Hey guys - due to Memorial Weekend, I'm posting early. Warning!! Sap alert!!!
Chapter 20
A couple of weeks later at Senor Chows, Max watched Lyz line up her last shot at the pool table. He couldn’t believe the feelings of tenderness or happiness whenever he was with her. Ever since they had kissed in his office, he couldn’t get his mind off of her or their kiss. He had taken every opportunity that arose to kiss her but he still couldn’t get enough. The more they kissed, the more Max wanted to kiss. And the more time Max spent with Lyz, the more certain he became of his feelings for her.
Max had spent most of his life waiting and searching for his dream girl, his soul mate. All the other women he had dated were just a way of killing time while he waited for her. He had known that he hadn’t been in love with any of them, that there was only one person he could possibly love and he was finally looking at her. He had doubts sometimes about her feelings, wondering if she felt the same way about him as he felt about her. But when he looked into her eyes, all doubts melted away.
As Max drove her home from their night at Senor Chows, Lyz couldn’t believe how at ease she felt with Max and enjoyed having her hand in engulfed in his. When Lyz looked at Max, the world didn’t matter. When she was with Max like this, she could forget all about her father and how he wanted to kill her. She could forget that she was a princess and just be a normal girl. A normal girl driving with a normal guy that she liked, liked very, very much.
A normal guy who had taught her about Christmas mistletoe at his family’s yearly Christmas party a few weeks later. The whole experience of Christmas was more wonderful than Lyz could imagine. It started the day of Thanksgiving. Maria and Lyz had been invited to join the Evans for Thanksgiving dinner, which Maria explained was an American holiday. Over dinner, Isabel had pulled out a small black book that looked like a calendar and started quizzing people on their schedules and what they wanted for Christmas.
After a few minutes, Lyz had finally leaned over to Max and asked him to explain why Christmas was so important. Isabel had heard the whispered question and her jaw dropped.
“Don’t you know that Christmas is the most important day of the year? Where have you been, in a cave?”
Isabel gasped and blushed in shame, suddenly remembering Lyz’s childhood. Lyz blushed with embarrassment and Max reached under the table to squeeze her hand. He gave her sister a warning look before turning back to Lyz. Diane and Philip noticed Isabel’s embarrassment and was confused as to what would cause it, since they didn’t know about Lyz’s past. Max thought quickly on how to cover up Isabel’s outburst without causing Lyz too much embarrassment.
“Not everyone is a Christmas Nazi like you are, Iz.” Max watched his parents while Isabel picked up Max’s cue.
“I am not a Christmas Nazi, Maxwell. Just because I like to have things perfect one time out of the entire year, does not make me a Nazi.” Isabel bantered nervously.
Maria and Michael both chimed in, hoping they could help distract the Evans from Isabel’s outburst. They both brought up examples of how she would organize and plan every little detail for the holidays. Maria brought up high school incidents while Michael related all the times he went tree shopping with Max and her diagram for the perfect tree. Alex pitched in with his funny stories about Isabel and her fixation on the perfect Christmas. Soon, the entire table was laughing at the stories of Isabel and Christmas, even Diane and Philip shared stories from when Isabel was younger.
Afterward, Michael, Maria, Lyz and Max headed over to the Parker’s for dessert, Isabel and Alex joined them so that Isabel could apologize for her careless comment. Lyz could see how contrite Isabel was and easily forgave her. While Nancy brought out pies, cobbler, and coffee to set up in the living room, Lyz asked her question again, what was so important about Christmas. As Isabel started her explanation, Nancy smiled at Lyz’s happy face and was grateful that Lyz had such good friends. Ben had crawled into Lyz’s lap and interrupted Isabel’s long explanation by proclaiming that Christmas was about Santa Clause and presents. He grew quiet and then whispered to Lyz.
“Lyth? Ith my old mommy and daddy still here?” Ben patted his chest.
“Yes, cherie. They will always be there.”
“I mith them.” Ben snuggled in Lyz’s lap and she hugged him even tighter.
In the end, Lyz had a jumbled, disjointed explanation about Christmas’ importance but she didn’t care. She smiled to herself at the thought of experiencing it for the first time. Eagerly she volunteered to help Isabel with preparations, much to the protests and groans of her friends. Isabel was an eager tutor- quickly creating a schedule that would work for both her and Lyz.
As the days went by and Lyz enthusiastically helped Isabel organize, little things that Lyz would say made Isabel pause. One night, while they were wrapping presents for the orphanage, Isabel asked Lyz what she normally did on Christmas. Lyz avoided Isabel’s gaze and explained that Christmas at the chateau was often just another publicity event for her father to show the ‘perfect’ family while behind closed doors, it was just another day either waiting for a beating or recovering from one. Isabel felt tears choke her as she suddenly realized that her plans and schedule weren’t as important as making sure that Lyz enjoyed her first real Christmas experience.
Isabel threw herself into making sure Lyz enjoyed her first Christmas with a vengeance. She withdrew from organizing and preparing almost all of the events she normally co-chaired every year. Together with Max and Maria, Isabel organized shopping days, present wrapping, cookie making, and tree shopping. While Lyz was surprised at the change in plans, Isabel’s friends and family were astonished. They had never seen Isabel take such a relaxed, somewhat spontaneous, approach to Christmas. They were even more stunned when Isabel threw out her tree diagram and allowed everyone to pick a tree they liked.
The only thing that Isabel kept on her schedule was the Evans annual Christmas party that was held in the backyard of the Evans’ home for friends, family, and clients. Everyone was recruited to help set up the for the event which was being held the week before Christmas.
Inside the large heated tent, Lyz was working on arranging the large floral bouquets and plants as Isabel instructed when Max snuck up behind her, grabbing her by the waist. He placed several kisses on Lyz’s neck, causing her to giggle.
“Whatcha doing?”
Lyz leaned back into Max’s embrace “I am trying to follow Isabel’s diagram for all the plants and flowers.”
“Hmm, let me take a look at it.” Max leaned over Lyz’s shoulder and examined the diagram. “Uh huh, just what I thought. She left out one important detail.”
“What?” Alarmed, Lyz looked at the diagram while Max reached into his coat pocket.
“I do not see anything wrong, Max. Are you certain?”
“Yup. She forgot this.” Max dangled a small leaved piece of plant, “This is mistletoe. You know what happens when a woman is caught standing under mistletoe, like you are right now?”
“No, what?”
Max turned Lyz around in arms and pulled her into a tender but urgent kiss. Lyz forgot about Isabel’s diagram, mistletoe, and even Christmas as Max kissed her. When he pulled away, Max was satisfied to see Lyz’s bemused gaze and swollen lips.
“Lyz?”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t let anyone else catch you under the mistletoe, ok?” With a quick kiss to her forehead, Max walked off to help Michael and Alex unload the tables for the party.
Isabel had arranged for the girls to get ready at Maria and Lyz’s place while the guys went to get ready at Max’s. For the first time in her life, Lyz looked forward to dressing up and going to a party. She had gone shopping with Maria who dragged her all over the mall. Hours later they still hadn’t found anything, so Lyz steered Maria to one place they hadn’t been to, Nieman Marcus. At first Maria had protested, stating that she could never afford designer but Lyz insisted that she would be paying for the dresses. After arguing for a few minutes, Maria easily caved when she saw the gorgeous dresses displayed.
Bowing to Lyz’s taste, Maria was dressed in a narrow sleeved jade green silk gown with a modest neckline but the back plunged down to the small of her back. Lyz was fitted in a black lace sleeveless cocktail dress which flared out stiffly around her knees. Looking at the dress on Lyz, Maria thought the 60’s style was a bit old fashioned but it seemed to fit Lyz perfectly.
As the girls were getting ready, Lyz brought out three gaily wrapped boxes and gathered the girls to her. When she handed them out, she explained she wanted to give the girls part of their presents early. Excitedly the girls unwrapped their boxes and their jaws dropped when they what was inside. Each box held a necklace and matching earrings. Maria’s set was emerald and diamonds while Isabel’s was made of rubies, and Ava’s set was blue sapphire. Each girl protested but Lyz explained that she sold her other jewelry like she had originally planned and spent that money. She insisted that the girls keep their gift. Happily the girls accepted and wore their jewelry for the party. Lyz wore a stunning four-strand pearl and diamond necklace with matching earrings which complimented her dress.
The party was a huge success, due mostly to Isabel’s planning skills, but there was one small upsetting incident. As the party was in full swing, Tess showed up on the arm of Congressman Pierce. Tess clung possessively to Pierce as they made their way around the tent and couldn’t help but smile smugly. She was looking forward to facing Max and his plain girlfriend with Pierce at her side.
Pierce was a bit dull and could be cruel during their sexual encounters, but he was rich and he had an even brighter future than Maxwell Evans. When she had first heard about the opening at Pierce’s office from Jeff Parker, there was no way that Tess could pass up the opportunity. She quit both her jobs and bragged to her sister about fulfilling her destiny with Pierce – she would be rich and powerful. It hadn’t taken more than a month for Pierce to notice her and take full advantage of all that she had to offer. Shortly after that, Pierce took her out in public and introduced her as his new girlfriend. Now she was back in Roswell to gloat over her success, and maybe, just maybe, give Max another chance.
Tess looked around the room until she saw Max. He was standing next to the same dark haired girl she had seen him with at the Crashdown, and he had a possessive arm around the girl. Tess saw the look on Max’s face as he watched the woman by his side and knew that she wouldn’t have chance, but she thought she’d try any way. She dragged Pierce over to Max and the woman. With a blatantly flirtatious smile, Tess greeted Max.
“Hello Max. Long time no see.”
Max had seen Tess in her too tight, too short dress make her way over to him and Lyz and couldn’t help but cringe. He looked around discreetly, trying to find an excuse to walk away, but he was forced to smile and politely greet Tess.
“Tess.”
“You know Congressman Pierce.” Tess simpered as she motioned towards a well dressed older man, clearly in his late 50’s.
Max shook the older man’s hand and introduced Lyz, “This is my girlfriend, Lyz.”
Tess looked over Lyz from head to toe before giving her a dismissive “Hi.”. Pierce on the other hand, reached out to take Lyz’s hand and he stared at her intently before saying,
“I’m sorry for staring, but you look very familiar. Have we met?”
Lyz smiled politely and withdrew her hand, “I do not think so, no.”
“Your accent, it’s French, right?”
Lyz glanced at Max before answering, “Yes, it is.”
“I thought so. I spent a couple of years in Switzerland several years ago, ever been there?” Pierce continued to stare.
Max saw Lyz calmly lie “No, I am actually from Quebec.” But he could sense her nervousness.
“Oh. I’m sorry. You just remind me of a woman I met while visiting a chateau near the Italian border, I can’t remember the name of it. Oh well. Obviously, you’re not her, but you sure remind me of her.”
Max felt Lyz suddenly tense and he gently squeezed her waist. He saw Tess watching Lyz with suspicion and tried to distract her and Pierce, “Would you excuse us? I see a client that I’d like to introduce Lyz to. Excuse us.”
Max ushered Lyz over to an old client of his, all the while feeling the tension coming off of Lyz. After making introductions and stilted small talk, Max discreetly led Lyz out of the tent and into the main house. Lyz followed mutely, terror flashing through her mind. As soon as Max was able to lock the door behind him, he wrapped his arms around her.
“Lyz, it’s ok. He didn’t recognize you.” When she didn’t respond, he looked down at her. Lyz’s face was pale and her eyes seemed even larger than normal. He could feel her trembling and he ached to make her fears go away.
“Lyz, come on, look at me. He didn’t recognize you.”
Lyz lifted her eyes to Max, “He must have met my mother.”
“But he never met you.”
“Max…what if he knows my father? What if he says something to him? He would find me, find Ben…”
“Hey, it’s alright Lyz. We’re going to stay calm. If we do anything rash or act as if what he said bothers us, it will only raise suspicion. We’ll just act normal and not give him another thought.”
Lyz searched Max’s face for assurance and when she saw his calm and steady gaze, she felt her fear subside. She nodded with a small smile, “Ok. Then let us return to the party.”
Max relaxed his hold on Lyz when he saw her relief. He wanted to wipe the lingering doubt and fear from her eyes so he teased, “In a few minutes. I finally got you alone. Look around you.”
Lyz looked around and noticed for the first time they were in a bedroom. A desk with a computer was on one side of the bed while a small nightstand stood on the other. Framed posters of the stars and the galaxy hung on the walls, while a bookshelf was loaded down with books of every subject. An abandoned sleeping bag lay near the foot of the bed.
Pointing at the sleeping bag, Max explained “This use to be my room. When we were in school, Michael would sneak over when Hank got really drunk and crash on my floor. Sometimes he even snuck in a girl with him, and I had to go sleep on Isabel’s floor.”
Lyz smiled at the thought of Michael sneaking in a girl and teased “And how many girls did you sneak in?”
Max flashed her smile, “None. You’re the first.”
Lyz put her arms around Max’s neck, “Really?”
“Really.”
A flirtatious smile lit Lyz’s face as she leaned into Max, “So, what do you do with a girl once you get her in here, alone?”
For an answer, Max pulled her to him and kissed her to distraction.
After the party, the group went to Kyle and Ava’s apartment for a small private celebration. Over stolen fruitcake and champagne, Max explained their encounter with Congressman Pierce and emphasized that they must be careful to reinforce the lie that Lyz was from Quebec. Maria instantly went over to Lyz and gave her a reassuring hug while Michael swore at Pierce. Isabel also offered reassurance that they would do their best to make sure people understood that Lyz was from Quebec.
Alex distracted everyone from their solemn thoughts by declaring he was ready for presents. Smiling, each person brought out the gifts they had bought for each other. After a lot of laughs, ooh’s and ahh’s, Maria brought out one last box from another room and handed it to Lyz. The others watched expectantly as she opened up the box and saw a large black leather book. Confused, she looked first to Max, then to Maria for an explanation.
Maria sat down next to Lyz and opened the book, “Max offered to share his memories and experiences with you, but we wanted to share ours with you as well. So all of us gathered together pictures from our childhood and school years to share with you.”
As Maria turned the pages of the album, Lyz saw they were filled with pictures of Maria, Max, Michael, Isabel, Alex, Kyle, and Ava. She saw Maria’s baby picture, her first grade toothless school picture, her first camping trip with her mom, Max, Isabel, and Michael in their first Halloween costumes, Isabel’s dance recital, Isabel’s cheerleader costume, Alex’s band in the garage, Alex getting his first computer, Kyle’s sports awards, Kyle on a fishing trip with his dad and granddad, and Ava’s birthday party pictures. Lyz let the tears fall as she shared all of their memories.
On the way home, Lyz fingered the album lovingly. She was overwhelmed at her friends’ generosity and kindness after only knowing her for such a short period of time. She couldn’t help but compare them to her father or Nicholas and shivered lightly at the thought of her father and what he would do to her friends, to Max, if he ever found her. She knew that before her father killed her that he would make her pay for running away and he wouldn’t hesitate to use any of her friends or Max to hurt her.
Lyz began to think of ways she could protect her friends and Max from her father and Nicholas. With dread, she could only come up with one solution, to cut them from her life, maybe even leave Roswell.
As Max pulled up to Lyz’s and Maria’s house, he was puzzled as to how serious and quiet Lyz had gotten. He parked the Jeep and turned to face her, “Is everything ok? You’ve been awfully quiet.”
“I-I just realized that I can not keep pretending that I am a normal girl, no matter how much I wish it to be.”
Max felt confused as he sensed Lyz trying to put some distance between them without moving an inch “Did I do something wrong?”
“No...yes. Ever since I have met you, Max, I….I have felt off balance. You make me forget anything else exists; you make me want things, feel things I could never have dared...I have never felt so connected to another person as I have with you.”
Max dreaded hearing what he suspected she was going to say, “Lyz, I felt it too. That connection between you and me. It’s the one real thing I’ve ever felt. I don’t want to lose that.”
“No, it is not real, Max. You and I…perhaps we…perhaps we should stop seeing each other.” Lyz felt her heart breaking at her own words. Silence fell between the couple until Max suddenly started the Jeep again and drove towards the desert.
“Max! What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer her question. He just kept driving until they reached the desert. He pulled off the road near the Indian reservation where they had their first driving lesson and turned off the jeep. Max got out of the jeep and walked around it to help Lyz get out. As they stood there by the jeep, Max nudged Lyz’s chin until her eyes met his. He pulled up her hand and rested it over his heart.
“Do you feel this? Do you feel how fast my heart is beating?” He asked her seriously. Lyz nodded her answer.
“You do this. You, only you, make my heart race.” He looked intensely into her eyes and placed his hand over her heart, “And I know I do the same thing to yours. I know it. And I know we belong together, so tell me what is going on. Why the change of heart?”
Lyz chewed on her lip and avoided his gaze, not wanting to tell Max her true reason. The thought of what her father would do to Max kept her quiet, but Max wouldn’t accept that. He gently grasped her arms and forced her to look at him.
“Tell me Lyz.”
“I do not know how else to protect you! You, Maria, everyone is in danger because of me, because of what my father. I can not allow you to continue risking your life!”
“I know the risks involved Lyz, I have from beginning. And I don’t care. To be with you… I would risk anything. Don’t push me away, Lyz, please.”
“Max, the thought of my father hurting you…….I could not bear it. I would rather have you safe and away from me than have you near me where I want you to be.
“I’m not going anywhere Lyz.” Max cupped the sides of Lyz’s face between his hands “You have always fought your father alone. You’ve put the welfare of others before you and never had anyone to put you first. But not any more, I’m here now. Whatever it takes, Lyz, I will never leave you alone.”
Max pulled Lyz close and kissed her fiercely with all the love he had been holding back, “Let me make this very clear so we don’t misunderstand anything – I love you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, your joys - I’m making them ours. Our problems, our worries - we’ll face them together.”
Lyz melted even more at Max’s words but she steeled herself against them, “Max, I can not allow you…” Max placed a finger over her lips to stop her.
Lyz felt Max’s warm lips on hers and felt his arms surround her. Tears welled in her eyes as the warmth of his embrace engulfed her. His words created a profound impression on her mind as well as her heart. She wanted to argue with him and push him away for his own safety, but she couldn’t. There, right there in his arms, was all that she had ever dreamed of.
Max broke the kiss to place small kisses on Lyz’s cheek, her nose, before pulling back, “I love you. Nothing can change that. WE will deal with your father if and when the time comes.”
Max waited with suspended breath to hear Lyz’s response, but then felt his heart drop when he heard her say, “Thank you.” He couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment when she didn’t declare her feelings and diverted his gaze. He was about to pull away and drive them back home when Lyz reached up to lay her hand against his cheek. When his eyes met hers, he heard her say...
The Nightmare and The Dream- COMPLETED 09.9.05
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Erina, Hunter, Forum Moderators
As for those who have been wondering what Lyz says....here's the Chapter 21!!!
From Chapter 20:
Max waited with suspended breath to hear Lyz’s response, but then felt his heart drop when he heard her say, “Thank you.” He couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment when she didn’t declare her feelings and diverted his gaze. He was about to pull away and drive them back home when Lyz reached up to lay her hand against his cheek. When his eyes met hers, he heard her say,
“When I was little, I use to dream of a boy with dark hair and beautiful amber eyes, like yours.” Lyz caressed Max’s face as if she couldn’t believe he was real and opened up her heart. “He would take me away from the pain, from my father. He would make me laugh and hold my hand. When the pain was really bad, he would always hold me in his arms and whisper to me to hold on. He was my comfort and my dream. I never thought dreams could come true, especially mine. But they did – when I met you. You are my dream come true. I loved you in my dreams almost as much I love you now.”
Max barely let Lyz finish before crushing her in his arms. He kissed her fiercely, possessively, and with all the love in his heart. Endless minutes passed before the two of them broke apart. Their harsh breaths broke the silence of the desert. Max desperately tried to think of something else besides the woman in his arms to calm his body down. But he couldn’t help his eyes traveling from her swollen lips, to her flushed cheeks, to her disheveled hair and wanting to possess her.
Purposefully, Max stepped back and avoided looking at Lyz while he took deep cold breaths.
“Max? Did I do something wrong?” Lyz worriedly asked as she watched Max step away from her and avoid looking at her.
“No, angel. I-I just, I think I might embarrass myself soon.” Max could see Lyz was confused. “Lyz, I love you but I also desire you, physically. I want to make love to you, but I promised myself I’d wait until you were ready.”
Lyz smiled lovingly, “Max, I know about making love.” Lyz bit her lip, trying not to laugh at the astonished look on Max’s face, “After we kissed, Maria gave me what she called, ‘the talk’. She explained that making love should be between two people who love each other so much that it is a physical embodiment of their love.”
Surprised, Max could only repeat Lyz’s words “Physical embodiment…?”
“Yes. You touch me, and I touch you.”
Max could feel himself harden at Lyz’s words but then his jaw dropped with the rest of her sentence, “And that is how we show each other our love, love making.”
He didn’t know whether to laugh at her innocence or groan in frustration. He reached out to take her hand in his and took a deep breath, trying to come up with an explanation.
“Lyz, love making is a little more complicated then that.”
“It is?”
“Yes. Maria was right, we do touch, but we also… um, we kiss. Then we…um…” Max started to panic a bit and couldn’t believe how difficult it was to explain, especially with Lyz’s large eyes looking up at him with innocent expectation. Then it hit him – he had never made love before either. He had sex, but never love. Once he admitted that to himself, Max felt the panic leave him.
“Come here.” He pulled her closer, then framed her face between his hands. He kissed her gently on the forehead, “Every kiss we share, that’s love.” Max trailed kisses down to her cheek to her neck. Lyz let her head fall back and let herself enjoy the heat of Max’s lips. With each kiss, her heart beat faster, her breath became shorter.
With each kiss, Max slowly unbuttoned her leather coat and slid one hand around her waist while the other went to her neck.
“Every touch we share,” Max caressed the side of Lyz’s neck, then let his hand sensuously slide down to cup her breast as he huskily whispered “that’s love too.”
Lyz moaned in the back of her throat as she felt Max’s lips on the side of her neck and his hand on her breast. She arched her body into his hand and molded her body against his. She felt the hard evidence of his desire for her against her hip and she instinctively moved closer. Suddenly she felt cold air hit her as Max pushed her away and started to re-button her coat.
Without a word Max pushed Lyz back into the jeep and drove furiously back to his home. She wanted to say something, feeling confused, but she could feel the tension radiating off of Max and fell silent. After Max parked the jeep, he escorted Lyz into his condo. Once through the doors, Max didn’t bother turning on the lights, instead, he dropped his keys and stripped off his coat in one smooth motion. He pulled Lyz back into his arms and began kissing her passionately.
When Max felt Lyz start to respond to his kiss, he began to unbutton her coat and push it off her shoulders. He let his hands lightly stroke the silkiness of her arms, her shoulders, her back, before molding her body close to his. Her skin felt so smooth, so soft, he ached to touch every silky inch. He could feel the blood rush through his body, reacting to the touch, the taste of her.
Lyz craved more. She wanted, no needed, to be closer to Max, to touch his skin, have his body pressed against hers. She whimpered softly as her hands struggled with the buttons on his shirt. She pulled away to look at Max in the eye before she boldly asked, “Max, c-can I…take your shirt off?”
Max mutely answered her by unbuttoning his shirt for her. He rested his hands by his side as Lyz grasped the edges of the opened shirt. He leaned his head back against the door and bit back a moan as Lyz placed both palms on his naked chest. He closed his eyes as she started a torturously slow exploration over his chest. He felt the shirt being pushed from his shoulders and he let it fall off his arms. His skin burned where ever her fingers touched. His stomach clenched and his hands became fists when he suddenly felt Lyz’s fingers trace the outer rim of his belly button. He wanted to lay her down and love her, but he also wanted to go slow.
When he felt timid fingers lightly trace the tightness in his pants, Max’s eyes flew open while his body went harder than he could have imagined. He saw Lyz staring, with wide eyes, at the bulge in his pants. He saw her lips part faintly as she felt his body react to her touch. The combination of awe, desire, and innocence played havoc on Max’s fragile control. His body screamed to take possession of Lyz, but his mind argued that Lyz deserved better. He didn’t want her first experience marred by fear or worry about her past, but her fingers were driving him over the edge.
Then he felt her fumble with his zipper. Unable to take it any more, Max grasped Lyz’s wandering hands, “Enough. You’re going to kill me Lyz.”
Lyz slowly dragged her eyes from the beautiful expanse of Max’s chest and lifted them to meet Max’s. Amber eyes turned almost black with desire met equally desire filled eyes. Max pushed away from the door and dragged Lyz to his bedroom. In the bedroom, Max reached out to flick on the overhead light. Without letting go of Lyz’s hand, he reached into the dresser. Turning to Lyz, he held up a tshirt.
“We’re going to bed and we’re only going to sleep. Ok?”
Lyz looked confusingly between the tshirt and Max, “What? But…I…you…we…”
“Angel, if we continued what we were doing out there, I’d lay you down and take you right there in the hall. I don’t want that for us. I want our first time to be special.”
“But Max…”
“Shh, do me a favor and change into this in the bathroom. I need some time away from your tempting body.”
“But…”
“Lyz, please. I want us to wait until the right time.”
Seeing his determined face, Lyz sighed with disappointment and turned towards his bathroom. She lingered in the bathroom, giving Max and her time to calm their bodies down. Looking in the bathroom mirror, she could hardly recognize the woman staring back at her. Eyes wide, cheeks flushed, lips swollen. Lyz touched her swollen lips as she smiled at herself in the mirror then let her fingers fall to the swell of her breasts. She shivered as she realized how sensitive her breasts, her very skin, had become from Max's touch. She could barely imagine how much better or special Max's lovemaking would be!
When she came out of the bathroom, clad only in his tshirt, she found Max already under the covers in his bed, naked from the waist up. Light filtered from the hall while the overhead light had been turned off. Uncertain as to where she was suppose to sleep, she walked over to Max’s side of the bed,
“Um Max? Where do I sleep?”
Max tore his eyes from the ceiling he was staring at, convinced he had control over body and turned his attention to Lyz. Seeing her wearing nothing but his tshirt, Max’s control fled and he was left staring dumbly. He knew she had asked a question but he couldn’t figure out what she said.
“Huh?”
“Where do I sleep?”
“Oh. Um, you can sleep with me. In the bed.”
Lyz smiled happily and walked around to the other side of the bed. Max followed every step, eyes glued to the bottom of the tshirt that brushed against bare thighs. He cursed and blessed the dark as he saw Lyz bend over to move the sheets and he could barely see her. He almost groaned out loud when he felt Lyz’s bare legs bump up against his as she cuddled close to his side.
As she fell asleep quickly, Max was left trying to control his body’s reaction.
When morning came, it found Max and Lyz wrapped in each others arms sleeping peacefully on top of Max’s blanket. The sun’s rays gently warmed Lyz’s face until she awoke. She was disoriented at first with the strange bed, the beating heart beneath her ear, and the feel of a heavy arm pressed across her waist. Then she smiled as she realized that she had woken up in Max’s arms in the his room. She lay on her side facing him with her ear pressed against his heart and head tucked beneath his chin. Her bare legs had tucked neatly between Max’s and he pined her to him with his arm. Looking up, Lyz smiled at the vision of a sleeping Max. He looked so peaceful and relaxed. She quietly moved one hand from his chest and gently traced the tips of Max’s eyelashes – she couldn’t believe how long they were.
“What are you looking at?” he asked in a raspy voice without opening his eyes. He could always sense when she was looking at him – his heart always skipped a beat. He loved how often his heart skipped.
“You.”
“Oh? Do you like what you see?” he asked in a semi-serious tone, still without opening his eyes.
“Hmmm, I will have to get back to you on that one…” Lyz let out a shriek as Max suddenly came alive and flipped her over unto her back. She laughed as Max leaned over her and blew raspberries against her neck. Quietly, they both became aware of Lyz’s bare legs on either side of Max’s waist as he lay on top of her. As Max drew back, he smilingly looked into her face “I want to wake up with you in my arms for the rest of my life.”
Lyz’s breath hitched in her throat before she smiled back and reached up to circle his neck with her arms “Me too.”
As the two of them drove back to Lyz’s home, neither one of them could stop touching each other, a new heightened awareness hummed between them. Their hands entwined and fingers stroked fingers. When they pulled up to the house and Max walked her to the door, he suddenly grabbed Lyz into his arms. He was reluctant to let her go, not wanting to waste time away from her. As she kissed him back, he decided that they needed breakfast before going off to work.
Lyz had gotten to work late, after noon because Max kept interrupting their breakfast preparation and eating by kissing her all morning. But Lyz didn’t care…she was on cloud nine. She couldn’t get last night or this morning out of her mind. Max had kissed her breathlessly! They spent the night together, holding each other…she had never felt so alive. The customers that came in looked at her funny when she wouldn’t quit smiling but she couldn’t help it, the thought, the memory of Max’s lips on hers….if possible her smile grew brighter.
Her heart raced at the thought of spending another night kissing Max and sleeping in his arms. She never thought that the feelings of safety, strength and comfort she had had in her dreams could ever come true in reality but it had. She never thought that the man of her dreams could be real but he was. And the reality….the reality was so much sweeter and better than any dream. She couldn’t wait for tonight. Max was picking her up after work today and they were going to have dinner with Isabel and Alex.
Across town at Evans Law Office, Pam, the receptionist, was picking out numbers for the lottery which she never played. But today had convinced her that anything was possible. When she had come in that morning at 9:00AM she had thought it odd that the offices were still closed because Max was always in the office before and after her. Then when Diane and Philip had told her that no accident had happened to Max, the three of them started to worry when he hadn’t shown up by 10:00AM. Pam had practically fell off her seat when Mr. Maxwell Evans finally did walk in the door, past noon! Most shocking of all was what he was wearing! For the past two years, since the younger Mr. Evans started working at the office, he had always worn a suit. But today he was wearing casual khakis and polo shirt! And then, she caught sight of his face and her jaw dropped.
Maxwell Evans, the serious boy she had watched grow up to be a more serious intense young man, had the biggest dopiest smile on his face like it was a permanent fixture. Pam had to check herself for a fever in case she was delirious and hallucinating. Nope. He was still standing there – smiling. She had never seen that particular smile on Max’s face before.
Diane came out of her office to check to see if Max had come in and she too was amazed at the smile that lit Max’s face. A spark twinkled in Max’s eyes as he walked towards his office and greeted his mother “Morning Mom. Hey, you and dad are free for dinner tonight, right? How about Pierre’s at seven? Lyz and I are meeting Isabel and Alex there.” When he walked past after getting her agreement, she stood transfixed and saw that Pam had the same bemused look on her face. Then as Pam’s eyes met hers, Diane started to smile and turned into Philip’s office to tell him that their son had finally done it. Max was in love!
“So babe, wanna tell me what happened last night?” Maria asked from the doorway of Lyz’s room later that night as Lyz prepared for dinner with Max.
Lyz’s face broke out with another 100 watt smile and she melted as she turned to look at Maria. “Oh Maria…”
Maria started to laugh at the expression of dreaminess on Lyz’s face. “Well?”
“He...he told me he loved me! Oh Maria, my heart races whenever he is near and I want him to touch me and keep kissing me. A-a-and I want to see him laugh, I want to see him in the morning and at night…is this what being in love is like?”
Maria smiled and moved to give Lyz a hug “Oh sweetie – anyone who looks at you can tell that you’re in love. It’s written all over your face.”
At dinner later that night, Diane and Philip both had to take a deep breath at the sight of their son gazing adoringly at the petite dark haired beauty next to him. Diane and Philip had been prepared to like Lyz when they had first heard about her because she of Max’s reaction to her. But after spending time with her over the last few weeks, they came to genuinely like and respect her. Looking at the two of them, Diane and Philip exchanged looks with Isabel and knew that it wouldn’t be too before she was officially part of their family.
Christmas Day was a magical experience for Lyz. She and Maria had decorated a small tree and put up stockings the night before. While logically she knew that Santa Clause was a myth, a small part of her secretly wanted to believe in the magic. The day was full of presents and lots of food, and Max by her side. She went from Amy DeLuca’s house for breakfast, to the Parker’s for a late lunch, and to the Evans’ for dinner.
At each house, more presents were exchanged. Lyz’s favorite was old fashioned Nikon camera that Max had given her. He had loaded it with film and batteries for her so that she could take it out of the box and start using it right away. She had a great time taking pictures of all of her friends. She couldn’t wait until they were developed so that she could add them to the new album that Michael and Maria had given her.
After Christmas, things started to quiet down again. Lyz was able to put Congressman Pierce behind her and enjoy New Year’s Eve. Even more importantly, she was able to spend more time with Max. As they were counting down the hours to midnight on New Year’s, Lyz completely opened up to Max and told him about her dreams of a the boy with the golden eyes.
In turn, Max told Lyz about the tiny doe-eyed girl he had dreamed about all his life. They had stared at each other with a secret smile, realizing that they had dreamed and loved each other even before they had met. Realistically, logically, their minds couldn't believe it was possible but in their souls, they knew it was true.
From Chapter 20:
Max waited with suspended breath to hear Lyz’s response, but then felt his heart drop when he heard her say, “Thank you.” He couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment when she didn’t declare her feelings and diverted his gaze. He was about to pull away and drive them back home when Lyz reached up to lay her hand against his cheek. When his eyes met hers, he heard her say,
“When I was little, I use to dream of a boy with dark hair and beautiful amber eyes, like yours.” Lyz caressed Max’s face as if she couldn’t believe he was real and opened up her heart. “He would take me away from the pain, from my father. He would make me laugh and hold my hand. When the pain was really bad, he would always hold me in his arms and whisper to me to hold on. He was my comfort and my dream. I never thought dreams could come true, especially mine. But they did – when I met you. You are my dream come true. I loved you in my dreams almost as much I love you now.”
Max barely let Lyz finish before crushing her in his arms. He kissed her fiercely, possessively, and with all the love in his heart. Endless minutes passed before the two of them broke apart. Their harsh breaths broke the silence of the desert. Max desperately tried to think of something else besides the woman in his arms to calm his body down. But he couldn’t help his eyes traveling from her swollen lips, to her flushed cheeks, to her disheveled hair and wanting to possess her.
Purposefully, Max stepped back and avoided looking at Lyz while he took deep cold breaths.
“Max? Did I do something wrong?” Lyz worriedly asked as she watched Max step away from her and avoid looking at her.
“No, angel. I-I just, I think I might embarrass myself soon.” Max could see Lyz was confused. “Lyz, I love you but I also desire you, physically. I want to make love to you, but I promised myself I’d wait until you were ready.”
Lyz smiled lovingly, “Max, I know about making love.” Lyz bit her lip, trying not to laugh at the astonished look on Max’s face, “After we kissed, Maria gave me what she called, ‘the talk’. She explained that making love should be between two people who love each other so much that it is a physical embodiment of their love.”
Surprised, Max could only repeat Lyz’s words “Physical embodiment…?”
“Yes. You touch me, and I touch you.”
Max could feel himself harden at Lyz’s words but then his jaw dropped with the rest of her sentence, “And that is how we show each other our love, love making.”
He didn’t know whether to laugh at her innocence or groan in frustration. He reached out to take her hand in his and took a deep breath, trying to come up with an explanation.
“Lyz, love making is a little more complicated then that.”
“It is?”
“Yes. Maria was right, we do touch, but we also… um, we kiss. Then we…um…” Max started to panic a bit and couldn’t believe how difficult it was to explain, especially with Lyz’s large eyes looking up at him with innocent expectation. Then it hit him – he had never made love before either. He had sex, but never love. Once he admitted that to himself, Max felt the panic leave him.
“Come here.” He pulled her closer, then framed her face between his hands. He kissed her gently on the forehead, “Every kiss we share, that’s love.” Max trailed kisses down to her cheek to her neck. Lyz let her head fall back and let herself enjoy the heat of Max’s lips. With each kiss, her heart beat faster, her breath became shorter.
With each kiss, Max slowly unbuttoned her leather coat and slid one hand around her waist while the other went to her neck.
“Every touch we share,” Max caressed the side of Lyz’s neck, then let his hand sensuously slide down to cup her breast as he huskily whispered “that’s love too.”
Lyz moaned in the back of her throat as she felt Max’s lips on the side of her neck and his hand on her breast. She arched her body into his hand and molded her body against his. She felt the hard evidence of his desire for her against her hip and she instinctively moved closer. Suddenly she felt cold air hit her as Max pushed her away and started to re-button her coat.
Without a word Max pushed Lyz back into the jeep and drove furiously back to his home. She wanted to say something, feeling confused, but she could feel the tension radiating off of Max and fell silent. After Max parked the jeep, he escorted Lyz into his condo. Once through the doors, Max didn’t bother turning on the lights, instead, he dropped his keys and stripped off his coat in one smooth motion. He pulled Lyz back into his arms and began kissing her passionately.
When Max felt Lyz start to respond to his kiss, he began to unbutton her coat and push it off her shoulders. He let his hands lightly stroke the silkiness of her arms, her shoulders, her back, before molding her body close to his. Her skin felt so smooth, so soft, he ached to touch every silky inch. He could feel the blood rush through his body, reacting to the touch, the taste of her.
Lyz craved more. She wanted, no needed, to be closer to Max, to touch his skin, have his body pressed against hers. She whimpered softly as her hands struggled with the buttons on his shirt. She pulled away to look at Max in the eye before she boldly asked, “Max, c-can I…take your shirt off?”
Max mutely answered her by unbuttoning his shirt for her. He rested his hands by his side as Lyz grasped the edges of the opened shirt. He leaned his head back against the door and bit back a moan as Lyz placed both palms on his naked chest. He closed his eyes as she started a torturously slow exploration over his chest. He felt the shirt being pushed from his shoulders and he let it fall off his arms. His skin burned where ever her fingers touched. His stomach clenched and his hands became fists when he suddenly felt Lyz’s fingers trace the outer rim of his belly button. He wanted to lay her down and love her, but he also wanted to go slow.
When he felt timid fingers lightly trace the tightness in his pants, Max’s eyes flew open while his body went harder than he could have imagined. He saw Lyz staring, with wide eyes, at the bulge in his pants. He saw her lips part faintly as she felt his body react to her touch. The combination of awe, desire, and innocence played havoc on Max’s fragile control. His body screamed to take possession of Lyz, but his mind argued that Lyz deserved better. He didn’t want her first experience marred by fear or worry about her past, but her fingers were driving him over the edge.
Then he felt her fumble with his zipper. Unable to take it any more, Max grasped Lyz’s wandering hands, “Enough. You’re going to kill me Lyz.”
Lyz slowly dragged her eyes from the beautiful expanse of Max’s chest and lifted them to meet Max’s. Amber eyes turned almost black with desire met equally desire filled eyes. Max pushed away from the door and dragged Lyz to his bedroom. In the bedroom, Max reached out to flick on the overhead light. Without letting go of Lyz’s hand, he reached into the dresser. Turning to Lyz, he held up a tshirt.
“We’re going to bed and we’re only going to sleep. Ok?”
Lyz looked confusingly between the tshirt and Max, “What? But…I…you…we…”
“Angel, if we continued what we were doing out there, I’d lay you down and take you right there in the hall. I don’t want that for us. I want our first time to be special.”
“But Max…”
“Shh, do me a favor and change into this in the bathroom. I need some time away from your tempting body.”
“But…”
“Lyz, please. I want us to wait until the right time.”
Seeing his determined face, Lyz sighed with disappointment and turned towards his bathroom. She lingered in the bathroom, giving Max and her time to calm their bodies down. Looking in the bathroom mirror, she could hardly recognize the woman staring back at her. Eyes wide, cheeks flushed, lips swollen. Lyz touched her swollen lips as she smiled at herself in the mirror then let her fingers fall to the swell of her breasts. She shivered as she realized how sensitive her breasts, her very skin, had become from Max's touch. She could barely imagine how much better or special Max's lovemaking would be!
When she came out of the bathroom, clad only in his tshirt, she found Max already under the covers in his bed, naked from the waist up. Light filtered from the hall while the overhead light had been turned off. Uncertain as to where she was suppose to sleep, she walked over to Max’s side of the bed,
“Um Max? Where do I sleep?”
Max tore his eyes from the ceiling he was staring at, convinced he had control over body and turned his attention to Lyz. Seeing her wearing nothing but his tshirt, Max’s control fled and he was left staring dumbly. He knew she had asked a question but he couldn’t figure out what she said.
“Huh?”
“Where do I sleep?”
“Oh. Um, you can sleep with me. In the bed.”
Lyz smiled happily and walked around to the other side of the bed. Max followed every step, eyes glued to the bottom of the tshirt that brushed against bare thighs. He cursed and blessed the dark as he saw Lyz bend over to move the sheets and he could barely see her. He almost groaned out loud when he felt Lyz’s bare legs bump up against his as she cuddled close to his side.
As she fell asleep quickly, Max was left trying to control his body’s reaction.
When morning came, it found Max and Lyz wrapped in each others arms sleeping peacefully on top of Max’s blanket. The sun’s rays gently warmed Lyz’s face until she awoke. She was disoriented at first with the strange bed, the beating heart beneath her ear, and the feel of a heavy arm pressed across her waist. Then she smiled as she realized that she had woken up in Max’s arms in the his room. She lay on her side facing him with her ear pressed against his heart and head tucked beneath his chin. Her bare legs had tucked neatly between Max’s and he pined her to him with his arm. Looking up, Lyz smiled at the vision of a sleeping Max. He looked so peaceful and relaxed. She quietly moved one hand from his chest and gently traced the tips of Max’s eyelashes – she couldn’t believe how long they were.
“What are you looking at?” he asked in a raspy voice without opening his eyes. He could always sense when she was looking at him – his heart always skipped a beat. He loved how often his heart skipped.
“You.”
“Oh? Do you like what you see?” he asked in a semi-serious tone, still without opening his eyes.
“Hmmm, I will have to get back to you on that one…” Lyz let out a shriek as Max suddenly came alive and flipped her over unto her back. She laughed as Max leaned over her and blew raspberries against her neck. Quietly, they both became aware of Lyz’s bare legs on either side of Max’s waist as he lay on top of her. As Max drew back, he smilingly looked into her face “I want to wake up with you in my arms for the rest of my life.”
Lyz’s breath hitched in her throat before she smiled back and reached up to circle his neck with her arms “Me too.”
As the two of them drove back to Lyz’s home, neither one of them could stop touching each other, a new heightened awareness hummed between them. Their hands entwined and fingers stroked fingers. When they pulled up to the house and Max walked her to the door, he suddenly grabbed Lyz into his arms. He was reluctant to let her go, not wanting to waste time away from her. As she kissed him back, he decided that they needed breakfast before going off to work.
Lyz had gotten to work late, after noon because Max kept interrupting their breakfast preparation and eating by kissing her all morning. But Lyz didn’t care…she was on cloud nine. She couldn’t get last night or this morning out of her mind. Max had kissed her breathlessly! They spent the night together, holding each other…she had never felt so alive. The customers that came in looked at her funny when she wouldn’t quit smiling but she couldn’t help it, the thought, the memory of Max’s lips on hers….if possible her smile grew brighter.
Her heart raced at the thought of spending another night kissing Max and sleeping in his arms. She never thought that the feelings of safety, strength and comfort she had had in her dreams could ever come true in reality but it had. She never thought that the man of her dreams could be real but he was. And the reality….the reality was so much sweeter and better than any dream. She couldn’t wait for tonight. Max was picking her up after work today and they were going to have dinner with Isabel and Alex.
Across town at Evans Law Office, Pam, the receptionist, was picking out numbers for the lottery which she never played. But today had convinced her that anything was possible. When she had come in that morning at 9:00AM she had thought it odd that the offices were still closed because Max was always in the office before and after her. Then when Diane and Philip had told her that no accident had happened to Max, the three of them started to worry when he hadn’t shown up by 10:00AM. Pam had practically fell off her seat when Mr. Maxwell Evans finally did walk in the door, past noon! Most shocking of all was what he was wearing! For the past two years, since the younger Mr. Evans started working at the office, he had always worn a suit. But today he was wearing casual khakis and polo shirt! And then, she caught sight of his face and her jaw dropped.
Maxwell Evans, the serious boy she had watched grow up to be a more serious intense young man, had the biggest dopiest smile on his face like it was a permanent fixture. Pam had to check herself for a fever in case she was delirious and hallucinating. Nope. He was still standing there – smiling. She had never seen that particular smile on Max’s face before.
Diane came out of her office to check to see if Max had come in and she too was amazed at the smile that lit Max’s face. A spark twinkled in Max’s eyes as he walked towards his office and greeted his mother “Morning Mom. Hey, you and dad are free for dinner tonight, right? How about Pierre’s at seven? Lyz and I are meeting Isabel and Alex there.” When he walked past after getting her agreement, she stood transfixed and saw that Pam had the same bemused look on her face. Then as Pam’s eyes met hers, Diane started to smile and turned into Philip’s office to tell him that their son had finally done it. Max was in love!
“So babe, wanna tell me what happened last night?” Maria asked from the doorway of Lyz’s room later that night as Lyz prepared for dinner with Max.
Lyz’s face broke out with another 100 watt smile and she melted as she turned to look at Maria. “Oh Maria…”
Maria started to laugh at the expression of dreaminess on Lyz’s face. “Well?”
“He...he told me he loved me! Oh Maria, my heart races whenever he is near and I want him to touch me and keep kissing me. A-a-and I want to see him laugh, I want to see him in the morning and at night…is this what being in love is like?”
Maria smiled and moved to give Lyz a hug “Oh sweetie – anyone who looks at you can tell that you’re in love. It’s written all over your face.”
At dinner later that night, Diane and Philip both had to take a deep breath at the sight of their son gazing adoringly at the petite dark haired beauty next to him. Diane and Philip had been prepared to like Lyz when they had first heard about her because she of Max’s reaction to her. But after spending time with her over the last few weeks, they came to genuinely like and respect her. Looking at the two of them, Diane and Philip exchanged looks with Isabel and knew that it wouldn’t be too before she was officially part of their family.
Christmas Day was a magical experience for Lyz. She and Maria had decorated a small tree and put up stockings the night before. While logically she knew that Santa Clause was a myth, a small part of her secretly wanted to believe in the magic. The day was full of presents and lots of food, and Max by her side. She went from Amy DeLuca’s house for breakfast, to the Parker’s for a late lunch, and to the Evans’ for dinner.
At each house, more presents were exchanged. Lyz’s favorite was old fashioned Nikon camera that Max had given her. He had loaded it with film and batteries for her so that she could take it out of the box and start using it right away. She had a great time taking pictures of all of her friends. She couldn’t wait until they were developed so that she could add them to the new album that Michael and Maria had given her.
After Christmas, things started to quiet down again. Lyz was able to put Congressman Pierce behind her and enjoy New Year’s Eve. Even more importantly, she was able to spend more time with Max. As they were counting down the hours to midnight on New Year’s, Lyz completely opened up to Max and told him about her dreams of a the boy with the golden eyes.
In turn, Max told Lyz about the tiny doe-eyed girl he had dreamed about all his life. They had stared at each other with a secret smile, realizing that they had dreamed and loved each other even before they had met. Realistically, logically, their minds couldn't believe it was possible but in their souls, they knew it was true.
I'm a believer!
Thank you mmcheron for being my new beta!
Chapter 22
In the following months, both Max and Lyz were floating on cloud nine. Each was spent getting to know each other a little bit more, getting more intimate. Lyz learned about Max’s habits, his tastes, his interests which in turn helped her to explore her own interests. She discovered while watching some of his favorite action movies that she really didn’t like modern movies, she preferred the older movies with actors like Cary Grant and Doris Day. She preferred modern rock over the classical that she grew up with, and she liked plain vanilla ice cream verses chocolate rocky road. Every week, every day became one of exploration and sharing.
Max learned how stubborn Lyz could be when she insisted on experiencing ‘real’ camping. She organized a weekend trip for the group and insisted that everyone just bring a tent and a sleeping bag – no aircushions or electronic equipment. They would cook their meals over the campfire and try to stay as close to nature as possible. From the start, almost everyone was miserable, most especially Lyz, but she would have stubbornly stuck it out just to say she had done it. While everyone was trying to make the best of the situation for Lyz's sake, Maria was the most vocal about her discomfort.
After a miserable time trying to cook dinner over the campfire and getting bit by mosquitoes, Maria packed up everyone. She declared that if they were going to camp, they would do so in her backyard so that they still had modern conveniences. No way was she spending one night in the woods with bugs or dirt. Gratefully and with very few arguments, everyone agreed. They pitched the tents in the back yard and fired up the grill for dinner. They had a much better time in the backyard then in Frazier Woods.
The passing months also gave Max and Lyz opportunity to explore the physical side of their relationship, but Max refused to go all the way. Every time Lyz responded to him, he always drew back, cooling things down. He couldn’t explain to Lyz or to himself why until he came to a realization while playing basketball with the guys.
It was him and Alex verses Kyle and Michael. Trying to distract Max, Michael bluntly asked if he had done ‘it’ with Lyz yet. Irritated, Max had stopped dribbling the ball and glared at Michael. It dawned on him that he didn’t want to share that information with anyone, not because he hadn’t made love with Lyz but because it was special, intimate. As he thought about how special making love to Lyz would be, he suddenly realized he liked the idea of waiting until their wedding night to consummate their relationship, which sent him into shock.
Michael had snapped his fingers in front of Max’s face to get his attention and demanded to know what was causing him to look like a crazy loonytoon. Max had dazedly answered, “I’m gonna get married.”
~!~
A month after Max came his life changing realization, he stood in front of Lyz’s door nervously waiting for it to open. He had recruited all of his friends and family to organize this night – he wanted it to be perfect. It had taken him and Maria hours to persuade Principal Williams to allow them to use the high school for tonight since the school was closed for the summer but he finally did. Isabel was priceless with her decorating contacts and knack for organizing – she had helped keep Max on track and on top of everything. Diane and Philip helped by taking a few of his cases off of his workload so he could spend more time getting things prepared. It had taken the entire month to get everything ready but finally, tonight, everything was in place. All he had to do was get Lyz there.
In the back of Max’s mind there was a small part of him that worried that Lyz might actually turn him down but he pushed the horrifying thought away as he checked his suit pocket and knocked on the door. His heart melted when Lyz opened the door with a beautiful smile and a breathless, ‘Hi.” He kissed her hello and brought out a large bouquet of white roses from behind his back.
Lyz smiled happily as she buried her nose in the wonderful scent of her the white roses. “Thank you.”
“I just realized, white roses really suit you.”
Lyz asked, “What do you mean?’
“The beauty of white roses is the simple pureness of them, nothing flashy or artificial – just like you.”
Lyz blushed at his answer and went to put the roses in water. She was looking forward to the surprise Max had planned for tonight and wondered if she would ever get tired of spending time with Max. Looking over at him by the kitchen doorway, she knew with certainty that it wasn’t possible to tired of Max. Max tried not to be obvious when Maria peeked out from behind Lyz’s bedroom door to show him her dress and he nodded in acknowledgment.
Lyz left Max in the living room as she went to her bedroom to finish dressing. He wouldn’t say what was going on but just told Lyz it would be a special evening. Maria squirmed with excitement as she helped Lyz with her hair and only smiled broadly when asked what was going on. As soon as Lyz was out of sight, Max pulled out his cell phone.
Max kept peeking out the living room window and when he heard the roar of a motorbike, he hurried to the side door. Standing on the other side of the door was Michael who had waited at the florist shop while Max found out what color Lyz’s dress was so that a matching corsage could be made. It had be left to Maria to find out beforehand, but Lyz couldn’t make up her mind which dress to wear, so the corsage had to wait until that evening. When it was ready, Michael drove over and handed it to Max who thanked him. Michael just grinned in response as he walked towards Maria’s room to get ready.
When Lyz came back out to the living room, Max’s breath caught in his throat as he caught sight of Lyz in her dress. She was dressed in a pale pink cream chiffon gown with a sleeveless bodice and a short flared tail. The frothy material was lightly gathered at the her right hip to show of the curve of her waist and hips then fell smoothly to her feet. Maria had enhanced Lyz’s naturally wavy hair with hot rollers and let it fall so the curls fell softly around her face and shoulders.
Max told himself to breath as he reached for Lyz’s hand. From behind his back, he brought out the pale pink and white rose corsage and wrapped it around Lyz’s wrist. When she was about to ask about the corsage, Max silenced her with a kiss. Pulling back, he told her,
“You…you take my breath away.”
Maria came out with her camera and excitedly insisted on taking photographs of the two of them. Bewildered, Lyz followed Max’s lead and posed for Maria before Max lead her to the limousine waiting outside the house. Again Lyz tried to get Max to tell her what was going on.
“Max, please, what is going on? What is all this?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“But Max…” Lyz broke off when he just shook his head with a mysterious smile.
When she began to pout, he thought so she looked so adorable that he kissed her passionately and she forgot what they were talking about. When the limousine stopped, Max helped Lyz out and she looked at the large lit building in front of her.
“Where are we?”
“We are standing in front of West Roswell High School.”
“High School?”
“Yes. This is the high school that Maria, Isabel, Alex, Kyle, Michael and I went to. Come on, let me take you on a tour.”
Max entwined his fingers with Lyz’s and led her around the halls of the empty school. He pointed out which room was homeroom where they took attendance every day and listened to announcements. He showed her the room that had been his favorite - the mock trial class room. He told Lyz that it was during the mock trial classes, which he had taken on a whim, that he knew for certain he had wanted to be contract lawyer like his father.
Next, he pointed out the art room where Michael still had his one creative piece displayed there and explained the story behind it. Michael had skated through school, not really taking it seriously, but then came his senior year. He discovered that he wanted to graduated so that he could get out of going to school. To his horror, he was one elective course short – he either had to take an art class or a communications class in order to graduate. He had picked art but skipped the class until right before graduation when he had to come up with piece for his final grade. It had taken him three days but his final artwork had earned him a high enough grade to pass and praise from the teacher. The teacher was so impressed, he had asked if he could keep the piece as inspiration for his future students.
Max then led her down a darkly lit hall. He stopped in front of a inconspicuous door that read ‘Eraser Room’ and ushered Lyz though the door. “This is the eraser room. Only two things happen in this room.”
Lyz looked curiously around the room, “What?”
“One, erasers get cleaned and two, people make out in this room.” Max teased.
Lyz felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of Max making out with another person, “Oh? How well do you know this room?”
Max’s smile turned solemn “I don’t. I’ve never been in here before. I was waiting for the right girl. You.”
Lyz’s eyes widened at Max’s confession and then melted against him as he drew her into the room for his long awaited make out session. The room was shrouded in shadows but light spilled in from the hallway, yet Lyz just focused on the shadowy figure of Max. Max told himself he shouldn’t, knew that it would ruin his perfectly timed schedule, but he just couldn’t help but pull Lyz into a heated kiss.
When Max pulled away from Lyz and checked his watch, he was stunned to see that almost an hour had flown by. Swearing underneath his breath, he pulled himself together and grabbed Lyz’s hand. Outside in the hallway, Max saw that he had mussed Lyz’s hair and kissed off all of her lip gloss. In fact, there was no hiding what they had been doing – her lips looked ravaged and her eyes were dark with unfulfilled desire. Resisting the urge to continue where he had left off, Max led Lyz towards the gym. He paused at the doors and threaded Lyz’s arm through his right before he opened the door. He watched as Lyz’s eyes grow wide with surprise.
Inside the gym, Max and their friends had all decorated the gym to recreate their senior prom theme, ‘Space Odyssey 2001’ . They had even contacted the same band and had the same photo backdrop for the picture area. The gym was filled with friends, family, co-workers, and other people who enthusiastically volunteered to re-create prom night.
Lyz saw Maria sitting on Michael’s lap at a table while Kyle had Ava over by the refreshment table. Isabel was running around trying to make sure everything was perfect while Alex followed behind her trying to assure her that it was. She saw the Parkers with Ben sitting at a table with the Evans. Amy and Jim were out on the dance floor, enjoying the music played by the same band that played during the original prom.
“Remember when we were in the desert and you wished that you had had some memories of high school? I thought I could make that wish come true for you. I want you to have a memory of high school prom night.” Max pulled her closer to the dance floor. “In high school, I didn’t go to prom because the girl I had wanted to go to prom with only existed in my dreams, my dream girl.” Lyz’s eyes filled with astonishment as she gazed around the gym.
As Max walked them to the center of the dance, the lights dimmed and the band started to play the prom’s theme song, “I Shall Believe” and Max pulled Lyz into his arms.
Come to me now
And lay your hands over me
Even if it's a lie
Say it will be alright
And I shall believe
I'm broken in two
And I know you're on to me
That I only come home
When I'm so all alone
But I do believe
That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly you won't give up on me
And I shall believe
And I shall believe
In her ear he whispered, “I had to wait for a long time for you, but you were worth the wait. Sometimes I’m afraid that I’ll wake up one of these days and this will all have been another dream. That you’re still a dream.” Max pressed Lyz even closer to him and placed her hand on his heart before whispering “If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up.”
The music played softly in the gym and Lyz couldn’t prevent the tears streaming down her face. She had never known a man such as Max. Her head neatly tucked under Max’s chin and they swayed slowly to the music.
Open the door
And show me your face tonight
I know it's true
No one heals me like you
And you hold the key
Never again
would I turn away from you
I'm so heavy tonight
But your love is alright
And I do believe
That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly
You won't give up on me
And I shall believe
I shall believe
And I shall believe
- ‘I Shall Believe’ Sheryl Crow
As the music faded, Max pulled away to look at Lyz. He kissed her reverently on her temple and slowly bent on one knee. Suddenly the lights dimmed even more and a soft light shone on the couple as their friends and family gathered around them. Interested strangers hung back and watched the intimate crowd. Lyz stared in puzzled fascination as Max took her hands in his as he started talking with a husky voice
“Lyz, my whole life, I’ve felt lost, an alien among my family and friends, soulless. The day I met you…my soul was born. That was the day my life began. When I’m with you, when I think about you, it’s magic. When I’m not with you…I feel empty. I go crazy wanting to be with you, craving your smile, your voice, your touch. The thought of you, the way your eyes look into mine, your smile, the touch of your skin, your lips, the thought of you -- is what makes me human every day. “
Around the room, women started to tear up at the emotion filled declaration while the men tried to stoically hide their emotional reaction as well.
“When I look into your eyes, I see my future. Whether I die tomorrow or fifty years from now, my destiny is the same: it’s you. I want to be with you, Lyz. I want to wake up every morning with you by my side. I want to fall asleep at night holding you in my arms. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Max pressed a kiss to her left hand, before reaching into his left breast pocket and held out a platinum Edwardian style engagement ring. The center was a stunning diamond solitaire with full-cut bead-set diamonds embedded in the elegant cut out petal motif band.
The women nearest to the couple gasped slightly while Lyz’s free hand went to her mouth to hold back her gasp. More tears welled up in her eyes as Max placed the ring near her ring finger and stared at her with humble eyes.
“Lyz, will you let? Will you marry me?”
“Oh Max! Yes!!! Yes I want to marry you!!!”
Max quickly pushed the ring onto Lyz’s finger and jumped up to kiss her. The crowd around them burst into cheers and clapping while the band started to play Dido’s “Here With Me”. Coming up for air, he suddenly lifted her up, swung her into his arms and twirled her around before setting her back down. Laughing with happiness, he placed his forehead against Lyz’s and stood staring at her. Neither one of them could keep the happy smiles off of their faces as they gazed at each other.
Amongst the joyful cheers and clapping, one person stood watching with malevolent blue eyes. Tess felt anger and jealousy burning deep in her gut. There was no way she was going to allow a flat-chested nobody steal her man, her future. Suddenly, a thought came to her. She remembered how Lyz and Max had reacted at the holiday party when Pierce had mentioned Switzerland and a royal family – there was something there, she just knew it. Once she found out, she’d use it to get rid of Lyz. A cold smug smile crossed Tess’s face as she silently stared at the joyous couple.
Chapter 22
In the following months, both Max and Lyz were floating on cloud nine. Each was spent getting to know each other a little bit more, getting more intimate. Lyz learned about Max’s habits, his tastes, his interests which in turn helped her to explore her own interests. She discovered while watching some of his favorite action movies that she really didn’t like modern movies, she preferred the older movies with actors like Cary Grant and Doris Day. She preferred modern rock over the classical that she grew up with, and she liked plain vanilla ice cream verses chocolate rocky road. Every week, every day became one of exploration and sharing.
Max learned how stubborn Lyz could be when she insisted on experiencing ‘real’ camping. She organized a weekend trip for the group and insisted that everyone just bring a tent and a sleeping bag – no aircushions or electronic equipment. They would cook their meals over the campfire and try to stay as close to nature as possible. From the start, almost everyone was miserable, most especially Lyz, but she would have stubbornly stuck it out just to say she had done it. While everyone was trying to make the best of the situation for Lyz's sake, Maria was the most vocal about her discomfort.
After a miserable time trying to cook dinner over the campfire and getting bit by mosquitoes, Maria packed up everyone. She declared that if they were going to camp, they would do so in her backyard so that they still had modern conveniences. No way was she spending one night in the woods with bugs or dirt. Gratefully and with very few arguments, everyone agreed. They pitched the tents in the back yard and fired up the grill for dinner. They had a much better time in the backyard then in Frazier Woods.
The passing months also gave Max and Lyz opportunity to explore the physical side of their relationship, but Max refused to go all the way. Every time Lyz responded to him, he always drew back, cooling things down. He couldn’t explain to Lyz or to himself why until he came to a realization while playing basketball with the guys.
It was him and Alex verses Kyle and Michael. Trying to distract Max, Michael bluntly asked if he had done ‘it’ with Lyz yet. Irritated, Max had stopped dribbling the ball and glared at Michael. It dawned on him that he didn’t want to share that information with anyone, not because he hadn’t made love with Lyz but because it was special, intimate. As he thought about how special making love to Lyz would be, he suddenly realized he liked the idea of waiting until their wedding night to consummate their relationship, which sent him into shock.
Michael had snapped his fingers in front of Max’s face to get his attention and demanded to know what was causing him to look like a crazy loonytoon. Max had dazedly answered, “I’m gonna get married.”
~!~
A month after Max came his life changing realization, he stood in front of Lyz’s door nervously waiting for it to open. He had recruited all of his friends and family to organize this night – he wanted it to be perfect. It had taken him and Maria hours to persuade Principal Williams to allow them to use the high school for tonight since the school was closed for the summer but he finally did. Isabel was priceless with her decorating contacts and knack for organizing – she had helped keep Max on track and on top of everything. Diane and Philip helped by taking a few of his cases off of his workload so he could spend more time getting things prepared. It had taken the entire month to get everything ready but finally, tonight, everything was in place. All he had to do was get Lyz there.
In the back of Max’s mind there was a small part of him that worried that Lyz might actually turn him down but he pushed the horrifying thought away as he checked his suit pocket and knocked on the door. His heart melted when Lyz opened the door with a beautiful smile and a breathless, ‘Hi.” He kissed her hello and brought out a large bouquet of white roses from behind his back.
Lyz smiled happily as she buried her nose in the wonderful scent of her the white roses. “Thank you.”
“I just realized, white roses really suit you.”
Lyz asked, “What do you mean?’
“The beauty of white roses is the simple pureness of them, nothing flashy or artificial – just like you.”
Lyz blushed at his answer and went to put the roses in water. She was looking forward to the surprise Max had planned for tonight and wondered if she would ever get tired of spending time with Max. Looking over at him by the kitchen doorway, she knew with certainty that it wasn’t possible to tired of Max. Max tried not to be obvious when Maria peeked out from behind Lyz’s bedroom door to show him her dress and he nodded in acknowledgment.
Lyz left Max in the living room as she went to her bedroom to finish dressing. He wouldn’t say what was going on but just told Lyz it would be a special evening. Maria squirmed with excitement as she helped Lyz with her hair and only smiled broadly when asked what was going on. As soon as Lyz was out of sight, Max pulled out his cell phone.
Max kept peeking out the living room window and when he heard the roar of a motorbike, he hurried to the side door. Standing on the other side of the door was Michael who had waited at the florist shop while Max found out what color Lyz’s dress was so that a matching corsage could be made. It had be left to Maria to find out beforehand, but Lyz couldn’t make up her mind which dress to wear, so the corsage had to wait until that evening. When it was ready, Michael drove over and handed it to Max who thanked him. Michael just grinned in response as he walked towards Maria’s room to get ready.
When Lyz came back out to the living room, Max’s breath caught in his throat as he caught sight of Lyz in her dress. She was dressed in a pale pink cream chiffon gown with a sleeveless bodice and a short flared tail. The frothy material was lightly gathered at the her right hip to show of the curve of her waist and hips then fell smoothly to her feet. Maria had enhanced Lyz’s naturally wavy hair with hot rollers and let it fall so the curls fell softly around her face and shoulders.
Max told himself to breath as he reached for Lyz’s hand. From behind his back, he brought out the pale pink and white rose corsage and wrapped it around Lyz’s wrist. When she was about to ask about the corsage, Max silenced her with a kiss. Pulling back, he told her,
“You…you take my breath away.”
Maria came out with her camera and excitedly insisted on taking photographs of the two of them. Bewildered, Lyz followed Max’s lead and posed for Maria before Max lead her to the limousine waiting outside the house. Again Lyz tried to get Max to tell her what was going on.
“Max, please, what is going on? What is all this?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“But Max…” Lyz broke off when he just shook his head with a mysterious smile.
When she began to pout, he thought so she looked so adorable that he kissed her passionately and she forgot what they were talking about. When the limousine stopped, Max helped Lyz out and she looked at the large lit building in front of her.
“Where are we?”
“We are standing in front of West Roswell High School.”
“High School?”
“Yes. This is the high school that Maria, Isabel, Alex, Kyle, Michael and I went to. Come on, let me take you on a tour.”
Max entwined his fingers with Lyz’s and led her around the halls of the empty school. He pointed out which room was homeroom where they took attendance every day and listened to announcements. He showed her the room that had been his favorite - the mock trial class room. He told Lyz that it was during the mock trial classes, which he had taken on a whim, that he knew for certain he had wanted to be contract lawyer like his father.
Next, he pointed out the art room where Michael still had his one creative piece displayed there and explained the story behind it. Michael had skated through school, not really taking it seriously, but then came his senior year. He discovered that he wanted to graduated so that he could get out of going to school. To his horror, he was one elective course short – he either had to take an art class or a communications class in order to graduate. He had picked art but skipped the class until right before graduation when he had to come up with piece for his final grade. It had taken him three days but his final artwork had earned him a high enough grade to pass and praise from the teacher. The teacher was so impressed, he had asked if he could keep the piece as inspiration for his future students.
Max then led her down a darkly lit hall. He stopped in front of a inconspicuous door that read ‘Eraser Room’ and ushered Lyz though the door. “This is the eraser room. Only two things happen in this room.”
Lyz looked curiously around the room, “What?”
“One, erasers get cleaned and two, people make out in this room.” Max teased.
Lyz felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of Max making out with another person, “Oh? How well do you know this room?”
Max’s smile turned solemn “I don’t. I’ve never been in here before. I was waiting for the right girl. You.”
Lyz’s eyes widened at Max’s confession and then melted against him as he drew her into the room for his long awaited make out session. The room was shrouded in shadows but light spilled in from the hallway, yet Lyz just focused on the shadowy figure of Max. Max told himself he shouldn’t, knew that it would ruin his perfectly timed schedule, but he just couldn’t help but pull Lyz into a heated kiss.
When Max pulled away from Lyz and checked his watch, he was stunned to see that almost an hour had flown by. Swearing underneath his breath, he pulled himself together and grabbed Lyz’s hand. Outside in the hallway, Max saw that he had mussed Lyz’s hair and kissed off all of her lip gloss. In fact, there was no hiding what they had been doing – her lips looked ravaged and her eyes were dark with unfulfilled desire. Resisting the urge to continue where he had left off, Max led Lyz towards the gym. He paused at the doors and threaded Lyz’s arm through his right before he opened the door. He watched as Lyz’s eyes grow wide with surprise.
Inside the gym, Max and their friends had all decorated the gym to recreate their senior prom theme, ‘Space Odyssey 2001’ . They had even contacted the same band and had the same photo backdrop for the picture area. The gym was filled with friends, family, co-workers, and other people who enthusiastically volunteered to re-create prom night.
Lyz saw Maria sitting on Michael’s lap at a table while Kyle had Ava over by the refreshment table. Isabel was running around trying to make sure everything was perfect while Alex followed behind her trying to assure her that it was. She saw the Parkers with Ben sitting at a table with the Evans. Amy and Jim were out on the dance floor, enjoying the music played by the same band that played during the original prom.
“Remember when we were in the desert and you wished that you had had some memories of high school? I thought I could make that wish come true for you. I want you to have a memory of high school prom night.” Max pulled her closer to the dance floor. “In high school, I didn’t go to prom because the girl I had wanted to go to prom with only existed in my dreams, my dream girl.” Lyz’s eyes filled with astonishment as she gazed around the gym.
As Max walked them to the center of the dance, the lights dimmed and the band started to play the prom’s theme song, “I Shall Believe” and Max pulled Lyz into his arms.
Come to me now
And lay your hands over me
Even if it's a lie
Say it will be alright
And I shall believe
I'm broken in two
And I know you're on to me
That I only come home
When I'm so all alone
But I do believe
That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly you won't give up on me
And I shall believe
And I shall believe
In her ear he whispered, “I had to wait for a long time for you, but you were worth the wait. Sometimes I’m afraid that I’ll wake up one of these days and this will all have been another dream. That you’re still a dream.” Max pressed Lyz even closer to him and placed her hand on his heart before whispering “If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up.”
The music played softly in the gym and Lyz couldn’t prevent the tears streaming down her face. She had never known a man such as Max. Her head neatly tucked under Max’s chin and they swayed slowly to the music.
Open the door
And show me your face tonight
I know it's true
No one heals me like you
And you hold the key
Never again
would I turn away from you
I'm so heavy tonight
But your love is alright
And I do believe
That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly
You won't give up on me
And I shall believe
I shall believe
And I shall believe
- ‘I Shall Believe’ Sheryl Crow
As the music faded, Max pulled away to look at Lyz. He kissed her reverently on her temple and slowly bent on one knee. Suddenly the lights dimmed even more and a soft light shone on the couple as their friends and family gathered around them. Interested strangers hung back and watched the intimate crowd. Lyz stared in puzzled fascination as Max took her hands in his as he started talking with a husky voice
“Lyz, my whole life, I’ve felt lost, an alien among my family and friends, soulless. The day I met you…my soul was born. That was the day my life began. When I’m with you, when I think about you, it’s magic. When I’m not with you…I feel empty. I go crazy wanting to be with you, craving your smile, your voice, your touch. The thought of you, the way your eyes look into mine, your smile, the touch of your skin, your lips, the thought of you -- is what makes me human every day. “
Around the room, women started to tear up at the emotion filled declaration while the men tried to stoically hide their emotional reaction as well.
“When I look into your eyes, I see my future. Whether I die tomorrow or fifty years from now, my destiny is the same: it’s you. I want to be with you, Lyz. I want to wake up every morning with you by my side. I want to fall asleep at night holding you in my arms. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Max pressed a kiss to her left hand, before reaching into his left breast pocket and held out a platinum Edwardian style engagement ring. The center was a stunning diamond solitaire with full-cut bead-set diamonds embedded in the elegant cut out petal motif band.
The women nearest to the couple gasped slightly while Lyz’s free hand went to her mouth to hold back her gasp. More tears welled up in her eyes as Max placed the ring near her ring finger and stared at her with humble eyes.
“Lyz, will you let? Will you marry me?”
“Oh Max! Yes!!! Yes I want to marry you!!!”
Max quickly pushed the ring onto Lyz’s finger and jumped up to kiss her. The crowd around them burst into cheers and clapping while the band started to play Dido’s “Here With Me”. Coming up for air, he suddenly lifted her up, swung her into his arms and twirled her around before setting her back down. Laughing with happiness, he placed his forehead against Lyz’s and stood staring at her. Neither one of them could keep the happy smiles off of their faces as they gazed at each other.
Amongst the joyful cheers and clapping, one person stood watching with malevolent blue eyes. Tess felt anger and jealousy burning deep in her gut. There was no way she was going to allow a flat-chested nobody steal her man, her future. Suddenly, a thought came to her. She remembered how Lyz and Max had reacted at the holiday party when Pierce had mentioned Switzerland and a royal family – there was something there, she just knew it. Once she found out, she’d use it to get rid of Lyz. A cold smug smile crossed Tess’s face as she silently stared at the joyous couple.
Last edited by Believer2 on Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I'm a believer!
Thanks to Lissalou/mmcheron for being my beta!!!
Chapter 23
A week after their magical prom night, Lyz was working on putting together a floral arrangement at the shop as she was watching for walk-in customers. Even a week later, she was still floating in her Max-induced haze. She hummed happily as she gathered together flowers and baby breath.
When the bell to the flower shop rang to indicate a new customer and Tess confidently walked through the door, Lyz’s happy smile quickly turned into a polite forced smile. With professional politeness she watched the irritating woman hover over various arrangements and buckets of flowers, but she knew Tess wasn’t here for the flowers.
“Hello Tess, how can I help you?”
Tess sniffed as she looked around the shop. Then she focused on Lyz. “There’s nothing here that I would buy. I just wanted to stop in and say congratulations on your recent engagement, Lyz. It was very romantic.”
Cautiously Lyz replied, “Thank you. I was not aware you attended the evening.”
“Oh, well, I wasn’t there long, just a for a few minutes. I was actually looking for Ava.”
Tess again tried to look casual as she watched Lyz working on the floral arrangement and then smiled maliciously, “So, have you told your father yet? I bet he’s so happy for you, isn’t he?”
Lyz went still with panic. Questions raced through her mind, ‘Did Tess know who her father was? How did she know? Why would she care? Why would she bring up my father?’ Drawing on years of experience, Lyz quieted her thoughts and forced a slightly uninterested expression on her face as she glanced over to Tess, “My father? What does my father have to do with anything?”
Tess smile turned sickly sweet, “Yes, your father, King Khivar. Well, actually, is he a King if he doesn’t have a country to rule over? Hmm, I’m going to have to research that.”
The color drained from Lyz’s face as she turned her back to Tess’s babbling, pretending to work on the arrangement. She tried to retain her control as she calmly asked, “Who?”
Tess wondered if she was getting to Lyz at all because she couldn’t tell from Lyz’s calm voice. “King Khivar, he is your father isn’t he?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Well, I couldn’t help but wonder at Pierce’s comment about his trip to Switzerland and how he knew someone who looked like you. So, I did a little digging. Records show that Switzerland is the refuge of an exiled royal family who ran from their own country when revolutionaries tried to kill off the royal family. In fact, in the papers that I was looking at showed a picture of the royal family from a few years ago. The picture showed King Khivar with his mother, his wife, and his little girl, Princess Lyzette Claudia Rouztsky. With just a little imagination, the little princess looks remarkably a lot like you – just smaller.”
Taking deep breaths, Lyz tried to calm her racing heart while she asked, “Really? And, what does that have to do with me?”
“Well, I heard that Princess Lyzette was in a very private boarding school that no one knows the name of, one that never allowed any visitors or reporters. In fact, except for a few holiday or charity events, she’s hardly ever seen. Where she is has been a huge mystery to the press. I wonder if the press wouldn’t be interested in learning that the princess might actually be living here, in Roswell.”
Lyz immediately thought of the consequences of such publicity but refused to give Tess the satisfaction of seeing her panic. “That would be interesting speculation, Tess. What makes you think that I am this missing princess?”
“Well, let me think. The resemblance to the picture is amazing, your name is Liz which could be shortened from Lyzette, and you speak with a French accent.”
“And, this makes you conclude that I am Princess Lyzette?”
Lyz spoke with such disbelief that it created doubt in Tess’s mind, making her wonder if she got it right, but then she gathered up her pride, “Yes it does. But, then again, I could be wrong. Why don’t we call the press and find out?”
“Are you threatening me, Tess?”
All pretense of politeness fled Tess face and posture as she grabbed Lyz’s arm to force her to turn around, “No, I’m just offering you a choice. Leave Roswell, leave Max, or I will call in the press and have your face splashed all over the tabloids.”
“And, why would I care about the press?”
“Well, I thought about that too. Then I thought about the little boy that the Parkers adopted. Wouldn’t just be crazy if somehow the tabloids found out that Princess Lyzette gave birth to a baby and then gave him up for adoption to the Parkers, then decided to live in the same town as they were?”
“It would be easy to disprove your story, Tess. It would just take a blood test.”
“Yes, but then, the damage would be done, wouldn’t it? The story and the tabloids would cause disruption in your life, the Parkers, and anyone else in contact with you. You might be able to disprove the story but will you be able to get rid of the reporters? They’re not like the reporters in Europe, you know, they’re very nosy.”
Tess squeezed Lyz’s arm even harder and leaned in close as she hissed, “They will hunt you down and won’t care what lies they print as long as they can sell the story. It could get very ugly. Do you really want to cause all that trouble to your friends?”
Tess smiled smugly as she saw Lyz’s startled reaction to her question. “Think about it Lyz, leave Max, leave Roswell, and I won’t call the press.” With that final ultimatum, Tess walked out of the store.
Lyz tried not to panic, but Tess’s last question made Lyz think twice about staying in Roswell. She couldn’t face the thought of bringing problems to her friends, to Max. Even though she knew her friends would stand by her, she alone knew what her father was capable of doing to her friends. She started to think of all the ways she could leave town, but then came up short when she thought about leaving Max behind.
She had waited all her life for Max, could she really leave him behind?
Lyz wrestled with the need to leave to protect her friends and Max with the desire to stay and fight. She gave up all pretence of working and sat down by the register to think things through. The thought of leaving behind her life here in Roswell didn’t hurt too badly. While her friends might worry about her after she left, they would at least be alive and safe to worry. But when she thought of leaving Max, it felt like someone was ripping at her heart. Lyz knew if she left, she would never get over it.
Finally, with an ache in her heart and a knot in her stomach, she closed the shop early and went to Max’s office. She smiled tightly at Pam as she walked past and went in his office. Max was just hanging up the phone as she walked in and his face lit up at the sight of her. His pleasure at seeing Lyz turned to concern when she threw herself into his arms and started to cry.
Startled, Max put his arms around her and tried to get her to calm down but she just kept crying and wouldn’t talk to him. Feeling helpless, Max rubbed Lyz’s shoulders, hoping she would stop crying. Finally, after another ten minutes of crying went by, he picked her up and carried her out to his jeep, letting Pam know he was taking the rest of the afternoon off.
He sat Lyz in the passenger seat and went around to get in the driver’s seat. As soon as he got in, Lyz scooted over to his side and wrapped her arms around his arm as she stopped crying. Her silence as he drove to his condo made Max immediately jump to the worst possible conclusions. Once inside the condo, Max lifted her in his arms and sat them both down on his living room couch “Tell me what’s wrong, Lyz.”
She refused to meet his eyes and absently toyed with his tie.
“Lyz. Lyz, look at me. How can I help you if you won’t tell me what’s wrong? Please, baby, let me help you.” Begged Max in quiet desperation.
Lyz wavered but then pulled his arms tighter around her body. He asked again, “What’s wrong?”
“Tess came to see me.” Lyz replied as she buried her face against Max’s neck.
Max didn’t understand how that would upset Lyz, “What did she say?”
“She threatened to expose me to the press.” Came the muffled answer.
“What?!” Max clenched his jaw, trying to keep his anger in check as he thought about what would happen if her father found her.
“She said that she learned about a royal family in Switzerland from Pierce and then she did research on me. She found out that I’m Princess Lyzette Rouztsky. She told me that if I did not leave you that she would tell the press about me. She would tell them wicked lies about me.” Lyz sat up to look at Max, “Max, if she goes to the press and my father or Nicholas finds out, they could find out about Ben!”
“Who’s Nicholas?”
“He is my father’s personal guard and lackey. He is more cruel than my father, if that is possible.”
Max felt a shiver of fear pass through Lyz and remembered when he had first met Lyz almost a year ago. He remembered the bruises that he had only seen a hint of and he remembered what Michael had told him about her back.
“Lyz, was Nicholas the man who gave you that last beating?”
When he felt her nod, he was consumed with a blinding rage towards the man. He remembered Michael describing the bruises that covered every inch of her skin, her back covered with lashes. He remembered how stiffly she had walked those first few weeks and knew that it had been from the pain. And he remembered Lyz explaining why she couldn’t eat very much. For years she hardly ate anything to prevent herself from getting sick when she was beaten or she had been too hurt to eat anything. The thought of someone hurting his Lyz made him sick as well as murderous.
Trying to calm down, Max knew Lyz was more afraid for him and their friends than she was for herself. The lawyer in him kicked in and his mind raced with ideas on how he could help her.
“Max, she said she will not tell if I leave...” Lyz said tentatively. Even before she was finished he was shaking his head, “No Lyz. You’re not leaving me. We’ll deal with this together…”
Lyz placed a hand over Max before he could finish.
“Max, be quiet. Let me finish.”
Max glared at Lyz over her hand but then his eyes softened and he nodded in agreement. Lyz removed her hand and bent forward to kiss him quickly on the mouth before saying ,
“I-I could not leave you, Max. Even though it may be safer, it would break my heart. It is very selfish of me, but I need you too much.”
“We’re stronger together, Lyz. Always.”
Tears welled in Lyz’s eyes “I would die if you got hurt and I could have prevented it by leaving.”
“And I would die knowing you left me. Trust me, trust in us, to believe that we can handle anything together. Even if our lives are in danger - can you do that?”
Lyz smiled tremulously and nodded. Max reached up and drew Lyz closer until her forehead rested on his and forced her to meet his eyes before he solemnly asked,
“Never leave me. Promise.”
“I promise.”
A shudder of fear went through Max as he thought about Lyz leaving him for any reason, even his protection. His heart pounded in his chest and he held her tightly, not wanting to let her go, terrified she’d slip through his fingers. Maybe she didn’t love him as much as he loved her, maybe…
“Max.”
The way she said his name made him ache. he couldn’t stop himself from crushing her lips under his. Lyz felt the desperation in Max’s kiss and tried to soothe his anxiety by gently stroking his face, neck, and shoulders with all the love she felt for him. When he finally pulled away, Lyz looked directly into his eyes and continued to stroke the side of his face.
“Max, do you not know what you mean to me? What you will always mean to me? Nothing could make me leave you, nothing.”
Another heavy shudder went through Max’s body and he eased his tight grip “We’ll figure out a way.”
“I-I think it is time we confronted my father.”
“No Lyz, I am not letting you get anywhere near that bastard!” Max refused her suggestion.
“Max, it is the only way. Tess will not be able to harm us…”
“Lyz, it’s too risky. I’d go crazy if anything went wrong.” Max shuddered at the thought of losing Lyz and held her to him in a tight embrace. “We’ll call him and offer to transfer the inheritance over to him as long as he leaves you alone.”
“Max, what would stop him from coming after me once he got the money?” Lyz pointed out. Max fell silent, trying to think of an answer.
“Fine, so we'll think of another plan. ”
Lyz smiled and settled in Max’s arms, “I know.”
They spent the night strategizing, planning and discussing their options. Initially, they wanted to keep their plan to the two of them, not wanting to drag anyone else into it out of fear for their safety. But with more planning and thought, they realized it would take more then the two of them.
In the end, the two of them compromised that they would bring in Alex into their plan since he was an expert in computers and technology. They came to the conclusion that threatening Lyz’s father with the loss of money would be their best option but they would finalize plans in the morning, after talking with Alex. With their partial plan in their minds, the two of them went to bed.
Throughout the night, Max lay in the bed, holding Lyz close to his chest and memerizing her delicate features in the moonlight, not wanting to let her go or think about anything hurting her. Over and over in his mind he tried to think of a plan that didn’t involve Lyz. He was drawn out of his thoughts when a small hand moved over his chest and he heard a whisper,
“Max, I know what you are doing.”
“Oh yeah?”
“You are trying to think of a way to leave me out of things.”
“Lyz…”
“Listen to me. I need to be a part of this. I need to free myself of my father, and I need you to help me. I do not need you to do this for me. Together, remember?”
Max rolled over so that he could look down at Lyz’s face as he gently caressed her cheeks with his thumbs and grinned, “When did you get so wise, huh?”
Lyz wrapped her arms around Max and smiled teasingly, “I only quote the best - you.”
Max had to bite down on his cheek to keep the tears that suddenly welled in his eyes from the love he felt. “The thought of you getting hurt, in any way, kills me Lyz. I don’t want you anywhere near him. I want to take you away, far away where he can’t touch you, and hide.” He leaned close to kiss her forehead before saying, “But I understand. We’ll find a way, Lyz, I promise.”
Lyz hugged Max closer, “I know. You give me strength.”
She leaned up and kissed Max with all the love in her heart and he gladly accepted it. Their loving kiss slowly gave way to a burning passion. Max touched the tip of Lyz’s mouth with his tongue and she opened her mouth to his gently demanding touch. The slick, intimate touch made Lyz ache and she moaned to let Max know how much she enjoyed his kisses. In the back of her mind she pleaded with Max not to stop yet, because he always did.
But this time, Max kept kissing her. His large hands framed her face, caressed her gently, and then tangled in the length of her hair. He pulled his mouth away but Lyz clung on and followed him. She wove her fingers in Max’s thick curly hair and tugged him back to her lips. When their mouths opened and received each other’s tongues, the heat between them escalated.
Max cursed his restrictive pajama bottoms as he felt himself harden even further when Lyz slid her bare leg against the side of his body. She wore only his t-shirt and he knew there was nothing on underneath that t-shirt except a tiny scrap of lace. He had known the first night they slept together that she wore the most tempting panties. Too many nights he had lain in bed wondering what they would look like against her skin.
He knew he should stop, should pull away to calm his body down, but the lingering fear of losing Lyz pushed him to possess her physically somehow, chain her closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up so that he could push their pillows up behind her, leaving her at an angle. He pulled away for a few minutes and almost grinned when he saw a small pout on her lips. He watched as the pout turned into small ‘O’ when he reached down and pushed his hand underneath the edges of the t-shirt.
Max let his fingers gently trace the outer edge of her thighs before pushing up the t-shirt until it came off entirely. In the moonlight, Lyz’s skin looked luminous and so silky, her breasts were small and firm with dusky rose tips. He watched as Lyz arched slightly underneath his gaze, inviting his touch.
“Oh my god, angel. You are so beautiful.”
The sight of her bare breasts made his groin clench and throb with desire. He couldn’t resist reaching out and letting the palms of his hands caress them.
Lyz arched in wanton pleasure as Max’s hands cupped her breasts and she gasped out loud when his fingers gently teased her nipples until they were hard and stiff. She watched with glittering eyes as Max bent down and took one small nipple in his mouth. The erotic sight of the dark head against her breast made Lyz bite her lip to prevent another moan of pleasure. His tongue was doing wicked, delicious things to her body and she could only cling to his shoulders. She arched and moaned as he used suction to drive her even more mindless. The feelings Max arouse in her body should have scared her, but she trusted him.
Sweet and silky, the taste of Lyz was everything Max had ever dreamed of but it made him ache for more. He wanted to taste all of her. He let his hands caress a path down her back and cupped her lace covered buttocks. He kneaded the globes gently, letting her get use to the feel of his hands. Without protest, Max slid his fingers underneath the edges of her panties seeking the moist heat of her.
“Max.” Lyz moaned at the intimate feel of his fingers between her legs. She instinctively tightened her legs together but then she deliberately relaxed her body. She dropped her head against Max’s throat as she felt him caress her, tease her sensitive skin. Her hips jerked when his long finger gently found her sensitive nub and Lyz bit down on her lip. She didn’t understand the feelings he was arousing, but she didn’t want it to stop.
Max thought he’d explode when he felt the moisture between Lyz’s legs. He moaned huskily, “Angel, you’re so wet.”
“I know. I can not stop it.” Lyz cried out against his throat, stiffening in embarrassment.
“Shhh, it’s ok, angel. I don't want you to stop it. It means you want me, that I can arouse you.”
Lyz lifted her head and searched Max’s face for the truth. When she saw his pleasure, she nibbled on the corner of his mouth as she said, “I do want you Max. Very much.” She let her body completely relax against his hand and gently arched into his fingers.
Max gave in to his desire and let one finger sink into her slick, tight channel. He groaned half in pleasure and half in pain when he felt how hot and tight she was. He pulled out a little and let his finger sink back into her, causing them both to moan in pleasure. Max repeated the caress once more before he reluctantly pulled his fingers away. When Lyz mewled in protest, he kissed her fiercely before telling her,
“I want to taste you, all of you.”
Suddenly Max moved his body lower, leaving a trail of hot open mouth kissing down the length of her body until he was facing the junction of her legs. Lyz tried to protest, but he held her hips even tighter before cupping her thighs. He couldn’t tear his eyes from the dark shadow between her legs as he gently pried her legs apart. He inhaled the intoxicating scent of Lyz’s essence and her honeyed-strawberry perfume as he bent to give her a wet kiss to her belly button. Achingly slow, he kissed a path to her center.
The moment she felt his hot breath against her curls and his wet tongue on her sensitive nub, Lyz clenched her hands in Max’s hair and arched towards his mouth. ‘Oh god!’ Lyz cried as she closed her eyes against the waves of pleasure racking her body. Suddenly, Lyz’s body went completely rigid and she cried out Max’s name as a rippling explosion erupted in her body.
Throughout it all, Lyz was held tight against Max’s mouth as her body shivered in climax. As she climbed back down from her pleasure-high, Max pulled away and crawled back up her body to kiss her. The taste of herself wasn’t as unpleasant as she would have thought, it was even erotic. Their kiss was tender but Lyz could feel the tension in Max’s body and felt him stiff and hard against her thigh. She gently caressed his shoulders and back, all the while making her way down his back.
When Max felt Lyz’s hands cup his buttocks, he automatically clenched against the pleasure. He knew she was playing with fire, and he reached for hands to stop her. But her husky voice pleaded with him,
“Max, please. I want to give you pleasure. Like you gave me - will you let me?”
Max couldn’t deny her and let his hands fall away. She smiled and gently rolled him over to his back. She leaned forward and kissed his belly button like he had and then pulled on the pajama bottoms until they were off. The moon threw soft light on the harsh planes of his muscled body and Lyz stared in fascination. She let her fingers trail over his body and felt him shudder as they reached closer to his jutting staff.
Max closed his eyes in agonized pleasure and clenched his fists into the bed sheets as Lyz continued to trace his body. He ached for her fingers around his rigid staff, to feel her caress him. When he finally felt them, his back arched and he let out a small growl.
He opened his eyes to stare down at Lyz and the sight of her tiny hand wrapped around him was so erotic, he wanted to explode right then and there. He moaned as he felt Lyz’s hand slowly rub down then back up to his shaft, her inexperience driving him crazy with desire for her.
Feeling close to the edge, Max reached down and guided Lyz’s hand up and down his shaft, helping to set a pace. Once she understood, he let his hand fall back and let himself enjoy the pleasure. When he closed his eyes, he missed the sight of Lyz unconsciously licking her lips at the sight of her hands on his staff. He missed the second it took her to lean down closer to his staff, never releasing the pace.
But, he rocketed off the bed when he felt the tentative touch of her tongue on the tip of his rigid staff, lightly licking the clear liquid of his pre-cum. His eyes flew open to the sight of Lyz licking and pumping him, which made him growl out a warning that he was about to come. He saw Lyz pull back a bit to look up at him. At the sight of her tongue licking a drop of liquid off of her lips, he exploded. His hips thrust up against Lyz’s hand and he shuddered heavily as he started to spill his seed all over her hand.
Chapter 23
A week after their magical prom night, Lyz was working on putting together a floral arrangement at the shop as she was watching for walk-in customers. Even a week later, she was still floating in her Max-induced haze. She hummed happily as she gathered together flowers and baby breath.
When the bell to the flower shop rang to indicate a new customer and Tess confidently walked through the door, Lyz’s happy smile quickly turned into a polite forced smile. With professional politeness she watched the irritating woman hover over various arrangements and buckets of flowers, but she knew Tess wasn’t here for the flowers.
“Hello Tess, how can I help you?”
Tess sniffed as she looked around the shop. Then she focused on Lyz. “There’s nothing here that I would buy. I just wanted to stop in and say congratulations on your recent engagement, Lyz. It was very romantic.”
Cautiously Lyz replied, “Thank you. I was not aware you attended the evening.”
“Oh, well, I wasn’t there long, just a for a few minutes. I was actually looking for Ava.”
Tess again tried to look casual as she watched Lyz working on the floral arrangement and then smiled maliciously, “So, have you told your father yet? I bet he’s so happy for you, isn’t he?”
Lyz went still with panic. Questions raced through her mind, ‘Did Tess know who her father was? How did she know? Why would she care? Why would she bring up my father?’ Drawing on years of experience, Lyz quieted her thoughts and forced a slightly uninterested expression on her face as she glanced over to Tess, “My father? What does my father have to do with anything?”
Tess smile turned sickly sweet, “Yes, your father, King Khivar. Well, actually, is he a King if he doesn’t have a country to rule over? Hmm, I’m going to have to research that.”
The color drained from Lyz’s face as she turned her back to Tess’s babbling, pretending to work on the arrangement. She tried to retain her control as she calmly asked, “Who?”
Tess wondered if she was getting to Lyz at all because she couldn’t tell from Lyz’s calm voice. “King Khivar, he is your father isn’t he?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Well, I couldn’t help but wonder at Pierce’s comment about his trip to Switzerland and how he knew someone who looked like you. So, I did a little digging. Records show that Switzerland is the refuge of an exiled royal family who ran from their own country when revolutionaries tried to kill off the royal family. In fact, in the papers that I was looking at showed a picture of the royal family from a few years ago. The picture showed King Khivar with his mother, his wife, and his little girl, Princess Lyzette Claudia Rouztsky. With just a little imagination, the little princess looks remarkably a lot like you – just smaller.”
Taking deep breaths, Lyz tried to calm her racing heart while she asked, “Really? And, what does that have to do with me?”
“Well, I heard that Princess Lyzette was in a very private boarding school that no one knows the name of, one that never allowed any visitors or reporters. In fact, except for a few holiday or charity events, she’s hardly ever seen. Where she is has been a huge mystery to the press. I wonder if the press wouldn’t be interested in learning that the princess might actually be living here, in Roswell.”
Lyz immediately thought of the consequences of such publicity but refused to give Tess the satisfaction of seeing her panic. “That would be interesting speculation, Tess. What makes you think that I am this missing princess?”
“Well, let me think. The resemblance to the picture is amazing, your name is Liz which could be shortened from Lyzette, and you speak with a French accent.”
“And, this makes you conclude that I am Princess Lyzette?”
Lyz spoke with such disbelief that it created doubt in Tess’s mind, making her wonder if she got it right, but then she gathered up her pride, “Yes it does. But, then again, I could be wrong. Why don’t we call the press and find out?”
“Are you threatening me, Tess?”
All pretense of politeness fled Tess face and posture as she grabbed Lyz’s arm to force her to turn around, “No, I’m just offering you a choice. Leave Roswell, leave Max, or I will call in the press and have your face splashed all over the tabloids.”
“And, why would I care about the press?”
“Well, I thought about that too. Then I thought about the little boy that the Parkers adopted. Wouldn’t just be crazy if somehow the tabloids found out that Princess Lyzette gave birth to a baby and then gave him up for adoption to the Parkers, then decided to live in the same town as they were?”
“It would be easy to disprove your story, Tess. It would just take a blood test.”
“Yes, but then, the damage would be done, wouldn’t it? The story and the tabloids would cause disruption in your life, the Parkers, and anyone else in contact with you. You might be able to disprove the story but will you be able to get rid of the reporters? They’re not like the reporters in Europe, you know, they’re very nosy.”
Tess squeezed Lyz’s arm even harder and leaned in close as she hissed, “They will hunt you down and won’t care what lies they print as long as they can sell the story. It could get very ugly. Do you really want to cause all that trouble to your friends?”
Tess smiled smugly as she saw Lyz’s startled reaction to her question. “Think about it Lyz, leave Max, leave Roswell, and I won’t call the press.” With that final ultimatum, Tess walked out of the store.
Lyz tried not to panic, but Tess’s last question made Lyz think twice about staying in Roswell. She couldn’t face the thought of bringing problems to her friends, to Max. Even though she knew her friends would stand by her, she alone knew what her father was capable of doing to her friends. She started to think of all the ways she could leave town, but then came up short when she thought about leaving Max behind.
She had waited all her life for Max, could she really leave him behind?
Lyz wrestled with the need to leave to protect her friends and Max with the desire to stay and fight. She gave up all pretence of working and sat down by the register to think things through. The thought of leaving behind her life here in Roswell didn’t hurt too badly. While her friends might worry about her after she left, they would at least be alive and safe to worry. But when she thought of leaving Max, it felt like someone was ripping at her heart. Lyz knew if she left, she would never get over it.
Finally, with an ache in her heart and a knot in her stomach, she closed the shop early and went to Max’s office. She smiled tightly at Pam as she walked past and went in his office. Max was just hanging up the phone as she walked in and his face lit up at the sight of her. His pleasure at seeing Lyz turned to concern when she threw herself into his arms and started to cry.
Startled, Max put his arms around her and tried to get her to calm down but she just kept crying and wouldn’t talk to him. Feeling helpless, Max rubbed Lyz’s shoulders, hoping she would stop crying. Finally, after another ten minutes of crying went by, he picked her up and carried her out to his jeep, letting Pam know he was taking the rest of the afternoon off.
He sat Lyz in the passenger seat and went around to get in the driver’s seat. As soon as he got in, Lyz scooted over to his side and wrapped her arms around his arm as she stopped crying. Her silence as he drove to his condo made Max immediately jump to the worst possible conclusions. Once inside the condo, Max lifted her in his arms and sat them both down on his living room couch “Tell me what’s wrong, Lyz.”
She refused to meet his eyes and absently toyed with his tie.
“Lyz. Lyz, look at me. How can I help you if you won’t tell me what’s wrong? Please, baby, let me help you.” Begged Max in quiet desperation.
Lyz wavered but then pulled his arms tighter around her body. He asked again, “What’s wrong?”
“Tess came to see me.” Lyz replied as she buried her face against Max’s neck.
Max didn’t understand how that would upset Lyz, “What did she say?”
“She threatened to expose me to the press.” Came the muffled answer.
“What?!” Max clenched his jaw, trying to keep his anger in check as he thought about what would happen if her father found her.
“She said that she learned about a royal family in Switzerland from Pierce and then she did research on me. She found out that I’m Princess Lyzette Rouztsky. She told me that if I did not leave you that she would tell the press about me. She would tell them wicked lies about me.” Lyz sat up to look at Max, “Max, if she goes to the press and my father or Nicholas finds out, they could find out about Ben!”
“Who’s Nicholas?”
“He is my father’s personal guard and lackey. He is more cruel than my father, if that is possible.”
Max felt a shiver of fear pass through Lyz and remembered when he had first met Lyz almost a year ago. He remembered the bruises that he had only seen a hint of and he remembered what Michael had told him about her back.
“Lyz, was Nicholas the man who gave you that last beating?”
When he felt her nod, he was consumed with a blinding rage towards the man. He remembered Michael describing the bruises that covered every inch of her skin, her back covered with lashes. He remembered how stiffly she had walked those first few weeks and knew that it had been from the pain. And he remembered Lyz explaining why she couldn’t eat very much. For years she hardly ate anything to prevent herself from getting sick when she was beaten or she had been too hurt to eat anything. The thought of someone hurting his Lyz made him sick as well as murderous.
Trying to calm down, Max knew Lyz was more afraid for him and their friends than she was for herself. The lawyer in him kicked in and his mind raced with ideas on how he could help her.
“Max, she said she will not tell if I leave...” Lyz said tentatively. Even before she was finished he was shaking his head, “No Lyz. You’re not leaving me. We’ll deal with this together…”
Lyz placed a hand over Max before he could finish.
“Max, be quiet. Let me finish.”
Max glared at Lyz over her hand but then his eyes softened and he nodded in agreement. Lyz removed her hand and bent forward to kiss him quickly on the mouth before saying ,
“I-I could not leave you, Max. Even though it may be safer, it would break my heart. It is very selfish of me, but I need you too much.”
“We’re stronger together, Lyz. Always.”
Tears welled in Lyz’s eyes “I would die if you got hurt and I could have prevented it by leaving.”
“And I would die knowing you left me. Trust me, trust in us, to believe that we can handle anything together. Even if our lives are in danger - can you do that?”
Lyz smiled tremulously and nodded. Max reached up and drew Lyz closer until her forehead rested on his and forced her to meet his eyes before he solemnly asked,
“Never leave me. Promise.”
“I promise.”
A shudder of fear went through Max as he thought about Lyz leaving him for any reason, even his protection. His heart pounded in his chest and he held her tightly, not wanting to let her go, terrified she’d slip through his fingers. Maybe she didn’t love him as much as he loved her, maybe…
“Max.”
The way she said his name made him ache. he couldn’t stop himself from crushing her lips under his. Lyz felt the desperation in Max’s kiss and tried to soothe his anxiety by gently stroking his face, neck, and shoulders with all the love she felt for him. When he finally pulled away, Lyz looked directly into his eyes and continued to stroke the side of his face.
“Max, do you not know what you mean to me? What you will always mean to me? Nothing could make me leave you, nothing.”
Another heavy shudder went through Max’s body and he eased his tight grip “We’ll figure out a way.”
“I-I think it is time we confronted my father.”
“No Lyz, I am not letting you get anywhere near that bastard!” Max refused her suggestion.
“Max, it is the only way. Tess will not be able to harm us…”
“Lyz, it’s too risky. I’d go crazy if anything went wrong.” Max shuddered at the thought of losing Lyz and held her to him in a tight embrace. “We’ll call him and offer to transfer the inheritance over to him as long as he leaves you alone.”
“Max, what would stop him from coming after me once he got the money?” Lyz pointed out. Max fell silent, trying to think of an answer.
“Fine, so we'll think of another plan. ”
Lyz smiled and settled in Max’s arms, “I know.”
They spent the night strategizing, planning and discussing their options. Initially, they wanted to keep their plan to the two of them, not wanting to drag anyone else into it out of fear for their safety. But with more planning and thought, they realized it would take more then the two of them.
In the end, the two of them compromised that they would bring in Alex into their plan since he was an expert in computers and technology. They came to the conclusion that threatening Lyz’s father with the loss of money would be their best option but they would finalize plans in the morning, after talking with Alex. With their partial plan in their minds, the two of them went to bed.
Throughout the night, Max lay in the bed, holding Lyz close to his chest and memerizing her delicate features in the moonlight, not wanting to let her go or think about anything hurting her. Over and over in his mind he tried to think of a plan that didn’t involve Lyz. He was drawn out of his thoughts when a small hand moved over his chest and he heard a whisper,
“Max, I know what you are doing.”
“Oh yeah?”
“You are trying to think of a way to leave me out of things.”
“Lyz…”
“Listen to me. I need to be a part of this. I need to free myself of my father, and I need you to help me. I do not need you to do this for me. Together, remember?”
Max rolled over so that he could look down at Lyz’s face as he gently caressed her cheeks with his thumbs and grinned, “When did you get so wise, huh?”
Lyz wrapped her arms around Max and smiled teasingly, “I only quote the best - you.”
Max had to bite down on his cheek to keep the tears that suddenly welled in his eyes from the love he felt. “The thought of you getting hurt, in any way, kills me Lyz. I don’t want you anywhere near him. I want to take you away, far away where he can’t touch you, and hide.” He leaned close to kiss her forehead before saying, “But I understand. We’ll find a way, Lyz, I promise.”
Lyz hugged Max closer, “I know. You give me strength.”
She leaned up and kissed Max with all the love in her heart and he gladly accepted it. Their loving kiss slowly gave way to a burning passion. Max touched the tip of Lyz’s mouth with his tongue and she opened her mouth to his gently demanding touch. The slick, intimate touch made Lyz ache and she moaned to let Max know how much she enjoyed his kisses. In the back of her mind she pleaded with Max not to stop yet, because he always did.
But this time, Max kept kissing her. His large hands framed her face, caressed her gently, and then tangled in the length of her hair. He pulled his mouth away but Lyz clung on and followed him. She wove her fingers in Max’s thick curly hair and tugged him back to her lips. When their mouths opened and received each other’s tongues, the heat between them escalated.
Max cursed his restrictive pajama bottoms as he felt himself harden even further when Lyz slid her bare leg against the side of his body. She wore only his t-shirt and he knew there was nothing on underneath that t-shirt except a tiny scrap of lace. He had known the first night they slept together that she wore the most tempting panties. Too many nights he had lain in bed wondering what they would look like against her skin.
He knew he should stop, should pull away to calm his body down, but the lingering fear of losing Lyz pushed him to possess her physically somehow, chain her closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up so that he could push their pillows up behind her, leaving her at an angle. He pulled away for a few minutes and almost grinned when he saw a small pout on her lips. He watched as the pout turned into small ‘O’ when he reached down and pushed his hand underneath the edges of the t-shirt.
Max let his fingers gently trace the outer edge of her thighs before pushing up the t-shirt until it came off entirely. In the moonlight, Lyz’s skin looked luminous and so silky, her breasts were small and firm with dusky rose tips. He watched as Lyz arched slightly underneath his gaze, inviting his touch.
“Oh my god, angel. You are so beautiful.”
The sight of her bare breasts made his groin clench and throb with desire. He couldn’t resist reaching out and letting the palms of his hands caress them.
Lyz arched in wanton pleasure as Max’s hands cupped her breasts and she gasped out loud when his fingers gently teased her nipples until they were hard and stiff. She watched with glittering eyes as Max bent down and took one small nipple in his mouth. The erotic sight of the dark head against her breast made Lyz bite her lip to prevent another moan of pleasure. His tongue was doing wicked, delicious things to her body and she could only cling to his shoulders. She arched and moaned as he used suction to drive her even more mindless. The feelings Max arouse in her body should have scared her, but she trusted him.
Sweet and silky, the taste of Lyz was everything Max had ever dreamed of but it made him ache for more. He wanted to taste all of her. He let his hands caress a path down her back and cupped her lace covered buttocks. He kneaded the globes gently, letting her get use to the feel of his hands. Without protest, Max slid his fingers underneath the edges of her panties seeking the moist heat of her.
“Max.” Lyz moaned at the intimate feel of his fingers between her legs. She instinctively tightened her legs together but then she deliberately relaxed her body. She dropped her head against Max’s throat as she felt him caress her, tease her sensitive skin. Her hips jerked when his long finger gently found her sensitive nub and Lyz bit down on her lip. She didn’t understand the feelings he was arousing, but she didn’t want it to stop.
Max thought he’d explode when he felt the moisture between Lyz’s legs. He moaned huskily, “Angel, you’re so wet.”
“I know. I can not stop it.” Lyz cried out against his throat, stiffening in embarrassment.
“Shhh, it’s ok, angel. I don't want you to stop it. It means you want me, that I can arouse you.”
Lyz lifted her head and searched Max’s face for the truth. When she saw his pleasure, she nibbled on the corner of his mouth as she said, “I do want you Max. Very much.” She let her body completely relax against his hand and gently arched into his fingers.
Max gave in to his desire and let one finger sink into her slick, tight channel. He groaned half in pleasure and half in pain when he felt how hot and tight she was. He pulled out a little and let his finger sink back into her, causing them both to moan in pleasure. Max repeated the caress once more before he reluctantly pulled his fingers away. When Lyz mewled in protest, he kissed her fiercely before telling her,
“I want to taste you, all of you.”
Suddenly Max moved his body lower, leaving a trail of hot open mouth kissing down the length of her body until he was facing the junction of her legs. Lyz tried to protest, but he held her hips even tighter before cupping her thighs. He couldn’t tear his eyes from the dark shadow between her legs as he gently pried her legs apart. He inhaled the intoxicating scent of Lyz’s essence and her honeyed-strawberry perfume as he bent to give her a wet kiss to her belly button. Achingly slow, he kissed a path to her center.
The moment she felt his hot breath against her curls and his wet tongue on her sensitive nub, Lyz clenched her hands in Max’s hair and arched towards his mouth. ‘Oh god!’ Lyz cried as she closed her eyes against the waves of pleasure racking her body. Suddenly, Lyz’s body went completely rigid and she cried out Max’s name as a rippling explosion erupted in her body.
Throughout it all, Lyz was held tight against Max’s mouth as her body shivered in climax. As she climbed back down from her pleasure-high, Max pulled away and crawled back up her body to kiss her. The taste of herself wasn’t as unpleasant as she would have thought, it was even erotic. Their kiss was tender but Lyz could feel the tension in Max’s body and felt him stiff and hard against her thigh. She gently caressed his shoulders and back, all the while making her way down his back.
When Max felt Lyz’s hands cup his buttocks, he automatically clenched against the pleasure. He knew she was playing with fire, and he reached for hands to stop her. But her husky voice pleaded with him,
“Max, please. I want to give you pleasure. Like you gave me - will you let me?”
Max couldn’t deny her and let his hands fall away. She smiled and gently rolled him over to his back. She leaned forward and kissed his belly button like he had and then pulled on the pajama bottoms until they were off. The moon threw soft light on the harsh planes of his muscled body and Lyz stared in fascination. She let her fingers trail over his body and felt him shudder as they reached closer to his jutting staff.
Max closed his eyes in agonized pleasure and clenched his fists into the bed sheets as Lyz continued to trace his body. He ached for her fingers around his rigid staff, to feel her caress him. When he finally felt them, his back arched and he let out a small growl.
He opened his eyes to stare down at Lyz and the sight of her tiny hand wrapped around him was so erotic, he wanted to explode right then and there. He moaned as he felt Lyz’s hand slowly rub down then back up to his shaft, her inexperience driving him crazy with desire for her.
Feeling close to the edge, Max reached down and guided Lyz’s hand up and down his shaft, helping to set a pace. Once she understood, he let his hand fall back and let himself enjoy the pleasure. When he closed his eyes, he missed the sight of Lyz unconsciously licking her lips at the sight of her hands on his staff. He missed the second it took her to lean down closer to his staff, never releasing the pace.
But, he rocketed off the bed when he felt the tentative touch of her tongue on the tip of his rigid staff, lightly licking the clear liquid of his pre-cum. His eyes flew open to the sight of Lyz licking and pumping him, which made him growl out a warning that he was about to come. He saw Lyz pull back a bit to look up at him. At the sight of her tongue licking a drop of liquid off of her lips, he exploded. His hips thrust up against Lyz’s hand and he shuddered heavily as he started to spill his seed all over her hand.
I'm a believer!
Chapter 24
When Max started to shudder and spill his seed, Lyz was about to pull away but Max placed his hand on top of hers and helped her to continue stroking. With one last shudder, Max collapsed against the bed, and let his hand fall away from hers to throw his arm across his eyes. Lyz was fascinated at the changes to his body as he lay recovering. She looked with confusion at the sticky white stuff on her hand and Max’s thighs and remembered how Max had kissed her down there-tasted her even as she fell apart.
“Max?”
“Hmm?”
“D-did you like kissing me…down there?”
Max couldn’t help the smile that came to his lips as he remembered the taste of her. “Oh yes. I liked it very much.”
Silence greeted his affirmation and he opened his eyes to see if she was embarrassed. His slowing heart rate speeded up again and he was suddenly, surprisingly, aroused at the sight of Lyz licking his cum off her fingers. His throat tightened as he hoarsely asked, “What are you doing?”
“I wanted to taste you, like you did to me.” Lyz smiled shyly. After a few more licks, she repeated his words “I love the taste of you.”
He didn’t think it could possibly happen, not so soon, but Lyz’s words and the way she was licking her fingers made Max harden even further. He told himself to calm down, there was no way that he was taking this further tonight, but she was such a tempting sight. Groaning with frustration, Max pushed himself away from her and off the bed. He reached over to lift her in his arms and gently carried her to the bathroom.
“What are you doing?” Lyz asked as she clutched Max’s shoulders.
Max set her down in bathroom and reached into his large glass shower to turn on the hot water. “I’m going to clean us up.” He let the water warm as he faced her. Her cheeks were flushed and her large brown eyes were sparkling – she looked so beautiful to him. He could tell he was making her shy at the way she looked away from him, but he wouldn’t have any of that.
“Hey, don’t tell me you’re feeling shy.”
“I-I do not want you to see my scars. They are ugly.”
“Do you think that would bother me?”
“I do not want you to change your mind.”
“What? How would the scars make me change my mind?”
“You might not think I am beautiful if you see them. A-and I want you to think I am beautiful.”
He didn’t think it was possible to fall more in love with her, but her quiet insecurity and vulnerability made him fall all over again. He gently pulled her into his arms and forced her to look at him. “Lyz, I won’t lie to you and say that your physical beauty doesn’t attract me to you, because it does. But it’s not the only thing that attracts me to you. You have a smile that takes my breath away, the way you look at me makes me feel like the luckiest man in the world. You’ve got courage and strength to survive the years with your father yet despite it all, you have the most gentle, loving soul. I love all of you, including the scars.”
Hearing Max’s loving words, Lyz felt her heart warm. She had never felt so cherished or loved before. She threaded her fingers through his slightly damp hair and drew him into a kiss. “Thank you.”
Max smiled against her lips, “You’re welcome. Now, come on woman, I need some sleep!” Max grabbed Lyz and stuck them both underneath the warm spray of the shower. He placed himself in front of the spray with Lyz behind him to prevent her hair from getting completely soaked. Lyz wanted to help Max wash, but he steadfastly refused and made her turn away from him so that he could shower and calm down. He knew that if he allowed her to help wash him, she’d slowly torture him to the brink of insanity with her curious explorations.
Lyz pouted for a few minutes at not being able to touch Max. She couldn’t get enough of touching him and exploring how his body was different from hers. A shadow of a doubt lingered in the back of her mind – fear that he would soon get bored of her inexperience. But, she dismissed it as soon as she thought it – clinging to Max’s loving words.
They climbed out of shower a few minutes later and wiped down, stealing glances at each other, but without touching each other. Max noticed that Lyz was bravely trying to be bold and wipe her body in front of him, but she still blushed furiously when she saw him watch her. When Lyz wrapped a towel around herself to walk back into the bedroom, Max pulled it away. He refused to let her be shy, so Lyz gathered her courage and walked nude back to the bedroom but couldn’t prevent herself from blushing even more.
He tried not to watch the way her hips moved and the perfection of her butt, he knew what would happen if he did, but he just couldn’t help himself. Max cursed when he felt himself harden again and turned back to the shower, this time turning the water to cold full blast. Stepping under the frigid water, he prayed that the confrontation with Lyz’s father would go smoothly and quickly so that he could marry Lyz as quickly as possible. He honestly didn’t know how much longer he could hold out – it was killing him.
Lyz was confused as to why Max would take another shower right after they just finished one, but she was too sleepy to think too seriously about it. She slipped into bed naked and pulled the sheets over her. The smell of Max surrounded her and she fell asleep before Max finished his shower.
After toweling off, Max walked back to the bed, pulled on a clean pair of boxers, and smiled as he saw Lyz hugging his pillow. He didn’t want to disturb her so he climbed in behind her. When he rolled in close to lay against her back, he froze when he realized that she didn’t put his tshirt back on. He had to reach down and adjust himself as he settled next to Lyz, but it did no good when Lyz innocently scooted back and cuddled him with her butt. He silently groaned as he realized he was about to have another very long night.
~!~
As she slowly drifted awake, Lyz smiled as she became conscious of her position. Max’s warm body lay flush against her back and her legs were tucked neatly between his. Her arm rested on top of his over her waist and their hands had entwined in the middle of the night as they had slept. As gently as she could without disturbing him, Lyz rolled over to face the man that she loved.
In the early morning light, she let her eyes trace Max’s features. She loved his dark brown straight eyebrows, prominent nose, his hard stubborn chin, and his mouth…Lyz blushed as she stared at Max’s mouth, remembering what that mouth had done to her last night. She couldn’t stop herself from drawing away the sheets so that she could look at the rest of his body. When she saw that he had put his boxers back on, Lyz was slightly disappointed that she was prevented from viewing all of his body. .
She quickly peeked up into his face to make sure he was still sleeping before reaching out and lightly tracing the muscles on his chest. She could feel them clench in reaction and she stole another look at Max. Reassured he was still asleep, she let her fingers glide over his dark nipple before following the trail of dark hair to the band of his boxers. Suddenly the front of Max’s boxers started to bulge out, making Lyz’s eyes grow wide. She wanted to touch and explore what lie beneath the cotton of his boxers. She immediately blushed at her wanton thoughts and was glad that Max was still asleep.
“What’s that blush all about?”
Snatching back her hand, Lyz’s eyes flew up to meet Max’s slumberous eyes, “Oh – you are awake.”
“Mmm hmmm. Now answer my question, what was causing that little blush I saw?”
Lyz smiled, “N-nothing, I was just remembering last night.”
“And that made you blush? I thought it might have been because of this.” Max drew Lyz’s hand to the front of his boxers. “Only you can cause this. Every morning since I met you, I wake up like this. Even before, when I was dreaming of you, I’d wake up like this.”
Lyz’s eyes grew soft as she saw the tenderness and desire in Max’s eyes. He made her fall in love with him every day. She leaned in close to his lips but instead of kissing him, she teased, “Oh that? I did not notice.”
Max drew back, feigning hurt, “Not notice? How could you not notice?”
Lyz held back a giggle, “Well, its not that noticeable.”
Max flipped Lyz on her back and pinned her down with mock outrage, “Not that noticeable? Not that noticeable! Do you even remember last night?”
The laughter fled from Lyz’s face as she remembered their shared passion and she started to blush. As he saw her blush, Max taunted “Oh yes – last night. Do you remember?”
Max suddenly moved so that he nuzzled the crook of her neck and gently nipped, “Remember when you first touched me?” He moved lower to place a tantalizing kiss on the tip of her breast, “How hard it felt?” Max could feel Lyz arch a little into his kiss but he moved from her nipple to beneath her breast. “How it got even harder when you started to stroke it?” He heard her mumble out his name before he flung the covers back and stared at the dark curls between her legs, “And then you licked me…”
Lyz covered Max’s mouth with her hand, “Stop! You know I remember!” When she saw the mischievous sparkle in his eyes, Lyz lightly slapped him on the shoulder, “You enjoy making me blush! For shame!” she accused.
Max just grinned and lightly kissed her on the tip of her nose, “I can’t help it – you’re adorable when you blush.” Max laughed even more as she started to blush again. He looked over at the clock and notice it was around 9:00AM, about the time Alex would be awake.
“We better call Alex – maybe the sooner we talk to him, the more our plan will make some sense.” Max said as he sat up and prepared to dial Alex’s number.
“I am still uncertain of involving Alex, but I understand he is the best and most logical choice.”
“I know. We just have to convince him to not tell Isabel.” Max looked over his shoulder to see Lyz draped across his bed on her stomach, her hand holding up her head as she watched him. A corner of the sheet lay over her butt, revealing a tempting shadow of the crevice beneath and exposing the long expanse of her legs and naked back . He sucked in a quick breath to calm his growing erection, “Have I told you how much I love waking up with you?”
“Not this morning, no.” Lyz smiled as Max leaned down to kiss her.
“Then, let me say it now, I love waking up with you.”
Their kiss could have easily turned more passionate but Max wanted to make sure he called Alex that morning. Regretfully, he ended the kiss and reached for the phone. After listening to the plan, Alex insisted on coming over despite the early hour, eager to help.
When Max opened the door, Alex stood there with Isabel and both were loaded down with equipment. Alex pushed past Max as soon as he opened the door, eager to start. He looked around where he could set up his equipment in Max’s living room while Max asked disbelievingly “What’s Isabel doing here?”
“Isabel’s here because Isabel was at Alex’s when you called.” Isabel answered while Maria popped up behind her.
“And Maria’s here because Isabel knows you’ll need me.” Maria stated brightly as she walked past.
“And Michael’s here because Maria wouldn’t let me sleep in.” Michael grumbled as he slouched by with a bag of groceries in one hand while eating a doughnut with the other. He walked straight into the kitchen and started organizing the ingredients for breakfast.
Max looked ready to protest when a freshly showered Lyz came out of the bathroom in a pair of his boxers and T-Shirt, “Hi, Alex. Thank you for coming over…Isabel? Maria? Michael?” Lyz looked curiously at Max who could only shrug. Lyz smiled brightly at her friends. “Maria, did you happen to bring me some clothes? Did you bring breakfast? I’m starving!”
“Morning chica! You know I’ve got you covered.” Maria held out a plastic bag of clothes and dug into a paper bag to pull out a plump sugar coated doughnut with strawberry filling oozing from its ends. Lyz let a small moan of pleasure, “Mmmm” while flopping onto the couch as Maria went to start grinding the coffee beans.
Max gave up and closed the door, muttering, “So much for secrecy.” He turned back to the group and searched for a strawberry filled doughnut, his favorite. When he couldn’t find one, Max looked over to Lyz who was sitting on the couch enjoying her doughnut – with strawberry filling.
“Lyz! That was my doughnut!” Max declared indignantly.
Lyz ignored him and continued eating her doughnut while Alex and Isabel were busy setting up equipment and Maria and Michael in the kitchen were busy preparing breakfast. Max dropped the doughnut bag and pounced on Lyz who started to giggle when she felt Max’s fingers tickling her.
“Max! Stop! Please! I promise to share this last bit!”
Max stopped the tickle attack as Lyz fed him the last bite of the doughnut. When she would have pulled her hand away, Max brought it back to his mouth and gently licked off the sugar from her fingers. He could feel Lyz’s breath hitch in her throat and saw her eyes darken with remembered passion shared the night before. He watched as her pupils dilate as he leaned down to whisper,
“I love the taste of you better.”
Lyz moaned quietly in the back of her throat as she remembered how he had said almost the same words to her last night as she floated back down from her climax. She was about latch on to Max’s tempting lips but suddenly something big and soft hit Max on the back of the head.
“Maxwell!”
“Get a room – you’re spoiling my appetite! Ouch! Whadda do that for? ”
“They’re sweet, Michael. You could take lessons!”
Michael couldn’t help the look of horror that crossed his face. “Hell no!! You want me to take lessons from a guy who’s had some dream girl…”
“MICHAEL!!” Maria, Alex, and Isabel shouted.
Michael’s eyes went wide as he realized what he was just about to say. He stood frozen and looked at the group with embarrassment.
“So, do you guys want omelets or pancakes or both, you know Michael can make both.” Maria babbled.
“Oh, make both, I like both.” Isabel hastily jumped in, hoping Lyz didn’t notice Michael’s outburst.
“Yeah, and you know me, I’m still a growing boy, I need lots…um..”
Lyz and Max looked at their friends in amusement as they tried to pretend Michael wasn’t about to say something embarrassing. Max finally put everyone at ease,
“It’s ok guys, she knows. I told her after she told me about her dream guy.”
Maria and Isabel’s eyes grew wide.
“WHAT?!”
When Max started to shudder and spill his seed, Lyz was about to pull away but Max placed his hand on top of hers and helped her to continue stroking. With one last shudder, Max collapsed against the bed, and let his hand fall away from hers to throw his arm across his eyes. Lyz was fascinated at the changes to his body as he lay recovering. She looked with confusion at the sticky white stuff on her hand and Max’s thighs and remembered how Max had kissed her down there-tasted her even as she fell apart.
“Max?”
“Hmm?”
“D-did you like kissing me…down there?”
Max couldn’t help the smile that came to his lips as he remembered the taste of her. “Oh yes. I liked it very much.”
Silence greeted his affirmation and he opened his eyes to see if she was embarrassed. His slowing heart rate speeded up again and he was suddenly, surprisingly, aroused at the sight of Lyz licking his cum off her fingers. His throat tightened as he hoarsely asked, “What are you doing?”
“I wanted to taste you, like you did to me.” Lyz smiled shyly. After a few more licks, she repeated his words “I love the taste of you.”
He didn’t think it could possibly happen, not so soon, but Lyz’s words and the way she was licking her fingers made Max harden even further. He told himself to calm down, there was no way that he was taking this further tonight, but she was such a tempting sight. Groaning with frustration, Max pushed himself away from her and off the bed. He reached over to lift her in his arms and gently carried her to the bathroom.
“What are you doing?” Lyz asked as she clutched Max’s shoulders.
Max set her down in bathroom and reached into his large glass shower to turn on the hot water. “I’m going to clean us up.” He let the water warm as he faced her. Her cheeks were flushed and her large brown eyes were sparkling – she looked so beautiful to him. He could tell he was making her shy at the way she looked away from him, but he wouldn’t have any of that.
“Hey, don’t tell me you’re feeling shy.”
“I-I do not want you to see my scars. They are ugly.”
“Do you think that would bother me?”
“I do not want you to change your mind.”
“What? How would the scars make me change my mind?”
“You might not think I am beautiful if you see them. A-and I want you to think I am beautiful.”
He didn’t think it was possible to fall more in love with her, but her quiet insecurity and vulnerability made him fall all over again. He gently pulled her into his arms and forced her to look at him. “Lyz, I won’t lie to you and say that your physical beauty doesn’t attract me to you, because it does. But it’s not the only thing that attracts me to you. You have a smile that takes my breath away, the way you look at me makes me feel like the luckiest man in the world. You’ve got courage and strength to survive the years with your father yet despite it all, you have the most gentle, loving soul. I love all of you, including the scars.”
Hearing Max’s loving words, Lyz felt her heart warm. She had never felt so cherished or loved before. She threaded her fingers through his slightly damp hair and drew him into a kiss. “Thank you.”
Max smiled against her lips, “You’re welcome. Now, come on woman, I need some sleep!” Max grabbed Lyz and stuck them both underneath the warm spray of the shower. He placed himself in front of the spray with Lyz behind him to prevent her hair from getting completely soaked. Lyz wanted to help Max wash, but he steadfastly refused and made her turn away from him so that he could shower and calm down. He knew that if he allowed her to help wash him, she’d slowly torture him to the brink of insanity with her curious explorations.
Lyz pouted for a few minutes at not being able to touch Max. She couldn’t get enough of touching him and exploring how his body was different from hers. A shadow of a doubt lingered in the back of her mind – fear that he would soon get bored of her inexperience. But, she dismissed it as soon as she thought it – clinging to Max’s loving words.
They climbed out of shower a few minutes later and wiped down, stealing glances at each other, but without touching each other. Max noticed that Lyz was bravely trying to be bold and wipe her body in front of him, but she still blushed furiously when she saw him watch her. When Lyz wrapped a towel around herself to walk back into the bedroom, Max pulled it away. He refused to let her be shy, so Lyz gathered her courage and walked nude back to the bedroom but couldn’t prevent herself from blushing even more.
He tried not to watch the way her hips moved and the perfection of her butt, he knew what would happen if he did, but he just couldn’t help himself. Max cursed when he felt himself harden again and turned back to the shower, this time turning the water to cold full blast. Stepping under the frigid water, he prayed that the confrontation with Lyz’s father would go smoothly and quickly so that he could marry Lyz as quickly as possible. He honestly didn’t know how much longer he could hold out – it was killing him.
Lyz was confused as to why Max would take another shower right after they just finished one, but she was too sleepy to think too seriously about it. She slipped into bed naked and pulled the sheets over her. The smell of Max surrounded her and she fell asleep before Max finished his shower.
After toweling off, Max walked back to the bed, pulled on a clean pair of boxers, and smiled as he saw Lyz hugging his pillow. He didn’t want to disturb her so he climbed in behind her. When he rolled in close to lay against her back, he froze when he realized that she didn’t put his tshirt back on. He had to reach down and adjust himself as he settled next to Lyz, but it did no good when Lyz innocently scooted back and cuddled him with her butt. He silently groaned as he realized he was about to have another very long night.
~!~
As she slowly drifted awake, Lyz smiled as she became conscious of her position. Max’s warm body lay flush against her back and her legs were tucked neatly between his. Her arm rested on top of his over her waist and their hands had entwined in the middle of the night as they had slept. As gently as she could without disturbing him, Lyz rolled over to face the man that she loved.
In the early morning light, she let her eyes trace Max’s features. She loved his dark brown straight eyebrows, prominent nose, his hard stubborn chin, and his mouth…Lyz blushed as she stared at Max’s mouth, remembering what that mouth had done to her last night. She couldn’t stop herself from drawing away the sheets so that she could look at the rest of his body. When she saw that he had put his boxers back on, Lyz was slightly disappointed that she was prevented from viewing all of his body. .
She quickly peeked up into his face to make sure he was still sleeping before reaching out and lightly tracing the muscles on his chest. She could feel them clench in reaction and she stole another look at Max. Reassured he was still asleep, she let her fingers glide over his dark nipple before following the trail of dark hair to the band of his boxers. Suddenly the front of Max’s boxers started to bulge out, making Lyz’s eyes grow wide. She wanted to touch and explore what lie beneath the cotton of his boxers. She immediately blushed at her wanton thoughts and was glad that Max was still asleep.
“What’s that blush all about?”
Snatching back her hand, Lyz’s eyes flew up to meet Max’s slumberous eyes, “Oh – you are awake.”
“Mmm hmmm. Now answer my question, what was causing that little blush I saw?”
Lyz smiled, “N-nothing, I was just remembering last night.”
“And that made you blush? I thought it might have been because of this.” Max drew Lyz’s hand to the front of his boxers. “Only you can cause this. Every morning since I met you, I wake up like this. Even before, when I was dreaming of you, I’d wake up like this.”
Lyz’s eyes grew soft as she saw the tenderness and desire in Max’s eyes. He made her fall in love with him every day. She leaned in close to his lips but instead of kissing him, she teased, “Oh that? I did not notice.”
Max drew back, feigning hurt, “Not notice? How could you not notice?”
Lyz held back a giggle, “Well, its not that noticeable.”
Max flipped Lyz on her back and pinned her down with mock outrage, “Not that noticeable? Not that noticeable! Do you even remember last night?”
The laughter fled from Lyz’s face as she remembered their shared passion and she started to blush. As he saw her blush, Max taunted “Oh yes – last night. Do you remember?”
Max suddenly moved so that he nuzzled the crook of her neck and gently nipped, “Remember when you first touched me?” He moved lower to place a tantalizing kiss on the tip of her breast, “How hard it felt?” Max could feel Lyz arch a little into his kiss but he moved from her nipple to beneath her breast. “How it got even harder when you started to stroke it?” He heard her mumble out his name before he flung the covers back and stared at the dark curls between her legs, “And then you licked me…”
Lyz covered Max’s mouth with her hand, “Stop! You know I remember!” When she saw the mischievous sparkle in his eyes, Lyz lightly slapped him on the shoulder, “You enjoy making me blush! For shame!” she accused.
Max just grinned and lightly kissed her on the tip of her nose, “I can’t help it – you’re adorable when you blush.” Max laughed even more as she started to blush again. He looked over at the clock and notice it was around 9:00AM, about the time Alex would be awake.
“We better call Alex – maybe the sooner we talk to him, the more our plan will make some sense.” Max said as he sat up and prepared to dial Alex’s number.
“I am still uncertain of involving Alex, but I understand he is the best and most logical choice.”
“I know. We just have to convince him to not tell Isabel.” Max looked over his shoulder to see Lyz draped across his bed on her stomach, her hand holding up her head as she watched him. A corner of the sheet lay over her butt, revealing a tempting shadow of the crevice beneath and exposing the long expanse of her legs and naked back . He sucked in a quick breath to calm his growing erection, “Have I told you how much I love waking up with you?”
“Not this morning, no.” Lyz smiled as Max leaned down to kiss her.
“Then, let me say it now, I love waking up with you.”
Their kiss could have easily turned more passionate but Max wanted to make sure he called Alex that morning. Regretfully, he ended the kiss and reached for the phone. After listening to the plan, Alex insisted on coming over despite the early hour, eager to help.
When Max opened the door, Alex stood there with Isabel and both were loaded down with equipment. Alex pushed past Max as soon as he opened the door, eager to start. He looked around where he could set up his equipment in Max’s living room while Max asked disbelievingly “What’s Isabel doing here?”
“Isabel’s here because Isabel was at Alex’s when you called.” Isabel answered while Maria popped up behind her.
“And Maria’s here because Isabel knows you’ll need me.” Maria stated brightly as she walked past.
“And Michael’s here because Maria wouldn’t let me sleep in.” Michael grumbled as he slouched by with a bag of groceries in one hand while eating a doughnut with the other. He walked straight into the kitchen and started organizing the ingredients for breakfast.
Max looked ready to protest when a freshly showered Lyz came out of the bathroom in a pair of his boxers and T-Shirt, “Hi, Alex. Thank you for coming over…Isabel? Maria? Michael?” Lyz looked curiously at Max who could only shrug. Lyz smiled brightly at her friends. “Maria, did you happen to bring me some clothes? Did you bring breakfast? I’m starving!”
“Morning chica! You know I’ve got you covered.” Maria held out a plastic bag of clothes and dug into a paper bag to pull out a plump sugar coated doughnut with strawberry filling oozing from its ends. Lyz let a small moan of pleasure, “Mmmm” while flopping onto the couch as Maria went to start grinding the coffee beans.
Max gave up and closed the door, muttering, “So much for secrecy.” He turned back to the group and searched for a strawberry filled doughnut, his favorite. When he couldn’t find one, Max looked over to Lyz who was sitting on the couch enjoying her doughnut – with strawberry filling.
“Lyz! That was my doughnut!” Max declared indignantly.
Lyz ignored him and continued eating her doughnut while Alex and Isabel were busy setting up equipment and Maria and Michael in the kitchen were busy preparing breakfast. Max dropped the doughnut bag and pounced on Lyz who started to giggle when she felt Max’s fingers tickling her.
“Max! Stop! Please! I promise to share this last bit!”
Max stopped the tickle attack as Lyz fed him the last bite of the doughnut. When she would have pulled her hand away, Max brought it back to his mouth and gently licked off the sugar from her fingers. He could feel Lyz’s breath hitch in her throat and saw her eyes darken with remembered passion shared the night before. He watched as her pupils dilate as he leaned down to whisper,
“I love the taste of you better.”
Lyz moaned quietly in the back of her throat as she remembered how he had said almost the same words to her last night as she floated back down from her climax. She was about latch on to Max’s tempting lips but suddenly something big and soft hit Max on the back of the head.
“Maxwell!”
“Get a room – you’re spoiling my appetite! Ouch! Whadda do that for? ”
“They’re sweet, Michael. You could take lessons!”
Michael couldn’t help the look of horror that crossed his face. “Hell no!! You want me to take lessons from a guy who’s had some dream girl…”
“MICHAEL!!” Maria, Alex, and Isabel shouted.
Michael’s eyes went wide as he realized what he was just about to say. He stood frozen and looked at the group with embarrassment.
“So, do you guys want omelets or pancakes or both, you know Michael can make both.” Maria babbled.
“Oh, make both, I like both.” Isabel hastily jumped in, hoping Lyz didn’t notice Michael’s outburst.
“Yeah, and you know me, I’m still a growing boy, I need lots…um..”
Lyz and Max looked at their friends in amusement as they tried to pretend Michael wasn’t about to say something embarrassing. Max finally put everyone at ease,
“It’s ok guys, she knows. I told her after she told me about her dream guy.”
Maria and Isabel’s eyes grew wide.
“WHAT?!”
I'm a believer!
Thanks to Droygn and AngelicFairy for their clarification on gerbils! And of course mmcheron/lissalou for her great input and inspired ideas!
Chapter 25
“Spill, girlfriend!”
Max held up his hand and interrupted the two girls as they started to bombard Lyz with questions so that he and Lyz could explain, “If you two would shut up for a minute, maybe we’ll tell you the whole story.” Both Maria and Isabel abruptly sat down and waited eagerly. Lyz blushed a little as she became the focus of attention.
“I was six when the dreams started. I dreamt of a laughing little dark-haired boy with golden eyes. He would sit beside me on my bed and listen to me as I talked about my dreams of traveling and escaping my father. He held my hand to give me comfort as I cried. Every time I was hurt, or lonely, or scared, I would dream of HIM. He did not have a name or said anything, he did not have to. He only had to smile and hold my hand to make me forget the pain and loneliness. He helped me through my nightmare.”
Lyz looked at Maria and confided, “I never said anything to anyone because he was my own secret, a good secret and I did not want to share him. But I also feared that people would think I was mad. Then I met Max.” Lyz smiled and looked lovingly at the man next to her with shining eyes. “The first I saw him, his eyes were just like HIS. Kind and warm – I…I felt in my heart, it was HIM. The man from my dreams.”
Max leaned over to place a quick kiss on her temple as Maria and Isabel both dissolved in ‘Awww’s’ .
“And, I began to feel attracted to Lyz even before I got a really good look at what she looked like - she seemed so familiar. The way she smiled, the way she laughed. I think I fell in love with her smile first, it reminded me of my dream girl’s smile. But then, the day she walked into the Crashdown back from Alaska – it was like she walked straight out of my dreams.”
Both Michael and Alex made snorting sounds while Maria and Isabel’s eyes were tearing up.
“One look, and it was love at first sight.”
“Oh my god – that is just so sweet!” Maria choked out, wiping her eyes.
“Awww – I can’t believe how sweet that is!“
“So sweet it’s gonna make me puke.”
“Shut up, Michael!”
“You, Max, are making the rest of us mere mortals look bad. Who can compare to man who spouts such drivel –uh- I mean prose. Romantic prose?” Alex complained.
“Yeah! Now Maria’s gonna nag me to be more like you.” Michael snorted in disgust. He stood and pointed a finger at Maria “For the record blondie, I don’t do drivel.”
Maria huffily stood up and stalked to the kitchen, “You wouldn’t know romance if it bit you in the ass, Michael. It wouldn’t kill you, you know.”
“Oh now, I don’t know about that Maria.” Alex shook his head. “I think it could. I remember almost falling off the edge of a cliff one night as I took Isabel out stargazing.”
“Don’t exaggerate, Alex! You weren’t even near the edge. Don’t listen to them Lyz. I think you two have the most romantic story ever! And your wedding is going to be just as romantic. I’ve started…” Isabel enthused, pulled out her planner.
“Iz! Hey, let’s just get through yours before we start talking about mine, ok? Besides, we have more important matters to deal with right now.”
Isabel’s face fell, “Oh. Right. I’m sorry, Max. Why don’t you tell us the whole story?”
While Michael and Maria cooked breakfast, Lyz started talking, telling everyone how Tess visited her at the shop. She told them about her search into her background and what she discovered. She then told them about how Tess threatened to expose her to the press and drag Ben and the Parkers into the whole mess. By the time she was finished, Maria was outraged. She cut the ham savagely as if she was picturing Tess, so Michael had to take the knife away from her. Alex stood with open jaw at the strength of Tess’s obsession with Max, while Isabel was furious. She jumped up from her seat and started to rage as she paced.
“How dare she! Who does she think she is? Doesn’t she realize how long we’ve waited for Max to finally get serious about a girl? Oh no – she is not getting away with this crap!” Isabel grabbed her cell phone and dialed before anyone could stop her. “Ava – get your butt over here to Max’s now! We need to have a talk about that sister of yours!” Isabel barked into the phone and hung up before Ava could even reply.
“Isabel, we didn’t want to involve too many people.” Max protested, but Isabel held her hand up, not listening.
“Max, while you’re taking care of Lyz’s father, someone has to take care of Tess so she doesn’t carry out her threat.”
When Max would have argued, Lyz placed a hand on his arm, “She is correct Max. Even if my father leaves us alone, it does not mean that Tess would not carry out her threat to go to the media.”
“God – I can’t believe that..that...gerbil!” Isabel spat out.
Alex burst out laughing, “Gerbil?!? Haha, how did you come up with that one?”
Isabel abruptly stopped pacing and started to smile, “Well gerbils are, um. They’re small, rodent-like, and evil looking. Just like Tess.”
Everyone laughed at Isabel’s explanation before Max asked, “Alright. Alex, what is all this stuff.”
“Well, I wasn’t exactly sure what you guys would need, so I brought everything I think you might need. Explain what you want to do, again?”
“Lyz and I want to confront her father and get him to confess that he intends to harm Lyz once he gets the inheritance. Once we have his confession on tape, we will threaten to release the tape of his plan unless he leaves us alone.”
“Do you think that’s all it will take?”
“Well, Lyz’s father does keep up the pretense that he’s very important, still royalty. He can’t do that if the world thinks he means to kill his own daughter.”
“Hmmm, I don’t know, Max. Seems a bit weak.”
“Isabel, it’s the only thing we could think of that wouldn’t put Lyz in danger. Besides, we have a backup. We’ll warn him if anything happens to Lyz or any of us, the inheritance will automatically drain out – donating large sums of money to several charities if we aren’t here to disable the order.”
“How are you going to confront him?”
“Max and I will meet him somewhere while Alex records what is being said.”
Alex got an excited gleam in his eye “I’ve got exactly what you’re looking for – man, I’ve been dying to try some of this stuff!”
When he was ready, Alex started on the explanations “First, you and Lyz will have to determine where you want Khivar to meet you guys. That way I can make sure I can hear you, then, I’ll need to plant some signal booster to make sure we don’t lose our connection. Then, once I do that, we should be ready to go. Lyz, all you’ll have to do is talk normally. This little thing” Alex held up a small black piece of plastic ‘will pick up anything you or he has to say from across the room. You just have to get him to talk. I’ll place it behind a pin or earring, or something. He’ll never notice it.”
“I want to do this away from Roswell, I do not want to risk him trying to grab Ben again. I think we should meet him in New York; he has a private suite at an exclusive hotel there.”
“Um, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to afford to go that far. I was thinking Albuquerque…” Isabel said worriedly.
“Money will not be an issue, Isabel. I will take care of the arrangements.”
But Lyz, you just started working…”
“Isabel – please, trust me. I have more than enough to take care of all of us.” Lyz softly insisted and startled everyone. Lyz had never told them anything about financial situation but they had all assumed that she didn’t have much since she had left everything behind. Seeing their puzzled expressions, Lyz explained about selling things off and hiding the money with Nicole. She explained that she had transferred her money to the US the last time she been in Rome. She blushed deep red when they expressed their respect for her cunning and planning.
“Now, wait a minute – what about us, what are we going to do while you guys go traipsing off to New York?” Maria protested.
Before anyone could answer her, a knock on the door interrupted them.
Max got up from the couch to answer it and stepped back to let in Kyle and Ava who wasn’t too happy to be up so early in the morning. She stomped into the living room and jabbed a finger in Isabel’s direction,
“First of all, don’t you ever talk to me that way again. I’m not some lowly servant for you to boss around at your beck and call. Got it?” Ava snapped, waiting for Isabel’s acknowledgement.
“I wouldn’t have yelled if I hadn’t been so pissed off at your sister, Ava.” Isabel said defensively.
“Fine, but take it out on my sister, not me. I had a late night shift and I just barely got four hours of sleep.”
“I’m sorry, you’re right. I shouldn’t have yelled.”
“Damn right. Second, I need coffee so I can think straight.” Kyle came out of the kitchen and automatically handed her a full cup before she finished her sentence. After she gulped down some of the black coffee, Ava asked “Now, what is this business about Tess?”
Everyone let Isabel explain what Tess had done while they got their food from the kitchen and started eating. When Isabel had finished, Ava was just as upset as Isabel had been. She would have stormed out of the condo and rushed over to Tess’s apartment to kick her butt, but Kyle grabbed her and calmed her down.
“God – I can’t believe she’s my sister, let alone twin!” Ava yelled. She sighed dejectedly and looked over at Lyz, “I am so sorry, Lyz. She’s had this thing for Max ever since they met, but I had no idea she’d take it this far.”
“Ava, there is no need for you to apologize. You did nothing wrong.”
As they ate, they determined that they should confront Lyz’s father soon since her birthday was in a couple of months. Isabel volunteered to help Lyz make the arrangements since she didn’t have a credit card and could only pay in cash. Then they turned their plans to Tess. What could they do about Tess?
“What about the congressman? Is she having an affair with the guy? We could blackmail her with that.” Alex suggested.
Ava dismissed it, “Nah – everyone knows they’re dating. She’s just waiting for the ring.”
“If she wants the congressman to marry her, then why the hell is she threatening Lyz to leave town?” Maria demanded.
Ava shrugged, “She’s jealous – she has a real problem with that. She might want Pierce, but she doesn’t want anyone else to have Max.”
Silence fell as everyone tried to think of a way to get rid of Tess.
“Wait! I know. If Pierce knew what kind of blackmailing witch she is, he wouldn’t want to marry her, right? So, why don’t we threaten to play a tape of her threatening Lyz?” Isabel suggested.
“But how? She came yesterday?” Lyz asked.
“Security cameras- we’ll say the security camera caught her.” Kyle offered as he thought about the idea.
“But what if she doesn’t believe us?”
Kyle grinned, “Then we have Ava.”
“Huh?”
Ava jumped in, “We can always create a tape with me threatening Lyz.”
“Oooooh, I like this plan.” Maria claimed as she gleefully rubbed her hands together.
Over the next couple of days, they made their plans. Alex and Isabel had to request vacation time off while Lyz quit her job. She quit instead of asking for time off because she was secretly afraid that she might not be able to come back. With the help of Alex, Lyz and Ava were able to re-create the scene of Tess threatening Lyz. The plan was for Maria and Ava to confront Tess while the others were off in New York. They would make sure Tess was going to leave them alone as well as keep an eye out on Ben.
It was decided that they would not tell the Parker’s what they were about to do because they didn’t want to cause them more stress. Both Lyz and Max were nervous and tense as they drove to airport with Michael and Maria, while Alex and Isabel rode with Ava. Maria kept up a constant stream of conversation, seemingly unaware she wasn’t allowing anyone else to talk. As they arrived, Maria fell silent. She watched Lyz’s face and knew the other girl was afraid. She didn’t know what to say to make her feel better, but then she saw Max. She saw Max place a comforting arm around Lyz’s shoulders and gently squeeze. Maria bit her lip and looked away as she saw Lyz smile faintly and lean into his side. Maria was confident that Lyz would be ok, Max would make sure of that.
After Alex, Isabel, Max and Lyz got their luggage checked in, they said their good-byes. Maria squeezed Lyz and brightly stated, “Don’t worry about the gerbil. She’s not going to be a problem,” causing Lyz to smile. Max, Alex and Isabel were treated with the same tight hug from Maria and Ava. Kyle stood giving Alex and Max last minute advice on surveillance while Michael stood with Lyz.
Michael dug his fists into his jean pockets and tried to look casual. He wanted to say something but the words wouldn’t come out. He wasn’t good with words and he knew it. Making up his mind, he finally blurted out, “I don’t like this – you two going in by yourselves. You should let Max and me take care of this.”
Lyz smiled at Michael’s comment and gently chided, “You know why I have to do this.”
Michael grimaced, he did know. He understood the need to confront one’s tormentor and to lay nightmares to rest. “I know. But, that doesn’t mean I like it.”
“Neither do I. But, I need to.”
Michael nodded again. He remembered his own confrontation with Hank at a local bar. He had just gone in for one beer and spotted Hank at the other end of the bar. Michael stood frozen. He had felt anger, rage, and a burning desire to drive his fists into the face of the man that had beat him. He didn’t say a word, instead, just stood there with hate blazing from his eyes, watching the drunken slob. Hank had looked up, recognized him and loudly called out to him. He had started insulting Michael, about what a sissy he was, how stupid and lazy he was.
Michael’s rage went out of control and he rushed the man, grabbing the front of his shirt, intending to punch him. Hank couldn’t put up much resistance because he was so drunk, but Michael suddenly saw Hank for who he was. Hank was a bitter drunk man who needed to bully everyone around him in order to avoid looking at himself. At that moment, Michael realized that Hank wasn’t worth his time or his hate. He shoved the drunk man away from him. From the floor, Hank started in again on what a sissy Michael was, not able to fight like a man.
Michael remembered sneering at the man, “I don’t waste my time with garbage.” Hank’s outrage caused him to lunge at Michael, spouting that he was going to teach him some respect. Michael had effortlessly shoved him away and spit in his face before walking away. He would never forget how good it had felt to finally confront the bastard. And walk away.
He nodded in understanding to Lyz, “Be careful.”
Their flight to New York was uneventful, just long and tiring. Isabel and Lyz had arranged for a driver to pick them up at the airport and drive them to the hotel. Alex’s jaw dropped when he noticed that their limo stopped at the Trump Tower.
“No way!” Alex stared wide-eyed.
“Isn’t this great! Lyz asked me if there was one place in New York I wanted to stay in, what would it be. I told her, Trump Tower and she booked us, can you believe it? This is so incredible!!!” Isabel exclaimed with suppressed excitement.
Max and Lyz were unimpressed when they entered the hotel while Alex and Isabel excitedly whispered to each other as they made their way up the tower with the bellhop. When the bellhop opened the door to their two bedroom suite, Isabel almost fainted with the sheer luxuriousness. Knowing that Lyz was getting more nervous about calling her father, Max pointed out the spa packages to Isabel so that she would create a small diversion. Lyz smiled gratefully when she realized what Max was trying to do but she couldn’t help the knot forming in her stomach.
After Isabel and Alex explored their suite thoroughly, Alex sat on the couch with his laptop. “Ok, princess Lyz, I just need the account information of your trust fund and I’ll be set.” Alex’s eyes popped wide when he accessed the account and saw the balance. “Whoa. Is that even a real number?” He asked as he stared at figure that showed on his screen.
Lyz looked at it curiously before shrugging, ”That looks about right.”
Alex just shook his head at her casual tone. He finally understood why Lyz’s father wanted control of the inheritance. After an hour, he let Lyz know that everything was in place. She warned them that she would be speaking in French but would translate later. Isabel and Alex sat across from Max and Lyz to watch. Leaning into Max’s side, Lyz dialed her father’s private line. She visibly flinched when she heard her father’s voice, but then became calm and deliberate.
“Bonjour, Pere.” (Hello Father.)
“Lyzette? Bien, c'est inattendu.” (Lyzette? Well, this is unexpected.)
“J'appelle pour vous demander de me rencontrer, ici à New York." (I’m calling to ask you to meet with me, here in New York.)
“Pourquoi pas vous venez à la maison et nous discuterons n'importe quoi que vous voulez” (Why don’t you come home and we’ll discuss anything you want.) Khivar smoothly countered.
Lyz had to suppress a shiver before replying “Non. J'ai ai fait l'hôtel de Bellefleur savoir pour préparer votre suite d'appartement terrasse. Je vous rencontrerai là dans le temps de deux jours.” (No. I have let the Bellefleur Hotel know to prepare your penthouse suite. I will meet you there in two days time.)
“Pourquoi j'irais à New York vous voir, fille, quand je puis juste faire vous apporter Nicholas la maison?” (Why would I go to New York to see you, daughter, When I can just have Nicholas bring you home?) Khivar smirked.
“Puisque le père, si vous faites cela, vous risquent de n'hériter de rien." (Because father, if you do that, you risk inheriting nothing.) Lyz clutched Max’s hand. “J'ai fait disposer un transfert électronique de fil de sorte qu'exactement à 12:00midnight sur mon anniversaire, l'argent de ma transmission soit transféré à plusieurs dignes charités autour du monde. Si vous essayez de me forcer maison de quelque façon, je ne décommanderai pas le transfert et dans des minutes, ne serez plus rien à pour que vous héritiez.” (I have had an electronic wire transfer prepared so that exactly at 12:00midnight on my birthday, the money from my inheritance will be transferred to several worthy charities around the world. If you try to force me home in any way, I will not cancel the transfer and within minutes, there will be nothing left for you to inherit.)
“J'attends avec intérêt de vous voir en deux jours “ (I look forward to seeing you in two days.)
Max placed his arm around Lyz in encouragement as she hung up the phone. He had been worried about the toll their plan might have on Lyz but she amazed him with her strength as she calmly translated what was said.
“Ok, so I need about an hour to set up the booster in the room, will they let us in?” Alex queried.
“Yes, it will not be a problem. The Bellefleur is very private exclusive hotel, one that my father uses on many occasions. He use to boast all of the time about his many escapades here. He has the penthouse on retainer so that it is accessible to him at any time and pays very well for discretion. There is a private entrance and an elevator just for the penthouse. No staff is allowed on the floor except for the room service or bar staff. The staff will know who I am – they are aware of my entire family.”
“Should we go tonight?” Alex asked.
Max answered for them, “I think we should, only to make sure that Khivar or any of his men won’t catch us in the act.”
When the group arrived at Bellefleur, Lyz had been correct when she told them the staff would know her and allow her entrance in the penthouse. Inside the penthouse, Alex went to work and set up the signal booster in the living room. After Alex was done, the four of them went to back to the hotel. Lyz didn’t feel like going out to dinner so she and Max stayed in the suite while Alex and Isabel went out dinner.
Over the two days that they waited for the meeting with Khivar, the four of them tried to pretend that they were in New York as tourists. They visited all the sites – the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Coney Island, Brooklyn Zoo and as much shopping as Isabel could talk the men into. Each night Lyz would feel the knots in her stomach start to clench and she would crawl into Max’s arms looking for comfort.
The day of their showdown, Isabel helped Lyz get ready; not that she needed any help, but to give her support. Isabel stood behind Lyz and brushed her hair as Lyz faced the mirror. Isabel was worried because Lyz looked so pale and nervous, “You know Max could do this himself, right? You don’t need to go Lyz.”
Lyz smiled back at Isabel and reached up to take her hand “Yes, I do. All my life, my father has been my nightmare. He made my life miserable and lonely. And loved doing it. Every time he beat me, he would make me beg, beg, for mercy. And he laughed in my face when I finally could not stand the pain and begged.” Lyz got up to face Isabel, “I want to look him in the face and let him know that I will no longer be afraid of him. That he no longer has the power to make me beg. I need to confront him Isabel, otherwise he will always be my nightmare. And I refuse to let him be in any part of my future, not one part.”
Isabel tearfully hugged Lyz “Good luck, today. And remember, Alex and I will be close by listening to every word. We won’t let anything happen to you. Either of you.”
The four friends solemnly walked out of the suite and into a waiting limo. No one felt like talking on the way to hotel. Lyz sat with her head on Max’s shoulder and his arm curled around her. Isabel and Alex sat across from them with hands clinging to each other. The limo stopped in across the street from the hotel and Max and Lyz quietly got out. Lyz stared at the hotel, hands trembling and knots in her stomach. Then remembering what she had said to Isabel, Lyz straightened her back and lifted her chin before walking quietly into the hotel, with Max at her side.
Chapter 25
“Spill, girlfriend!”
Max held up his hand and interrupted the two girls as they started to bombard Lyz with questions so that he and Lyz could explain, “If you two would shut up for a minute, maybe we’ll tell you the whole story.” Both Maria and Isabel abruptly sat down and waited eagerly. Lyz blushed a little as she became the focus of attention.
“I was six when the dreams started. I dreamt of a laughing little dark-haired boy with golden eyes. He would sit beside me on my bed and listen to me as I talked about my dreams of traveling and escaping my father. He held my hand to give me comfort as I cried. Every time I was hurt, or lonely, or scared, I would dream of HIM. He did not have a name or said anything, he did not have to. He only had to smile and hold my hand to make me forget the pain and loneliness. He helped me through my nightmare.”
Lyz looked at Maria and confided, “I never said anything to anyone because he was my own secret, a good secret and I did not want to share him. But I also feared that people would think I was mad. Then I met Max.” Lyz smiled and looked lovingly at the man next to her with shining eyes. “The first I saw him, his eyes were just like HIS. Kind and warm – I…I felt in my heart, it was HIM. The man from my dreams.”
Max leaned over to place a quick kiss on her temple as Maria and Isabel both dissolved in ‘Awww’s’ .
“And, I began to feel attracted to Lyz even before I got a really good look at what she looked like - she seemed so familiar. The way she smiled, the way she laughed. I think I fell in love with her smile first, it reminded me of my dream girl’s smile. But then, the day she walked into the Crashdown back from Alaska – it was like she walked straight out of my dreams.”
Both Michael and Alex made snorting sounds while Maria and Isabel’s eyes were tearing up.
“One look, and it was love at first sight.”
“Oh my god – that is just so sweet!” Maria choked out, wiping her eyes.
“Awww – I can’t believe how sweet that is!“
“So sweet it’s gonna make me puke.”
“Shut up, Michael!”
“You, Max, are making the rest of us mere mortals look bad. Who can compare to man who spouts such drivel –uh- I mean prose. Romantic prose?” Alex complained.
“Yeah! Now Maria’s gonna nag me to be more like you.” Michael snorted in disgust. He stood and pointed a finger at Maria “For the record blondie, I don’t do drivel.”
Maria huffily stood up and stalked to the kitchen, “You wouldn’t know romance if it bit you in the ass, Michael. It wouldn’t kill you, you know.”
“Oh now, I don’t know about that Maria.” Alex shook his head. “I think it could. I remember almost falling off the edge of a cliff one night as I took Isabel out stargazing.”
“Don’t exaggerate, Alex! You weren’t even near the edge. Don’t listen to them Lyz. I think you two have the most romantic story ever! And your wedding is going to be just as romantic. I’ve started…” Isabel enthused, pulled out her planner.
“Iz! Hey, let’s just get through yours before we start talking about mine, ok? Besides, we have more important matters to deal with right now.”
Isabel’s face fell, “Oh. Right. I’m sorry, Max. Why don’t you tell us the whole story?”
While Michael and Maria cooked breakfast, Lyz started talking, telling everyone how Tess visited her at the shop. She told them about her search into her background and what she discovered. She then told them about how Tess threatened to expose her to the press and drag Ben and the Parkers into the whole mess. By the time she was finished, Maria was outraged. She cut the ham savagely as if she was picturing Tess, so Michael had to take the knife away from her. Alex stood with open jaw at the strength of Tess’s obsession with Max, while Isabel was furious. She jumped up from her seat and started to rage as she paced.
“How dare she! Who does she think she is? Doesn’t she realize how long we’ve waited for Max to finally get serious about a girl? Oh no – she is not getting away with this crap!” Isabel grabbed her cell phone and dialed before anyone could stop her. “Ava – get your butt over here to Max’s now! We need to have a talk about that sister of yours!” Isabel barked into the phone and hung up before Ava could even reply.
“Isabel, we didn’t want to involve too many people.” Max protested, but Isabel held her hand up, not listening.
“Max, while you’re taking care of Lyz’s father, someone has to take care of Tess so she doesn’t carry out her threat.”
When Max would have argued, Lyz placed a hand on his arm, “She is correct Max. Even if my father leaves us alone, it does not mean that Tess would not carry out her threat to go to the media.”
“God – I can’t believe that..that...gerbil!” Isabel spat out.
Alex burst out laughing, “Gerbil?!? Haha, how did you come up with that one?”
Isabel abruptly stopped pacing and started to smile, “Well gerbils are, um. They’re small, rodent-like, and evil looking. Just like Tess.”
Everyone laughed at Isabel’s explanation before Max asked, “Alright. Alex, what is all this stuff.”
“Well, I wasn’t exactly sure what you guys would need, so I brought everything I think you might need. Explain what you want to do, again?”
“Lyz and I want to confront her father and get him to confess that he intends to harm Lyz once he gets the inheritance. Once we have his confession on tape, we will threaten to release the tape of his plan unless he leaves us alone.”
“Do you think that’s all it will take?”
“Well, Lyz’s father does keep up the pretense that he’s very important, still royalty. He can’t do that if the world thinks he means to kill his own daughter.”
“Hmmm, I don’t know, Max. Seems a bit weak.”
“Isabel, it’s the only thing we could think of that wouldn’t put Lyz in danger. Besides, we have a backup. We’ll warn him if anything happens to Lyz or any of us, the inheritance will automatically drain out – donating large sums of money to several charities if we aren’t here to disable the order.”
“How are you going to confront him?”
“Max and I will meet him somewhere while Alex records what is being said.”
Alex got an excited gleam in his eye “I’ve got exactly what you’re looking for – man, I’ve been dying to try some of this stuff!”
When he was ready, Alex started on the explanations “First, you and Lyz will have to determine where you want Khivar to meet you guys. That way I can make sure I can hear you, then, I’ll need to plant some signal booster to make sure we don’t lose our connection. Then, once I do that, we should be ready to go. Lyz, all you’ll have to do is talk normally. This little thing” Alex held up a small black piece of plastic ‘will pick up anything you or he has to say from across the room. You just have to get him to talk. I’ll place it behind a pin or earring, or something. He’ll never notice it.”
“I want to do this away from Roswell, I do not want to risk him trying to grab Ben again. I think we should meet him in New York; he has a private suite at an exclusive hotel there.”
“Um, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to afford to go that far. I was thinking Albuquerque…” Isabel said worriedly.
“Money will not be an issue, Isabel. I will take care of the arrangements.”
But Lyz, you just started working…”
“Isabel – please, trust me. I have more than enough to take care of all of us.” Lyz softly insisted and startled everyone. Lyz had never told them anything about financial situation but they had all assumed that she didn’t have much since she had left everything behind. Seeing their puzzled expressions, Lyz explained about selling things off and hiding the money with Nicole. She explained that she had transferred her money to the US the last time she been in Rome. She blushed deep red when they expressed their respect for her cunning and planning.
“Now, wait a minute – what about us, what are we going to do while you guys go traipsing off to New York?” Maria protested.
Before anyone could answer her, a knock on the door interrupted them.
Max got up from the couch to answer it and stepped back to let in Kyle and Ava who wasn’t too happy to be up so early in the morning. She stomped into the living room and jabbed a finger in Isabel’s direction,
“First of all, don’t you ever talk to me that way again. I’m not some lowly servant for you to boss around at your beck and call. Got it?” Ava snapped, waiting for Isabel’s acknowledgement.
“I wouldn’t have yelled if I hadn’t been so pissed off at your sister, Ava.” Isabel said defensively.
“Fine, but take it out on my sister, not me. I had a late night shift and I just barely got four hours of sleep.”
“I’m sorry, you’re right. I shouldn’t have yelled.”
“Damn right. Second, I need coffee so I can think straight.” Kyle came out of the kitchen and automatically handed her a full cup before she finished her sentence. After she gulped down some of the black coffee, Ava asked “Now, what is this business about Tess?”
Everyone let Isabel explain what Tess had done while they got their food from the kitchen and started eating. When Isabel had finished, Ava was just as upset as Isabel had been. She would have stormed out of the condo and rushed over to Tess’s apartment to kick her butt, but Kyle grabbed her and calmed her down.
“God – I can’t believe she’s my sister, let alone twin!” Ava yelled. She sighed dejectedly and looked over at Lyz, “I am so sorry, Lyz. She’s had this thing for Max ever since they met, but I had no idea she’d take it this far.”
“Ava, there is no need for you to apologize. You did nothing wrong.”
As they ate, they determined that they should confront Lyz’s father soon since her birthday was in a couple of months. Isabel volunteered to help Lyz make the arrangements since she didn’t have a credit card and could only pay in cash. Then they turned their plans to Tess. What could they do about Tess?
“What about the congressman? Is she having an affair with the guy? We could blackmail her with that.” Alex suggested.
Ava dismissed it, “Nah – everyone knows they’re dating. She’s just waiting for the ring.”
“If she wants the congressman to marry her, then why the hell is she threatening Lyz to leave town?” Maria demanded.
Ava shrugged, “She’s jealous – she has a real problem with that. She might want Pierce, but she doesn’t want anyone else to have Max.”
Silence fell as everyone tried to think of a way to get rid of Tess.
“Wait! I know. If Pierce knew what kind of blackmailing witch she is, he wouldn’t want to marry her, right? So, why don’t we threaten to play a tape of her threatening Lyz?” Isabel suggested.
“But how? She came yesterday?” Lyz asked.
“Security cameras- we’ll say the security camera caught her.” Kyle offered as he thought about the idea.
“But what if she doesn’t believe us?”
Kyle grinned, “Then we have Ava.”
“Huh?”
Ava jumped in, “We can always create a tape with me threatening Lyz.”
“Oooooh, I like this plan.” Maria claimed as she gleefully rubbed her hands together.
Over the next couple of days, they made their plans. Alex and Isabel had to request vacation time off while Lyz quit her job. She quit instead of asking for time off because she was secretly afraid that she might not be able to come back. With the help of Alex, Lyz and Ava were able to re-create the scene of Tess threatening Lyz. The plan was for Maria and Ava to confront Tess while the others were off in New York. They would make sure Tess was going to leave them alone as well as keep an eye out on Ben.
It was decided that they would not tell the Parker’s what they were about to do because they didn’t want to cause them more stress. Both Lyz and Max were nervous and tense as they drove to airport with Michael and Maria, while Alex and Isabel rode with Ava. Maria kept up a constant stream of conversation, seemingly unaware she wasn’t allowing anyone else to talk. As they arrived, Maria fell silent. She watched Lyz’s face and knew the other girl was afraid. She didn’t know what to say to make her feel better, but then she saw Max. She saw Max place a comforting arm around Lyz’s shoulders and gently squeeze. Maria bit her lip and looked away as she saw Lyz smile faintly and lean into his side. Maria was confident that Lyz would be ok, Max would make sure of that.
After Alex, Isabel, Max and Lyz got their luggage checked in, they said their good-byes. Maria squeezed Lyz and brightly stated, “Don’t worry about the gerbil. She’s not going to be a problem,” causing Lyz to smile. Max, Alex and Isabel were treated with the same tight hug from Maria and Ava. Kyle stood giving Alex and Max last minute advice on surveillance while Michael stood with Lyz.
Michael dug his fists into his jean pockets and tried to look casual. He wanted to say something but the words wouldn’t come out. He wasn’t good with words and he knew it. Making up his mind, he finally blurted out, “I don’t like this – you two going in by yourselves. You should let Max and me take care of this.”
Lyz smiled at Michael’s comment and gently chided, “You know why I have to do this.”
Michael grimaced, he did know. He understood the need to confront one’s tormentor and to lay nightmares to rest. “I know. But, that doesn’t mean I like it.”
“Neither do I. But, I need to.”
Michael nodded again. He remembered his own confrontation with Hank at a local bar. He had just gone in for one beer and spotted Hank at the other end of the bar. Michael stood frozen. He had felt anger, rage, and a burning desire to drive his fists into the face of the man that had beat him. He didn’t say a word, instead, just stood there with hate blazing from his eyes, watching the drunken slob. Hank had looked up, recognized him and loudly called out to him. He had started insulting Michael, about what a sissy he was, how stupid and lazy he was.
Michael’s rage went out of control and he rushed the man, grabbing the front of his shirt, intending to punch him. Hank couldn’t put up much resistance because he was so drunk, but Michael suddenly saw Hank for who he was. Hank was a bitter drunk man who needed to bully everyone around him in order to avoid looking at himself. At that moment, Michael realized that Hank wasn’t worth his time or his hate. He shoved the drunk man away from him. From the floor, Hank started in again on what a sissy Michael was, not able to fight like a man.
Michael remembered sneering at the man, “I don’t waste my time with garbage.” Hank’s outrage caused him to lunge at Michael, spouting that he was going to teach him some respect. Michael had effortlessly shoved him away and spit in his face before walking away. He would never forget how good it had felt to finally confront the bastard. And walk away.
He nodded in understanding to Lyz, “Be careful.”
Their flight to New York was uneventful, just long and tiring. Isabel and Lyz had arranged for a driver to pick them up at the airport and drive them to the hotel. Alex’s jaw dropped when he noticed that their limo stopped at the Trump Tower.
“No way!” Alex stared wide-eyed.
“Isn’t this great! Lyz asked me if there was one place in New York I wanted to stay in, what would it be. I told her, Trump Tower and she booked us, can you believe it? This is so incredible!!!” Isabel exclaimed with suppressed excitement.
Max and Lyz were unimpressed when they entered the hotel while Alex and Isabel excitedly whispered to each other as they made their way up the tower with the bellhop. When the bellhop opened the door to their two bedroom suite, Isabel almost fainted with the sheer luxuriousness. Knowing that Lyz was getting more nervous about calling her father, Max pointed out the spa packages to Isabel so that she would create a small diversion. Lyz smiled gratefully when she realized what Max was trying to do but she couldn’t help the knot forming in her stomach.
After Isabel and Alex explored their suite thoroughly, Alex sat on the couch with his laptop. “Ok, princess Lyz, I just need the account information of your trust fund and I’ll be set.” Alex’s eyes popped wide when he accessed the account and saw the balance. “Whoa. Is that even a real number?” He asked as he stared at figure that showed on his screen.
Lyz looked at it curiously before shrugging, ”That looks about right.”
Alex just shook his head at her casual tone. He finally understood why Lyz’s father wanted control of the inheritance. After an hour, he let Lyz know that everything was in place. She warned them that she would be speaking in French but would translate later. Isabel and Alex sat across from Max and Lyz to watch. Leaning into Max’s side, Lyz dialed her father’s private line. She visibly flinched when she heard her father’s voice, but then became calm and deliberate.
“Bonjour, Pere.” (Hello Father.)
“Lyzette? Bien, c'est inattendu.” (Lyzette? Well, this is unexpected.)
“J'appelle pour vous demander de me rencontrer, ici à New York." (I’m calling to ask you to meet with me, here in New York.)
“Pourquoi pas vous venez à la maison et nous discuterons n'importe quoi que vous voulez” (Why don’t you come home and we’ll discuss anything you want.) Khivar smoothly countered.
Lyz had to suppress a shiver before replying “Non. J'ai ai fait l'hôtel de Bellefleur savoir pour préparer votre suite d'appartement terrasse. Je vous rencontrerai là dans le temps de deux jours.” (No. I have let the Bellefleur Hotel know to prepare your penthouse suite. I will meet you there in two days time.)
“Pourquoi j'irais à New York vous voir, fille, quand je puis juste faire vous apporter Nicholas la maison?” (Why would I go to New York to see you, daughter, When I can just have Nicholas bring you home?) Khivar smirked.
“Puisque le père, si vous faites cela, vous risquent de n'hériter de rien." (Because father, if you do that, you risk inheriting nothing.) Lyz clutched Max’s hand. “J'ai fait disposer un transfert électronique de fil de sorte qu'exactement à 12:00midnight sur mon anniversaire, l'argent de ma transmission soit transféré à plusieurs dignes charités autour du monde. Si vous essayez de me forcer maison de quelque façon, je ne décommanderai pas le transfert et dans des minutes, ne serez plus rien à pour que vous héritiez.” (I have had an electronic wire transfer prepared so that exactly at 12:00midnight on my birthday, the money from my inheritance will be transferred to several worthy charities around the world. If you try to force me home in any way, I will not cancel the transfer and within minutes, there will be nothing left for you to inherit.)
“J'attends avec intérêt de vous voir en deux jours “ (I look forward to seeing you in two days.)
Max placed his arm around Lyz in encouragement as she hung up the phone. He had been worried about the toll their plan might have on Lyz but she amazed him with her strength as she calmly translated what was said.
“Ok, so I need about an hour to set up the booster in the room, will they let us in?” Alex queried.
“Yes, it will not be a problem. The Bellefleur is very private exclusive hotel, one that my father uses on many occasions. He use to boast all of the time about his many escapades here. He has the penthouse on retainer so that it is accessible to him at any time and pays very well for discretion. There is a private entrance and an elevator just for the penthouse. No staff is allowed on the floor except for the room service or bar staff. The staff will know who I am – they are aware of my entire family.”
“Should we go tonight?” Alex asked.
Max answered for them, “I think we should, only to make sure that Khivar or any of his men won’t catch us in the act.”
When the group arrived at Bellefleur, Lyz had been correct when she told them the staff would know her and allow her entrance in the penthouse. Inside the penthouse, Alex went to work and set up the signal booster in the living room. After Alex was done, the four of them went to back to the hotel. Lyz didn’t feel like going out to dinner so she and Max stayed in the suite while Alex and Isabel went out dinner.
Over the two days that they waited for the meeting with Khivar, the four of them tried to pretend that they were in New York as tourists. They visited all the sites – the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Coney Island, Brooklyn Zoo and as much shopping as Isabel could talk the men into. Each night Lyz would feel the knots in her stomach start to clench and she would crawl into Max’s arms looking for comfort.
The day of their showdown, Isabel helped Lyz get ready; not that she needed any help, but to give her support. Isabel stood behind Lyz and brushed her hair as Lyz faced the mirror. Isabel was worried because Lyz looked so pale and nervous, “You know Max could do this himself, right? You don’t need to go Lyz.”
Lyz smiled back at Isabel and reached up to take her hand “Yes, I do. All my life, my father has been my nightmare. He made my life miserable and lonely. And loved doing it. Every time he beat me, he would make me beg, beg, for mercy. And he laughed in my face when I finally could not stand the pain and begged.” Lyz got up to face Isabel, “I want to look him in the face and let him know that I will no longer be afraid of him. That he no longer has the power to make me beg. I need to confront him Isabel, otherwise he will always be my nightmare. And I refuse to let him be in any part of my future, not one part.”
Isabel tearfully hugged Lyz “Good luck, today. And remember, Alex and I will be close by listening to every word. We won’t let anything happen to you. Either of you.”
The four friends solemnly walked out of the suite and into a waiting limo. No one felt like talking on the way to hotel. Lyz sat with her head on Max’s shoulder and his arm curled around her. Isabel and Alex sat across from them with hands clinging to each other. The limo stopped in across the street from the hotel and Max and Lyz quietly got out. Lyz stared at the hotel, hands trembling and knots in her stomach. Then remembering what she had said to Isabel, Lyz straightened her back and lifted her chin before walking quietly into the hotel, with Max at her side.
I'm a believer!
Ooooh yes - Tess gets what's coming to her!!! 
Chapter 26
After they dropped off Lyz, Max, Isabel, and Alex at the airport , the rest of the group thought about how best to confront Tess. Finally, Ava came up with the best plan. When she finished outlining the whole plan, Maria gave her a look of utter respect. “Girlfriend, remind me to never get on your bad side.”
Ava grinned wickedly. For one second she did feel bad about how they were going to treat Tess but it vanished the moment she remembered how callously Tess threatened Lyz and the Parkers. Tess may be her twin, but somewhere along the way, she failed to get a soul. She was selfish and greedy as well as self-centered. Ava had no idea when or how it happened, but she prayed that someday her twin would wake up and learn to be a better person before it was too late.
The gang rearranged their schedules for the next day and arrived at Maria’s for dinner. They all tried to pretend they weren’t worried about Lyz and Max, but they all were. Michael was so distracted he even let Maria pick out a chick flick for the night – without protest. As they sat pretending to watch the movie, Michael noticed Maria kept glancing at the phone. He finally leaned over and stopped the movie,
“Go ahead, Maria. Call.”
Maria crossed her arms and sat still, “No. To call would be like saying I’m worried. Worried that the plan isn’t that great, worried that they may run into trouble, worried what it might be costing Lyz emotionally. And I’m not. I’m not worried. Everything is fine, normal. They’re probably having a great time at the Trump Towers. In New York. Why wouldn’t they? New York’s great. Clubs. Restaurants. Theatres. Everything’s fine.”
“Are ya done jabbering?”
Maria just narrowed her eyes as she stared at Michael. Michael rolled his eyes and picked up the phone to dial. Maria’s eyes grew wide and she lunged at Michael, “What are you doing!?!”
Michael stood up and held the phone away from Maria, “If you won’t call Max, I’ll call Isabel.”
“Don’t do that! Ava, Kyle, stop him!”
Kyle grinned and sat back, “Nah. He’s right, Maria. If he doesn’t call, you’ll just sit there wondering.”
“Besides, we’re wondering too.” Ava nodded in agreement with Kyle.
“Fine. Let him talk to Isabel or Alex.” Maria flopped back down in her seat and watched Michael intently.
“Alex? Hey, it’s Michael. I was just...ow!”
Maria grabbed the phone and ripped it out of Michael’s hand. “Hello? Alex?”
“Damn it Maria! That hurt. Next time just ask.” Michael glared at his girlfriend. Maria stuck her tongue out and turned her back on him.
“Alex, so what’s going on? How’s Lyz?”
Michael, Kyle and Ava watched at Maria started to pace as she listened to Alex. For the next few minutes they heard, ‘Oh my god’ or ‘Really?’ or ‘Uh huh, uh huh, no way!’
Finally Michael grew aggravated and shouted out, “What the hell is he saying, Maria?”
“Hold on a minute, Alex.” Maria cradled the phone on her shoulder and said, “They’re all ok. Lyz called her father and demanded that he meet her in two days. They all went over to plant the booster thingy in Khivar’s suite and now he and Isabel are at dinner ok?”
Another few minutes went by before she hung up the phone. Maria walked over to Michael and sat herself down on his lap as she told the rest of the group that Alex and Isabel planned a couple of days of sightseeing so that they could distract Lyz from the wait.
“It’s a good thing I called otherwise they would have missed seeing the famous Studio 54.”
Ava burst out laughing, “You called?” Kyle joined in, then Michael. It really wasn’t funny, but they all knew they were laughing because they were so relieved everything was going ok for their friends. The rest of the night was spent enjoying their movies and talking about their plan for Tess.
At six in the morning, Kyle and Ava drove over to Tess’s apartment. Ava let them in using the key Tess had given her. Kyle’s eyes grew wide as he looked around the place – he couldn’t find the words to describe it. It was fairly spacious one bedroom place but with all the clutter, no one could tell. From what he could make out, there were several types of expensive original art hung on the walls – randomly selected and hung. A huge Persian rug covered the hardwood floors of the living room but was then covered with large mismatched leather and velvet furniture.
There was a large black painted coffee table in the center of the room with several melted candles among the empty wine bottles and glasses. Lamps with leopard printed shades sat on tabloid covered end tables. A fuchsia colored feather boa clung to the crimson crushed velvet curtains if the living room window. Kyle stared at the miscellaneous pieces of underwear scattered on the floor along with food empty food cartons from the expensive French restaurant in town.
Kyle had to let out a small whistle as he set down some boxes and kicked away an empty carton, “Damn, here I thought Tess was just cheap trash. I didn’t realize she lived like trash too.”
Ava smirked, “Are you kidding? This isn’t just cheap tasteless trash, it’s only the most expensive trash money can buy.”
“Ah, well, that makes all the difference.” Kyle snapped back. “So, I take Pierce hasn’t seen this place, huh?”
Ava smiled at Kyle, “You’re pretty smart, Buddha boy.”
“God! When are you going to quit calling me that?” Kyle rolled his eyes as he went into Tess’s kitchen.
“When I get bored of it!” Ava joined him in the kitchen, dragging the trash can.
Kyle opened up the refrigerator and stared at the contents, “Are you sure you want to dump all this? We could take it home and eat it? Or maybe donate it?”
“Yeah – ok. We’ll take the unopened stuff. Like the yogurt and bottled water. Everything else goes.” Ava reached in and grabbed the yogurt, setting it on the counter. As Kyle started dumping the opened containers and perishable food in the trash can, Ava started opening the cabinets and pulled out the dishes. They were making so much noise that they didn’t hear Tess wandering into the kitchen to stand next to the refrigerator. Kyle jumped and let out a high-pitched scream as he turned to dump some cartons into the trash bag and caught sight of Tess.
“Holy Buddha!”
She wore a blue satin baby doll nightgown that barely covered anything. What might have looked sexy, looked trashy on her. Her blonde hair was messy and sticking out in odd places. Traces of light blue eye shadow still covered her eyelids and trails of her black mascara ran down her pale white face. Smeared red lipstick still covered her lips but also spilled over to part of her cheek. Kyle shivered as he saw her, thankful that his wife never looked like that.
Tess caught Kyle’s stare and tried to strike a sexy pose as she ran her tongue over her smeared lips and asked, “What are you doing here?” Tess winked at Kyle with her idea of a flirtatious pout which made Kyle recoil in horror. Ava watched her twin with disgust and then turned back to the refrigerator.
“Hey, answer me! What are you two doing here?”
Neither Kyle or Ava answered her – they just kept dumping the groceries into the trash can. Kyle kept a wary eye on Tess as she watched them - making sure she didn't come any closer to him. They then started in on the freezer. Tess stared at them with an expression of outrage. She stamped her foot and again demanded to know what was going on. Kyle picked up a box that he brought in and started to empty the cabinets of dry goods, throwing away anything open.
“Stop it! Ava!!! What the hell??”
Again Tess stomped her foot when neither one of them answered her. She swung around as her front door suddenly opened. Her jaw dropped when Michael came through the door with four other men who were carrying boxes. Michael set his boxes down and directed the four men, two in the living room, two in the bedroom and bathroom. As he started arranging his boxes, Michael asked
“Yo, Kyle, did I just hear you scream like a girl?” Michael turned to tease Kyle when saw Tess and let out a high pitched scream, “Holy shitt!!!!”
Maria came up behind Michael to take a look at what scared Michael and grinned. She patted his back and spoke in a soothing voice, “It’s ok, honey. We’ve talked about this, remember? Aliens don’t exist. It’s just Tess, looking like her usual self.”
“I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON!” Tess screeched as she stared, stunned at what was happening in front of her. Maria stepped over to her and smugly handed her an envelope.
“You’re leaving Roswell. In fact, you’re leaving the state of New Mexico.” Maria looked at Tess critically before commenting, “Nice look, Tess, but I think the 80’s trashy whore look is out of date.”
Tess stared dumbly at the papers in her hand, not hearing Maria insult her. “What? I-I’m not moving. I live here.”
“Not anymore, bitch.” Michael smirked as he walked past her carrying her coffee table.
“What?! Are you crazy? Ava! Help me! Look what they’re doing!! Hey, that’s my stuff!” Tess yelled as she saw the moving men pack up her artwork.
Ava came out of the kitchen and walked over to her twin while Kyle, Michael and Maria moved into attached living room to pack. She stared at Tess, trying to find something good, something to like about her, but she couldn’t. Even when they had been young, they had never been close because Tess was so selfish and jealous. Even their mother and dad really didn’t like her – they loved her in obligatory way, but they didn’t like her. Ava just shook her head as she explained to Tess,
“You went too far, Tess. Did you really think we’d let you get away with it?”
“With what? What are you talking about, Ava?” Tess pushed past Ava to try and stop the moving men, “Stop that! Put that down!”
Without glancing at her, the moving men continued carrying out the furniture and loading it into a large truck. Tess’s jaw dropped when she saw that her car was already on a separate trailer hitched to the moving truck.
“Tess – you threatened Lyz.”
Tess turned back to face Ava as she glared at the other two moving men were walking out with more boxes. “So what? That flat-chested bitch is standing between me and Max. God, what the hell does he see in that plain boring…. ”
Maria came flying out of nowhere and her hand made contact with Tess’s cheek. Her eyes blazed as she stared at Tess, “You manipulative little tramp! Don’t you ever talk about my friend like that!”
Everyone came to stop, even the moving men coming in from outside stood still, watching with wide eyes. Eyes became riveted on Maria and Tess.
“You have no idea what Lyz has gone through! What’s she’s suffered at the hands of her father! Just when she escapes from all of that, you threaten to return her to him!” Maria shouted
“What do you mean suffered?? That little bitch…” Maria’s fist shot out and made contact with Tess’s nose, sending the other girl reeling.
“Don’t even finish that thought, skank!” Maria furiously shouted, eyes blazing and fists curled.
Blood spurted out from Tess’s nose, “You broke my nose, you bitch!” Tess launched herself at Maria. She drew back her hand, ready to claw at Maria’s face, but Maria was able to grab her hand, stopping her. Maria then pushed her away, causing Tess to fall back against a wall. Tess became furious and pushed away from the wall, rushing towards Maria.
Maria reached out grabbed a fistful of blonde curly hair and yanked down, causing Tess to screech and to fall sideways to the ground, but not before she reached out to grab Maria’s hair. The two girls fell to the floor, both holding on each other’s hair with one hand, both trying to slap and punch the other. They rolled on the floor, each trying to get the upper hand on the other.
Michael stood gazing with an open mouth as he watched one of his favorite reoccurring fantasies come true before him. He was startled when something cold pressed against his arm, and he reluctantly dragged his eyes away from his girlfriend. He looked down to see a cold bottle of beer being offered by Kyle who was equally enthralled at the sight of the two girls.
“Buddha help me, where’s the mud when you need it?”
“Jell-O would be better, at least I could lick it off Maria.”
“Oooh – yeah. Jell-O.” Kyle mumbled without taking his eyes off the two girls. He licked his suddenly dry lips as he got a visual of the girls rolling around in Jell-O in slow motion. “Damn, I coulda sold tickets.”
Michael grabbed the beer and was about to turn his attention back to Maria when he noticed the moving guys. All four men were watching with eager eyes, taking bets as to who would win, and calling out encouraging words to their favorite. While Michael frowned at the thought of other guys fantasizing about his girlfriend, it did give him an idea,
“$50 says Maria wipes the floor with Tess.” He muttered to Kyle.
“If Tess is anything like Ava, no way, you’re on.” Kyle agreed.
They watched as Tess tried to squirm away from Maria’s fists without letting go of Maria’s hair. She used her nails and clawed down Maria’s arm that was holding her hair but Maria wouldn’t let go. Kyle secretly hoped he would lose the bet, just so that Tess finally got her just dessert. Michael stood relaxed as he watched the two girls. Knowing how fiercely protective Maria was of Lyz, he had no doubts who would win the bet.
Maria felt the pain from Tess’s nails but it only added to her fury – she wasn’t about to let this bitch get the best of her. She drew back her fist and aimed for Tess’s nose but it landed on her mouth, splitting open the other girl’s lip. Tess lost her concentration at the burst of pain and Maria took advantage of it by throwing her body against Tess. The shove forced Tess to roll on her back and Maria climbed on top of her, digging her elbows into her chest.
With her head pulled to one side because of Tess’s tight grip on her hair, Maria punched Tess in the nose again, causing more blood to spurt out. When she heard the other girl cry out, she pulled her hair out of Tess’s grasp. Once her hair was free, Maria let go of Tess’s hair to grab her arms and pin them down with her knees. Once Tess was immobile, Maria slapped Tess across one cheek then the other, then the other again. She repeated the process over and over until Tess couldn’t fight back.
Michael and Kyle watched for a few seconds, just in case Tess was able to get away and restart the fight. When it was clear that Tess was helpless against Maria, Michael shot Kyle a triumphant grin before pulling his girlfriend away.
“Easy, blondie. She’s down for the count.”
When Maria was pulled off of her, Tess rolled to her side and attempted to sit up. She reached a hand to her nose and her lip trying to stop the bleeding and glared at her twin.
“I can’t believe you let her beat me. You just stood there, doing nothing!”
“Because you deserved what you got, Tess. I would’ve done it myself, but Maria beat me to it.” Ava snorted, arms crossed over her chest. “You think that smearing Lyz’s name in the tabloids wouldn’t hurt anyone, just cause trouble. But you were wrong, Tess. It could have meant someone getting hurt, even causing death.”
“You didn’t count on the rest of finding out what you did and being seriously offended by your actions.” Kyle explained matter of factly, almost jokingly. “In fact, some of us,” he nodded in Maria’s direction “feel down right murderous. Some” he nodded at Ava, “just wanted to beat the shit out of you. But you know what Tess? This is so much better – you just disappear.”
Tess stared at the group in disbelief “But where will I go?” She wailed to her sister, “Ava – don’t let them do this to me!”
“You did this to yourself, Tess. Instead of taking what you had and leaving things alone, you had to go fuck things up by threatening Lyz. You could have had friends, a family, Tess, but you chose to hurt people, to be mean. You messed with the wrong person, Tess, because now you have to deal with all of us.”
“You would actually choose her over me? Your own twin?”
“You may look like me Tess, but we’re nothing alike. We’re not even family. You did that.” Ava said flatly. “I wish I could even feel bad about kicking you out of the state, but I don’t. I won’t even miss you, Tess. None of us will. Go to Pierce in Washington DC or go to LA, I don’t care.”
“You won’t get away with this! I’ll make you all pay. Starting with that bitch Lyz.”
Michael just barely caught Maria as she lunged for Tess. “Let me go! Let me at her!”
He struggled to hold her back, but finally he grabbed her and slung her over his shoulder. Maria pounded on his back, but Michael retaliated by slapping her butt, “Stop it, blondie!” he ordered. He turned to face Tess and told her, “If you have any hopes of keeping Pierce, I suggest you think very carefully about what you just said.” He walked outside with Maria on his shoulder screaming to let her at the ‘walking floatation device just one more time’.
At Tess’s confused look, Kyle explained, “Do you think Congressman Pierce is going to want to be associated with a blackmailer? We have you on tape, Tess.”
“What?”
“When you threatened Lyz at the flower shop, you failed to see the security cameras. It caught everything you said. There’s no room for misinterpretation. In fact, the legal term it’s called extortion. And it’s illegal. And Pierce, wouldn’t want to be associated with someone who may be prosecuted for extortion.”
Tess’s eyes popped wide as she thought about what Ava had just said. She tried to bluff her way out of it, “I don’t believe you.”
Kyle smirked and he pointed to the envelope she was still holding, “Want proof – take a look. We got those pictures from the tape.”
Tess stared at the envelope, half afraid to open it. She looked back up at Ava, “But…”
Ava cut her off, “Tess, we’re giving you chance here. I’ve arranged for a new apartment for you, in Washington. Your stuff will be driven there by the moving men. Leave us alone, and we’ll leave you alone. But try any tricks, go to the press, or anything like that, and we’ll use the security tape to have you prosecuted for extortion. That’s a federal offense – do you really think Pierce is going to want you with a police record?”
Tess shook her head and her shoulders slumped in defeat. Two hours later, Tess was on a flight to Washington DC never to return or be heard from again.
Chapter 26
After they dropped off Lyz, Max, Isabel, and Alex at the airport , the rest of the group thought about how best to confront Tess. Finally, Ava came up with the best plan. When she finished outlining the whole plan, Maria gave her a look of utter respect. “Girlfriend, remind me to never get on your bad side.”
Ava grinned wickedly. For one second she did feel bad about how they were going to treat Tess but it vanished the moment she remembered how callously Tess threatened Lyz and the Parkers. Tess may be her twin, but somewhere along the way, she failed to get a soul. She was selfish and greedy as well as self-centered. Ava had no idea when or how it happened, but she prayed that someday her twin would wake up and learn to be a better person before it was too late.
The gang rearranged their schedules for the next day and arrived at Maria’s for dinner. They all tried to pretend they weren’t worried about Lyz and Max, but they all were. Michael was so distracted he even let Maria pick out a chick flick for the night – without protest. As they sat pretending to watch the movie, Michael noticed Maria kept glancing at the phone. He finally leaned over and stopped the movie,
“Go ahead, Maria. Call.”
Maria crossed her arms and sat still, “No. To call would be like saying I’m worried. Worried that the plan isn’t that great, worried that they may run into trouble, worried what it might be costing Lyz emotionally. And I’m not. I’m not worried. Everything is fine, normal. They’re probably having a great time at the Trump Towers. In New York. Why wouldn’t they? New York’s great. Clubs. Restaurants. Theatres. Everything’s fine.”
“Are ya done jabbering?”
Maria just narrowed her eyes as she stared at Michael. Michael rolled his eyes and picked up the phone to dial. Maria’s eyes grew wide and she lunged at Michael, “What are you doing!?!”
Michael stood up and held the phone away from Maria, “If you won’t call Max, I’ll call Isabel.”
“Don’t do that! Ava, Kyle, stop him!”
Kyle grinned and sat back, “Nah. He’s right, Maria. If he doesn’t call, you’ll just sit there wondering.”
“Besides, we’re wondering too.” Ava nodded in agreement with Kyle.
“Fine. Let him talk to Isabel or Alex.” Maria flopped back down in her seat and watched Michael intently.
“Alex? Hey, it’s Michael. I was just...ow!”
Maria grabbed the phone and ripped it out of Michael’s hand. “Hello? Alex?”
“Damn it Maria! That hurt. Next time just ask.” Michael glared at his girlfriend. Maria stuck her tongue out and turned her back on him.
“Alex, so what’s going on? How’s Lyz?”
Michael, Kyle and Ava watched at Maria started to pace as she listened to Alex. For the next few minutes they heard, ‘Oh my god’ or ‘Really?’ or ‘Uh huh, uh huh, no way!’
Finally Michael grew aggravated and shouted out, “What the hell is he saying, Maria?”
“Hold on a minute, Alex.” Maria cradled the phone on her shoulder and said, “They’re all ok. Lyz called her father and demanded that he meet her in two days. They all went over to plant the booster thingy in Khivar’s suite and now he and Isabel are at dinner ok?”
Another few minutes went by before she hung up the phone. Maria walked over to Michael and sat herself down on his lap as she told the rest of the group that Alex and Isabel planned a couple of days of sightseeing so that they could distract Lyz from the wait.
“It’s a good thing I called otherwise they would have missed seeing the famous Studio 54.”
Ava burst out laughing, “You called?” Kyle joined in, then Michael. It really wasn’t funny, but they all knew they were laughing because they were so relieved everything was going ok for their friends. The rest of the night was spent enjoying their movies and talking about their plan for Tess.
At six in the morning, Kyle and Ava drove over to Tess’s apartment. Ava let them in using the key Tess had given her. Kyle’s eyes grew wide as he looked around the place – he couldn’t find the words to describe it. It was fairly spacious one bedroom place but with all the clutter, no one could tell. From what he could make out, there were several types of expensive original art hung on the walls – randomly selected and hung. A huge Persian rug covered the hardwood floors of the living room but was then covered with large mismatched leather and velvet furniture.
There was a large black painted coffee table in the center of the room with several melted candles among the empty wine bottles and glasses. Lamps with leopard printed shades sat on tabloid covered end tables. A fuchsia colored feather boa clung to the crimson crushed velvet curtains if the living room window. Kyle stared at the miscellaneous pieces of underwear scattered on the floor along with food empty food cartons from the expensive French restaurant in town.
Kyle had to let out a small whistle as he set down some boxes and kicked away an empty carton, “Damn, here I thought Tess was just cheap trash. I didn’t realize she lived like trash too.”
Ava smirked, “Are you kidding? This isn’t just cheap tasteless trash, it’s only the most expensive trash money can buy.”
“Ah, well, that makes all the difference.” Kyle snapped back. “So, I take Pierce hasn’t seen this place, huh?”
Ava smiled at Kyle, “You’re pretty smart, Buddha boy.”
“God! When are you going to quit calling me that?” Kyle rolled his eyes as he went into Tess’s kitchen.
“When I get bored of it!” Ava joined him in the kitchen, dragging the trash can.
Kyle opened up the refrigerator and stared at the contents, “Are you sure you want to dump all this? We could take it home and eat it? Or maybe donate it?”
“Yeah – ok. We’ll take the unopened stuff. Like the yogurt and bottled water. Everything else goes.” Ava reached in and grabbed the yogurt, setting it on the counter. As Kyle started dumping the opened containers and perishable food in the trash can, Ava started opening the cabinets and pulled out the dishes. They were making so much noise that they didn’t hear Tess wandering into the kitchen to stand next to the refrigerator. Kyle jumped and let out a high-pitched scream as he turned to dump some cartons into the trash bag and caught sight of Tess.
“Holy Buddha!”
She wore a blue satin baby doll nightgown that barely covered anything. What might have looked sexy, looked trashy on her. Her blonde hair was messy and sticking out in odd places. Traces of light blue eye shadow still covered her eyelids and trails of her black mascara ran down her pale white face. Smeared red lipstick still covered her lips but also spilled over to part of her cheek. Kyle shivered as he saw her, thankful that his wife never looked like that.
Tess caught Kyle’s stare and tried to strike a sexy pose as she ran her tongue over her smeared lips and asked, “What are you doing here?” Tess winked at Kyle with her idea of a flirtatious pout which made Kyle recoil in horror. Ava watched her twin with disgust and then turned back to the refrigerator.
“Hey, answer me! What are you two doing here?”
Neither Kyle or Ava answered her – they just kept dumping the groceries into the trash can. Kyle kept a wary eye on Tess as she watched them - making sure she didn't come any closer to him. They then started in on the freezer. Tess stared at them with an expression of outrage. She stamped her foot and again demanded to know what was going on. Kyle picked up a box that he brought in and started to empty the cabinets of dry goods, throwing away anything open.
“Stop it! Ava!!! What the hell??”
Again Tess stomped her foot when neither one of them answered her. She swung around as her front door suddenly opened. Her jaw dropped when Michael came through the door with four other men who were carrying boxes. Michael set his boxes down and directed the four men, two in the living room, two in the bedroom and bathroom. As he started arranging his boxes, Michael asked
“Yo, Kyle, did I just hear you scream like a girl?” Michael turned to tease Kyle when saw Tess and let out a high pitched scream, “Holy shitt!!!!”
Maria came up behind Michael to take a look at what scared Michael and grinned. She patted his back and spoke in a soothing voice, “It’s ok, honey. We’ve talked about this, remember? Aliens don’t exist. It’s just Tess, looking like her usual self.”
“I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON!” Tess screeched as she stared, stunned at what was happening in front of her. Maria stepped over to her and smugly handed her an envelope.
“You’re leaving Roswell. In fact, you’re leaving the state of New Mexico.” Maria looked at Tess critically before commenting, “Nice look, Tess, but I think the 80’s trashy whore look is out of date.”
Tess stared dumbly at the papers in her hand, not hearing Maria insult her. “What? I-I’m not moving. I live here.”
“Not anymore, bitch.” Michael smirked as he walked past her carrying her coffee table.
“What?! Are you crazy? Ava! Help me! Look what they’re doing!! Hey, that’s my stuff!” Tess yelled as she saw the moving men pack up her artwork.
Ava came out of the kitchen and walked over to her twin while Kyle, Michael and Maria moved into attached living room to pack. She stared at Tess, trying to find something good, something to like about her, but she couldn’t. Even when they had been young, they had never been close because Tess was so selfish and jealous. Even their mother and dad really didn’t like her – they loved her in obligatory way, but they didn’t like her. Ava just shook her head as she explained to Tess,
“You went too far, Tess. Did you really think we’d let you get away with it?”
“With what? What are you talking about, Ava?” Tess pushed past Ava to try and stop the moving men, “Stop that! Put that down!”
Without glancing at her, the moving men continued carrying out the furniture and loading it into a large truck. Tess’s jaw dropped when she saw that her car was already on a separate trailer hitched to the moving truck.
“Tess – you threatened Lyz.”
Tess turned back to face Ava as she glared at the other two moving men were walking out with more boxes. “So what? That flat-chested bitch is standing between me and Max. God, what the hell does he see in that plain boring…. ”
Maria came flying out of nowhere and her hand made contact with Tess’s cheek. Her eyes blazed as she stared at Tess, “You manipulative little tramp! Don’t you ever talk about my friend like that!”
Everyone came to stop, even the moving men coming in from outside stood still, watching with wide eyes. Eyes became riveted on Maria and Tess.
“You have no idea what Lyz has gone through! What’s she’s suffered at the hands of her father! Just when she escapes from all of that, you threaten to return her to him!” Maria shouted
“What do you mean suffered?? That little bitch…” Maria’s fist shot out and made contact with Tess’s nose, sending the other girl reeling.
“Don’t even finish that thought, skank!” Maria furiously shouted, eyes blazing and fists curled.
Blood spurted out from Tess’s nose, “You broke my nose, you bitch!” Tess launched herself at Maria. She drew back her hand, ready to claw at Maria’s face, but Maria was able to grab her hand, stopping her. Maria then pushed her away, causing Tess to fall back against a wall. Tess became furious and pushed away from the wall, rushing towards Maria.
Maria reached out grabbed a fistful of blonde curly hair and yanked down, causing Tess to screech and to fall sideways to the ground, but not before she reached out to grab Maria’s hair. The two girls fell to the floor, both holding on each other’s hair with one hand, both trying to slap and punch the other. They rolled on the floor, each trying to get the upper hand on the other.
Michael stood gazing with an open mouth as he watched one of his favorite reoccurring fantasies come true before him. He was startled when something cold pressed against his arm, and he reluctantly dragged his eyes away from his girlfriend. He looked down to see a cold bottle of beer being offered by Kyle who was equally enthralled at the sight of the two girls.
“Buddha help me, where’s the mud when you need it?”
“Jell-O would be better, at least I could lick it off Maria.”
“Oooh – yeah. Jell-O.” Kyle mumbled without taking his eyes off the two girls. He licked his suddenly dry lips as he got a visual of the girls rolling around in Jell-O in slow motion. “Damn, I coulda sold tickets.”
Michael grabbed the beer and was about to turn his attention back to Maria when he noticed the moving guys. All four men were watching with eager eyes, taking bets as to who would win, and calling out encouraging words to their favorite. While Michael frowned at the thought of other guys fantasizing about his girlfriend, it did give him an idea,
“$50 says Maria wipes the floor with Tess.” He muttered to Kyle.
“If Tess is anything like Ava, no way, you’re on.” Kyle agreed.
They watched as Tess tried to squirm away from Maria’s fists without letting go of Maria’s hair. She used her nails and clawed down Maria’s arm that was holding her hair but Maria wouldn’t let go. Kyle secretly hoped he would lose the bet, just so that Tess finally got her just dessert. Michael stood relaxed as he watched the two girls. Knowing how fiercely protective Maria was of Lyz, he had no doubts who would win the bet.
Maria felt the pain from Tess’s nails but it only added to her fury – she wasn’t about to let this bitch get the best of her. She drew back her fist and aimed for Tess’s nose but it landed on her mouth, splitting open the other girl’s lip. Tess lost her concentration at the burst of pain and Maria took advantage of it by throwing her body against Tess. The shove forced Tess to roll on her back and Maria climbed on top of her, digging her elbows into her chest.
With her head pulled to one side because of Tess’s tight grip on her hair, Maria punched Tess in the nose again, causing more blood to spurt out. When she heard the other girl cry out, she pulled her hair out of Tess’s grasp. Once her hair was free, Maria let go of Tess’s hair to grab her arms and pin them down with her knees. Once Tess was immobile, Maria slapped Tess across one cheek then the other, then the other again. She repeated the process over and over until Tess couldn’t fight back.
Michael and Kyle watched for a few seconds, just in case Tess was able to get away and restart the fight. When it was clear that Tess was helpless against Maria, Michael shot Kyle a triumphant grin before pulling his girlfriend away.
“Easy, blondie. She’s down for the count.”
When Maria was pulled off of her, Tess rolled to her side and attempted to sit up. She reached a hand to her nose and her lip trying to stop the bleeding and glared at her twin.
“I can’t believe you let her beat me. You just stood there, doing nothing!”
“Because you deserved what you got, Tess. I would’ve done it myself, but Maria beat me to it.” Ava snorted, arms crossed over her chest. “You think that smearing Lyz’s name in the tabloids wouldn’t hurt anyone, just cause trouble. But you were wrong, Tess. It could have meant someone getting hurt, even causing death.”
“You didn’t count on the rest of finding out what you did and being seriously offended by your actions.” Kyle explained matter of factly, almost jokingly. “In fact, some of us,” he nodded in Maria’s direction “feel down right murderous. Some” he nodded at Ava, “just wanted to beat the shit out of you. But you know what Tess? This is so much better – you just disappear.”
Tess stared at the group in disbelief “But where will I go?” She wailed to her sister, “Ava – don’t let them do this to me!”
“You did this to yourself, Tess. Instead of taking what you had and leaving things alone, you had to go fuck things up by threatening Lyz. You could have had friends, a family, Tess, but you chose to hurt people, to be mean. You messed with the wrong person, Tess, because now you have to deal with all of us.”
“You would actually choose her over me? Your own twin?”
“You may look like me Tess, but we’re nothing alike. We’re not even family. You did that.” Ava said flatly. “I wish I could even feel bad about kicking you out of the state, but I don’t. I won’t even miss you, Tess. None of us will. Go to Pierce in Washington DC or go to LA, I don’t care.”
“You won’t get away with this! I’ll make you all pay. Starting with that bitch Lyz.”
Michael just barely caught Maria as she lunged for Tess. “Let me go! Let me at her!”
He struggled to hold her back, but finally he grabbed her and slung her over his shoulder. Maria pounded on his back, but Michael retaliated by slapping her butt, “Stop it, blondie!” he ordered. He turned to face Tess and told her, “If you have any hopes of keeping Pierce, I suggest you think very carefully about what you just said.” He walked outside with Maria on his shoulder screaming to let her at the ‘walking floatation device just one more time’.
At Tess’s confused look, Kyle explained, “Do you think Congressman Pierce is going to want to be associated with a blackmailer? We have you on tape, Tess.”
“What?”
“When you threatened Lyz at the flower shop, you failed to see the security cameras. It caught everything you said. There’s no room for misinterpretation. In fact, the legal term it’s called extortion. And it’s illegal. And Pierce, wouldn’t want to be associated with someone who may be prosecuted for extortion.”
Tess’s eyes popped wide as she thought about what Ava had just said. She tried to bluff her way out of it, “I don’t believe you.”
Kyle smirked and he pointed to the envelope she was still holding, “Want proof – take a look. We got those pictures from the tape.”
Tess stared at the envelope, half afraid to open it. She looked back up at Ava, “But…”
Ava cut her off, “Tess, we’re giving you chance here. I’ve arranged for a new apartment for you, in Washington. Your stuff will be driven there by the moving men. Leave us alone, and we’ll leave you alone. But try any tricks, go to the press, or anything like that, and we’ll use the security tape to have you prosecuted for extortion. That’s a federal offense – do you really think Pierce is going to want you with a police record?”
Tess shook her head and her shoulders slumped in defeat. Two hours later, Tess was on a flight to Washington DC never to return or be heard from again.
I'm a believer!
Thank you so much for sticking with this story and leaving such great feedback!
Ok - just a short warning, this next part is a bit dark.
Chapter 27
Max and Lyz entered through the private entrance of the Bellefleur and in the elevator to the penthouse suite, Max faced Lyz to cup her face with his hands. In a quiet, determined voice, he promised, “I will never leave your side.”
A tear escaped Lyz’s eyes as she closed them and cherished the man in front of her. Max used his thumb to caress her cheek and wipe away the solitary tear as he placed a comforting kiss on her forehead. When the elevator doors opened, they walked down the empty hall hand in hand and knocked on door.
The cold angelic face of Nicholas appeared as the door opened. He wore sharply pressed charcoal gray dress slacks with his whip-like belt and a starched white button up shirt. Gold cuff links gleamed brightly from his sleeves, drawing attention to a heavy gold link watch and carefully manicured hands. Blonde hair was brushed back off of his smooth forehead and pale gray eyes with thick gold lashes stared with chilling mockery. Everything about the man looked expensive, handsome, yet cold.
“Lyzette.” He greeted with a sneer.
Hearing Nicholas's greeting as the insult it was meant to be, Lyz’s chin came up and she ordered frostily, “You forget yourself, Nicholas. Address me by my rightful title.”
Nicholas’s smirk fled as his face flushed red with anger. Lyz continued to gaze at him with glacial superiority on her face, refusing to be intimidated by him. She felt Max squeeze her hand for encouagement. With a snort of insolence, Nicholas was about to walk away, refusing to give in to her demand, when Max reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder.
“This is Nicholas? The man who beat you that last time?” Max questioned Lyz, never taking his hand off of Nicholas shoulder.
“Yes.”
Max felt rage roll through his body as he took in Nicholas’s frame. While he wasn’t as muscled or as wide in the shoulders as he was, Nicholas still stood a foot taller than Lyz. Max wasn’t deceived by the angelic face - he could see the cold cruelty in the young man’s eyes. This man had spared Lyz no mercy, and Max refused to give him any in return. Max drew back his fist and sent Nicholas staggering against the wall, spitting out blood from the impact to his jaw. Max grabbed him by his shirt, lifting his frame to punch him in the stomach. When he doubled over, Max would have hit him again but Lyz placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.
Lyz looked at the man who had delighted in beating her. Where Nicholas once inspired fear, only pity and disgust were left. She didn’t want Max to waste his time or energy on him.
“He is not worth your anger, Max. He is nothing.”
Max wanted to argue with her, but he saw that she meant it. He reluctantly let go of Nicholas, who wiped away the blood at his mouth with the back of his hand. His slick blonde hair was disheveled and the once mocking expression was now gone, replaced with ugly anger. He glared at both Lyz and Max with cold rage filling his eyes as he spat out,
“You bitch. I should have made sure you stayed put, last time.”
Lyz tightened her hold on Max’s arm when he would have punched Nicholas for his comment. “Stop wasting our time, Nicholas. Take us to my father.” Lyz commanded icily, ignoring Nicholas’s glare.
Nicholas spun on his heel and walked away from the couple, leaving them to follow him into the living room. He went to the bar and took several napkins to clean the blood off of his mouth. Then he had the bartender make him a drink before he took up a place behind Khivar, watching Lyz and Max with narrowed eyes.
King Khivar Ivanovich Rouztsky had been a handsome man in his youth. Tall, wide shoulders, light reddish brown hair and green eyes – he had been considered a dashing and charming young man. But his overindulgent lifestyle and appetites led to man whose handsome looks had turned to fleshy ugliness. His hair had turned gray and was too long to be flattering to his round double-chinned face. His sausage like fingers were covered with large opulent rings and his wide body was covered in silk pajamas and matching robe. He sat on the couch eating from a black table clothed room service cart. He didn’t bother to get up from his seat on the couch as Lyz and Max approached – his gaze immediately fixated on Max.
“Father.”
“Lyzette. Venez prendre un siege” (Come and take a seat.) Khivar motioned towards the velvet lounge across from him.
“We will speak English, father, not French.” Lyz stated coolly as she walked closer to her father, steeling herself to face him. As she looked at her father, Lyz saw him with new eyes. For the first time in her life, she didn’t internally cringe from fear when she looked at him. It suddenly dawned on her that her father was pathetic. He had no title, no power, no wealth - he had nothing except his delusions. Beating her was part of his delusion of power. And she had contributed to his delusion by fearing him.
Now that she understood, Lyz was determined not to give her father anything except her contempt.
“I was not expecting you until this afternoon. We just got in a few hours ago. You did not give us much time, Lyzette.”
Max tried to keep his anger and hatred off of his face so he could present a calm face to the man who had beaten and tortured his Lyz. He coolly let his eyes meet Khivar’s. The lust and excitement he saw there in his eyes made him feel dirty and repulsed, but he refused to give Khivar the satisfaction of reacting. As they sat, Max felt Lyz touch his arm. When he looked over at her, he saw that her eyes held no fear, no anxiety. In fact, she looked almost happy. He would have to ask her about that later, for now, he turned back to face Khivar.
“You know, I am very upset with you, my dear daughter. Taking my pet when you left. Dare I hope you brought me a new one?” Khivar’s gaze lingered on Max’s body.
“No father. No more ‘pets’. I have come to discuss my inheritance. I thought that you should know what I will be doing with my money.”
Khivar glared hard at Lyz, “You bitch! That’s my money.” He shouted.
“Not according to mother’s will.”
“It will be once you’re dead.” Khivar relaxed back in his seat, confident in his plans.
“I still have the wire transfer set up, father. If anything happens to me or any of my friends, the account will be drained in seconds.” Lyz reminded him before sitting down on the edge of the seat across from Khivar and continued “You see, I put much thought into what to do with that money. I have decided that I will track down those men you abused so horribly and I will give them a portion of the inheritance. I have a feeling that you did not pay them enough for the torture you put them through.”
Khivar snorted with disgust “You’re going to waste money on those pieces of garbage? Why bother? I gave them what they wanted, what they asked for. They got paid what they were worth.”
“You are disgusting! No one deserves the cruelty you showed those men – no one!”
“You forget yourself, daughter! I am a King and will not tolerate your impudence! Nicholas!” Khivar got up to try and tower over Lyz but before he could move, Nicholas suddenly collapsed with a short scream behind him. Khivar jerked his head around to look over his shoulder and couldn’t understand what was making Nicholas scream. When he looked down at Nicholas, he saw him covered in blood. Khivar snapped his head back around to face Max and Lyz when his attention was suddenly grabbed by the barrel of a gun pressed to his temple. He froze, not daring to move around to look at the owner of the gun.
“Non si muova, maiale!” (Don’t move, pig!) A menacing voice hissed in Khivar’s ear and for the first time in his life, Khivar felt a shiver of genuine fear. He wanted to move his head to see who held the gun but the pressure from the gun forced him to keep every body part still. Movement behind the bar caught his eye. The bartender had whipped off his apron and was now standing behind Max and Lyz. A gun pressed against Lyz’s neck, causing Max to sit still.
A piercing whistle blew and suddenly the room was filled with a group of ski-masked men, all in the same uniform as the bartender. One of the ski-masked men ordered the men to spread out and look for any other servants, then he moved to walk in front of Max and Lyz. He reached out a black gloved hand and gently grasped Lyz’s hand to pull her off the couch, “Your highness, we mean you and your friend no harm. We ask that you leave and forget you ever came today.”
Lyz looked at the ominously masked stranger with a puzzled brow, so distracted by the familiar voice that she almost missed what he said. She gazed questioningly into the eyes that peeked out from the mask and then with sudden realization, quietly whispered “Ranulf?”
The masked man cursed under his breath and turned back to the group of men, “Cerchi il posto gli insetti e le macchine fotografiche - il maiale ammalato gradito assicurarsi ha avuto mementos.” (Search the place for bugs and cameras – the sick pig liked to make sure he had mementos.) Then he gently dragged Lyz to the suite’s entrance and motioned for the bartender to push Max along too. Outside the suite, the masked man suggested the bartender hand over his gun and go back to kitchen, making sure that everyone saw him. The bartender quietly did as he was told and left Lyz and Max alone with the masked man. Once the bartender was gone, the masked man slowly pulled up his mask to reveal Ranulf, the man who had driven Nicole, Ben and Lyzette out of the chateau.
Lyz’s eyes grew wide with confusion, “Ranulf, wha –what is going on? Nicole had thought you had been killed.”
“That is what I wanted. It was better that Ranulf Giraurd to be declared dead to the world.”
“Ranulf, please explain what is going on.” Lyz begged.
“Your father and Nicholas are about to be punished for their crimes.”
“What?” Lyz asked in disbelief.
“No court will ever bring those men to justice. So I have taken it upon myself to execute judgment upon them.” Ranulf looked intently in Lyz’s eyes before explaining.
“Your father and Nicholas did not always use prostitutes as his pets, your highness. Sometimes they used whomever was convenient. They didn’t care who they were, how old they were, or even if they were the young son of a gardener.” Ranulf explained in fierce voice.
Lyz’s eyes filled with tears as she realized what Ranulf was trying to tell her. She leaned into Max as she began to tremble from horror, “Oh Ranulf, I am so sorry.”
Ranulf’s eyes glazed with tears and pain as he told them in a trance-like voice “It is my own fault. You were eight when I first saw you at your bedroom window. I could see into your room when I worked on the grounds in front of your bedroom window. You would be standing there, staring out with such longing, for hours. Sometimes, I saw what they did to you – the way they beat you. I saw such pain in your eyes, the tears you shed after they left.”
Ranulf paused and grimaced in disgust with himself “And I ignored it! I deliberately turned my back on you and told myself I did not see them beat you, that they could not possibly be that cruel to a child. Despite all that I saw, I lied to myself and believed it.
“Then one day my son, Daniel, decided to visit the chateau. He was such a beautiful little boy. Blonde curly hair, blue eyes like his mother’s…his mother died when he was young so it had always been just him and me. I had always told him to stay away - that the chateau was no place for him. I had heard the rumors about Khivar’s pets and even how he had turned one of his former pets, Nicholas, into his personal guard. I did not want my son to witness such filth. But Daniel skipped school one day to come and see me. He was walking around looking for me when Nicholas saw him and grabbed him. One of the other gardeners came running to tell me – I begged Nicholas to let him go but he just knocked me down. ” Ranulf’s voice trembled and tears streaked down his face.
“I begged Khivar and Nicholas to give me my son back every day, for weeks, until they got sick of me. Khivar’s security men locked me in the tool shed on the edge of the grounds to keep me away from the chateau. Finally, Nicholas released me from the shed and handed me a roll of money as he said..” Ranulf’s voice choked but he continued through his tears and spat out,
“’For services rendered!’ I wanted to kill the bastard but the security men dragged me out of shed and beat me until I was unconscious. I woke up at home, on my bed, and my son was in his room. I lay helpless in my bed, too weak to move, while I listened to my son crying. When I was finally able to crawl to him….I could not recognize him! He was covered in bruises..marks… his head shaved…he would not let me near him. Would not let me help him. For days, he would not sleep because he was afraid that Nicholas would grab him and when he finally did sleep, my son would wake up screaming. Oh god…” Ranulf broke down in sobs and cried “I still hear him screaming! And I could not help him! I could NOT help my own SON!”
Lyz buried her face in Max’s chest and let the tears fall for the little boy who suffered and the father who could do nothing to help him. Max wrapped his arms around Lyz and stared sympathy at Ranulf.
For a few minutes, only the sound of Ranulf’s tormented sobs could be heard. Ranulf gulped in deep breaths and tried to compose himself. “I woke early one morning, sensing something was wrong because it was too quiet. I could not hear him crying. I opened up his bedroom and there he was, sitting against the wall, wrists sliced open. There was so much blood…I knew I was too late to get him help.” Ranulf choked.
“As he lay dying in my arms, he told me what they did to him. For three days Nicholas raped him – three days. Then, he was given to Khivar. The things they did to my son….he was only twelve. Twelve!” Ranulf’s voice broke off in a sob.
“I swore revenge the day he died. Nicholas knew I would kill him if I ever got the chance so he always made sure that a guard was watching me. I heard about your plan to escape from Nicole’s grandparents, princess, and saw my chance to help you. It was easy to sneak in the night of your escape because they were all busy with party. It was my way of making amends for not helping you earlier.” Ranulf glanced at Lyz ruefully before continuing,
“Over the years I kept track of the men Nicholas and Khivar abducted, raped, and tortured; I even contacted some of his ‘pets’ that he had mistreated. I’ve kept in contact with all of them and we waited for a chance at justice. It finally came two days ago when you called him to meet you here in New York. You only gave him enough time to travel, which meant that he would not have time to put together a strong security team. I knew he would only bring Nicholas. I contacted the other men and we planned to grab him this morning at the airport before he arrived, but his flight was delayed. We had to change our plans and try again here, unfortunately, you arrived before we did.”
Max looked over Lyz’s head and asked Ranulf, “And now?”
Ranulf looked Max steadily and without remorse, “And now, Princess Lyzette will never have to worry about her father or Nicholas ever again. Neither will any other innocent little boys.” He pulled his mask back down as he turned towards the suite door and told them, “You should leave.”
“Wait! Ranulf!” Lyz rushed to Ranulf’s side. She knew that she’d never see her father alive again, but all she could think about was Ranulf’s tortured eyes. “I can not ask for mercy for my father or for Nicholas – they deserve none. But I will pray that you and the other men will finally find some peace.”
Ranulf only gave a brief nod before re-entering the room and locking it behind him.
It was a silent group of four that sat around the hotel suite later that evening. When Max and Lyz had gotten back into the limousine, they found a sobbing Isabel and a stunned Alex. They had heard Ranulf’s incredible story through the microphone in Lyz’s pin. Of all the horrible things they had heard about Lyz’s father and what he had done to her, Ranulf’s story was even worse.
They rode back to the hotel in silence. No one felt like eating or talking. They just sat on the couch - stunned, horrified, and angry. Finally Alex stood up and started to pace, arguing with himself,
“They’re getting what they deserve. They’re bastards. What they did to that boy… to those other…they’re getting what they deserve.” He gritted out.
“Alex.” Isabel called softly, understanding his dilemma.
“No! I refuse to feel guilty, to feel sorry for them because they’re getting what they deserve. Ranulf was right. No way would they be arrested.”
Finally Max confessed, “Khivar and Nicholas’s victims are about to get their justice, I have no problems with that. But I feel guilty for feeling glad about it.”
Alex stopped pacing and his shoulders slumped. “I do too. What does that make me?”
“A man who talks to himself.” A voice wisecracked. The four friend whirled around and Lyz jumped to her feet to run to the owner of the voice. “Maria!” Lyz threw her arms around her friend. “Michael! What are you doing here? Kyle? Ava?”
“We finished up with Tess and thought you guys might need some company.” Maria explained as she hugged Lyz. “I heard what Alex and Max said, why don’t you tell me what happened?”
Isabel shook her head, “No. Listen for yourself.” She let the other four settle down before she took out the recorder and played the tape of the afternoon’s occurrences. After they heard Lyz wish Ranulf and the victims peace, Isabel turned the tape off.
“That bastard!” Michael shouted, sickened by what he heard. Maria rubbed Michael’s leg to comfort him but he stood up and started to pace in front of the window, not looking at anyone.
Ava, sitting on Kyle’s lap trying to draw comfort from him, finally spoke, “By law and as an officer of the law, I’m required to report this. A crime is about to happen. But I don’t want to. I can’t.”
The others all understood. Everyone was quiet-trying to process the events of the day. On the floor by the couch, Lyz sat between Max’s legs and leaned her back against his chest with his arms wrapped around her waist. Isabel sat next to Alex on the couch with her cheek nestled against his chest, their arms wrapped around each other. Michael stood staring out the window with clenched fists in his pockets and Maria leaning against his chest. Kyle held Ava on his lap and stroked her back as they sat together in the arm chair.
At the knock on the door, Maria went to answer. Seven waiters came walking in, each rolling a cart or carrying a tray loaded down with food and beverages. When they were gone, Isabel was the first to speak,
“Maria, I’m not sure if I want to eat anything.”
Maria only nodded, “I know. I didn’t order anything fancy, just some comfort food.” She started to uncover the trays and revealed several boxes of pizza, hot dogs, burgers, fries, onion rings, sodas, candy bars, and chocolate. Lastly, she revealed several bottles of vodka with shot glasses, “Just in case someone needs something stronger than soda.”
Slowly, the smell of food drifted through the room and made stomachs rumble. Alex finally led the way and forced Isabel to get a plate of food for herself. One by one they all got a plate of food, and they each grabbed a shot of vodka. They would have sat back down and eaten in silence if it wasn’t for Maria who couldn’t stand the gloom any longer.
“That’s it! I’ve had it with the silence! Somebody say something!”
Startled out of her thoughts, Isabel broke the silence after Maria’s outburst, “I feel horrible for the victims and knowing just a little of what they had gone through, but I don’t feel bad about Khivar or Nicholas.” She paused as she examined her feelings, “Justice is being served. And I can’t feel bad about that.”
Ava nodded in her agreement “I’m relieved that those two men are going to be stopped. And I only feel bad that I don’t feel bad, does that make sense?”
“Yeah.” Michael grunted, staring at his pizza. “I don’t feel bad at all that those sick fucks are going to pay, but I feel bad that I’m glad they’re going to pay. It’s a twisted logic, but there it is.”
The others nodded gloomily, feeling the same way.
Feeling a bit exasperated, Maria pointed over to the window. “Did you know, there’s a park below us? It’s full of little boys and girls that Khivar or Nicholas could have grabbed, just like Daniel. One or more of those little boys could have been raped and beaten until Khivar and Nicholas became bored with them. Then they would have been thrown away. If you’re looking for reason to not feel guilty – take a look at those children.”
The friends stood and watched the children play in the park. They looked so happy and carefree; it caused physical pain to think of anyone hurting any of those children the way Khivar and Nicholas had hurt Daniel. While they would have preferred having the men arrested and tried in a court of law, they knew that Ranulf’s solution was the only one that worked.
Maria spoke to the group from behind,
“Those two men were stopped from hurting any more little boys like Daniel or Ben. If it was possible, those men would have been arrested and tried by a court. But it wasn’t. They have been able to hide behind their money and their diplomatic status. They had to be stopped, but no one was able to stop them, and the victims knew that. So, they stopped them. It’s not wrong to feel relieved or glad that a monster was stopped. Its just human.”
Maria paused and joined the group at the window to look down at the children playing in the park before she continued. “Let it go. We are not responsible for the actions of Nicholas or Khivar, nor are we responsible for the actions of their victims. Let the victims have their justice.”
The others stared at her as they realized she was right. Justice was served. With relieved but still somber hearts, the group finally ate. While eating, Maria and Ava tried to distract them all by recounting the confrontation with Tess.
Lyz called Nicole in Alaska after eating her pizza. Both Nicole and Enrique were ecstatic to leave the bitter cold of Alaska and go home to their families in Europe. Nicole was pragmatic when Lyz expressed her guilty feelings over not doing anything to stop Ranulf.
“Would you really have denied the victims the right to be Khivar’s judge and executioner? Because I know if I were in Ranulf’s place, I would want to be the one to give Khivar his just punishment if a court of law could not. ”
Talking with Nicole, Lyz was able to let go of the issue and continued to catch up with her friend. She told Nicole about her wonderful engagement and her job, about Max and her friends. Nicole shared that she wasn’t happy in Alaska and that they would return to Europe as soon as possible. Before hanging up, Lyz gave Nicole her phone number as well as Max’s cell phone number to call her once they moved back home. As they hung up the phone, Lyz couldn’t help but feel guilty as she thought about her father.
Ok - just a short warning, this next part is a bit dark.
Chapter 27
Max and Lyz entered through the private entrance of the Bellefleur and in the elevator to the penthouse suite, Max faced Lyz to cup her face with his hands. In a quiet, determined voice, he promised, “I will never leave your side.”
A tear escaped Lyz’s eyes as she closed them and cherished the man in front of her. Max used his thumb to caress her cheek and wipe away the solitary tear as he placed a comforting kiss on her forehead. When the elevator doors opened, they walked down the empty hall hand in hand and knocked on door.
The cold angelic face of Nicholas appeared as the door opened. He wore sharply pressed charcoal gray dress slacks with his whip-like belt and a starched white button up shirt. Gold cuff links gleamed brightly from his sleeves, drawing attention to a heavy gold link watch and carefully manicured hands. Blonde hair was brushed back off of his smooth forehead and pale gray eyes with thick gold lashes stared with chilling mockery. Everything about the man looked expensive, handsome, yet cold.
“Lyzette.” He greeted with a sneer.
Hearing Nicholas's greeting as the insult it was meant to be, Lyz’s chin came up and she ordered frostily, “You forget yourself, Nicholas. Address me by my rightful title.”
Nicholas’s smirk fled as his face flushed red with anger. Lyz continued to gaze at him with glacial superiority on her face, refusing to be intimidated by him. She felt Max squeeze her hand for encouagement. With a snort of insolence, Nicholas was about to walk away, refusing to give in to her demand, when Max reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder.
“This is Nicholas? The man who beat you that last time?” Max questioned Lyz, never taking his hand off of Nicholas shoulder.
“Yes.”
Max felt rage roll through his body as he took in Nicholas’s frame. While he wasn’t as muscled or as wide in the shoulders as he was, Nicholas still stood a foot taller than Lyz. Max wasn’t deceived by the angelic face - he could see the cold cruelty in the young man’s eyes. This man had spared Lyz no mercy, and Max refused to give him any in return. Max drew back his fist and sent Nicholas staggering against the wall, spitting out blood from the impact to his jaw. Max grabbed him by his shirt, lifting his frame to punch him in the stomach. When he doubled over, Max would have hit him again but Lyz placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.
Lyz looked at the man who had delighted in beating her. Where Nicholas once inspired fear, only pity and disgust were left. She didn’t want Max to waste his time or energy on him.
“He is not worth your anger, Max. He is nothing.”
Max wanted to argue with her, but he saw that she meant it. He reluctantly let go of Nicholas, who wiped away the blood at his mouth with the back of his hand. His slick blonde hair was disheveled and the once mocking expression was now gone, replaced with ugly anger. He glared at both Lyz and Max with cold rage filling his eyes as he spat out,
“You bitch. I should have made sure you stayed put, last time.”
Lyz tightened her hold on Max’s arm when he would have punched Nicholas for his comment. “Stop wasting our time, Nicholas. Take us to my father.” Lyz commanded icily, ignoring Nicholas’s glare.
Nicholas spun on his heel and walked away from the couple, leaving them to follow him into the living room. He went to the bar and took several napkins to clean the blood off of his mouth. Then he had the bartender make him a drink before he took up a place behind Khivar, watching Lyz and Max with narrowed eyes.
King Khivar Ivanovich Rouztsky had been a handsome man in his youth. Tall, wide shoulders, light reddish brown hair and green eyes – he had been considered a dashing and charming young man. But his overindulgent lifestyle and appetites led to man whose handsome looks had turned to fleshy ugliness. His hair had turned gray and was too long to be flattering to his round double-chinned face. His sausage like fingers were covered with large opulent rings and his wide body was covered in silk pajamas and matching robe. He sat on the couch eating from a black table clothed room service cart. He didn’t bother to get up from his seat on the couch as Lyz and Max approached – his gaze immediately fixated on Max.
“Father.”
“Lyzette. Venez prendre un siege” (Come and take a seat.) Khivar motioned towards the velvet lounge across from him.
“We will speak English, father, not French.” Lyz stated coolly as she walked closer to her father, steeling herself to face him. As she looked at her father, Lyz saw him with new eyes. For the first time in her life, she didn’t internally cringe from fear when she looked at him. It suddenly dawned on her that her father was pathetic. He had no title, no power, no wealth - he had nothing except his delusions. Beating her was part of his delusion of power. And she had contributed to his delusion by fearing him.
Now that she understood, Lyz was determined not to give her father anything except her contempt.
“I was not expecting you until this afternoon. We just got in a few hours ago. You did not give us much time, Lyzette.”
Max tried to keep his anger and hatred off of his face so he could present a calm face to the man who had beaten and tortured his Lyz. He coolly let his eyes meet Khivar’s. The lust and excitement he saw there in his eyes made him feel dirty and repulsed, but he refused to give Khivar the satisfaction of reacting. As they sat, Max felt Lyz touch his arm. When he looked over at her, he saw that her eyes held no fear, no anxiety. In fact, she looked almost happy. He would have to ask her about that later, for now, he turned back to face Khivar.
“You know, I am very upset with you, my dear daughter. Taking my pet when you left. Dare I hope you brought me a new one?” Khivar’s gaze lingered on Max’s body.
“No father. No more ‘pets’. I have come to discuss my inheritance. I thought that you should know what I will be doing with my money.”
Khivar glared hard at Lyz, “You bitch! That’s my money.” He shouted.
“Not according to mother’s will.”
“It will be once you’re dead.” Khivar relaxed back in his seat, confident in his plans.
“I still have the wire transfer set up, father. If anything happens to me or any of my friends, the account will be drained in seconds.” Lyz reminded him before sitting down on the edge of the seat across from Khivar and continued “You see, I put much thought into what to do with that money. I have decided that I will track down those men you abused so horribly and I will give them a portion of the inheritance. I have a feeling that you did not pay them enough for the torture you put them through.”
Khivar snorted with disgust “You’re going to waste money on those pieces of garbage? Why bother? I gave them what they wanted, what they asked for. They got paid what they were worth.”
“You are disgusting! No one deserves the cruelty you showed those men – no one!”
“You forget yourself, daughter! I am a King and will not tolerate your impudence! Nicholas!” Khivar got up to try and tower over Lyz but before he could move, Nicholas suddenly collapsed with a short scream behind him. Khivar jerked his head around to look over his shoulder and couldn’t understand what was making Nicholas scream. When he looked down at Nicholas, he saw him covered in blood. Khivar snapped his head back around to face Max and Lyz when his attention was suddenly grabbed by the barrel of a gun pressed to his temple. He froze, not daring to move around to look at the owner of the gun.
“Non si muova, maiale!” (Don’t move, pig!) A menacing voice hissed in Khivar’s ear and for the first time in his life, Khivar felt a shiver of genuine fear. He wanted to move his head to see who held the gun but the pressure from the gun forced him to keep every body part still. Movement behind the bar caught his eye. The bartender had whipped off his apron and was now standing behind Max and Lyz. A gun pressed against Lyz’s neck, causing Max to sit still.
A piercing whistle blew and suddenly the room was filled with a group of ski-masked men, all in the same uniform as the bartender. One of the ski-masked men ordered the men to spread out and look for any other servants, then he moved to walk in front of Max and Lyz. He reached out a black gloved hand and gently grasped Lyz’s hand to pull her off the couch, “Your highness, we mean you and your friend no harm. We ask that you leave and forget you ever came today.”
Lyz looked at the ominously masked stranger with a puzzled brow, so distracted by the familiar voice that she almost missed what he said. She gazed questioningly into the eyes that peeked out from the mask and then with sudden realization, quietly whispered “Ranulf?”
The masked man cursed under his breath and turned back to the group of men, “Cerchi il posto gli insetti e le macchine fotografiche - il maiale ammalato gradito assicurarsi ha avuto mementos.” (Search the place for bugs and cameras – the sick pig liked to make sure he had mementos.) Then he gently dragged Lyz to the suite’s entrance and motioned for the bartender to push Max along too. Outside the suite, the masked man suggested the bartender hand over his gun and go back to kitchen, making sure that everyone saw him. The bartender quietly did as he was told and left Lyz and Max alone with the masked man. Once the bartender was gone, the masked man slowly pulled up his mask to reveal Ranulf, the man who had driven Nicole, Ben and Lyzette out of the chateau.
Lyz’s eyes grew wide with confusion, “Ranulf, wha –what is going on? Nicole had thought you had been killed.”
“That is what I wanted. It was better that Ranulf Giraurd to be declared dead to the world.”
“Ranulf, please explain what is going on.” Lyz begged.
“Your father and Nicholas are about to be punished for their crimes.”
“What?” Lyz asked in disbelief.
“No court will ever bring those men to justice. So I have taken it upon myself to execute judgment upon them.” Ranulf looked intently in Lyz’s eyes before explaining.
“Your father and Nicholas did not always use prostitutes as his pets, your highness. Sometimes they used whomever was convenient. They didn’t care who they were, how old they were, or even if they were the young son of a gardener.” Ranulf explained in fierce voice.
Lyz’s eyes filled with tears as she realized what Ranulf was trying to tell her. She leaned into Max as she began to tremble from horror, “Oh Ranulf, I am so sorry.”
Ranulf’s eyes glazed with tears and pain as he told them in a trance-like voice “It is my own fault. You were eight when I first saw you at your bedroom window. I could see into your room when I worked on the grounds in front of your bedroom window. You would be standing there, staring out with such longing, for hours. Sometimes, I saw what they did to you – the way they beat you. I saw such pain in your eyes, the tears you shed after they left.”
Ranulf paused and grimaced in disgust with himself “And I ignored it! I deliberately turned my back on you and told myself I did not see them beat you, that they could not possibly be that cruel to a child. Despite all that I saw, I lied to myself and believed it.
“Then one day my son, Daniel, decided to visit the chateau. He was such a beautiful little boy. Blonde curly hair, blue eyes like his mother’s…his mother died when he was young so it had always been just him and me. I had always told him to stay away - that the chateau was no place for him. I had heard the rumors about Khivar’s pets and even how he had turned one of his former pets, Nicholas, into his personal guard. I did not want my son to witness such filth. But Daniel skipped school one day to come and see me. He was walking around looking for me when Nicholas saw him and grabbed him. One of the other gardeners came running to tell me – I begged Nicholas to let him go but he just knocked me down. ” Ranulf’s voice trembled and tears streaked down his face.
“I begged Khivar and Nicholas to give me my son back every day, for weeks, until they got sick of me. Khivar’s security men locked me in the tool shed on the edge of the grounds to keep me away from the chateau. Finally, Nicholas released me from the shed and handed me a roll of money as he said..” Ranulf’s voice choked but he continued through his tears and spat out,
“’For services rendered!’ I wanted to kill the bastard but the security men dragged me out of shed and beat me until I was unconscious. I woke up at home, on my bed, and my son was in his room. I lay helpless in my bed, too weak to move, while I listened to my son crying. When I was finally able to crawl to him….I could not recognize him! He was covered in bruises..marks… his head shaved…he would not let me near him. Would not let me help him. For days, he would not sleep because he was afraid that Nicholas would grab him and when he finally did sleep, my son would wake up screaming. Oh god…” Ranulf broke down in sobs and cried “I still hear him screaming! And I could not help him! I could NOT help my own SON!”
Lyz buried her face in Max’s chest and let the tears fall for the little boy who suffered and the father who could do nothing to help him. Max wrapped his arms around Lyz and stared sympathy at Ranulf.
For a few minutes, only the sound of Ranulf’s tormented sobs could be heard. Ranulf gulped in deep breaths and tried to compose himself. “I woke early one morning, sensing something was wrong because it was too quiet. I could not hear him crying. I opened up his bedroom and there he was, sitting against the wall, wrists sliced open. There was so much blood…I knew I was too late to get him help.” Ranulf choked.
“As he lay dying in my arms, he told me what they did to him. For three days Nicholas raped him – three days. Then, he was given to Khivar. The things they did to my son….he was only twelve. Twelve!” Ranulf’s voice broke off in a sob.
“I swore revenge the day he died. Nicholas knew I would kill him if I ever got the chance so he always made sure that a guard was watching me. I heard about your plan to escape from Nicole’s grandparents, princess, and saw my chance to help you. It was easy to sneak in the night of your escape because they were all busy with party. It was my way of making amends for not helping you earlier.” Ranulf glanced at Lyz ruefully before continuing,
“Over the years I kept track of the men Nicholas and Khivar abducted, raped, and tortured; I even contacted some of his ‘pets’ that he had mistreated. I’ve kept in contact with all of them and we waited for a chance at justice. It finally came two days ago when you called him to meet you here in New York. You only gave him enough time to travel, which meant that he would not have time to put together a strong security team. I knew he would only bring Nicholas. I contacted the other men and we planned to grab him this morning at the airport before he arrived, but his flight was delayed. We had to change our plans and try again here, unfortunately, you arrived before we did.”
Max looked over Lyz’s head and asked Ranulf, “And now?”
Ranulf looked Max steadily and without remorse, “And now, Princess Lyzette will never have to worry about her father or Nicholas ever again. Neither will any other innocent little boys.” He pulled his mask back down as he turned towards the suite door and told them, “You should leave.”
“Wait! Ranulf!” Lyz rushed to Ranulf’s side. She knew that she’d never see her father alive again, but all she could think about was Ranulf’s tortured eyes. “I can not ask for mercy for my father or for Nicholas – they deserve none. But I will pray that you and the other men will finally find some peace.”
Ranulf only gave a brief nod before re-entering the room and locking it behind him.
It was a silent group of four that sat around the hotel suite later that evening. When Max and Lyz had gotten back into the limousine, they found a sobbing Isabel and a stunned Alex. They had heard Ranulf’s incredible story through the microphone in Lyz’s pin. Of all the horrible things they had heard about Lyz’s father and what he had done to her, Ranulf’s story was even worse.
They rode back to the hotel in silence. No one felt like eating or talking. They just sat on the couch - stunned, horrified, and angry. Finally Alex stood up and started to pace, arguing with himself,
“They’re getting what they deserve. They’re bastards. What they did to that boy… to those other…they’re getting what they deserve.” He gritted out.
“Alex.” Isabel called softly, understanding his dilemma.
“No! I refuse to feel guilty, to feel sorry for them because they’re getting what they deserve. Ranulf was right. No way would they be arrested.”
Finally Max confessed, “Khivar and Nicholas’s victims are about to get their justice, I have no problems with that. But I feel guilty for feeling glad about it.”
Alex stopped pacing and his shoulders slumped. “I do too. What does that make me?”
“A man who talks to himself.” A voice wisecracked. The four friend whirled around and Lyz jumped to her feet to run to the owner of the voice. “Maria!” Lyz threw her arms around her friend. “Michael! What are you doing here? Kyle? Ava?”
“We finished up with Tess and thought you guys might need some company.” Maria explained as she hugged Lyz. “I heard what Alex and Max said, why don’t you tell me what happened?”
Isabel shook her head, “No. Listen for yourself.” She let the other four settle down before she took out the recorder and played the tape of the afternoon’s occurrences. After they heard Lyz wish Ranulf and the victims peace, Isabel turned the tape off.
“That bastard!” Michael shouted, sickened by what he heard. Maria rubbed Michael’s leg to comfort him but he stood up and started to pace in front of the window, not looking at anyone.
Ava, sitting on Kyle’s lap trying to draw comfort from him, finally spoke, “By law and as an officer of the law, I’m required to report this. A crime is about to happen. But I don’t want to. I can’t.”
The others all understood. Everyone was quiet-trying to process the events of the day. On the floor by the couch, Lyz sat between Max’s legs and leaned her back against his chest with his arms wrapped around her waist. Isabel sat next to Alex on the couch with her cheek nestled against his chest, their arms wrapped around each other. Michael stood staring out the window with clenched fists in his pockets and Maria leaning against his chest. Kyle held Ava on his lap and stroked her back as they sat together in the arm chair.
At the knock on the door, Maria went to answer. Seven waiters came walking in, each rolling a cart or carrying a tray loaded down with food and beverages. When they were gone, Isabel was the first to speak,
“Maria, I’m not sure if I want to eat anything.”
Maria only nodded, “I know. I didn’t order anything fancy, just some comfort food.” She started to uncover the trays and revealed several boxes of pizza, hot dogs, burgers, fries, onion rings, sodas, candy bars, and chocolate. Lastly, she revealed several bottles of vodka with shot glasses, “Just in case someone needs something stronger than soda.”
Slowly, the smell of food drifted through the room and made stomachs rumble. Alex finally led the way and forced Isabel to get a plate of food for herself. One by one they all got a plate of food, and they each grabbed a shot of vodka. They would have sat back down and eaten in silence if it wasn’t for Maria who couldn’t stand the gloom any longer.
“That’s it! I’ve had it with the silence! Somebody say something!”
Startled out of her thoughts, Isabel broke the silence after Maria’s outburst, “I feel horrible for the victims and knowing just a little of what they had gone through, but I don’t feel bad about Khivar or Nicholas.” She paused as she examined her feelings, “Justice is being served. And I can’t feel bad about that.”
Ava nodded in her agreement “I’m relieved that those two men are going to be stopped. And I only feel bad that I don’t feel bad, does that make sense?”
“Yeah.” Michael grunted, staring at his pizza. “I don’t feel bad at all that those sick fucks are going to pay, but I feel bad that I’m glad they’re going to pay. It’s a twisted logic, but there it is.”
The others nodded gloomily, feeling the same way.
Feeling a bit exasperated, Maria pointed over to the window. “Did you know, there’s a park below us? It’s full of little boys and girls that Khivar or Nicholas could have grabbed, just like Daniel. One or more of those little boys could have been raped and beaten until Khivar and Nicholas became bored with them. Then they would have been thrown away. If you’re looking for reason to not feel guilty – take a look at those children.”
The friends stood and watched the children play in the park. They looked so happy and carefree; it caused physical pain to think of anyone hurting any of those children the way Khivar and Nicholas had hurt Daniel. While they would have preferred having the men arrested and tried in a court of law, they knew that Ranulf’s solution was the only one that worked.
Maria spoke to the group from behind,
“Those two men were stopped from hurting any more little boys like Daniel or Ben. If it was possible, those men would have been arrested and tried by a court. But it wasn’t. They have been able to hide behind their money and their diplomatic status. They had to be stopped, but no one was able to stop them, and the victims knew that. So, they stopped them. It’s not wrong to feel relieved or glad that a monster was stopped. Its just human.”
Maria paused and joined the group at the window to look down at the children playing in the park before she continued. “Let it go. We are not responsible for the actions of Nicholas or Khivar, nor are we responsible for the actions of their victims. Let the victims have their justice.”
The others stared at her as they realized she was right. Justice was served. With relieved but still somber hearts, the group finally ate. While eating, Maria and Ava tried to distract them all by recounting the confrontation with Tess.
Lyz called Nicole in Alaska after eating her pizza. Both Nicole and Enrique were ecstatic to leave the bitter cold of Alaska and go home to their families in Europe. Nicole was pragmatic when Lyz expressed her guilty feelings over not doing anything to stop Ranulf.
“Would you really have denied the victims the right to be Khivar’s judge and executioner? Because I know if I were in Ranulf’s place, I would want to be the one to give Khivar his just punishment if a court of law could not. ”
Talking with Nicole, Lyz was able to let go of the issue and continued to catch up with her friend. She told Nicole about her wonderful engagement and her job, about Max and her friends. Nicole shared that she wasn’t happy in Alaska and that they would return to Europe as soon as possible. Before hanging up, Lyz gave Nicole her phone number as well as Max’s cell phone number to call her once they moved back home. As they hung up the phone, Lyz couldn’t help but feel guilty as she thought about her father.
Last edited by Believer2 on Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:47 pm, edited 2 times in total.
I'm a believer!
First of all, I would like to thank Courtney/JasonsPrincess for helping me edit this next chapter.
Second, I just want to say thank you for the feedback. I don't ever condone vigilanties or their actions, but I can understand it. Justice isn't always served. Bad guys get away with their crimes. Victims never just 'get over it'. And the victims aren't the only ones who suffer. That was my message for Chapter 27.
Chapter 28
After they returned from New York, they waited for news on Khivar or Nicholas, fully expecting to see a news story about the discovery of their bodies, but none came. Slowly, the group was able to move past the feelings of guilt and grief, except for Lyz.
Over the next few weeks, Lyz grew quieter and more pensive. It was evident to her friends that something was bothering her, but she refused to confide in anyone, not even Max. When Max tried to get her to talk to him, Lyz started to break off dates and avoid him, saying she’d prefer to be alone. When she started to avoid his touch and kiss, Max grew desperate trying to figure out what was wrong, but the more he tried, the more she retreated. Then one night over dinner things finally came to a climax.
Michael and Max had come over to the house for dinner and a movie, hoping to surprise Lyz. When they entered the room, Max walked over and tried to kiss Lyz on the cheek, but she averted her face, unaware of the hurt that came into his eyes. Michael grimaced and walked into the kitchen to prepare his special pasta sauce. He and Maria bickered half-heartedly about whether or not to put cream into the sauce, all the while, covertly watching Lyz and Max. Lyz silently put together the salad and bread, not looking at anyone and seemed lost in her thoughts.
Max poured their wine while stealing glances at Lyz. He couldn’t stand the emotional distance between them. He wanted to mend whatever was broken and get his Lyz back, but didn’t know how or where to even begin. He secretly worried she thought she had made a mistake in committing to him, worried she may change her mind. And he was terrified she would leave to travel the world like she had dreamed, leaving him behind.
As they dished up their meals, Maria, unable to stand the unnatural quiet, started to babble on the first topic she could think of, “So, Lyz, Max, how are the wedding plans coming along? Have you talked about kids yet? How many…”
Lyz’s fork crashed on to her plate and she gritted out, “There will not be any children. There might not even be wedding! I can not risk it!” With tears in her eyes, she rushed to her room, not looking at Max. Max sat stunned and Maria’s jaw dropped. Both moved to go to Lyz, but Michael stopped them by standing up first
“Let me. I think I know what’s going on.”
Michael made his way to Lyz’s room and knocked on the door before letting himself in without waiting for an answer. He noticed her curled up on her bed and he sat down facing her. Neither one of them noticed that Max and Maria had snuck up to the door, cracking it open to eavesdrop.
Michael looked around the room and tried to think of how to start. He stared at Lyz’s window as he finally blurted out,
“I used to be scared too.”
Startled that Michael knew what she was feeling, Lyz asked “What? How did you…?”
On the other side of the bedroom door, Max and Maria looked at each other in confusion.
Michael hunched his shoulders, trying to find the words. “I went through the same thing you’re going through right now. Wondering, doubting, praying. I never told anyone, but I was damn scared that I would turn out like my uncle Hank.”
Pausing, Michael thought back to his life with Hank, “I was seven when Hank hit me for the first time. I went to go live with him after my parents died. He had been drinking and he came home one night, drunk as hell. He couldn’t find the TV remote so he made me get out of bed and look for it. When I didn’t find it fast enough, he hit me. I was confused – I didn’t know what I did wrong. He kept on beating me – sometimes daily, sometimes just once a week. I thought if I could be good all the time, then he wouldn’t have to hit me. But I was never good enough. Over the years, I finally realized that Hank didn’t need a reason to hit me. And the drinking didn’t help either.
I swore to myself, that I was nothing like him, that I could never be anything like him. No way would I ever raise my hand against a kid. But deep down, I wondered. We were related – would I really turn out different from him? Or would I end up just like him?” Michael ran a hand through his hair, uncomfortable with openly talking about his feelings.
“Then it happened. It was the summer right after graduation. I was at the Crashdown, waiting for my date. I can’t remember the girl, but I’ll never forget the little kid. He was just five, maybe six. He was sitting in the booth behind me with his parents. He got this straw and he started blowing at me, thinking it was real cute. It irritated the shit out of me. I told him to stop but he just kept blowing and his parents didn’t care that their kid was annoying as hell – they completely ignored me. Then he somehow got a hold of his soda and he spilt it all down my back. I got so pissed, I couldn’t think straight. My first urge, the first impulse, was to strike out at the damn brat. To teach him some manners. I didn’t care that he was just a boy…I just….I just wanted to hit him. To make him sorry for spilling the soda on me.” Michael got up and dug his fists into his pants as walked over to the bedroom window and looked out.
“I looked at that kid with my fist clenched and…then I realized what I was doing. God it scared the piss out me! I ran out of that restaurant, got on my bike and drove to the desert, away from everyone. I couldn’t stand it – I had wanted to hit a kid –and it fucking scared me. I thought I was turning into Hank, that his blood somehow tainted me to be just like him. I hated it – I hated him, but I hated myself even more. I just lost it.” Emotion caught in Michael’s throat as he thought about that day in the desert.
Listening at the door, Maria held both hands to her mouth to hold back the sobs as she listened to Michael’s confession. All the time she had known him, he had never openly talked about Hank. He had told her about the beatings after they started dating, but he elaborated and she knew better than to ask. She never knew the emotional and mental struggle he went through.
Max listened carefully. He had known about the beatings and had helped Michael get emancipated. He even knew that Michael distrusted people because of the abuse, but he had never realized the extent of the emotional aftermath that came with the abuse. He remembered that summer after graduation. Michael disappeared for days on end, but he had been so caught up with making money for college, he never questioned it. Now he knew why, and it made him feel guilty for not being a better friend.
“For some time after that day, I stayed away from people, especially kids – not wanting to risk turning violent around them. I started drinking which then led to fighting and more drinking, proving what I thought was right– that I was just like Hank. One night, I got in a fight at the bar and the Sheriff was called in. Sheriff Valenti locked me up overnight to dry out, and in the morning he brought me coffee. I wasn’t in the mood for charity and I just wanted to leave, but he sat me down and said something I’ll never forget - ‘You can choose who you want to be.’ I was so hung over, I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about and I told him so. He explained that everyone has a choice on who they want to be.” Michael turned to face her.
“Me, I could choose to be a drunk trouble maker or I could make something of myself. I told him to shut up – he didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. I told him that some of us are just destined to turn out the same rotten way. To prove it, I confessed what had happened that day in the restaurant. I told him I felt just like Hank and I hated it. I-I just broke down. Jim understood. He told me, it’s the decisions we make that make us who we are and every day we have a choice. One of those choices is whether or not we’ll follow in the same paths as Hank or your father. People like us, Lyz, we’ll always remember being on the brunt end of wrong choices.
Jim made me see that I can choose to let my belief in a destiny like Hank’s make my decisions for me, or I can make my own decisions, choose my own path. You have the same option. You can let your fear of turning out like your old man make your decisions for you or you can choose to make your own destiny.”
“Its not easy, I know. It’s a struggle everyday to make the right choices. It took me years to learn to trust people, to trust myself. But then Maria came along and she made it easy to trust her. She loved me. Without conditions. And loving me meant never hurting me or abusing my trust. She showed me that. Just like Max has shown you.”
Lyz cried out from the bed “Oh Michael – I was so afraid of how glad I felt when Ranulf took my father and Nicholas! I wanted them to suffer! I wanted them to feel every ounce of pain they inflicted! When I realized what I was thinking, I was horrified! I never knew such anger could be inside me. What kind of person am I, that I would want that? What if I become as cruel as my father? I am not fit for Max or for children!”
Michael walked from the window and knelt beside the bed to face Lyz, “You’re a person that suffered through fourteen years of torture, and you knew that it wouldn’t stop until you were dead. It’s like Maria said, go ahead and feel glad-it’s only human that you’re glad the torture has finally stopped. I felt the same way when Hank died. It doesn’t make you a bad person, Lyz, just human. It’s when we stop feeling and forget what happened that we should start to worry.”
“I could never live with myself if I ever hurt a child, Michael. Especially Max’s child.” Lyz whispered with tears brimming in her wide tortured eyes.
“I know. But it’s thoughts like that that keep us in check.” Michael leaned over and took Lyz’s small hand in his.
Lyz look at Michael with a watery smile, “How do you know all this?”
“There’s a doc that Jim recommended – a shrink – that helped me deal with a lot of this stuff. She can help you too.”
Lyz bit her lower lip in concentration before she met Michael’s gaze, “But what would she think of me?”
“She won’t judge you, Lyz. Everything you say to her is confidential.” Michael watched Lyz before asking, “So, what do you say? You wanna meet her?”
Lyz nodded without hesitation, “I would like that Michael, very much.”
“Good. I’ll take you, if you want. That is, if you don’t want Max to take you…um…” Michael stumbled, letting go of her hand.
Lyz placed her hand on Michael’s arm, “I would appreciate it if you went with me, thank you.”
“Yeah, well, its no big deal.” Michael shrugged as he stood up, embarrassed.
Lyz sighed, “I should apologize to Max. He does not deserve this trouble from me…”
“Hey – the man is crazy about you. There’s nothing about you he doesn’t love. That’s what love is, Lyz. It’s about accepting the other person with all of their faults and problems and being able to share them. I had a hard time with that concept too, until Maria came along. Maria knows everything about me and knows that there’s some stuff about me that I’m not proud of and don’t want to share. But she sees me and she still loves me. Max feels the same way – it’s written all over his face every time he moons over you, every time he’s anywhere near you-he loves you. And what he deserves is someone who can love him back. From the look on your face when you’re around him or thinking about him, I’d say you do. Am I right?”
Lyz smiled her answer “Yes.”
“And is there anything about him that you don’t love?”
“No, I love him completely.”
“Then stop talking about who deserves what – you guys love each other and that’s that.” Michael stood and spied Max and Maria listening at the half open door. He motioned for them to get away from the door “I’m gonna send Max back here and I think you two should talk about what we just talked about. Maria says its better to talk about your feelings instead of bottling them up, and sometimes, she’s right.”
Lyz grabbed Michael’s hand before he left, “Michael. Thank you. For everything.”
Michael started to flush with embarrassment, “Anytime. I mean it, anytime you need to talk, I’m here. So is Maria or Max.” Michael opened the door and closed it behind him. Max grasped Michael’s shoulder and gave him a grateful look before walking into Lyz’s room.
~!~
Wiping away her tears, Maria walked into Michael’s arms and hugged him tight. The things he had said to Lyz overwhelmed her and made her fall in love with Michael even more. “You were right Michael. What you said to Lyz, you were right.”
“I never wanted you to know about that day. The doc always told me I should but I didn’t want to risk having you think I might slip, that I might actually start acting like him.”
“Michael, I never thought you would be like Hank. Not ever. Want to know why?”
“Why?”
“Because despite how hard you work at acting tough, you’re the most gentle man I’ve ever known.” Maria pulled Michael down the hall into her room to prove her words.
~!~
Max quietly closed the door behind him and stood looking at Lyz until she lifted her eyes to meet his. “The first time I looked into your eyes, I felt like I could see into you soul, Lyz. Want to know what I saw?”
Lyz nodded.
“I saw a beautiful soul that would risk her life and her own escape to save a little boy she had never met before and to give him back his freedom. I saw loving soul who would hold and comfort him despite her own physical pain. I saw a courageous soul that faced her tormentor despite her fear. I saw a soul that was waiting to be loved but didn’t really believe she deserved to be loved.” Max joined Lyz on the bed “That’s what I saw. Never have I ever looked at you and wondered if you would be like your father. With such a beautiful, loving soul, I have no doubts, and never will have doubts, that you will be a wonderful wife and mother.”
Lyz crawled in Max’s lap so that her back was cradled in his chest and threaded her fingers with his “Sometimes it is very hard to believe you could possibly love me. Ever since I realized what my father was truly capable of, I was afraid that you would look at me and want someone normal-someone not related to such a monster. That you would want a normal life and not have to deal with my father or my past.”
Max kissed Lyz’s temple before saying softly into her ear “What’s so great about normal?”
Lyz smiled as she felt a burst of love. “Max.” She turned to face him, “Max, the way you love me….You show me in a hundred different ways how much you value me, how much I matter. The way you kiss me, the way you touch me, and listen to me - even wanting to wait until our wedding night to make physical love to me, all of it shows me how much I matter to you. No one has ever made me feel this special. Thank you for loving me.”
Max crushed her in his embrace and kissed her breathless so the tears in his eyes wouldn’t fall.
Second, I just want to say thank you for the feedback. I don't ever condone vigilanties or their actions, but I can understand it. Justice isn't always served. Bad guys get away with their crimes. Victims never just 'get over it'. And the victims aren't the only ones who suffer. That was my message for Chapter 27.
Chapter 28
After they returned from New York, they waited for news on Khivar or Nicholas, fully expecting to see a news story about the discovery of their bodies, but none came. Slowly, the group was able to move past the feelings of guilt and grief, except for Lyz.
Over the next few weeks, Lyz grew quieter and more pensive. It was evident to her friends that something was bothering her, but she refused to confide in anyone, not even Max. When Max tried to get her to talk to him, Lyz started to break off dates and avoid him, saying she’d prefer to be alone. When she started to avoid his touch and kiss, Max grew desperate trying to figure out what was wrong, but the more he tried, the more she retreated. Then one night over dinner things finally came to a climax.
Michael and Max had come over to the house for dinner and a movie, hoping to surprise Lyz. When they entered the room, Max walked over and tried to kiss Lyz on the cheek, but she averted her face, unaware of the hurt that came into his eyes. Michael grimaced and walked into the kitchen to prepare his special pasta sauce. He and Maria bickered half-heartedly about whether or not to put cream into the sauce, all the while, covertly watching Lyz and Max. Lyz silently put together the salad and bread, not looking at anyone and seemed lost in her thoughts.
Max poured their wine while stealing glances at Lyz. He couldn’t stand the emotional distance between them. He wanted to mend whatever was broken and get his Lyz back, but didn’t know how or where to even begin. He secretly worried she thought she had made a mistake in committing to him, worried she may change her mind. And he was terrified she would leave to travel the world like she had dreamed, leaving him behind.
As they dished up their meals, Maria, unable to stand the unnatural quiet, started to babble on the first topic she could think of, “So, Lyz, Max, how are the wedding plans coming along? Have you talked about kids yet? How many…”
Lyz’s fork crashed on to her plate and she gritted out, “There will not be any children. There might not even be wedding! I can not risk it!” With tears in her eyes, she rushed to her room, not looking at Max. Max sat stunned and Maria’s jaw dropped. Both moved to go to Lyz, but Michael stopped them by standing up first
“Let me. I think I know what’s going on.”
Michael made his way to Lyz’s room and knocked on the door before letting himself in without waiting for an answer. He noticed her curled up on her bed and he sat down facing her. Neither one of them noticed that Max and Maria had snuck up to the door, cracking it open to eavesdrop.
Michael looked around the room and tried to think of how to start. He stared at Lyz’s window as he finally blurted out,
“I used to be scared too.”
Startled that Michael knew what she was feeling, Lyz asked “What? How did you…?”
On the other side of the bedroom door, Max and Maria looked at each other in confusion.
Michael hunched his shoulders, trying to find the words. “I went through the same thing you’re going through right now. Wondering, doubting, praying. I never told anyone, but I was damn scared that I would turn out like my uncle Hank.”
Pausing, Michael thought back to his life with Hank, “I was seven when Hank hit me for the first time. I went to go live with him after my parents died. He had been drinking and he came home one night, drunk as hell. He couldn’t find the TV remote so he made me get out of bed and look for it. When I didn’t find it fast enough, he hit me. I was confused – I didn’t know what I did wrong. He kept on beating me – sometimes daily, sometimes just once a week. I thought if I could be good all the time, then he wouldn’t have to hit me. But I was never good enough. Over the years, I finally realized that Hank didn’t need a reason to hit me. And the drinking didn’t help either.
I swore to myself, that I was nothing like him, that I could never be anything like him. No way would I ever raise my hand against a kid. But deep down, I wondered. We were related – would I really turn out different from him? Or would I end up just like him?” Michael ran a hand through his hair, uncomfortable with openly talking about his feelings.
“Then it happened. It was the summer right after graduation. I was at the Crashdown, waiting for my date. I can’t remember the girl, but I’ll never forget the little kid. He was just five, maybe six. He was sitting in the booth behind me with his parents. He got this straw and he started blowing at me, thinking it was real cute. It irritated the shit out of me. I told him to stop but he just kept blowing and his parents didn’t care that their kid was annoying as hell – they completely ignored me. Then he somehow got a hold of his soda and he spilt it all down my back. I got so pissed, I couldn’t think straight. My first urge, the first impulse, was to strike out at the damn brat. To teach him some manners. I didn’t care that he was just a boy…I just….I just wanted to hit him. To make him sorry for spilling the soda on me.” Michael got up and dug his fists into his pants as walked over to the bedroom window and looked out.
“I looked at that kid with my fist clenched and…then I realized what I was doing. God it scared the piss out me! I ran out of that restaurant, got on my bike and drove to the desert, away from everyone. I couldn’t stand it – I had wanted to hit a kid –and it fucking scared me. I thought I was turning into Hank, that his blood somehow tainted me to be just like him. I hated it – I hated him, but I hated myself even more. I just lost it.” Emotion caught in Michael’s throat as he thought about that day in the desert.
Listening at the door, Maria held both hands to her mouth to hold back the sobs as she listened to Michael’s confession. All the time she had known him, he had never openly talked about Hank. He had told her about the beatings after they started dating, but he elaborated and she knew better than to ask. She never knew the emotional and mental struggle he went through.
Max listened carefully. He had known about the beatings and had helped Michael get emancipated. He even knew that Michael distrusted people because of the abuse, but he had never realized the extent of the emotional aftermath that came with the abuse. He remembered that summer after graduation. Michael disappeared for days on end, but he had been so caught up with making money for college, he never questioned it. Now he knew why, and it made him feel guilty for not being a better friend.
“For some time after that day, I stayed away from people, especially kids – not wanting to risk turning violent around them. I started drinking which then led to fighting and more drinking, proving what I thought was right– that I was just like Hank. One night, I got in a fight at the bar and the Sheriff was called in. Sheriff Valenti locked me up overnight to dry out, and in the morning he brought me coffee. I wasn’t in the mood for charity and I just wanted to leave, but he sat me down and said something I’ll never forget - ‘You can choose who you want to be.’ I was so hung over, I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about and I told him so. He explained that everyone has a choice on who they want to be.” Michael turned to face her.
“Me, I could choose to be a drunk trouble maker or I could make something of myself. I told him to shut up – he didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. I told him that some of us are just destined to turn out the same rotten way. To prove it, I confessed what had happened that day in the restaurant. I told him I felt just like Hank and I hated it. I-I just broke down. Jim understood. He told me, it’s the decisions we make that make us who we are and every day we have a choice. One of those choices is whether or not we’ll follow in the same paths as Hank or your father. People like us, Lyz, we’ll always remember being on the brunt end of wrong choices.
Jim made me see that I can choose to let my belief in a destiny like Hank’s make my decisions for me, or I can make my own decisions, choose my own path. You have the same option. You can let your fear of turning out like your old man make your decisions for you or you can choose to make your own destiny.”
“Its not easy, I know. It’s a struggle everyday to make the right choices. It took me years to learn to trust people, to trust myself. But then Maria came along and she made it easy to trust her. She loved me. Without conditions. And loving me meant never hurting me or abusing my trust. She showed me that. Just like Max has shown you.”
Lyz cried out from the bed “Oh Michael – I was so afraid of how glad I felt when Ranulf took my father and Nicholas! I wanted them to suffer! I wanted them to feel every ounce of pain they inflicted! When I realized what I was thinking, I was horrified! I never knew such anger could be inside me. What kind of person am I, that I would want that? What if I become as cruel as my father? I am not fit for Max or for children!”
Michael walked from the window and knelt beside the bed to face Lyz, “You’re a person that suffered through fourteen years of torture, and you knew that it wouldn’t stop until you were dead. It’s like Maria said, go ahead and feel glad-it’s only human that you’re glad the torture has finally stopped. I felt the same way when Hank died. It doesn’t make you a bad person, Lyz, just human. It’s when we stop feeling and forget what happened that we should start to worry.”
“I could never live with myself if I ever hurt a child, Michael. Especially Max’s child.” Lyz whispered with tears brimming in her wide tortured eyes.
“I know. But it’s thoughts like that that keep us in check.” Michael leaned over and took Lyz’s small hand in his.
Lyz look at Michael with a watery smile, “How do you know all this?”
“There’s a doc that Jim recommended – a shrink – that helped me deal with a lot of this stuff. She can help you too.”
Lyz bit her lower lip in concentration before she met Michael’s gaze, “But what would she think of me?”
“She won’t judge you, Lyz. Everything you say to her is confidential.” Michael watched Lyz before asking, “So, what do you say? You wanna meet her?”
Lyz nodded without hesitation, “I would like that Michael, very much.”
“Good. I’ll take you, if you want. That is, if you don’t want Max to take you…um…” Michael stumbled, letting go of her hand.
Lyz placed her hand on Michael’s arm, “I would appreciate it if you went with me, thank you.”
“Yeah, well, its no big deal.” Michael shrugged as he stood up, embarrassed.
Lyz sighed, “I should apologize to Max. He does not deserve this trouble from me…”
“Hey – the man is crazy about you. There’s nothing about you he doesn’t love. That’s what love is, Lyz. It’s about accepting the other person with all of their faults and problems and being able to share them. I had a hard time with that concept too, until Maria came along. Maria knows everything about me and knows that there’s some stuff about me that I’m not proud of and don’t want to share. But she sees me and she still loves me. Max feels the same way – it’s written all over his face every time he moons over you, every time he’s anywhere near you-he loves you. And what he deserves is someone who can love him back. From the look on your face when you’re around him or thinking about him, I’d say you do. Am I right?”
Lyz smiled her answer “Yes.”
“And is there anything about him that you don’t love?”
“No, I love him completely.”
“Then stop talking about who deserves what – you guys love each other and that’s that.” Michael stood and spied Max and Maria listening at the half open door. He motioned for them to get away from the door “I’m gonna send Max back here and I think you two should talk about what we just talked about. Maria says its better to talk about your feelings instead of bottling them up, and sometimes, she’s right.”
Lyz grabbed Michael’s hand before he left, “Michael. Thank you. For everything.”
Michael started to flush with embarrassment, “Anytime. I mean it, anytime you need to talk, I’m here. So is Maria or Max.” Michael opened the door and closed it behind him. Max grasped Michael’s shoulder and gave him a grateful look before walking into Lyz’s room.
~!~
Wiping away her tears, Maria walked into Michael’s arms and hugged him tight. The things he had said to Lyz overwhelmed her and made her fall in love with Michael even more. “You were right Michael. What you said to Lyz, you were right.”
“I never wanted you to know about that day. The doc always told me I should but I didn’t want to risk having you think I might slip, that I might actually start acting like him.”
“Michael, I never thought you would be like Hank. Not ever. Want to know why?”
“Why?”
“Because despite how hard you work at acting tough, you’re the most gentle man I’ve ever known.” Maria pulled Michael down the hall into her room to prove her words.
~!~
Max quietly closed the door behind him and stood looking at Lyz until she lifted her eyes to meet his. “The first time I looked into your eyes, I felt like I could see into you soul, Lyz. Want to know what I saw?”
Lyz nodded.
“I saw a beautiful soul that would risk her life and her own escape to save a little boy she had never met before and to give him back his freedom. I saw loving soul who would hold and comfort him despite her own physical pain. I saw a courageous soul that faced her tormentor despite her fear. I saw a soul that was waiting to be loved but didn’t really believe she deserved to be loved.” Max joined Lyz on the bed “That’s what I saw. Never have I ever looked at you and wondered if you would be like your father. With such a beautiful, loving soul, I have no doubts, and never will have doubts, that you will be a wonderful wife and mother.”
Lyz crawled in Max’s lap so that her back was cradled in his chest and threaded her fingers with his “Sometimes it is very hard to believe you could possibly love me. Ever since I realized what my father was truly capable of, I was afraid that you would look at me and want someone normal-someone not related to such a monster. That you would want a normal life and not have to deal with my father or my past.”
Max kissed Lyz’s temple before saying softly into her ear “What’s so great about normal?”
Lyz smiled as she felt a burst of love. “Max.” She turned to face him, “Max, the way you love me….You show me in a hundred different ways how much you value me, how much I matter. The way you kiss me, the way you touch me, and listen to me - even wanting to wait until our wedding night to make physical love to me, all of it shows me how much I matter to you. No one has ever made me feel this special. Thank you for loving me.”
Max crushed her in his embrace and kissed her breathless so the tears in his eyes wouldn’t fall.
Last edited by Believer2 on Wed Jul 27, 2005 6:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I'm a believer!
Hey guys! This next part needed major help and thanks to Courtney/Jason's Princess it is now fit to be posted! It's going to be posted in two parts!
Chapter 29 - Part 1
Michael took Lyz to see his counselor Dr. Kathleen Topolski and it didn’t take long for Lyz to feel comfortable talking with her. It was arranged that Lyz would see Dr. Topolski intensively for a month before scaling back the sessions to only once a week, and then once a month.
During her sessions for the first month, Lyz went through an emotional rollercoaster. Mental barriers against horrible memories were torn down so that she could face the memories and allow herself to deal with them. She realized that during her time with her father, surviving had been her only function, her only feeling.
Now, in the safety of Dr. Topolski’s office, she was finally able to feel and confess the anger at her mother for not protecting her, her anger and confusion at her father for hurting her. She also confessed and reconciled her feelings over wanting to be loved by her father who was a monster. She was able to cry over the loss of her childhood, the pain and the nightmare without feeling guilty or worried that she was worrying Max or Maria.
After two intensive months working with Dr. Topolski, Lyz was able to scale to back her sessions to once a week. She felt emotionally stronger and felt more confident in her future knowing she had a strong support system of friends and Dr. Topolski to help her through her journey. She began to compare her experiences to a physical wound. Although the wound hurt, it was being healed with the love of her new friends and the support of her counselor. And the scar would always remain, but it would never again stop her from enjoying her life.
Months after she started counseling, Lyz felt ready to get her job back at the flower shop but was disappointed when the shop owner told her they didn’t need her. After hearing the bad news, Maria offered to pay the full rent for the two of them until she found another job. As Maria talked non-stop about a plan action for getting a new job, Lyz, feeling guilty for not telling Maria the true state of her finances, interrupted by blurting out,
“Maria, I-I could buy your house for you, so that you never have to worry about it. In fact, I could buy you a house in every state in America.”
Maria’s jaw dropped and her eyes grew wide as she stared at Lyz. Worried at Maria’s silent treatment, Lyz rushed on with her explanation, “My mother’s inheritance is very large, in fact, I am set to inherit…” Lyz paused, not wanting to change how her friend would look at her.
“H-how much?” Maria stuttered. When Lyz blurted out the figure, Maria literally had to gasp for breath. She had known that Lyz had money stashed away from the years she planned to escape, knew too that she was set to inherit a large sum of money -large enough for her father to want her dead. But she was stunned to find out exactly how much money Lyz would inherit.
“I-I really do not want to keep the money. It feels tainted. I would like to give the money away and live normally.”
“Oh my god, I need cypress oil.” Maria pulled out a small bottle and started to inhale in deep breaths. “Reduces stress.” A few minutes passed before Maria asked Lyz, “You’re sure about the amount?”
At Lyz’s nod, Maria continued to inhale the cypress oil, trying to calm her excited nerves. “I can’t believe you never told me! I mean, I’m your friend, how could you not tell me?”
“Maria, I never wanted the money. A-and I did not want you to look at me any more differently than you already do.”
“Of course I look at you differently!! When I first met you, you were covered in bruises. Then I find out you’re a runaway princess. And now I find out you’re a rich heiress. How can I not look at you differently!” argued Maria as she started to pace, all the while sniffing at her cedar oil.
“Maria, I am not really a princess. The royal family was kicked out and replaced with a socialist government. My grandparents kept the title because they liked the illusion of power it gave them. So did my father. Once the royal family was kicked out, the titles mean nothing.”
“Yeah, but you’re still an heiress.”
“But I do not want to keep the money. I would happily give it away to anyone who asked me.”
“What? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m serious, Maria. I do not want anything to do with the money. I intend to give it all away.”
“Whoa. Ok? Whoa. Let’s think this through. That’s a lot of money, Lyz.”
“I know. But I would rather earn my money.”
“Well, that’s noble and all, but having a job is not all that it’s cracked up to be. Listen, if you are serious about giving the money away, why don’t you set up a foundation? At least with a foundation, you can award money to whoever but you would have some control over how it was spent.”
“While that may sound like a good idea, I do not wish to deal with the money at all.”
“Well, maybe the Evans could run it for you. This is your chance to do some good with that money, Lyz.”
“I know you are right, but it still feels wrong. I will pay the servants at the Chateau but after that, I have decided to donate the money. I will research organizations that need money and see which one could use the money the most.”
Lyz narrowed her research to several organizations that helped abused children and rape crisis centers that needed money. She decided to donate money to at least one organization for each state and two additional ones for each large city. She also wanted to make sure the servants at the Chateau were well taken care of. After making her decisions, she approached Max for help in setting up the donations.
Max loved the idea of donating the money – partly because he genuinely wanted to help abused kids and rape victims. But the other reason was that he was secretly intimidated by how much money Lyz was going to inherit. He would never tell her, but he was relieved that they would be on equal footing financially.
Max arranged for his father to handle the legal papers. They both agreed that if Philip was going to help them, that they should tell him and Diane the whole story of Lyz’s background. Once Diane and Philip were told the whole story, they sat stunned at everything that they had heard. They looked at Lyz with a new set of eyes and could only admire how lovely and strong, Lyz had become.
Philip arranged the anonymous donations to the organizations that Lyz had picked out, so that each tax season, the organization would have to account for the money that was spent, to keep them as honest as possible. Each year they would have to re-apply for the money. The way the donations were set up, money would be available for each organization for several years. He also made a special arrangement at Lyz’s request.
Shortly after Lyz met with Philip and Max, the preparation for the wedding of Amy DeLuca and Jim Valenti became the center of attention for the group. Maria was to be maiden of honor while Kyle was to be best man, but then Amy decided that she needed more than just her daughter and stepson standing up with them. So, she invited Lyz and Ava to be bridesmaids as well as asking Michael and Max to be groomsmen. Alex was setting up an MP3 jukebox system with a variety of music for everyone’s tastes after Jim and Maria quit singing in the band at the reception. Isabel, as the planner, wanted everything to be perfect and went over every single detail so that she could pull off the wedding that would earn her a promotion. She drove everyone crazy with her orders and demands, except for Lyz.
Isabel recruited Lyz to be her unofficial assistant when she found out that Lyz couldn’t get her job back and surprisingly, the two of them worked very well together. Not only could Lyz keep Isabel calm, but she was also very good at managing Isabel so that she didn’t go overboard. She was having a great time helping Isabel while Isabel loved having someone who could work with her and understand her.
The day the group had to go shopping for a wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, and tuxedos, Isabel talked Jeff Parker into letting them eat early at the Crashdown, before it opened, so they could get to the shops faster. Over breakfast, Amy and Isabel argued as to which store they should shop while Lyz tried to mediate. The rest of the group sat at the large counter eating breakfast while they waited for Isabel and Amy to finish arguing. Max had to work that day and Michael envied his excuse for not going shopping with the girls. Jim Valenti, Kyle, Alex, and Michael all dreaded the long day in front of them. Michael was complaining loudly to everyone about having to shop with women, when Max’s cell phone started to ring. Max excused himself to take the call and walked back to the small employee break room.
“This is Max.”
“Max? This is Nicole, Lyzette’s friend.”
Max felt himself tensing, as if waiting for a physical blow, “Oh. Hi Nicole. Have you settled back home?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Do you want to speak with Lyz?”
“Um, no, yes. Um, I mean, in a few minutes. Max, the reason I’m calling is because….” Nicole’s voice trailed off.
As the silence on Nicole’s end grew, dread grew in the pit of Max’s stomach. “It’s Khivar, isn’t it?”
“Yes. His body as well as Nicholas’s body was found yesterday. They washed up in Lake Zurich. The authorities believe they capsized their boat and drowned. They are looking for Lyzette to claim the bodies.”
Max listened intently as Nicole explained the situation. He tried to think of how to tell Lyz when Nicole continued. “I did not want to call today, of all days, but I thought it best that you should know as soon as possible.”
“What do you mean, today of all days?”
“You do not know? She probably does not realize it either, then. Today is Lyzette’s birthday. I’m not surprised that she did not remember.”
“What do you mean?”
“On each birthday, Khivar made especially sure to beat Lyzette and tell her it was her birthday present.”
“Damn.” Max paused as he thought about the situation, “Do the authorities know where Lyz is?”
“No, they have contacted me and I have not responded yet. I can make sure to not be available to them until tomorrow.”
Max wiped a hand across his face, “Thanks Nicole. I’ll tell her tomorrow and then we’ll give you a call.”
As Max closed his cell phone, Lyz voice asked him, “Tell me what?”
Max whirled around to see Lyz standing at the door to the break room, looking at him quizzically. Max tried to think of something to distract her and reached up to scratch his ear.
Lyz started to giggle softly which caused Max to ask, “What’s so funny?”
“You are so adorable sometimes, Max.” Lyz walked over to give Max a small kiss on the cheek before saying, “Whenever you avoid speaking the truth, you scratch your ear.”
Max raised his brow, “And you think that’s funny?”
“No, adorable. Because you have slightly large but very cute ears.”
Max started to blush and Lyz suddenly reached up to run her fingers through the hair on either side of his face, eyes riveted where were hands were. She started to laugh as she saw the tips of his ‘cute’ ears start to turn red and Max lightly slapped her hands away.
“You are so self-conscious about your ears!”
Max laughed a bit at himself and placed his arms around Lyz before looking down at her, “They do kinda stick out. That’s why I grew out my hair. To cover them up.”
“Well, I like them. I like everything about you.” Lyz assured him before kissing him breathless, effectively distracting Max from his ears and the phone call from Nicole. When Lyz pulled back, she asked,
“So, what were you going to wait to tell me?”
Max shook his head to clear it from the passion-induced haze and refocused on the subject at hand,
“Well, there are a couple of things, but I wanted to wait since today’s your special day.”
Lyz looked confused and Max melted just a little more at her confusion. “Lyz, today is your birthday.”
“Yes? And?”
“Your birthday is supposed to be special. The day we celebrate your birth into this world.”
Lyz frowned as she thought, “I have never really celebrated my birthday. I turn 21 today, then.” Lyz quieted as she thought about everything that had happened in the past year since her last birthday. She remembered the brutal beating that Nicholas had given her, finding out about Ben, the ball, and the fear of discovery as she and Ben escaped to New Mexico. She looked back at Max as she said,
“Every day that I am alive and free from my father is a day to celebrate. I do not need a birthday.”
When Max was about to protest, Lyz placed a finger over his mouth to stop him, “Every birthday prior to this one has always been a very bad day for me. I do not want to celebrate. If I must have a birthday celebration, let me pick a day, one that is my happiest memory.”
Thinking about it, Max finally nodded, “Ok, which day would you like?”
Lyz’s smile grew wide. “September 19th.”
“Why that date?”
“You mean you do not remember?” Lyz’s smile grew even wider as she teased Max, sensing his sudden anxiety. She giggled softly as she drew his face down to hers. With his forehead resting on hers, she closed her eyes to savor the moment before opening them to stare directly into his, “September 19th was the day I came back from Alaska. It was the first time you looked at me, really looked at me, and you made me feel beautiful.”
Max smiled back, remembering how he had felt like a Mac truck had crashed into him at the sight of her, “Oh yeah?”
“Mmm hmmm.”
“Hmm, I like that. Ok, how’s this, we’ll tell everyone that today is your legal date of birth but September 19th will be the day we all celebrate? That’s only two and a half months apart.”
“I like it.”
“Then I guess I’ll tell you about your father.” Max felt Lyz stiffen in his arms but he kept his hold on her and started to stroke her back. “Their bodies were found washed up on Lake Zurich. The authorities were called in and they have ruled it an accidental drowning.”
“What do you mean accidental drowning?”
“Your father’s boat was found drifting in the lake and there was no evidence of foul play. The authorities just want you to go claim the bodies for burial.”
Lyz stared at Max with wide eyes in partial disbelief and partial relief. Max encouraged, “We’ll call the authorities together, today if you’d like. But we’ll have to go to Switzerland, to claim the bodies.” Max waited, watching Lyz’s reaction.
Lyz was distracted by the wild thoughts going through her mind, but one thing was foremost in her mind, “The chateau.”
“What?”
“The chateau. I want to close the chateau, tear it down.”
“You can do whatever you want with it.”
Finally Lyz smiled.
“Can we take our friends? Take a vacation?”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Max hugged Lyz, relieved that he didn’t sense any hurt or pain at the thought of going to Switzerland. Lyz squeezed him back before saying,
“Max, I am alright. I do not feel anything but pity for them. They can no longer hurt me unless I allow them too.” She gave him one last squeeze before demanding, “Come on, I want to give everyone their surprise since it becomes effective today. I can not wait to see Maria’s face!”
Chapter 29 - Part 1
Michael took Lyz to see his counselor Dr. Kathleen Topolski and it didn’t take long for Lyz to feel comfortable talking with her. It was arranged that Lyz would see Dr. Topolski intensively for a month before scaling back the sessions to only once a week, and then once a month.
During her sessions for the first month, Lyz went through an emotional rollercoaster. Mental barriers against horrible memories were torn down so that she could face the memories and allow herself to deal with them. She realized that during her time with her father, surviving had been her only function, her only feeling.
Now, in the safety of Dr. Topolski’s office, she was finally able to feel and confess the anger at her mother for not protecting her, her anger and confusion at her father for hurting her. She also confessed and reconciled her feelings over wanting to be loved by her father who was a monster. She was able to cry over the loss of her childhood, the pain and the nightmare without feeling guilty or worried that she was worrying Max or Maria.
After two intensive months working with Dr. Topolski, Lyz was able to scale to back her sessions to once a week. She felt emotionally stronger and felt more confident in her future knowing she had a strong support system of friends and Dr. Topolski to help her through her journey. She began to compare her experiences to a physical wound. Although the wound hurt, it was being healed with the love of her new friends and the support of her counselor. And the scar would always remain, but it would never again stop her from enjoying her life.
Months after she started counseling, Lyz felt ready to get her job back at the flower shop but was disappointed when the shop owner told her they didn’t need her. After hearing the bad news, Maria offered to pay the full rent for the two of them until she found another job. As Maria talked non-stop about a plan action for getting a new job, Lyz, feeling guilty for not telling Maria the true state of her finances, interrupted by blurting out,
“Maria, I-I could buy your house for you, so that you never have to worry about it. In fact, I could buy you a house in every state in America.”
Maria’s jaw dropped and her eyes grew wide as she stared at Lyz. Worried at Maria’s silent treatment, Lyz rushed on with her explanation, “My mother’s inheritance is very large, in fact, I am set to inherit…” Lyz paused, not wanting to change how her friend would look at her.
“H-how much?” Maria stuttered. When Lyz blurted out the figure, Maria literally had to gasp for breath. She had known that Lyz had money stashed away from the years she planned to escape, knew too that she was set to inherit a large sum of money -large enough for her father to want her dead. But she was stunned to find out exactly how much money Lyz would inherit.
“I-I really do not want to keep the money. It feels tainted. I would like to give the money away and live normally.”
“Oh my god, I need cypress oil.” Maria pulled out a small bottle and started to inhale in deep breaths. “Reduces stress.” A few minutes passed before Maria asked Lyz, “You’re sure about the amount?”
At Lyz’s nod, Maria continued to inhale the cypress oil, trying to calm her excited nerves. “I can’t believe you never told me! I mean, I’m your friend, how could you not tell me?”
“Maria, I never wanted the money. A-and I did not want you to look at me any more differently than you already do.”
“Of course I look at you differently!! When I first met you, you were covered in bruises. Then I find out you’re a runaway princess. And now I find out you’re a rich heiress. How can I not look at you differently!” argued Maria as she started to pace, all the while sniffing at her cedar oil.
“Maria, I am not really a princess. The royal family was kicked out and replaced with a socialist government. My grandparents kept the title because they liked the illusion of power it gave them. So did my father. Once the royal family was kicked out, the titles mean nothing.”
“Yeah, but you’re still an heiress.”
“But I do not want to keep the money. I would happily give it away to anyone who asked me.”
“What? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m serious, Maria. I do not want anything to do with the money. I intend to give it all away.”
“Whoa. Ok? Whoa. Let’s think this through. That’s a lot of money, Lyz.”
“I know. But I would rather earn my money.”
“Well, that’s noble and all, but having a job is not all that it’s cracked up to be. Listen, if you are serious about giving the money away, why don’t you set up a foundation? At least with a foundation, you can award money to whoever but you would have some control over how it was spent.”
“While that may sound like a good idea, I do not wish to deal with the money at all.”
“Well, maybe the Evans could run it for you. This is your chance to do some good with that money, Lyz.”
“I know you are right, but it still feels wrong. I will pay the servants at the Chateau but after that, I have decided to donate the money. I will research organizations that need money and see which one could use the money the most.”
Lyz narrowed her research to several organizations that helped abused children and rape crisis centers that needed money. She decided to donate money to at least one organization for each state and two additional ones for each large city. She also wanted to make sure the servants at the Chateau were well taken care of. After making her decisions, she approached Max for help in setting up the donations.
Max loved the idea of donating the money – partly because he genuinely wanted to help abused kids and rape victims. But the other reason was that he was secretly intimidated by how much money Lyz was going to inherit. He would never tell her, but he was relieved that they would be on equal footing financially.
Max arranged for his father to handle the legal papers. They both agreed that if Philip was going to help them, that they should tell him and Diane the whole story of Lyz’s background. Once Diane and Philip were told the whole story, they sat stunned at everything that they had heard. They looked at Lyz with a new set of eyes and could only admire how lovely and strong, Lyz had become.
Philip arranged the anonymous donations to the organizations that Lyz had picked out, so that each tax season, the organization would have to account for the money that was spent, to keep them as honest as possible. Each year they would have to re-apply for the money. The way the donations were set up, money would be available for each organization for several years. He also made a special arrangement at Lyz’s request.
Shortly after Lyz met with Philip and Max, the preparation for the wedding of Amy DeLuca and Jim Valenti became the center of attention for the group. Maria was to be maiden of honor while Kyle was to be best man, but then Amy decided that she needed more than just her daughter and stepson standing up with them. So, she invited Lyz and Ava to be bridesmaids as well as asking Michael and Max to be groomsmen. Alex was setting up an MP3 jukebox system with a variety of music for everyone’s tastes after Jim and Maria quit singing in the band at the reception. Isabel, as the planner, wanted everything to be perfect and went over every single detail so that she could pull off the wedding that would earn her a promotion. She drove everyone crazy with her orders and demands, except for Lyz.
Isabel recruited Lyz to be her unofficial assistant when she found out that Lyz couldn’t get her job back and surprisingly, the two of them worked very well together. Not only could Lyz keep Isabel calm, but she was also very good at managing Isabel so that she didn’t go overboard. She was having a great time helping Isabel while Isabel loved having someone who could work with her and understand her.
The day the group had to go shopping for a wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, and tuxedos, Isabel talked Jeff Parker into letting them eat early at the Crashdown, before it opened, so they could get to the shops faster. Over breakfast, Amy and Isabel argued as to which store they should shop while Lyz tried to mediate. The rest of the group sat at the large counter eating breakfast while they waited for Isabel and Amy to finish arguing. Max had to work that day and Michael envied his excuse for not going shopping with the girls. Jim Valenti, Kyle, Alex, and Michael all dreaded the long day in front of them. Michael was complaining loudly to everyone about having to shop with women, when Max’s cell phone started to ring. Max excused himself to take the call and walked back to the small employee break room.
“This is Max.”
“Max? This is Nicole, Lyzette’s friend.”
Max felt himself tensing, as if waiting for a physical blow, “Oh. Hi Nicole. Have you settled back home?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Do you want to speak with Lyz?”
“Um, no, yes. Um, I mean, in a few minutes. Max, the reason I’m calling is because….” Nicole’s voice trailed off.
As the silence on Nicole’s end grew, dread grew in the pit of Max’s stomach. “It’s Khivar, isn’t it?”
“Yes. His body as well as Nicholas’s body was found yesterday. They washed up in Lake Zurich. The authorities believe they capsized their boat and drowned. They are looking for Lyzette to claim the bodies.”
Max listened intently as Nicole explained the situation. He tried to think of how to tell Lyz when Nicole continued. “I did not want to call today, of all days, but I thought it best that you should know as soon as possible.”
“What do you mean, today of all days?”
“You do not know? She probably does not realize it either, then. Today is Lyzette’s birthday. I’m not surprised that she did not remember.”
“What do you mean?”
“On each birthday, Khivar made especially sure to beat Lyzette and tell her it was her birthday present.”
“Damn.” Max paused as he thought about the situation, “Do the authorities know where Lyz is?”
“No, they have contacted me and I have not responded yet. I can make sure to not be available to them until tomorrow.”
Max wiped a hand across his face, “Thanks Nicole. I’ll tell her tomorrow and then we’ll give you a call.”
As Max closed his cell phone, Lyz voice asked him, “Tell me what?”
Max whirled around to see Lyz standing at the door to the break room, looking at him quizzically. Max tried to think of something to distract her and reached up to scratch his ear.
Lyz started to giggle softly which caused Max to ask, “What’s so funny?”
“You are so adorable sometimes, Max.” Lyz walked over to give Max a small kiss on the cheek before saying, “Whenever you avoid speaking the truth, you scratch your ear.”
Max raised his brow, “And you think that’s funny?”
“No, adorable. Because you have slightly large but very cute ears.”
Max started to blush and Lyz suddenly reached up to run her fingers through the hair on either side of his face, eyes riveted where were hands were. She started to laugh as she saw the tips of his ‘cute’ ears start to turn red and Max lightly slapped her hands away.
“You are so self-conscious about your ears!”
Max laughed a bit at himself and placed his arms around Lyz before looking down at her, “They do kinda stick out. That’s why I grew out my hair. To cover them up.”
“Well, I like them. I like everything about you.” Lyz assured him before kissing him breathless, effectively distracting Max from his ears and the phone call from Nicole. When Lyz pulled back, she asked,
“So, what were you going to wait to tell me?”
Max shook his head to clear it from the passion-induced haze and refocused on the subject at hand,
“Well, there are a couple of things, but I wanted to wait since today’s your special day.”
Lyz looked confused and Max melted just a little more at her confusion. “Lyz, today is your birthday.”
“Yes? And?”
“Your birthday is supposed to be special. The day we celebrate your birth into this world.”
Lyz frowned as she thought, “I have never really celebrated my birthday. I turn 21 today, then.” Lyz quieted as she thought about everything that had happened in the past year since her last birthday. She remembered the brutal beating that Nicholas had given her, finding out about Ben, the ball, and the fear of discovery as she and Ben escaped to New Mexico. She looked back at Max as she said,
“Every day that I am alive and free from my father is a day to celebrate. I do not need a birthday.”
When Max was about to protest, Lyz placed a finger over his mouth to stop him, “Every birthday prior to this one has always been a very bad day for me. I do not want to celebrate. If I must have a birthday celebration, let me pick a day, one that is my happiest memory.”
Thinking about it, Max finally nodded, “Ok, which day would you like?”
Lyz’s smile grew wide. “September 19th.”
“Why that date?”
“You mean you do not remember?” Lyz’s smile grew even wider as she teased Max, sensing his sudden anxiety. She giggled softly as she drew his face down to hers. With his forehead resting on hers, she closed her eyes to savor the moment before opening them to stare directly into his, “September 19th was the day I came back from Alaska. It was the first time you looked at me, really looked at me, and you made me feel beautiful.”
Max smiled back, remembering how he had felt like a Mac truck had crashed into him at the sight of her, “Oh yeah?”
“Mmm hmmm.”
“Hmm, I like that. Ok, how’s this, we’ll tell everyone that today is your legal date of birth but September 19th will be the day we all celebrate? That’s only two and a half months apart.”
“I like it.”
“Then I guess I’ll tell you about your father.” Max felt Lyz stiffen in his arms but he kept his hold on her and started to stroke her back. “Their bodies were found washed up on Lake Zurich. The authorities were called in and they have ruled it an accidental drowning.”
“What do you mean accidental drowning?”
“Your father’s boat was found drifting in the lake and there was no evidence of foul play. The authorities just want you to go claim the bodies for burial.”
Lyz stared at Max with wide eyes in partial disbelief and partial relief. Max encouraged, “We’ll call the authorities together, today if you’d like. But we’ll have to go to Switzerland, to claim the bodies.” Max waited, watching Lyz’s reaction.
Lyz was distracted by the wild thoughts going through her mind, but one thing was foremost in her mind, “The chateau.”
“What?”
“The chateau. I want to close the chateau, tear it down.”
“You can do whatever you want with it.”
Finally Lyz smiled.
“Can we take our friends? Take a vacation?”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Max hugged Lyz, relieved that he didn’t sense any hurt or pain at the thought of going to Switzerland. Lyz squeezed him back before saying,
“Max, I am alright. I do not feel anything but pity for them. They can no longer hurt me unless I allow them too.” She gave him one last squeeze before demanding, “Come on, I want to give everyone their surprise since it becomes effective today. I can not wait to see Maria’s face!”
Last edited by Believer2 on Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I'm a believer!