EYA Part 61
“What? What happened, Michael?” Maria asked worriedly as she watched him hang up the phone and scrub his hands over his eyes in a gesture of defeat. Something was very wrong here.
“Um. That was Liz. Apparently Max got himself drugged somehow and they’ve gone into heat,” Michael told her bluntly, meeting her eyes almost defiantly.
“Drugged? Max is drugged??” Maria’s voice rose an octave and Michael clapped a hand over her mouth and pulled her into his chest.
“Let’s not get everyone all upset over something we can’t do anything about here, okay?” Michael asked her tensely.
Maria twisted away from Michael’s restraining hold and leaned in close to whisper harshly, “Drugged? Who drugged him? Are they in danger?” Her face froze momentarily as the rest of what Michael had revealed to her sank in. “How is it that Liz is calling you if they’re in heat? They can’t keep their hands off each other!”
Michael lowered his head and stared at his shoelaces. One was almost completely untied and hanging to the floor. He really should do something about that before he tripped and…
“Michael? Are you even listening to me? What is going on over there? Do I have to call her myself?” Maria made a move to pick up the phone and get to the bottom of this new mess, but Michael clamped her wrist in his hand and made her look at him.
“He’s passed out. Liz thinks someone at a club they were at tonight tried to slip something in her drink, but Max drank it instead. She can’t wake him up. She connected with him and said his free will is…is gone, and now they’ve got the fever and she can’t wake him up. She can’t…she said they’d have to wait it out…” Michael turned suddenly and grabbed the phone book.
“Michael?” Maria scooted around him and leaned over to peer into his tense face. “Michael? What are you doing?”
“I’ve gotta arrange a flight out there in case Max doesn’t…doesn’t wake up in time, ya know?” Michael tried to move her out of his way, shrugging out of his sweater suddenly, leaving him in a T-shirt and jeans. “Maria…” he started, impatience ringing through his tone because she refused to move.
“Come on, Michael.” Maria grabbed her keys and pulled his arm until he started to follow her. “We gotta get you outta here. Everyone’s going to wonder what’s going on if you’re all fevered and Max isn’t taking care of Liz.”
“Yeah. Good idea. I can arrange a flight from my apartment.” Michael allowed himself to be steered out of the room tripping on his shoelace. Knew I shoulda tied that thing, he thought randomly. He waited impatiently by the front door as Maria told the other’s they were going to work from Michael’s apartment for awhile.
“Okay, let’s go.” Maria opened the door and led him to her car. He slumped down in the passenger seat and barely flinched when she put the pedal to the metal and sped to his place.
Arriving at Michael’s she helped him up to his couch and he lay back on it and closed his eyes, sweat already pooling at his hairline.
Maria made a quick ice pack and knelt on the floor in front of the couch, dabbing it over his forehead and cheeks.
“How’s that?”
“Better,” he mumbled, miserable and hard already with the lust that was a part of the fever. He hoped Maria didn’t notice the new tenting of his pants. He shifted uncomfortably and raised his knees.
“Maybe we should get you out of those pants,” Maria murmured. “You’d be more comfortable.”
“NO!” Michael barked out harshly. “The pants stay on!”
“Okay, Michael. Okay. It’s not like I was gonna rip em off of you and have my wicked way or anything. Jeez.” Maria shook her head. The fever sure made him moody.
“I didn’t mean…I’m sorry, Maria. It’s just this whole situation is completely…”
“Psycho? Weird? Out of this world?” Maria offered helpfully while Michael struggled for the word.
“I was going to say intolerable, but yeah, that stuff too.” Michael hid a small smile before moaning and twisting on the couch again.
Maria turned serious. “What kind of drug do you think it was?”
“They think it was that date rape drug,” Michael answered.
“Rohypnol? Someone was going to try to get with Liz?” Maria’s voice rose to almost a shriek and she started pacing, her hands waving in the air as she spoke. “I hope he realized how lucky he is that Max drank that drink instead of Liz. That man wouldn’t have lived to see morning if Max found out someone was messing with his wife like that!” She turned on her heel and whirled to face Michael. “He’s passed out? Like completely unconscious?”
“Yeah,” Michael nodded his head, beads of sweat dripping down his nose slowly. He threw his head back and groaned. “Why doesn’t she just take matters into her own hands, ya know? I’m sure she could get some kind of reaction from him!”
Maria shook her head at Michael with a pitying look in her eye, “Michael, she’d feel like she was taking advantage of him! I mean it’s the date rape drug! Liz is not going to just use him like that and…”
“What? And it’s okay that all three of us are going to suffer while she gets over her anxiety about using him? Since when has he ever complained about sex with Liz?” Michael burst out in frustration.
“I know, Michael.” Maria knelt by him again and brushed his hair back gently. “It’s not only that. She’s probably worried that whatever is in his system could affect the baby. She couldn’t take a chance like that. Hopefully it won’t take too long.”
She left his side to get him a cold drink but her thoughts were in Mexico with their friends.
Mexico
“Max?” Liz croaked out weakly. It had been a miserable three hours since the fever had started and she was so tired, but she couldn’t give up. She shook his still frame again, her mind probing for any opening to wake him up. Was it her imagination, or was he starting to show a little spark of effort in there? “Max! Wake up!!” She shook him again, probing further and hoping the physical/psychological combination would work. Max’s quiet moan rewarded her efforts.
“Max? Max it’s me, Liz! I need you to wake up, Max! Max?” Liz’s tone grew desperate. She had an idea, but needed him to be awake to make it work.
Max’s eyes fluttered open groggily and he blinked slowly at her, her face just a blur. “Liz?” His tongue felt thick in his mouth and he moved it over his dry lips experimentally, wondering what was going on. Were they still in the bar? Was that blond guy trying to steal his girl? A slow anger bubbled up in him at the audacity of the man who had hit on his Liz.
“Max!” Liz’s cry came almost as a sob. She hugged him close. “Max! You’ve been drugged! I need you to try to get it out of your system. That guy at the bar put something in your drink…”
Aha! She was talking about that blond guy at the bar! He knew it. He struggled to sit up, jealousy tearing through him. “Bar? Bar guy?” It was all he could rasp out. What was up with his tongue? He licked his lips again and tried to look at it.
Liz grabbed his upper arms in a tight grip until he refocused on her. “Yes. The guy at the bar, Max,” she repeated slowly and clearly, knowing that he was struggling to keep it together from her brief glimpse into the chaos of his mind a second ago.
“Blond guy?” Liz nodded. “I could be blond.” Max reached up and pulled his hand through his hair front to back and it changed color instantly. Liz gasped and grabbed his hand.
“Max! Stop. Look at me,” she demanded. “Look. At. Me!!” Her voice would not be denied.
“Wha’?” Max’s words slurred as if he were drunk, but at least he was trying to look at her. She started to lose his attention when he started to notice something else. His hand gripped his rock hard cock. “I’m hard, Liz…”
“I know, Max. I’ll take care of you, I promise, but first I need you to do something for me, okay?” Max never could resist any request Liz made of him. He nodded, his head bobbing loosely on his neck.
“Max, you need to get the drug out of your system now, okay? You need to heal yourself, get all the bad stuff out. Can you do that for me now, Max?” Liz pleaded.
“Bad stuff?” Max’s eyes were still confused. “There’s bad stuff?”
“Very bad, Max. Do it now, okay?” She moved his hands to cover his chest and sat back, watching him expectantly, her eyes drifting to the shock of almost white blond hair that covered his head.
Max closed his eyes in concentration. Had to do this now. Liz wanted him to. His head bobbed to the side.
“Max? Stay with me here, Max! This is too important. I need you. The baby needs you. Do you understand?” She was reassured by the opening of his eyes as he realized what was at stake.
“Yeah, I can do this, Liz, I can,” he mumbled. His hands covered his face and started to glow. He slowly moved them down over his body until every inch was covered. He sat up straight when he was done and pulled Liz into his arms. “Thank you,” he breathed into her hair.
“Are you…? Are you okay now?” Liz leaned back to take in the clarity of his expression.
Max nodded. “I…I…Liz?” His hands stroked over her body, not able to stop touching her. “Can I…” he tugged at the snap of her leather pants.
Liz nodded and arched her hips off the bed to help him slide the material down her long legs. Max smoothed his hands back up her legs and paused to kiss and lick along the way. Liz’s back arched off the bed. “Max…” her tone pleaded with him to get naked and get on with it.
“I’ve got you, baby,” Max murmured into her neck, at last meeting her lips with his own. Her hands fumbled with the snap to his pants and tugged down the zipper. She pushed the leather down over his hips, freeing his erection. Her hands ran over his thick length and he groaned into her mouth. She guided him to her ready opening and he pushed himself inside her quickly. Heavy sighs filled the room at the needed contact. Max started moving over Liz in a rhythm that increased quickly in intensity. Liz’s hips rose to meet his every thrust and her nails clawed down his back before clutching his hair in her hands and holding him close to prolong the kiss.
The movement became more frantic and each cried out simultaneously as the release raged through them. Liz’s legs wrapped around Max’s hips and pulled him deeper into her as her sobbing cries filled the room and she arched her back at the force of her reaction. Max growled in response and thrust several more times, as she wrung the last of his juices from him.
He rolled to the side and lay panting with his head on the same pillow as hers. She opened her eyes and took in his loving smile, his beautiful face, …his blond hair…and laughed out loud.
“Don’t become a beautician, okay?” She gasped out before collapsing in a new fit of giggles at his confused expression.
TBC
Everything You Are (CC,M/L, Mature) AN PG 15 5/3/07 [WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
EYA Part 62
“Who are you calling?” Michael asked from his place on the couch, looking and sounding pathetic.
“Shh,” Maria hissed from across the room before turning back to the phone and speaking in hushed tones. “Hello? FedEx? When’s your next pick-up time at the Kinko’s on 3rd street scheduled?…Umhmm. Okay, can you ship frozen packages? … Yeah, like on dry ice…mnnhmm…How fast could you get something to Mexico? ….Really? Okay, thanks.” Maria hung up the phone and turned to face Michael.
“Maria,” Michael started warningly. “We should be calling the airport and booking reservations. What are you plotting?” He could definitely see that gleam in her eye that meant she had a plan, and that didn’t usually bode well for him.
“Michael, I’ve got a plan,” she started eagerly, ignoring his snort and the rolling of his eyes. “What? It’ll save time and ensure Liz and the baby’s safety in case…” her voice broke and she cleared her throat and shook off the bad feelings, “in case Max doesn’t come out of it in time.” She whirled around and made her way into the kitchen, rooting around in the cupboards. “Perfect!” She exclaimed in triumph whirling around with a small plastic container in her hand. “Michael?” Her tone was sweet and her eyes were innocently widened into perfect saucers, guaranteed to melt one Michael Guerin. “I need a sample.”
“A sample,” Michael repeated. “Of course you need a sample! Anything else? Blood? Sweat? Tears? Cause I got plenty.”
“Michael, Michael, Michael. Sarcasm…it doesn’t suit you. You know this is the best way to get this to Liz.”
“Just how is me giving you a sample gonna help Liz?”
“We’re gonna FedEx it. They have a 24 hour drop off down the street at Kinko’s and the next shipments leave in two hours, so I need a sample now and we’ll stick it in the freezer and I’ll run down to the 24 hour market and get some dry ice and we’ll package it up and poof! Liz gets what she needs. Good plan, huh?” Maria asked proudly.
Michael was rolling his head back and forth on the throw pillow he had been resting on and couldn’t believe that he actually thought this was a good idea. He groaned and started to sit up. At least this would relieve the heavy ache in his groin. Temporarily. He got to his feet and swiped the container out of Maria’s hand and slowly, painfully, made his way to the bathroom. He stopped and turned suddenly and Maria ran right into him. She grabbed his arms to prevent herself from falling and grinned at him sheepishly.
“I could help you out with that, ya know. Anything to help our friends, right?”
“Riiight,” Michael breathed out sarcastically. “Maria?” She looked up at him expectantly. “Go sit on the couch,” he finished, turning her by the shoulders and giving her a gentle push in that general direction.
“You don’t know what you’re giving up, buddy,” Maria muttered under her breath.
“Believe me, I can imagine,” Michael answered, too softly for her to hear. He closed the bathroom door behind himself and leaned back against it heavily. He set the container by the sink and fumbled with the button to his pants before quickly lowering the zipper. “Might as well get this over with,” he muttered.
Before he had even touched himself his body started to spasm. He gasped and leaned back against the door while hot, glistening jets of cum sprayed out over his shirt and pants. His breathing was ragged and his eyes were glued shut as he experienced the overwhelming pleasure and release that Liz was experiencing in that moment. Max woke up, he thought groggily when he opened his eyes and looked around. He was surprised to find himself seated on the floor, leaning back against the door. He closed his eyes again and thumped his head back against the hard surface of the door repeatedly until Maria tapped on the other side timidly.
“Uh, Michael? You okay in there?” She couldn’t imagine what he was doing in there. She’d made a relatively simple request.
Michael opened his eyes again and surveyed the mess he’d made. He quickly evaporated the sticky fluid away from his clothes and moved to stand. He swayed dizzily for a second, refastened his pants, grabbed the still empty container and flung the door open meeting Maria’s startled expression.
“Everything’s fine,” Michael growled, brushing past her and stalking into the kitchen. “Why wouldn’t it be?” He threw the empty container into the sink and braced his arms on the counter letting his head hang down while he caught his breath.
Warm hands slid around his waist, massaging in soothing circles over the firm skin she found there. She pressed small, sweet kisses over his shoulders and lay her head against his back. “What just happened in there, Michael?” She asked it softly, a whisper of breath against his bare skin.
“Max woke up,” Michael turned and embraced his girl, holding her head against his chest and not daring to meet her eyes yet. Why did these crazy things have to happen to him?
“And you know this because…” Maria prompted, her voice muffled by his smooth skin.
“Because the fever’s gone and I felt it, okay?” Michael’s voice came out harsher than he had intended, but it was okay, Maria was in a mood to be patient, sensing what he needed.
Oh.
“Oh,” she answered, pressing another series of soft kisses over his chest.
“Yeah. Oh,” Michael muttered, half embarrassed but mostly just relieved that it was over with for now. He kissed the top of her head and breathed in the clean scent of her shampoo. Maria tilted her head back and met his eyes at last, hating the misery she found there.
“Can I stay with you tonight?” She requested softly. His warm chest trembled under her hand as he took in a shaky breath.
He closed his eyes and nodded.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Kyle sat on the floor in front of the couch, his arms spread out across the seat and his head laying back against it eyes trained on the ceiling. He rolled his head to the side when Isabel slipped in beside him pressing her body against the length of his and laid her head back on his arm.
“Whassup?” He forced a lightheartedness into his tone that didn’t reach his eyes.
“That’s what I was going to ask you,” she answered seriously, turning to more fully face him. Their faces were inches apart, so Kyle couldn’t help but notice that her eyes were concerned and her question sincere.
He blew out a frustrated breath. She wasn’t going to drop this, and maybe he did want to talk about it. A little.
“I don’t know how to feel about all this. I mean, she was like my sister, and now I’m pretending to be her brother and calling all over Las Vegas to find her so that we can get rid of her for good. I mean, how am I supposed to react to that?” His blue eyes closed over the tears he wouldn’t let fall. Not over her. Not over the girl who had betrayed their trust. His trust.
A warm hand caressed his cheek gently and he leaned into the caring touch. Isabel snuggled down so her head rested against his chest and she hugged him tightly to her. “You’re on the right side, Kyle. You’re doing the right thing.” It was all she could say. Just the simple truth. Not everything, but maybe enough for now.
“I know,” he whispered, closing his eyes and letting his hands wander over her back. “Thanks, Isabel.”
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Alex turned from the computer where he had been for the last several hours, rubbing his eyes and blinking to focus again. He’d created a simple program to keep track of the places they’d called and to select the most likely prospects to call next based on the parameters they’d discussed earlier. He arched his back, satisfied with several small pops that helped get the kinks out. His arms stretched over his head and he started to yawn. The sight of Isabel and Kyle cuddled around each other asleep in front of the couch froze him in place, mind and body. He let his arms drop limply to his sides and moved to stand. He watched them for several long moments, noticing the easy intimacy of their positions and the peace in their expressions.
He reached over them and snagged a folded blanket from the back of the couch. He shook it open and covered them gently before backing out of the room, reluctant to look away.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“I love you,” Max sighed again. He couldn’t say it enough. The drug was out of his system now, but he felt drained, tired. He sat up in the bed and gave Liz a quick kiss.
“Love you too,” she answered back drowsily. “Where are you going?” Her hand stretched out, fingers still tangled with his until he reluctantly stepped back out of her reach.
“Bathroom,” he whispered as he made his way across the room. He closed the door before flicking on the light. His eyes blinked furiously, tearing in the sudden brightness. He squinted and opened them slowly catching sight of himself in the mirror. His eyes widened in shock.
“Liz!!” His hands flew to his hair and he flung the bathroom door open to find a giggling Liz huddled on the bed.
“Liz?” he questioned in a mock stern voice.
“Yes. dear?” She tried to match the solemnity of his tone, failing miserably.
“Is there something you wanted to tell me?”
“Yeah,” she tried to grab her composure and pulled herself to a sitting position on the bed. She hugged a pillow to her chest tightly and continued, “Do blondes really have more fun, Max?”
Max groaned and went back in the bathroom to stare in the mirror at his white-blond hair.
“Max?” She called, laughter still tingeing her tone. “I really want to know!”
TBC
“Who are you calling?” Michael asked from his place on the couch, looking and sounding pathetic.
“Shh,” Maria hissed from across the room before turning back to the phone and speaking in hushed tones. “Hello? FedEx? When’s your next pick-up time at the Kinko’s on 3rd street scheduled?…Umhmm. Okay, can you ship frozen packages? … Yeah, like on dry ice…mnnhmm…How fast could you get something to Mexico? ….Really? Okay, thanks.” Maria hung up the phone and turned to face Michael.
“Maria,” Michael started warningly. “We should be calling the airport and booking reservations. What are you plotting?” He could definitely see that gleam in her eye that meant she had a plan, and that didn’t usually bode well for him.
“Michael, I’ve got a plan,” she started eagerly, ignoring his snort and the rolling of his eyes. “What? It’ll save time and ensure Liz and the baby’s safety in case…” her voice broke and she cleared her throat and shook off the bad feelings, “in case Max doesn’t come out of it in time.” She whirled around and made her way into the kitchen, rooting around in the cupboards. “Perfect!” She exclaimed in triumph whirling around with a small plastic container in her hand. “Michael?” Her tone was sweet and her eyes were innocently widened into perfect saucers, guaranteed to melt one Michael Guerin. “I need a sample.”
“A sample,” Michael repeated. “Of course you need a sample! Anything else? Blood? Sweat? Tears? Cause I got plenty.”
“Michael, Michael, Michael. Sarcasm…it doesn’t suit you. You know this is the best way to get this to Liz.”
“Just how is me giving you a sample gonna help Liz?”
“We’re gonna FedEx it. They have a 24 hour drop off down the street at Kinko’s and the next shipments leave in two hours, so I need a sample now and we’ll stick it in the freezer and I’ll run down to the 24 hour market and get some dry ice and we’ll package it up and poof! Liz gets what she needs. Good plan, huh?” Maria asked proudly.
Michael was rolling his head back and forth on the throw pillow he had been resting on and couldn’t believe that he actually thought this was a good idea. He groaned and started to sit up. At least this would relieve the heavy ache in his groin. Temporarily. He got to his feet and swiped the container out of Maria’s hand and slowly, painfully, made his way to the bathroom. He stopped and turned suddenly and Maria ran right into him. She grabbed his arms to prevent herself from falling and grinned at him sheepishly.
“I could help you out with that, ya know. Anything to help our friends, right?”
“Riiight,” Michael breathed out sarcastically. “Maria?” She looked up at him expectantly. “Go sit on the couch,” he finished, turning her by the shoulders and giving her a gentle push in that general direction.
“You don’t know what you’re giving up, buddy,” Maria muttered under her breath.
“Believe me, I can imagine,” Michael answered, too softly for her to hear. He closed the bathroom door behind himself and leaned back against it heavily. He set the container by the sink and fumbled with the button to his pants before quickly lowering the zipper. “Might as well get this over with,” he muttered.
Before he had even touched himself his body started to spasm. He gasped and leaned back against the door while hot, glistening jets of cum sprayed out over his shirt and pants. His breathing was ragged and his eyes were glued shut as he experienced the overwhelming pleasure and release that Liz was experiencing in that moment. Max woke up, he thought groggily when he opened his eyes and looked around. He was surprised to find himself seated on the floor, leaning back against the door. He closed his eyes again and thumped his head back against the hard surface of the door repeatedly until Maria tapped on the other side timidly.
“Uh, Michael? You okay in there?” She couldn’t imagine what he was doing in there. She’d made a relatively simple request.
Michael opened his eyes again and surveyed the mess he’d made. He quickly evaporated the sticky fluid away from his clothes and moved to stand. He swayed dizzily for a second, refastened his pants, grabbed the still empty container and flung the door open meeting Maria’s startled expression.
“Everything’s fine,” Michael growled, brushing past her and stalking into the kitchen. “Why wouldn’t it be?” He threw the empty container into the sink and braced his arms on the counter letting his head hang down while he caught his breath.
Warm hands slid around his waist, massaging in soothing circles over the firm skin she found there. She pressed small, sweet kisses over his shoulders and lay her head against his back. “What just happened in there, Michael?” She asked it softly, a whisper of breath against his bare skin.
“Max woke up,” Michael turned and embraced his girl, holding her head against his chest and not daring to meet her eyes yet. Why did these crazy things have to happen to him?
“And you know this because…” Maria prompted, her voice muffled by his smooth skin.
“Because the fever’s gone and I felt it, okay?” Michael’s voice came out harsher than he had intended, but it was okay, Maria was in a mood to be patient, sensing what he needed.
Oh.
“Oh,” she answered, pressing another series of soft kisses over his chest.
“Yeah. Oh,” Michael muttered, half embarrassed but mostly just relieved that it was over with for now. He kissed the top of her head and breathed in the clean scent of her shampoo. Maria tilted her head back and met his eyes at last, hating the misery she found there.
“Can I stay with you tonight?” She requested softly. His warm chest trembled under her hand as he took in a shaky breath.
He closed his eyes and nodded.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Kyle sat on the floor in front of the couch, his arms spread out across the seat and his head laying back against it eyes trained on the ceiling. He rolled his head to the side when Isabel slipped in beside him pressing her body against the length of his and laid her head back on his arm.
“Whassup?” He forced a lightheartedness into his tone that didn’t reach his eyes.
“That’s what I was going to ask you,” she answered seriously, turning to more fully face him. Their faces were inches apart, so Kyle couldn’t help but notice that her eyes were concerned and her question sincere.
He blew out a frustrated breath. She wasn’t going to drop this, and maybe he did want to talk about it. A little.
“I don’t know how to feel about all this. I mean, she was like my sister, and now I’m pretending to be her brother and calling all over Las Vegas to find her so that we can get rid of her for good. I mean, how am I supposed to react to that?” His blue eyes closed over the tears he wouldn’t let fall. Not over her. Not over the girl who had betrayed their trust. His trust.
A warm hand caressed his cheek gently and he leaned into the caring touch. Isabel snuggled down so her head rested against his chest and she hugged him tightly to her. “You’re on the right side, Kyle. You’re doing the right thing.” It was all she could say. Just the simple truth. Not everything, but maybe enough for now.
“I know,” he whispered, closing his eyes and letting his hands wander over her back. “Thanks, Isabel.”
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Alex turned from the computer where he had been for the last several hours, rubbing his eyes and blinking to focus again. He’d created a simple program to keep track of the places they’d called and to select the most likely prospects to call next based on the parameters they’d discussed earlier. He arched his back, satisfied with several small pops that helped get the kinks out. His arms stretched over his head and he started to yawn. The sight of Isabel and Kyle cuddled around each other asleep in front of the couch froze him in place, mind and body. He let his arms drop limply to his sides and moved to stand. He watched them for several long moments, noticing the easy intimacy of their positions and the peace in their expressions.
He reached over them and snagged a folded blanket from the back of the couch. He shook it open and covered them gently before backing out of the room, reluctant to look away.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“I love you,” Max sighed again. He couldn’t say it enough. The drug was out of his system now, but he felt drained, tired. He sat up in the bed and gave Liz a quick kiss.
“Love you too,” she answered back drowsily. “Where are you going?” Her hand stretched out, fingers still tangled with his until he reluctantly stepped back out of her reach.
“Bathroom,” he whispered as he made his way across the room. He closed the door before flicking on the light. His eyes blinked furiously, tearing in the sudden brightness. He squinted and opened them slowly catching sight of himself in the mirror. His eyes widened in shock.
“Liz!!” His hands flew to his hair and he flung the bathroom door open to find a giggling Liz huddled on the bed.
“Liz?” he questioned in a mock stern voice.
“Yes. dear?” She tried to match the solemnity of his tone, failing miserably.
“Is there something you wanted to tell me?”
“Yeah,” she tried to grab her composure and pulled herself to a sitting position on the bed. She hugged a pillow to her chest tightly and continued, “Do blondes really have more fun, Max?”
Max groaned and went back in the bathroom to stare in the mirror at his white-blond hair.
“Max?” She called, laughter still tingeing her tone. “I really want to know!”
TBC
EYA Part 63
"Hi!" Liz gasped out, half hiding behind Max's solid frame. Max gave a small wave and scooted quickly past Judy as they moved to take their seats on the plane.
Judy rolled her eyes and prepared for another adventurous flight. Newlyweds!
Liz settled into her seat beside Max and leaned up to whisper in his ear.
"I want my Mile High T-shirt, Max!" She laughed at the expression on his face.
Max rolled his eyes and pressed the attendant call button wincing as Liz smacked his arm and buried her face against it. "Max!"
"Can I help you?" Judy asked cautiously.
"Yes, my wife is wondering about your club T-shirts?"
Liz gasped softly into his arm and clutched him tighter as her body convulsed in helpless laughter.
"I'm sorry, sir. Our what?"
"Nothing!" Liz interjected quickly, clapping her hand over Max's mouth as he opened it to speak again. She felt his wide smile behind her hand as Judy walked away shaking her head and only released him when his warm tongue licked wetly across her palm.
"Don't ask if you don't mean it," Max warned her teasingly.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Liz sighed as they climbed into the Jeep they had left at the airport. Max squeezed her hand in his and shot her a quick grin. In spite of the rocky start they had managed to have a wonderful time in Mexico. Long walks on the beach, hours spent laughing over nothing at all, quiet moments filled with passion and love. Now it was time to get back to the real world.
"You okay?" he questioned softly, nibbling on her ear teasingly.
The soft puff of his breath over her skin made her shiver and push him away laughing. "Yeah. I just wish we could've had more time alone together, you know?"
"Yeah," he sighed and kissed her quickly one more time before jogging around the car to the driver's side.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
"They're gonna be here any minute," Maria exclaimed again, rushing through the Evans house and peeking out the window beside the front door.
"We know, Maria. Calm down. Why don't you sit for a minute?" Michael patted his lap and Maria glanced back and forth between Michael and the door for a moment before choosing the more tempting proposition. She squirmed happily into his lap getting comfortable and grinned up at him.
"I just miss them," she stated simply.
"Me too," he answered with a small smile. Even after all they had put him through recently he still felt sorry for the pain they were in as well, because if he was suffering it meant they were too.
Maria rested her cheek against his chest and placed her palm over his heart. She felt a lot closer to Michael since spending the night at his house earlier in the week. They had cuddled and talked and really shared with each other. Waking up wrapped in Michael's arms was definitely something she wanted to get used to.
The rest of the week had been frustrating as hell. They'd all spent hours calling every hotel that met the criteria they had set and no one reported seeing anyone of Tess' description. Isabel was drained. She'd spent a large amount of her time trying to dreamwalk Tess, even though she'd never been especially good at reaching Tess that way in the past. She had hoped that whatever block Tess had always held against her would be gone or at least weakened because of Tess' injuries, but apparently it still held strong.
Alex had watched her frustration and at last he could take it no more. In the past she had always felt it was easier to make a connection when he was there holding her. He'd watched her struggle and held himself back, telling himself that maybe now she would prefer Kyle to hold onto, but when Kyle never stepped forward he pulled her into his own arms and felt her relax back against him immediately. He had sighed in satisfaction and helped her through the difficult days as best he could, at last convincing Isabel that it wasn't going to work. They'd have to think of something else.
Diane and Philip had supported their efforts as best they could, taking extra time from work to help out and making sure the kids ate properly. Diane feared that the new worry lines that marked her face would never go away. Every time they turned around it seemed there was a new menace to worry about.
The front door creaked open and everyone stood to greet the couple.
And got quite a shock.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
"Welcome ba…What the hell did you do to your hair?" Michael and Maria exclaimed together staring in amazement at Max's white blond locks.
Max shuffled back a step and ran a hand over the soft hair self-consciously. "Um, Liz liked it so I…thought I'd keep it for a few days."
Liz hugged him close and smiled up at him. "It was just a little experiment to see if blond's have more fun," Liz added helpfully.
"And do they?" Diane asked, stepping forward to hug her son and then Liz.
"Yep, apparently they do," Max said with a secret smile for Liz as he reached for her long dark hair. She skipped away from his wriggling fingers and ran to stand behind Maria.
"I don't think so, Max!"
"Okay," he lowered his hands back to his sides. "I guess I'll just have to go back to normal too then." He pulled his hands through his hair and it changed back to its natural dark brown shade. Diane sighed in relief. Her son was back. Liz sighed in disappointment. The change had been fun, and she'd miss the lighter side of Max.
They all sat down in the living room and shared news of the week past. Max and Liz could see how tired their friends were and felt bad for the wasted effort they had all expended. Not a great way to spend spring break. And now they would all have to go back to school in the morning.
Maria took Liz to the side and hugged her tightly. She was glad to see that Liz was looking well rested for once in spite of the rocky start they'd endured.
TBC
"Hi!" Liz gasped out, half hiding behind Max's solid frame. Max gave a small wave and scooted quickly past Judy as they moved to take their seats on the plane.
Judy rolled her eyes and prepared for another adventurous flight. Newlyweds!
Liz settled into her seat beside Max and leaned up to whisper in his ear.
"I want my Mile High T-shirt, Max!" She laughed at the expression on his face.
Max rolled his eyes and pressed the attendant call button wincing as Liz smacked his arm and buried her face against it. "Max!"
"Can I help you?" Judy asked cautiously.
"Yes, my wife is wondering about your club T-shirts?"
Liz gasped softly into his arm and clutched him tighter as her body convulsed in helpless laughter.
"I'm sorry, sir. Our what?"
"Nothing!" Liz interjected quickly, clapping her hand over Max's mouth as he opened it to speak again. She felt his wide smile behind her hand as Judy walked away shaking her head and only released him when his warm tongue licked wetly across her palm.
"Don't ask if you don't mean it," Max warned her teasingly.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Liz sighed as they climbed into the Jeep they had left at the airport. Max squeezed her hand in his and shot her a quick grin. In spite of the rocky start they had managed to have a wonderful time in Mexico. Long walks on the beach, hours spent laughing over nothing at all, quiet moments filled with passion and love. Now it was time to get back to the real world.
"You okay?" he questioned softly, nibbling on her ear teasingly.
The soft puff of his breath over her skin made her shiver and push him away laughing. "Yeah. I just wish we could've had more time alone together, you know?"
"Yeah," he sighed and kissed her quickly one more time before jogging around the car to the driver's side.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
"They're gonna be here any minute," Maria exclaimed again, rushing through the Evans house and peeking out the window beside the front door.
"We know, Maria. Calm down. Why don't you sit for a minute?" Michael patted his lap and Maria glanced back and forth between Michael and the door for a moment before choosing the more tempting proposition. She squirmed happily into his lap getting comfortable and grinned up at him.
"I just miss them," she stated simply.
"Me too," he answered with a small smile. Even after all they had put him through recently he still felt sorry for the pain they were in as well, because if he was suffering it meant they were too.
Maria rested her cheek against his chest and placed her palm over his heart. She felt a lot closer to Michael since spending the night at his house earlier in the week. They had cuddled and talked and really shared with each other. Waking up wrapped in Michael's arms was definitely something she wanted to get used to.
The rest of the week had been frustrating as hell. They'd all spent hours calling every hotel that met the criteria they had set and no one reported seeing anyone of Tess' description. Isabel was drained. She'd spent a large amount of her time trying to dreamwalk Tess, even though she'd never been especially good at reaching Tess that way in the past. She had hoped that whatever block Tess had always held against her would be gone or at least weakened because of Tess' injuries, but apparently it still held strong.
Alex had watched her frustration and at last he could take it no more. In the past she had always felt it was easier to make a connection when he was there holding her. He'd watched her struggle and held himself back, telling himself that maybe now she would prefer Kyle to hold onto, but when Kyle never stepped forward he pulled her into his own arms and felt her relax back against him immediately. He had sighed in satisfaction and helped her through the difficult days as best he could, at last convincing Isabel that it wasn't going to work. They'd have to think of something else.
Diane and Philip had supported their efforts as best they could, taking extra time from work to help out and making sure the kids ate properly. Diane feared that the new worry lines that marked her face would never go away. Every time they turned around it seemed there was a new menace to worry about.
The front door creaked open and everyone stood to greet the couple.
And got quite a shock.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
"Welcome ba…What the hell did you do to your hair?" Michael and Maria exclaimed together staring in amazement at Max's white blond locks.
Max shuffled back a step and ran a hand over the soft hair self-consciously. "Um, Liz liked it so I…thought I'd keep it for a few days."
Liz hugged him close and smiled up at him. "It was just a little experiment to see if blond's have more fun," Liz added helpfully.
"And do they?" Diane asked, stepping forward to hug her son and then Liz.
"Yep, apparently they do," Max said with a secret smile for Liz as he reached for her long dark hair. She skipped away from his wriggling fingers and ran to stand behind Maria.
"I don't think so, Max!"
"Okay," he lowered his hands back to his sides. "I guess I'll just have to go back to normal too then." He pulled his hands through his hair and it changed back to its natural dark brown shade. Diane sighed in relief. Her son was back. Liz sighed in disappointment. The change had been fun, and she'd miss the lighter side of Max.
They all sat down in the living room and shared news of the week past. Max and Liz could see how tired their friends were and felt bad for the wasted effort they had all expended. Not a great way to spend spring break. And now they would all have to go back to school in the morning.
Maria took Liz to the side and hugged her tightly. She was glad to see that Liz was looking well rested for once in spite of the rocky start they'd endured.
TBC
EYA Part 64
The days passed swiftly into weeks with a steady rhythm of school, work, loving…
“Well that was pleasant!” Liz groaned sarcastically into her hands as she dropped down onto their bed.
Max rubbed soothing hands over her back. “It wasn’t that bad, Liz,” he tried to reassure her.
Her eyes shot to meet his in disbelief. “Not that bad, Max? Not that bad? Are you insane? That was the worst one yet!”
“Shh,” Max soothed kissing the top of her head gently. “It’s no big deal. It’ll be better next time,” he tried to coax a smile from her stubborn lips.
Liz shook her head and stood to pace the small area of carpet beside the bed. “No. Absolutely not. There isn’t going to be a next time. I’ve had it,” she ranted, her hands waving wildly to emphasize her point.
Max stood too, shocked by her swift decision, knowing her had to talk her out of it. His hands ached to reach out and touch her but he knew he couldn’t risk it, considering the frame of mind she was in. His fingers curled into fists to restrain them from the fierce urge to touch. “Don’t be hasty, Liz. It’s not always gonna be like that, okay?”
Liz stopped her pacing right in front of him and placed a gentle hand over his cheek. His head tilted unconsciously into the warm touch and she couldn’t stop a faint smile from forming at the expression on his face. “When’s he gonna come around, Max? Huh? Never, that’s when. It’s been almost three months now, Max. Three of the happiest months of my life! When’s my Dad gonna wake up and realize that his little girl is happy with the choices she’s made? When’s he gonna look me in the eye again? Or…or talk to you without some insulting comment sliding out?” Her eyes pleaded with him to understand her decision. “I can’t take it anymore, Max. I love my father, I do, but I can’t keep putting my heart out there every Sunday, sitting across the dinner table attempting to act normal while he tries to kill you with his glares and telling me what a mistake I’ve made. It’s not right. He doesn’t deserve us right now.” She sniffed back her tears and swiped a quick hand across her eyes. “It’s not right. It’s too upsetting and…and…” Liz couldn’t finish and Max hugged her to his chest tightly.
“You’re right,” he whispered, closing his eyes over the pain of the admission. The weekly dinner had been instituted by Nancy in an attempt to show Jeff how happy and right the two kids were for each other. It allowed them to see Liz on a regular basis and Nancy was unwilling to give up the only contact she had left with her daughter. It was a great idea in theory. In practice, it was a nightmare. Still, every single time they arrived at the apartment filled with hope that maybe this time it would be different…well, suffice it to say that it never worked out. Liz would go home with Max and spend the rest of the evening curled in his lap and crying her eyes out over her father’s stubbornness and lack of understanding. Her small frame would shake with the force of her emotion and Max’s heart would break a little more at his inability to help her. He couldn’t let her do it anymore.
Liz’s body shuddered against his and she drew in a ragged breath before tilting her tear-streaked face up to meet his gaze. She saw the hurt that she knew was for her. The expression that told her that he knew what she had given up for him. “Don’t do that, Max,” she soothed, knowing the direction his thoughts had just turned. She rubbed her fingers over the short hair at the nape of his neck and held his gaze steadily. “I didn’t give up anything for you. My dad is the one who gave up on me, and if he can’t see what he threw away, then…” her voice broke before she continued more strongly, “…then he doesn’t deserve me.”
The flat certainty in her voice belied the harsh intent of her words and the waves of ‘hurt little girl’ that were running, screaming through her mind. Max leaned down and pressed a firm kiss to her forehead. “No he doesn’t, not right now. But, Liz…one day he’ll see. I know it.” His voice rang with strong promise.
Liz nodded against his chest and held him a moment longer. She believed that too. Somewhere deep down Jeff would realize that he couldn’t hang onto his image of a perfect child any longer, that his little baby had grown up, and he would realize what he had done. What he had lost.
Max led her back to sit on the bed and gently tugged the clothes from her body. She curled into his embrace gratefully, needing the respite from the pain of rejection.
6:00am
Cool air replaced the cozy warmth of the thick blankets. Liz’s hands reached blindly around her body to retrieve the slipping covers. They encountered only empty air. Her eyes squinched closed tighter and she made a mewling protesting noise in the back of her throat. Warm hands, slick and sensual, slid up her body from her ankles to her thighs, gently massaging. Liz sighed happily and relaxed back against her pillow. The sweet scent of strawberries hung in the air and she inhaled again deeply, taking it into herself. What. Wait…strawberries? Liz’s eyes snapped open in surprise to find Max grinning at her smugly from his position beside her as his hands made another long sweep down her legs. Her gaze followed his progress and widened in shock. Her skin was…glowing. Well, glittering really. Tiny flecks of gold were left behind in the glossy wake of Max’s sure strokes. The scented oil clung sensually to her skin and the rich gold color added a sexy texture to the sensual picture. Liz’s eyes drifted shut on a small moan that escaped as Max bent her leg up at the knee to massage around her thigh. Her hips started a slow rolling rhythm without her conscious thought and she could feel Max’s hungry eyes roam her body.
“Max,” she croaked out, her head tossing and her eyes still tightly closed. “Max, what are you doing?” She finally gasped out.
“Happy Monday, baby,” he whispered teasingly. After the harshness of the evening before, Max wanted to do something special for her. Something to remove her mind from the sadness of her father’s rejection.
“What are you…” gasp, inhale, “How is this…” moan, shaky breath, “I’m glittering here, Max!” she finally exclaimed. She felt the warm huff of breath as he chuckled lightly before gasping as he took a long swipe with his tongue over her inner thigh. Her thigh quivered in his hold. He shifted to sit between her legs and slid more oil over her torso in long, sensuous stokes over her still-flat stomach, up, up over her ribs to finally smooth over her aching breasts. His thumbs gently circled her sensitive nipples in the way he knew she liked until her back arched off the bed and the only words he could distinguish anymore consisted of various forms of “Oh, so good…yeah…just like…ahhh!” and “Max, don’t stop…right…oh yeah, right there…!” He leaned up over her body, sliding his way up her writhing form and replacing his hands with his mouth, licking over the hardened points and inhaling her alluring scent. Strawberry and Liz.
Liz raked her fingers through his hair and held his head to her body. Max kissed a slow trail up the long column of her arched neck, nibbling and licking along the way until he met her in a sweet crush of lips and tongues. Small whimpers escaped her throat and she wrapped her legs around his hips, bucking her body up to brush his hardened erection. Max groaned softly into her mouth at the craved contact when Liz reached between their bodies and stroked his shaft in her small hand before she directed him where she needed him to go. She bucked her hips up as he slammed them down and both let out moans of mutual satisfaction. Their bodies moved together in a rhythm that grew faster and more frantic as Liz raked her nails down Max’s back until she could grab his hips and encourage him to go faster, harder.
Max’s mouth moved over her face and neck nibbling and sucking as his oil-slick hand massaged her breasts and down her side. He grabbed her hands in his and twined their fingers together when he pinned them up by her head. Liz was frustrated at not being able to touch him and at the same time wildly turned on by his control of the situation. Her eyes flared wide as her release overcame her and Max took her mouth in a kiss that mated lips and tongues and passion. Her hips bucked up and her body quivered under his while he continued his deep, steady pace.
When Liz could think again she rolled their bodies in a swift maneuver that proved that she could surprise Max at any time. She stared down into his amber eyes from her new perspective and, painfully slowly, started to move her hips up and down above him. Her glazed eyes traveled leisurely down his straining form and widened in surprise at the golden glow that touched his body at every point that his skin had made heated contact with hers. His chest, arms, and thighs were slick with oil and golden glitter and glinted in the low light of morning. The sight ignited her passion to a fever pitch and she increased her efforts above his straining body. The muscles in his chest and stomach rippled and shone brightly as his hips rose to meet hers and his hands slipped down her sides and tried to gain purchase on her slender hips, foiled by the slither and slide of the strawberry oil.
Liz leaned down to place frantic, tiny kisses along his jaw and neck, tasting, devouring. A whimper escaped her lips as her pleasure mounted steadily into an overwhelming urge for release. She watched the way Max’s eyes couldn’t stay open and his brow furrowed in deep concentration and loved the sight. Not because of her power to put that expression on his face, but because only she would ever get to see him like this. Lost in the moment, surrendering to the feelings that swamped them both into a hazy place filled only with each other. This was life. This was love. This was everything she could have wanted from her life and more.
Max’s eyes flew open as her feelings swamped him with love and as their heated gazes met he thrust into her harder, deeper and watched her face as she felt her release wash over her again. Her muscles clenched around him in a strong, fluttering grip and he allowed his own release at last, calling her name and gripping her hips as his seed flooded into her.
Max rolled off of her to the side and they stared at each other with small smiles and gentle touches as their bodies tried to come down off of the high of being together. Gradually their breathing leveled out and they were able to form coherent thoughts and sentences.
Liz slid a lazy hand down the middle of Max’s chest, trailing through the glitter of gold that clung lovingly to the ridges of hard muscle. “What is this, Max?”
Max watched the progress of her hand and covered it with his own when it reached too low. It was too soon. Too much sensation. She grinned at him slyly as she allowed her hand to be captured and diverted. He brought it up to his mouth and her eyes slipped closed when his warm tongue sucked in two fingers and swirled around them with a strong pull. She forgot her question, so was startled when he answered anyway.
“You don’t recognize it?” He placed her hand over the beat of his heart and her eyes popped open in confusion.
“Recognize wha…ohhh!” She suddenly remembered her inquiry and wrinkled her nose as she tried to remember if she had ever seen a glittering bottle of divinely scented oil lying around anywhere. She was reasonably sure she would have taken note of it. “No. Should I?”
“It’s from our honeymoon. The strawberry oil,” Max prompted. “I just thought I’d give it a little,” he wriggled his fingers to indicate his molecular intervention, “something extra.” His grin prompted her own.
Memories of their time in Mexico and the long, slow massages that almost always ended in a sweaty tangle of limbs and panting breath rushed over her and heightened the warm glow that already surrounded her.
“I like your mind, Max. I really do,” she whimpered as his mouth captured her lips in another tender kiss. His body moved over hers and her last coherent thought was that they’d definitely be late for school. Again.
School. Middle of first period.
Max slid into his seat in the back row, shooting an apologetic look to his teacher.
“Late again, Mr. Evans,” the teacher drawled out, looking like he knew exactly where Max had been.
“Um, yeah sorry. Car trouble.” Max fought the blush that he knew was creeping over his face and looked directly into his teacher’s eyes.
“Car trouble again, is it? It seems you should get a better mechanic, Mr. Evans, or take the bus. Are we clear?” Mr. Harris arched a brow and stared him down.
“Yes, sir,” Max answered promptly nodding for emphasis. “Very clear.” Max hoped he could keep the implicit promise to arrive on time.
Pam Troy seethed from her seat directly behind Max. She suspected the true reason for Max’s recent tardiness and she didn’t like it one bit. She couldn’t understand Max’s attraction to that scrawny flat-chested little twit of a girl that he’d married. Pam was still convinced that Liz was pregnant, but watching her waistline week after week had yielded no revelations. And Liz was always wearing form fitting clothes and hip huggers, so she obviously wasn’t trying to hide a suspicious bulge. Since Max had gotten married he was even more attractive to Pam. She had always found him wildly sexy, but now that he was off-limits her contrary nature wanted to have him even more. Especially since he was Liz’s…
So she had started a campaign. She planned her approach very carefully. So far she had engaged him in conversation at every opportunity. She had complimented his looks and his intelligence. She had asked for his assistance with school-work that she really needed no help on. As he explained the meaning of the text and showed her what she was doing wrong she would lean in and breathe gentle puffs of air over his skin as she nodded her new understanding and allowed her hand to slide over the smooth rippled skin of his muscled arms to his shoulder.
And the most frustrating thing was that he hardly seemed to notice. His breathing never quickened as hers did. His muscles never jumped in excitement at her touch. His face never flushed with the flattery of her attention to him. His gorgeous eyes never met hers with the hot return of her passion for him. He never left her side with the satisfied look that he always wore on his face the mornings he arrived late to their class. But she was persistent and hopeful that one day, maybe when Liz was fat with their child and the newness had worn off, he would turn to her.
She touched a hand to his shoulder and rolled her eyes to indicate her supposed sympathy when he turned to look at her. She cherished the quick grin he shot her before he turned back to pay attention to the teacher.
When the bell rang Pam gathered her things hurriedly and raced to follow Max out the door. He was moving quickly. No doubt hoping to catch a moment with Liz before their next class, but she’d put a stop to that. “Max! Wait up!” Max turned reluctantly to face her. Liz was waiting at her locker for him. He could feel her edgy exhilaration at the thought of seeing him momentarily.
“What is it, Pam?” Max asked as politely as he could. She no doubt wanted help with homework again, the girl must be dumb as a post considering the inane questions she always had for him. He reined in his patience and shot a quick thought to Liz, ‘Gonna be another minute, baby. I’ll get there as fast as I can,” He could feel her frustration.
‘What is it, Max?’
‘Pam. I think she needs help with homework again,’ Max could feel the anger roll off of Liz and didn’t quite understand it.
‘Pam again? Max, don’t you understand what she’s doing?’ Liz shot back.
‘Doing? Max shook his head in honest confusion.
“Max? Hello?” Pam waved her hand in front of his eyes to get his attention. He always seemed to zone out when she started talking to him.
“Yeah, Pam. Sorry, I’m meeting Liz and don’t want to be late for my next class. Enough trouble already, ya know?” Max shot her an engaging grin and she imagined that it meant more than it did.
“Trouble, yeah,” Pam answered softly, batting her lashes until Max was concerned that she had something in her eye. “Are you okay?” he asked her.
“What? Oh yeah, fine,” Pam told him, moving closer to his side. She put one hand on the hard muscle of his bicep and allowed her breast to bump against his side as she pretended the crowded halls were pushing them together.
“Did you need to ask me something?” Max prompted, wishing she would get to the point quickly so he could join Liz.
“Mmnn. Yeah, I was just wondering,” she paused and inhaled a deep breath close to his shoulder. “What is that cologne you’re wearing? It’s divine,” she purred, now clutching his arm and pushing her chest against it.
Max felt the first prickle of knowledge thud through him. Maybe Pam wanted more than just help with homework.
‘Liz!’ he shot out desperately, not realizing how close she already was.
“Max,” Liz greeted. “What are you two doing?” She slanted a disapproving look at Pam, who only smiled and hugged Max’s arm tighter. Let Liz wonder about this!, she thought wickedly.
“Um, well, uh Pam here was just asking what cologne I have on. I don’t remember putting any on this morning. Do you know what it is?” Max’s mind was a muddle as he tried to disengage his arm from Pam’s tight grip. He shrugged free at last.
“Oh, let me see if I can…” Liz answered, stepping up to the side opposite Pam. She leaned up on her toes and pulled him down so she could inhale a deep breath at his neck. A smile spread across her face at the scent that greeted her and she gave his neck a teasing lick before settling back into the comfort of his circling arm. She gazed into his eyes and completely forgot Pam’s glaring presence. “That’s me on you, baby,” she voiced huskily. Memories of their strawberry scented morning were echoed on his skin and he smelled delicious.
“Oh yeah,” Max answered, equally as softly, lost in her rapt expression. His arm held her more tightly and they walked away together quickly, not even noticing a seething Pam.
TBC
The days passed swiftly into weeks with a steady rhythm of school, work, loving…
“Well that was pleasant!” Liz groaned sarcastically into her hands as she dropped down onto their bed.
Max rubbed soothing hands over her back. “It wasn’t that bad, Liz,” he tried to reassure her.
Her eyes shot to meet his in disbelief. “Not that bad, Max? Not that bad? Are you insane? That was the worst one yet!”
“Shh,” Max soothed kissing the top of her head gently. “It’s no big deal. It’ll be better next time,” he tried to coax a smile from her stubborn lips.
Liz shook her head and stood to pace the small area of carpet beside the bed. “No. Absolutely not. There isn’t going to be a next time. I’ve had it,” she ranted, her hands waving wildly to emphasize her point.
Max stood too, shocked by her swift decision, knowing her had to talk her out of it. His hands ached to reach out and touch her but he knew he couldn’t risk it, considering the frame of mind she was in. His fingers curled into fists to restrain them from the fierce urge to touch. “Don’t be hasty, Liz. It’s not always gonna be like that, okay?”
Liz stopped her pacing right in front of him and placed a gentle hand over his cheek. His head tilted unconsciously into the warm touch and she couldn’t stop a faint smile from forming at the expression on his face. “When’s he gonna come around, Max? Huh? Never, that’s when. It’s been almost three months now, Max. Three of the happiest months of my life! When’s my Dad gonna wake up and realize that his little girl is happy with the choices she’s made? When’s he gonna look me in the eye again? Or…or talk to you without some insulting comment sliding out?” Her eyes pleaded with him to understand her decision. “I can’t take it anymore, Max. I love my father, I do, but I can’t keep putting my heart out there every Sunday, sitting across the dinner table attempting to act normal while he tries to kill you with his glares and telling me what a mistake I’ve made. It’s not right. He doesn’t deserve us right now.” She sniffed back her tears and swiped a quick hand across her eyes. “It’s not right. It’s too upsetting and…and…” Liz couldn’t finish and Max hugged her to his chest tightly.
“You’re right,” he whispered, closing his eyes over the pain of the admission. The weekly dinner had been instituted by Nancy in an attempt to show Jeff how happy and right the two kids were for each other. It allowed them to see Liz on a regular basis and Nancy was unwilling to give up the only contact she had left with her daughter. It was a great idea in theory. In practice, it was a nightmare. Still, every single time they arrived at the apartment filled with hope that maybe this time it would be different…well, suffice it to say that it never worked out. Liz would go home with Max and spend the rest of the evening curled in his lap and crying her eyes out over her father’s stubbornness and lack of understanding. Her small frame would shake with the force of her emotion and Max’s heart would break a little more at his inability to help her. He couldn’t let her do it anymore.
Liz’s body shuddered against his and she drew in a ragged breath before tilting her tear-streaked face up to meet his gaze. She saw the hurt that she knew was for her. The expression that told her that he knew what she had given up for him. “Don’t do that, Max,” she soothed, knowing the direction his thoughts had just turned. She rubbed her fingers over the short hair at the nape of his neck and held his gaze steadily. “I didn’t give up anything for you. My dad is the one who gave up on me, and if he can’t see what he threw away, then…” her voice broke before she continued more strongly, “…then he doesn’t deserve me.”
The flat certainty in her voice belied the harsh intent of her words and the waves of ‘hurt little girl’ that were running, screaming through her mind. Max leaned down and pressed a firm kiss to her forehead. “No he doesn’t, not right now. But, Liz…one day he’ll see. I know it.” His voice rang with strong promise.
Liz nodded against his chest and held him a moment longer. She believed that too. Somewhere deep down Jeff would realize that he couldn’t hang onto his image of a perfect child any longer, that his little baby had grown up, and he would realize what he had done. What he had lost.
Max led her back to sit on the bed and gently tugged the clothes from her body. She curled into his embrace gratefully, needing the respite from the pain of rejection.
6:00am
Cool air replaced the cozy warmth of the thick blankets. Liz’s hands reached blindly around her body to retrieve the slipping covers. They encountered only empty air. Her eyes squinched closed tighter and she made a mewling protesting noise in the back of her throat. Warm hands, slick and sensual, slid up her body from her ankles to her thighs, gently massaging. Liz sighed happily and relaxed back against her pillow. The sweet scent of strawberries hung in the air and she inhaled again deeply, taking it into herself. What. Wait…strawberries? Liz’s eyes snapped open in surprise to find Max grinning at her smugly from his position beside her as his hands made another long sweep down her legs. Her gaze followed his progress and widened in shock. Her skin was…glowing. Well, glittering really. Tiny flecks of gold were left behind in the glossy wake of Max’s sure strokes. The scented oil clung sensually to her skin and the rich gold color added a sexy texture to the sensual picture. Liz’s eyes drifted shut on a small moan that escaped as Max bent her leg up at the knee to massage around her thigh. Her hips started a slow rolling rhythm without her conscious thought and she could feel Max’s hungry eyes roam her body.
“Max,” she croaked out, her head tossing and her eyes still tightly closed. “Max, what are you doing?” She finally gasped out.
“Happy Monday, baby,” he whispered teasingly. After the harshness of the evening before, Max wanted to do something special for her. Something to remove her mind from the sadness of her father’s rejection.
“What are you…” gasp, inhale, “How is this…” moan, shaky breath, “I’m glittering here, Max!” she finally exclaimed. She felt the warm huff of breath as he chuckled lightly before gasping as he took a long swipe with his tongue over her inner thigh. Her thigh quivered in his hold. He shifted to sit between her legs and slid more oil over her torso in long, sensuous stokes over her still-flat stomach, up, up over her ribs to finally smooth over her aching breasts. His thumbs gently circled her sensitive nipples in the way he knew she liked until her back arched off the bed and the only words he could distinguish anymore consisted of various forms of “Oh, so good…yeah…just like…ahhh!” and “Max, don’t stop…right…oh yeah, right there…!” He leaned up over her body, sliding his way up her writhing form and replacing his hands with his mouth, licking over the hardened points and inhaling her alluring scent. Strawberry and Liz.
Liz raked her fingers through his hair and held his head to her body. Max kissed a slow trail up the long column of her arched neck, nibbling and licking along the way until he met her in a sweet crush of lips and tongues. Small whimpers escaped her throat and she wrapped her legs around his hips, bucking her body up to brush his hardened erection. Max groaned softly into her mouth at the craved contact when Liz reached between their bodies and stroked his shaft in her small hand before she directed him where she needed him to go. She bucked her hips up as he slammed them down and both let out moans of mutual satisfaction. Their bodies moved together in a rhythm that grew faster and more frantic as Liz raked her nails down Max’s back until she could grab his hips and encourage him to go faster, harder.
Max’s mouth moved over her face and neck nibbling and sucking as his oil-slick hand massaged her breasts and down her side. He grabbed her hands in his and twined their fingers together when he pinned them up by her head. Liz was frustrated at not being able to touch him and at the same time wildly turned on by his control of the situation. Her eyes flared wide as her release overcame her and Max took her mouth in a kiss that mated lips and tongues and passion. Her hips bucked up and her body quivered under his while he continued his deep, steady pace.
When Liz could think again she rolled their bodies in a swift maneuver that proved that she could surprise Max at any time. She stared down into his amber eyes from her new perspective and, painfully slowly, started to move her hips up and down above him. Her glazed eyes traveled leisurely down his straining form and widened in surprise at the golden glow that touched his body at every point that his skin had made heated contact with hers. His chest, arms, and thighs were slick with oil and golden glitter and glinted in the low light of morning. The sight ignited her passion to a fever pitch and she increased her efforts above his straining body. The muscles in his chest and stomach rippled and shone brightly as his hips rose to meet hers and his hands slipped down her sides and tried to gain purchase on her slender hips, foiled by the slither and slide of the strawberry oil.
Liz leaned down to place frantic, tiny kisses along his jaw and neck, tasting, devouring. A whimper escaped her lips as her pleasure mounted steadily into an overwhelming urge for release. She watched the way Max’s eyes couldn’t stay open and his brow furrowed in deep concentration and loved the sight. Not because of her power to put that expression on his face, but because only she would ever get to see him like this. Lost in the moment, surrendering to the feelings that swamped them both into a hazy place filled only with each other. This was life. This was love. This was everything she could have wanted from her life and more.
Max’s eyes flew open as her feelings swamped him with love and as their heated gazes met he thrust into her harder, deeper and watched her face as she felt her release wash over her again. Her muscles clenched around him in a strong, fluttering grip and he allowed his own release at last, calling her name and gripping her hips as his seed flooded into her.
Max rolled off of her to the side and they stared at each other with small smiles and gentle touches as their bodies tried to come down off of the high of being together. Gradually their breathing leveled out and they were able to form coherent thoughts and sentences.
Liz slid a lazy hand down the middle of Max’s chest, trailing through the glitter of gold that clung lovingly to the ridges of hard muscle. “What is this, Max?”
Max watched the progress of her hand and covered it with his own when it reached too low. It was too soon. Too much sensation. She grinned at him slyly as she allowed her hand to be captured and diverted. He brought it up to his mouth and her eyes slipped closed when his warm tongue sucked in two fingers and swirled around them with a strong pull. She forgot her question, so was startled when he answered anyway.
“You don’t recognize it?” He placed her hand over the beat of his heart and her eyes popped open in confusion.
“Recognize wha…ohhh!” She suddenly remembered her inquiry and wrinkled her nose as she tried to remember if she had ever seen a glittering bottle of divinely scented oil lying around anywhere. She was reasonably sure she would have taken note of it. “No. Should I?”
“It’s from our honeymoon. The strawberry oil,” Max prompted. “I just thought I’d give it a little,” he wriggled his fingers to indicate his molecular intervention, “something extra.” His grin prompted her own.
Memories of their time in Mexico and the long, slow massages that almost always ended in a sweaty tangle of limbs and panting breath rushed over her and heightened the warm glow that already surrounded her.
“I like your mind, Max. I really do,” she whimpered as his mouth captured her lips in another tender kiss. His body moved over hers and her last coherent thought was that they’d definitely be late for school. Again.
School. Middle of first period.
Max slid into his seat in the back row, shooting an apologetic look to his teacher.
“Late again, Mr. Evans,” the teacher drawled out, looking like he knew exactly where Max had been.
“Um, yeah sorry. Car trouble.” Max fought the blush that he knew was creeping over his face and looked directly into his teacher’s eyes.
“Car trouble again, is it? It seems you should get a better mechanic, Mr. Evans, or take the bus. Are we clear?” Mr. Harris arched a brow and stared him down.
“Yes, sir,” Max answered promptly nodding for emphasis. “Very clear.” Max hoped he could keep the implicit promise to arrive on time.
Pam Troy seethed from her seat directly behind Max. She suspected the true reason for Max’s recent tardiness and she didn’t like it one bit. She couldn’t understand Max’s attraction to that scrawny flat-chested little twit of a girl that he’d married. Pam was still convinced that Liz was pregnant, but watching her waistline week after week had yielded no revelations. And Liz was always wearing form fitting clothes and hip huggers, so she obviously wasn’t trying to hide a suspicious bulge. Since Max had gotten married he was even more attractive to Pam. She had always found him wildly sexy, but now that he was off-limits her contrary nature wanted to have him even more. Especially since he was Liz’s…
So she had started a campaign. She planned her approach very carefully. So far she had engaged him in conversation at every opportunity. She had complimented his looks and his intelligence. She had asked for his assistance with school-work that she really needed no help on. As he explained the meaning of the text and showed her what she was doing wrong she would lean in and breathe gentle puffs of air over his skin as she nodded her new understanding and allowed her hand to slide over the smooth rippled skin of his muscled arms to his shoulder.
And the most frustrating thing was that he hardly seemed to notice. His breathing never quickened as hers did. His muscles never jumped in excitement at her touch. His face never flushed with the flattery of her attention to him. His gorgeous eyes never met hers with the hot return of her passion for him. He never left her side with the satisfied look that he always wore on his face the mornings he arrived late to their class. But she was persistent and hopeful that one day, maybe when Liz was fat with their child and the newness had worn off, he would turn to her.
She touched a hand to his shoulder and rolled her eyes to indicate her supposed sympathy when he turned to look at her. She cherished the quick grin he shot her before he turned back to pay attention to the teacher.
When the bell rang Pam gathered her things hurriedly and raced to follow Max out the door. He was moving quickly. No doubt hoping to catch a moment with Liz before their next class, but she’d put a stop to that. “Max! Wait up!” Max turned reluctantly to face her. Liz was waiting at her locker for him. He could feel her edgy exhilaration at the thought of seeing him momentarily.
“What is it, Pam?” Max asked as politely as he could. She no doubt wanted help with homework again, the girl must be dumb as a post considering the inane questions she always had for him. He reined in his patience and shot a quick thought to Liz, ‘Gonna be another minute, baby. I’ll get there as fast as I can,” He could feel her frustration.
‘What is it, Max?’
‘Pam. I think she needs help with homework again,’ Max could feel the anger roll off of Liz and didn’t quite understand it.
‘Pam again? Max, don’t you understand what she’s doing?’ Liz shot back.
‘Doing? Max shook his head in honest confusion.
“Max? Hello?” Pam waved her hand in front of his eyes to get his attention. He always seemed to zone out when she started talking to him.
“Yeah, Pam. Sorry, I’m meeting Liz and don’t want to be late for my next class. Enough trouble already, ya know?” Max shot her an engaging grin and she imagined that it meant more than it did.
“Trouble, yeah,” Pam answered softly, batting her lashes until Max was concerned that she had something in her eye. “Are you okay?” he asked her.
“What? Oh yeah, fine,” Pam told him, moving closer to his side. She put one hand on the hard muscle of his bicep and allowed her breast to bump against his side as she pretended the crowded halls were pushing them together.
“Did you need to ask me something?” Max prompted, wishing she would get to the point quickly so he could join Liz.
“Mmnn. Yeah, I was just wondering,” she paused and inhaled a deep breath close to his shoulder. “What is that cologne you’re wearing? It’s divine,” she purred, now clutching his arm and pushing her chest against it.
Max felt the first prickle of knowledge thud through him. Maybe Pam wanted more than just help with homework.
‘Liz!’ he shot out desperately, not realizing how close she already was.
“Max,” Liz greeted. “What are you two doing?” She slanted a disapproving look at Pam, who only smiled and hugged Max’s arm tighter. Let Liz wonder about this!, she thought wickedly.
“Um, well, uh Pam here was just asking what cologne I have on. I don’t remember putting any on this morning. Do you know what it is?” Max’s mind was a muddle as he tried to disengage his arm from Pam’s tight grip. He shrugged free at last.
“Oh, let me see if I can…” Liz answered, stepping up to the side opposite Pam. She leaned up on her toes and pulled him down so she could inhale a deep breath at his neck. A smile spread across her face at the scent that greeted her and she gave his neck a teasing lick before settling back into the comfort of his circling arm. She gazed into his eyes and completely forgot Pam’s glaring presence. “That’s me on you, baby,” she voiced huskily. Memories of their strawberry scented morning were echoed on his skin and he smelled delicious.
“Oh yeah,” Max answered, equally as softly, lost in her rapt expression. His arm held her more tightly and they walked away together quickly, not even noticing a seething Pam.
TBC
EYA Part 65
“Okay, okay let me get this straight.” Maria was practically bubbling with anticipation and she almost jumped on top of Liz in the quad at lunch to hear the latest. “You licked Max right in front of Pam and then…and then…” she paused and shook her head, waving her hands in front of herself excitedly. “No, you say it, I’ll be so much better coming from you!” Maria almost bounced in her seat waiting for Liz to confirm if the rumors were true.
“Maria!” Liz was squirming in her seat beside Max who kept his arm around her supportively, even while he couldn’t quite repress a chuckle at the memory of his feisty wife. “It wasn’t that bad!” She smacked Max’s arm where it was shaking from his suppressed glee and shot him an exasperated look.
“Oh, come on! You know I’m gonna keep askin’ until you tell me yourself,” Maria pleaded, hands clasped beseechingly for effect in front of her. Michael, Isabel, Kyle and Alex slid into their spots at the table just as Maria finished her plea.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind hearing about it myself,” Alex put in with a grin, always glad to tease his best friend. Liz shifted further into the cover of Max’s arm and refused to speak.
“She said, ‘That’s me on you, baby,’” Max finished for her with a proud smile, mimicking the possessive tone she had used perfectly.
“Oh…” Maria clutched her stomach and almost fell out of her chair laughing, “…oh, that is almost too good. That’s even better than what I heard in the halls.” She gasped for breath. “I wish…” gasp, long shaky breath, “oh, I wish I could have seen Pam’s face!” She turned back to Liz. “You have to show me the face!”
Liz turned a delicate shade of pink. “Um, well, we kinda forgot about her after I, uh, licked Max. I seriously didn’t remember she was there and we just…walked away.”
Max nodded his agreement, smiling privately at Liz.
“Did you expect anything less?” Michael put in drolly, rolling his eyes. Those two were always lost in each other these days. He would never admit it openly, but he was a little jealous of the easy manner they had around each other and the unapologetic joy they took in just being together. One day he hoped to be that way with someone. Well, technically, with Maria. He found himself staring at her. Again.
Maybe someday soon.
“Leave them alone, guys,” Isabel defended. Liz looked like she’d had about all the ribbing she could take for one lunch hour. She grinned when Liz shot her a grateful half-smile.
Isabel turned to Kyle and made sure he had enough food on his lunch tray. It had become second nature to watch out for him, even when he still didn’t notice or even realize that she was doing it for him. She felt sort of responsible for his depression after Tess left. He was doing much better now, of course, but it was still nice to have someone to look out for.
“So are you and Michael going to the prom?” Liz asked innocently, not so subtly changing the subject.
Maria shot a triumphant look at Michael before nudging him in the side. Hard. “See?” She scolded, “I told you they were going to the prom!” She turned to Liz. “Michael said that with everything going on that everyone would forget about the prom this year. Can you believe that?” Maria’s look clearly conveyed her firm belief that no one would forget about the prom ,and she’d been just waiting for this magic moment to show Michael she was right.
“What? You guys are seriously going?” Michael’s desperate look was directed at Max for a little support from a brother.
Max shrugged and had the grace to look a little sheepish when he admitted, “Liz wanted to go, and I always love dancing with her.”
“Uh huh,” Michael turned to Kyle and Alex as his last bastion of support, “You guys goin’?”
“I’m running the music. You know, doin’ the DJ thing,” Alex put in. He slanted a glance toward Isabel. “I might have time for a dance or two,” he mused out loud.
“What about you, Kyle?” Michael was getting desperate.
Kyle looked vaguely surprised that the prom was here already. He’d always been right on top of the dating situation. The stud with a beauty on his arm for every major school function. Funny how it didn’t seem important any longer. He shook his head. “Nah, man. No date this year so…”
“I’ll go with you, Kyle,” Isabel put in quickly, her voice slightly breathless. “I don’t have a date yet either, and I could dance with Alex when he gets a break too.” She looked back and forth between the two.
Kyle’s surprise at her offer was almost comical. “I, hmm, well yeah, okay I guess,” he stammered out gracelessly. He’d never considered asking Isabel out to anything before. She was a guy’s wet dream, way out of his league. He was lucky to have her as a friend. Of course, they had spent a lot of time together lately, and she probably just wanted to go to the dance to be close to the group. Safety in numbers and all that. Yeah, that was probably it.
Isabel looked pleased and Michael appeared resigned.
“So, Michael,” Maria purred silkily, her arm draped over his shoulders. “You doin’ anything for prom?”
Michael gave in as gracefully as he was able. “I’ve already got a date that night,” he smiled smugly.
“You’ve got a…What the hell, Michael?” Maria stammered, shock covering her features.
“Yeah, with a beautiful blonde girl who doesn’t know how to give up,” he clarified, pulling her closer when she tried to draw away. He saw the exact moment when comprehension dawned over her face. She snuggled in closer.
“Anyone I know?”
“Yeah, you know her pretty well. She’s beautiful, imaginative, loves to talk a lot, she’s really smart, but has pretty lousy taste in guys,” Michael supplied.
“Uh huh, she’ll have to work on that,” she poked Michael in the side. “So, pick me up at six, take me to a nice restaurant, and dance the night away, right?”
“Right,” Michael paused, “When’s the prom again?”
Laughter rounded the table. “Two weeks, Michael. Second week of June. Right before school’s out. Ring any bells?”
“I’m on it,” he laughed back, just before surprising Maria with a public kiss on the lips. It was always better to keep her on her toes.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Any luck with that?” Isabel leaned low over Alex’s shoulder and peered at the computer screen. He had just scanned a picture of Tess that Kyle had supplied and was modifying it to remove a smiling Kyle and Jim. They’d decided to file a missing persons report and use the photo in the hopes of someone recognizing her face and tipping them off. The trick would be to not tip off their intended target. At the very least they would have a more recent lock on Tess’ location. It was risky, but Max thought it was worth it if they could find any new information about Tess. The more time she had alone to heal herself, then the more risky it became for them all. And Liz continued having disturbing dreams. Isabel shuddered. She’d been asked to ‘attend’ the most recent dream, and the torture had been…not pleasant. She understood Max’s wish to find Tess now.
“Yeah,” he leaned back in his chair to give her a clearer view. “How’s it look?”
The picture was a full body shot of Tess smiling brightly for the camera. Isabel could hardly tell where the others had been edited out. “Good. That’ll work,” she sat back, not able to look at the picture of their enemy any longer.
Alex understood the feeling. He understood a lot about Isabel lately too. He peered up at her inquiringly and with the tiniest of smiles said, “So, you and Kyle, huh?”
Isabel was surprised by the direct question, but she appreciated his straight-forward manner. She shifted briefly from her place beside him before brushing the hair out of her eyes and taking his hands in hers. “Yeah, I mean…yeah. I guess. I just…you know I don’t mean to hurt you, right?” Her look told him all he needed to know about how much she cared for him, how much she really didn’t want her choice to cause him any pain.
He nodded slowly. “I know you’d never hurt any of your friends on purpose, Isabel. It’s not in you.” He squeezed her hands gently within his own larger ones before letting them go and scrubbing his palms against his jeans-clad thighs. “And that’s all we’ve really ever been, isn’t it? Friends, I mean. I’d never want to lose that. There was a time that I wanted more than that.” He met her eyes steadily. “You know that. But I think even then you knew that wasn’t how we should be together. All I really ask is that you’re happy.” He smiled at her to show he truly was sincere. “Are you happy, Isabel?” His hand brushed across her cheek and his thumb smoothed away a tear.
Isabel smiled and nodded against his palm. “Yeah, I really am. I don’t know how Kyle will react to hearing that I’d like a chance with him, but I’d like to find out.”
“He’d be crazy to turn you down.” Alex swiveled the chair with his legs and tipped Isabel into his lap in a surprise move that had her laughing with him when Max and Michael walked in.
“What happened to Kyle?” Michael eyed their position suspiciously and scowled.
“Geez, Michael, you’d think we were doing something kinky. We’re just having a little fun together here. You remember fun, don’t you, Michael?” Isabel taunted.
“I thought you were with…You know what? Nevermind. I’m gonna stay outta this one,” Michael decided.
“Great idea, Michael,” Isabel agreed, before they all turned back to Alex’s newly edited picture.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Liz stared in awe at the now familiar picture of Max laid out beside her completely nude as he caressed her bared tummy and sang a soft song to the baby boy inside her.
Max’s sweet, low voice finished on a soft note and he pressed a gentle kiss to her abdomen just below her belly button. Liz threaded her fingers through his hair.
“What are we going to name him?” She asked softly.
Max looked up at her with eyes filled with love. “Have you thought of any names yet?”
Liz shook her head. Maybe we should ask the group for suggestions. “Nothing seems right yet, you know?”
Max just nodded and laid his head back down.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“What about Alexander?” Alex put in at lunch the next day. “That’s a good, strong name.” His grin showed them all he was only teasing.
Maria smacked his arm lightly. “I think he should have an unusual name, but distinguished. Like, Edward, or something.”
“I am not naming my child Edward. It sounds too stuffy for a baby,” Liz put in, squelching the idea before Maria took off with it.
“Okay, how about…Frederick or Charles…that’s the name of a future king you know!” Maria would not be daunted.
“I’d always think of Charlie Brown,” Max supplied with a grin. “I couldn’t do that to my son.” He was starting to think that asking their ever-helpful friends for suggestions was going to be a bad idea.
“I wish you were having a girl. Girl names are easier. So many more to choose from, you know?” Isabel lamented.
“A girl wasn’t prophesied, but maybe next time.” Max hugged Liz close. They still didn’t know if this was a one-shot deal, or if they would have the chance to increase their family later.
“Uhg! Tell me you’re not already thinking about more kids!” Michael scoffed. He was picking with a ragged nail at a groove in the table, uncomfortable with all this talk of babies. It’d probably give Maria ideas. He shuddered at the thought.
Liz laughed, understanding Michael’s discomfort. “Not just yet, Michael. One is plenty,” she laughed and couldn’t resist adding, “For now.” The group around the table burst into laughter.
“What about William?” Kyle offered. “It means ‘determined protector’, that’s what this kid is born to be, right?”
Liz and Max looked at each other and nodded, small smiles covering their faces. Determined protector. That was a definite possibility.
“Or maybe Zander,” Isabel offered with a small nod to Alex. “It’d be like a play on Zan, but more of an Earth name, you know?” Alex was nodding enthusiastically.
“Zander or William,” Liz murmured, rolling the possibilities around in her mind. Max nodded and smiled. Either would be fine with him.
TBC
“Okay, okay let me get this straight.” Maria was practically bubbling with anticipation and she almost jumped on top of Liz in the quad at lunch to hear the latest. “You licked Max right in front of Pam and then…and then…” she paused and shook her head, waving her hands in front of herself excitedly. “No, you say it, I’ll be so much better coming from you!” Maria almost bounced in her seat waiting for Liz to confirm if the rumors were true.
“Maria!” Liz was squirming in her seat beside Max who kept his arm around her supportively, even while he couldn’t quite repress a chuckle at the memory of his feisty wife. “It wasn’t that bad!” She smacked Max’s arm where it was shaking from his suppressed glee and shot him an exasperated look.
“Oh, come on! You know I’m gonna keep askin’ until you tell me yourself,” Maria pleaded, hands clasped beseechingly for effect in front of her. Michael, Isabel, Kyle and Alex slid into their spots at the table just as Maria finished her plea.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind hearing about it myself,” Alex put in with a grin, always glad to tease his best friend. Liz shifted further into the cover of Max’s arm and refused to speak.
“She said, ‘That’s me on you, baby,’” Max finished for her with a proud smile, mimicking the possessive tone she had used perfectly.
“Oh…” Maria clutched her stomach and almost fell out of her chair laughing, “…oh, that is almost too good. That’s even better than what I heard in the halls.” She gasped for breath. “I wish…” gasp, long shaky breath, “oh, I wish I could have seen Pam’s face!” She turned back to Liz. “You have to show me the face!”
Liz turned a delicate shade of pink. “Um, well, we kinda forgot about her after I, uh, licked Max. I seriously didn’t remember she was there and we just…walked away.”
Max nodded his agreement, smiling privately at Liz.
“Did you expect anything less?” Michael put in drolly, rolling his eyes. Those two were always lost in each other these days. He would never admit it openly, but he was a little jealous of the easy manner they had around each other and the unapologetic joy they took in just being together. One day he hoped to be that way with someone. Well, technically, with Maria. He found himself staring at her. Again.
Maybe someday soon.
“Leave them alone, guys,” Isabel defended. Liz looked like she’d had about all the ribbing she could take for one lunch hour. She grinned when Liz shot her a grateful half-smile.
Isabel turned to Kyle and made sure he had enough food on his lunch tray. It had become second nature to watch out for him, even when he still didn’t notice or even realize that she was doing it for him. She felt sort of responsible for his depression after Tess left. He was doing much better now, of course, but it was still nice to have someone to look out for.
“So are you and Michael going to the prom?” Liz asked innocently, not so subtly changing the subject.
Maria shot a triumphant look at Michael before nudging him in the side. Hard. “See?” She scolded, “I told you they were going to the prom!” She turned to Liz. “Michael said that with everything going on that everyone would forget about the prom this year. Can you believe that?” Maria’s look clearly conveyed her firm belief that no one would forget about the prom ,and she’d been just waiting for this magic moment to show Michael she was right.
“What? You guys are seriously going?” Michael’s desperate look was directed at Max for a little support from a brother.
Max shrugged and had the grace to look a little sheepish when he admitted, “Liz wanted to go, and I always love dancing with her.”
“Uh huh,” Michael turned to Kyle and Alex as his last bastion of support, “You guys goin’?”
“I’m running the music. You know, doin’ the DJ thing,” Alex put in. He slanted a glance toward Isabel. “I might have time for a dance or two,” he mused out loud.
“What about you, Kyle?” Michael was getting desperate.
Kyle looked vaguely surprised that the prom was here already. He’d always been right on top of the dating situation. The stud with a beauty on his arm for every major school function. Funny how it didn’t seem important any longer. He shook his head. “Nah, man. No date this year so…”
“I’ll go with you, Kyle,” Isabel put in quickly, her voice slightly breathless. “I don’t have a date yet either, and I could dance with Alex when he gets a break too.” She looked back and forth between the two.
Kyle’s surprise at her offer was almost comical. “I, hmm, well yeah, okay I guess,” he stammered out gracelessly. He’d never considered asking Isabel out to anything before. She was a guy’s wet dream, way out of his league. He was lucky to have her as a friend. Of course, they had spent a lot of time together lately, and she probably just wanted to go to the dance to be close to the group. Safety in numbers and all that. Yeah, that was probably it.
Isabel looked pleased and Michael appeared resigned.
“So, Michael,” Maria purred silkily, her arm draped over his shoulders. “You doin’ anything for prom?”
Michael gave in as gracefully as he was able. “I’ve already got a date that night,” he smiled smugly.
“You’ve got a…What the hell, Michael?” Maria stammered, shock covering her features.
“Yeah, with a beautiful blonde girl who doesn’t know how to give up,” he clarified, pulling her closer when she tried to draw away. He saw the exact moment when comprehension dawned over her face. She snuggled in closer.
“Anyone I know?”
“Yeah, you know her pretty well. She’s beautiful, imaginative, loves to talk a lot, she’s really smart, but has pretty lousy taste in guys,” Michael supplied.
“Uh huh, she’ll have to work on that,” she poked Michael in the side. “So, pick me up at six, take me to a nice restaurant, and dance the night away, right?”
“Right,” Michael paused, “When’s the prom again?”
Laughter rounded the table. “Two weeks, Michael. Second week of June. Right before school’s out. Ring any bells?”
“I’m on it,” he laughed back, just before surprising Maria with a public kiss on the lips. It was always better to keep her on her toes.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Any luck with that?” Isabel leaned low over Alex’s shoulder and peered at the computer screen. He had just scanned a picture of Tess that Kyle had supplied and was modifying it to remove a smiling Kyle and Jim. They’d decided to file a missing persons report and use the photo in the hopes of someone recognizing her face and tipping them off. The trick would be to not tip off their intended target. At the very least they would have a more recent lock on Tess’ location. It was risky, but Max thought it was worth it if they could find any new information about Tess. The more time she had alone to heal herself, then the more risky it became for them all. And Liz continued having disturbing dreams. Isabel shuddered. She’d been asked to ‘attend’ the most recent dream, and the torture had been…not pleasant. She understood Max’s wish to find Tess now.
“Yeah,” he leaned back in his chair to give her a clearer view. “How’s it look?”
The picture was a full body shot of Tess smiling brightly for the camera. Isabel could hardly tell where the others had been edited out. “Good. That’ll work,” she sat back, not able to look at the picture of their enemy any longer.
Alex understood the feeling. He understood a lot about Isabel lately too. He peered up at her inquiringly and with the tiniest of smiles said, “So, you and Kyle, huh?”
Isabel was surprised by the direct question, but she appreciated his straight-forward manner. She shifted briefly from her place beside him before brushing the hair out of her eyes and taking his hands in hers. “Yeah, I mean…yeah. I guess. I just…you know I don’t mean to hurt you, right?” Her look told him all he needed to know about how much she cared for him, how much she really didn’t want her choice to cause him any pain.
He nodded slowly. “I know you’d never hurt any of your friends on purpose, Isabel. It’s not in you.” He squeezed her hands gently within his own larger ones before letting them go and scrubbing his palms against his jeans-clad thighs. “And that’s all we’ve really ever been, isn’t it? Friends, I mean. I’d never want to lose that. There was a time that I wanted more than that.” He met her eyes steadily. “You know that. But I think even then you knew that wasn’t how we should be together. All I really ask is that you’re happy.” He smiled at her to show he truly was sincere. “Are you happy, Isabel?” His hand brushed across her cheek and his thumb smoothed away a tear.
Isabel smiled and nodded against his palm. “Yeah, I really am. I don’t know how Kyle will react to hearing that I’d like a chance with him, but I’d like to find out.”
“He’d be crazy to turn you down.” Alex swiveled the chair with his legs and tipped Isabel into his lap in a surprise move that had her laughing with him when Max and Michael walked in.
“What happened to Kyle?” Michael eyed their position suspiciously and scowled.
“Geez, Michael, you’d think we were doing something kinky. We’re just having a little fun together here. You remember fun, don’t you, Michael?” Isabel taunted.
“I thought you were with…You know what? Nevermind. I’m gonna stay outta this one,” Michael decided.
“Great idea, Michael,” Isabel agreed, before they all turned back to Alex’s newly edited picture.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Liz stared in awe at the now familiar picture of Max laid out beside her completely nude as he caressed her bared tummy and sang a soft song to the baby boy inside her.
Max’s sweet, low voice finished on a soft note and he pressed a gentle kiss to her abdomen just below her belly button. Liz threaded her fingers through his hair.
“What are we going to name him?” She asked softly.
Max looked up at her with eyes filled with love. “Have you thought of any names yet?”
Liz shook her head. Maybe we should ask the group for suggestions. “Nothing seems right yet, you know?”
Max just nodded and laid his head back down.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“What about Alexander?” Alex put in at lunch the next day. “That’s a good, strong name.” His grin showed them all he was only teasing.
Maria smacked his arm lightly. “I think he should have an unusual name, but distinguished. Like, Edward, or something.”
“I am not naming my child Edward. It sounds too stuffy for a baby,” Liz put in, squelching the idea before Maria took off with it.
“Okay, how about…Frederick or Charles…that’s the name of a future king you know!” Maria would not be daunted.
“I’d always think of Charlie Brown,” Max supplied with a grin. “I couldn’t do that to my son.” He was starting to think that asking their ever-helpful friends for suggestions was going to be a bad idea.
“I wish you were having a girl. Girl names are easier. So many more to choose from, you know?” Isabel lamented.
“A girl wasn’t prophesied, but maybe next time.” Max hugged Liz close. They still didn’t know if this was a one-shot deal, or if they would have the chance to increase their family later.
“Uhg! Tell me you’re not already thinking about more kids!” Michael scoffed. He was picking with a ragged nail at a groove in the table, uncomfortable with all this talk of babies. It’d probably give Maria ideas. He shuddered at the thought.
Liz laughed, understanding Michael’s discomfort. “Not just yet, Michael. One is plenty,” she laughed and couldn’t resist adding, “For now.” The group around the table burst into laughter.
“What about William?” Kyle offered. “It means ‘determined protector’, that’s what this kid is born to be, right?”
Liz and Max looked at each other and nodded, small smiles covering their faces. Determined protector. That was a definite possibility.
“Or maybe Zander,” Isabel offered with a small nod to Alex. “It’d be like a play on Zan, but more of an Earth name, you know?” Alex was nodding enthusiastically.
“Zander or William,” Liz murmured, rolling the possibilities around in her mind. Max nodded and smiled. Either would be fine with him.
TBC
EYA Part 66
“No, Mom, I’m sorry, we aren’t coming over for dinner tonight.” Liz gripped the phone until her knuckles turned white and she felt more than saw Max moving swiftly through the house to be by her side. She tried to quell the hurt emotions from spilling over enough to disturb Max. She turned to face the wall and softly continued arguing with her mother. “Mom,…you know why…No…no, we’re not coming…Can you honestly tell me that Dad can get through an entire meal without insulting Max and me? What do you mean he doesn’t insult me? Every time he slights Max he’s hurting me too…No.” She felt warm, strong arms slide around her and leaned back, absorbing Max’s strength. She tilted her chin to look up into his concerned eyes and gave him a small smile meant to reassure.
Max’s heart broke a little more seeing Liz trying to be strong when he knew she was tearing apart inside. His hands gripped her tighter and he waited until she was through.
“Mom, I…we…it’s just too much right now, okay? It’s too stressful for me and the baby and I won’t put us through that again. Maybe you and I can get together for lunch next Saturday? …Great,” she breathed a sigh of relief and this time her smile for Max was real. “Good, I’ll meet you there at noon then… Oh, let me ask. Just a minute, okay?” Turning until she faced Max in the circle of his arms she grinned up at him, “Can you come to lunch with me and my mom on Saturday?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t this Saturday, I have to work. I could send Michael though,” Max answered with regret. Liz covered the mouthpiece of the phone to speak more privately with Max.
“Michael? What would my mother think about that? You two aren’t interchangeable, you know,” she huffed an exasperated breath and closed her eyes for patience. “I’ll be safe, Max. It’s my mom we’re talking about here.”
Max hated to cause her any distress, but they couldn’t afford to relax their guard for any reason. He brushed the hair back off her temple and tucked it behind her ear. “You know the rules, Liz. I can’t lose you, we still don’t know where Tess is and…” Liz shook her head and mouthed, ‘We’ll talk about this later.’
“Mom? No, Max has to work, so it’ll just be you and me…Okay…Great! See you then. Bye,” Liz hung up and turned to face Max.
“Max, it’s a public restaurant and…”
“Where are you going?”
“Senor Chow’s. And like I said we’ll be fine! I don’t think Mom’s gonna understand Michael tagging along,” Liz argued.
“What if Michael and Maria had lunch there at the same time?” Max was looking for any loophole.
“Are you serious? Max, come on! You know they have to work and…”
“They have to eat lunch sometime, don’t they?” Max was desperate to make sure she wasn’t unguarded.
“People who work in restaurants don’t get to take their lunch at noon, Max. That’s when they’re the busiest! Why can’t you just trust me to…”
Max took her shoulders into his large hands and squeezed gently until he had her complete attention. “I. Can’t. Lose. You.” Each word spoken was punctuated with a small shake. She could still feel his hands trembling with the strength of his emotion. Her eyes filled with tears and she knew she would give in to anything he wanted. She’d bet he didn’t realize that he’d said he couldn’t lose her, never even thinking that the baby was really the one who was more important to his people.
“Okay, Max. It’s okay. I’ll ask Isabel if she wants to come with us, all right?” Liz smiled to show her understanding.
Max leaned his forehead into hers and met her lips with his, immeasurably relieved that she understood. That she wouldn’t fight him on this. His hand slipped down to cover the baby. “How’s Zan feeling today?”
“Good. He’s doing good. I can’t wait to actually feel him kick in there. It’ll make it more real, you know?” Liz covered his hand with her own, the penetrating warmth felt good against her flat tummy.
“Well, they said the baby would be small for the first eight months, but that doesn’t mean you still won’t feel him, or maybe show a little before then,” Max encouraged.
Liz’s eyes lit up. “You think? That’d be so great!” She longed for some normalcy to her experience, and while right now it was very convenient that no one at school knew about the baby, she longed to let her secret out and show how proud she was to be carrying Max’s baby.
“We’ll see.” Max couldn’t resist her happy smile and kissed her soft lips again; they parted readily under his, and her tongue reached out to lick at his lips. He groaned softly before deepening the kiss. He broke away gasping and she could feel the hard evidence of his desire pressing into her thigh. “Do you…” Liz nodded and gasped when he quickly grabbed her hand and ran to the bedroom.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Have you thought of any names for the baby yet?” Nancy asked Liz over lunch the next Saturday. She had been mildly surprised to find that Isabel was joining them, but felt that maybe her daughter wasn’t comfortable alone with her after their last phone conversation. She’d have to work on that.
Liz nodded happily. “Yes, we’ve decided to call him William Zander Evans. Doesn’t that sound good?”
Nancy nodded enthusiastically. Of course, she was prepared to like anything they’d chosen at this point, but she was happily surprised to find she liked the name. “Are you going to call him Will, Bill, Billy…what?”
“We’ve started using Zan for now, but I like Will too, so we’ll see,” Liz was happy to be having a civil conversation with her mother without her father’s constant digs at Max and relaxed further into her chair. She hadn’t realized that she’d actually been tense before meeting her mother. She’d half expected her father to show up to continue his diatribe.
“So, Isabel,” Nancy turned to the quiet girl at the table. “Are you going to the prom too?” Liz had told her mother earlier that she and Max would be attending the junior prom together.
Isabel nodded and blushed becomingly. “Um, yes actually I am. Kyle and I are going as friends, so…”
Nancy noted the blush and nodded her understanding. “So maybe after the prom you’ll be more than friends,” she prompted slyly with a wink to Liz.
Liz was fascinated at Isabel’s reaction. Her face suffused with color and she actually stammered out her response, “Oh. Uh, we uh…well, I don’t know if…if…” she gave up, “We’ll see.”
Nancy laughed lightly to show she’d been teasing and decided to let it go.
“So, Liz, do you think we can have lunch every week now instead of dinner?” Nancy tried not to sound too desperate.
“That’d be great, Mom,” Liz answered sincerely.
TBC
“No, Mom, I’m sorry, we aren’t coming over for dinner tonight.” Liz gripped the phone until her knuckles turned white and she felt more than saw Max moving swiftly through the house to be by her side. She tried to quell the hurt emotions from spilling over enough to disturb Max. She turned to face the wall and softly continued arguing with her mother. “Mom,…you know why…No…no, we’re not coming…Can you honestly tell me that Dad can get through an entire meal without insulting Max and me? What do you mean he doesn’t insult me? Every time he slights Max he’s hurting me too…No.” She felt warm, strong arms slide around her and leaned back, absorbing Max’s strength. She tilted her chin to look up into his concerned eyes and gave him a small smile meant to reassure.
Max’s heart broke a little more seeing Liz trying to be strong when he knew she was tearing apart inside. His hands gripped her tighter and he waited until she was through.
“Mom, I…we…it’s just too much right now, okay? It’s too stressful for me and the baby and I won’t put us through that again. Maybe you and I can get together for lunch next Saturday? …Great,” she breathed a sigh of relief and this time her smile for Max was real. “Good, I’ll meet you there at noon then… Oh, let me ask. Just a minute, okay?” Turning until she faced Max in the circle of his arms she grinned up at him, “Can you come to lunch with me and my mom on Saturday?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t this Saturday, I have to work. I could send Michael though,” Max answered with regret. Liz covered the mouthpiece of the phone to speak more privately with Max.
“Michael? What would my mother think about that? You two aren’t interchangeable, you know,” she huffed an exasperated breath and closed her eyes for patience. “I’ll be safe, Max. It’s my mom we’re talking about here.”
Max hated to cause her any distress, but they couldn’t afford to relax their guard for any reason. He brushed the hair back off her temple and tucked it behind her ear. “You know the rules, Liz. I can’t lose you, we still don’t know where Tess is and…” Liz shook her head and mouthed, ‘We’ll talk about this later.’
“Mom? No, Max has to work, so it’ll just be you and me…Okay…Great! See you then. Bye,” Liz hung up and turned to face Max.
“Max, it’s a public restaurant and…”
“Where are you going?”
“Senor Chow’s. And like I said we’ll be fine! I don’t think Mom’s gonna understand Michael tagging along,” Liz argued.
“What if Michael and Maria had lunch there at the same time?” Max was looking for any loophole.
“Are you serious? Max, come on! You know they have to work and…”
“They have to eat lunch sometime, don’t they?” Max was desperate to make sure she wasn’t unguarded.
“People who work in restaurants don’t get to take their lunch at noon, Max. That’s when they’re the busiest! Why can’t you just trust me to…”
Max took her shoulders into his large hands and squeezed gently until he had her complete attention. “I. Can’t. Lose. You.” Each word spoken was punctuated with a small shake. She could still feel his hands trembling with the strength of his emotion. Her eyes filled with tears and she knew she would give in to anything he wanted. She’d bet he didn’t realize that he’d said he couldn’t lose her, never even thinking that the baby was really the one who was more important to his people.
“Okay, Max. It’s okay. I’ll ask Isabel if she wants to come with us, all right?” Liz smiled to show her understanding.
Max leaned his forehead into hers and met her lips with his, immeasurably relieved that she understood. That she wouldn’t fight him on this. His hand slipped down to cover the baby. “How’s Zan feeling today?”
“Good. He’s doing good. I can’t wait to actually feel him kick in there. It’ll make it more real, you know?” Liz covered his hand with her own, the penetrating warmth felt good against her flat tummy.
“Well, they said the baby would be small for the first eight months, but that doesn’t mean you still won’t feel him, or maybe show a little before then,” Max encouraged.
Liz’s eyes lit up. “You think? That’d be so great!” She longed for some normalcy to her experience, and while right now it was very convenient that no one at school knew about the baby, she longed to let her secret out and show how proud she was to be carrying Max’s baby.
“We’ll see.” Max couldn’t resist her happy smile and kissed her soft lips again; they parted readily under his, and her tongue reached out to lick at his lips. He groaned softly before deepening the kiss. He broke away gasping and she could feel the hard evidence of his desire pressing into her thigh. “Do you…” Liz nodded and gasped when he quickly grabbed her hand and ran to the bedroom.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Have you thought of any names for the baby yet?” Nancy asked Liz over lunch the next Saturday. She had been mildly surprised to find that Isabel was joining them, but felt that maybe her daughter wasn’t comfortable alone with her after their last phone conversation. She’d have to work on that.
Liz nodded happily. “Yes, we’ve decided to call him William Zander Evans. Doesn’t that sound good?”
Nancy nodded enthusiastically. Of course, she was prepared to like anything they’d chosen at this point, but she was happily surprised to find she liked the name. “Are you going to call him Will, Bill, Billy…what?”
“We’ve started using Zan for now, but I like Will too, so we’ll see,” Liz was happy to be having a civil conversation with her mother without her father’s constant digs at Max and relaxed further into her chair. She hadn’t realized that she’d actually been tense before meeting her mother. She’d half expected her father to show up to continue his diatribe.
“So, Isabel,” Nancy turned to the quiet girl at the table. “Are you going to the prom too?” Liz had told her mother earlier that she and Max would be attending the junior prom together.
Isabel nodded and blushed becomingly. “Um, yes actually I am. Kyle and I are going as friends, so…”
Nancy noted the blush and nodded her understanding. “So maybe after the prom you’ll be more than friends,” she prompted slyly with a wink to Liz.
Liz was fascinated at Isabel’s reaction. Her face suffused with color and she actually stammered out her response, “Oh. Uh, we uh…well, I don’t know if…if…” she gave up, “We’ll see.”
Nancy laughed lightly to show she’d been teasing and decided to let it go.
“So, Liz, do you think we can have lunch every week now instead of dinner?” Nancy tried not to sound too desperate.
“That’d be great, Mom,” Liz answered sincerely.
TBC
EYA Part 67
Max and Liz fell into their apartment breathless and gasping for air. Max’s hands angled her face for a deeper kiss as he reached out one leg and kicked the door closed with a loud bang. Tongues met and mated frantically as her hands worked to undo the buttons of Max’s tux. Frustrated, she finally just yanked them free, curiously satisfied by the faint ripping sounds and the plink! of each button as it hit the hardwood floor and rolled away. She pushed the shirt and jacket down over his arms together as he walked her backwards toward the bedroom.
Too far. We’ll never make it.
Max groaned into Liz’s mouth and collapsed over her as she backed into the couch and pulled him down over her. His fingers searched out the zipper down the side of her black beaded gown and Liz gasped as his warm fingers made contact with the smooth skin he bared. A wriggle and a lift of her hips and the gown hit the floor to join the trail of clothes that led to their current location. Max planted kisses down her neck, pausing to suck and lick the most sensitive areas of her skin, before continuing his journey to pay special homage to her dark, stiffened nipples. His tongue left wet tracks over her tingling flesh as he suckled her sweetness until her back arched up off the cushions and her hands tangled desperately into his hair.
“Liz! If I’d known you weren’t wearing any underwear we’d have been home a lot sooner,” Max gasped out between licks. His hands roamed down her smooth skin, sensitizing each area he touched until her flesh prickled with need.
“Max…Max, don’t make me wait! Please, Max!” Her small hands fumbled at his waist, her progress impeded as her fingers became distracted with the evidence of his arousal. She stroked over him lovingly with one hand through the fabric as her other hand finished the job that would lead to their mutual satisfaction. She tugged them down over his hips and he toed out of his shoes before struggling out of the trousers and tossing them over the back of the couch.
Her legs parted for him eagerly as he guided himself into her, both knowing they could not wait another moment for that ultimate joining. He slammed into her to the hilt and braced himself with his hands on the couch over her shoulders as he waited for her to adjust to the sudden invasion. He breathed her air as she took his in and the thought shook them both again that they were one. This was where they belonged always. Together.
Liz’s hips bucked up into his, an invitation to continue the dance. He started with the long, slow strokes that devastated her patience and caused that constant low hum in the back of her throat that she only ever made at these moments. With him. Only him.
Her hands clutched over his shoulders and slid down the smooth muscles of his arms, alternately squeezing and releasing as the sensations crashed over her. She moved her hands over his broad chest as she wondered at his patience and endurance. She knew what this slow torture was costing him, but he continued regardless. Even as he knew what this did to her. She tried to buck up against his hard body in a bid for more, faster, harder…but he smiled sweetly even as he bent his head down to taste her and denied her request.
She pinched and rubbed her thumbs over his sensitive nipples and was rewarded with several long, hard, satisfying thrusts of his body into hers. She smiled inwardly with satisfaction and set about to win more out-of-control moments from Max. Her hands drifted down his body and over his hips to cover the straining muscles of his butt and their combined groans echoed from the walls as she massaged over his smooth skin, causing his pace to speed up rapidly. The harsh pants of their combined breath puffed over their gleaming skin as they continued the intense dance that had started at the prom only to end hours later here on the couch of their home together.
So in tune with each other, so connected. A night spent in carefree dancing and time spent with friends was a much-needed outlet in their lives. But each touch led to another, and then another, building an intensity of feeling, an aching need to tap deeper, press harder to each others straining body…until nothing would do but they had to be together. Urgently. Now. They’d left fast, with their friends knowing grins trailing behind them, no doubt thinking they were in the middle of another fever. They were, only just for each other this time. This wasn’t passion out of necessity, this was Max and Liz renewing the connection they had always shared. Voluntarily and without thought for anything but each other.
Max reached an arm to the floor and rolled them over abruptly, landing on his back, not feeling the small thud as his body hit the floor first cushioning her fall. His hands moved immediately to Liz’s hips as she moved over him, her pelvis moving in a brisk pace designed for maximum stimulation. Her body tensed abruptly over his as her release took her and she lost all ability to move over him for a moment as her neck arched back and a long moan escaped her parted lips. Max’s hands led her hips to continue the stimulation and the breath hissed out of her lungs as she arched her back and keened out her pleasure again.
The wet slap of their bodies coming together intensified the sensations until Liz resumed her swift, hard pace over his straining body and her hands drifted over his chest. His nipples stood out as dark, hardened points against his gleaming skin and she leaned down to taste one. She nibbled and sucked and marveled once again at how sensitive he was right there. She knew from past experience that special attention paid to him there was enough to make his body rock-hard and ready for her.
Max raised his right hand up to knead her breast and flick her nipple with his thumb, returning the sweet torture back to her. His left hand trailed around to her stomach and slipped lower, lower until his fingers reached her damp heat and he could massage her burning core and bring her to the brink again. He felt her passion mounting steadily and rolled them over to take control of the movements. Her knees raised high on either side of his body as she pulled him down for a hungry kiss.
Their tongues invaded each other’s mouths frantically. Sucking and licking into each other, moving as urgently as the rest of them.
“Max…” Liz panted for air, “Max…I’m gonna…I’m…Harder! Go, harder, baby,” she ground out between thrusts.
Max obliged, his own body screaming for release even as he made himself wait for her to crest the peak first. Her hips rose off the floor frantically with each powerful thrust of his body into hers until finally she came again with a loud cry of utter completion. Her body clenched over his with a wet, tight heat that grabbed him and plunged him into his own ecstasy. He pumped his seed into her with a growl of pleasure that rocked through them both until they were left gasping and shaking on the floor waiting to calm down enough to speak.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“They must have made it home in time if you’re still feeling okay.” Maria sat beside Michael on the sidelines as they watched the others dance to a medley of big eighties music that Alex found amusing.
“Yeah,” Michael answered. He had watched Max and Liz dance and touch throughout the evening and seen the growing desire light inside each of them. He hadn’t been surprised when they’d left abruptly, eyes only for each other. He was also pretty sure it didn’t have a lot to do with the baby.
“So…” Maria trailed off, watching Isabel dance with both Kyle and Alex at the same time. They appeared to all be enjoying themselves royally out there. “Since the danger seems to have passed…” Maria had made Michael sit in the far back corner near the exit in case Max and Liz’s fever hit Michael. “Maybe we could take a turn on the dance floor?” She paused, unconsciously holding her breath for Michael’s response. She didn’t expect him to be enthusiastic about dancing per se, but maybe the chance to hold her close would hold some appeal.
The music segued into ‘Footloose’ and Michael knew he didn’t have a chance. He took in a fortifying breath and put on his best party face. Which happened to be a variation of his impatient scowl, but that was okay, Maria could take it. She practically bounded out of her seat when Michael rose to his feet and offered his hand with a long suffering sigh and her enthusiasm elicited a real smile from his scowling lips.
Isabel sent him a sympathetic wave as Maria danced around him and he hoped she wasn’t overly disappointed with his limited dancing ability. Maybe he should take some lessons so she wouldn’t be embarrassed the next time they…Whoa! What next time, Michael? You’re getting way ahead of yourself here! He halted those thoughts though as he realized that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, as long as Maria was by his side, of course. He glanced around to see what the other guys moves looked like and decided he wasn’t any more pathetic than most of them. Maria moved in closer and he marveled that she wasn’t scared for her toes. He paid extra-special attention to his feet until she moved back again.
A slow song started and Michael breathed an unconscious sigh of relief as his arms wrapped around his girl and they slowly shuffled back and forth, swaying to the music. Her cheek rested against his chest and she closed her eyes in perfect contentment. These moments were precious. Just Michael and Maria together, not saying anything to ruin the moment…
“Michael?”
“Hmm?” He continued the swaying motion and moved his hands over her back where her dress fell away to reveal smooth skin.
Maria tilted her face up to his and spoke softly. “Let’s go back to your place,” she breathed quietly.
Michael’s eyes popped open to look at her and his hands stilled over her back. Her calm resolve and obvious intentions warred within him as he thought about how to answer her. He’d been at constant war within himself for so long now, not wanting what was happening to his body where Max and Liz were concerned to color his actions toward Maria. He inhaled the sweet floral scent of her perfume and realized that she wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her. His head was nodding his agreement almost before his mind registered that this was actually going to happen. Tonight. Now.
Wow!
Maria captured his hand in hers and led him off the dance floor toward the exit at a brisk pace, as if she was afraid he would wake up any second and change his mind. He wasn’t going to change his mind though. He wanted this too much. Wanted her too much to entertain the thought of backing down now. Now, when he was so close to everything he’d ever dreamed of.
Thoughts of them twined together naked on his bed shot straight to his groin and he shivered in anticipation. Every fantasy he’d ever dreamt flitted through at lightening speed until he was the one pulling Maria through the parking lot toward her car and eagerly opening the passenger side door for her to slide in.
The ride home was a blur and the walk to his door barely remembered.
What followed was never forgotten by either of them. Their trek to the apartment was eager and frenzied. The removal of clothing was slow and sensual. Each undressed the other, marveling at each new patch of skin that was exposed to the other. Michael bent to kiss and lick over her flesh lovingly in a way that caused her skin to prickle with desire and her knees to weaken until she was convinced she could no longer hold herself up. By then, she didn’t have to. Michael swept her into his arms and captured her mouth in a slow, deep kiss that continued as he lowered her to his bed.
He removed his boxers slowly as he stood beside the bed, carefully gauging Maria’s reactions. He didn’t want to frighten her or intimidate her with what he knew was her first glimpse of a fully nude male body. Up close and personal. Sooo personal.
Maria’s hands reached out without her permission as she kneeled up on the bed and she trailed them over his body and marveled at the smoothly muscled warmth that she found there. Her hands hesitated for the briefest moment before tentatively brushing over his cock and finding the silken skin jumping and ready for her. A small smile lit her features and she leaned forward to lick over his chest as she continued her slow exploration with her hands.
Michael groaned loudly as he watched her work over his body and put one knee up on the bed as his legs threatened to give up their strength. He put one hand on her shoulder and pushed her back until she was laid out naked underneath him. They stared at each other, each perfectly still, until his mouth moved to cover hers and their hands moved to avidly explore what territory had formerly been denied to each other.
Michael’s fingers eventually ventured down to her heated core and Maria’s hips jumped in surprise when his fingers deftly touched her in all the right places before slipping inside her wet heat. Two fingers within her body angled and moved until Maria’s hips bucked in time with him and her juices flowed over his hand as she arched frantically into him and her walls convulsed over his fingers. Her throat let out a deep, hungry moan that could have been his name as her head tossed to the side and her eyes clenched closed and the waves rolled over her.
Her hands reached down for him again and she panted out, “Please, Michael! Please now…I want…I need more…”
Michael cupped his large hand over her cheek and made sure she was looking him in the eye as he asked her one last time, “Are you sure, Maria?” He knew he would stop in an instant if Maria had any doubt. He also knew what it would cost him to stop at this particular moment.
“Yes, Michael,” Maria whispered immediately, utterly sincere. No trace of doubt or indecision. She knew that he would need to hear it from her. She knew he would stop in a heartbeat if he didn’t feel it was right. She knew because she loved him with every beat of her heart, and she knew because he felt the same way. It made her feel safe. And cherished.
Michael fumbled with the drawer at his bedside table and came up with a condom. He opened the package with his teeth and slowly drew out the contents. Maria watched as he rolled it over himself and thought about how she’d like to be the one to do that next time.
Michael positioned himself at her entrance and looked her in the eye as he slowly slid inside of her searing heat. Reaching her barrier, Michael paused for a moment, watching for any last-second doubt or indecision. Maria responded by bucking her hips up into him abruptly. She hissed out a pained breath and Michael froze in position as his body registered the fact that he was fully buried inside her delicious heat and that she was in pain. He watched the discomfort clear from her features slowly and her eyes opened to look straight into his. Her tentative smile encouraged one from him.
“It’s okay now, Michael,” she whispered a moment later. Her hand grazed his cheek and her thumb swept away a tiny tear he hadn’t known he’d shed.
He began to move slowly, with great care. Maria closed her eyes and let the sensations wash over her. There had been pain. Brief momentary sharpness of unfamiliar penetration, but now…now it was all worth it. Now she understood why Max and Liz couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Michael had better get used to her in his bed, because she planned on visiting him. Often.
Throaty moans startled her to open her eyes as she realized how out of control Michael must be to be letting those sounds escape. His expression was flushed with desire and need and she quickened the pace herself as she saw how devastating that was to Michael’s self-control.
Her breath escaped her lungs in a long whoosh of air that she didn’t even miss because the sensations that rolled through her were suddenly compounded by the waves of raw emotion that flooded into her directly from Michael as he let down all his barriers and allowed himself to truly be one with her. Her breath hitched in the back of her throat and her body arched off the bed into his as her ecstasy overcame her and she gave herself to bliss.
Michael stared down at her raw beauty in utter awe and love as her pleasure washed over her and his body reacted immediately to her clenching, tight walls clamping over him and her sweet love rolling through him. With several last long thrusts into her body he shuddered and released his seed.
He lay to the side of his love and disposed of the used condom before pulling her into his arms and pulling the covers over their now shivering bodies.
“I love you,” he whispered into her hair, planting a soft kiss there.
“I love you too, Michael,” she answered softly, before drifting into sleep, safe in Michael’s arms.
TBC
Max and Liz fell into their apartment breathless and gasping for air. Max’s hands angled her face for a deeper kiss as he reached out one leg and kicked the door closed with a loud bang. Tongues met and mated frantically as her hands worked to undo the buttons of Max’s tux. Frustrated, she finally just yanked them free, curiously satisfied by the faint ripping sounds and the plink! of each button as it hit the hardwood floor and rolled away. She pushed the shirt and jacket down over his arms together as he walked her backwards toward the bedroom.
Too far. We’ll never make it.
Max groaned into Liz’s mouth and collapsed over her as she backed into the couch and pulled him down over her. His fingers searched out the zipper down the side of her black beaded gown and Liz gasped as his warm fingers made contact with the smooth skin he bared. A wriggle and a lift of her hips and the gown hit the floor to join the trail of clothes that led to their current location. Max planted kisses down her neck, pausing to suck and lick the most sensitive areas of her skin, before continuing his journey to pay special homage to her dark, stiffened nipples. His tongue left wet tracks over her tingling flesh as he suckled her sweetness until her back arched up off the cushions and her hands tangled desperately into his hair.
“Liz! If I’d known you weren’t wearing any underwear we’d have been home a lot sooner,” Max gasped out between licks. His hands roamed down her smooth skin, sensitizing each area he touched until her flesh prickled with need.
“Max…Max, don’t make me wait! Please, Max!” Her small hands fumbled at his waist, her progress impeded as her fingers became distracted with the evidence of his arousal. She stroked over him lovingly with one hand through the fabric as her other hand finished the job that would lead to their mutual satisfaction. She tugged them down over his hips and he toed out of his shoes before struggling out of the trousers and tossing them over the back of the couch.
Her legs parted for him eagerly as he guided himself into her, both knowing they could not wait another moment for that ultimate joining. He slammed into her to the hilt and braced himself with his hands on the couch over her shoulders as he waited for her to adjust to the sudden invasion. He breathed her air as she took his in and the thought shook them both again that they were one. This was where they belonged always. Together.
Liz’s hips bucked up into his, an invitation to continue the dance. He started with the long, slow strokes that devastated her patience and caused that constant low hum in the back of her throat that she only ever made at these moments. With him. Only him.
Her hands clutched over his shoulders and slid down the smooth muscles of his arms, alternately squeezing and releasing as the sensations crashed over her. She moved her hands over his broad chest as she wondered at his patience and endurance. She knew what this slow torture was costing him, but he continued regardless. Even as he knew what this did to her. She tried to buck up against his hard body in a bid for more, faster, harder…but he smiled sweetly even as he bent his head down to taste her and denied her request.
She pinched and rubbed her thumbs over his sensitive nipples and was rewarded with several long, hard, satisfying thrusts of his body into hers. She smiled inwardly with satisfaction and set about to win more out-of-control moments from Max. Her hands drifted down his body and over his hips to cover the straining muscles of his butt and their combined groans echoed from the walls as she massaged over his smooth skin, causing his pace to speed up rapidly. The harsh pants of their combined breath puffed over their gleaming skin as they continued the intense dance that had started at the prom only to end hours later here on the couch of their home together.
So in tune with each other, so connected. A night spent in carefree dancing and time spent with friends was a much-needed outlet in their lives. But each touch led to another, and then another, building an intensity of feeling, an aching need to tap deeper, press harder to each others straining body…until nothing would do but they had to be together. Urgently. Now. They’d left fast, with their friends knowing grins trailing behind them, no doubt thinking they were in the middle of another fever. They were, only just for each other this time. This wasn’t passion out of necessity, this was Max and Liz renewing the connection they had always shared. Voluntarily and without thought for anything but each other.
Max reached an arm to the floor and rolled them over abruptly, landing on his back, not feeling the small thud as his body hit the floor first cushioning her fall. His hands moved immediately to Liz’s hips as she moved over him, her pelvis moving in a brisk pace designed for maximum stimulation. Her body tensed abruptly over his as her release took her and she lost all ability to move over him for a moment as her neck arched back and a long moan escaped her parted lips. Max’s hands led her hips to continue the stimulation and the breath hissed out of her lungs as she arched her back and keened out her pleasure again.
The wet slap of their bodies coming together intensified the sensations until Liz resumed her swift, hard pace over his straining body and her hands drifted over his chest. His nipples stood out as dark, hardened points against his gleaming skin and she leaned down to taste one. She nibbled and sucked and marveled once again at how sensitive he was right there. She knew from past experience that special attention paid to him there was enough to make his body rock-hard and ready for her.
Max raised his right hand up to knead her breast and flick her nipple with his thumb, returning the sweet torture back to her. His left hand trailed around to her stomach and slipped lower, lower until his fingers reached her damp heat and he could massage her burning core and bring her to the brink again. He felt her passion mounting steadily and rolled them over to take control of the movements. Her knees raised high on either side of his body as she pulled him down for a hungry kiss.
Their tongues invaded each other’s mouths frantically. Sucking and licking into each other, moving as urgently as the rest of them.
“Max…” Liz panted for air, “Max…I’m gonna…I’m…Harder! Go, harder, baby,” she ground out between thrusts.
Max obliged, his own body screaming for release even as he made himself wait for her to crest the peak first. Her hips rose off the floor frantically with each powerful thrust of his body into hers until finally she came again with a loud cry of utter completion. Her body clenched over his with a wet, tight heat that grabbed him and plunged him into his own ecstasy. He pumped his seed into her with a growl of pleasure that rocked through them both until they were left gasping and shaking on the floor waiting to calm down enough to speak.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“They must have made it home in time if you’re still feeling okay.” Maria sat beside Michael on the sidelines as they watched the others dance to a medley of big eighties music that Alex found amusing.
“Yeah,” Michael answered. He had watched Max and Liz dance and touch throughout the evening and seen the growing desire light inside each of them. He hadn’t been surprised when they’d left abruptly, eyes only for each other. He was also pretty sure it didn’t have a lot to do with the baby.
“So…” Maria trailed off, watching Isabel dance with both Kyle and Alex at the same time. They appeared to all be enjoying themselves royally out there. “Since the danger seems to have passed…” Maria had made Michael sit in the far back corner near the exit in case Max and Liz’s fever hit Michael. “Maybe we could take a turn on the dance floor?” She paused, unconsciously holding her breath for Michael’s response. She didn’t expect him to be enthusiastic about dancing per se, but maybe the chance to hold her close would hold some appeal.
The music segued into ‘Footloose’ and Michael knew he didn’t have a chance. He took in a fortifying breath and put on his best party face. Which happened to be a variation of his impatient scowl, but that was okay, Maria could take it. She practically bounded out of her seat when Michael rose to his feet and offered his hand with a long suffering sigh and her enthusiasm elicited a real smile from his scowling lips.
Isabel sent him a sympathetic wave as Maria danced around him and he hoped she wasn’t overly disappointed with his limited dancing ability. Maybe he should take some lessons so she wouldn’t be embarrassed the next time they…Whoa! What next time, Michael? You’re getting way ahead of yourself here! He halted those thoughts though as he realized that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, as long as Maria was by his side, of course. He glanced around to see what the other guys moves looked like and decided he wasn’t any more pathetic than most of them. Maria moved in closer and he marveled that she wasn’t scared for her toes. He paid extra-special attention to his feet until she moved back again.
A slow song started and Michael breathed an unconscious sigh of relief as his arms wrapped around his girl and they slowly shuffled back and forth, swaying to the music. Her cheek rested against his chest and she closed her eyes in perfect contentment. These moments were precious. Just Michael and Maria together, not saying anything to ruin the moment…
“Michael?”
“Hmm?” He continued the swaying motion and moved his hands over her back where her dress fell away to reveal smooth skin.
Maria tilted her face up to his and spoke softly. “Let’s go back to your place,” she breathed quietly.
Michael’s eyes popped open to look at her and his hands stilled over her back. Her calm resolve and obvious intentions warred within him as he thought about how to answer her. He’d been at constant war within himself for so long now, not wanting what was happening to his body where Max and Liz were concerned to color his actions toward Maria. He inhaled the sweet floral scent of her perfume and realized that she wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her. His head was nodding his agreement almost before his mind registered that this was actually going to happen. Tonight. Now.
Wow!
Maria captured his hand in hers and led him off the dance floor toward the exit at a brisk pace, as if she was afraid he would wake up any second and change his mind. He wasn’t going to change his mind though. He wanted this too much. Wanted her too much to entertain the thought of backing down now. Now, when he was so close to everything he’d ever dreamed of.
Thoughts of them twined together naked on his bed shot straight to his groin and he shivered in anticipation. Every fantasy he’d ever dreamt flitted through at lightening speed until he was the one pulling Maria through the parking lot toward her car and eagerly opening the passenger side door for her to slide in.
The ride home was a blur and the walk to his door barely remembered.
What followed was never forgotten by either of them. Their trek to the apartment was eager and frenzied. The removal of clothing was slow and sensual. Each undressed the other, marveling at each new patch of skin that was exposed to the other. Michael bent to kiss and lick over her flesh lovingly in a way that caused her skin to prickle with desire and her knees to weaken until she was convinced she could no longer hold herself up. By then, she didn’t have to. Michael swept her into his arms and captured her mouth in a slow, deep kiss that continued as he lowered her to his bed.
He removed his boxers slowly as he stood beside the bed, carefully gauging Maria’s reactions. He didn’t want to frighten her or intimidate her with what he knew was her first glimpse of a fully nude male body. Up close and personal. Sooo personal.
Maria’s hands reached out without her permission as she kneeled up on the bed and she trailed them over his body and marveled at the smoothly muscled warmth that she found there. Her hands hesitated for the briefest moment before tentatively brushing over his cock and finding the silken skin jumping and ready for her. A small smile lit her features and she leaned forward to lick over his chest as she continued her slow exploration with her hands.
Michael groaned loudly as he watched her work over his body and put one knee up on the bed as his legs threatened to give up their strength. He put one hand on her shoulder and pushed her back until she was laid out naked underneath him. They stared at each other, each perfectly still, until his mouth moved to cover hers and their hands moved to avidly explore what territory had formerly been denied to each other.
Michael’s fingers eventually ventured down to her heated core and Maria’s hips jumped in surprise when his fingers deftly touched her in all the right places before slipping inside her wet heat. Two fingers within her body angled and moved until Maria’s hips bucked in time with him and her juices flowed over his hand as she arched frantically into him and her walls convulsed over his fingers. Her throat let out a deep, hungry moan that could have been his name as her head tossed to the side and her eyes clenched closed and the waves rolled over her.
Her hands reached down for him again and she panted out, “Please, Michael! Please now…I want…I need more…”
Michael cupped his large hand over her cheek and made sure she was looking him in the eye as he asked her one last time, “Are you sure, Maria?” He knew he would stop in an instant if Maria had any doubt. He also knew what it would cost him to stop at this particular moment.
“Yes, Michael,” Maria whispered immediately, utterly sincere. No trace of doubt or indecision. She knew that he would need to hear it from her. She knew he would stop in a heartbeat if he didn’t feel it was right. She knew because she loved him with every beat of her heart, and she knew because he felt the same way. It made her feel safe. And cherished.
Michael fumbled with the drawer at his bedside table and came up with a condom. He opened the package with his teeth and slowly drew out the contents. Maria watched as he rolled it over himself and thought about how she’d like to be the one to do that next time.
Michael positioned himself at her entrance and looked her in the eye as he slowly slid inside of her searing heat. Reaching her barrier, Michael paused for a moment, watching for any last-second doubt or indecision. Maria responded by bucking her hips up into him abruptly. She hissed out a pained breath and Michael froze in position as his body registered the fact that he was fully buried inside her delicious heat and that she was in pain. He watched the discomfort clear from her features slowly and her eyes opened to look straight into his. Her tentative smile encouraged one from him.
“It’s okay now, Michael,” she whispered a moment later. Her hand grazed his cheek and her thumb swept away a tiny tear he hadn’t known he’d shed.
He began to move slowly, with great care. Maria closed her eyes and let the sensations wash over her. There had been pain. Brief momentary sharpness of unfamiliar penetration, but now…now it was all worth it. Now she understood why Max and Liz couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Michael had better get used to her in his bed, because she planned on visiting him. Often.
Throaty moans startled her to open her eyes as she realized how out of control Michael must be to be letting those sounds escape. His expression was flushed with desire and need and she quickened the pace herself as she saw how devastating that was to Michael’s self-control.
Her breath escaped her lungs in a long whoosh of air that she didn’t even miss because the sensations that rolled through her were suddenly compounded by the waves of raw emotion that flooded into her directly from Michael as he let down all his barriers and allowed himself to truly be one with her. Her breath hitched in the back of her throat and her body arched off the bed into his as her ecstasy overcame her and she gave herself to bliss.
Michael stared down at her raw beauty in utter awe and love as her pleasure washed over her and his body reacted immediately to her clenching, tight walls clamping over him and her sweet love rolling through him. With several last long thrusts into her body he shuddered and released his seed.
He lay to the side of his love and disposed of the used condom before pulling her into his arms and pulling the covers over their now shivering bodies.
“I love you,” he whispered into her hair, planting a soft kiss there.
“I love you too, Michael,” she answered softly, before drifting into sleep, safe in Michael’s arms.
TBC
EYA Part 68
“Maria! You’re glowing!” Liz grabbed Maria’s arm as she approached their table at the Crashdown and pulled her in for a closer look.
“Oh my God!” Maria’s face went white as she made a frantic grab for the napkin dispenser, turning it to the side as she tried to assess her reflected image in the wavy silver. Her hands flew over her face as she traced her fingers down one cheek before turning to check out the other side. She knew last night had been absolutely incredible, why should it surprise her that she was actually…
“Not literally!” Liz interrupted her thoughts laughing and swatting Maria’s hands away from her face. Liz scooted out of the booth, leaving Max, Kyle, Isabel, and Alex with expressions ranging from clueless to stunned. She pulled Maria by the arm into the break room. A small smile hovered over her lips as she looked Maria up and down. “I can’t believe you did it and didn’t tell me!”
“I…it just…we…Yeah,” Maria admitted softly, shy for once and not able to meet her friends knowing expression.
Liz wrapped Maria into a comfortable hug, quietly letting her know that she understood completely. After all, Maria wasn’t the only girl here in love with an amazing alien. Maria hugged her back before giggling briefly against her shoulder. Liz knew then that Maria was back on track. She pulled back, leaving her hands on Maria’s shoulders. “So…,” she started in a teasing tone, “how was it?” She quirked one eyebrow and a smile lit her eyes as she waited for Maria’s response.
Maria’s shoulders shook under her hands as the laughter took over. “Oh, Liz! You have no idea!” She laughed even harder at Liz’s disbelieving expression. “Okay! Okay! Maybe you’re the only person on the planet right now who could believe it!”
“That’s better,” Liz muttered under her breath. She was convinced that Maria already knew everything about her amazing sex life. “Now spill,” she demanded in as threatening a tone as she could muster considering the mile-wide smile that wouldn’t leave her mouth.
“Do you remember the time when we were fourteen and we stayed up all night in your room and lit candles and ate ice cream and mooned over those hot pictures of Freddie Prinze Jr. and Tom Cruise while we listened to Billy Joel on the stereo?” Liz nodded her eyes bright with memory. That had been a perfect, carefree, wonderful night in their lives. “Well,” Maria was suddenly shy again, looking at the ground between their feet. “It was like, a hundred times better than that,” she finished softly, glancing up in time to catch Liz’s satisfied expression and soft sigh of happiness for her friend.
“Oh, Maria,” Liz whispered softly, hugging her friend again. “I’m so happy for you. Both of you!”
Max rushed through the room suddenly, a man on a mission, and Liz pulled back from Maria at the strong wave of his emotions that hit her. “Max,…what?” She reached one hand out toward him, but he went right past her as if he didn’t even see her in the room.
“That can’t be good,” Maria’s eyes darted back and forth between the two lovers, concern darkening her expression. Liz took two unconscious steps towards Max before making herself stop. Maria watched her back straighten with resolve and her shoulders lift under a deep breath before Liz turned back around and shook her head ruefully.
“What?” Maria implored. “Just tell me it’s not some weird alien thing. That Max is still really Max and not some pod person Max or…”
“Breathe, Maria,” Liz suggested helpfully, patting her friend on the back. “He’s just worried about Michael taking responsibility for his actions. I’m sorry that I said anything in front of everyone. I was just so surprised…” Liz trailed off as voices in the kitchen rose briefly before subsiding into heated murmurs. “Yeah, that’ll go over well,” she whispered to herself, rolling her eyes at Max’s caveman tactics. She refocused on Maria and smiled. “They’ll work it out. Don’t worry, okay?”
“Yeah, they haven’t killed each other yet, so I guess their friendship will last another day,” Maria joked, not quite able to tear her eyes away from the still-swinging door that led to the kitchen.
Liz led her back out into the main room after extracting a promise of details from Maria for later. Liz slid back into the booth just in time to catch Isabel leaning closer to Kyle letting her hand slide over his on the table as she reached for the catsup behind him. She quirked an eyebrow at Isabel in amusement and watched for Kyle’s reaction to Isabel’s flirting. Kyle just leaned back to allow Isabel more room and continued his conversation with Alex, seemingly oblivious to Isabel’s moves. The catsup made a loud thud as Isabel slammed it to the table in frustration before she slid over the vinyl seat and stood to leave.
“Are you going somewhere, Isabel?” Kyle asked in surprise.
“Apparently not,” Isabel retorted quickly, referring to her lack of progress in getting him to notice her. She turned on her heel and left in a rush.
“What?” Kyle asked in surprise, completely oblivious to the undertones of the situation.
Maria rolled her eyes and exchanged a private glance with Liz about clueless men before reaching into her silver alien apron pocket and fishing out several dollars of her tip money. She slammed it in the middle of the table and stared down each person still sitting there.
“I’m starting a charitable fund. I think if we all dig deep and pitch in together we can get Kyle enough money to buy a clue!” She scowled at Kyle for being such a man and stomped away.
“What?” Kyle’s plaintive voice followed her dramatic exit. Alex frayed the ends of his napkin and watched the table with serious intent, trying not to laugh out loud, while Liz quietly added another five to the pile.
* * * * *
“What the hell were you thinking?!” Max stormed into the kitchen and grabbed Michael’s arm turning his friend abruptly to face his anger.
“Max, what the hell?” Michael shrugged away from Max’s firm grip and rubbed the skin that he was sure would be bruised tomorrow. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about Maria. You remember her, don’t you? The girl you said you love? The person you’re supposed to protect from harm? Am I ringing any bells here, Michael?”
Michael didn’t like Max’s sarcastic tone. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and immediately put up his defenses. “Yes, I remember Maria. Now what the hell are you going on about, because I just saw her and she looked pretty damn happy to me!”
Max raked his right hand through his hair and curled his fingers into a fist before making himself relax and stop thinking about hitting Michael. “I’m talking about you taking the next step with Maria. My God, Michael! She could be pregnant right now! Did you even think of that? Or were you only thinking with your…”
Michael grabbed the front of Max’s shirt and hauled him up close and personal so that he wouldn’t miss a word that Michael was going to tell him.
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, Maxwell,” Michael hissed right in his face. “I do love that girl and I would do absolutely anything for her. What we do in private is just that…private. And I won’t have you messing that up with your unthinking words. Not that you deserve to know, but we used protection. And you are the last person that can lecture us about safe sex, Daddy.”
It was Michael’s turn to get pushed back abruptly as rage suffused Max’s face and he threw Michael off of him. “I am the only one who can lecture you about this right now because I know exactly what can happen,” he spat out, rage in his eyes and worse, disappointment. Michael looked down at their feet as Max continued. “Liz and I used protection too, and it didn’t work. Do you not understand that?”
Michael nodded. Max stood back and watched him, each waiting for the other to speak first. “I’m sorry, Max,” Michael mumbled finally. “That was really uncalled for.”
“Yes, it was,” Max agreed nodding, arms crossed over his chest.
Michael wiped his damp palms over the sides of his jeans and looked up nervously. Max was still fuming. He had to make him understand.
“It was time for us, Max. I just knew it. And yes, we acted on it, because we’re in love, because we needed to be together. I don’t pretend to understand the connection that you and Liz share, and frankly it’s scary and I don’t know if I’d really want that kind of…of dependence on anyone, but what Maria and I have is perfect in its own way. We used condoms. We weren’t fated to be together and create some ‘super kid’ to save the world. I don’t have some prophecy hanging over my head like you and Liz. And there’s no way in hell I’m gonna be celibate for the rest of my life in the fear that whoever I touch is gonna have my kid. Please try to understand that for me, Max. Can you just do that?” Michael’s eyes never left Max’s during the entire speech and a small ray of hope bloomed as he watched the truth of his statement sink into Max.
Max uncrossed his arms and let them dangle at his sides, his shoulders slumping as he allowed himself to relax. “Yeah. I can understand that,” he admitted. “I wanna check Maria though. Just to make sure.” His amber eyes searched for Michael’s permission.
“Hey, man, if Maria says it’s okay then I won’t stop you.” He waved toward the swinging door that led to the exit. Max moved to seek out Maria, but turned back abruptly to grab Michael into a huge brotherly hug. They slapped each other on the back and pulled back. A small smile flitted over Max’s face.
“You know I only yell because I care, right?” Max asked.
“And you know I only yell back because you’re usually right, don’t you?” Michael retorted.
They shared a laugh as Max swung the door open. A soft oomf! of surprise escaped his lips as Maria fell into his arms. She stood hurriedly, bracing herself against Max’s broad shoulders and tried to recover her dignity.
“Michael! Table five has been waiting ten minutes for their Will Smith Burgers. Got an ETA on that?” She tried to sound authoritative, but it was spoiled by her body encompassing blush.
“Oh crap!” Michael swung back to the grill in time to watch the meat patties turn to charcoal. He waved a towel to dispel the smoke as Max led Maria back to the break room.
“Did you hear any of that?” Max asked her in a much gentler tone than he ever used with Michael.
Maria looked down and considered lying. She shrugged and decided the truth was more fun anyway.
“Yeah, you big strong caveman! Protector of the not-so-innocent. Wise and benevolent ruler of…” she burst out laughing at Max’s expression.
“I just wanted to make sure that you were all right. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”
Maria patted his arm and led him over to the worn sofa, plopping down to sit and pulling him to the seat beside her. “We’re all growing up here together, Max. You have to understand that you don’t have a say in all our choices. Whatever we do, good or bad, is what we have to live with. I know that deep, deep down you trust us enough to know that we aren’t going to intentionally do anything to make our lives any crazier than they already are. I mean really, Max, we have you and Liz for that, right?” She smiled the smile that he could never resist and gave him a quick hug. “We’re fine, Max. Now stop worrying!”
Max shrugged sheepishly. “It’s what I do best, Maria. I don’t want anything bad to happen to any of us, you know?”
“I know, Max. I really do.”
“Would it be okay if I…” Max put his palm over her abdomen in a gesture she had witnessed him use on Liz countless times since they had discovered her pregnancy.
“Would it do any good if I said no?” She rolled her eyes again and sat back with her arms at her sides. “Scan away, oh Great and Powerful Healer, oh Mighty…” Max used the hand at her stomach to tickle her unmercifully before she called uncle and promised to be quiet and cooperate.
A gentle hand hovered briefly over Maria’s lower stomach and Max’s look of intense concentration transformed into a lovely blush as a flash of Michael and Maria tangled together in passion flashed through his brain. He removed his hand quickly and cradled it with the other as if it were burned. And he had been burned, what he had witnessed was hot!
“What? Max! What did you see? Tell me I’m not…” Maria grabbed his shoulders and shook him frantically. Max stood up quickly and stepped away as unobtrusively as he could manage.
“You’re fine, Maria. No baby. Everything’s normal. I’m sorry I got all worked up about it.”
The door to the main restaurant opened abruptly and Alex poked his head in. Max turned to him, relieved at the interruption. “What’s going on, Alex?”
“Kyle and I just wanted to let you know that we’re leaving now. It’s our turn to review the video surveillance tapes we set up outside the pod chamber. Well, Isabel’s turn too, but she might not be up for it tonight.” Alex just shook his head with a ‘don’t ask’ expression.
Maria snorted a knowing breath and muttered, “She’ll show up alright.”
“Huh?” Max responded, perplexed at what he’d obviously missed.
“Men,” Maria huffed, meeting Alex’s amused eyes.
“Glad I’m not one,” Alex joked back, laughing with Maria at their ongoing teasing that he was ‘just one of the girls’ to them. He flipped them a wave and left.
TBC
“Maria! You’re glowing!” Liz grabbed Maria’s arm as she approached their table at the Crashdown and pulled her in for a closer look.
“Oh my God!” Maria’s face went white as she made a frantic grab for the napkin dispenser, turning it to the side as she tried to assess her reflected image in the wavy silver. Her hands flew over her face as she traced her fingers down one cheek before turning to check out the other side. She knew last night had been absolutely incredible, why should it surprise her that she was actually…
“Not literally!” Liz interrupted her thoughts laughing and swatting Maria’s hands away from her face. Liz scooted out of the booth, leaving Max, Kyle, Isabel, and Alex with expressions ranging from clueless to stunned. She pulled Maria by the arm into the break room. A small smile hovered over her lips as she looked Maria up and down. “I can’t believe you did it and didn’t tell me!”
“I…it just…we…Yeah,” Maria admitted softly, shy for once and not able to meet her friends knowing expression.
Liz wrapped Maria into a comfortable hug, quietly letting her know that she understood completely. After all, Maria wasn’t the only girl here in love with an amazing alien. Maria hugged her back before giggling briefly against her shoulder. Liz knew then that Maria was back on track. She pulled back, leaving her hands on Maria’s shoulders. “So…,” she started in a teasing tone, “how was it?” She quirked one eyebrow and a smile lit her eyes as she waited for Maria’s response.
Maria’s shoulders shook under her hands as the laughter took over. “Oh, Liz! You have no idea!” She laughed even harder at Liz’s disbelieving expression. “Okay! Okay! Maybe you’re the only person on the planet right now who could believe it!”
“That’s better,” Liz muttered under her breath. She was convinced that Maria already knew everything about her amazing sex life. “Now spill,” she demanded in as threatening a tone as she could muster considering the mile-wide smile that wouldn’t leave her mouth.
“Do you remember the time when we were fourteen and we stayed up all night in your room and lit candles and ate ice cream and mooned over those hot pictures of Freddie Prinze Jr. and Tom Cruise while we listened to Billy Joel on the stereo?” Liz nodded her eyes bright with memory. That had been a perfect, carefree, wonderful night in their lives. “Well,” Maria was suddenly shy again, looking at the ground between their feet. “It was like, a hundred times better than that,” she finished softly, glancing up in time to catch Liz’s satisfied expression and soft sigh of happiness for her friend.
“Oh, Maria,” Liz whispered softly, hugging her friend again. “I’m so happy for you. Both of you!”
Max rushed through the room suddenly, a man on a mission, and Liz pulled back from Maria at the strong wave of his emotions that hit her. “Max,…what?” She reached one hand out toward him, but he went right past her as if he didn’t even see her in the room.
“That can’t be good,” Maria’s eyes darted back and forth between the two lovers, concern darkening her expression. Liz took two unconscious steps towards Max before making herself stop. Maria watched her back straighten with resolve and her shoulders lift under a deep breath before Liz turned back around and shook her head ruefully.
“What?” Maria implored. “Just tell me it’s not some weird alien thing. That Max is still really Max and not some pod person Max or…”
“Breathe, Maria,” Liz suggested helpfully, patting her friend on the back. “He’s just worried about Michael taking responsibility for his actions. I’m sorry that I said anything in front of everyone. I was just so surprised…” Liz trailed off as voices in the kitchen rose briefly before subsiding into heated murmurs. “Yeah, that’ll go over well,” she whispered to herself, rolling her eyes at Max’s caveman tactics. She refocused on Maria and smiled. “They’ll work it out. Don’t worry, okay?”
“Yeah, they haven’t killed each other yet, so I guess their friendship will last another day,” Maria joked, not quite able to tear her eyes away from the still-swinging door that led to the kitchen.
Liz led her back out into the main room after extracting a promise of details from Maria for later. Liz slid back into the booth just in time to catch Isabel leaning closer to Kyle letting her hand slide over his on the table as she reached for the catsup behind him. She quirked an eyebrow at Isabel in amusement and watched for Kyle’s reaction to Isabel’s flirting. Kyle just leaned back to allow Isabel more room and continued his conversation with Alex, seemingly oblivious to Isabel’s moves. The catsup made a loud thud as Isabel slammed it to the table in frustration before she slid over the vinyl seat and stood to leave.
“Are you going somewhere, Isabel?” Kyle asked in surprise.
“Apparently not,” Isabel retorted quickly, referring to her lack of progress in getting him to notice her. She turned on her heel and left in a rush.
“What?” Kyle asked in surprise, completely oblivious to the undertones of the situation.
Maria rolled her eyes and exchanged a private glance with Liz about clueless men before reaching into her silver alien apron pocket and fishing out several dollars of her tip money. She slammed it in the middle of the table and stared down each person still sitting there.
“I’m starting a charitable fund. I think if we all dig deep and pitch in together we can get Kyle enough money to buy a clue!” She scowled at Kyle for being such a man and stomped away.
“What?” Kyle’s plaintive voice followed her dramatic exit. Alex frayed the ends of his napkin and watched the table with serious intent, trying not to laugh out loud, while Liz quietly added another five to the pile.
* * * * *
“What the hell were you thinking?!” Max stormed into the kitchen and grabbed Michael’s arm turning his friend abruptly to face his anger.
“Max, what the hell?” Michael shrugged away from Max’s firm grip and rubbed the skin that he was sure would be bruised tomorrow. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about Maria. You remember her, don’t you? The girl you said you love? The person you’re supposed to protect from harm? Am I ringing any bells here, Michael?”
Michael didn’t like Max’s sarcastic tone. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and immediately put up his defenses. “Yes, I remember Maria. Now what the hell are you going on about, because I just saw her and she looked pretty damn happy to me!”
Max raked his right hand through his hair and curled his fingers into a fist before making himself relax and stop thinking about hitting Michael. “I’m talking about you taking the next step with Maria. My God, Michael! She could be pregnant right now! Did you even think of that? Or were you only thinking with your…”
Michael grabbed the front of Max’s shirt and hauled him up close and personal so that he wouldn’t miss a word that Michael was going to tell him.
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, Maxwell,” Michael hissed right in his face. “I do love that girl and I would do absolutely anything for her. What we do in private is just that…private. And I won’t have you messing that up with your unthinking words. Not that you deserve to know, but we used protection. And you are the last person that can lecture us about safe sex, Daddy.”
It was Michael’s turn to get pushed back abruptly as rage suffused Max’s face and he threw Michael off of him. “I am the only one who can lecture you about this right now because I know exactly what can happen,” he spat out, rage in his eyes and worse, disappointment. Michael looked down at their feet as Max continued. “Liz and I used protection too, and it didn’t work. Do you not understand that?”
Michael nodded. Max stood back and watched him, each waiting for the other to speak first. “I’m sorry, Max,” Michael mumbled finally. “That was really uncalled for.”
“Yes, it was,” Max agreed nodding, arms crossed over his chest.
Michael wiped his damp palms over the sides of his jeans and looked up nervously. Max was still fuming. He had to make him understand.
“It was time for us, Max. I just knew it. And yes, we acted on it, because we’re in love, because we needed to be together. I don’t pretend to understand the connection that you and Liz share, and frankly it’s scary and I don’t know if I’d really want that kind of…of dependence on anyone, but what Maria and I have is perfect in its own way. We used condoms. We weren’t fated to be together and create some ‘super kid’ to save the world. I don’t have some prophecy hanging over my head like you and Liz. And there’s no way in hell I’m gonna be celibate for the rest of my life in the fear that whoever I touch is gonna have my kid. Please try to understand that for me, Max. Can you just do that?” Michael’s eyes never left Max’s during the entire speech and a small ray of hope bloomed as he watched the truth of his statement sink into Max.
Max uncrossed his arms and let them dangle at his sides, his shoulders slumping as he allowed himself to relax. “Yeah. I can understand that,” he admitted. “I wanna check Maria though. Just to make sure.” His amber eyes searched for Michael’s permission.
“Hey, man, if Maria says it’s okay then I won’t stop you.” He waved toward the swinging door that led to the exit. Max moved to seek out Maria, but turned back abruptly to grab Michael into a huge brotherly hug. They slapped each other on the back and pulled back. A small smile flitted over Max’s face.
“You know I only yell because I care, right?” Max asked.
“And you know I only yell back because you’re usually right, don’t you?” Michael retorted.
They shared a laugh as Max swung the door open. A soft oomf! of surprise escaped his lips as Maria fell into his arms. She stood hurriedly, bracing herself against Max’s broad shoulders and tried to recover her dignity.
“Michael! Table five has been waiting ten minutes for their Will Smith Burgers. Got an ETA on that?” She tried to sound authoritative, but it was spoiled by her body encompassing blush.
“Oh crap!” Michael swung back to the grill in time to watch the meat patties turn to charcoal. He waved a towel to dispel the smoke as Max led Maria back to the break room.
“Did you hear any of that?” Max asked her in a much gentler tone than he ever used with Michael.
Maria looked down and considered lying. She shrugged and decided the truth was more fun anyway.
“Yeah, you big strong caveman! Protector of the not-so-innocent. Wise and benevolent ruler of…” she burst out laughing at Max’s expression.
“I just wanted to make sure that you were all right. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”
Maria patted his arm and led him over to the worn sofa, plopping down to sit and pulling him to the seat beside her. “We’re all growing up here together, Max. You have to understand that you don’t have a say in all our choices. Whatever we do, good or bad, is what we have to live with. I know that deep, deep down you trust us enough to know that we aren’t going to intentionally do anything to make our lives any crazier than they already are. I mean really, Max, we have you and Liz for that, right?” She smiled the smile that he could never resist and gave him a quick hug. “We’re fine, Max. Now stop worrying!”
Max shrugged sheepishly. “It’s what I do best, Maria. I don’t want anything bad to happen to any of us, you know?”
“I know, Max. I really do.”
“Would it be okay if I…” Max put his palm over her abdomen in a gesture she had witnessed him use on Liz countless times since they had discovered her pregnancy.
“Would it do any good if I said no?” She rolled her eyes again and sat back with her arms at her sides. “Scan away, oh Great and Powerful Healer, oh Mighty…” Max used the hand at her stomach to tickle her unmercifully before she called uncle and promised to be quiet and cooperate.
A gentle hand hovered briefly over Maria’s lower stomach and Max’s look of intense concentration transformed into a lovely blush as a flash of Michael and Maria tangled together in passion flashed through his brain. He removed his hand quickly and cradled it with the other as if it were burned. And he had been burned, what he had witnessed was hot!
“What? Max! What did you see? Tell me I’m not…” Maria grabbed his shoulders and shook him frantically. Max stood up quickly and stepped away as unobtrusively as he could manage.
“You’re fine, Maria. No baby. Everything’s normal. I’m sorry I got all worked up about it.”
The door to the main restaurant opened abruptly and Alex poked his head in. Max turned to him, relieved at the interruption. “What’s going on, Alex?”
“Kyle and I just wanted to let you know that we’re leaving now. It’s our turn to review the video surveillance tapes we set up outside the pod chamber. Well, Isabel’s turn too, but she might not be up for it tonight.” Alex just shook his head with a ‘don’t ask’ expression.
Maria snorted a knowing breath and muttered, “She’ll show up alright.”
“Huh?” Max responded, perplexed at what he’d obviously missed.
“Men,” Maria huffed, meeting Alex’s amused eyes.
“Glad I’m not one,” Alex joked back, laughing with Maria at their ongoing teasing that he was ‘just one of the girls’ to them. He flipped them a wave and left.
TBC
EYA Part 69
Diane moved through Max’s old room and sighed sadly as she realized that her children were growing up. Looking around you would never have known that a young boy had grown into a man in this room. She ran her hand over the sewing table she had moved in and glanced around at the comfortable couch and chairs they had added. She’d always wanted her own private room to sew and do crafts in; a quiet place for reading or solitude. But having the room now meant that her children were grown and didn’t really need her anymore.
Isabel was graduating this year and applying to the local colleges. Max was married and going to be a father. Diane moved to stand in front of a large framed photo of a smiling Max and Isabel. Tears rolled down her face as she raised a hand to the picture that still showed traces of the children they had been. She realized that those days of innocent childhood were gone forever.
“Goodbye, my sweet babies,” she softly stated. She stared for a moment longer before shaking her head at her maudlin attitude and laughing at herself. “I should be proud of who they have become!” She lectured herself internally.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Tess swiftly made her way through the darkened streets of the familiar neighborhood. She had a plan to get into the pod chamber and take off alone for Antar. But first she wanted to make sure that Max and Isabel were truly dead. She’d been in too much pain to check their still bodies when they’d attacked her at the pod chamber months before, but damned if she would rest until she knew they had each paid the ultimate price for daring to take her on.
She slipped through the gate into the Evans’ backyard and moved swiftly to a familiar window, reveling in the absence of the pain that had haunted her every motion for so many weeks. She was proud of how well she had healed herself. Sure it had taken her many painful weeks and her eyes were still haunted by the agony of remembered pain, but she was strong. And determined and…her thoughts trailed off as she was disturbed to find a light on in the room. If Max wasn’t dead…
She moved stealthily to a place under the window and peered through just in time to see Diane looking around the room with the saddest expression on her face. And the room, the room was all changed. Nothing of Max’s remained in there now. She noted the feminine décor, the sewing table and comfortable chairs. No sign of a bed or Max’s desk or computer. She watched closely as Diane reached out to a picture of a young and smiling Max and Isabel. Tears were rolling down her face and her voice just barely drifted outside to an anxious Tess as she strained to hear. “Goodbye, my sweet babies.”
Tess leaned back against the side of the house, suddenly weak with the confirmation of Max and Isabel’s deaths. She hugged her sides and tried to contain her mirth as her body heaved with the deep laughter that begged to escape her small frame. She moved swiftly out of the backyard before Diane heard her and practically ran to her car. She shut the door behind her and sped off into the night.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would go to the pod chamber and find her way home.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
One hour later
“Why doesn’t he just get it already?” Isabel sighed in frustration, leaning back against Alex as they viewed the surveillance tapes in Isabel’s living room. She glanced quickly toward the door to the kitchen where Kyle was foraging for drinks.
Alex chuckled quietly and enjoyed the close contact with Isabel. He was relieved to realize that cuddling with Isabel was easier now, more like his friendships with Liz and Maria. The awkwardness he had always felt around her that caused his brain to freeze and his limbs to stumble had evaporated in the realization that they really were just friends, and that was okay. He swatted her hand out of the huge bowl of popcorn they were sharing and grabbed a handful for himself.
“He’s a guy, Isabel. Guys don’t do subtle.” She tilted her head back to see if he was seriously giving her advice or just placating her.
“So you don’t think it’s because he doesn’t want to be with me?” A hopeful note crept into her tone before she could censor it. Alex gave her a reassuring smile of disbelief that she could think that any red-blooded American male wouldn’t want her. He thought she looked way too serious all of a sudden. He grinned mischievously as he thought of how he would cajole Liz or Maria out of Deep Thoughts territory.
In a swift move that he had perfected over the years of friendship he had shared with the other girls he wrapped both hands around her waist and used his long fingers to tickle her until she screamed for mercy. They collapsed in a happy pile on the floor gasping for air just as Kyle reentered the room with Max and Liz right behind him.
“Uh, hey, guys. I sorta thought we were supposed to actually watch the hidden camera video tapes, not just let it play unnoticed,” Kyle drawled sarcastically, one eyebrow quirked in annoyance at the intimate position he had found them in.
Alex sat up quickly, pulling Isabel to a sitting position beside him. He gave her a quick smile and a surreptitious thumbs up at Kyle’s sharp tone and Isabel dared to hope that Kyle had actually sounded jealous for a minute there.
Kyle moved into the room handing Alex and Isabel their drinks before pointedly sitting between them and rewinding the tape.
Max and Liz stared for a moment longer before bidding everyone goodnight and heading up to their apartment.
“So what’s up with them?” Max mused out loud as he opened their door. “I thought Isabel was going after Kyle, and now it looks like she’s got the hots for Alex!”
Liz shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what’s going through her head right now, but it looks pretty entertaining.”
Max moved aside the soft curtain of her hair and cupped the side of her face in his large palm. He moved closer to her with each breath and softly whispered, “I could think of some pretty entertaining things for us to do tonight if you’re interested.”
Liz’s eyes smiled up into his sweet face as she teased, “Like what? Monopoly? I haven’t played that in soo long!”
Max’s thumb moved slowly over her lips and he hissed in a soft breath when her tongue licked out to touch it. “I had something else in mind actually.”
“Scrabble? Go Fish…oomf” Max attacked her mouth swiftly with his own, she pulled back, out of breath, “Strip poker?”
“You’re getting warmer,” he breathed against her neck. The heated air caused her head to tilt back to give him greater access. Max took full advantage, his soft lips nuzzled in closer and his tongue peeked out to taste her.
“It is getting warmer in here, isn’t it?” Liz agreed as she happily gave up the game.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“These tapes are so boring!,” Kyle moaned, pretending to keel over from boredom even as he threw a handful of popcorn at the screen. The surveillance camera was set up to watch the cave entrance and since the cave was in the desert, not a whole lot happened around there in the course of a day. There was one native rabbit that had hopped through twice now in the weeks of tapes they had watched. They named him Jack. Which was apt, since, according to Kyle, Jack Shit was happening out there.
Isabel pulled him over to lay his head in her lap and ran her hands through his hair briefly before massaging his shoulders and neck.
“God! Isabel, that feels so good,” Kyle groaned, his eyes closed at the pleasurable sensations. “Your hands are magic!” He squinted one eye open in suspicion. “You’re not using any of that alien mumbo jumbo on me right now are you?”
Isabel laughed and pushed his head out of her lap. “You should be so lucky, Kyle.”
“Yeah. That’s what I thought too,” Kyle muttered under his breath. The note of disappointment over her apparent rejection crept through against his will. Isabel’s eyes widened in surprise and Kyle could have kicked himself for letting his dejection slip out like that. He’d known all along that Isabel was out of his league, and he’d realized that these last couple months she’d just been trying to keep him distracted so he wouldn’t fall into depression over the whole ‘Tess’ situation. But after today at the Crash…he shook his head. He’d read that all wrong, of course. Ever since Tess betrayed his family like that he’d felt he couldn’t trust his own judgment about people, and today certainly proved it.
Alex paid studious attention to the pre-taped video and let them have their moment.
“Kyle?” Isabel asked softly. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” She moved to stand and reached out a hand to help Kyle off the floor. He reached up and clasped her hand, surprised by the electric thrill that ran through his body at the contact and even more shocked when she maintained her hold as she lead him into the kitchen.
She turned to face him and admired his handsome features for a moment. Kyle stared straight into her eyes and couldn’t help but notice that they were eye to eye when she wasn’t wearing her six-inch heels. She reached out and clasped his other hand in hers as they faced each other.
“Kyle,” she took a deep breath for courage, “I really would like to know how you feel about me. I mean, honestly, what do you think of me?” Her eyes wanted to look anywhere but at him, but some force was gluing their gazes together.
“What do I…What is this all about, Isabel?” Kyle raised their linked hands between them and begged her with his eyes to clue him in.
“I think I really like you, Kyle,” Isabel blurted out, finally throwing subtlety to the wind. “I think we’d be really good together.” Might as all get it all out now, she thought.
“You like me,” he repeated wonderingly. “Do you mean you like me as a friend, or that you like me, like me?”
Isabel shook her head in exasperation and dropped his hands in favor of cupping his face between her palms and hauling him in for a deep kiss that would leave no mistake as to her intentions.
Kyle stood stunned for a moment as her actions sank through him. He felt dizzy and confused and alive and fabulous all at once. His arms wrapped around her back of their own free will and he took a step closer as he deepened the kiss. His tongue licked her bottom lip and she made a small shocked sound as her lips parted for his invasion. A soft moan floated in the quiet air and Kyle realized with amazement that he had caused that sound in her. That she actually wanted this. Wanted him. The feeling made him strong. And bold. His hands drifted over her back and she arched into his embrace wanting and needing to be closer to this wonderful source of pleasure.
Why hadn’t he seen it sooner?
TBC
Diane moved through Max’s old room and sighed sadly as she realized that her children were growing up. Looking around you would never have known that a young boy had grown into a man in this room. She ran her hand over the sewing table she had moved in and glanced around at the comfortable couch and chairs they had added. She’d always wanted her own private room to sew and do crafts in; a quiet place for reading or solitude. But having the room now meant that her children were grown and didn’t really need her anymore.
Isabel was graduating this year and applying to the local colleges. Max was married and going to be a father. Diane moved to stand in front of a large framed photo of a smiling Max and Isabel. Tears rolled down her face as she raised a hand to the picture that still showed traces of the children they had been. She realized that those days of innocent childhood were gone forever.
“Goodbye, my sweet babies,” she softly stated. She stared for a moment longer before shaking her head at her maudlin attitude and laughing at herself. “I should be proud of who they have become!” She lectured herself internally.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Tess swiftly made her way through the darkened streets of the familiar neighborhood. She had a plan to get into the pod chamber and take off alone for Antar. But first she wanted to make sure that Max and Isabel were truly dead. She’d been in too much pain to check their still bodies when they’d attacked her at the pod chamber months before, but damned if she would rest until she knew they had each paid the ultimate price for daring to take her on.
She slipped through the gate into the Evans’ backyard and moved swiftly to a familiar window, reveling in the absence of the pain that had haunted her every motion for so many weeks. She was proud of how well she had healed herself. Sure it had taken her many painful weeks and her eyes were still haunted by the agony of remembered pain, but she was strong. And determined and…her thoughts trailed off as she was disturbed to find a light on in the room. If Max wasn’t dead…
She moved stealthily to a place under the window and peered through just in time to see Diane looking around the room with the saddest expression on her face. And the room, the room was all changed. Nothing of Max’s remained in there now. She noted the feminine décor, the sewing table and comfortable chairs. No sign of a bed or Max’s desk or computer. She watched closely as Diane reached out to a picture of a young and smiling Max and Isabel. Tears were rolling down her face and her voice just barely drifted outside to an anxious Tess as she strained to hear. “Goodbye, my sweet babies.”
Tess leaned back against the side of the house, suddenly weak with the confirmation of Max and Isabel’s deaths. She hugged her sides and tried to contain her mirth as her body heaved with the deep laughter that begged to escape her small frame. She moved swiftly out of the backyard before Diane heard her and practically ran to her car. She shut the door behind her and sped off into the night.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would go to the pod chamber and find her way home.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
One hour later
“Why doesn’t he just get it already?” Isabel sighed in frustration, leaning back against Alex as they viewed the surveillance tapes in Isabel’s living room. She glanced quickly toward the door to the kitchen where Kyle was foraging for drinks.
Alex chuckled quietly and enjoyed the close contact with Isabel. He was relieved to realize that cuddling with Isabel was easier now, more like his friendships with Liz and Maria. The awkwardness he had always felt around her that caused his brain to freeze and his limbs to stumble had evaporated in the realization that they really were just friends, and that was okay. He swatted her hand out of the huge bowl of popcorn they were sharing and grabbed a handful for himself.
“He’s a guy, Isabel. Guys don’t do subtle.” She tilted her head back to see if he was seriously giving her advice or just placating her.
“So you don’t think it’s because he doesn’t want to be with me?” A hopeful note crept into her tone before she could censor it. Alex gave her a reassuring smile of disbelief that she could think that any red-blooded American male wouldn’t want her. He thought she looked way too serious all of a sudden. He grinned mischievously as he thought of how he would cajole Liz or Maria out of Deep Thoughts territory.
In a swift move that he had perfected over the years of friendship he had shared with the other girls he wrapped both hands around her waist and used his long fingers to tickle her until she screamed for mercy. They collapsed in a happy pile on the floor gasping for air just as Kyle reentered the room with Max and Liz right behind him.
“Uh, hey, guys. I sorta thought we were supposed to actually watch the hidden camera video tapes, not just let it play unnoticed,” Kyle drawled sarcastically, one eyebrow quirked in annoyance at the intimate position he had found them in.
Alex sat up quickly, pulling Isabel to a sitting position beside him. He gave her a quick smile and a surreptitious thumbs up at Kyle’s sharp tone and Isabel dared to hope that Kyle had actually sounded jealous for a minute there.
Kyle moved into the room handing Alex and Isabel their drinks before pointedly sitting between them and rewinding the tape.
Max and Liz stared for a moment longer before bidding everyone goodnight and heading up to their apartment.
“So what’s up with them?” Max mused out loud as he opened their door. “I thought Isabel was going after Kyle, and now it looks like she’s got the hots for Alex!”
Liz shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what’s going through her head right now, but it looks pretty entertaining.”
Max moved aside the soft curtain of her hair and cupped the side of her face in his large palm. He moved closer to her with each breath and softly whispered, “I could think of some pretty entertaining things for us to do tonight if you’re interested.”
Liz’s eyes smiled up into his sweet face as she teased, “Like what? Monopoly? I haven’t played that in soo long!”
Max’s thumb moved slowly over her lips and he hissed in a soft breath when her tongue licked out to touch it. “I had something else in mind actually.”
“Scrabble? Go Fish…oomf” Max attacked her mouth swiftly with his own, she pulled back, out of breath, “Strip poker?”
“You’re getting warmer,” he breathed against her neck. The heated air caused her head to tilt back to give him greater access. Max took full advantage, his soft lips nuzzled in closer and his tongue peeked out to taste her.
“It is getting warmer in here, isn’t it?” Liz agreed as she happily gave up the game.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“These tapes are so boring!,” Kyle moaned, pretending to keel over from boredom even as he threw a handful of popcorn at the screen. The surveillance camera was set up to watch the cave entrance and since the cave was in the desert, not a whole lot happened around there in the course of a day. There was one native rabbit that had hopped through twice now in the weeks of tapes they had watched. They named him Jack. Which was apt, since, according to Kyle, Jack Shit was happening out there.
Isabel pulled him over to lay his head in her lap and ran her hands through his hair briefly before massaging his shoulders and neck.
“God! Isabel, that feels so good,” Kyle groaned, his eyes closed at the pleasurable sensations. “Your hands are magic!” He squinted one eye open in suspicion. “You’re not using any of that alien mumbo jumbo on me right now are you?”
Isabel laughed and pushed his head out of her lap. “You should be so lucky, Kyle.”
“Yeah. That’s what I thought too,” Kyle muttered under his breath. The note of disappointment over her apparent rejection crept through against his will. Isabel’s eyes widened in surprise and Kyle could have kicked himself for letting his dejection slip out like that. He’d known all along that Isabel was out of his league, and he’d realized that these last couple months she’d just been trying to keep him distracted so he wouldn’t fall into depression over the whole ‘Tess’ situation. But after today at the Crash…he shook his head. He’d read that all wrong, of course. Ever since Tess betrayed his family like that he’d felt he couldn’t trust his own judgment about people, and today certainly proved it.
Alex paid studious attention to the pre-taped video and let them have their moment.
“Kyle?” Isabel asked softly. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” She moved to stand and reached out a hand to help Kyle off the floor. He reached up and clasped her hand, surprised by the electric thrill that ran through his body at the contact and even more shocked when she maintained her hold as she lead him into the kitchen.
She turned to face him and admired his handsome features for a moment. Kyle stared straight into her eyes and couldn’t help but notice that they were eye to eye when she wasn’t wearing her six-inch heels. She reached out and clasped his other hand in hers as they faced each other.
“Kyle,” she took a deep breath for courage, “I really would like to know how you feel about me. I mean, honestly, what do you think of me?” Her eyes wanted to look anywhere but at him, but some force was gluing their gazes together.
“What do I…What is this all about, Isabel?” Kyle raised their linked hands between them and begged her with his eyes to clue him in.
“I think I really like you, Kyle,” Isabel blurted out, finally throwing subtlety to the wind. “I think we’d be really good together.” Might as all get it all out now, she thought.
“You like me,” he repeated wonderingly. “Do you mean you like me as a friend, or that you like me, like me?”
Isabel shook her head in exasperation and dropped his hands in favor of cupping his face between her palms and hauling him in for a deep kiss that would leave no mistake as to her intentions.
Kyle stood stunned for a moment as her actions sank through him. He felt dizzy and confused and alive and fabulous all at once. His arms wrapped around her back of their own free will and he took a step closer as he deepened the kiss. His tongue licked her bottom lip and she made a small shocked sound as her lips parted for his invasion. A soft moan floated in the quiet air and Kyle realized with amazement that he had caused that sound in her. That she actually wanted this. Wanted him. The feeling made him strong. And bold. His hands drifted over her back and she arched into his embrace wanting and needing to be closer to this wonderful source of pleasure.
Why hadn’t he seen it sooner?
TBC
EYA Part 70
Tess parked her SUV discretely behind an outcropping of rocks surrounded by bushes and looked carefully in every direction before beginning the long hike to the pod chamber. A small noise broke the stillness of the night and she crouched quickly to the ground, holding her breath and trying to see everywhere at once. A skittish rabbit broke from its cover and ran across the moonlit ground as if being chased. Tess let out her breath in a long sigh of relief and shook her head at her own paranoia. Michael may be the only one of her kind left, but he wasn’t the sharpest of the bunch. Of course, it was possible he had enlisted Alex, Maria, and Liz to help him take revenge on her. She straightened her shoulders and trudged on up the hill trying to convince herself that they had no way of knowing where she was right now anyway and no reason to suspect that she would visit the pod chamber tonight.
Her eyes narrowed in deep thought as she once again ran through her careful plan. First, she would make sure the Granolith was still in the same location and ready to transport her home. Next, oh this was the juicy part!, she would take her revenge on Liz by stealing her baby and taking it home to Khivar. She was still mad that the baby would not be hers, but she would raise the brat herself and teach it everything it needed to know. She knew Khivar would not be pleased by the detour in their original plan, but it could not be helped. The son of Max would still be in Khivar’s control and those stupid soothsayers back on their planet would be proven so wrong when Max’s son didn’t return to save the people, but to rule them the way that Khivar would wish.
As she drew closer to the cave entrance she slowed her steps and approached with great caution. Years with Nacedo had taught her many things about stealth and observation. She slowly scanned the area seeking anything that was different or out of place from her memories of her last visit months before. Small rocks were shifted around, the trail looked well used, as if people came and went often. She narrowed her eyes as she saw faint tracks in the dust that didn’t lead to the door. She circled slowly away from the entrance and around to the back of a pile of rocks that had not been there before. She began picking rocks away from the back of the pile and could not contain a tiny gasp that was pulled from her lips when she saw the back of a tiny camera that was nestled within the pile facing the cave entrance.
Damn it! That’s the same camera they used to spy on me when I first got to town, she thought furiously. She hadn’t believed they were that clever. She gently tapped the back of the camera until the lens rested in the dirt and chuckled out loud. Not so clever after all! She carefully replaced the rocks she had disturbed and knew they would all believe that the camera had slipped in the wind or something. She scanned around again and at last determined that that was the only security measure they had taken.
She stepped boldly to the entrance and placed her hand over the spot on the stone that would allow her entrance. A bright white light leaped from the hand symbol in the stone and pulsed outward to shock her outstretched hand. A tiny scream escaped her and she wrenched her arm back in horror, stumbling backward awkwardly before barely catching her balance. Her hand still throbbed with the pain of the shock and she cradled it close to her chest, eyes wide with the implications that were slowly sinking in. She tilted dizzily and fell hard onto the ground for a moment, mind awash with the only possible meaning to this. There was no way, no way!, that Michael had been able to put a charge in the stone that would repel entrance. That was too ‘Charmed’ or ‘Buffy’ for their kind of powers. That really only left one possibility, and that one scared her more than any other.
The Granolith remembered her. What Max had done that day. Those words he had chanted. They had triggered something in the Granolith. Something that told the Granolith that she was the enemy. That she was meant to be destroyed. She shuddered delicately, even though the New Mexico night in the middle of June was very warm. Memories of her almost destruction raced through her small body and she couldn’t stop shaking. No! This was too much to handle. All that time spent in recovering and plotting her revenge couldn’t be for nothing!
She stood back up, swaying slightly as though drunk. She was stronger than this. Maybe it hadn’t been as bad as she thought. Maybe she just needed to concentrate on gaining entrance. She blocked all thought of revenge and evil intent from her mind, as if the portal could sense those thoughts.
I’m a good person, she slowly approached the door, hand outstretched, I just need to get inside. I’m one of you. I’m a good… “NO!!” The light flashed out, brighter than before and burned Tess’ hand before she could snatch it back. The force of the shock that leapt from the stone knocked her back several steps and she sat heavily on the ground involuntarily. Her breath escaped in short gasps and tears of frustration pricked her eyes before she swiped them away with her uninjured left hand. Realization that the Granolith would repel her from now on swept through her. This was the only way home and the only way to return to Antar with Max’s child as an offering to Khivar. She would never be the queen she was meant to be. Never have a welcome home anywhere.
Rage churned through her. She turned and fled out into the night. She didn’t need Liz’s brat anymore, but Liz wouldn’t have him either. Her mind churned through what she knew of Nacedo’s time with the FBI. An evil grin spread across her face. Let Liz meet the FBI. No other revenge could be as sweet. Her heart jumped in glee at the brilliance of the plan. Simple, untraceable. Perfect! She laughed out loud and ran down the hill.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Max let his hands trail down Liz’s sides until they stopped at her waist. He gripped her suddenly and lifted her easily to sit on the kitchen counter stepping forward to stand between her legs. He tilted his head to change the angle of the kiss and let his tongue make love to her mouth. Liz groaned into the deepening kiss and her hands fisted into his short hair as she pulled him closer.
“My eyes! Oh the pain!” Alex covered his eyes with one hand and pretended to reel back in shock at the sight that greeted him as he innocently entered the Evans’ kitchen. He stumbled into the doorframe and clutched it with his free hand.
Max pulled reluctantly away from Liz’s sweet mouth and rolled his eyes at the antics of their friend, leaning his forehead against Liz’s.
Isabel stepped over Alex’s sprawled form. “It’s not like you don’t get that every day, Alex,” she smiled sweetly at her brother over her shoulder before prying Alex’s hand away from his eyes and winking at him mischievously. Maybe it was time to teach Max that it wasn’t always nice to catch your sibling in romantic clinches all over the house.
Alex’s eyes widened in shock and a slow grin spread over his face as he rose to his full height and took Isabel into his arms. He dropped her into a dramatic dip, faced away from the shocked couple. “You’re way better than them, baby,” Alex avowed, his voice several octaves lower than normal. He lowered his mouth and nuzzled into her neck until she was squirming to get up.
“That tickles,” she hissed into his ear. He smiled down into her face. “Do you think they learned their lesson?”
The thick silence in the room seemed to give them their answer. Alex stood, pulling Isabel to stand beside them. He kept a proprietary arm around her waist. “I’m sorry you had to see that, guys.” He turned quickly so they wouldn’t see him collapse in a ball of laughter and quickly led Isabel from the room.
Max stared at the empty doorway until he fully registered they were gone. He scratched his head and looked at Liz. She appeared equally as stunned by the turn of events.
“What the hell just happened here?” Max voiced the question that was hanging in the air.
“I have no idea.” Liz still stared at the empty doorway. She had thought that she understood that Isabel was after Kyle. But now…
She shook her head and took Max’s hand. “Let’s go back in and watch the movie.” She led Max back into the living room where Isabel sat cozily ensconced between Kyle and Alex on the sofa. Isabel turned from whispering in Kyle’s ear and Liz did not miss the small kiss he placed on her cheek or the way she snuggled closer against his side.
Max sat in the comfortable easy chair and pulled Liz into her usual position in his lap. She snuggled in and started watching the movie, more distracted by the three on the sofa than she wanted to admit.
“I can’t believe you guys did that!” Kyle whispered, his approving eyes moving from Alex to Isabel. Isabel nodded and grabbed Alex’s hand, knowing they were being watched.
“It’s about time someone gave them back a little of what we’ve been walking in on for the last four months!” Isabel played with Alex’s fingers as he scooted closer, draping one long arm behind her neck, and, in a burst of sudden inspiration, onto Kyle’s shoulder.
Kyle almost jumped in surprise, but decided to play along. He put one hand over Alex’s and leaned his cheek down on it for a moment. He leaned forward in front of Isabel and Alex leaned in also to hear what he had to say.
“You know it’s our duty to mess with them, don’t you?” His whisper barely carried to their ears, so he knew that Max and Liz wouldn’t overhear, and it looked like he was whispering sweet nothings into Alex’s ear. Isabel and Alex nodded, small grins on their faces. Kyle stood suddenly and reached one hand down for each of them. He pulled them to their feet before stretching his arms to the ceiling.
“Wow! I’m really beat. I think I’ll go lay down for awhile,” Kyle said out loud, scratching his stomach and being over dramatic.
“Me too,” Isabel quickly put in. “You can lay down in my room, if you want,” she added for good measure. She almost burst out laughing when Max and Liz almost fell out of their chair in shock.
Alex faked a huge yawn and delivered the final blow. “You’re bed’s big enough for three, isn’t it, Is?”
Isabel nodded and winked. “You already know the answer to that, Alex.” She grabbed their hands and dragged them from the room before Max remembered to close his mouth.
“No,” he shook his head and looked at Liz in desperation. “They’re just messing with us, right?” His pleading look begged her to give him the right answer.
Liz nodded as if she were certain it was all a big joke, although maybe…her eyes strayed to Isabel’s bedroom door, shut tight behind the three. “Yeah, I’m sure it was just…”
“Oh yeah, Kyle, do that again!” Isabel’s voice carried through clearly into the living room. Max sat up straight in his chair.
“Nah!” He sat back and tried to watch the movie again, Liz cuddled beside him.
Several long moments passed and Max was just starting to relax and catch up on the plot that his sister’s antics had disrupted when another outburst pierced the room.
“God, you…with your tongue! Don’t stop, don’t ever stop!” Alex’s voice sounded strained and deeper than normal.
Max began to fidget in his chair. Liz slid to the floor to sit between his legs, the movie abandoned as she watched the closed door to Isabel’s room and tried to figure out what the hell they were doing in there. They both unconsciously leaned closer to the door straining to hear anything else. Moments later they heard it.
“Alex, you stud! Make me feel so good!”
Max stood up abruptly. That had been Kyle’s voice telling Alex he made him feel so good! He took three steps to the door before Liz’s soft hand on his arm stopped him.
“Do you really want to walk in on that?” She gestured to the door, her anxious expression giving away her reluctance to find what was happening on the other side.
“I…we can’t just let them…it’s not…” Max stuttered, unable to complete a thought. Just knowing that whatever was going on was too much for his innocent sister.
Isabel’s bedroom
“ ‘You stud?’,” Isabel repeated, rolling on the bed laughing lightly as she pushed on Kyle’s arm.
“What? It’s all I could think of!” His happy smile seemed to split his face and Isabel caught her breath as she thought that she’d have to make him laugh more often. “What about Alex? That tongue thing? That was inspired, man!” Kyle gave Alex a high five over Isabel’s prone form.
Alex smiled shyly, silently acknowledging his brilliance. He pulled Isabel to a sitting position until the three were once again sitting in a circle, cross-legged, knees touching. “You’re ruining the game here, Is,” he laughed, picking up his cards again and fanning them out, watching his friends do the same. “Now,” he carefully scanned his cards, “Kyle, do you have any eights?”
“Damn!” Kyle flipped three eights down onto the bed between them. Alex gleefully scooped them up and planned his next request.
“Isabel, it’s your turn.” Kyle nudged her softly, pausing to squeeze her knee, enjoying the pleasure of being free to do so.
“No, it’s still Alex’s tur…ohh!” Her brow furrowed in concentration before a sly smile crept over her features. She threw her head back and moaned, deep and throaty, “Stop teasing me, baby! Just do it!” She opened her eyes and smiled at the boys in triumph.
Alex nodded, “Good one! I like how you worked the Nike logo in there!” He turned back to Kyle, “Any sixes?”
“Are you psychic?” Kyle grouched as he threw two sixes on the bed.
The bedroom door burst open to reveal Max, panting for breath and ready to break something. Or someone.
Alex glanced over his shoulder with a small grin and held up his hand of cards towards Max.
“Wanna play with us?”
TBC
Tess parked her SUV discretely behind an outcropping of rocks surrounded by bushes and looked carefully in every direction before beginning the long hike to the pod chamber. A small noise broke the stillness of the night and she crouched quickly to the ground, holding her breath and trying to see everywhere at once. A skittish rabbit broke from its cover and ran across the moonlit ground as if being chased. Tess let out her breath in a long sigh of relief and shook her head at her own paranoia. Michael may be the only one of her kind left, but he wasn’t the sharpest of the bunch. Of course, it was possible he had enlisted Alex, Maria, and Liz to help him take revenge on her. She straightened her shoulders and trudged on up the hill trying to convince herself that they had no way of knowing where she was right now anyway and no reason to suspect that she would visit the pod chamber tonight.
Her eyes narrowed in deep thought as she once again ran through her careful plan. First, she would make sure the Granolith was still in the same location and ready to transport her home. Next, oh this was the juicy part!, she would take her revenge on Liz by stealing her baby and taking it home to Khivar. She was still mad that the baby would not be hers, but she would raise the brat herself and teach it everything it needed to know. She knew Khivar would not be pleased by the detour in their original plan, but it could not be helped. The son of Max would still be in Khivar’s control and those stupid soothsayers back on their planet would be proven so wrong when Max’s son didn’t return to save the people, but to rule them the way that Khivar would wish.
As she drew closer to the cave entrance she slowed her steps and approached with great caution. Years with Nacedo had taught her many things about stealth and observation. She slowly scanned the area seeking anything that was different or out of place from her memories of her last visit months before. Small rocks were shifted around, the trail looked well used, as if people came and went often. She narrowed her eyes as she saw faint tracks in the dust that didn’t lead to the door. She circled slowly away from the entrance and around to the back of a pile of rocks that had not been there before. She began picking rocks away from the back of the pile and could not contain a tiny gasp that was pulled from her lips when she saw the back of a tiny camera that was nestled within the pile facing the cave entrance.
Damn it! That’s the same camera they used to spy on me when I first got to town, she thought furiously. She hadn’t believed they were that clever. She gently tapped the back of the camera until the lens rested in the dirt and chuckled out loud. Not so clever after all! She carefully replaced the rocks she had disturbed and knew they would all believe that the camera had slipped in the wind or something. She scanned around again and at last determined that that was the only security measure they had taken.
She stepped boldly to the entrance and placed her hand over the spot on the stone that would allow her entrance. A bright white light leaped from the hand symbol in the stone and pulsed outward to shock her outstretched hand. A tiny scream escaped her and she wrenched her arm back in horror, stumbling backward awkwardly before barely catching her balance. Her hand still throbbed with the pain of the shock and she cradled it close to her chest, eyes wide with the implications that were slowly sinking in. She tilted dizzily and fell hard onto the ground for a moment, mind awash with the only possible meaning to this. There was no way, no way!, that Michael had been able to put a charge in the stone that would repel entrance. That was too ‘Charmed’ or ‘Buffy’ for their kind of powers. That really only left one possibility, and that one scared her more than any other.
The Granolith remembered her. What Max had done that day. Those words he had chanted. They had triggered something in the Granolith. Something that told the Granolith that she was the enemy. That she was meant to be destroyed. She shuddered delicately, even though the New Mexico night in the middle of June was very warm. Memories of her almost destruction raced through her small body and she couldn’t stop shaking. No! This was too much to handle. All that time spent in recovering and plotting her revenge couldn’t be for nothing!
She stood back up, swaying slightly as though drunk. She was stronger than this. Maybe it hadn’t been as bad as she thought. Maybe she just needed to concentrate on gaining entrance. She blocked all thought of revenge and evil intent from her mind, as if the portal could sense those thoughts.
I’m a good person, she slowly approached the door, hand outstretched, I just need to get inside. I’m one of you. I’m a good… “NO!!” The light flashed out, brighter than before and burned Tess’ hand before she could snatch it back. The force of the shock that leapt from the stone knocked her back several steps and she sat heavily on the ground involuntarily. Her breath escaped in short gasps and tears of frustration pricked her eyes before she swiped them away with her uninjured left hand. Realization that the Granolith would repel her from now on swept through her. This was the only way home and the only way to return to Antar with Max’s child as an offering to Khivar. She would never be the queen she was meant to be. Never have a welcome home anywhere.
Rage churned through her. She turned and fled out into the night. She didn’t need Liz’s brat anymore, but Liz wouldn’t have him either. Her mind churned through what she knew of Nacedo’s time with the FBI. An evil grin spread across her face. Let Liz meet the FBI. No other revenge could be as sweet. Her heart jumped in glee at the brilliance of the plan. Simple, untraceable. Perfect! She laughed out loud and ran down the hill.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Max let his hands trail down Liz’s sides until they stopped at her waist. He gripped her suddenly and lifted her easily to sit on the kitchen counter stepping forward to stand between her legs. He tilted his head to change the angle of the kiss and let his tongue make love to her mouth. Liz groaned into the deepening kiss and her hands fisted into his short hair as she pulled him closer.
“My eyes! Oh the pain!” Alex covered his eyes with one hand and pretended to reel back in shock at the sight that greeted him as he innocently entered the Evans’ kitchen. He stumbled into the doorframe and clutched it with his free hand.
Max pulled reluctantly away from Liz’s sweet mouth and rolled his eyes at the antics of their friend, leaning his forehead against Liz’s.
Isabel stepped over Alex’s sprawled form. “It’s not like you don’t get that every day, Alex,” she smiled sweetly at her brother over her shoulder before prying Alex’s hand away from his eyes and winking at him mischievously. Maybe it was time to teach Max that it wasn’t always nice to catch your sibling in romantic clinches all over the house.
Alex’s eyes widened in shock and a slow grin spread over his face as he rose to his full height and took Isabel into his arms. He dropped her into a dramatic dip, faced away from the shocked couple. “You’re way better than them, baby,” Alex avowed, his voice several octaves lower than normal. He lowered his mouth and nuzzled into her neck until she was squirming to get up.
“That tickles,” she hissed into his ear. He smiled down into her face. “Do you think they learned their lesson?”
The thick silence in the room seemed to give them their answer. Alex stood, pulling Isabel to stand beside them. He kept a proprietary arm around her waist. “I’m sorry you had to see that, guys.” He turned quickly so they wouldn’t see him collapse in a ball of laughter and quickly led Isabel from the room.
Max stared at the empty doorway until he fully registered they were gone. He scratched his head and looked at Liz. She appeared equally as stunned by the turn of events.
“What the hell just happened here?” Max voiced the question that was hanging in the air.
“I have no idea.” Liz still stared at the empty doorway. She had thought that she understood that Isabel was after Kyle. But now…
She shook her head and took Max’s hand. “Let’s go back in and watch the movie.” She led Max back into the living room where Isabel sat cozily ensconced between Kyle and Alex on the sofa. Isabel turned from whispering in Kyle’s ear and Liz did not miss the small kiss he placed on her cheek or the way she snuggled closer against his side.
Max sat in the comfortable easy chair and pulled Liz into her usual position in his lap. She snuggled in and started watching the movie, more distracted by the three on the sofa than she wanted to admit.
“I can’t believe you guys did that!” Kyle whispered, his approving eyes moving from Alex to Isabel. Isabel nodded and grabbed Alex’s hand, knowing they were being watched.
“It’s about time someone gave them back a little of what we’ve been walking in on for the last four months!” Isabel played with Alex’s fingers as he scooted closer, draping one long arm behind her neck, and, in a burst of sudden inspiration, onto Kyle’s shoulder.
Kyle almost jumped in surprise, but decided to play along. He put one hand over Alex’s and leaned his cheek down on it for a moment. He leaned forward in front of Isabel and Alex leaned in also to hear what he had to say.
“You know it’s our duty to mess with them, don’t you?” His whisper barely carried to their ears, so he knew that Max and Liz wouldn’t overhear, and it looked like he was whispering sweet nothings into Alex’s ear. Isabel and Alex nodded, small grins on their faces. Kyle stood suddenly and reached one hand down for each of them. He pulled them to their feet before stretching his arms to the ceiling.
“Wow! I’m really beat. I think I’ll go lay down for awhile,” Kyle said out loud, scratching his stomach and being over dramatic.
“Me too,” Isabel quickly put in. “You can lay down in my room, if you want,” she added for good measure. She almost burst out laughing when Max and Liz almost fell out of their chair in shock.
Alex faked a huge yawn and delivered the final blow. “You’re bed’s big enough for three, isn’t it, Is?”
Isabel nodded and winked. “You already know the answer to that, Alex.” She grabbed their hands and dragged them from the room before Max remembered to close his mouth.
“No,” he shook his head and looked at Liz in desperation. “They’re just messing with us, right?” His pleading look begged her to give him the right answer.
Liz nodded as if she were certain it was all a big joke, although maybe…her eyes strayed to Isabel’s bedroom door, shut tight behind the three. “Yeah, I’m sure it was just…”
“Oh yeah, Kyle, do that again!” Isabel’s voice carried through clearly into the living room. Max sat up straight in his chair.
“Nah!” He sat back and tried to watch the movie again, Liz cuddled beside him.
Several long moments passed and Max was just starting to relax and catch up on the plot that his sister’s antics had disrupted when another outburst pierced the room.
“God, you…with your tongue! Don’t stop, don’t ever stop!” Alex’s voice sounded strained and deeper than normal.
Max began to fidget in his chair. Liz slid to the floor to sit between his legs, the movie abandoned as she watched the closed door to Isabel’s room and tried to figure out what the hell they were doing in there. They both unconsciously leaned closer to the door straining to hear anything else. Moments later they heard it.
“Alex, you stud! Make me feel so good!”
Max stood up abruptly. That had been Kyle’s voice telling Alex he made him feel so good! He took three steps to the door before Liz’s soft hand on his arm stopped him.
“Do you really want to walk in on that?” She gestured to the door, her anxious expression giving away her reluctance to find what was happening on the other side.
“I…we can’t just let them…it’s not…” Max stuttered, unable to complete a thought. Just knowing that whatever was going on was too much for his innocent sister.
Isabel’s bedroom
“ ‘You stud?’,” Isabel repeated, rolling on the bed laughing lightly as she pushed on Kyle’s arm.
“What? It’s all I could think of!” His happy smile seemed to split his face and Isabel caught her breath as she thought that she’d have to make him laugh more often. “What about Alex? That tongue thing? That was inspired, man!” Kyle gave Alex a high five over Isabel’s prone form.
Alex smiled shyly, silently acknowledging his brilliance. He pulled Isabel to a sitting position until the three were once again sitting in a circle, cross-legged, knees touching. “You’re ruining the game here, Is,” he laughed, picking up his cards again and fanning them out, watching his friends do the same. “Now,” he carefully scanned his cards, “Kyle, do you have any eights?”
“Damn!” Kyle flipped three eights down onto the bed between them. Alex gleefully scooped them up and planned his next request.
“Isabel, it’s your turn.” Kyle nudged her softly, pausing to squeeze her knee, enjoying the pleasure of being free to do so.
“No, it’s still Alex’s tur…ohh!” Her brow furrowed in concentration before a sly smile crept over her features. She threw her head back and moaned, deep and throaty, “Stop teasing me, baby! Just do it!” She opened her eyes and smiled at the boys in triumph.
Alex nodded, “Good one! I like how you worked the Nike logo in there!” He turned back to Kyle, “Any sixes?”
“Are you psychic?” Kyle grouched as he threw two sixes on the bed.
The bedroom door burst open to reveal Max, panting for breath and ready to break something. Or someone.
Alex glanced over his shoulder with a small grin and held up his hand of cards towards Max.
“Wanna play with us?”
TBC