked smile.
"Perhaps," Mr. Parker shrugged. "Humor me."
"The truthful answer has to be neither, I guess. You see, my Dad is what you might call a fence sitter. He tries to stay on everybody's good side, because that way he gets to keep his job. I guess it helps that he's kept that post for so long now, and he's good at it, so every time there's a change of office, the new team asks him to stay on. But if it came right down to it, I think my father would choose the side that made him the best offer."
"I see," Jeff frowned. "And what is it exactly that your father does? Some kind of minor dignitary at city hall?"
"I guess you could say that," Max nodded with a grin. "My father is the American Ambassador in Paris, Mr. Parker."
Jeff was silent for a moment as he blinked in astonishment.
"Call me Jeff, son."
* * *
The five of them sat around the dining table, finishing off the meal that Nancy had cooked.
"That was wonderful, Mrs. Pa... Nancy," Max had cleaned his plate. "I have always loved good home cooking."
"I'm sure you're used to better, Max," Nancy blushed.
"I'm a student," he grinned. "I eat as much junk food as the next one."
"I guess growing up in Paris, you know good food when you taste it," Maria observed. "And beautiful women, too."
"One thing I have learned, Maria," Max smiled at her, "is that beauty is measured more than skin deep. I've seen people who, to look at, are drop dead gorgeous. But spent a moment talking to them and they are the ugliest people around. And every now and then..." he looked at Liz. "One comes along whose beauty is more than three dimensional. She beautiful in looks, thoughts and deeds."
It was Liz's turn to blush.
"Do you plan on following your father's footsteps into politics. Max?" Jeff asked from the head of the table.
"Dad!" Liz groaned, hardly believing that Max was being subjected to these questions.
"No," Max shook his head. "No plans whatsoever."
"Why not?" he smiled. "Your answers are certainly... diplomtic."
"Because it's no life for a family. My Mom hardly really knows my Dad. You know, he's always in meetings and stuff. And he certainly hardly knows me. And the pressure on me growing up... I mean, when I'm in Paris, I have to pretend that I'm somebody else, one of the servants, just so that I can freely wander on my own, around a city that I love."
"So what do you plan to do when you leave college?"
"I really don't know," Max shook his head. "I'm studying Law and Politics. So maybe I could become a lawyer? Not a high profile one or anything. Maybe just practice family law. All I know is that whatever I do, my family has to come first."
"And what if your wife has big plans?" Jeff continued. "Suppose your future partner wanted a job that required long hard hours, and was as busy with her job as your dad was with his."
"If what you're asking is, would I try to interfere with Liz's plans for her future? Absolutely not. Liz has to choose her own path. If she took a job to please her partner, rather than herself, then the marriage will be as doomed as if she took a job that kept them apart. But the latter possibility is not something you know for sure until you get there. Maybe there is a happy medium."
"That's enough, Dad," Liz finally interrupted. "Whatever plans we may or may not make in the future, is down to Max and me. And you asking questions like that won't influence me at all. Sometimes, love is enough."
"You sound more like your Grandma Claudia everyday," Jeff shook his head.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Liz complained. "Look how much she achieved in her life. And she had a wonderful marriage to Grandpa Roger."
"Yes," Jeff nodded. "I've never seen anyone as much in love as those two."
* * *
The hour was getting late, and Max still had to check in to his motel. Liz had already phoned ahead to make sure they had a room available, and she had given him careful and precise directions. After he had said his good-byes to the Parker's, and to Maria, Liz followed him out to his car.
"I'm sorry about all those questions," Liz rolled her eyes. "That must have been so... intimidating."
"They're looking out for you is all," Max straightened her collar. "They love you. And so do I, so that makes them my best friends."
"My Dad's right," Liz smirked. "You would make a great politician."
"Uh, no," Max shook his head with a laugh. "So, do you think you'll be over tonight?"
"I doubt it," she pouted. "Maria wants to indulge in our ice cream sessions. She just wants to grill me about you. It means a sleepover, I'm afraid. Do you mind?"
"Yes," Max nodded. "Of course I do. But I understand. She's important to you, and she hasn't seen you for two weeks. I'll live. Just make sure you are up bright and early tomorrow morning. Not only do I expect your undivided attention, I expect to be given the complete lowdown on Roswell. I showed you my hometown. You can show me yours."
"What will we do for the rest of the day, Max?" Liz smirked. "'Cause a guided tour of Roswell will take all of thirty minutes."
"We'll think of something," he winked.
"Well... good night, Liz," he pulled her closer to him. "It was really great meeting your parents, and Maria. But I'm just glad that I found you again. I really couldn't have gone on without you."
"I'm sure you would have, Max," she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah," he conceded. "But probably with the life someone else wanted me to live. Not the one I wanted to."
"Well, we're together now. And I really have to explain..."
"Shh..." he placed his finger over her lips. "Whatever it is, it will keep 'till tonorrow. This, on the other hand, won't."
He pressed his lips to hers, his hand at the nape of her neck holding her to him, not that Liz wanted to escape. She kissed him back, wrapping her arms around Max's neck and pulling herself up to him, pressing herself into him. Their tongues sought one another and played together, between their parted lips, teasing each other, wrestling to pass and plunder the opposing mouth. It was a war of love and neither cared who won because win or lose, they both got what they wanted. Max's hand danced up and down Liz's spine, resting on the soft curve of her buttock before he pulled her into his growing erection. Liz maneuvered herself so that the iron rod pressed against her dampening lips, allowing it to nestled against the crease. While their kiss continued, Liz was rocking herself against Max. They were making love with their clothes on. They needed more. They needed much more. But right now, this was all they could hope for. Liz had to share herself with her family, and no matter how badly she wanted Max right that moment, her front yard was not a suitable place to make love to him. At least, not this time.
Max was panting as heavily as Liz was when he finally climbed into the car, adjusting himself so that his raging erection did not cause him any undue embarrassment in the car.
* * *
Liz watched until the red taillights of Max's rental vanished from sight before she finally went back indoors. Pressing the door closed with her back, Liz released a dreamy sigh, before taking a deep breath and walking back into the living room. Her parents were both seated on the sofa. Maria was in one of the easy chairs. Her Mom and Dad were looking at her with what could only be described as 'parenting' eyes.
"What?" Liz wondered.
Jeff and Nancy exchanged an awkward glance. Maria could not hold it any longer and started to laugh.
"Liz, Chica," Maria was the first one to speak. "I was hoping that you and I could have this conversation alone, over a bucket if ice cream, but it looks like even the 'rents have noticed. You are glowing so brightly... it's like you're on fire, babe."
Liz shifted nervously, glaring at Maria.
"They already guessed," her friend shrugged. "It's kind of obvious."
"Oh," was all Liz could say.
"Oh?" Nancy finally spoke out. "Is that all you can say? Oh?"
"Well, I..."
"Liz," her Mom interrupted. "Have you been intimate with this man?"
If it weren't for the fact that she was so embarrassed, Liz would have burst out laughing. How could she answer that? Yes, in the hotel room, in a park, in a restaurant, in a taxi cab, in a club... There was so much that she had done with Max, all of it thrilling, exciting and just so damned erotic... she wondered how they could keep their relationship alive when they had to behave like a normal couple. But then, there was no way that they could ever be just a normal couple. They were Max and Liz.
"Yes," Liz nodded, looking her mother in the eye. "Yes, I have. And don't give me that disappointed look, Mom. I don't regret what I have done at all."
"How do you know that he wasn't just using you, Liz? I mean... he's nice and all, but Liz, you've known him two weeks. I don't know how long it took him to get you into bed, but..." She spotted the look on Liz's face, which made her wonder. "A week?"
Liz shook her head with a small grin.
"Four days?" Nancy's eyes grew wide.
Liz shook her head again.
"Liz," Maria narrowed her eyes. "Please tell me that you didn't jump into bed with him that first night. Not when you were so vulnerable."
"I wanted to," Liz smiled at the memory of how disappointed she had been, and how she had pleasured herself out of frustration. "I really wanted him to, but I had already told him no, earlier that night. And he respected my wishes, even though he must have known I wanted to. It happened the next night. July the fourth, actually," Liz giggled.
"You knew the man two days, and you gave it up just like that?" Nancy was almost hysterical.
"I saved myself for my wedding, Mom," she shook her head. "And look what a disaster that would have been. I would have given my virginity to a man who didn't love me, who was only using me. And you wouldn't have batted an eyelid about how I lost my virtue. Even if Max and I don't make it, I can guarantee that whenever I look back on my first time, I'm going to remember it with such clarity... how cherished I felt, how loved... and how wonderfully romantic it all was. Mom, nothing is going to top that, okay?"
"But Liz... how...?"
"I love Max, and Max loves me. I know that with every fiber of my being, Mom. The way he treats me... The way he makes me feel. You can't fake that. When we made love for the first time, he was mortified that we had forgotten to use a condom..."
"What?" all three people exclaimed.
"Relax," Liz rolled her eyes. "Let me explain, okay? He was mortified. He started to explain how he had a condom with him, but in the heat of the moment, he had forgotten. So had I. You want to know what he told me? That if I fell pregnant as a result, that he would stand by me, he would share the responsibility so that I wouldn't have to give up my plans. Then he was worried that I might be concerned about him passing on an STD. He went out of his way to reassure me that he was clean. Mom, he never had to do any of that. He brought it up, not me. I never once considered any of that because... you know I'm taking the pill."
"It's not a hundred percent, Liz," her father pointed out.
"That's not the point here, Dad," Liz turned to face him. "Look. I'm an adult now. I'm off to college soon. In fact, Maria and I leave for Boston soon to look for an apartment. What does it matter that I'm going to be in an adult relationship with a man that I love? It's not like you're going to be there to keep an eye on me. You should be glad that I have someone who treats me the way Max does, and not someone who would treat me the way Kyle planned to."
"But Max could be at college on the opposite coast to you."
"The only thing that will mean is that we won't see each other as often as we'd like. But it doesn't mean I'm going to look for someone else. As far as I am concerned, Max is the one for me. I hope he feels the same way. And if it doesn't work out, well, I intend to enjoy every possible moment, awake or asleep, with him."
Her mother had a stunned expression on her face. Liz turned to her father, who had been relatively quiet.
"Are you going to say something, Dad?" she asked.
"I doubt there's a father alive who relishes the idea of his daughter being... sexually active. But at the same time, every father should want what's best for his daughter. And a man would have to be blind not to see how happy Max makes you feel. He'd have to be even blinder not to see how much he cares for you. So... if you're happy, I'm happy."
"Thank you, Daddy," she threw herself onto Jeff's lap and hugged him.
"Just don't make me a grandpa until after he gives you a wedding ring, okay?"
"Okay," Liz nodded through her tears of joy.
"Oh, and one other thing."
"What's that?"
"I don't care how less glamorous it is, how less cultured, but you were born and raised here. I want to walk you properly down the aisle here in Roswell, not Paris, okay?"
"Paris is for honeymoons, Dad," Liz laughed. "And I can't wait for my next one."
* * *
Sunday, 17th July
Liz pulled her father's car into the spot next to the one Max had rented, parked outside what she fervently hoped was his room. She looked again at the small bag on the back seat before climbing out of her car, wearing a pale pink button up dress. She walked around to the passenger door, opened it, and took out a small box. Carrying the box carefully, Liz walked up to the door by Max's car and knocked confidently. The door opened to reveal Max in a pair of boxers, looking like he had just woken up.
"Good morning, Max," Liz exclaimed brightly, walking past a smiling young man. "I brought breakfast."
"Really?" he smiled, closing the door behind her.
"Really," Liz placed the box on the small utilitarian desk and turned to face him as she started to open it. "We have coffee," she pulled out a thermos flask and a pair of cups. "And..." she lifted out a small cake box. "Croissants."
"I'm impressed," Max nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"And there's something else, too."
"What's that?" Max was grinning.
"Me," Liz quickly unfastened the buttons of her dress and allowed it to fall from her shoulders. She was naked beneath it.
"My favorite," Max licked his lips, drinking in her beauty.
Liz turned and poured out two cups, handing them both to Max. Picking up the box, she brought the croissants and sat in the middle of the bed.
"You know the drill," she smirked. "Boxers off."
"Of course," Max chuckled, placing the coffee cups on the night stand.
He complied with her wishes and joined her, naked, in the middle of the bed.
"I missed this," he confessed, breaking off a piece of pastry and feeding Liz.
"That morning," Liz sighed. "When you weren't with me... I really thought I would never know what happiness was again. I really thought you had abandoned me."
"I'm sorry that I made you feel that way, Liz. You know I tried to get to you. It's just..."
"Your father," Liz nodded. "And his plans. Max? What are you going to do about that?"
"It's time my father and I had a little tête - à - tête," Max sighed. "I'll have to make him understand that I'm not interested in politics, and most of all, I'm not interested in Tess Harding."
"The blonde?" she arched an eyebrow.
"Uh, yeah," Max nodded. "The Hardings have been family friends for years. I think my dad has always hoped that me and Tess... That's why he sent me to stay with them. Only..."
"Her stepmom got to you first."
"Yeah," Max gave an uncomfortable shift. "At the time, I was alone, and a little afraid, you know? Strange town, strange people... So when she... And I... Sometimes, it's easier to give in, you know?"
"Is talking about this making you uncomfortable?"
"Only the memory of it," Max smiled at her. "I won't keep anything from you, Liz. If you want to know, I'll tell you."
"No," Liz shook her head, feeding Max a piece of her croissant. "It's just... It makes me feel a little vulnerable. How can I compete with a woman of her experience."
"There's no contest, Liz," he reached out and caressed her cheek. "I would choose you over her any day. I did choose you. And it's you I love, Liz. Not her. I love you."
Her breath caught in her throat.
"And I love you, too," she managed to speak.
She moved closer to him, walking across the bed on her knees. Her thighs straddled Max's and she pushed herself into his chest, cupping his face in her small hands and kissing him on his lips, quite soundly.
With out the slightest hesitation, Max's hands wrapped themselves around her. One had toyed with her hair while the other drew circles across her lower back, and her side. Their mouths were locked together in a very, very passionate kiss. Max's hand started to draw larger circles, his fingers starting to brush the lower swell of her breast. Her breathing increased as his fingers drew nearer and nearer to her nipple. Liz started to respond with a gentle rocking and swaying of her body, which brought her wet sex in contact with Max's hard erection.
"Max," Liz murmured through the kiss, never losing contact with Max's mouth.
"Liz," Max echoed. "Oh, Liz."
"Make love to me, Max," Liz cried, sinking her body onto his rigid pole.
She hissed with pleasure, breaking away and her head falling backwards as she felt him filling her. Using her own leg muscles, Liz was working her own body up and down on Max. Her momentum seemed to increase with every downward thrust, as though she was using the spring of the bed to help.
"Oh, god," she cried, slamming herself down onto him. "Max, I have missed you so much. Never leave me again."
"Deal," Max was trying to thrust himself into her, but she had him trapped.
This was her show. All Max could do was sit there on the bed while Liz rode him to ecstasy. He would make slow and passionate love to her later, so right now, he let her call the shots. He was, after all, enjoying this as much as Liz.
They didn't last very long, and soon, they climaxed in a thunderous orgasm that had Liz crying out into Max's shoulder as she clung to him as though her life depended on it. By the time they had come down from their sex induced high, Max had a circular impression of Liz's teeth implanted on his shoulder.
"You know what else I missed?" Max's heart was pounding still, making it hard for his words to sound as soft and caring as he wanted them to be.
"What's that?" Liz's voice was just as shaky.
"The shower," he smiled. "And the shave."
"We can do that," Liz grinned. "Can I use your razor?"
* * *
"I think the most bizarre thing about this place," Max was shaking his head at everything around him, "is how people go away thinking that this is it, gospel."
One of the places that Liz had taken him to was the U.F.O. Museum. Max could not help laughing at the outlandish dioramas and murals. The huge headlines from various magazines and newspapers were mildly amusing, as were the outlandish theories and diagrams that went out of their way to prove either some sort of conspiracy theory, or that aliens were and always have been among us.
"It's almost like an obsession."
"When you're in the middle of the desert, Max," Liz shrugged, "and they announce plans to close down the nearby military base, then anything that can secure jobs, no matter how tacky, has to be a good thing. The U.F.O. industry helped keep Roswell from becoming a ghost town.
"I agree with you, Liz," Max nodded. "And if I lived here, I would probably have chosen to get a part time job in here. But running these things is one thing." He nodded at the strange Englishman who was polishing another weird looking piece of electronics that he had apparently paid a huge sum of money for. "As long as the people running them don't get caught up in their own hype."
"Are you kidding, Max?" Liz chuckled. "How can you live in a place like this and not believe?"
"Take... me... to... your... leader..." Max intoned, walking robot-loke at Liz, making her walk backwards while she laughed at his antics.
"Come on," she took his hand. "You want to see tacky? And hype? Wait till you see the diner across the road."
"Bad?" Max raised an eyebrow.
"You have no idea," Liz smirked. "It's not even close to what you're used to, but the smoothies are good."
"You lead, and I'll follow."
Together, hand in hand, they stepped out into the bright light of day, and started to cross the road toward the atypical diner.
"At least that flying saucer above the door looks kind of neat," Max laughed.
"Are you making fun of my home town, Mr. Evans?"
"Me?" Max faked a look of ingenuousness. "Would I?"
"Paris, it ain't," Liz smiled.
"You can say that again," Max squeezed her hand. "But it's where you grew up, so I love it. It's my second favorite place in the world."
"Save the cheese," Liz shook her head. "They have enough of it in here."
They reached the door, and Liz opened it to the tune of 'Close Encounters.'
"In Paris, we had coffee and cakes. When in Rome, you do as the Romans do. That means, since we're in Roswell, it's Blood of Alien smoothie and Space fries."
"If we ever get invaded by Martians," Max sniggered, "that's how we'll beat them. Feed them fast food. It'll harden their arteries."
"And while we're eating," Liz's face grew serious as they slid into a horseshoe shaped booth, "there's something I have to tell you. Something I've been trying to tell you for ages now. I tried on the plane, last night... this morning..."
Max's eyes were everywhere at once. He studied the crude murals, the tacky décor, and the little alien gimmicks that were distributed at random amid the normal diner accoutrements.
"You wanna know what the best thing about this place is?" he leaned into Liz with a whisper.
"If you tell me it's the waitress uniforms, you are so dead."
"Okay," Max was trying hard to suppress his mirth. "I won't tell you it's the uniforms."
"Laugh it up, buster," Liz tried to sound offended. "Do you know how close I came to having to wear one of those?"
Max looked her up and down and licked his lips.
"I can see you in one of those," he nodded. "And I think you would be so hot. And are those snap fasteners? Just right for pulling open to reveal that you're not wearing any underwear. We never did make love in a tacky diner, did we?"
"Forget that," Liz shook her head. "At least, not in Roswell."
Max started to laugh out loud, attracting the attention of everyone who was not already staring at them.
"So how was it you almost came to wear one?" he smiled.
"My parents used to own this place, and a few other outlets like it, until they sold them to Brody," she explained. "The English guy who runs the museum. If we still owned it, you can bet I was going to have to work here."
"You would have made a fortune in tips," Max nodded. Then he frowned. "Do I have anything stuck in my teeth or something?"
"No, why?" Liz started to feel a little uncomfortable.
Before he could answer, a waitress appeared at their side.
"Hi, Liz," she was looking at Max, however. "I heard you were back. Heard you had company, too."
"Uh, yeah," Liz nodded. "Could you just get me two of my usual."
"Sure," she nodded, still not taking her eyes from Max. "Be just a jiffy. You know who's looking for you, right?"
"Yeah," Liz sighed. "Uh... our order?"
"Right. Right. I should sell tickets."
"Liz..."
"Listen, Max. It's not you, okay? It's me. You see... There's something..."
It was one of those moments when Liz knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what was happening. Even though she could not see the door, as soon as she heard the first note to that famous tune, she knew who walked into the café, just like she knew that he was walking toward her. She was too late. She closed her eyes and cursed the fact that Max was too distracting; that she was so weak. She was already as white as a sheet by the time he reached her.
"Well, the happy wanderer returns," Kyle slid into the seat next to Liz.
Sensing her sudden change in demeanor, Max guessed that this man's presence was not welcome.
"Not now," Liz shook her head. "Please, can we do this later, Kyle?"
"No time like the present," Kyle was looking Max up and down with a certain level of hostility.
"Are you a friend?" Max interrupted. "'Cause unless you're a friend, I really think you should leave."
"A friend?" Kyle started to sneer. "Yeah. You could say that I fall into that category. Or you could say I was more than just a friend."
Max was about to speak when Kyle continued.
"Or didn't she tell you? Didn't she tell you that you were stepping on another man's toes? What's it like, committing adultery? Does it make it more exciting? Give the rumpy pumpy a bit of zing, does it?"
Liz was mortified into inaction. Her vocal chords had ceased to function, and she couldn't even look at Max.
"Adultery?" Max narrowed his eyes, his face was turning red. "But that makes..."
"Now if 'you' would just butt out of here, I would like to have a word or two with this whore who passes as my wife."
"Wife..." Max repeated.
"Right," Kyle nodded with sarcasm. "Looks like you might have a brain cell after all. Now fuck off while I have words with my slut of a wife."
Max rose. His face was burning red with anger. His hands clenched and unclenched as he looked down at Liz.
"You were married?"
Liz wouldn't look at him. She just nodded.
Without a word, Max moved out of the booth and left the diner. Liz managed to look up and watched him as he walked across the front, past the windows without once looking back. He was walking away from her, and she was powerless to go after him.
"I guess that answers that," Kyle smirked.
"What?" Liz's voice was hoarse, raw. An anger started to burn within her.
"You ain't no fucking virgin no more."
He sounded genuinely jealous. Not that she cared. She only wanted him out of her life. She wanted him to go away so that she could run after Max and explain.
"That's right," Liz nodded. "And in the two weeks I've known him, Max and I have made love two or three times a day. And it's been great, Kyle. No holds barred, if you get my drift. Anytime, anyplace, anywhere. The man is a sex god!"
"Yeah, right," Kyle mumbled.
"Something you should have thought about all those years ago when you started to fuck Pam. And Vicky."
"They didn't mean anything, Liz," he waved his hands. "Both them girls came on to me, and okay. So I was weak. Christ, give me a break. Look, the way I figure it, we're even, okay? Vicky was just one time. I had a fling with Pam, you had a fling with that moron. It's over now, right? 'Cause I'm guessing he ain't hanging around. We're married, and we should at least make a fucking go of it. Especially since we're going to be in Boston together."
"No," Liz shook her head. "You'll be in Boston. I'll be in Cambridge. How about you stay your side of the river and I'll stay on mine."
"There's a river in Boston?" Kyle's eyes narrowed. "You make it sound like we won't be living together."
"Kyle," Liz's heart was sinking faster than a ton weight in the Charles river. Every passing moment was taking Max further away from her. If he left, she would never find him again. "Even if I hadn't met Max, even if I hadn't met anyone... There is no way on earth that I would get back together with you. Hell would freeze over before I would ever trust you again. And besides that, from what I hear, you just don't measure up to Max. In any department."
Kyle winced as though he had been slapped across his face.
"If you ask for a divorce, I'll contest it."
He sounded furious. Liz hoped that she hadn't pushed him too far. She doubted he would turn violent towards her, but you never knew.
"Divorce?" Liz raised her eyebrows. "I'm going for an annulment, you moron. And you can think yourself lucky I don't sue your sorry ass for everything you've got. If my Dad had his way, your salary from whatever hockey team drafts you would be lining my pockets for the next couple of decades."
Liz started to pull away, trying to slide out of the booth. Kyle grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"Listen to me, you goddamned whore. You better find that prick who was in here with you," Kyle snarled. "You'd better warn him that if I ever see his sorry ass again, I'm going to kick it till his teeth poke through his asshole."
"You know what, Kyle?" Liz snarled at him. "You go ahead and do that. Only you should be aware that his father is a high-ranking member of the government and he has secret service agents watching out for him. You'd probably have half a dozen bullets in what passes for your brain before you could even lay a hand on him. Like the man said. Go ahead, punk, make my day!"
As she left the diner, she wondered if she could get Maria to talk to Max in the same way Michael helped her to see that she could forgive him. She really hoped that Max would be as forgiving as she had been. But then, she had a little more time to come to terms with things. She was on her away to Max's motel room right now, before he had the time to check out of the room and her life forever.
* * *
I have recently heard the sad news about Cherie. I cannot tell you how shocked and saddened I was when I heard it. Cherie has been one of my many regular and long term 'feedbackers' for ages now. I cannot remember writing a story that she did not leave me some feedback on. I'm told that Cherie really liked my 'scenes' in Parisienne Walkways, and she talked about them with my Beta team when they all met up recently. So it is with that in mind that I would like to dedicate my story, Parisienne Walkways, to the memory of Cherie. I'm sure that they have the internet in Heaven, Cheris. I hope you're enjoying the rest of the story.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I'm glad that you enjoyed the reunion. WHen I came to write that piece, I checked the flight schedules from Paris to Albuquerque and found those layovers... I thought oh oh. So it kind of made it m=neat that Max had to make a choice, and that he chose correctly.
No delays this week...
Makes a change. Erina - Wow! You wait up just for me???
I guess you learned to take what I say in my coments with a pich of salt, huh? Morning Dreamgirl - Okay, I won;t tell a oul that you consider me your favorite author.
Max was unable to contact anyone, so there was no way he could have spoken to Michael to get him on a flight he didn;t even know. guelbebak - Thank you
Jason's Lover - Was ther any doubt?
mezz - Yeah, sorry about that. I'm a victim of my own success. I post regularly and when I'm late, it's noticed. MaybeI should change to a random schedule.
(Really messy indeed.)
FSU/MSW-94 - YOu might say it was... destiny.
Of course, it was probably higher than a mile. bluesands - And it's next friday already
BehrObsession - The worst of the angst? Yeah. I think so. Maybe.
smokie - Heh heh. It's good to know that I am not totally predictable.
Of course I rtemember everything! I even remember I had to beg someone to read this story. IluvMaxEvans - I doubt that will go very well, do you?
Thanette - Kyle will probably be very accepting. Heh Heh heh.
LairaBehr4 - Liz can't help it if Max is such a distraction, can she?
POM - And you should have known better
YOu've been a regular for ages now! Glad you enjoyed it.Michelle in Yonkers - Well... you know that from an authors POV, having Liz tell Max was too easy. Have to keep the suspense going a little bit you know. As for what to do after 2 countires are marked? Canada... Germany, Spain, England, Switzerland... you get my drift? Oh, making love in the snow on Mt. Blanc!
Melt the glaciers. LOL I think they will have planty of time for private and time to enjoy during the coming winter months. It gets cold in Boston, I'm told. There was snow on the ground when I was there.Up to the challenge? You mean after 20 chapters of gratuitous sex, you are still not gratified?
begonia9508 - No, she did nothing wrong, but will Max see it that way?
omwf - Well, I certainly glad that I wasn;t extradited and sent to this place, "la sante"... unless it would have invloved lots of coffee and cakes with friends I haven't met yet afterwards.
BelevnDreamsToo - I thought Liz putting Max up to speak with the accent was funny. And showed that she really has forgiven him. Oh well.
LegalAlien - Thank you. She's not dragging it out., She is trying. Not hard enough is all.
frenchkiss70 - Do you think MAx will react THAT badly? I'm sure he will understand.
Come on, a girl goes to France and comes home with a Frenchman? Who really is American? Practical Joke??? Oh well. "I" thought is was funny. VeronicaB - LOL> Well, if he was not so sexual, Lix would never have even had to lie to him.
martine - I think Liz had forgiven him long before she read that letter.
And she WANTS to tell Max.Earth2Mama - 2 updates? Any more and you would have been fired!
Glad you like it. And I'm sure Max and Kyle will meet. After all, they have someone in common. lazza - Yes. I do believe you are right.
clueless - Luckily, I only kept you waiting the standard week.
Aussie_Dreamer - Thank you. While I think getting nominated is nice, I think the fb I get each week is better than awards.
I hope I've posted early enough to catch you at the right time. Alex Balex - Even faster!
NorafanofMaxandLiz - Well, she tried. And I'm sure she'll try again... and again...
Alien614 - I'm sure that once they are over the shock, and see that Max plans to stick around, they'll accept him. But they are Liz's parents first.
Shadowlynxbehr - Aw, making it a dream was the easy way out! Too Dallas for me.
Michelle in Yonkers - But remember, Liz has only lied by omission. She never said she wasn't married. And Max never asked her.
SmileeUK - I had to work one of my favorite songs in somehow.
Luzser1800 - Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Parisienne Walkways
Authors IMPOTANT note. Because we are back in the US now, italics no longer indicates French. Okay?
Chapter 20 -
Saturday 16th July - Two Wrongs Make a Right
Sitting in the back seat of her father's car, Liz found her mind in two places. On the one hand, she wanted to devote as much time to her parents, and to Maria, who had not seen her for two weeks and deserved as much time from her as they could get. But on the other, she wanted to be with Max, following behind them in a rented car. She knew, however, that her parents would want to question her. Maria, too.
"The looks on your faces," Liz couldn't keep in a giggle. "When you thought that Max was French..."
Although her parents did not seem terribly pleased with her little 'joke', Maria had seen the funny side to it.
"I can't help thinking that part of that's my fault," Maria laughed.
"How's that?" Liz gave her friend a funny smile.
"'Cause I told them how I hoped you would meet a Frenchman who would love your socks off. And you did."
"Close," Liz whispered with a chuckle. "Everything else but the socks."
"I still think it was a mistake to let him come home with you, Liz," Jeff called over his shoulder. "After all. We don't know a thing about him."
"'You' don't know a thing about him, you mean," Liz smiled. "Yet. Which is why I've brought him home. I wanted him to meet you as much a I wanted you to meet him." She paused to let them take in her words in. "I'm in love with him."
Maria squealed, almost bouncing on her seat. Nancy spun in her seat with a gasp to gape at her daughter. Jeff started to spin, but the sudden swerve of the car dragged his eyes back to the road.
"Can we get home in one piece, Dad?" Liz rolled her eyes, ignoring the other reactions around her.
"Liz, honey," Nancy spoke at last. "I know that you suffered a pretty big shock before you went away... but isn't this kind of sudden? I mean... Isn't it too early to be talking of love?"
Liz opened her mouth to speak, but her mother beat her to it.
"Two weeks ago," she pointed out, "you were in love with Kyle."
"No I wasn't," Liz shook her head. "I only thought I was. I was upset, yes. Of course I was. But five minutes after meeting Max, he had me smiling again. And after spending the day with him, I was actually looking forward to seeing him again. Before I knew it, I had forgotten all about Kyle and couldn't care less what he had done to me. Okay, so I have to endure the sniggers and whispers behind my back, but I don't care. Because now, I have Max."
"So I take it," Jeff spoke at last, "that he's okay with the idea of dating another man's wife?"
"That's only on paper, Dad," Liz defended. "Just as soon as I can, I want that marriage annulled, or whatever. But... I haven't actually had the chance to tell Max yet."
"Do you think that you're treating him fairly?" Nancy asked. "Do you think you're being fair to Kyle?"
"Being fair to Kyle?" Liz's mouth dropped open. "You must have me confused with someone who gives a damn. I don't owe Kyle anything. Fairness least of all. And as for Max... no. No, I'm not being fair. Right up to the last minute, I kind of thought that when the holiday ended, the romance would too. But he loves me enough to have followed me, so... I plan to tell him just as soon as I can. I know he's going to be pretty mad at me when I do tell him, but I believe that what we have will stand that. I believe that when he's told me off, we'll be all right. Then we can start moving forward at last."
"Just so long as you do it soon, Chica," Maria smiled. "'Cause as soon as the news hits the street that you're back in town, the rat's going to be beating down your door. He still believes you're going to forgive him. And if he hears that you have this hot stud in tow... It's not going to be a pretty confrontation if Max doesn't know what it is he's confronting."
The car fell silent. As Liz once again twisted to look through the back window at Max, following behind, Maria attracted her attention. She performed a mime that suggested she was eating something from a bowl and spoon. Liz groaned inwardly at Maria confirmation that as soon as they could, they would be talking over ice cream. All she wanted to do was get some alone time with Max. The gods were definitely conspiring against her telling Max sooner rather than later.
* * *
As the car pulled up in front of their house, Max pulled in behind them. It was all Liz could do to stop herself from running to him and leaping into his arms. Instead, she gave him a warm smile and hoped he could see the promised in her eyes that she would make it up to him, later.
To distribute the load, they had placed the luggage in Max's rented car. He had already opened the trunk and had lifted out one of Liz's suitcases when Jeff arrived to take the other. With a look over her shoulder, Liz disappeared inside the large house, escorted by Mrs. Parker and Maria. Max followed Mr. Parker inside.
"Where should I put this, Mr. Parker?" Max looked up the stairs.
"Leave it there, Max," he nodded. "By the stairs. I'll take them up later."
"Are you sure? It's no trouble if..."
"That's okay," Jeff had already placed his suitcase down.
Liz, still accompanied by her Mom and Maria emerged from the kitchen. She gave Max a sympathetic smile.
"I'm just gonna..." she pointed up the stairs.
She climbed the steps, followed by the other two ladies. With a wry smile, Max went through to the main room where Jeff had already gone moments before.
"Can I get you anything, Max?" Jeff asked him as he sat down in an easy chair.
"Sure," he nodded, wiping his hands on his pants. "A soda will be fine. Water if you haven't got any."
"I think we have a soda," Jeff nodded, going through the dining room and into the kitchen. He emerged a few moments later with two cold sodas in his hand, one of these he gave to Max.
"Thank you," Max nodded, popping open the tab.
"So," Mr. Parker copied him, and sat in another easy chair. "What is it you do for a living, Max?"
"I, uh..." Max looked around the room at all the photographs of Liz, from baby pictures, through her gangly youth and her awkward adolescence, to her recently taken graduation photograph. "I'm still at college, actually."
"I see," Jeff nodded. There was less brittleness to his voice. "Are you aware that Liz is on her way to college?"
"Yes, sir," Max nodded. "She already told me."
"Liz tells me that your parents are in politics."
"My father is," Max nodded.
"Is he a Republican, or a Democrat?"
"Does it matter, Mr. Parker?" Max gave a crooked smile.
"Perhaps," Mr. Parker shrugged. "Humor me."
"The truthful answer has to be neither, I guess. You see, my Dad is what you might call a fence sitter. He tries to stay on everybody's good side, because that way he gets to keep his job. I guess it helps that he's kept that post for so long now, and he's good at it, so every time there's a change of office, the new team asks him to stay on. But if it came right down to it, I think my father would choose the side that made him the best offer."
"I see," Jeff frowned. "And what is it exactly that your father does? Some kind of minor dignitary at city hall?"
"I guess you could say that," Max nodded with a grin. "My father is the American Ambassador in Paris, Mr. Parker."
Jeff was silent for a moment as he blinked in astonishment.
"Call me Jeff, son."
* * *
The five of them sat around the dining table, finishing off the meal that Nancy had cooked.
"That was wonderful, Mrs. Pa... Nancy," Max had cleaned his plate. "I have always loved good home cooking."
"I'm sure you're used to better, Max," Nancy blushed.
"I'm a student," he grinned. "I eat as much junk food as the next one."
"I guess growing up in Paris, you know good food when you taste it," Maria observed. "And beautiful women, too."
"One thing I have learned, Maria," Max smiled at her, "is that beauty is measured more than skin deep. I've seen people who, to look at, are drop dead gorgeous. But spent a moment talking to them and they are the ugliest people around. And every now and then..." he looked at Liz. "One comes along whose beauty is more than three dimensional. She beautiful in looks, thoughts and deeds."
It was Liz's turn to blush.
"Do you plan on following your father's footsteps into politics. Max?" Jeff asked from the head of the table.
"Dad!" Liz groaned, hardly believing that Max was being subjected to these questions.
"No," Max shook his head. "No plans whatsoever."
"Why not?" he smiled. "Your answers are certainly... diplomtic."
"Because it's no life for a family. My Mom hardly really knows my Dad. You know, he's always in meetings and stuff. And he certainly hardly knows me. And the pressure on me growing up... I mean, when I'm in Paris, I have to pretend that I'm somebody else, one of the servants, just so that I can freely wander on my own, around a city that I love."
"So what do you plan to do when you leave college?"
"I really don't know," Max shook his head. "I'm studying Law and Politics. So maybe I could become a lawyer? Not a high profile one or anything. Maybe just practice family law. All I know is that whatever I do, my family has to come first."
"And what if your wife has big plans?" Jeff continued. "Suppose your future partner wanted a job that required long hard hours, and was as busy with her job as your dad was with his."
"If what you're asking is, would I try to interfere with Liz's plans for her future? Absolutely not. Liz has to choose her own path. If she took a job to please her partner, rather than herself, then the marriage will be as doomed as if she took a job that kept them apart. But the latter possibility is not something you know for sure until you get there. Maybe there is a happy medium."
"That's enough, Dad," Liz finally interrupted. "Whatever plans we may or may not make in the future, is down to Max and me. And you asking questions like that won't influence me at all. Sometimes, love is enough."
"You sound more like your Grandma Claudia everyday," Jeff shook his head.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Liz complained. "Look how much she achieved in her life. And she had a wonderful marriage to Grandpa Roger."
"Yes," Jeff nodded. "I've never seen anyone as much in love as those two."
* * *
The hour was getting late, and Max still had to check in to his motel. Liz had already phoned ahead to make sure they had a room available, and she had given him careful and precise directions. After he had said his good-byes to the Parker's, and to Maria, Liz followed him out to his car.
"I'm sorry about all those questions," Liz rolled her eyes. "That must have been so... intimidating."
"They're looking out for you is all," Max straightened her collar. "They love you. And so do I, so that makes them my best friends."
"My Dad's right," Liz smirked. "You would make a great politician."
"Uh, no," Max shook his head with a laugh. "So, do you think you'll be over tonight?"
"I doubt it," she pouted. "Maria wants to indulge in our ice cream sessions. She just wants to grill me about you. It means a sleepover, I'm afraid. Do you mind?"
"Yes," Max nodded. "Of course I do. But I understand. She's important to you, and she hasn't seen you for two weeks. I'll live. Just make sure you are up bright and early tomorrow morning. Not only do I expect your undivided attention, I expect to be given the complete lowdown on Roswell. I showed you my hometown. You can show me yours."
"What will we do for the rest of the day, Max?" Liz smirked. "'Cause a guided tour of Roswell will take all of thirty minutes."
"We'll think of something," he winked.
"Well... good night, Liz," he pulled her closer to him. "It was really great meeting your parents, and Maria. But I'm just glad that I found you again. I really couldn't have gone on without you."
"I'm sure you would have, Max," she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah," he conceded. "But probably with the life someone else wanted me to live. Not the one I wanted to."
"Well, we're together now. And I really have to explain..."
"Shh..." he placed his finger over her lips. "Whatever it is, it will keep 'till tonorrow. This, on the other hand, won't."
He pressed his lips to hers, his hand at the nape of her neck holding her to him, not that Liz wanted to escape. She kissed him back, wrapping her arms around Max's neck and pulling herself up to him, pressing herself into him. Their tongues sought one another and played together, between their parted lips, teasing each other, wrestling to pass and plunder the opposing mouth. It was a war of love and neither cared who won because win or lose, they both got what they wanted. Max's hand danced up and down Liz's spine, resting on the soft curve of her buttock before he pulled her into his growing erection. Liz maneuvered herself so that the iron rod pressed against her dampening lips, allowing it to nestled against the crease. While their kiss continued, Liz was rocking herself against Max. They were making love with their clothes on. They needed more. They needed much more. But right now, this was all they could hope for. Liz had to share herself with her family, and no matter how badly she wanted Max right that moment, her front yard was not a suitable place to make love to him. At least, not this time.
Max was panting as heavily as Liz was when he finally climbed into the car, adjusting himself so that his raging erection did not cause him any undue embarrassment in the car.
* * *
Liz watched until the red taillights of Max's rental vanished from sight before she finally went back indoors. Pressing the door closed with her back, Liz released a dreamy sigh, before taking a deep breath and walking back into the living room. Her parents were both seated on the sofa. Maria was in one of the easy chairs. Her Mom and Dad were looking at her with what could only be described as 'parenting' eyes.
"What?" Liz wondered.
Jeff and Nancy exchanged an awkward glance. Maria could not hold it any longer and started to laugh.
"Liz, Chica," Maria was the first one to speak. "I was hoping that you and I could have this conversation alone, over a bucket if ice cream, but it looks like even the 'rents have noticed. You are glowing so brightly... it's like you're on fire, babe."
Liz shifted nervously, glaring at Maria.
"They already guessed," her friend shrugged. "It's kind of obvious."
"Oh," was all Liz could say.
"Oh?" Nancy finally spoke out. "Is that all you can say? Oh?"
"Well, I..."
"Liz," her Mom interrupted. "Have you been intimate with this man?"
If it weren't for the fact that she was so embarrassed, Liz would have burst out laughing. How could she answer that? Yes, in the hotel room, in a park, in a restaurant, in a taxi cab, in a club... There was so much that she had done with Max, all of it thrilling, exciting and just so damned erotic... she wondered how they could keep their relationship alive when they had to behave like a normal couple. But then, there was no way that they could ever be just a normal couple. They were Max and Liz.
"Yes," Liz nodded, looking her mother in the eye. "Yes, I have. And don't give me that disappointed look, Mom. I don't regret what I have done at all."
"How do you know that he wasn't just using you, Liz? I mean... he's nice and all, but Liz, you've known him two weeks. I don't know how long it took him to get you into bed, but..." She spotted the look on Liz's face, which made her wonder. "A week?"
Liz shook her head with a small grin.
"Four days?" Nancy's eyes grew wide.
Liz shook her head again.
"Liz," Maria narrowed her eyes. "Please tell me that you didn't jump into bed with him that first night. Not when you were so vulnerable."
"I wanted to," Liz smiled at the memory of how disappointed she had been, and how she had pleasured herself out of frustration. "I really wanted him to, but I had already told him no, earlier that night. And he respected my wishes, even though he must have known I wanted to. It happened the next night. July the fourth, actually," Liz giggled.
"You knew the man two days, and you gave it up just like that?" Nancy was almost hysterical.
"I saved myself for my wedding, Mom," she shook her head. "And look what a disaster that would have been. I would have given my virginity to a man who didn't love me, who was only using me. And you wouldn't have batted an eyelid about how I lost my virtue. Even if Max and I don't make it, I can guarantee that whenever I look back on my first time, I'm going to remember it with such clarity... how cherished I felt, how loved... and how wonderfully romantic it all was. Mom, nothing is going to top that, okay?"
"But Liz... how...?"
"I love Max, and Max loves me. I know that with every fiber of my being, Mom. The way he treats me... The way he makes me feel. You can't fake that. When we made love for the first time, he was mortified that we had forgotten to use a condom..."
"What?" all three people exclaimed.
"Relax," Liz rolled her eyes. "Let me explain, okay? He was mortified. He started to explain how he had a condom with him, but in the heat of the moment, he had forgotten. So had I. You want to know what he told me? That if I fell pregnant as a result, that he would stand by me, he would share the responsibility so that I wouldn't have to give up my plans. Then he was worried that I might be concerned about him passing on an STD. He went out of his way to reassure me that he was clean. Mom, he never had to do any of that. He brought it up, not me. I never once considered any of that because... you know I'm taking the pill."
"It's not a hundred percent, Liz," her father pointed out.
"That's not the point here, Dad," Liz turned to face him. "Look. I'm an adult now. I'm off to college soon. In fact, Maria and I leave for Boston soon to look for an apartment. What does it matter that I'm going to be in an adult relationship with a man that I love? It's not like you're going to be there to keep an eye on me. You should be glad that I have someone who treats me the way Max does, and not someone who would treat me the way Kyle planned to."
"But Max could be at college on the opposite coast to you."
"The only thing that will mean is that we won't see each other as often as we'd like. But it doesn't mean I'm going to look for someone else. As far as I am concerned, Max is the one for me. I hope he feels the same way. And if it doesn't work out, well, I intend to enjoy every possible moment, awake or asleep, with him."
Her mother had a stunned expression on her face. Liz turned to her father, who had been relatively quiet.
"Are you going to say something, Dad?" she asked.
"I doubt there's a father alive who relishes the idea of his daughter being... sexually active. But at the same time, every father should want what's best for his daughter. And a man would have to be blind not to see how happy Max makes you feel. He'd have to be even blinder not to see how much he cares for you. So... if you're happy, I'm happy."
"Thank you, Daddy," she threw herself onto Jeff's lap and hugged him.
"Just don't make me a grandpa until after he gives you a wedding ring, okay?"
"Okay," Liz nodded through her tears of joy.
"Oh, and one other thing."
"What's that?"
"I don't care how less glamorous it is, how less cultured, but you were born and raised here. I want to walk you properly down the aisle here in Roswell, not Paris, okay?"
"Paris is for honeymoons, Dad," Liz laughed. "And I can't wait for my next one."
* * *
Sunday, 17th July
Liz pulled her father's car into the spot next to the one Max had rented, parked outside what she fervently hoped was his room. She looked again at the small bag on the back seat before climbing out of her car, wearing a pale pink button up dress. She walked around to the passenger door, opened it, and took out a small box. Carrying the box carefully, Liz walked up to the door by Max's car and knocked confidently. The door opened to reveal Max in a pair of boxers, looking like he had just woken up.
"Good morning, Max," Liz exclaimed brightly, walking past a smiling young man. "I brought breakfast."
"Really?" he smiled, closing the door behind her.
"Really," Liz placed the box on the small utilitarian desk and turned to face him as she started to open it. "We have coffee," she pulled out a thermos flask and a pair of cups. "And..." she lifted out a small cake box. "Croissants."
"I'm impressed," Max nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"And there's something else, too."
"What's that?" Max was grinning.
"Me," Liz quickly unfastened the buttons of her dress and allowed it to fall from her shoulders. She was naked beneath it.
"My favorite," Max licked his lips, drinking in her beauty.
Liz turned and poured out two cups, handing them both to Max. Picking up the box, she brought the croissants and sat in the middle of the bed.
"You know the drill," she smirked. "Boxers off."
"Of course," Max chuckled, placing the coffee cups on the night stand.
He complied with her wishes and joined her, naked, in the middle of the bed.
"I missed this," he confessed, breaking off a piece of pastry and feeding Liz.
"That morning," Liz sighed. "When you weren't with me... I really thought I would never know what happiness was again. I really thought you had abandoned me."
"I'm sorry that I made you feel that way, Liz. You know I tried to get to you. It's just..."
"Your father," Liz nodded. "And his plans. Max? What are you going to do about that?"
"It's time my father and I had a little tête - à - tête," Max sighed. "I'll have to make him understand that I'm not interested in politics, and most of all, I'm not interested in Tess Harding."
"The blonde?" she arched an eyebrow.
"Uh, yeah," Max nodded. "The Hardings have been family friends for years. I think my dad has always hoped that me and Tess... That's why he sent me to stay with them. Only..."
"Her stepmom got to you first."
"Yeah," Max gave an uncomfortable shift. "At the time, I was alone, and a little afraid, you know? Strange town, strange people... So when she... And I... Sometimes, it's easier to give in, you know?"
"Is talking about this making you uncomfortable?"
"Only the memory of it," Max smiled at her. "I won't keep anything from you, Liz. If you want to know, I'll tell you."
"No," Liz shook her head, feeding Max a piece of her croissant. "It's just... It makes me feel a little vulnerable. How can I compete with a woman of her experience."
"There's no contest, Liz," he reached out and caressed her cheek. "I would choose you over her any day. I did choose you. And it's you I love, Liz. Not her. I love you."
Her breath caught in her throat.
"And I love you, too," she managed to speak.
She moved closer to him, walking across the bed on her knees. Her thighs straddled Max's and she pushed herself into his chest, cupping his face in her small hands and kissing him on his lips, quite soundly.
With out the slightest hesitation, Max's hands wrapped themselves around her. One had toyed with her hair while the other drew circles across her lower back, and her side. Their mouths were locked together in a very, very passionate kiss. Max's hand started to draw larger circles, his fingers starting to brush the lower swell of her breast. Her breathing increased as his fingers drew nearer and nearer to her nipple. Liz started to respond with a gentle rocking and swaying of her body, which brought her wet sex in contact with Max's hard erection.
"Max," Liz murmured through the kiss, never losing contact with Max's mouth.
"Liz," Max echoed. "Oh, Liz."
"Make love to me, Max," Liz cried, sinking her body onto his rigid pole.
She hissed with pleasure, breaking away and her head falling backwards as she felt him filling her. Using her own leg muscles, Liz was working her own body up and down on Max. Her momentum seemed to increase with every downward thrust, as though she was using the spring of the bed to help.
"Oh, god," she cried, slamming herself down onto him. "Max, I have missed you so much. Never leave me again."
"Deal," Max was trying to thrust himself into her, but she had him trapped.
This was her show. All Max could do was sit there on the bed while Liz rode him to ecstasy. He would make slow and passionate love to her later, so right now, he let her call the shots. He was, after all, enjoying this as much as Liz.
They didn't last very long, and soon, they climaxed in a thunderous orgasm that had Liz crying out into Max's shoulder as she clung to him as though her life depended on it. By the time they had come down from their sex induced high, Max had a circular impression of Liz's teeth implanted on his shoulder.
"You know what else I missed?" Max's heart was pounding still, making it hard for his words to sound as soft and caring as he wanted them to be.
"What's that?" Liz's voice was just as shaky.
"The shower," he smiled. "And the shave."
"We can do that," Liz grinned. "Can I use your razor?"
* * *
"I think the most bizarre thing about this place," Max was shaking his head at everything around him, "is how people go away thinking that this is it, gospel."
One of the places that Liz had taken him to was the U.F.O. Museum. Max could not help laughing at the outlandish dioramas and murals. The huge headlines from various magazines and newspapers were mildly amusing, as were the outlandish theories and diagrams that went out of their way to prove either some sort of conspiracy theory, or that aliens were and always have been among us.
"It's almost like an obsession."
"When you're in the middle of the desert, Max," Liz shrugged, "and they announce plans to close down the nearby military base, then anything that can secure jobs, no matter how tacky, has to be a good thing. The U.F.O. industry helped keep Roswell from becoming a ghost town.
"I agree with you, Liz," Max nodded. "And if I lived here, I would probably have chosen to get a part time job in here. But running these things is one thing." He nodded at the strange Englishman who was polishing another weird looking piece of electronics that he had apparently paid a huge sum of money for. "As long as the people running them don't get caught up in their own hype."
"Are you kidding, Max?" Liz chuckled. "How can you live in a place like this and not believe?"
"Take... me... to... your... leader..." Max intoned, walking robot-loke at Liz, making her walk backwards while she laughed at his antics.
"Come on," she took his hand. "You want to see tacky? And hype? Wait till you see the diner across the road."
"Bad?" Max raised an eyebrow.
"You have no idea," Liz smirked. "It's not even close to what you're used to, but the smoothies are good."
"You lead, and I'll follow."
Together, hand in hand, they stepped out into the bright light of day, and started to cross the road toward the atypical diner.
"At least that flying saucer above the door looks kind of neat," Max laughed.
"Are you making fun of my home town, Mr. Evans?"
"Me?" Max faked a look of ingenuousness. "Would I?"
"Paris, it ain't," Liz smiled.
"You can say that again," Max squeezed her hand. "But it's where you grew up, so I love it. It's my second favorite place in the world."
"Save the cheese," Liz shook her head. "They have enough of it in here."
They reached the door, and Liz opened it to the tune of 'Close Encounters.'
"In Paris, we had coffee and cakes. When in Rome, you do as the Romans do. That means, since we're in Roswell, it's Blood of Alien smoothie and Space fries."
"If we ever get invaded by Martians," Max sniggered, "that's how we'll beat them. Feed them fast food. It'll harden their arteries."
"And while we're eating," Liz's face grew serious as they slid into a horseshoe shaped booth, "there's something I have to tell you. Something I've been trying to tell you for ages now. I tried on the plane, last night... this morning..."
Max's eyes were everywhere at once. He studied the crude murals, the tacky décor, and the little alien gimmicks that were distributed at random amid the normal diner accoutrements.
"You wanna know what the best thing about this place is?" he leaned into Liz with a whisper.
"If you tell me it's the waitress uniforms, you are so dead."
"Okay," Max was trying hard to suppress his mirth. "I won't tell you it's the uniforms."
"Laugh it up, buster," Liz tried to sound offended. "Do you know how close I came to having to wear one of those?"
Max looked her up and down and licked his lips.
"I can see you in one of those," he nodded. "And I think you would be so hot. And are those snap fasteners? Just right for pulling open to reveal that you're not wearing any underwear. We never did make love in a tacky diner, did we?"
"Forget that," Liz shook her head. "At least, not in Roswell."
Max started to laugh out loud, attracting the attention of everyone who was not already staring at them.
"So how was it you almost came to wear one?" he smiled.
"My parents used to own this place, and a few other outlets like it, until they sold them to Brody," she explained. "The English guy who runs the museum. If we still owned it, you can bet I was going to have to work here."
"You would have made a fortune in tips," Max nodded. Then he frowned. "Do I have anything stuck in my teeth or something?"
"No, why?" Liz started to feel a little uncomfortable.
Before he could answer, a waitress appeared at their side.
"Hi, Liz," she was looking at Max, however. "I heard you were back. Heard you had company, too."
"Uh, yeah," Liz nodded. "Could you just get me two of my usual."
"Sure," she nodded, still not taking her eyes from Max. "Be just a jiffy. You know who's looking for you, right?"
"Yeah," Liz sighed. "Uh... our order?"
"Right. Right. I should sell tickets."
"Liz..."
"Listen, Max. It's not you, okay? It's me. You see... There's something..."
It was one of those moments when Liz knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what was happening. Even though she could not see the door, as soon as she heard the first note to that famous tune, she knew who walked into the café, just like she knew that he was walking toward her. She was too late. She closed her eyes and cursed the fact that Max was too distracting; that she was so weak. She was already as white as a sheet by the time he reached her.
"Well, the happy wanderer returns," Kyle slid into the seat next to Liz.
Sensing her sudden change in demeanor, Max guessed that this man's presence was not welcome.
"Not now," Liz shook her head. "Please, can we do this later, Kyle?"
"No time like the present," Kyle was looking Max up and down with a certain level of hostility.
"Are you a friend?" Max interrupted. "'Cause unless you're a friend, I really think you should leave."
"A friend?" Kyle started to sneer. "Yeah. You could say that I fall into that category. Or you could say I was more than just a friend."
Max was about to speak when Kyle continued.
"Or didn't she tell you? Didn't she tell you that you were stepping on another man's toes? What's it like, committing adultery? Does it make it more exciting? Give the rumpy pumpy a bit of zing, does it?"
Liz was mortified into inaction. Her vocal chords had ceased to function, and she couldn't even look at Max.
"Adultery?" Max narrowed his eyes, his face was turning red. "But that makes..."
"Now if 'you' would just butt out of here, I would like to have a word or two with this whore who passes as my wife."
"Wife..." Max repeated.
"Right," Kyle nodded with sarcasm. "Looks like you might have a brain cell after all. Now fuck off while I have words with my slut of a wife."
Max rose. His face was burning red with anger. His hands clenched and unclenched as he looked down at Liz.
"You were married?"
Liz wouldn't look at him. She just nodded.
Without a word, Max moved out of the booth and left the diner. Liz managed to look up and watched him as he walked across the front, past the windows without once looking back. He was walking away from her, and she was powerless to go after him.
"I guess that answers that," Kyle smirked.
"What?" Liz's voice was hoarse, raw. An anger started to burn within her.
"You ain't no fucking virgin no more."
He sounded genuinely jealous. Not that she cared. She only wanted him out of her life. She wanted him to go away so that she could run after Max and explain.
"That's right," Liz nodded. "And in the two weeks I've known him, Max and I have made love two or three times a day. And it's been great, Kyle. No holds barred, if you get my drift. Anytime, anyplace, anywhere. The man is a sex god!"
"Yeah, right," Kyle mumbled.
"Something you should have thought about all those years ago when you started to fuck Pam. And Vicky."
"They didn't mean anything, Liz," he waved his hands. "Both them girls came on to me, and okay. So I was weak. Christ, give me a break. Look, the way I figure it, we're even, okay? Vicky was just one time. I had a fling with Pam, you had a fling with that moron. It's over now, right? 'Cause I'm guessing he ain't hanging around. We're married, and we should at least make a fucking go of it. Especially since we're going to be in Boston together."
"No," Liz shook her head. "You'll be in Boston. I'll be in Cambridge. How about you stay your side of the river and I'll stay on mine."
"There's a river in Boston?" Kyle's eyes narrowed. "You make it sound like we won't be living together."
"Kyle," Liz's heart was sinking faster than a ton weight in the Charles river. Every passing moment was taking Max further away from her. If he left, she would never find him again. "Even if I hadn't met Max, even if I hadn't met anyone... There is no way on earth that I would get back together with you. Hell would freeze over before I would ever trust you again. And besides that, from what I hear, you just don't measure up to Max. In any department."
Kyle winced as though he had been slapped across his face.
"If you ask for a divorce, I'll contest it."
He sounded furious. Liz hoped that she hadn't pushed him too far. She doubted he would turn violent towards her, but you never knew.
"Divorce?" Liz raised her eyebrows. "I'm going for an annulment, you moron. And you can think yourself lucky I don't sue your sorry ass for everything you've got. If my Dad had his way, your salary from whatever hockey team drafts you would be lining my pockets for the next couple of decades."
Liz started to pull away, trying to slide out of the booth. Kyle grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"Listen to me, you goddamned whore. You better find that prick who was in here with you," Kyle snarled. "You'd better warn him that if I ever see his sorry ass again, I'm going to kick it till his teeth poke through his asshole."
"You know what, Kyle?" Liz snarled at him. "You go ahead and do that. Only you should be aware that his father is a high-ranking member of the government and he has secret service agents watching out for him. You'd probably have half a dozen bullets in what passes for your brain before you could even lay a hand on him. Like the man said. Go ahead, punk, make my day!"
As she left the diner, she wondered if she could get Maria to talk to Max in the same way Michael helped her to see that she could forgive him. She really hoped that Max would be as forgiving as she had been. But then, she had a little more time to come to terms with things. She was on her away to Max's motel room right now, before he had the time to check out of the room and her life forever.
* * *
And I think that a reunion in Boston is a 100% guarantee! As for things happening while you;re away... Nah, Nothing much. 
