PART 7
“This is just heartbreaking to watch.” Maria and Alex were standing at Maria’s locker and looking over at Max and Liz who were basically clinging to each other at the other end of the hallway. This had been going on all morning. It was clear that the impending separation was creating panic in both their friends and they didn’t let any opportunity pass to at least touch each other. Not that they ever did, but this was… desperate.
Liz had her hands bunched in Max’s sweater. She grimaced to herself thinking it was hard to believe she had been such a seductress last night when she acted like such a pathetic little girl today. The only thing that made her feel slightly better was the fact that Max was acting the same way. Like he was afraid to let her out of his sight because then she would disappear sooner.
They had been woken up this morning by a knock from Max’s mom, telling them that she made breakfast early enough for them to be able to go by their apartment before school. Liz had felt like a complete idiot when she had to borrow some of Max’s boxers and a T-shirt to be able to appear at the breakfast table. She wondered what Diane would’ve thought if she pitched up in the coat!
Max had held her hand tightly as they drove home and again when they drove to school. In fact, he hadn’t let go of her hand at all when she was remotely within touching distance. It had made for some improvising in the bio class when she had to take notes! But she knew how he felt and she was grateful that they were going through the same thing so she didn’t have to explain her need to be near him.
Tess was mysteriously missing from school today and Max could care less. His main goal for the day was to be near Liz as much as possible. Not in a sexual way, but to hear her voice and her laugh, to feel her soft skin and to smell her scent. He was really going to miss doing all those things, so he was frantic to make up for that time now. What his mom was planning was going to help and he loved her even more for it, but it still didn’t come close to him actually being with her for those two weeks.
The bell for the next period was ringing and Max reluctantly let Liz go. They had different classes until lunch so he whispered in her ear: “Meet me here again for next period.” When he lifted his head he saw one of the guidance counselors watching them, so he stepped away from Liz and shoved his hands in his pockets.
Liz nodded her head silently. She could do this. It’s not hard. She had been without Max for most of her life, two weeks should be a breeze! She sighed as she walked away from him. Two weeks would not be a breeze because in the meantime she had found out what it meant to be loved completely by him. She had learnt what a pure joy it was to be held in his arms and most of all how amazing it was to be allowed to love him back.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The others left them alone during lunchtime and they ended up driving off campus to a nearby park. Max wasn’t hungry, he just wanted to hold Liz for as long as he could. He stopped under the shade of a tree and pulled her into his lap. They sat huddled together for a long time with Max sliding his fingers through Liz’s hair. He suddenly smiled and tilted her chin up: “We must look like a sorry pair from the outside!”
Her mouth smiled at him, but her eyes were sad. “I know. We can do this, Max. We did it before and we’ll do it again.” She pulled his head down and kissed him, her lips warm and moist against his.
I could kiss her for days. Max held her against him, just letting their mouths say what their hearts were feeling. It was peaceful and wonderful… until the flashes started. Flashes of Tess talking to him about having a baby and that his first born should be a pure alien. Everything he so desperately wanted to keep from Liz. He should have known she would find out one way or the other…
Liz jerked back as if she was stung, her eyes wide and shocked. “That’s what she wanted? Max--.”
Max put his fingers over her lips. “Sweetie, I didn’t want you to see that. She’s… she’s just talking crazy. That’s never going to happen.” He looked at her closely. “You know that, don’t you?” He had to make sure. He would never forget the look on her face after she had seen him kiss Tess that time. He remembered so clearly the complete and utter panic that took hold of him when she came into the Crashdown the day after the kiss and ignored him, making him realize she had seen him with Tess. It was one of the most awful moments of his life. He had been confused and scared about what Tess was doing to him, but most of all he had, for a fleeting moment, had to face the fact that he may lose Liz. And the thought had made him frantic. Amazingly enough she had believed in him then, but he had always wondered afterwards if seeing that kiss had made her vulnerable about his faithfulness when it came to Tess.
“I know, Max. I know you won’t let that happen.” She looked away from him. “It’s just… it’s Tess and we don’t know what else she will try.”
Max gently pulled her back to face him. “It will never happen. No matter what she tries.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’ll let you know if something starts happening that… that I can’t handle alone. I promise.” He watched her bent head for a few seconds. “Hey. Look at me.” He waited until she met his gaze. “Never. I promise. Besides, I think last night was enough to last me a lifetime!”
That made her blush, thank god! Max really wanted her to forget about his horrible discussion with Tess yesterday. They only had a day-and-a-half left before she went to Boston and he didn’t want it to be ruined with nonsense from a lunatic.
Liz squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment. Although last night had been absolutely incredible, she felt really weird about it in the light of day. She loved that she had made Max so happy, but the things she had done! Well, suffice to say, she would only ever do them for the guy holding her right now like she was the most precious thing in his life: Max Evans.
~*~*~*~*~*~
They had made it through the day, but not without some problems. As the day progressed, Max and Liz realized that they were always being watched by some sort of authority figure. Either a teacher, a guidance counselor or somebody always seemed to be around them, so they had had to tone down their touching and hugging and it was killing them. Why had they suddenly become so interesting for the school authorities? They had been left alone until now, so what had changed?
Max waited by the Jeep for Liz. Where was she? Almost all the kids have left the school already and still no sign of his beautiful other half. He closed his eyes and concentrated until he could sense that she was somewhere in the school. So he waited some more…
Liz shifted from one foot to the other. Her bio teacher was droning on about the two-week course coming up but she just wanted to leave. She knew Max was waiting outside for her and her mind was just beginning to drift when the teacher said her name loudly. She looked up at him.
“I asked if something was bothering you, Miss Parker?”
“Uhm… No Sir. Why would you ask that?” Liz looked at him curiously.
Her teacher sounded serious. “It’s just that I don’t want you to lose your focus here. I know you’ve been dating Max Evans for a long time, but you need to remember that you are young and will still have many other boyfriends. None of us here at the school want to see you doing something stupid that may ruin your life.”
Liz had stopped breathing while he talked. “What… what exactly do you mean by that?”
“I mean there are stories about you and that boy… Anyway, don’t do anything that would jeopardize your career and going to college. That’s all I’m saying…”
Liz was in a daze. The teachers were talking about her and Max? Why? She was relieved when her teacher finally let her go. She ran outside, straight into Max’s arms.
“What’s wrong?” he said worriedly. Liz was normally not someone to get so upset without a serious reason.
She told him about her weird conversation with the teacher. “It sounds like they’re going to investigate us, Max!”
He hugged her tightly. “Hey, calm down. Our parents will help us. We’ll get through this.” It seems like that was all he was saying lately: We’ll get through this. How he wished that they could just get school over and turn eighteen so he could just be with Liz without all this trouble! “Why don’t we forget about all this until you come back? Right now, we need to get home because my mom has been cooking for a week for tonight!” He was glad that he managed to get her to smile.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The dinner was held in the Evans’ dining room and everyone was there. Liz’s parents, Isabel, Alex, Maria and Michael. Liz was sitting at the head of the table with Max to her right. The group was boisterous and it brought some sense back in Liz’s life. She looked around the table indulgently. This was her family – all these people. Last year she would never have thought that they would all be together like this, but here they were. One big happy group. Her eyes fell on Max who was talking to his mom earnestly and Liz marveled at how completely he gave people his attention. It was like you were the only person in the world when he was talking to you. Then she felt his hand slide over her knee, just below her skirt and she had to hide a smile and correct her previous thought. He would always have some attention left over for her, no matter who he was talking to…
~*~*~*~*~*~
For yet another night, Tess had to turn away from the Evans’ house without getting to Max. It seems that there was a party going on judging from all the cars in the driveway. Well, she was not giving up yet! Her plans were starting to come together. Max Evans will get her pregnant come hell or high water…
PART 8
Dinner was a huge success that was interspersed with the usual bickering from Maria and Michael. While returning from taking some dishes back to the kitchen before dessert, Liz was stopped in the hallway by Jeff who gave her a hug. “I’m so proud of you, Lizzie. I was a bit worried, you know, about the impact living with Max would have on your grades, but you showed us that we did the right thing to believe in you two.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Liz hugged him back, fighting back tears of
happiness. Her father loved her very much, of that she was sure, but to hear that she was still making him proud was a wonderful gift. And it helped alleviate some of her anxiety about the actions of the teachers today. Max was right, their parents would help them.
When she got back to the table, Max gave her a wicked half-smile and moved his chair deeper under the table and closer to her. He then proceeded to hook her right leg over his left knee so that her calve was dangling between his legs before softly tracing his fingers over the inside of her knee. Liz nearly swooned. He was doing all this with a straight face while talking to her parents! She was going to… she was going to… Holding her breath, she eventually decided she was going to kill him if he stopped.
“Lizzie! Are you okay?” Maria was looking at her strangely and Liz feared she was doing a very poor job of hiding the fact that Max was caressing her inner thigh in a very intimate manner. Everyone turned to her at Maria’s question, including Max, whose eyes were dancing with mirth. Mirth and desire…
Liz concentrated on breathing evenly before she attempted to answer, but this was a near impossible task with Max continuing his lazy stroking of her thigh. “Yeah… I-I’m fine.” Was that her voice that sounded so… choked? “I… I guess I’m just tired.” She was doing everything she could not to look at Max again. That would be fatal.
Narrowing her eyes, Maria leaned closer to Liz: “Cause you look a little flushed.”
Damn Maria and her suspicious nature! She knew something was going on and she seemed determined to embarrass Liz. Liz smiled brightly at everyone: “No, I’m fine.” She pinned Maria with an innocent gaze: “And how was your date with Michael last night?” She listened to Maria splutter with satisfaction. Maria won’t try to get her like this again soon!
Max’s hand was still inching slowly higher on the inside of her thigh and Liz was glad they were eating ice cream for dessert or she would have burst into flames! She was just starting to panic about moaning aloud when her dad stood up and cleared his throat, mercifully putting an end to Max’s teasing.
“Lizzie, I know I just told you, but we are all really proud of this accomplishment of yours. So we thought we’d give you a little congratulations present from all of us.” He came round the table making Max and Liz scramble to get back in their normal sitting positions before he reached their sides. He handed Liz a brightly wrapped package, but did not leave immediately. Instead he put his hand on Max’s shoulder: “And we would all like to thank Max for not keeping Liz from her studies too much!” Everyone burst out laughing when Max turned red.
Liz smiled up at her dad, knowing he was saying a lot more with the comment to Max. She knew how reluctantly he had given her into Max’s care and now he was saying that he was finally sure he had done the right thing. She clutched the present to her chest: “Thanks guys. I will miss you all…” Her voice started wobbling at the end and she looked desperately at Max who immediately took her hand in a comforting grip. They looked at each other for long seconds before Max lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles tenderly.
“We’re going to miss you too, Liz,” Diane spoke for all of them as she looked at her son’s other half lovingly. How quickly this slip of a girl had become a part of the Evans family and what a difference she has made in all of their lives. Max was a whole new person without the shadows of loneliness that had lived in his eyes for so long and Isabel had a whole new group of real friends instead of the bunch of popular girls she used to hand out with. But most importantly of all, Diane and Philip were now part of their children’s lives and their secret.
As usual, Alex couldn’t take the emotional moment for too long: “Jeesh, Liz, would you open the present already? I’m sure my money didn’t just pay for pretty wrapping paper!”
Laughing, Liz gave in and tore off the wrapping to find a beautiful leather-bound folder with notepaper inside. Her eyes widened: “Its beautiful!”
“We though you could use it to attend classes with in Boston,” Nancy said. “It will remind you of us.”
“Yes it will. Thanks everyone.” Liz was starting to feel a little weepy. She had never thought of herself as particularly close with her parents, but ever since they had all been at the alien camp last year, the group has become tightly knit. There was nothing like sharing a secret to bring people together.
Good byes were said not much later and Liz felt the tears well up in her eyes again when she hugged Max’s parents. Diane whispered that they would look after Max for her and pressed her into Max’s arms where Liz promptly shed a few tears against his warm chest. She looked over at Philip and Diane after getting control of herself again: “I’m sorry that I’m acting like such a baby. I’ll bring you something from Boston.”
Max kept his arm around her as they walked to the Jeep. Liz would still see her friends tomorrow at school and would say good bye to them then. Right now, he just wanted to get her home so they could have some quiet time while she packed. He settled her in the Jeep and walked around the front to get behind the wheel. Looking over at her, he saw some lingering tears shimmering on her lashes and knew it was not only because she wasn’t going to see their parents and friends for two weeks. It was about him. Max leaned over to slip his arm around her shoulders and press his lips to her cheek before leaning his forehead against her temple. “Honey…” He didn’t really know what to say since they both felt the same way.
Liz turned her face until their lips were a mere breath apart. “Just… just kiss me, Max. That’s all I need right now.”
He took Liz’s face in his hands, letting his thumbs caress her soft skin before he settled his mouth on hers. It was a sweet and gentle kiss with their lips rubbing over each other softly and their tongues touching tenderly. Two years ago, Max would never have dreamed that he would be making out with a girl outside his parents’ house in his Jeep, let alone the fact that the girl would be Liz Parker. Even more incredible was the fact that he was not worried that his parents might see them. How strange and wonderful his life had become.
After kissing the remnants of her tears from her eyelids as well, Max pulled Liz down until her head rested on his thigh before driving back to their apartment. Liz clung to his thigh and he stroked her hair whenever he wasn’t changing gears. He marveled at the contrasts in Liz. Here she was in tears because she was going away for two weeks, while this was the same girl who had dragged him away from the FBI, jumped in a river with him and faced the torture of another alien alone. She was amazing. She had so many different sides: a little girl when she was sad, a tigress when someone close to her was threatened, an innocent in so many respects and a seductress in others. And he loved every part of her.
It was late, but Max still made sure that no one was around to see him and Liz enter their apartment. They didn’t need any more trouble just before she left. He swung her up into his arms and kicked the front door closed behind them. “Let’s get you packed, young lady!”
Liz pressed her cheek against his and wriggled in his grip. She hated packing and would much rather do something else than sort out her luggage right now. She squealed when Max dumped her in the middle of their bed and went to retrieve a suitcase. Sitting up, she gave him a sultry look causing him to grin.
“Batting your beautiful eyes at me is not going to put clothes in this bag.” He tilted her head for a quick kiss. “The sooner you get packed, the sooner I will be in that bed with you.” He grinned again when she got up reluctantly and started flinging clothes on the bed. “You look cute when you sulk.” That earned him a blouse against the head.
They packed her stuff quickly and the longer the task went on, the quieter they both became. Max was desperately trying to stay in a good mood and not ruin their last few days together, but it just felt like a giant fist was squeezing the breath from his lungs when he thought about Liz being so far away from him. He worried about a lot of things. That was him: Max Evans, worrier. He worried about Liz’s safety while in Boston. She could get mugged, be in a car accident or have more alien trouble. He worried that she will enjoy being in Boston so much that she will forget all about him. Okay, so he knew that won’t really happen, but he was not being real rational right now! He worried about all the guys that are going to flock around her and that he wouldn’t be there to make sure they know she was his. He worried about--.
“Max!” Liz’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Honey, none of the things you are worried about is going to happen.” She looked at him with love shining from her eyes and Max cursed the fact that in times of intense emotion, like his current panic about her leaving, she could basically read his thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, he realized the time had come to tell her about Nick. “Liz, sweetie, I asked Nick to go with you.” He watched her carefully to gauge her reaction. “I know I’m probably overreacting, but please--.”
“Max, its okay. I knew you were going to do something like this. I wish we could live differently, but this is our normal… remember?” She smiled when she saw his relief at her easy acceptance of his plan.
“Okay then. Nick will meet us at the airport. He’s flying out with you.” Max was taking her to the airport in Albuquerque early on Saturday morning from where she would fly to Boston. He traced a finger down the side of her cheek. “And he knows he’s dead if anything happens to you.”
Sitting down in his lap, Liz wrapped her arms around his neck. “But what about you? Are you sure you’re going to be okay here with… Tess and Nacedo?”
Her concern made him love her more. He wasn’t sure what she thought she could do if she was here, but she would’ve made an effort. “I’m sure you have the whole gang rallied up to protect me… so I’ll be fine. And she isn’t coming near me again after that nonsense she tried yesterday.”
Liz nodded, but her brow was still creased by a frown so Max got up with her in his arms and carried her into the bathroom where he put her on her feet. “Let’s get you out of these clothes…” He smiled when he saw her eyes light up. “And into the bath.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz woke up before dawn on Friday morning feeling completely sick. She was cuddled warmly by Max’s arms and her body was still lax from all the loving attention it had received from him. He had been tender and thorough. And Liz had loved every minute of it. But now she was violently nauseous, so she stumbled from his embrace and the bed in a desperate attempt to get to the bathroom.
Max was jolted awake when Liz flew from his side and he heard her being sick in the bathroom. He jumped out of bed, still half-asleep but very concerned about Liz. He found her crumpled next to the toilet, looking pale. “Oh my god, Liz! Are you okay?” He shoved a cloth under the tap to wet it and knelt next to her, gently wiping her face.
She nodded weakly. “Ugh… I must’ve eaten something last night. I feel better now, though.” She ran her hand over his cheek. “I’m sorry if I scared you. Now go away so I can clean up with some dignity.”
Max left reluctantly and sat at the edge of the bed waiting for her when she finally emerged from the bathroom. He didn’t say anything, but pulled her into a hug when she reached him. As if he needed more worries to add to those he had already dreamed up, he now worried that Liz was going to some strange city without him when she was ill. Or pregnant…
tbc
The Experiment Series (ML, CC / Mautre) (Complete)
Moderators: Itzstacie, Forum Moderators
WYLM 9+10
PART 9
Liz had only started feeling better by mid-morning and Max had hovered around her in concern all the time. After her pre-dawn bout of nausea, Max had brought her some orange juice and held her in his arms in bed until they had to get up for school. Of course, he had nearly had a heart attack when it became clear that she actually intended going. He had wanted her to stay home in bed… and he had wanted to stay with her so he can look after her. But Liz had been feeling better after breakfast, so she vetoed his objections.
Driving to school, Max had given her worried glances all the time until Liz cried: “Max! You are driving me crazy! I am fine.” He had just given her an unbelieving look, but had at least tried to act more casual.
Max was fighting hard to keep his panic under control. Liz had seemed fine when they reached the school and he had checked her out every chance he got throughout the morning. The color had returned to her cheeks and the smile was back on her face. But he couldn’t shake the worry that something was going on with her. He hadn’t said anything this morning about the fact that she might be pregnant. If she were, there was nothing they could do about it now and he didn’t want to worry her before she went to Boston. On the other hand, did he want her so far away from him in that state? Who knew what would happen to her? He was not exactly a normal guy… And how could she be pregnant? She was using birth control pills and had been ever since they had gotten back from the camp the first time. Granted, they haven’t been using anything else lately, but the pills had seemed to work fine for months now. He shoved his hand through his hair in agitation. If only there was some way he could make sure she was fine!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“So Max tells me you were sick this morning.” Maria leaned against the counter in the girls’ bathroom and looked at Liz. “Are you okay?”
Liz sighed. “Max is overreacting. I was nauseous. It passed. I’m fine now.”
“Chica, you know you might be…” Maria floundered, wondering if Liz was purposely ignoring one of the obvious potential causes for her sickness. Taking a deep breath, Maria decided to wait before creating panic until there is more proof of a possible pregnancy. One morning of nausea does not a baby make! “You didn’t seriously think your better half would not freak if he saw you ill, did you? How long have you known Max Evans again?”
Turning to look at Maria, Liz put her hands on her hips. “Did he send you in here to check on me?”
“Damn! I told him you would figure it out.” Maria grinned at her. “So what do I report to him?”
Sighing, Liz picked up her backpack and took Maria’s arm to steer her out of the bathroom: “Let’s go tell him he’s busted. And then maybe I’ll drag him into the Eraser Room to show him how fine I am…”
A few minutes after they left, one of the stalls opened and a very pissed Tess Harding came out. It was time to phone Nacedo, it sounds like the earth girl may be breeding…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Everything went well until lunchtime when Liz suddenly became sick again and fled the table in the quad where all her friends were gathered. Max took off after her and found her in the nearest bathroom, which he entered without even bothering to worry about the modesty of any girls that may be in there. Luckily, there was only one sophomore busy admiring herself in the mirror and who was too shocked to see one of the school’s biggest hotties come storming in after his girlfriend to make too much of a fuss.
He found her hunched over in one of the stalls and dropped to his knees next to her. “What is wrong with you?” he cried in despair. This was horrible. He could heal bullet wounds, but he couldn’t help Liz when she was feeling so awful. He brought her some water and watched her in growing concern as she cleaned herself up in front of the mirror.
“Max, please stop worrying. I’m sure its nothing.” But she sounded weak even to herself.
Max looked at her for a long moment. “I’m taking you to a doctor.”
No amount of protesting from Liz could sway him and before she knew what hit her, they were in the Jeep on the way to the emergency room.
Max died a thousand deaths while he watched the doctor run all sorts of tests on Liz. He hated not knowing what was going on or how to help her. So he did the only thing he could, he held her hand fiercely.
The doctor returned after completing some forms to go with the blood work: “Should I run a pregnancy test too?”
Max felt his heart lurch and looked at Liz, whose eyes were wide with shock. It seemed so much more real now that someone else was voicing the possibility. “Yes,” he said softly.
“P-pregnant?” Liz was getting dizzy. She had been blocking out the possibility ever since this morning, but now she admitted that deep down she had been worried about it. Glancing anxiously at Max, she wondered what he thought. Would he hate her for making them parents so young?
“Never.” He answered her thought. “I love you.”
Liz closed her eyes but felt the tears squeezing from beneath her lids. “I’m sorry.”
Max was on his feet in an instant and cradled her against him. “For what? We both did this. And maybe you’re not… so let’s just deal with whatever the doctors say, okay?”
When the doctor came back, she found Liz huddled on Max’s lap and marveled for a moment at the strong bond she could see between these two young people. “You can get dressed now and go home. We’ll phone you later with the results.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Max had refused to take her back to school and now Liz was tucked into their bed with Max making her some of Maria’s herbal tea in the kitchen. When he came back he lay down on the bed with her, looking at her seriously. “It’s killing me, Liz.” For a blind moment she thought he was talking about her possible pregnancy. “I hate that you are going to be in Boston and maybe ill or… pregnant. And alone.” He trailed his fingers over her lips, concern marring his features.
“I know.” Liz kissed the fingers that were caressing her. She was feeling great again, these bouts of nausea seemingly coming and going at intervals. “I promise I will call if something weird happens.” He nodded, but did not look like he was feeling much better, so Liz slid closer to him and pulled him into an embrace. “It’s going to be okay.”
She rained little kisses all over his face while pressing herself against him and trying to absorb all his worries into her body. His only reaction was to hold her so tightly that she could barely breathe. “Max, honey, do you still want to take me on that date tonight?”
His head jerked up: “Why? Are you not up to it, cause I --.”
“No, I would just need some air to stay alive until then,” she reminded him gently.
“Oh god, I’m sorry!” He loosened his hold and Liz pushed him on his back so that she can curl up on his chest.
Not much later, Liz’s cellphone started ringing and they looked at each other before Liz answered. “Oh, hi Mrs. Evans…. Yes he is. Oh! Yeah, I’ll tell him. I’m sorry, I wasn’t feeling well so he brought me home… No, I’m fine now… Okay, bye.” She looked at Max. “The school was looking for you so they phoned your mom. She’ll phone them back to say you weren’t feeling well.”
Max sighed, worrying about school was not very high on his list right now. He pulled Liz back to him and slowly flattened his hand against her womb. Was his baby growing in there? It was a scary and wonderful thought. Scary, because they were so young and because they knew nothing about human/alien babies. Would Liz even be okay? And so wonderful, because he had never thought he would be able to have children, much less with Liz.
Liz held her breath as she experienced every one of his feelings through their connection and she realized how much they both wanted this baby. And how much they would love him or her when they arrived. And for the first time since Liz was so ill that morning, both of them smiled.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Tess stood in Liz’s room and knew that Liz hadn’t slept there for a long time. The room looked pristine, almost untouched and very few personal items littered the place. A picture of her and Max was pinned to a board over her table, but the rest of the stuff was old. Clenching her fists, Tess had trouble controlling her rage. She couldn’t believe that the Parkers let their precious little girl move in with Max. Because that is now becoming crystal clear to her. Max and Liz were shacked up together somewhere.
She hated Liz Parker. She hated the girl who had everything she had been told was hers. Liz had Max swooning at her feet. Liz had the position that Tess had always believed was hers. Liz had the adoration and protection of Max’s people. And now, Liz apparently had the next King in her womb.
Tess stared furiously at the picture of Max and Liz. Max was a weak idiot who was ruled by his indiscriminate heart. Yes, he was a babe and Tess wouldn’t mind getting in his pants, but she didn’t really care about him all that much. She wanted what he represented. Being royalty. Being revered by an entire race. Being important.
She would have to take action on this. Nacedo had been nothing short of livid when she spoke to him about Liz’s pregnancy. Tess rolled her eyes. When push came to shove, Max Evans had been just like any other guy, his hormones ruled his head. And while Nacedo makes sure that dear Lizzie does not produce the heir to the throne, Tess would make sure that Max’s hormones work in the right direction this time. Hers.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The phone jarred them awake and Liz blearily fumbled for it while trying to disentangle herself from Max. She suddenly didn’t have the guts to speak to the doctor and Max took the phone from her after seeing her pleading look. Liz was dying while he spoke to the doctor, his face gave nothing away and all he did was hold her hand tighter and tighter.
When Max switched off the cell phone he turned to Liz with a mixture of emotions in his eyes. Leaning forward slowly, he pressed his forehead against hers and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Max?” Liz didn’t know what to make of Max’s reaction.
“Sweetie, I’m sorry…” His voice was choked. “We’re… we’re not going to have a baby…”
PART 10
Hot tears rushed into Liz’s eyes as she absorbed the news. No baby. No miniature version of her and Max yet. She should be glad… and she was… to a certain extent. They were really young and had lots of time to have kids. But it hurt too, because for a few brilliant hours she had been dazzled by the thought that she was carrying a part of Max inside her.
“Liz… We will have a baby one-day. I promise.” Max felt the same weird mixture of happiness and sadness, but uppermost in his mind right now was the doctor’s diagnosis of Liz. “Honey, they couldn’t find anything wrong with you. The doctor thinks it must be stress.” He tilted her face upward with his hands. “Do you… do you think she’s right?”
She tried to evade his gaze. That gaze that saw everything and more. That saw things she wanted to hide from him. From herself. What could she tell him? That she worried about leaving him here alone with Tess around? That she knew he wouldn’t purposely get involved with Tess, but that she sometimes had trouble forgetting that kiss and how Tess had managed to invade his mind and turn him into someone none of them recognized? That she felt ill at the thought that she would not see Max for two weeks, not hear his voice or be in his arms. That she was scared of going to Boston on her own and that she was frantic about not making the grade during the course. Could all this truly be making her so sick?
“Liz…” He forced her to look into his eyes. “Is there anything I can do? Please tell me how to help you.”
Not wanting to get into a discussion about all her fears and especially about Tess, Liz smiled: “You can let me out of this bed so I can start making myself pretty for our date tonight.”
He looked unconvinced. “Are you sure? Cause we can just stay in…”
“No way, Max Evans! You owe me a date.” She cupped his face. “I really am fine now. And I’m going to go dress upstairs, so I can make an entrance when you come get me.”
Max really didn’t want Liz to leave his sight right now. “You don’t have to do that. I could… wait outside in the kitchen or something.”
Liz laughed, a tinkling, beautiful laugh and Max relaxed perceptibly. “No, I have this all planned out. I’m going to knock your socks off, but I need to make an entrance for that. So, I’m going upstairs.” She gave him a quick kiss before climbing out of bed and starting to gather all the stuff she would need.
Max watched her, wondering what went on in her head. It really was annoying that he couldn’t control this connection, because right now, he knew she was upset about the baby and a lot of other things, but he had no idea about what. Well, tonight he planned on erasing some of her demons.
Liz struggled upstairs to her old room with her arms full of cosmetics and clothes bags. She wanted Max to never forget this night for the rest of his life. Not only has she bought a dress that’s going to make his blood pressure soar, she also bought some very sexy red underwear. Red for love. Red for desire. Red for her heart that belonged to Max.
Liz shivered when she entered her room. A weird presence seemed to linger there and she defensively clutched everything in her arms closer to her chest. She looked around carefully, but all her belongings were in their normal places, so she decided she was just overreacting from all the shocks she has had to face today. Once in the shower, she let the tears flow freely. Crying for a baby she wasn’t having and for all the fears that lived in her heart on the eve of her departure.
Max paced in their bedroom, trying to pass the time as he waited for the appointed hour when he could go upstairs to get Liz. His mind whirled with all that has happened in the last 24 hours. For a few hours, he had thought he was going to be a father. It made his knees weak to think that he could have children. For many years, Max had not allowed himself to think of the future because he had always assumed he wouldn’t have one. At least not a normal one. Not the one he would have dreamed of where a girl with chocolate colored hair and eyes loved him to distraction, accepted his alien side and gave him children and a normal life. He hadn’t even thought about going to college!
But now that he had Liz in his life, his future suddenly became something he should think about and plan for. Going to college, making sure that he could look after Liz… and their future children were all things that were becoming increasingly important. He sat down on the bed, his gaze falling on a framed picture of him and Liz. She was laughing up into his eyes and her mouth was moist and puffy from a kiss. At first he had been annoyed that Maria had sneaked up on them to take the picture, but he changed his mind when he saw the result. Now he treasured this photo of Liz being happy and in love with him.
But he hated being away from her for this hour-and-a-half she needed to get ready. Each minute was one less he could spend with her before she went away. On the other hand, he planned something really special for tonight and he should do everything in his power to make this night as memorable for Liz as he possibly could. So he went to the phone…
~*~*~*~*~*~
She made his knees weak when he finally saw her. She was in a red dress that ended just beneath mid-thigh and had a demure high neckline. Her arms were bare and her hair was piled on top of her head in elegant disorder with loose tendrils falling around her face. And her eyes! They were glowing even though a hint of sadness still lingered and tugged at his heartstrings.
“You take my breath away,” he murmured quietly when he reached her. He desperately wanted to kiss her and skip the dinner and dancing part to go directly to what he had planned for later, but that would put all her efforts to look beautiful to waste. Instead he ran a caressing hand down her arm and watched as goosebumps appeared on her skin.
Liz shivered at his touch and turned her face upwards to find his dark eyes devouring her with barely suppressed hunger. “Max…”
“Hey you two!” Jeff Parker’s voice interrupted their moment. “Don’t you look spiffy!” He beamed at them with pride, not noticing that he had not managed to gain their full attention.
“Yeah, Dad, we’re going out... Bye.” Liz sounded as distracted as she felt. She couldn’t manage to tear her eyes away from Max’s dark and possessive gaze to save her life.
Jeff sounded taken aback when he answered: “Oh… yeah sure. Okay, bye. Enjoy yourselves.”
Then they were finally and mercifully alone and outside next to the Jeep. Liz hung onto Max’s hand when they stopped next to her side of the Jeep. “You can kiss me, you know. I can always fix my--.”
He didn’t let her finish, but pulled her into his hard body and plundered her mouth. It was a kiss born out of deep need and want. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, vaguely hearing her soft sound of pleasure through his swimming senses. He ran his hands from her face, down her arms to slide around her rear and bring her closer to him. This led to a whimper from Liz, who stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck. Max needed to touch her and he moved his right hand from her bottom to the small of her back… only to encounter bare skin!
Tearing his mouth from hers, he didn’t even try to control his ragged breathing as he moved both his hands over her back experimentally. All he encountered was smooth, gloriously bare, skin. His throat wouldn’t work, so he slowly spun her around in his arms until he faced her back. From the broad band of the dress circling her neck, her back was exposed almost to where the swell of her buttocks started. His eyes halted on the small of her back and the little mole there that he loved to kiss. He slowly traced a finger down the indentation of her spine and whispered: “God, you’re beautiful.”
Liz leaned back into him and gloried in how warm his skin was. “Max… let’s just … let’s just stay home.”
His hands flexed on her hips for a moment before he turned her so he could lift her into the Jeep. Running his fingers over the soft skin of her thigh, he looked up at her: “Don’t worry, we will be coming home. And then… then we will love each other all night long.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
The restaurant was subdued and elegant. Liz took in her surroundings and did not notice all the looks she was getting from the other men in the room. Max noticed, however, and fluctuated between being flattered that his girlfriend was making such an impact and wanting to drag her out of the place so only he could see her looking like this. His eyes followed the gentle sway of her hips as she walked in front of him to their table. His hands were itching to curl around her body and make her move that way against him.
Liz felt his regard like a physical thing and her body reacted to it instinctively. Her heart pounded in her chest as she followed their waiter to a table next to a small dance floor. The place was gorgeous, but Liz hardly noticed. She was only aware of Max’s heat mere inches from her back and wondered wildly what the reaction of the other patrons would be if she turned around and—
Max made a strangled sound behind her, causing their waiter to look around in confusion. When he found nothing wrong and only the two flushed young people behind him, he shrugged and indicated their table. Max pulled out Liz’s chair, not wanting the waiter to do it and couldn’t stop himself from leaning forward and brushing his lips softly over her bare shoulder after she sat down.
Dinner was a strange mixture of intense emotions and fuzzy details. What they ate was not as important as looking in each other’s eyes. What they said with their mouths didn’t matter as much as what they were saying with their hearts.
I love you.
I want you.
I need you.
You. Only you.
Max eventually took her onto the dance floor, using the time to smooth his hands over her body and let his lips linger on her temples, her cheeks, anything he could reach. He listened for her sighs, needing them as much as he needed air.
Liz pressed herself to him as closely as she could, not caring that people were staring at them. She needed to hear his heartbeat underneath her cheek. She needed to listen to the unevenness of his breathing. She needed to feel the hard excitement of his body against hers.
Finally neither of them could take it anymore and they made their way out of the restaurant and back to the Jeep. This time Max lifted her into her seat before kissing her. He held her hands, lacing his fingers with hers as his mouth wove magic on hers. Their tongues caressed and dueled and made silent promises of more to come. And Max had to fight to keep his hands from taking that dress off her.
He drove them out of Roswell and Liz looked at him enquiringly before she realized that she knew the route. It was one they had driven many times before. It led to the Pod Chamber. Liz could feel Max’s intense need to be at the Chamber as well as his excitement about whatever he had planned for them there. Knowing Max, whatever it was, would be wonderful.
He came round the Jeep and helped her to the ground. “Are you cold?”
Liz shook her head. How could she be cold when he looked at her like that? His eyes burned into hers before slowly journeying down her body and igniting fires wherever it touched. She was a quivering mass of desire by the time he reached her feet. Kiss me, she silently begged him.
“If I start now… I’m not going to stop and… I really need to do this.” He took her hand and led her up to the entrance of the chamber, opening it and stepping inside. The normal eerie glow in the chamber illuminated their faces as Max finally halted in front of his pod and turned to her. Liz held her breath as she saw his serious face.
“Liz Parker, this is where I started my existence on this planet. But… my life here started when I healed you. And… my happiness when you started loving me.” He tenderly wiped a stray tear from her cheek with his forefinger. “I… I don’t know if you really know how much it means to me that I get to be with you everyday. To fall asleep beside you at night and to wake up with you in the morning. I don’t know what I did to deserve this… you… but I don’t want to ever be without you again.” He took her left hand and pressed a light kiss on her palm before looking at her with shining eyes. “I know I’ve asked you before and… and you said ‘yes’, but now I’m asking you officially.” Liz’s sharp intake of breath accompanied him taking out a diamond ring from his pocket. “Will you marry me, Liz Parker? And wear my ring?”
Not able to speak just yet, Liz merely nodded and bit her lip as he slid the ring onto her finger, kissing it when it was in place. They leaned against each other with their foreheads touching as they tried to recover from this intense moment. Suddenly, both of them saw a flash of a little boy skipping around in a garden. Liz jerked away from Max in surprise. “Max!”
Max was equally stunned. This was the first time they saw a future vision without the help of Nick. When he found his voice, he assured her. “That’s our son, Liz. We will have him one day.” He moved closer to kiss her, but she pressed him back with a hand on his chest.
“I need to say some things too,” she said softly. “I need to tell you that I never knew what love was until you came into my life. And that… that you are my everything, Max Evans. That I knew that day you saved me that no one will ever touch me that way again. Every moment with you is perfect. I love that I can talk to you and that you will listen. And that you think I’m beautiful. And that you have risked your life for me so many times. That you love me so well.” Max swallowed around the lump in his throat. “I… I love you. So much.”
He kissed her then. Gentle, loving kisses that warmed her heart and spoke of his love more eloquently than the heavy ring on her finger. His tongue swiped across her lower lip, tracing the contours and speeding up her heart rate. Then he pulled back, his hands sliding over her hips. “Let’s go outside.”
Liz let him lead her outside, but cast a longing glance to the sleeping bags lying in the one corner. They never had gotten around to removing them after the need for a private place to make love far away from parental eyes had passed.
Once outside, Max stood staring up at the stars for a moment before turning to Liz. “I always thought that that was what I wanted,” he motioned upwards with his hand, “all those stars up there. But now I know that the only stars I really want… are the ones in your eyes when you look at me.” He smiled crookedly at his sappy comment. It was sappy, but true.
Liz turned away from him and looking at the stars with a smile. “Don’t knock those stars, one of them sent me you.”
Grinning at her comment, Max moved to stand behind her, slipping his arms around her waist and pressing her back against his chest. He felt her take a deep breath and knew that the time for talking was over…
tbc
Liz had only started feeling better by mid-morning and Max had hovered around her in concern all the time. After her pre-dawn bout of nausea, Max had brought her some orange juice and held her in his arms in bed until they had to get up for school. Of course, he had nearly had a heart attack when it became clear that she actually intended going. He had wanted her to stay home in bed… and he had wanted to stay with her so he can look after her. But Liz had been feeling better after breakfast, so she vetoed his objections.
Driving to school, Max had given her worried glances all the time until Liz cried: “Max! You are driving me crazy! I am fine.” He had just given her an unbelieving look, but had at least tried to act more casual.
Max was fighting hard to keep his panic under control. Liz had seemed fine when they reached the school and he had checked her out every chance he got throughout the morning. The color had returned to her cheeks and the smile was back on her face. But he couldn’t shake the worry that something was going on with her. He hadn’t said anything this morning about the fact that she might be pregnant. If she were, there was nothing they could do about it now and he didn’t want to worry her before she went to Boston. On the other hand, did he want her so far away from him in that state? Who knew what would happen to her? He was not exactly a normal guy… And how could she be pregnant? She was using birth control pills and had been ever since they had gotten back from the camp the first time. Granted, they haven’t been using anything else lately, but the pills had seemed to work fine for months now. He shoved his hand through his hair in agitation. If only there was some way he could make sure she was fine!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“So Max tells me you were sick this morning.” Maria leaned against the counter in the girls’ bathroom and looked at Liz. “Are you okay?”
Liz sighed. “Max is overreacting. I was nauseous. It passed. I’m fine now.”
“Chica, you know you might be…” Maria floundered, wondering if Liz was purposely ignoring one of the obvious potential causes for her sickness. Taking a deep breath, Maria decided to wait before creating panic until there is more proof of a possible pregnancy. One morning of nausea does not a baby make! “You didn’t seriously think your better half would not freak if he saw you ill, did you? How long have you known Max Evans again?”
Turning to look at Maria, Liz put her hands on her hips. “Did he send you in here to check on me?”
“Damn! I told him you would figure it out.” Maria grinned at her. “So what do I report to him?”
Sighing, Liz picked up her backpack and took Maria’s arm to steer her out of the bathroom: “Let’s go tell him he’s busted. And then maybe I’ll drag him into the Eraser Room to show him how fine I am…”
A few minutes after they left, one of the stalls opened and a very pissed Tess Harding came out. It was time to phone Nacedo, it sounds like the earth girl may be breeding…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Everything went well until lunchtime when Liz suddenly became sick again and fled the table in the quad where all her friends were gathered. Max took off after her and found her in the nearest bathroom, which he entered without even bothering to worry about the modesty of any girls that may be in there. Luckily, there was only one sophomore busy admiring herself in the mirror and who was too shocked to see one of the school’s biggest hotties come storming in after his girlfriend to make too much of a fuss.
He found her hunched over in one of the stalls and dropped to his knees next to her. “What is wrong with you?” he cried in despair. This was horrible. He could heal bullet wounds, but he couldn’t help Liz when she was feeling so awful. He brought her some water and watched her in growing concern as she cleaned herself up in front of the mirror.
“Max, please stop worrying. I’m sure its nothing.” But she sounded weak even to herself.
Max looked at her for a long moment. “I’m taking you to a doctor.”
No amount of protesting from Liz could sway him and before she knew what hit her, they were in the Jeep on the way to the emergency room.
Max died a thousand deaths while he watched the doctor run all sorts of tests on Liz. He hated not knowing what was going on or how to help her. So he did the only thing he could, he held her hand fiercely.
The doctor returned after completing some forms to go with the blood work: “Should I run a pregnancy test too?”
Max felt his heart lurch and looked at Liz, whose eyes were wide with shock. It seemed so much more real now that someone else was voicing the possibility. “Yes,” he said softly.
“P-pregnant?” Liz was getting dizzy. She had been blocking out the possibility ever since this morning, but now she admitted that deep down she had been worried about it. Glancing anxiously at Max, she wondered what he thought. Would he hate her for making them parents so young?
“Never.” He answered her thought. “I love you.”
Liz closed her eyes but felt the tears squeezing from beneath her lids. “I’m sorry.”
Max was on his feet in an instant and cradled her against him. “For what? We both did this. And maybe you’re not… so let’s just deal with whatever the doctors say, okay?”
When the doctor came back, she found Liz huddled on Max’s lap and marveled for a moment at the strong bond she could see between these two young people. “You can get dressed now and go home. We’ll phone you later with the results.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Max had refused to take her back to school and now Liz was tucked into their bed with Max making her some of Maria’s herbal tea in the kitchen. When he came back he lay down on the bed with her, looking at her seriously. “It’s killing me, Liz.” For a blind moment she thought he was talking about her possible pregnancy. “I hate that you are going to be in Boston and maybe ill or… pregnant. And alone.” He trailed his fingers over her lips, concern marring his features.
“I know.” Liz kissed the fingers that were caressing her. She was feeling great again, these bouts of nausea seemingly coming and going at intervals. “I promise I will call if something weird happens.” He nodded, but did not look like he was feeling much better, so Liz slid closer to him and pulled him into an embrace. “It’s going to be okay.”
She rained little kisses all over his face while pressing herself against him and trying to absorb all his worries into her body. His only reaction was to hold her so tightly that she could barely breathe. “Max, honey, do you still want to take me on that date tonight?”
His head jerked up: “Why? Are you not up to it, cause I --.”
“No, I would just need some air to stay alive until then,” she reminded him gently.
“Oh god, I’m sorry!” He loosened his hold and Liz pushed him on his back so that she can curl up on his chest.
Not much later, Liz’s cellphone started ringing and they looked at each other before Liz answered. “Oh, hi Mrs. Evans…. Yes he is. Oh! Yeah, I’ll tell him. I’m sorry, I wasn’t feeling well so he brought me home… No, I’m fine now… Okay, bye.” She looked at Max. “The school was looking for you so they phoned your mom. She’ll phone them back to say you weren’t feeling well.”
Max sighed, worrying about school was not very high on his list right now. He pulled Liz back to him and slowly flattened his hand against her womb. Was his baby growing in there? It was a scary and wonderful thought. Scary, because they were so young and because they knew nothing about human/alien babies. Would Liz even be okay? And so wonderful, because he had never thought he would be able to have children, much less with Liz.
Liz held her breath as she experienced every one of his feelings through their connection and she realized how much they both wanted this baby. And how much they would love him or her when they arrived. And for the first time since Liz was so ill that morning, both of them smiled.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Tess stood in Liz’s room and knew that Liz hadn’t slept there for a long time. The room looked pristine, almost untouched and very few personal items littered the place. A picture of her and Max was pinned to a board over her table, but the rest of the stuff was old. Clenching her fists, Tess had trouble controlling her rage. She couldn’t believe that the Parkers let their precious little girl move in with Max. Because that is now becoming crystal clear to her. Max and Liz were shacked up together somewhere.
She hated Liz Parker. She hated the girl who had everything she had been told was hers. Liz had Max swooning at her feet. Liz had the position that Tess had always believed was hers. Liz had the adoration and protection of Max’s people. And now, Liz apparently had the next King in her womb.
Tess stared furiously at the picture of Max and Liz. Max was a weak idiot who was ruled by his indiscriminate heart. Yes, he was a babe and Tess wouldn’t mind getting in his pants, but she didn’t really care about him all that much. She wanted what he represented. Being royalty. Being revered by an entire race. Being important.
She would have to take action on this. Nacedo had been nothing short of livid when she spoke to him about Liz’s pregnancy. Tess rolled her eyes. When push came to shove, Max Evans had been just like any other guy, his hormones ruled his head. And while Nacedo makes sure that dear Lizzie does not produce the heir to the throne, Tess would make sure that Max’s hormones work in the right direction this time. Hers.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The phone jarred them awake and Liz blearily fumbled for it while trying to disentangle herself from Max. She suddenly didn’t have the guts to speak to the doctor and Max took the phone from her after seeing her pleading look. Liz was dying while he spoke to the doctor, his face gave nothing away and all he did was hold her hand tighter and tighter.
When Max switched off the cell phone he turned to Liz with a mixture of emotions in his eyes. Leaning forward slowly, he pressed his forehead against hers and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Max?” Liz didn’t know what to make of Max’s reaction.
“Sweetie, I’m sorry…” His voice was choked. “We’re… we’re not going to have a baby…”
PART 10
Hot tears rushed into Liz’s eyes as she absorbed the news. No baby. No miniature version of her and Max yet. She should be glad… and she was… to a certain extent. They were really young and had lots of time to have kids. But it hurt too, because for a few brilliant hours she had been dazzled by the thought that she was carrying a part of Max inside her.
“Liz… We will have a baby one-day. I promise.” Max felt the same weird mixture of happiness and sadness, but uppermost in his mind right now was the doctor’s diagnosis of Liz. “Honey, they couldn’t find anything wrong with you. The doctor thinks it must be stress.” He tilted her face upward with his hands. “Do you… do you think she’s right?”
She tried to evade his gaze. That gaze that saw everything and more. That saw things she wanted to hide from him. From herself. What could she tell him? That she worried about leaving him here alone with Tess around? That she knew he wouldn’t purposely get involved with Tess, but that she sometimes had trouble forgetting that kiss and how Tess had managed to invade his mind and turn him into someone none of them recognized? That she felt ill at the thought that she would not see Max for two weeks, not hear his voice or be in his arms. That she was scared of going to Boston on her own and that she was frantic about not making the grade during the course. Could all this truly be making her so sick?
“Liz…” He forced her to look into his eyes. “Is there anything I can do? Please tell me how to help you.”
Not wanting to get into a discussion about all her fears and especially about Tess, Liz smiled: “You can let me out of this bed so I can start making myself pretty for our date tonight.”
He looked unconvinced. “Are you sure? Cause we can just stay in…”
“No way, Max Evans! You owe me a date.” She cupped his face. “I really am fine now. And I’m going to go dress upstairs, so I can make an entrance when you come get me.”
Max really didn’t want Liz to leave his sight right now. “You don’t have to do that. I could… wait outside in the kitchen or something.”
Liz laughed, a tinkling, beautiful laugh and Max relaxed perceptibly. “No, I have this all planned out. I’m going to knock your socks off, but I need to make an entrance for that. So, I’m going upstairs.” She gave him a quick kiss before climbing out of bed and starting to gather all the stuff she would need.
Max watched her, wondering what went on in her head. It really was annoying that he couldn’t control this connection, because right now, he knew she was upset about the baby and a lot of other things, but he had no idea about what. Well, tonight he planned on erasing some of her demons.
Liz struggled upstairs to her old room with her arms full of cosmetics and clothes bags. She wanted Max to never forget this night for the rest of his life. Not only has she bought a dress that’s going to make his blood pressure soar, she also bought some very sexy red underwear. Red for love. Red for desire. Red for her heart that belonged to Max.
Liz shivered when she entered her room. A weird presence seemed to linger there and she defensively clutched everything in her arms closer to her chest. She looked around carefully, but all her belongings were in their normal places, so she decided she was just overreacting from all the shocks she has had to face today. Once in the shower, she let the tears flow freely. Crying for a baby she wasn’t having and for all the fears that lived in her heart on the eve of her departure.
Max paced in their bedroom, trying to pass the time as he waited for the appointed hour when he could go upstairs to get Liz. His mind whirled with all that has happened in the last 24 hours. For a few hours, he had thought he was going to be a father. It made his knees weak to think that he could have children. For many years, Max had not allowed himself to think of the future because he had always assumed he wouldn’t have one. At least not a normal one. Not the one he would have dreamed of where a girl with chocolate colored hair and eyes loved him to distraction, accepted his alien side and gave him children and a normal life. He hadn’t even thought about going to college!
But now that he had Liz in his life, his future suddenly became something he should think about and plan for. Going to college, making sure that he could look after Liz… and their future children were all things that were becoming increasingly important. He sat down on the bed, his gaze falling on a framed picture of him and Liz. She was laughing up into his eyes and her mouth was moist and puffy from a kiss. At first he had been annoyed that Maria had sneaked up on them to take the picture, but he changed his mind when he saw the result. Now he treasured this photo of Liz being happy and in love with him.
But he hated being away from her for this hour-and-a-half she needed to get ready. Each minute was one less he could spend with her before she went away. On the other hand, he planned something really special for tonight and he should do everything in his power to make this night as memorable for Liz as he possibly could. So he went to the phone…
~*~*~*~*~*~
She made his knees weak when he finally saw her. She was in a red dress that ended just beneath mid-thigh and had a demure high neckline. Her arms were bare and her hair was piled on top of her head in elegant disorder with loose tendrils falling around her face. And her eyes! They were glowing even though a hint of sadness still lingered and tugged at his heartstrings.
“You take my breath away,” he murmured quietly when he reached her. He desperately wanted to kiss her and skip the dinner and dancing part to go directly to what he had planned for later, but that would put all her efforts to look beautiful to waste. Instead he ran a caressing hand down her arm and watched as goosebumps appeared on her skin.
Liz shivered at his touch and turned her face upwards to find his dark eyes devouring her with barely suppressed hunger. “Max…”
“Hey you two!” Jeff Parker’s voice interrupted their moment. “Don’t you look spiffy!” He beamed at them with pride, not noticing that he had not managed to gain their full attention.
“Yeah, Dad, we’re going out... Bye.” Liz sounded as distracted as she felt. She couldn’t manage to tear her eyes away from Max’s dark and possessive gaze to save her life.
Jeff sounded taken aback when he answered: “Oh… yeah sure. Okay, bye. Enjoy yourselves.”
Then they were finally and mercifully alone and outside next to the Jeep. Liz hung onto Max’s hand when they stopped next to her side of the Jeep. “You can kiss me, you know. I can always fix my--.”
He didn’t let her finish, but pulled her into his hard body and plundered her mouth. It was a kiss born out of deep need and want. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, vaguely hearing her soft sound of pleasure through his swimming senses. He ran his hands from her face, down her arms to slide around her rear and bring her closer to him. This led to a whimper from Liz, who stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck. Max needed to touch her and he moved his right hand from her bottom to the small of her back… only to encounter bare skin!
Tearing his mouth from hers, he didn’t even try to control his ragged breathing as he moved both his hands over her back experimentally. All he encountered was smooth, gloriously bare, skin. His throat wouldn’t work, so he slowly spun her around in his arms until he faced her back. From the broad band of the dress circling her neck, her back was exposed almost to where the swell of her buttocks started. His eyes halted on the small of her back and the little mole there that he loved to kiss. He slowly traced a finger down the indentation of her spine and whispered: “God, you’re beautiful.”
Liz leaned back into him and gloried in how warm his skin was. “Max… let’s just … let’s just stay home.”
His hands flexed on her hips for a moment before he turned her so he could lift her into the Jeep. Running his fingers over the soft skin of her thigh, he looked up at her: “Don’t worry, we will be coming home. And then… then we will love each other all night long.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
The restaurant was subdued and elegant. Liz took in her surroundings and did not notice all the looks she was getting from the other men in the room. Max noticed, however, and fluctuated between being flattered that his girlfriend was making such an impact and wanting to drag her out of the place so only he could see her looking like this. His eyes followed the gentle sway of her hips as she walked in front of him to their table. His hands were itching to curl around her body and make her move that way against him.
Liz felt his regard like a physical thing and her body reacted to it instinctively. Her heart pounded in her chest as she followed their waiter to a table next to a small dance floor. The place was gorgeous, but Liz hardly noticed. She was only aware of Max’s heat mere inches from her back and wondered wildly what the reaction of the other patrons would be if she turned around and—
Max made a strangled sound behind her, causing their waiter to look around in confusion. When he found nothing wrong and only the two flushed young people behind him, he shrugged and indicated their table. Max pulled out Liz’s chair, not wanting the waiter to do it and couldn’t stop himself from leaning forward and brushing his lips softly over her bare shoulder after she sat down.
Dinner was a strange mixture of intense emotions and fuzzy details. What they ate was not as important as looking in each other’s eyes. What they said with their mouths didn’t matter as much as what they were saying with their hearts.
I love you.
I want you.
I need you.
You. Only you.
Max eventually took her onto the dance floor, using the time to smooth his hands over her body and let his lips linger on her temples, her cheeks, anything he could reach. He listened for her sighs, needing them as much as he needed air.
Liz pressed herself to him as closely as she could, not caring that people were staring at them. She needed to hear his heartbeat underneath her cheek. She needed to listen to the unevenness of his breathing. She needed to feel the hard excitement of his body against hers.
Finally neither of them could take it anymore and they made their way out of the restaurant and back to the Jeep. This time Max lifted her into her seat before kissing her. He held her hands, lacing his fingers with hers as his mouth wove magic on hers. Their tongues caressed and dueled and made silent promises of more to come. And Max had to fight to keep his hands from taking that dress off her.
He drove them out of Roswell and Liz looked at him enquiringly before she realized that she knew the route. It was one they had driven many times before. It led to the Pod Chamber. Liz could feel Max’s intense need to be at the Chamber as well as his excitement about whatever he had planned for them there. Knowing Max, whatever it was, would be wonderful.
He came round the Jeep and helped her to the ground. “Are you cold?”
Liz shook her head. How could she be cold when he looked at her like that? His eyes burned into hers before slowly journeying down her body and igniting fires wherever it touched. She was a quivering mass of desire by the time he reached her feet. Kiss me, she silently begged him.
“If I start now… I’m not going to stop and… I really need to do this.” He took her hand and led her up to the entrance of the chamber, opening it and stepping inside. The normal eerie glow in the chamber illuminated their faces as Max finally halted in front of his pod and turned to her. Liz held her breath as she saw his serious face.
“Liz Parker, this is where I started my existence on this planet. But… my life here started when I healed you. And… my happiness when you started loving me.” He tenderly wiped a stray tear from her cheek with his forefinger. “I… I don’t know if you really know how much it means to me that I get to be with you everyday. To fall asleep beside you at night and to wake up with you in the morning. I don’t know what I did to deserve this… you… but I don’t want to ever be without you again.” He took her left hand and pressed a light kiss on her palm before looking at her with shining eyes. “I know I’ve asked you before and… and you said ‘yes’, but now I’m asking you officially.” Liz’s sharp intake of breath accompanied him taking out a diamond ring from his pocket. “Will you marry me, Liz Parker? And wear my ring?”
Not able to speak just yet, Liz merely nodded and bit her lip as he slid the ring onto her finger, kissing it when it was in place. They leaned against each other with their foreheads touching as they tried to recover from this intense moment. Suddenly, both of them saw a flash of a little boy skipping around in a garden. Liz jerked away from Max in surprise. “Max!”
Max was equally stunned. This was the first time they saw a future vision without the help of Nick. When he found his voice, he assured her. “That’s our son, Liz. We will have him one day.” He moved closer to kiss her, but she pressed him back with a hand on his chest.
“I need to say some things too,” she said softly. “I need to tell you that I never knew what love was until you came into my life. And that… that you are my everything, Max Evans. That I knew that day you saved me that no one will ever touch me that way again. Every moment with you is perfect. I love that I can talk to you and that you will listen. And that you think I’m beautiful. And that you have risked your life for me so many times. That you love me so well.” Max swallowed around the lump in his throat. “I… I love you. So much.”
He kissed her then. Gentle, loving kisses that warmed her heart and spoke of his love more eloquently than the heavy ring on her finger. His tongue swiped across her lower lip, tracing the contours and speeding up her heart rate. Then he pulled back, his hands sliding over her hips. “Let’s go outside.”
Liz let him lead her outside, but cast a longing glance to the sleeping bags lying in the one corner. They never had gotten around to removing them after the need for a private place to make love far away from parental eyes had passed.
Once outside, Max stood staring up at the stars for a moment before turning to Liz. “I always thought that that was what I wanted,” he motioned upwards with his hand, “all those stars up there. But now I know that the only stars I really want… are the ones in your eyes when you look at me.” He smiled crookedly at his sappy comment. It was sappy, but true.
Liz turned away from him and looking at the stars with a smile. “Don’t knock those stars, one of them sent me you.”
Grinning at her comment, Max moved to stand behind her, slipping his arms around her waist and pressing her back against his chest. He felt her take a deep breath and knew that the time for talking was over…
tbc
11+12
PART 11
Tess had been waiting in front of the Evans’ house for hours. Where the hell were Max and Liz? They had disappeared in the middle of the school day just after she had overheard Liz being sick and she hasn’t seen them since. Liz wasn’t in her room and Tess had assumed that Liz had basically moved in with Max at the Evans’. However, there has been no sign of them so far and the light in Max’s room stayed resolutely out.
Nacedo had decided that he would leave Liz alone until she returned from Boston as it would be easier for them to take care of her “condition” then. In the meantime, he instructed Tess to work on Max in Liz’s absence. She should use her powers to get him to sleep with her as many times as possible, they had to make sure she gets pregnant before Liz gets back. Tess had been reluctant to tell Nacedo that she was having trouble with putting images in Max’s mind and had merely hinted that while Liz was around, Max seemed to be less receptive. Nacedo’s answer had been: “Just do it.”
So here she was, across the street from Max’s house at ten at night and no sign of the alien leader and his pet obsession yet. Needless to say, she had tried to use her supposed connection to her genetically bonded mate, but to no avail. Not even a little spark of Max anywhere in her mind. Damn Liz Parker and her big doe eyes that had thoroughly enslaved Max!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz smiled a secret little smile as she felt Max’s body harden against hers when he pulled her closer. He was in for quite a surprise later! But for now, she relished feeling his heat against her, enjoyed his hands shaping her hips and waist and held her breath every time his fingers just brushed the undersides of her breasts. Her body was responding to his caresses, readying itself for his possession. She could feel the liquid heat pool between her thighs and hear the thundering of her heart in her ears. Closing her eyes, Liz basked in her love for Max and his love for her. He was right. They will have that little boy one-day. They had many years of loving still to come and there was no need to hurry into anything. She rubbed herself lazily against him and heard his soft groan. In the meantime, they could practice the process of actually making the baby. After all, practice makes perfect…
Leaning back into his chest, she lifted one arm and wrapped it around his neck, curling her fingers into the soft hair at his nape. Her other hand dropped to find his hand splayed over her flat stomach and moved it higher towards her breast. She needed his touch there now. “Stop teasing me, Max.” Her voice was husky with need.
Arrows of pleasure shot through her body at the first touch of his fingers and she arched into his hand, silently begging for more. How could such a simple action cause such a riot of sensations? And such overwhelming desire? She answered herself immediately: because it was Max. No one else had ever touched her this way, but she instinctively knew that no other touch would feel like this. She had been halfway correct when she told Max that time after Michael had returned her diary that she had tried to write down everything so that one day she would remember what it was supposed to feel like when someone touched her like that. Now she knew, no one would ever make her come alive with a mere touch but Max.
Turning Liz’s face towards him with one hand, Max slid his other hand from her breast to her side and underneath the material of the dress. Although he had suspected as much, his fingers found confirmation that she was not wearing a bra. The feel of her soft, warm curves filling his palm was arousing and intoxicating. He loved touching her like this. When his lips captured hers, he moved his other hand into her dress as well. Liz moaned into his mouth, her body moving restlessly against his and heating his blood to fever pitch.
He kissed her and touched her until it felt like he would explode if he couldn’t have her soon. “Liz, we have to go home.” It was said against her lips, between hot kisses.
“Why?”
Max pulled away a little. “Because I don’t want you to remember our last night being about me not controlling myself enough to get us home and to our bed.”
“And if I want to remember it like that?” She pressed his hands to her breasts for one last time before turning in his arms and looking up at him. “Just you, me and the stars, Max…”
He was speechless. She wanted him to make love to her here?
Stepping away from him completely, Liz lifted her hands and undid the halter-top of her dress. She let the material drift slowly down her body before it caught on her hips. Max couldn’t help himself and nudged the material further down her body with one hand.
“Wow…”
The dress had fallen in a crumpled heap on the ground and Liz stood in front of him wearing a red garter belt, silk stockings and a red lace thong. The roaring in his ears got louder. She was a glorious goddess with an angel face and mostly he just wanted to treat her like a princess. But then she does something like this and all his good intentions fly out the window. The moonlight was bathing her skin in a soft glow and Max wanted her with an intensity that scared him. He wanted her to be his, he wanted to be a part of her, he wanted to be so deep within her that it was hard to tell where he ended and she began. And he wanted it all right now. “Liz…” It was a soft sound. Tell me we have to go home. While I still have some semblance of control over myself.
“I want this, Max. I want you. Here. Now.”
But still Max clung to his last shred of sanity and picked her up to carry her inside to the sleeping bags. He slid her to her feet next to his pod and looked at her for a long moment, trying to memorize the way she looked tonight. So incredibly beautiful… and almost naked.
She came into his arms eagerly and slanted her mouth over his, drowning him in the sensation of having her pressed against him while her tongue did magic things to his. His hands drifted down to the bare cheeks of her behind and he curled his fingers into her flesh, pulling her into his arousal urgently.
She leant away from him unexpectedly. “I want to be outside under your stars with you, Max.”
Like he could ever say no to anything she asked of him! So he gathered up the sleeping bags and took her outside again. The moonlight made the scene look magical and somehow it seemed fitting that he would make love with Liz here in this place that used to symbolize that he couldn’t have what he really wanted. Her. His only love. This place that used to symbolize a destiny he didn’t ask for and a bride he didn’t want.
Liz undid the buttons of his shirt, scraping her nails across his skin before leaning forward and trailing her tongue over his chest. She felt him shudder and stepped back, even though his disappointed groan nearly did her in. Looking up at him from beneath her eyelashes, she hooked her thumbs in the sides of her thong and pulled it down slowly. She had always wanted to try this ever since she had read about it once in one of Maria’s romance novels. By putting your stockings and garter belt on first, you can take of everything else later without removing those two articles.
Max felt the air get knocked out of him when she straightened and smiled at him with a slight blush. How lucky could he get? Not only does he have Liz’s love, but she was doing her best to fulfil every fantasy he had ever had… and even some he hadn’t been creative enough to think up! He couldn’t take much more, so he scooped her against him and ravaged her mouth while his hands trailed fire all over her body. He wanted to touch her everywhere at once. He could feel her wet heat pressed against his arousal and knew he needed to taste her. Everywhere.
Liz nearly fainted when he sank to his knees in front of her and proceeded to kiss her stomach and thighs before moving to her center. She clung to him, her eyes closed and her head thrown back as she experienced the explosion of fire in her body. He kept the intimate caresses up until her knees gave way and he finally slid her underneath him on the sleeping bags. He held her gaze as he got rid of his last clothes, the dark desire in his eyes making her dizzy and breathless. Her mouth went dry while watching the moonlight dance over his body. He was gloriously beautiful… and hers.
Max grabbed hold of her hands, turning her left hand so that the diamond ring caught the light as he pushed into her urgently. He wanted to be gentle and slow, but he couldn’t. She had turned him inside out tonight. So gentle will come later. Right now he was desperate to make her his in the most primitive of ways.
Liz wrapped her legs around his hips, grinding herself into him as her nails dug into his hands. It was explosive and fast and exactly what she wanted. Amazingly, her release came first and triggered his. And the way her name was torn from his lips was a memory she would always treasure.
It took them a long time before they could move again. They helped each other dress, but Max shoved her thong into his pocket, saying with twinkling eyes that he needed to get it framed or something. Liz whacked his chest: “You jerk!”
He just grinned and bent down to brush his lips over hers. “I love you.” Thank you for being my fantasy.
Liz stopped smiling when the reality of her impending departure hit her again. “Oh Max, I don’t know if—.”
“Shhh.” He stopped her with a finger on her mouth. “Let’s not think about that tonight. Let’s just go home and love each other some more.” He waited until she nodded before taking her hand and leading her back to the Jeep. Lifting her inside, he covered her with his jacket before moving around to get in himself.
They drove home in silence, with Max casting glances at Liz every few minutes.
“What?” Liz asked with a smile as she huddled deeper into the jacket. It smelled like Max and it was having a profound effect on her.
“Do you have any idea how sexy you look right now? And how hard it is for me to forget that you are wearing practically nothing underneath that dress?”
She breathed his name, moving restlessly on the seat and wishing they were home already.
He watched her for a few more minutes, before lifting one hand from the steering wheel and placing it on her thigh. His hand caressed her lazily and moved ever closer to where she wanted it most. Arching towards his touch, she begged him: “Max please…”
Max held his breath and waited until he turned the last corner on the way to the Crashdown before giving in to her plea and letting his fingers find her heat. Both of them gasped in reaction and Max tore his hand away to park the Jeep behind the café with her disappointed moan ringing in his ears. He pulled her over to him as soon as the car came to a halt and she wrapped her legs around him as he stumbled to their front door and into the apartment.
Tumbling onto the bed, Max tried, for a vain moment, to remember if he had closed the door, but all that paled in importance to loving Liz. This time, he tore their clothes off in haste and didn’t have the patience to take off her stockings. Then he was inside her again and her sigh of contentment went straight to his heart. Now that he was where he wanted to be, he could slow down. Resting his forehead against hers, he felt an ache grow in his throat. “Oh god, Liz, I’m going to miss you!”
Tears welled up in Liz’s eyes as she clung to him. “Me too.” The separation loomed over her menacingly and she was starting to panic. “Promise me you’ll think of me. And promise me you’ll look after yourself. And that—.”
He kissed her into silence before catching her tears with his tongue. “Sweetie, you know I will. Not having you near will be a constant ache in my heart.” He took a deep breath. “Stay with Nick, okay? Don’t go off on your own and… and phone me whenever you get a chance.” He looked at her seriously. “Remember you are looking after the most important person in my life… Promise me you’ll be careful.”
She nodded mutely and they made love with tears in their eyes and hearts. Praying the night will never end and that if it did… the next two weeks will pass quickly.
They slept fitfully, with Max lying awake and watching Liz most of the night. She clung to him in sleep and murmured his name a few times, the sound tugging at his heart.
Liz was dreaming of Max. He smiled at her and mouthed that he loved her when suddenly his face froze and Tess appeared at his shoulder. Panic flooded through Liz when she saw the blonde girl glare at her maliciously before tugging Max away from Liz. Liz struggled to cry out, but her vocal chords didn’t work and she was immobile, only jerking in fear when Nacedo suddenly appeared at her side to grab her left hand. He tore the ring off her finger and hissed in her ear: “This belongs to Tess!”
“Noooo!” Max nearly had a heart attack when the pain-filled moan suddenly erupted from Liz’s throat. What was happening to her?
Hugging her closer, he was suddenly in her dream, being dragged away from her by Tess while Nacedo was hovering menacingly next to Liz. Fury rolled through him at the sight and he ripped himself from Tess’ grasp while yelling at Nacedo: “Leave her alone!” He was at Liz’s side instantly and the other two faded from the dream. A dream! It was only a nightmare, he told himself as he held her shaking body. A nightmare that said a lot about what Liz’s biggest fear was... He silently cursed Tess and Nacedo for making Liz feel this way. But most of all he cursed his weakness of last year when Tess first came to town. He put his hands on the sides of Liz’s face and reaffirmed his promise to her here in the dream plane as well: “Never, Liz. She will never manipulate me again.” And he promised himself that too. Whatever it takes, that girl will not get the better of him…
PART 12
Morning came too soon and Max had trouble waking up because staying in that place of slumber meant that Liz was still with him. That she hadn’t gotten on the plane to Boston yet…
Liz, on the other hand, woke up feeling nauseous again. The first fingers of dawn were creeping over the horizon and this time she literally sneaked from the bed so as not to wake Max. Huddling on the floor in the bathroom, the nausea didn’t go away, but at least she wasn’t being physically sick this time. She didn’t want Max to know how scared she was, because that would only make him more upset about the fact that she was leaving. And besides, she was just being a child about all this. None of her fears were going to realize! Max would not let Tess get to him. He was stronger now… and closer to Liz than ever before.
When she felt a little better after drinking some water, Liz went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. A huge bunch of white roses stood on the counter, making her smile because Max had obviously intended to give it to her last night. He was so sweet!
Max came awake with a start, panicking for a moment because Liz wasn’t next to him before his senses registered the smell of coffee and breakfast permeating the small apartment. Liz appeared next to the bed with a tray in her hands and his heart melted as she smiled at him sweetly. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know. I wanted to.” She sat down across from him and placed the tray between them.
Max grinned when he saw the single white rose she had added to the tray. “I’m sorry, I wanted to give them to you last night, but we sort of got side-tracked.”
“Yes, we did. But it was worth it.”
She looked so beautiful to him, perched on the bed in one of his old T-shirts, looking tousled and sexy. “But I had this whole plan of seducing you with a rose…” he said with gleaming eyes.
Liz glanced at the clock and grinned back at him. “Well, we have two hours before we have to leave…”
His eyes turned dark, a sure sign that she was getting to him, but he made her eat some of her omelet first, claiming that it would be a long time before he could look after her again. When he was satisfied that she had eaten enough, he took the tray to the kitchen and returned with the roses. He made Liz stretch out on the bed on her stomach and proceeded caressing her all over, first with a rose and then with his mouth… until she begged him to make love to her. It was another slow and gentle union, tinged again with sadness and a little desperation because this would be the last time for a while. When they got up to shower much later, rose petals were scattered all over their bed and the floor… and some were even stuck in Liz’s hair.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The drive to Albuquerque was conducted in silence. Liz wiped at the tears threatening to overflow from her eyes every few minutes and Max gripped her hand and clenched his jaw to try and control his feelings. This would have been so much easier if he didn’t worry about Liz’s stress-related sickness and about Tess and Nacedo breathing down their necks. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore and pulled to the side of the road before lifting Liz into his lap. He wiped the tears from her cheeks and brought her hand with their engagement ring to his lips. “God, I’m going to miss you so much!”
Liz just nodded, not able to speak around the lump in her throat. She suddenly threw her arms around him and kissed him desperately, willing him to see all her emotions through their connection. Their tears mixed on their lips as they kissed.
Please be safe!
Please be careful.
I love you.
I love you.
Nick was waiting for them when they arrived at the airport. He gave them one look and took Liz’s luggage before going off to get it sorted out.
Liz’s hand was going numb from the crushing grip Max had on it. But she didn’t complain, it was comforting that she wasn’t the only one coming apart at the seams. If only she could stop the stupid tears from rolling down her cheeks incessantly, then maybe she would be able to get on the plane with some dignity. That didn’t seem to be a possibility right now though, because the closer they got to the checkout counter, the worse the ache in her heart became. “Max…”
He stopped and turned towards her immediately, his eyes clouding over when he saw the tear tracks on her face. “Let’s get you booked in, then we’ll talk, okay?”
The task was completed soon, with neither Max nor Liz noticing the interested and sympathetic looks from the airport staff. Max left Liz briefly to talk to Nick for a few minutes, after which Nick left for the departure hall to wait for Liz.
Watching him walk back to her, Liz had trouble not flying into his arms. She might as well have, since Max pulled her into a fierce hug as soon as he reached her.
The woman behind the counter watched the couple embrace and marveled that after all her years of working in this small airport, she still got to witness something new every once in a while. It was clear that the impending separation was breaking the hearts of the young couple in front of her. She heard their whispers of love and wondered how two people could look so much a part of each other at such a young age. They were teens, that was clear, but the way the intense young man held the beautiful girl close to his heart was breathtaking to see and it made her long for something similar.
Max kissed Liz softly, his lips tracing a loving a trail across her face before he leant his forehead against hers.
“I love you, Max. So much. I don’t know how I’m going to make it through two weeks without you…” Liz bit her lip to stop its quivering.
Her words made Max come to a decision. He had wanted to surprise her, but seeing her so sad was killing him. “Sweetie, I’m coming up to see you next weekend.” Her head jerked up and the light that started to grow in her eyes assured him he was making the right choice by telling her. “My mom has to go to Boston to see some clients. She said I could go with—“
“Max!” Liz cried. She hugged him closer, joy starting to dissipate some of her sadness. He lifted her up and swung her around in a small circle before sliding her back to her feet and kissing her breathless. The kiss was long, intense and deep and spoke of a love that transcended time and distance.
When they finally pulled apart, a chorus of applause broke out around them. Both Max and Liz flushed when they saw the small crowd of spectators beaming at them. The moment was short-lived though, as they heard the call for Liz’s flight. Ignoring all the people still milling about, Max turned to Liz. “Call me, okay? About anything. And if you feel sick again—“
Liz stopped him with her finger on his mouth. “I promise.” The tears were welling up in her eyes again. “I’ll miss you!”
He just nodded and kissed her again before dropping his arms from her slowly and stepping back. He had to shove his hands into his pockets to keep them from hauling her back into his arms and taking off with her to someplace they would never have to be apart again.
Blinded by her tears, Liz hurried away from him. I’m coming back, I’m coming back, she repeated to herself as she walked. She had no idea where she was going and was relieved when she felt an arm encircle her shoulder and Nick’s familiar voice telling her to come with him.
Bracing himself against the glass with one arm, Max stood at the window and watched her plane take off, his mind frantically clinging to the link of their connection. As the plane grew smaller in the blue sky, he had to sink into the nearest chair following the disorientation that resulted from the rapid fading of his connection to Liz. He sat resting with his head in his hands, waiting for the dizziness to pass so he could go home. Home to Roswell… alone.
Tess watched his pathetic actions from the other side of the hall. She had never seen such a sad display of emotions from two people, one of whom was supposed to be this strong leader of a whole race! Oh wait, she had seen such displays before, and, not surprisingly, the same two people were involved. She saw Max stagger to his feet after a few minutes. Good. He is weak. That will help a lot.
Lying back in her seat with her eyes closed, Liz finally managed to get herself under some sort of control. Nick had gotten her onto the plane and into her seat and he was now sitting beside her, reading quietly. She was already missing Max, it felt like a hollow void had appeared where her heart used to be and the fact that their connection had died down to a barely discernable whisper at the edge of her consciousness didn’t help much.
Nick watched from the corner of his eye as Liz took a few deep breaths and squared her shoulders. He smiled slightly. Not that he needed any reaffirmation, his “experiment” with the two of them last year already proved how intense Max and Liz’s connection and love were, but seeing them this morning made him glad his people hadn’t decided to force their young leader into a bonding Max would have hated. It was still weird to him sometimes, to accept the human way of choosing a mate through love and not have one thrust upon you by your parents and then made acceptable through genetic coding.
“Thank you, Nick.”
He started at Liz’s sudden quiet statement. “For what?”
“For always being there for Max and I.” She looked at him with her serious brown eyes and Nick understood a little more of Max’s complete devotion to this girl. She inspired it so effortlessly. “I mean you have your own wife and here you are going off with me because Max asked you.” She faltered a bit before asking: “Why are you doing it?”
It was his turn to look serious. “Because he asked me to.” It was a simple answer that said so much about his relationship with Max. It said that he was doing it because technically Max was his superior and could order him to do anything and he would obey. It also said that he was doing it precisely because Max had asked him and not ordered him. Nick had come to respect Max Evans for who he was, so when Max arrived at his home with the tale of Nacedo and Tess’ reactions to him being bonded with Liz, Nick knew he would help him. It angered Nick to no end that Nacedo had become so self-righteous while living on this planet. It was completely crazy that they would have to protect their leader and his mate from one of their own.
“I can hardly feel him anymore,” Liz said sadly.
Nick understood immediately. She was talking about her connection with Max. He smiled at her bent head. “I can help you with that…”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Arriving back in Roswell, Max headed to his parents’ house. He didn’t really want to go to their apartment, its emptiness would just remind him of Liz’s absence. He was actually not surprised to find his sister and three friends waiting for him around the kitchen table when he entered his old home.
Maria jumped up first, coming over to hug him. “Are you okay?”
Max just nodded. His mind going to Liz instinctively. Was she okay? Did she feel sick again? He glanced at his watch, wondering how long before she would call to say she had arrived in Boston safely…
“We’re taking you bowling, Max,” Isabel announced, getting up from the table.
Max couldn’t help but be amused. He had trouble picturing Isabel and Michael in a bowling alley! But hey, he needed something to take his mind off the fact that Liz was steadily flying further and further away from him. “Okay, but I have to go to work later this afternoon.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
In another part of Roswell, Tess was with “Neil”, preparing for her visit to Max tonight. Neil/Nacedo held his hand over her womb and grinned with satisfaction. “Well, the little earth girl couldn’t have left at a better time. You are ready.” His smile vanished as he suddenly glared at Tess threateningly. “This is your final chance. If this doesn’t work, nothing will…”
tbc
Tess had been waiting in front of the Evans’ house for hours. Where the hell were Max and Liz? They had disappeared in the middle of the school day just after she had overheard Liz being sick and she hasn’t seen them since. Liz wasn’t in her room and Tess had assumed that Liz had basically moved in with Max at the Evans’. However, there has been no sign of them so far and the light in Max’s room stayed resolutely out.
Nacedo had decided that he would leave Liz alone until she returned from Boston as it would be easier for them to take care of her “condition” then. In the meantime, he instructed Tess to work on Max in Liz’s absence. She should use her powers to get him to sleep with her as many times as possible, they had to make sure she gets pregnant before Liz gets back. Tess had been reluctant to tell Nacedo that she was having trouble with putting images in Max’s mind and had merely hinted that while Liz was around, Max seemed to be less receptive. Nacedo’s answer had been: “Just do it.”
So here she was, across the street from Max’s house at ten at night and no sign of the alien leader and his pet obsession yet. Needless to say, she had tried to use her supposed connection to her genetically bonded mate, but to no avail. Not even a little spark of Max anywhere in her mind. Damn Liz Parker and her big doe eyes that had thoroughly enslaved Max!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz smiled a secret little smile as she felt Max’s body harden against hers when he pulled her closer. He was in for quite a surprise later! But for now, she relished feeling his heat against her, enjoyed his hands shaping her hips and waist and held her breath every time his fingers just brushed the undersides of her breasts. Her body was responding to his caresses, readying itself for his possession. She could feel the liquid heat pool between her thighs and hear the thundering of her heart in her ears. Closing her eyes, Liz basked in her love for Max and his love for her. He was right. They will have that little boy one-day. They had many years of loving still to come and there was no need to hurry into anything. She rubbed herself lazily against him and heard his soft groan. In the meantime, they could practice the process of actually making the baby. After all, practice makes perfect…
Leaning back into his chest, she lifted one arm and wrapped it around his neck, curling her fingers into the soft hair at his nape. Her other hand dropped to find his hand splayed over her flat stomach and moved it higher towards her breast. She needed his touch there now. “Stop teasing me, Max.” Her voice was husky with need.
Arrows of pleasure shot through her body at the first touch of his fingers and she arched into his hand, silently begging for more. How could such a simple action cause such a riot of sensations? And such overwhelming desire? She answered herself immediately: because it was Max. No one else had ever touched her this way, but she instinctively knew that no other touch would feel like this. She had been halfway correct when she told Max that time after Michael had returned her diary that she had tried to write down everything so that one day she would remember what it was supposed to feel like when someone touched her like that. Now she knew, no one would ever make her come alive with a mere touch but Max.
Turning Liz’s face towards him with one hand, Max slid his other hand from her breast to her side and underneath the material of the dress. Although he had suspected as much, his fingers found confirmation that she was not wearing a bra. The feel of her soft, warm curves filling his palm was arousing and intoxicating. He loved touching her like this. When his lips captured hers, he moved his other hand into her dress as well. Liz moaned into his mouth, her body moving restlessly against his and heating his blood to fever pitch.
He kissed her and touched her until it felt like he would explode if he couldn’t have her soon. “Liz, we have to go home.” It was said against her lips, between hot kisses.
“Why?”
Max pulled away a little. “Because I don’t want you to remember our last night being about me not controlling myself enough to get us home and to our bed.”
“And if I want to remember it like that?” She pressed his hands to her breasts for one last time before turning in his arms and looking up at him. “Just you, me and the stars, Max…”
He was speechless. She wanted him to make love to her here?
Stepping away from him completely, Liz lifted her hands and undid the halter-top of her dress. She let the material drift slowly down her body before it caught on her hips. Max couldn’t help himself and nudged the material further down her body with one hand.
“Wow…”
The dress had fallen in a crumpled heap on the ground and Liz stood in front of him wearing a red garter belt, silk stockings and a red lace thong. The roaring in his ears got louder. She was a glorious goddess with an angel face and mostly he just wanted to treat her like a princess. But then she does something like this and all his good intentions fly out the window. The moonlight was bathing her skin in a soft glow and Max wanted her with an intensity that scared him. He wanted her to be his, he wanted to be a part of her, he wanted to be so deep within her that it was hard to tell where he ended and she began. And he wanted it all right now. “Liz…” It was a soft sound. Tell me we have to go home. While I still have some semblance of control over myself.
“I want this, Max. I want you. Here. Now.”
But still Max clung to his last shred of sanity and picked her up to carry her inside to the sleeping bags. He slid her to her feet next to his pod and looked at her for a long moment, trying to memorize the way she looked tonight. So incredibly beautiful… and almost naked.
She came into his arms eagerly and slanted her mouth over his, drowning him in the sensation of having her pressed against him while her tongue did magic things to his. His hands drifted down to the bare cheeks of her behind and he curled his fingers into her flesh, pulling her into his arousal urgently.
She leant away from him unexpectedly. “I want to be outside under your stars with you, Max.”
Like he could ever say no to anything she asked of him! So he gathered up the sleeping bags and took her outside again. The moonlight made the scene look magical and somehow it seemed fitting that he would make love with Liz here in this place that used to symbolize that he couldn’t have what he really wanted. Her. His only love. This place that used to symbolize a destiny he didn’t ask for and a bride he didn’t want.
Liz undid the buttons of his shirt, scraping her nails across his skin before leaning forward and trailing her tongue over his chest. She felt him shudder and stepped back, even though his disappointed groan nearly did her in. Looking up at him from beneath her eyelashes, she hooked her thumbs in the sides of her thong and pulled it down slowly. She had always wanted to try this ever since she had read about it once in one of Maria’s romance novels. By putting your stockings and garter belt on first, you can take of everything else later without removing those two articles.
Max felt the air get knocked out of him when she straightened and smiled at him with a slight blush. How lucky could he get? Not only does he have Liz’s love, but she was doing her best to fulfil every fantasy he had ever had… and even some he hadn’t been creative enough to think up! He couldn’t take much more, so he scooped her against him and ravaged her mouth while his hands trailed fire all over her body. He wanted to touch her everywhere at once. He could feel her wet heat pressed against his arousal and knew he needed to taste her. Everywhere.
Liz nearly fainted when he sank to his knees in front of her and proceeded to kiss her stomach and thighs before moving to her center. She clung to him, her eyes closed and her head thrown back as she experienced the explosion of fire in her body. He kept the intimate caresses up until her knees gave way and he finally slid her underneath him on the sleeping bags. He held her gaze as he got rid of his last clothes, the dark desire in his eyes making her dizzy and breathless. Her mouth went dry while watching the moonlight dance over his body. He was gloriously beautiful… and hers.
Max grabbed hold of her hands, turning her left hand so that the diamond ring caught the light as he pushed into her urgently. He wanted to be gentle and slow, but he couldn’t. She had turned him inside out tonight. So gentle will come later. Right now he was desperate to make her his in the most primitive of ways.
Liz wrapped her legs around his hips, grinding herself into him as her nails dug into his hands. It was explosive and fast and exactly what she wanted. Amazingly, her release came first and triggered his. And the way her name was torn from his lips was a memory she would always treasure.
It took them a long time before they could move again. They helped each other dress, but Max shoved her thong into his pocket, saying with twinkling eyes that he needed to get it framed or something. Liz whacked his chest: “You jerk!”
He just grinned and bent down to brush his lips over hers. “I love you.” Thank you for being my fantasy.
Liz stopped smiling when the reality of her impending departure hit her again. “Oh Max, I don’t know if—.”
“Shhh.” He stopped her with a finger on her mouth. “Let’s not think about that tonight. Let’s just go home and love each other some more.” He waited until she nodded before taking her hand and leading her back to the Jeep. Lifting her inside, he covered her with his jacket before moving around to get in himself.
They drove home in silence, with Max casting glances at Liz every few minutes.
“What?” Liz asked with a smile as she huddled deeper into the jacket. It smelled like Max and it was having a profound effect on her.
“Do you have any idea how sexy you look right now? And how hard it is for me to forget that you are wearing practically nothing underneath that dress?”
She breathed his name, moving restlessly on the seat and wishing they were home already.
He watched her for a few more minutes, before lifting one hand from the steering wheel and placing it on her thigh. His hand caressed her lazily and moved ever closer to where she wanted it most. Arching towards his touch, she begged him: “Max please…”
Max held his breath and waited until he turned the last corner on the way to the Crashdown before giving in to her plea and letting his fingers find her heat. Both of them gasped in reaction and Max tore his hand away to park the Jeep behind the café with her disappointed moan ringing in his ears. He pulled her over to him as soon as the car came to a halt and she wrapped her legs around him as he stumbled to their front door and into the apartment.
Tumbling onto the bed, Max tried, for a vain moment, to remember if he had closed the door, but all that paled in importance to loving Liz. This time, he tore their clothes off in haste and didn’t have the patience to take off her stockings. Then he was inside her again and her sigh of contentment went straight to his heart. Now that he was where he wanted to be, he could slow down. Resting his forehead against hers, he felt an ache grow in his throat. “Oh god, Liz, I’m going to miss you!”
Tears welled up in Liz’s eyes as she clung to him. “Me too.” The separation loomed over her menacingly and she was starting to panic. “Promise me you’ll think of me. And promise me you’ll look after yourself. And that—.”
He kissed her into silence before catching her tears with his tongue. “Sweetie, you know I will. Not having you near will be a constant ache in my heart.” He took a deep breath. “Stay with Nick, okay? Don’t go off on your own and… and phone me whenever you get a chance.” He looked at her seriously. “Remember you are looking after the most important person in my life… Promise me you’ll be careful.”
She nodded mutely and they made love with tears in their eyes and hearts. Praying the night will never end and that if it did… the next two weeks will pass quickly.
They slept fitfully, with Max lying awake and watching Liz most of the night. She clung to him in sleep and murmured his name a few times, the sound tugging at his heart.
Liz was dreaming of Max. He smiled at her and mouthed that he loved her when suddenly his face froze and Tess appeared at his shoulder. Panic flooded through Liz when she saw the blonde girl glare at her maliciously before tugging Max away from Liz. Liz struggled to cry out, but her vocal chords didn’t work and she was immobile, only jerking in fear when Nacedo suddenly appeared at her side to grab her left hand. He tore the ring off her finger and hissed in her ear: “This belongs to Tess!”
“Noooo!” Max nearly had a heart attack when the pain-filled moan suddenly erupted from Liz’s throat. What was happening to her?
Hugging her closer, he was suddenly in her dream, being dragged away from her by Tess while Nacedo was hovering menacingly next to Liz. Fury rolled through him at the sight and he ripped himself from Tess’ grasp while yelling at Nacedo: “Leave her alone!” He was at Liz’s side instantly and the other two faded from the dream. A dream! It was only a nightmare, he told himself as he held her shaking body. A nightmare that said a lot about what Liz’s biggest fear was... He silently cursed Tess and Nacedo for making Liz feel this way. But most of all he cursed his weakness of last year when Tess first came to town. He put his hands on the sides of Liz’s face and reaffirmed his promise to her here in the dream plane as well: “Never, Liz. She will never manipulate me again.” And he promised himself that too. Whatever it takes, that girl will not get the better of him…
PART 12
Morning came too soon and Max had trouble waking up because staying in that place of slumber meant that Liz was still with him. That she hadn’t gotten on the plane to Boston yet…
Liz, on the other hand, woke up feeling nauseous again. The first fingers of dawn were creeping over the horizon and this time she literally sneaked from the bed so as not to wake Max. Huddling on the floor in the bathroom, the nausea didn’t go away, but at least she wasn’t being physically sick this time. She didn’t want Max to know how scared she was, because that would only make him more upset about the fact that she was leaving. And besides, she was just being a child about all this. None of her fears were going to realize! Max would not let Tess get to him. He was stronger now… and closer to Liz than ever before.
When she felt a little better after drinking some water, Liz went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. A huge bunch of white roses stood on the counter, making her smile because Max had obviously intended to give it to her last night. He was so sweet!
Max came awake with a start, panicking for a moment because Liz wasn’t next to him before his senses registered the smell of coffee and breakfast permeating the small apartment. Liz appeared next to the bed with a tray in her hands and his heart melted as she smiled at him sweetly. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know. I wanted to.” She sat down across from him and placed the tray between them.
Max grinned when he saw the single white rose she had added to the tray. “I’m sorry, I wanted to give them to you last night, but we sort of got side-tracked.”
“Yes, we did. But it was worth it.”
She looked so beautiful to him, perched on the bed in one of his old T-shirts, looking tousled and sexy. “But I had this whole plan of seducing you with a rose…” he said with gleaming eyes.
Liz glanced at the clock and grinned back at him. “Well, we have two hours before we have to leave…”
His eyes turned dark, a sure sign that she was getting to him, but he made her eat some of her omelet first, claiming that it would be a long time before he could look after her again. When he was satisfied that she had eaten enough, he took the tray to the kitchen and returned with the roses. He made Liz stretch out on the bed on her stomach and proceeded caressing her all over, first with a rose and then with his mouth… until she begged him to make love to her. It was another slow and gentle union, tinged again with sadness and a little desperation because this would be the last time for a while. When they got up to shower much later, rose petals were scattered all over their bed and the floor… and some were even stuck in Liz’s hair.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The drive to Albuquerque was conducted in silence. Liz wiped at the tears threatening to overflow from her eyes every few minutes and Max gripped her hand and clenched his jaw to try and control his feelings. This would have been so much easier if he didn’t worry about Liz’s stress-related sickness and about Tess and Nacedo breathing down their necks. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore and pulled to the side of the road before lifting Liz into his lap. He wiped the tears from her cheeks and brought her hand with their engagement ring to his lips. “God, I’m going to miss you so much!”
Liz just nodded, not able to speak around the lump in her throat. She suddenly threw her arms around him and kissed him desperately, willing him to see all her emotions through their connection. Their tears mixed on their lips as they kissed.
Please be safe!
Please be careful.
I love you.
I love you.
Nick was waiting for them when they arrived at the airport. He gave them one look and took Liz’s luggage before going off to get it sorted out.
Liz’s hand was going numb from the crushing grip Max had on it. But she didn’t complain, it was comforting that she wasn’t the only one coming apart at the seams. If only she could stop the stupid tears from rolling down her cheeks incessantly, then maybe she would be able to get on the plane with some dignity. That didn’t seem to be a possibility right now though, because the closer they got to the checkout counter, the worse the ache in her heart became. “Max…”
He stopped and turned towards her immediately, his eyes clouding over when he saw the tear tracks on her face. “Let’s get you booked in, then we’ll talk, okay?”
The task was completed soon, with neither Max nor Liz noticing the interested and sympathetic looks from the airport staff. Max left Liz briefly to talk to Nick for a few minutes, after which Nick left for the departure hall to wait for Liz.
Watching him walk back to her, Liz had trouble not flying into his arms. She might as well have, since Max pulled her into a fierce hug as soon as he reached her.
The woman behind the counter watched the couple embrace and marveled that after all her years of working in this small airport, she still got to witness something new every once in a while. It was clear that the impending separation was breaking the hearts of the young couple in front of her. She heard their whispers of love and wondered how two people could look so much a part of each other at such a young age. They were teens, that was clear, but the way the intense young man held the beautiful girl close to his heart was breathtaking to see and it made her long for something similar.
Max kissed Liz softly, his lips tracing a loving a trail across her face before he leant his forehead against hers.
“I love you, Max. So much. I don’t know how I’m going to make it through two weeks without you…” Liz bit her lip to stop its quivering.
Her words made Max come to a decision. He had wanted to surprise her, but seeing her so sad was killing him. “Sweetie, I’m coming up to see you next weekend.” Her head jerked up and the light that started to grow in her eyes assured him he was making the right choice by telling her. “My mom has to go to Boston to see some clients. She said I could go with—“
“Max!” Liz cried. She hugged him closer, joy starting to dissipate some of her sadness. He lifted her up and swung her around in a small circle before sliding her back to her feet and kissing her breathless. The kiss was long, intense and deep and spoke of a love that transcended time and distance.
When they finally pulled apart, a chorus of applause broke out around them. Both Max and Liz flushed when they saw the small crowd of spectators beaming at them. The moment was short-lived though, as they heard the call for Liz’s flight. Ignoring all the people still milling about, Max turned to Liz. “Call me, okay? About anything. And if you feel sick again—“
Liz stopped him with her finger on his mouth. “I promise.” The tears were welling up in her eyes again. “I’ll miss you!”
He just nodded and kissed her again before dropping his arms from her slowly and stepping back. He had to shove his hands into his pockets to keep them from hauling her back into his arms and taking off with her to someplace they would never have to be apart again.
Blinded by her tears, Liz hurried away from him. I’m coming back, I’m coming back, she repeated to herself as she walked. She had no idea where she was going and was relieved when she felt an arm encircle her shoulder and Nick’s familiar voice telling her to come with him.
Bracing himself against the glass with one arm, Max stood at the window and watched her plane take off, his mind frantically clinging to the link of their connection. As the plane grew smaller in the blue sky, he had to sink into the nearest chair following the disorientation that resulted from the rapid fading of his connection to Liz. He sat resting with his head in his hands, waiting for the dizziness to pass so he could go home. Home to Roswell… alone.
Tess watched his pathetic actions from the other side of the hall. She had never seen such a sad display of emotions from two people, one of whom was supposed to be this strong leader of a whole race! Oh wait, she had seen such displays before, and, not surprisingly, the same two people were involved. She saw Max stagger to his feet after a few minutes. Good. He is weak. That will help a lot.
Lying back in her seat with her eyes closed, Liz finally managed to get herself under some sort of control. Nick had gotten her onto the plane and into her seat and he was now sitting beside her, reading quietly. She was already missing Max, it felt like a hollow void had appeared where her heart used to be and the fact that their connection had died down to a barely discernable whisper at the edge of her consciousness didn’t help much.
Nick watched from the corner of his eye as Liz took a few deep breaths and squared her shoulders. He smiled slightly. Not that he needed any reaffirmation, his “experiment” with the two of them last year already proved how intense Max and Liz’s connection and love were, but seeing them this morning made him glad his people hadn’t decided to force their young leader into a bonding Max would have hated. It was still weird to him sometimes, to accept the human way of choosing a mate through love and not have one thrust upon you by your parents and then made acceptable through genetic coding.
“Thank you, Nick.”
He started at Liz’s sudden quiet statement. “For what?”
“For always being there for Max and I.” She looked at him with her serious brown eyes and Nick understood a little more of Max’s complete devotion to this girl. She inspired it so effortlessly. “I mean you have your own wife and here you are going off with me because Max asked you.” She faltered a bit before asking: “Why are you doing it?”
It was his turn to look serious. “Because he asked me to.” It was a simple answer that said so much about his relationship with Max. It said that he was doing it because technically Max was his superior and could order him to do anything and he would obey. It also said that he was doing it precisely because Max had asked him and not ordered him. Nick had come to respect Max Evans for who he was, so when Max arrived at his home with the tale of Nacedo and Tess’ reactions to him being bonded with Liz, Nick knew he would help him. It angered Nick to no end that Nacedo had become so self-righteous while living on this planet. It was completely crazy that they would have to protect their leader and his mate from one of their own.
“I can hardly feel him anymore,” Liz said sadly.
Nick understood immediately. She was talking about her connection with Max. He smiled at her bent head. “I can help you with that…”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Arriving back in Roswell, Max headed to his parents’ house. He didn’t really want to go to their apartment, its emptiness would just remind him of Liz’s absence. He was actually not surprised to find his sister and three friends waiting for him around the kitchen table when he entered his old home.
Maria jumped up first, coming over to hug him. “Are you okay?”
Max just nodded. His mind going to Liz instinctively. Was she okay? Did she feel sick again? He glanced at his watch, wondering how long before she would call to say she had arrived in Boston safely…
“We’re taking you bowling, Max,” Isabel announced, getting up from the table.
Max couldn’t help but be amused. He had trouble picturing Isabel and Michael in a bowling alley! But hey, he needed something to take his mind off the fact that Liz was steadily flying further and further away from him. “Okay, but I have to go to work later this afternoon.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
In another part of Roswell, Tess was with “Neil”, preparing for her visit to Max tonight. Neil/Nacedo held his hand over her womb and grinned with satisfaction. “Well, the little earth girl couldn’t have left at a better time. You are ready.” His smile vanished as he suddenly glared at Tess threateningly. “This is your final chance. If this doesn’t work, nothing will…”
tbc
13+14
PART 13
Liz called Max at work at the UFO museum when she arrived in Boston since Max was working until closing time late the afternoon. It was horrible for Max as he could hear the tears in her voice as she spoke to him. She told him that the flight had gone well and that she was now firmly ensconced in her hotel room and that Nick had managed to get himself a room on the same floor she was staying. Everything was fine, in other words.
Writing down the number to her hotel, Max swallowed as he thought of sleeping alone tonight. “I’m going to stay with my parents this week, okay Liz? If you need me, I’ll be there…”
“Okay,” she said softly.
“I’ll call before you go to sleep later. And…” He faltered, not knowing what to say. He didn’t want to be talking to her, he wanted to be with her. “I really want to hold you right now!”
Silence greeted his fierce statement, before Liz said: “I love you, Max. I-I’ll talk to you later.”
Cursing himself for only upsetting her further, he mumbled: “Yeah. Bye sweetheart.”
Milton came bustling into the office and gave him strange look. “What happened to you? Cat died?”
Giving him a weak smile, Max tried to get a hold of himself. “No, Liz is in Boston.”
“Ohh,” Milton said as if that explained everything. In fact, to Milton, it did. Max has been working for him for a long time and he would have to be blind not to notice how besotted the guy was with his Liz. Milton patted Max on the back sympathetically. “First time without her, heh? You’ll live.”
Max sighed. “Yeah, I know.”
Milton grinned. “But I can see that you would miss her. A cute thing, your Liz. And what guy wouldn’t miss being looked at like you are the best thing since chocolate!”
Max couldn’t help but chuckle at that comment. Milton was a funny guy.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz was just starting to mope seriously when Nick came to get her, announcing that he was taking her out to dinner. After seeing her less than enthusiastic response, Nick decided to take action: “I’ll make you a deal,” he said, “you tell me when you need Max and I’ll boost your connection. I know you’ll miss him all the time, but he wouldn’t want you to not at least enjoy some of the trip, okay?”
Taking a deep breath, Liz realized he was right. Being pathetic all the time was not an option. She was a big girl and she could surely live for a week without Max by her side. She had his love and she could phone him at any time. And Nick was here to help her when things got unbearable. Getting up, she squared her shoulders and pinned Nick with a determined gaze: “Deal! Let’s go have dinner.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max was catching up on some reading later that night when Michael appeared at his window. “Wow, this brings back some memories!” Max said dryly. “What are you doing here?”
Looking sheepish, Michael scratched his head. “Maria made me come. She didn’t think you should be alone tonight.”
Not knowing what to say, Max merely nodded his head. Maria was apparently in ‘Operation-Never-Leave-Max-Alone-for-an-Instant’ mode again. Not that he complained, he had had a weird feeling of being watched all afternoon.
Michael flung himself on Max’s bed, dissatisfaction with his current location screaming from every line in his body. Max suddenly felt guilty. “Hey, you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. I’m sure I’ll be okay.”
“Yeah, you don’t know Maria. She threatened me with horrible punishments if I left here tonight.” Michael sounded surly.
Grinning, Max felt some of the tension leave his body. His friends would be here for him, he shouldn’t even have tried to handle all this alone. “Like what?”
“Like no sex for a week.”
Max winced. “Hey, that’s too cruel. I’ll have to talk to her.”
Michael sighed long-sufferingly. “She’s a hard woman, I tell you.” He was quiet for a moment before continuing: “You know that time you said friends didn’t keep such things from each other?”
Nodding, Max remembered talking to Michael about seeing flashes when kissing Liz and Michael had claimed to have experienced that several times.
“Well, Maxwell, you should’ve told me it would be so amazing. You know, being with her.”
This elicited a full-blown grin from Max. “I had no clue you would take so long to take the final plunge, so to speak! You and Maria were always so hot and heavy, I thought—“
“Yeah, whatever.” It was clear that this whole discussion made Michael uncomfortable. “Let’s just say, I’ll do whatever she tells me now.”
They looked at each other with understanding. “Man, we’re whipped!” Michael stated disgustedly.
“It still beats being without them,” Max said matter-of-factly. This only reminded him of Liz again and he rubbed his hands over his face before glancing at his bed. This would be the first time in over a year that he would sleep without Liz in his arms…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Tess stood outside Max’s window and glared at Michael’s sleeping form on the floor. What the hell was he doing here? Everywhere Max went today, he had been surrounded by people and she was getting irritated. Also, Max wasn’t asleep right now. He was lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling and Tess just knew he was thinking of her. It was disgusting, really. She turned away from his window angrily and jumped in her car, adjusting the mirror so she could see herself. What was wrong with Max Evans? She was gorgeous! How could he not want her? How could he keep lusting after Liz Parker when she was so… so boring! She had no chest to speak of and always wore such prim outfits. And her hair! It was brown, for crying out loud. Brown and flat. Tess jerked the mirror back in place and took off with squealing tires. Tomorrow night… she would get him tomorrow night.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max only vaguely registered the sound of screeching tires outside, his mind was focused on Liz. When he had spoken to her a while ago, she had sounded better and had told him about the little restaurant near the harbor where Nick had taken her. They also planned to do some sightseeing the next day and Max was relieved that Nick was looking after her so well. Now if he could only get through this night, it would be one less he had to live through before he could see her again. Turning on his side, his eyes fell on a picture of her he had on his nightstand. The moonlight helped him pick out her features, but most of all, the picture had captured her sparkling eyes. Oh god, I miss her.
Closing his eyes, he could still hear her parting words. Dream of me, Max. And he did…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz was surprised when she actually enjoyed Sunday. Nick took her all over Boston and they even made a quick stop at the college where she was taking her course so she could see the place. She still found herself looking around for Max to show him something or tell him something, but luckily Nick seemed to understand and didn’t comment on her lapses. She got tired late in the afternoon and Nick grinned when he saw her yawning behind her hand for the umpteenth time.
“Sorry!” she said with a blush. “I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“So I gathered. Why don’t we make it an early night tonight? We have to be up early for your course tomorrow.”
“Oh Nick, you really don’t have to go with me. I’m sure I’ll be—“
But he interrupted her. “You’re kidding me, right? You might not be in awe of Max’s position, but I sure am. I grew up hearing about him and there’s no way I’m letting you out of my sight these two weeks. Even if you technically outrank me and can order me away!” He smiled at her embarrassed countenance. “I’m just pulling your leg. I want to go with you. For Max and for me. You are like my sister, you know!”
Liz couldn’t help but smile at him for saying such sweet things. “Thank you.”
Nick shook his head, thinking that that was such a Liz thing to say.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Isabel sat with Max in his room and he gathered that it was her turn to watch over him tonight. They had spent the day with their parents, something that was rare these days, and Diane had made a ton of food for Sunday lunch to celebrate. But now that the sun was setting and the normal Sunday afternoon quiet was stealing over their small town, Max was feeling melancholy. Normally, he would be in bed with Liz right now, either napping or talking or making love. Anything that included a lot of cuddling was part of their late Sunday afternoon ritual. He missed that. He missed being able to touch her and talk to her. He missed Liz.
Isabel saw everything that went through her brother’s mind on his face. “Do you want me to help you dreamwalk her tonight?”
Max was tempted for a few seconds, but he needed to be alone with Liz, not have Izzy there too. “No, its okay. I’ll phone her later.”
“How are things with her?”
“Nick says she’s fine. You know, doing stuff like preparing for the course.”
“You sound bummed,” Isabel said with a small laugh. “Not liking that she didn’t fall apart completely without you? And what’s with the ‘Nick says’ thing? Is he reporting in every night or something?”
Max didn’t answer immediately.
“He is!” Isabel cried. “Max, I can’t believe you!”
“Whoa,” he held up his hands, “he just tells me how she is. It’s not like I’m spying on her or anything. I just… I want to know that she’s okay, that’s all. And you know Liz, she would not tell me if something’s wrong.”
Isabel just shook her head. “Well, I’ll be next door if you need me. Tell Liz I said hi when you talk to her.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Much later, after he had talked to both Liz and Nick, and had taken a long shower, Max finally dropped into bed. He had trouble sleeping last night and the only real rest he had was when he was dreaming about Liz. Thank goodness, it had not been an erotic dream. He had plenty of those about Liz normally and he would’ve hated for Michael to hear him or something!
But tonight, he was finally alone in his room, so he could dream whatever he liked. He put his hands under his head and stared up at the ceiling until the flutter of the drapes in front of his window reminded him of the night Liz came here wearing that sexy nightgown and a coat. A small smile stole over his lips as he remembered how innocent and provocative she had been all at once. His mind had no trouble conjuring up the image of her, he knew every part of her body like the back of his hand. It had been so strange in the beginning. Making love came naturally, but being naked and allowing each other the freedom to explore had been something else. Liz had this thing that she was not voluptuous or sexy enough and that he would get tired of her body. So he had to patiently and tenderly break down all her reserves about herself. He had shown her over and over again what she did to him. How much he wanted her. He smiled ruefully. And now a year later, he wanted her even more. He never got tired of looking at her. She was still the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
Outside, Tess waited in the shadows for him to fall asleep. He had that idiotic little grin on his face that he always got when he was thinking about Liz and Tess grit her teeth in fury. Well, let him dream about his little mate. She would even help him dream some more later. He was going to have the hottest dream about Liz she could conjure up and in the process, Tess would be there to let him live his dream. She would have to be careful though, little Liz Parker was probably not all that adventurous and she didn’t want Max to get suspicious. Smiling gleefully, she watched as Max drifted off to sleep. Have sex with Liz all you want in your fantasies, lover boy, it will be my body in your bed!
PART 14
Max jerked awake and found that he was drenched in sweat and shaking. What is wrong with me? He had been dreaming of Liz, nothing strange there, he dreamt of her often. But tonight the dream was… disturbing. Something about Liz in the dream felt off. Maybe, it wasn’t her, it was me. The way I was thinking of Liz was… animalistic. He blinked and rubbed his hands over his eyes. I never want to treat Liz like that. What is going on? And then he saw her. Liz. Standing at the foot of his bed, naked. Max stared at the vision, if he hadn’t talked to Liz a couple of hours ago on the phone, he would swear it was her. Was he still dreaming?
Sitting up, he realized his body was not reacting to her like it usually did. In fact, he should have been hyperventilating from excitement by now. He would have been normally, but instead he felt slightly nauseous. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Liz was flaunting her body at him. She never did that. If there was one thing he loved about Liz, it was her shy sensuality. Nothing overt or slutty, just a way of being with him that made him certain that he was the only guy she would ever be so intimate with. This is wrong. Something is seriously wrong.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz ran down the hotel corridor barefoot to Nick’s room and knocked on the door urgently. He jerked it open seconds later, looking over her shoulder with concern. “What is wrong?”
Now that she was here, Liz wasn’t sure what to say. She had an awful feeling about Max? Something was happening to Max, but she wasn’t sure what? “Uhm…”
Nick pulled her into his room. “Did something happen to you?”
“No, I—I need Max,” she finally managed. Actually, she had a feeling Max needed her, but that was beside the point now. She gripped Nick’s hand fiercely. “Please!”
Shoving the questions he still had to the back of his mind, Nick decided that he had seen enough of Liz and Max’s connection to put stock in their feelings about each other. He led her to his bed and pushed her down gently. Putting his hand on her forehead, he ordered: “Sleep. I’ll boost your connection. Then it’s up to you two…”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max was still staring at the apparition in his room. “Who are you?”
‘Liz’ blinked and then smiled at him coyly. “What do you mean, baby? It’s me, Liz.” She came around the bed.
Baby? Liz never called him that. And her walk, it was all wrong. The grace of Liz’s movements had always mesmerized him, but this was… His mind suddenly cleared and he jumped off the bed, away from ‘Liz’. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the faint murmur of his connection with Liz and he felt it become marginally stronger. When he opened his eyes, ‘Liz’ was gone and a very naked Tess stood on the other side of the bed.
The rage that took hold of him was fiery hot and burned through his veins like lava. Max clenched his hands to fists next to his sides in an effort to keep himself in check. “Get out of here. Now.”
“But Max—“
“Out! Now. And I never, ever want to see you again.” He saw the fear in her eyes. “I mean it, Tess. If you ever come near me again, you will join Jans and Tim in our prison.”
Her anger boiled over. “You are a weak idiot and ruled by your hormones, Max Evans! You are not what our people need. As for your little plaything, she is a pathetic human that is going to mean the end of your royal line. You mark my words. She will be your downfall! Her and that little brat she is carrying!”
But this time Max was around the bed and had taken hold of her arm. He propelled her towards the window: “Get out and go learn what it means to be human. I suggest that you do, because we are on earth now, forever.” He spun her back when she started going through the window. “And hear this, if anything happens to Liz, there will be no place far enough to hide from me.”
He waited until she disappeared from his sight before stumbling back to his bed and dropping down on the edge. He rubbed at his eyes furiously, trying to rid himself of the memory of everything that had happened here tonight. He started when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Max!” Isabel whispered urgently, “what happened? I heard voices…”
“Tess came.” Max sounded numb. He wanted Liz, he needed her to get these images from his head.
“Are you okay?” Isabel felt horrible. She had thought that everyone was overreacting about the need to watch Max every minute. Now she realized that they were right. Tess was a psycho. And Max was really upset.
“Yeah. I woke up before she could… God, Iz, she made me dream the most horrible things about Liz! How can I ever look her in the eyes again?”
“That’s crazy, Max. It wasn’t you! Liz will understand.”
He turned tortured eyes on his sister. “What if Liz sees this in my mind one day?”
“Then she’ll also feel how repulsed you were with it all, won’t she?” Isabel was trying to be reasonable, but it was clear that only Liz would be able to get him out of this mood. Why does she have to be halfway across country, right now? She watched as Max suddenly stiffened and closed his eyes. What was going on?
He whispered the answer reverently: “Liz…”
Isabel stared at Max as he seemed to faze out completely. She knew he was in trouble. Across thousands of miles, Liz KNEW. How amazing was that? Getting up silently, she left Max alone with his soulmate.
Max fell backwards on his bed, keeping his eyes closed because it helped him concentrate on his connection with Liz. It had been like the flick of a switch, one moment a faint hum, the next a dull roar in his ears as Liz’s presence flooded his consciousness. Her love washed over him in a wave and it felt like light was slowly seeping into the darkness that had engulfed him moments before.
How I wish you were here, love! I—I really need you tonight. He felt her wonderful smile and it warmed his heart a little more.
I am there. In your dreams. Just go to sleep. I’ll wait. It was silent for a few minutes as he just basked in her aura. I was so worried, Max. I’m glad you’re okay now. You scared me.
He never wanted to hug her more in his life. Thanks for coming. For being here…
It was agonizing, trying to fall asleep. The harder he tried, the harder it was. He was literally desperate to fall asleep so he could meet her somewhere, anywhere in that dream world. So he asked her to talk to him. She told him stupid stuff from her childhood, about her toys, about Maria and Alex when they were little… until, finally, he drifted off.
~*~*~*~*~*~
It was weird. He was still lying on his bed with his eyes closed when he abruptly stood in a meadow he has never been, but that felt so familiar. But that only occupied his thoughts for a few seconds, because coming towards him was a vision. Liz seemed to float as she moved and he wanted to drop to his knees in gratitude because he could see her. She was wearing a wispy white dress that billowed around her ankles, but didn’t hide much from his hungry eyes as the breeze molded it to her body.
Max was staring at her like he couldn’t quite believe his eyes and Liz decided to take matters into her own hands. She ran to him, flinging herself in his arms and wrapping her arms and legs around his body. It felt so real, his body was hard and warm against her, like it always was. So she set the final test, she kissed him. And they both moaned at the contact.
They were coming alive in each other’s arms and it only took Max a few seconds to take charge. He held her to him with one arm, while the other hand curled into her hair and held her still while he plundered her mouth. This was what he wanted with every fiber of his being, to hold Liz and ravish her and make her his. To be in her embrace and in her body. In this he didn’t want to be normal. He didn’t want to be one of those guys lusting after anything in a skirt. He only ever wanted Liz.
Liz threw her head back and moaned his name as his lips traveled over her jaw and down her neck. He was kissing and nipping a trail of fire over her skin and she was melting from his heat. He kissed her through the thin material of the dress, but Liz squirmed because she needed his touch on her bare skin. And, because this was a dream, the dress disappeared like mist from her body. Max’s groan when his mouth suddenly encountered skin was music to her ears.
They tumbled to the grass while Max kept up his hungry, almost desperate kisses. His mouth moved over her stomach and for a fleeting moment, he remembered the few hours that he had thought his baby was in there. Lifting his head, he caught her gaze: “Liz…”
“Don’t stop, Max. Please,” she whispered. She didn’t want to think about sad things. Right now, more than anything, she needed Max to make love to her. He was still hesitating, so she sat up and pushed him on his back before straddling his thighs and wishing his clothes away too. She stared down at him for a long time, her eyes moving over every inch of his body like a tangible caress. She watched as his breathing became labored and his hands clenched on her hips in reaction. She studied every minute little reaction of his body with rapt attention, the darkening of his eyes, the dull flush that crept over his cheeks, the little tremors of his muscles, the harsh sound of his breathing. “You are so incredible,” she blurted out and wondered how many girls from school secretly envied her this. That this man and this body were hers.
Max hardly heard her. His heart was thundering so loudly that it drowned out all the other sounds. Could she not see that she was killing him? That he needed her hands and mouth on him or he would surely die?
She reacted like she had heard his every thought and slowly leaned forward until she could trace her fingers over him. She watched him shudder and ran her tongue over every inch of skin she could reach.
Max closed his eyes and drowned in the sensations of her caresses until it felt like he was just a hair’s breadth from exploding. He rolled her under him in one fluid move and entered her at the same time. Their sighs were the only sound in the silent meadow as they did what they were born to do, become one. One body, one soul and one heart.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Tess stormed into the motel room where she had been staying and found Nacedo waiting up for her. “It didn’t work, okay!” she yelled at him. “It’s never going to work! It’s like she has put a block on his mind. I can’t get in.” She was close to tears from frustration. “And he threatened me if anything happened to his precious Liz. I hate him. I hate her. I hate them all!”
“That’s good, because we are leaving,” Nacedo said calmly.
She swung around to face him. “What do you mean ‘leaving’?”
“I mean, I have been contacted. And we’ll be going to a place where we will be appreciated. This infernal planet will never see us again, and neither will Max Evans and his brood!”
tbc
Liz called Max at work at the UFO museum when she arrived in Boston since Max was working until closing time late the afternoon. It was horrible for Max as he could hear the tears in her voice as she spoke to him. She told him that the flight had gone well and that she was now firmly ensconced in her hotel room and that Nick had managed to get himself a room on the same floor she was staying. Everything was fine, in other words.
Writing down the number to her hotel, Max swallowed as he thought of sleeping alone tonight. “I’m going to stay with my parents this week, okay Liz? If you need me, I’ll be there…”
“Okay,” she said softly.
“I’ll call before you go to sleep later. And…” He faltered, not knowing what to say. He didn’t want to be talking to her, he wanted to be with her. “I really want to hold you right now!”
Silence greeted his fierce statement, before Liz said: “I love you, Max. I-I’ll talk to you later.”
Cursing himself for only upsetting her further, he mumbled: “Yeah. Bye sweetheart.”
Milton came bustling into the office and gave him strange look. “What happened to you? Cat died?”
Giving him a weak smile, Max tried to get a hold of himself. “No, Liz is in Boston.”
“Ohh,” Milton said as if that explained everything. In fact, to Milton, it did. Max has been working for him for a long time and he would have to be blind not to notice how besotted the guy was with his Liz. Milton patted Max on the back sympathetically. “First time without her, heh? You’ll live.”
Max sighed. “Yeah, I know.”
Milton grinned. “But I can see that you would miss her. A cute thing, your Liz. And what guy wouldn’t miss being looked at like you are the best thing since chocolate!”
Max couldn’t help but chuckle at that comment. Milton was a funny guy.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz was just starting to mope seriously when Nick came to get her, announcing that he was taking her out to dinner. After seeing her less than enthusiastic response, Nick decided to take action: “I’ll make you a deal,” he said, “you tell me when you need Max and I’ll boost your connection. I know you’ll miss him all the time, but he wouldn’t want you to not at least enjoy some of the trip, okay?”
Taking a deep breath, Liz realized he was right. Being pathetic all the time was not an option. She was a big girl and she could surely live for a week without Max by her side. She had his love and she could phone him at any time. And Nick was here to help her when things got unbearable. Getting up, she squared her shoulders and pinned Nick with a determined gaze: “Deal! Let’s go have dinner.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max was catching up on some reading later that night when Michael appeared at his window. “Wow, this brings back some memories!” Max said dryly. “What are you doing here?”
Looking sheepish, Michael scratched his head. “Maria made me come. She didn’t think you should be alone tonight.”
Not knowing what to say, Max merely nodded his head. Maria was apparently in ‘Operation-Never-Leave-Max-Alone-for-an-Instant’ mode again. Not that he complained, he had had a weird feeling of being watched all afternoon.
Michael flung himself on Max’s bed, dissatisfaction with his current location screaming from every line in his body. Max suddenly felt guilty. “Hey, you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. I’m sure I’ll be okay.”
“Yeah, you don’t know Maria. She threatened me with horrible punishments if I left here tonight.” Michael sounded surly.
Grinning, Max felt some of the tension leave his body. His friends would be here for him, he shouldn’t even have tried to handle all this alone. “Like what?”
“Like no sex for a week.”
Max winced. “Hey, that’s too cruel. I’ll have to talk to her.”
Michael sighed long-sufferingly. “She’s a hard woman, I tell you.” He was quiet for a moment before continuing: “You know that time you said friends didn’t keep such things from each other?”
Nodding, Max remembered talking to Michael about seeing flashes when kissing Liz and Michael had claimed to have experienced that several times.
“Well, Maxwell, you should’ve told me it would be so amazing. You know, being with her.”
This elicited a full-blown grin from Max. “I had no clue you would take so long to take the final plunge, so to speak! You and Maria were always so hot and heavy, I thought—“
“Yeah, whatever.” It was clear that this whole discussion made Michael uncomfortable. “Let’s just say, I’ll do whatever she tells me now.”
They looked at each other with understanding. “Man, we’re whipped!” Michael stated disgustedly.
“It still beats being without them,” Max said matter-of-factly. This only reminded him of Liz again and he rubbed his hands over his face before glancing at his bed. This would be the first time in over a year that he would sleep without Liz in his arms…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Tess stood outside Max’s window and glared at Michael’s sleeping form on the floor. What the hell was he doing here? Everywhere Max went today, he had been surrounded by people and she was getting irritated. Also, Max wasn’t asleep right now. He was lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling and Tess just knew he was thinking of her. It was disgusting, really. She turned away from his window angrily and jumped in her car, adjusting the mirror so she could see herself. What was wrong with Max Evans? She was gorgeous! How could he not want her? How could he keep lusting after Liz Parker when she was so… so boring! She had no chest to speak of and always wore such prim outfits. And her hair! It was brown, for crying out loud. Brown and flat. Tess jerked the mirror back in place and took off with squealing tires. Tomorrow night… she would get him tomorrow night.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max only vaguely registered the sound of screeching tires outside, his mind was focused on Liz. When he had spoken to her a while ago, she had sounded better and had told him about the little restaurant near the harbor where Nick had taken her. They also planned to do some sightseeing the next day and Max was relieved that Nick was looking after her so well. Now if he could only get through this night, it would be one less he had to live through before he could see her again. Turning on his side, his eyes fell on a picture of her he had on his nightstand. The moonlight helped him pick out her features, but most of all, the picture had captured her sparkling eyes. Oh god, I miss her.
Closing his eyes, he could still hear her parting words. Dream of me, Max. And he did…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz was surprised when she actually enjoyed Sunday. Nick took her all over Boston and they even made a quick stop at the college where she was taking her course so she could see the place. She still found herself looking around for Max to show him something or tell him something, but luckily Nick seemed to understand and didn’t comment on her lapses. She got tired late in the afternoon and Nick grinned when he saw her yawning behind her hand for the umpteenth time.
“Sorry!” she said with a blush. “I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“So I gathered. Why don’t we make it an early night tonight? We have to be up early for your course tomorrow.”
“Oh Nick, you really don’t have to go with me. I’m sure I’ll be—“
But he interrupted her. “You’re kidding me, right? You might not be in awe of Max’s position, but I sure am. I grew up hearing about him and there’s no way I’m letting you out of my sight these two weeks. Even if you technically outrank me and can order me away!” He smiled at her embarrassed countenance. “I’m just pulling your leg. I want to go with you. For Max and for me. You are like my sister, you know!”
Liz couldn’t help but smile at him for saying such sweet things. “Thank you.”
Nick shook his head, thinking that that was such a Liz thing to say.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Isabel sat with Max in his room and he gathered that it was her turn to watch over him tonight. They had spent the day with their parents, something that was rare these days, and Diane had made a ton of food for Sunday lunch to celebrate. But now that the sun was setting and the normal Sunday afternoon quiet was stealing over their small town, Max was feeling melancholy. Normally, he would be in bed with Liz right now, either napping or talking or making love. Anything that included a lot of cuddling was part of their late Sunday afternoon ritual. He missed that. He missed being able to touch her and talk to her. He missed Liz.
Isabel saw everything that went through her brother’s mind on his face. “Do you want me to help you dreamwalk her tonight?”
Max was tempted for a few seconds, but he needed to be alone with Liz, not have Izzy there too. “No, its okay. I’ll phone her later.”
“How are things with her?”
“Nick says she’s fine. You know, doing stuff like preparing for the course.”
“You sound bummed,” Isabel said with a small laugh. “Not liking that she didn’t fall apart completely without you? And what’s with the ‘Nick says’ thing? Is he reporting in every night or something?”
Max didn’t answer immediately.
“He is!” Isabel cried. “Max, I can’t believe you!”
“Whoa,” he held up his hands, “he just tells me how she is. It’s not like I’m spying on her or anything. I just… I want to know that she’s okay, that’s all. And you know Liz, she would not tell me if something’s wrong.”
Isabel just shook her head. “Well, I’ll be next door if you need me. Tell Liz I said hi when you talk to her.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Much later, after he had talked to both Liz and Nick, and had taken a long shower, Max finally dropped into bed. He had trouble sleeping last night and the only real rest he had was when he was dreaming about Liz. Thank goodness, it had not been an erotic dream. He had plenty of those about Liz normally and he would’ve hated for Michael to hear him or something!
But tonight, he was finally alone in his room, so he could dream whatever he liked. He put his hands under his head and stared up at the ceiling until the flutter of the drapes in front of his window reminded him of the night Liz came here wearing that sexy nightgown and a coat. A small smile stole over his lips as he remembered how innocent and provocative she had been all at once. His mind had no trouble conjuring up the image of her, he knew every part of her body like the back of his hand. It had been so strange in the beginning. Making love came naturally, but being naked and allowing each other the freedom to explore had been something else. Liz had this thing that she was not voluptuous or sexy enough and that he would get tired of her body. So he had to patiently and tenderly break down all her reserves about herself. He had shown her over and over again what she did to him. How much he wanted her. He smiled ruefully. And now a year later, he wanted her even more. He never got tired of looking at her. She was still the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
Outside, Tess waited in the shadows for him to fall asleep. He had that idiotic little grin on his face that he always got when he was thinking about Liz and Tess grit her teeth in fury. Well, let him dream about his little mate. She would even help him dream some more later. He was going to have the hottest dream about Liz she could conjure up and in the process, Tess would be there to let him live his dream. She would have to be careful though, little Liz Parker was probably not all that adventurous and she didn’t want Max to get suspicious. Smiling gleefully, she watched as Max drifted off to sleep. Have sex with Liz all you want in your fantasies, lover boy, it will be my body in your bed!
PART 14
Max jerked awake and found that he was drenched in sweat and shaking. What is wrong with me? He had been dreaming of Liz, nothing strange there, he dreamt of her often. But tonight the dream was… disturbing. Something about Liz in the dream felt off. Maybe, it wasn’t her, it was me. The way I was thinking of Liz was… animalistic. He blinked and rubbed his hands over his eyes. I never want to treat Liz like that. What is going on? And then he saw her. Liz. Standing at the foot of his bed, naked. Max stared at the vision, if he hadn’t talked to Liz a couple of hours ago on the phone, he would swear it was her. Was he still dreaming?
Sitting up, he realized his body was not reacting to her like it usually did. In fact, he should have been hyperventilating from excitement by now. He would have been normally, but instead he felt slightly nauseous. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Liz was flaunting her body at him. She never did that. If there was one thing he loved about Liz, it was her shy sensuality. Nothing overt or slutty, just a way of being with him that made him certain that he was the only guy she would ever be so intimate with. This is wrong. Something is seriously wrong.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz ran down the hotel corridor barefoot to Nick’s room and knocked on the door urgently. He jerked it open seconds later, looking over her shoulder with concern. “What is wrong?”
Now that she was here, Liz wasn’t sure what to say. She had an awful feeling about Max? Something was happening to Max, but she wasn’t sure what? “Uhm…”
Nick pulled her into his room. “Did something happen to you?”
“No, I—I need Max,” she finally managed. Actually, she had a feeling Max needed her, but that was beside the point now. She gripped Nick’s hand fiercely. “Please!”
Shoving the questions he still had to the back of his mind, Nick decided that he had seen enough of Liz and Max’s connection to put stock in their feelings about each other. He led her to his bed and pushed her down gently. Putting his hand on her forehead, he ordered: “Sleep. I’ll boost your connection. Then it’s up to you two…”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max was still staring at the apparition in his room. “Who are you?”
‘Liz’ blinked and then smiled at him coyly. “What do you mean, baby? It’s me, Liz.” She came around the bed.
Baby? Liz never called him that. And her walk, it was all wrong. The grace of Liz’s movements had always mesmerized him, but this was… His mind suddenly cleared and he jumped off the bed, away from ‘Liz’. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the faint murmur of his connection with Liz and he felt it become marginally stronger. When he opened his eyes, ‘Liz’ was gone and a very naked Tess stood on the other side of the bed.
The rage that took hold of him was fiery hot and burned through his veins like lava. Max clenched his hands to fists next to his sides in an effort to keep himself in check. “Get out of here. Now.”
“But Max—“
“Out! Now. And I never, ever want to see you again.” He saw the fear in her eyes. “I mean it, Tess. If you ever come near me again, you will join Jans and Tim in our prison.”
Her anger boiled over. “You are a weak idiot and ruled by your hormones, Max Evans! You are not what our people need. As for your little plaything, she is a pathetic human that is going to mean the end of your royal line. You mark my words. She will be your downfall! Her and that little brat she is carrying!”
But this time Max was around the bed and had taken hold of her arm. He propelled her towards the window: “Get out and go learn what it means to be human. I suggest that you do, because we are on earth now, forever.” He spun her back when she started going through the window. “And hear this, if anything happens to Liz, there will be no place far enough to hide from me.”
He waited until she disappeared from his sight before stumbling back to his bed and dropping down on the edge. He rubbed at his eyes furiously, trying to rid himself of the memory of everything that had happened here tonight. He started when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Max!” Isabel whispered urgently, “what happened? I heard voices…”
“Tess came.” Max sounded numb. He wanted Liz, he needed her to get these images from his head.
“Are you okay?” Isabel felt horrible. She had thought that everyone was overreacting about the need to watch Max every minute. Now she realized that they were right. Tess was a psycho. And Max was really upset.
“Yeah. I woke up before she could… God, Iz, she made me dream the most horrible things about Liz! How can I ever look her in the eyes again?”
“That’s crazy, Max. It wasn’t you! Liz will understand.”
He turned tortured eyes on his sister. “What if Liz sees this in my mind one day?”
“Then she’ll also feel how repulsed you were with it all, won’t she?” Isabel was trying to be reasonable, but it was clear that only Liz would be able to get him out of this mood. Why does she have to be halfway across country, right now? She watched as Max suddenly stiffened and closed his eyes. What was going on?
He whispered the answer reverently: “Liz…”
Isabel stared at Max as he seemed to faze out completely. She knew he was in trouble. Across thousands of miles, Liz KNEW. How amazing was that? Getting up silently, she left Max alone with his soulmate.
Max fell backwards on his bed, keeping his eyes closed because it helped him concentrate on his connection with Liz. It had been like the flick of a switch, one moment a faint hum, the next a dull roar in his ears as Liz’s presence flooded his consciousness. Her love washed over him in a wave and it felt like light was slowly seeping into the darkness that had engulfed him moments before.
How I wish you were here, love! I—I really need you tonight. He felt her wonderful smile and it warmed his heart a little more.
I am there. In your dreams. Just go to sleep. I’ll wait. It was silent for a few minutes as he just basked in her aura. I was so worried, Max. I’m glad you’re okay now. You scared me.
He never wanted to hug her more in his life. Thanks for coming. For being here…
It was agonizing, trying to fall asleep. The harder he tried, the harder it was. He was literally desperate to fall asleep so he could meet her somewhere, anywhere in that dream world. So he asked her to talk to him. She told him stupid stuff from her childhood, about her toys, about Maria and Alex when they were little… until, finally, he drifted off.
~*~*~*~*~*~
It was weird. He was still lying on his bed with his eyes closed when he abruptly stood in a meadow he has never been, but that felt so familiar. But that only occupied his thoughts for a few seconds, because coming towards him was a vision. Liz seemed to float as she moved and he wanted to drop to his knees in gratitude because he could see her. She was wearing a wispy white dress that billowed around her ankles, but didn’t hide much from his hungry eyes as the breeze molded it to her body.
Max was staring at her like he couldn’t quite believe his eyes and Liz decided to take matters into her own hands. She ran to him, flinging herself in his arms and wrapping her arms and legs around his body. It felt so real, his body was hard and warm against her, like it always was. So she set the final test, she kissed him. And they both moaned at the contact.
They were coming alive in each other’s arms and it only took Max a few seconds to take charge. He held her to him with one arm, while the other hand curled into her hair and held her still while he plundered her mouth. This was what he wanted with every fiber of his being, to hold Liz and ravish her and make her his. To be in her embrace and in her body. In this he didn’t want to be normal. He didn’t want to be one of those guys lusting after anything in a skirt. He only ever wanted Liz.
Liz threw her head back and moaned his name as his lips traveled over her jaw and down her neck. He was kissing and nipping a trail of fire over her skin and she was melting from his heat. He kissed her through the thin material of the dress, but Liz squirmed because she needed his touch on her bare skin. And, because this was a dream, the dress disappeared like mist from her body. Max’s groan when his mouth suddenly encountered skin was music to her ears.
They tumbled to the grass while Max kept up his hungry, almost desperate kisses. His mouth moved over her stomach and for a fleeting moment, he remembered the few hours that he had thought his baby was in there. Lifting his head, he caught her gaze: “Liz…”
“Don’t stop, Max. Please,” she whispered. She didn’t want to think about sad things. Right now, more than anything, she needed Max to make love to her. He was still hesitating, so she sat up and pushed him on his back before straddling his thighs and wishing his clothes away too. She stared down at him for a long time, her eyes moving over every inch of his body like a tangible caress. She watched as his breathing became labored and his hands clenched on her hips in reaction. She studied every minute little reaction of his body with rapt attention, the darkening of his eyes, the dull flush that crept over his cheeks, the little tremors of his muscles, the harsh sound of his breathing. “You are so incredible,” she blurted out and wondered how many girls from school secretly envied her this. That this man and this body were hers.
Max hardly heard her. His heart was thundering so loudly that it drowned out all the other sounds. Could she not see that she was killing him? That he needed her hands and mouth on him or he would surely die?
She reacted like she had heard his every thought and slowly leaned forward until she could trace her fingers over him. She watched him shudder and ran her tongue over every inch of skin she could reach.
Max closed his eyes and drowned in the sensations of her caresses until it felt like he was just a hair’s breadth from exploding. He rolled her under him in one fluid move and entered her at the same time. Their sighs were the only sound in the silent meadow as they did what they were born to do, become one. One body, one soul and one heart.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Tess stormed into the motel room where she had been staying and found Nacedo waiting up for her. “It didn’t work, okay!” she yelled at him. “It’s never going to work! It’s like she has put a block on his mind. I can’t get in.” She was close to tears from frustration. “And he threatened me if anything happened to his precious Liz. I hate him. I hate her. I hate them all!”
“That’s good, because we are leaving,” Nacedo said calmly.
She swung around to face him. “What do you mean ‘leaving’?”
“I mean, I have been contacted. And we’ll be going to a place where we will be appreciated. This infernal planet will never see us again, and neither will Max Evans and his brood!”
tbc
WYLM
PART 15
Nick glanced at Liz next to him in the taxi, she was literally bouncing around with anticipation. And why not, they were on their way to meet Max and his mom at the airport! He wondered how she could think she wasn’t all that beautiful. To him it was easy to see why Max couldn’t see straight around her. Her eyes were shining and that stunning smile was permanently etched on her face right now. In short, she was glowing.
Things had changed that Sunday night she had came to his room in such a state. After he had helped her connect with Max, he had sat in a chair and watched over her while she slept. She had started smiling at one stage and had stayed like that ‘til morning. He could see the difference in her when she woke up. She seemed… stronger somehow.
Liz fingered her engagement ring that she had put back on her finger from its chain around her neck after her last class today. She felt ready to explode with excitement. Ever since Sunday night, she had tried to push the ache in her heart to the background as the week progressed. She had set herself two goals: doing well in the course and making it to Friday so she could see Max. Amazingly, the week had sped by and after another bout of nausea on Monday morning, she had been fine for the rest of the week. Liz worked herself into a coma with the course. She did extra work, read until late and slept like the dead every night. But in spite of all her efforts, there had been a few occasions she had woken in the middle of the night, disorientated from a dream about Max and reached for him only to find him not there.
Nick had been amazing through it all. He accompanied her to and from classes every day. He went with her for walks when she got cabin fever from all the studying and he took her to dinner a few times. He ever teased her about some of the boys in her group who were clearly smitten with her. She hadn’t even noticed until he had pointed it out. Some of the guys there were sweet, and she liked chatting with them during class, but that was all. She firmly told them about her boyfriend back home. And if that didn’t work, it definitely scared them off that she had a bodyguard! She had heard some of the girls talk about her and Nick, wondering of something strange was going on with her. She just grinned silently to herself. Something strange was putting it mildly! She was practically married to the leader of an alien race living on earth. She would bet that THAT was the last thing they were thinking of about her. And right now, she could care less! Max was coming…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Diane watched Max as he sat next to her on the plane with his eyes closed and a look of intense concentration on his face. “What are you doing, Max?”
He smiled slightly without opening his eyes. “I’m feeling Liz coming closer…”
And again Diane was struck with the intensity of her son and Liz’s love. It still made her a little jealous that Liz knew parts of Max that she never would. Normally a mother would have moments of her son’s growing up that would be hers alone, but Max shared everything with Liz: every thought, every memory.
They were close to Boston now and Max rejoiced in the increasing strength of his connection with Liz. He couldn’t wait to see her again! He had dreamed of her all the time, normal dreams by his standards where they were together in a jumble of tangled limbs and from which he woke in a sweat of hungry desire, but none of them were similar to the one where she had come to visit him. That had felt as close to real as it could get. They had spoken on the phone several times a day and he shuddered to think what his phone bill would look like at the end of the month. He turned to his mother: “Mom, are you sure its okay about tonight? I mean…”
“Max, I understand. I’ll see you two for dinner tomorrow night, right? I’m tired tonight anyway and I have an early meeting tomorrow morning, so I think I’ll just go to bed early.” Diane wondered what had possessed her to even suggest the dinner tonight in the first place. Apparently she had forgotten what it meant to be young and in love! Max had gently but firmly told her that he would rather be alone with Liz and that dinner tomorrow night would be better.
Staring out the window to Boston below, Max allowed himself one bad thought. Tess had disappeared again and that meant he couldn’t grill her about her comment that Liz was pregnant. Where had she heard that? And what did it mean for Liz? He had spoken to Nick about it, of course, warning him to be extra careful around Liz. Even though he was convinced that Liz wasn’t pregnant, Tess was apparently under the impression that she was and that put Liz at risk. But nothing had happened throughout the week and he remained puzzled as to what had become of Tess…
They were finally touching down and Diane could see the barely leashed excitement vibrating through Max as the plane taxied to the airport building. Diane smiled to herself. To most people he looked just like any other passenger getting off the plane, but if you knew him really well you could see all the emotions churning in his eyes. She was dying to see what her normally rather reserved son would do when he saw his girlfriend for the first time in a week. What could she say? She was living vicariously through the lives of her children.
Liz danced around Nick at the Arrivals Hall. Now that she’s lived through a week without Max, a few more minutes seemed unbearable. Nick sighed dramatically and she realized she must be getting on his nerves. He was only waiting until Max came and then he was catching a plane home for the weekend. His wife needed to see him too. She suddenly wondered about the silent woman in the background of Nick’s life. “Nick, do you… miss your wife? You know, as much as I miss Max?”
A shadow flitted over his face before he answered. “I miss her, but nobody misses anyone like you two miss each other!”
Liz nodded and wondered about the way these aliens seem to be put together with the aim of procreating without really looking into their feelings. It must be weird being with someone just for the sex. She couldn’t imagine having sex with someone she didn’t love. In fact, she couldn’t imagine having sex with anyone but Max!
She saw some of the people from her class waiting around a few feet away and waved at them timidly when she saw them staring at her. But all thought fled her mind when the doors whooshed open and the first people from Max’s flight came pouring out. She stood perfectly still, all her energy and attention focussed on that door until she saw his dark head appear. To finally see him nearly knocked the air from her lungs and paralyzed her momentarily before she started running towards him.
Max’s eyes had found her immediately and he dropped everything in his hands to come to her. He caught her against him as she flung herself into his embrace. Liz wrapped her legs around his waist as he wrapped her in his arms and buried his face in her hair.
They clung to each other for long minutes as Nick and Diane said hi and started organizing the luggage. Max twisted her hair around his hand and tugged her head back before his lips descended on hers passionately. It was a hungry, devouring, open-mouthed kiss and the world around them blurred into nothingness. He thrust his tongue into her moist mouth and explored every crevice while his hand fitted to the curve of her bottom, lifting her closer against him.
Liz was going under fast, his kisses always sent her world spinning of its axis. She speared her hands through his hair and brought his lips down on hers harder. After the long week of no touching, she wanted to feel every inch of him against her.
The haze eventually lifted from Max’s brain and he reluctantly tore his mouth from Liz’s. They were in a busy airport, with his mom and Nick looking on while he mauled Liz. Nice going, Max! He pressed his forehead against hers and tried not to notice how inviting her red and puffy lips looked. He let her slip to the ground, but held her against his body. There was no way an inch of space would be found between them this weekend!
Liz was still in a daze when she noticed the stunned looks of her classmates. The girls were gaping at Max while the boys were gaping at her. She blushed when she remembered how abandoned her reaction to Max had been. In class she was in control and bookish Liz, now they had seen her in a passionate clinch in an airport. She could just imagine what Monday would be like for her!
After a fleeting moment of embarrassment, Max decided he could care less that people had just seen him kiss Liz. That paled in importance to getting her back to the hotel as fast as he could.
They said goodbye to Diane as she left for her hotel and Max and Liz stayed to see Nick off. He was grinning as he waved to them before disappearing into the exit, making Liz’s blush worse. Everyone knew they were sleeping together, but it was kind of horrible to see the knowledge of what she and Max would be up to this weekend written all over Nick’s face.
Max wheeled her around and started determinedly for the door when they were interrupted by a voice: “Hey Liz!” He gritted his teeth as he turned, still keeping Liz plastered to his side.
Smiling weakly at the two girls staring with barely hidden interest at Max, Liz introduced Stacey and Kristy to him. “This is Max,” she stated, not elaborating. If those two couldn’t see that this was her boyfriend, they were blind.
“Hey Max!” they sounded breathless and giggly, causing Liz to roll her eyes.
Sparing them only a cursory glance, Max said ‘nice to meet you’ politely, before saying to Liz: “We should go, sweetie.”
Shivering from the heated way he stared at her mouth, she just nodded before bidding the two girls goodbye.
Watching their retreating backs, Stacey cried: “Oh my god! Where did she get him? I thought Roswell was filled with small-town hicks!”
Kristy agreed. “And did you see the way he looked at her? Talk about hot. What hotel does she stay in? Maybe we could go have breakfast there tomorrow morning, I wouldn’t mind seeing him again…”
Max bundled Liz into the nearest taxi and waited anxiously until she gave the address of her hotel before pulling her onto his lap and kissing her. His hands explored the curve of her neck and glided over the arc of her back, while his mouth wove more magic over hers. They only broke the kiss when the need for oxygen overwhelmed them.
Running his fingers over every inch of her face, Max whispered: “I missed that. Kissing you… I missed you!”
Liz leaned closer and slid her hand in between his jacket and his shirt until it rested over his racing heart. “Me too.” The heat of his skin was evident even through the material of his shirt and she snuggled closer to him until her face was pressed into the crook of his neck.
“So tell me,” his voice had a smile in it.
“Tell you what?” she mumbled against his throat, enjoying the little shiver that went through him when her breath collided with skin.
“Anything that would make this infernal ride shorter so we can be alone!”
Liz decided to tease him a little. “Oh, I didn’t know that you wanted to be alone… I have some new friends waiting to meet you at the hotel.”
He was quiet for a few seconds. “Liz…” He pressed her hip closer to his body and into his arousal. “Trust me, we should be alone!”
Giggling softly, she gave in. “I was kidding! I’m gonna lock you in my room for the whole weekend so I can ravish your body.”
He tugged her head back so he could look in her eyes. “I’m going to get you back for this, you know.”
“Oooh, promise?” She licked her lips, in full teasing flight, making Max groan.
“Promise… But if we don’t start talking about your classes or something soon, we’re going to get into real trouble.” His eyes were almost black and traced heated paths over her face.
Liz wiggled against him one last time, before starting to tell him about the work they had been doing in class. He asked questions and responded, but all the while his eyes burned over her mouth and promised of untold delights to come when they could finally be alone…
PART 16
Liz dragged Max through the lobby of her hotel only to have him pull on her hand until she stopped. “Shouldn’t we book me in or something?” He was breathing hard, and not from walking fast either.
“No, it’s a pay per room hotel, they don’t care how many people are in—“
“Let’s go then.” He steered her towards the elevators, his urgency to get to her room returning in full force. He waited impatiently until the doors of the elevator have slid closed behind them before turning Liz into his arms and swooping down on her lips eagerly. She tasted sweet and hot at the same time. Intoxicating. A whole week of abstinence has increased his need for her to almost unbearable levels. She moaned into his mouth when his hand splayed over the small of her back to press her into his body. She had just curled her hands around his neck when they dimly felt the elevator jerk to a halt. They managed to break apart before the doors opened to allow an older couple to enter.
Max pulled Liz to stand in front of him as they looked at the backs of the newcomers who pressed the button for a floor a few below theirs. He clasped Liz around the waist to keep her from pulling away from him and cast a glance at their companions in the elevator, but they seemed oblivious.
When he felt Liz relax in his arms, he slowly maneuvered the zipper at the back of Liz’s dress down soundlessly. She stiffened but didn’t say a word. He laid the palm of his hand against her bare back and gave Liz time to step away if she wanted to. She didn’t. Instead she stood rigidly facing forward, holding her breath and waiting for his next move. Keeping an eye on the two people in front of them, Max let his fingers glide up and down the path left by her zipper. Liz shivered, then leaned back into him, her sigh almost inaudible.
Trailing his fingers up her back, he felt the pattern of her spine, traced the gentle curve of her shoulder blade and found the soft skin under her arm. Liz’s body rose and fell as her breathing became more labored. She was forcing herself to stay in control, he knew, because so was he.
With slow, easy strokes, he caressed her side, up and down under her arm, delighting in her soft skin under his fingers. With each upward stroke, he moved his fingers closer to her front. Liz leaned back, the soft grinding movements of her hips against him increasing his arousal.
When his index finger stroked the soft flesh of her breast, his efforts were rewarded with a small spasm. Was he driving her as crazy as he was, he wondered? He knew he would go mad if they didn’t reach her room soon.
When the elevator stopped at the 32nd floor the couple stepped off. As soon as the doors closed, Liz spun around in his arms, her face flushed. “Kiss me, Max.”
It was an order Max wouldn’t dream of ignoring, and he lost himself in the kiss for the next three floors, lost to everything except the throbbing in his own body and the ambrosia of her mouth under his.
This time the doors had opened on their floor already before it finally dawned on them that they should probably get off. Max turned Liz around in his embrace and held her flush against his body as they walked to her room. It took some coordinated steps, but their feet found the same rhythm without them even noticing. Liz was too absorbed in his breath skating across her cheek as he held his bent head next to hers, while Max was trying not to lose it from the way her body swayed against his as they walked.
Then finally, finally they were in the room. Max dropped his backpack with a slight shrug of his shoulder before returning both arms around Liz’s waist again. It was glorious to just hold her like this. Her hands came up and her fingers entwined with his. He listened to the rhythm of her breathing for a few moments, trying to get himself under some sort of control. If he made love to her now, it would be over quickly. Right now, he wanted nothing more than be inside her as fast as he could and she deserved so much more than that. His gaze fell on the ring sparkling on her ring finger and he slowly rubbed his finger over the sign of his possession of her. It still surprised him how his primal instincts just kicked in with Liz. He wanted her to be his… and he wanted the whole world to know that she was.
“Liz?” his voice sounded strained.
“Hmmm?” She wriggled against him, making him groan.
“I-I don’t want you to think that all I want is to—. I mean—“
Smiling, she leaned her head back on his shoulder. He was worried that she would think all he wanted from her lately was sex. “I know. We talked on the phone all week. Time to stop talking, Max…”
He took a deep shuddering breath. “I love you.”
“Show me.”
Just like that, she snapped his control and he pulled her around to him roughly, his mouth immediately capturing her lips. He pressed her into his body while his mouth played over her neck as she threw back her head.
“Please,” she whispered and he pulled back to gaze into her eyes. The desire she saw there was enough to make her knees weak.
He lifted her hands to kiss her fingertips as his eyes continued to promise unimaginable pleasure. “My Liz.” The way he said it, with that husky catch in his voice that shot straight to her loins, made her chest constrict with emotion.
“Yes,” she acknowledged. That she was.
He pulled her to him again. His kiss, powerful and possessive, cut off speech and coherent thought until nothing was left in her except a wild hunger. She rubbed herself against him, soaking up his heat, tasting the luxury of his lean, hard body. She moved her hands over him and he shuddered under her touch, his reaction sending her own passion soaring to new heights. She wanted him to shudder, to cry out her name in ecstasy, to find absolute pleasure in her touch.
His hands stroked her legs, moving higher underneath the short skirt until she sighed his name into his mouth. He pulled her with him to the bed, managing somehow to end up on top of her as they sprawled across the cool sheets.
“Close your eyes,” he said, and when she did, he kissed each eyelid, a feather kiss that made the rest of her body tingle in anticipation.
When he started to peel off her dress, she raised her hips in accommodation. “Can I open my eyes?”
He brushed a kiss across her lips. “No.”
His lips burned a path down her neck, his breath hot against her body. His hands caressed her, sliding over her skin and preparing a trail for his mouth to follow. She reached up for him, but he pulled away, catching her hands.
“Not yet.”
He moved away from her momentarily, jerking his clothes off in haste before coming back to her. With one motion, he turned her over on her stomach. She stayed still as he curled himself against her. His tongue traced patterns on the back of her neck, sending bursts of ecstasy racing through her.
While his lips roamed her back and shoulders his hand slipped down, caressing her bottom. She held her breath as the caresses slowly became more intimate.
Liz moaned. He was like a fire that was spreading through her being. A fire she needed and wanted. So much she thought she might die if he did anything so foolish as to stop making love to her.
“Max, please.”
Max was fighting his own battle. Agony. Not being in her was such sweet torture, but he wanted to savor these moments, to draw out her pleasure for as long as possible. He was awed by her response to him, so honest and so intense. He rolled her over and inhaled sharply when he saw her flushed face. She opened her eyes and smiled, shy and trusting and hungry at the same time and he knew he couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else touching her.
“My Liz,” he repeated. He kissed her briefly, then slid his kisses down her chest to her navel, where his tongue flicked over her bare flesh. Her heard her small sound of surprise when she realized he wasn’t stopping there.
“Max…” Another helpless moan.
Heady from the desire in her voice, he moved lower until he was kissing the tender inside of her thigh. Her breathing was coming faster and faster, her sighs music to his ears.
Liz gloried in his mouth on her body, weaving incredible magic and intensifying the ache in her stomach until it was a sharp and piercing need for him to become one with her. When she finally couldn’t take it anymore, she pulled him up to her and he kissed her savagely, deep and hard, until she slid her mouth from his and breathed one word against his lips.
“Now.”
That one soft word almost hurled him over the edge. He took one sweet moment to memorize the passion and love in her eyes before finally entering her in one smooth stroke. None of the dreams he had this week compared to the reality of being inside her. He moved urgently, with Liz matching him until she cried out his name in release. He felt his body join hers too soon, and at the same time, not soon enough.
Afterwards, she snuggled against him, her back pressed against his chest. Max draped an arm over her. He felt like he’d claimed her again. She was his.
Liz chuckled softly at his thoughts. “Yes, I am.”
He nuzzled the back of her neck, breathing in their combined scents. “I missed you so much.”
“I know. This week felt like it would never end. I kept waking up because you weren’t here, next to me.”
He was quiet for a while. “Are you sure you’re not sick anymore?”
She nodded. “I’m fine now. Why?”
“It’s just that… We don’t really know if that pregnancy test would work on you, do we? I mean… because of who I am…”
She had wondered the same thing. “I guess… But I don’t feel pregnant, Max.” She twisted onto her back so she could see his face. “Don’t you think I would feel something?”
He lifted himself on one elbow and rested his other hand on her womb. “I think you probably would. I mean, you and I share this connection, can you imagine how strong one between you and our baby would be?” He sounded slightly envious, bringing a smile to Liz’s lips.
She touched her fingers to his mouth. “But you will always be my first love, Max Evans.”
His eyes glittered down at her before he asked tentatively: “Would you mind if I… if I tried something?”
Not even asking what he wanted to try, she nodded trustingly and watched as he splayed his fingers over her stomach and closed his eyes in concentration. Liz literally held her breath as she waited for him to finish.
When he finally opened his eyes, he continued staring down at her stomach before saying softly. “Nothing.”
She touched her hand to his cheek again and brought his face down until their foreheads were pressed together. “I knew that. I’m sorry.”
“Its okay. I suppose I knew too. I just wanted to be sure…”
“We have time, Max. Why don’t we concentrate on being the two of us first.”
He moved his head until his lips just touched hers and smiled against her. “I can do that.”
This time their union was gentle and slow, and they fell asleep in each other’s arms afterwards dreaming of a bright and happy future together.
tbc
Nick glanced at Liz next to him in the taxi, she was literally bouncing around with anticipation. And why not, they were on their way to meet Max and his mom at the airport! He wondered how she could think she wasn’t all that beautiful. To him it was easy to see why Max couldn’t see straight around her. Her eyes were shining and that stunning smile was permanently etched on her face right now. In short, she was glowing.
Things had changed that Sunday night she had came to his room in such a state. After he had helped her connect with Max, he had sat in a chair and watched over her while she slept. She had started smiling at one stage and had stayed like that ‘til morning. He could see the difference in her when she woke up. She seemed… stronger somehow.
Liz fingered her engagement ring that she had put back on her finger from its chain around her neck after her last class today. She felt ready to explode with excitement. Ever since Sunday night, she had tried to push the ache in her heart to the background as the week progressed. She had set herself two goals: doing well in the course and making it to Friday so she could see Max. Amazingly, the week had sped by and after another bout of nausea on Monday morning, she had been fine for the rest of the week. Liz worked herself into a coma with the course. She did extra work, read until late and slept like the dead every night. But in spite of all her efforts, there had been a few occasions she had woken in the middle of the night, disorientated from a dream about Max and reached for him only to find him not there.
Nick had been amazing through it all. He accompanied her to and from classes every day. He went with her for walks when she got cabin fever from all the studying and he took her to dinner a few times. He ever teased her about some of the boys in her group who were clearly smitten with her. She hadn’t even noticed until he had pointed it out. Some of the guys there were sweet, and she liked chatting with them during class, but that was all. She firmly told them about her boyfriend back home. And if that didn’t work, it definitely scared them off that she had a bodyguard! She had heard some of the girls talk about her and Nick, wondering of something strange was going on with her. She just grinned silently to herself. Something strange was putting it mildly! She was practically married to the leader of an alien race living on earth. She would bet that THAT was the last thing they were thinking of about her. And right now, she could care less! Max was coming…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Diane watched Max as he sat next to her on the plane with his eyes closed and a look of intense concentration on his face. “What are you doing, Max?”
He smiled slightly without opening his eyes. “I’m feeling Liz coming closer…”
And again Diane was struck with the intensity of her son and Liz’s love. It still made her a little jealous that Liz knew parts of Max that she never would. Normally a mother would have moments of her son’s growing up that would be hers alone, but Max shared everything with Liz: every thought, every memory.
They were close to Boston now and Max rejoiced in the increasing strength of his connection with Liz. He couldn’t wait to see her again! He had dreamed of her all the time, normal dreams by his standards where they were together in a jumble of tangled limbs and from which he woke in a sweat of hungry desire, but none of them were similar to the one where she had come to visit him. That had felt as close to real as it could get. They had spoken on the phone several times a day and he shuddered to think what his phone bill would look like at the end of the month. He turned to his mother: “Mom, are you sure its okay about tonight? I mean…”
“Max, I understand. I’ll see you two for dinner tomorrow night, right? I’m tired tonight anyway and I have an early meeting tomorrow morning, so I think I’ll just go to bed early.” Diane wondered what had possessed her to even suggest the dinner tonight in the first place. Apparently she had forgotten what it meant to be young and in love! Max had gently but firmly told her that he would rather be alone with Liz and that dinner tomorrow night would be better.
Staring out the window to Boston below, Max allowed himself one bad thought. Tess had disappeared again and that meant he couldn’t grill her about her comment that Liz was pregnant. Where had she heard that? And what did it mean for Liz? He had spoken to Nick about it, of course, warning him to be extra careful around Liz. Even though he was convinced that Liz wasn’t pregnant, Tess was apparently under the impression that she was and that put Liz at risk. But nothing had happened throughout the week and he remained puzzled as to what had become of Tess…
They were finally touching down and Diane could see the barely leashed excitement vibrating through Max as the plane taxied to the airport building. Diane smiled to herself. To most people he looked just like any other passenger getting off the plane, but if you knew him really well you could see all the emotions churning in his eyes. She was dying to see what her normally rather reserved son would do when he saw his girlfriend for the first time in a week. What could she say? She was living vicariously through the lives of her children.
Liz danced around Nick at the Arrivals Hall. Now that she’s lived through a week without Max, a few more minutes seemed unbearable. Nick sighed dramatically and she realized she must be getting on his nerves. He was only waiting until Max came and then he was catching a plane home for the weekend. His wife needed to see him too. She suddenly wondered about the silent woman in the background of Nick’s life. “Nick, do you… miss your wife? You know, as much as I miss Max?”
A shadow flitted over his face before he answered. “I miss her, but nobody misses anyone like you two miss each other!”
Liz nodded and wondered about the way these aliens seem to be put together with the aim of procreating without really looking into their feelings. It must be weird being with someone just for the sex. She couldn’t imagine having sex with someone she didn’t love. In fact, she couldn’t imagine having sex with anyone but Max!
She saw some of the people from her class waiting around a few feet away and waved at them timidly when she saw them staring at her. But all thought fled her mind when the doors whooshed open and the first people from Max’s flight came pouring out. She stood perfectly still, all her energy and attention focussed on that door until she saw his dark head appear. To finally see him nearly knocked the air from her lungs and paralyzed her momentarily before she started running towards him.
Max’s eyes had found her immediately and he dropped everything in his hands to come to her. He caught her against him as she flung herself into his embrace. Liz wrapped her legs around his waist as he wrapped her in his arms and buried his face in her hair.
They clung to each other for long minutes as Nick and Diane said hi and started organizing the luggage. Max twisted her hair around his hand and tugged her head back before his lips descended on hers passionately. It was a hungry, devouring, open-mouthed kiss and the world around them blurred into nothingness. He thrust his tongue into her moist mouth and explored every crevice while his hand fitted to the curve of her bottom, lifting her closer against him.
Liz was going under fast, his kisses always sent her world spinning of its axis. She speared her hands through his hair and brought his lips down on hers harder. After the long week of no touching, she wanted to feel every inch of him against her.
The haze eventually lifted from Max’s brain and he reluctantly tore his mouth from Liz’s. They were in a busy airport, with his mom and Nick looking on while he mauled Liz. Nice going, Max! He pressed his forehead against hers and tried not to notice how inviting her red and puffy lips looked. He let her slip to the ground, but held her against his body. There was no way an inch of space would be found between them this weekend!
Liz was still in a daze when she noticed the stunned looks of her classmates. The girls were gaping at Max while the boys were gaping at her. She blushed when she remembered how abandoned her reaction to Max had been. In class she was in control and bookish Liz, now they had seen her in a passionate clinch in an airport. She could just imagine what Monday would be like for her!
After a fleeting moment of embarrassment, Max decided he could care less that people had just seen him kiss Liz. That paled in importance to getting her back to the hotel as fast as he could.
They said goodbye to Diane as she left for her hotel and Max and Liz stayed to see Nick off. He was grinning as he waved to them before disappearing into the exit, making Liz’s blush worse. Everyone knew they were sleeping together, but it was kind of horrible to see the knowledge of what she and Max would be up to this weekend written all over Nick’s face.
Max wheeled her around and started determinedly for the door when they were interrupted by a voice: “Hey Liz!” He gritted his teeth as he turned, still keeping Liz plastered to his side.
Smiling weakly at the two girls staring with barely hidden interest at Max, Liz introduced Stacey and Kristy to him. “This is Max,” she stated, not elaborating. If those two couldn’t see that this was her boyfriend, they were blind.
“Hey Max!” they sounded breathless and giggly, causing Liz to roll her eyes.
Sparing them only a cursory glance, Max said ‘nice to meet you’ politely, before saying to Liz: “We should go, sweetie.”
Shivering from the heated way he stared at her mouth, she just nodded before bidding the two girls goodbye.
Watching their retreating backs, Stacey cried: “Oh my god! Where did she get him? I thought Roswell was filled with small-town hicks!”
Kristy agreed. “And did you see the way he looked at her? Talk about hot. What hotel does she stay in? Maybe we could go have breakfast there tomorrow morning, I wouldn’t mind seeing him again…”
Max bundled Liz into the nearest taxi and waited anxiously until she gave the address of her hotel before pulling her onto his lap and kissing her. His hands explored the curve of her neck and glided over the arc of her back, while his mouth wove more magic over hers. They only broke the kiss when the need for oxygen overwhelmed them.
Running his fingers over every inch of her face, Max whispered: “I missed that. Kissing you… I missed you!”
Liz leaned closer and slid her hand in between his jacket and his shirt until it rested over his racing heart. “Me too.” The heat of his skin was evident even through the material of his shirt and she snuggled closer to him until her face was pressed into the crook of his neck.
“So tell me,” his voice had a smile in it.
“Tell you what?” she mumbled against his throat, enjoying the little shiver that went through him when her breath collided with skin.
“Anything that would make this infernal ride shorter so we can be alone!”
Liz decided to tease him a little. “Oh, I didn’t know that you wanted to be alone… I have some new friends waiting to meet you at the hotel.”
He was quiet for a few seconds. “Liz…” He pressed her hip closer to his body and into his arousal. “Trust me, we should be alone!”
Giggling softly, she gave in. “I was kidding! I’m gonna lock you in my room for the whole weekend so I can ravish your body.”
He tugged her head back so he could look in her eyes. “I’m going to get you back for this, you know.”
“Oooh, promise?” She licked her lips, in full teasing flight, making Max groan.
“Promise… But if we don’t start talking about your classes or something soon, we’re going to get into real trouble.” His eyes were almost black and traced heated paths over her face.
Liz wiggled against him one last time, before starting to tell him about the work they had been doing in class. He asked questions and responded, but all the while his eyes burned over her mouth and promised of untold delights to come when they could finally be alone…
PART 16
Liz dragged Max through the lobby of her hotel only to have him pull on her hand until she stopped. “Shouldn’t we book me in or something?” He was breathing hard, and not from walking fast either.
“No, it’s a pay per room hotel, they don’t care how many people are in—“
“Let’s go then.” He steered her towards the elevators, his urgency to get to her room returning in full force. He waited impatiently until the doors of the elevator have slid closed behind them before turning Liz into his arms and swooping down on her lips eagerly. She tasted sweet and hot at the same time. Intoxicating. A whole week of abstinence has increased his need for her to almost unbearable levels. She moaned into his mouth when his hand splayed over the small of her back to press her into his body. She had just curled her hands around his neck when they dimly felt the elevator jerk to a halt. They managed to break apart before the doors opened to allow an older couple to enter.
Max pulled Liz to stand in front of him as they looked at the backs of the newcomers who pressed the button for a floor a few below theirs. He clasped Liz around the waist to keep her from pulling away from him and cast a glance at their companions in the elevator, but they seemed oblivious.
When he felt Liz relax in his arms, he slowly maneuvered the zipper at the back of Liz’s dress down soundlessly. She stiffened but didn’t say a word. He laid the palm of his hand against her bare back and gave Liz time to step away if she wanted to. She didn’t. Instead she stood rigidly facing forward, holding her breath and waiting for his next move. Keeping an eye on the two people in front of them, Max let his fingers glide up and down the path left by her zipper. Liz shivered, then leaned back into him, her sigh almost inaudible.
Trailing his fingers up her back, he felt the pattern of her spine, traced the gentle curve of her shoulder blade and found the soft skin under her arm. Liz’s body rose and fell as her breathing became more labored. She was forcing herself to stay in control, he knew, because so was he.
With slow, easy strokes, he caressed her side, up and down under her arm, delighting in her soft skin under his fingers. With each upward stroke, he moved his fingers closer to her front. Liz leaned back, the soft grinding movements of her hips against him increasing his arousal.
When his index finger stroked the soft flesh of her breast, his efforts were rewarded with a small spasm. Was he driving her as crazy as he was, he wondered? He knew he would go mad if they didn’t reach her room soon.
When the elevator stopped at the 32nd floor the couple stepped off. As soon as the doors closed, Liz spun around in his arms, her face flushed. “Kiss me, Max.”
It was an order Max wouldn’t dream of ignoring, and he lost himself in the kiss for the next three floors, lost to everything except the throbbing in his own body and the ambrosia of her mouth under his.
This time the doors had opened on their floor already before it finally dawned on them that they should probably get off. Max turned Liz around in his embrace and held her flush against his body as they walked to her room. It took some coordinated steps, but their feet found the same rhythm without them even noticing. Liz was too absorbed in his breath skating across her cheek as he held his bent head next to hers, while Max was trying not to lose it from the way her body swayed against his as they walked.
Then finally, finally they were in the room. Max dropped his backpack with a slight shrug of his shoulder before returning both arms around Liz’s waist again. It was glorious to just hold her like this. Her hands came up and her fingers entwined with his. He listened to the rhythm of her breathing for a few moments, trying to get himself under some sort of control. If he made love to her now, it would be over quickly. Right now, he wanted nothing more than be inside her as fast as he could and she deserved so much more than that. His gaze fell on the ring sparkling on her ring finger and he slowly rubbed his finger over the sign of his possession of her. It still surprised him how his primal instincts just kicked in with Liz. He wanted her to be his… and he wanted the whole world to know that she was.
“Liz?” his voice sounded strained.
“Hmmm?” She wriggled against him, making him groan.
“I-I don’t want you to think that all I want is to—. I mean—“
Smiling, she leaned her head back on his shoulder. He was worried that she would think all he wanted from her lately was sex. “I know. We talked on the phone all week. Time to stop talking, Max…”
He took a deep shuddering breath. “I love you.”
“Show me.”
Just like that, she snapped his control and he pulled her around to him roughly, his mouth immediately capturing her lips. He pressed her into his body while his mouth played over her neck as she threw back her head.
“Please,” she whispered and he pulled back to gaze into her eyes. The desire she saw there was enough to make her knees weak.
He lifted her hands to kiss her fingertips as his eyes continued to promise unimaginable pleasure. “My Liz.” The way he said it, with that husky catch in his voice that shot straight to her loins, made her chest constrict with emotion.
“Yes,” she acknowledged. That she was.
He pulled her to him again. His kiss, powerful and possessive, cut off speech and coherent thought until nothing was left in her except a wild hunger. She rubbed herself against him, soaking up his heat, tasting the luxury of his lean, hard body. She moved her hands over him and he shuddered under her touch, his reaction sending her own passion soaring to new heights. She wanted him to shudder, to cry out her name in ecstasy, to find absolute pleasure in her touch.
His hands stroked her legs, moving higher underneath the short skirt until she sighed his name into his mouth. He pulled her with him to the bed, managing somehow to end up on top of her as they sprawled across the cool sheets.
“Close your eyes,” he said, and when she did, he kissed each eyelid, a feather kiss that made the rest of her body tingle in anticipation.
When he started to peel off her dress, she raised her hips in accommodation. “Can I open my eyes?”
He brushed a kiss across her lips. “No.”
His lips burned a path down her neck, his breath hot against her body. His hands caressed her, sliding over her skin and preparing a trail for his mouth to follow. She reached up for him, but he pulled away, catching her hands.
“Not yet.”
He moved away from her momentarily, jerking his clothes off in haste before coming back to her. With one motion, he turned her over on her stomach. She stayed still as he curled himself against her. His tongue traced patterns on the back of her neck, sending bursts of ecstasy racing through her.
While his lips roamed her back and shoulders his hand slipped down, caressing her bottom. She held her breath as the caresses slowly became more intimate.
Liz moaned. He was like a fire that was spreading through her being. A fire she needed and wanted. So much she thought she might die if he did anything so foolish as to stop making love to her.
“Max, please.”
Max was fighting his own battle. Agony. Not being in her was such sweet torture, but he wanted to savor these moments, to draw out her pleasure for as long as possible. He was awed by her response to him, so honest and so intense. He rolled her over and inhaled sharply when he saw her flushed face. She opened her eyes and smiled, shy and trusting and hungry at the same time and he knew he couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else touching her.
“My Liz,” he repeated. He kissed her briefly, then slid his kisses down her chest to her navel, where his tongue flicked over her bare flesh. Her heard her small sound of surprise when she realized he wasn’t stopping there.
“Max…” Another helpless moan.
Heady from the desire in her voice, he moved lower until he was kissing the tender inside of her thigh. Her breathing was coming faster and faster, her sighs music to his ears.
Liz gloried in his mouth on her body, weaving incredible magic and intensifying the ache in her stomach until it was a sharp and piercing need for him to become one with her. When she finally couldn’t take it anymore, she pulled him up to her and he kissed her savagely, deep and hard, until she slid her mouth from his and breathed one word against his lips.
“Now.”
That one soft word almost hurled him over the edge. He took one sweet moment to memorize the passion and love in her eyes before finally entering her in one smooth stroke. None of the dreams he had this week compared to the reality of being inside her. He moved urgently, with Liz matching him until she cried out his name in release. He felt his body join hers too soon, and at the same time, not soon enough.
Afterwards, she snuggled against him, her back pressed against his chest. Max draped an arm over her. He felt like he’d claimed her again. She was his.
Liz chuckled softly at his thoughts. “Yes, I am.”
He nuzzled the back of her neck, breathing in their combined scents. “I missed you so much.”
“I know. This week felt like it would never end. I kept waking up because you weren’t here, next to me.”
He was quiet for a while. “Are you sure you’re not sick anymore?”
She nodded. “I’m fine now. Why?”
“It’s just that… We don’t really know if that pregnancy test would work on you, do we? I mean… because of who I am…”
She had wondered the same thing. “I guess… But I don’t feel pregnant, Max.” She twisted onto her back so she could see his face. “Don’t you think I would feel something?”
He lifted himself on one elbow and rested his other hand on her womb. “I think you probably would. I mean, you and I share this connection, can you imagine how strong one between you and our baby would be?” He sounded slightly envious, bringing a smile to Liz’s lips.
She touched her fingers to his mouth. “But you will always be my first love, Max Evans.”
His eyes glittered down at her before he asked tentatively: “Would you mind if I… if I tried something?”
Not even asking what he wanted to try, she nodded trustingly and watched as he splayed his fingers over her stomach and closed his eyes in concentration. Liz literally held her breath as she waited for him to finish.
When he finally opened his eyes, he continued staring down at her stomach before saying softly. “Nothing.”
She touched her hand to his cheek again and brought his face down until their foreheads were pressed together. “I knew that. I’m sorry.”
“Its okay. I suppose I knew too. I just wanted to be sure…”
“We have time, Max. Why don’t we concentrate on being the two of us first.”
He moved his head until his lips just touched hers and smiled against her. “I can do that.”
This time their union was gentle and slow, and they fell asleep in each other’s arms afterwards dreaming of a bright and happy future together.
tbc
17+18
PART 17
His whole body ached, but Max could care less. It was a good ache. One that confirmed that he had gotten very little sleep last night. Liz’s hair was spread over his chest and he ran his fingers through the silky tresses softly as he watched her. He was sprawled on his back, with Liz draped over him almost like she wanted to make sure that he couldn’t disappear without her knowledge. He risked a glance at the bedside clock and saw that it was 09h00 already. He supposed they should get some breakfast, he couldn’t expect Liz to get all this exercise and not get hungry!
Not opening her eyes, Liz smiled against his warm skin. This was one of her favorite things in life, waking up in Max’s arms. His gentle stroking of her hair made her feel like a pampered cat, she just wanted to lie here and purr. Last night had been nothing short of incredible, but they ended up so exhausted early this morning that nothing could keep sleep away anymore. She shifted slightly, still too lax to really move, but trailed her fingers over Max’s stomach, watching the little tremors under his skin follow her touch. Max had been mortified when she saw one of his dreams from last week in a flash. Being Max, he tried to control his waking fantasies so that she couldn’t see anything really wild by accident when they kissed or made love, but he had no control over his dreams. She had always known that he had a thing for her hair, but seeing that dream of his completely stunned her. So he liked having her hair all over him? Hmmm, she could do something with that knowledge later…
Grabbing her hand to stop her from creating a problem for him, Max brought it to his mouth for a kiss before asking: “How about some breakfast, beautiful?”
Finally opening her eyes, Liz pouted at him and moved over his body until she lay completely on top of him. She rested her head on her crossed arms on his chest and wriggled around until she was comfortable, pretending not to hear Max’s soft gasp. She faked a surprised look when his hands came up to grip her hips and still her movements.
“Are you trying to kill me?” he asked with a strained voice.
She giggled. “No… So are you hungry?”
“Yes!” It was a low growl and had very little to do with food. His hands were now stroking her bottom and the backs of her thighs.
She looked at him for a few moments, enjoying the look of intent desire on his face, before she got up and tossed: “I just have to take a quick shower,” over her shoulder at him.
Max was flummoxed. He lay on the bed and watched her cute tush disappear into the bathroom and wondered what the hell had just happened. The little minx had completely played him! Throwing back the covers, he grimaced as he got out of bed, his muscles were still screaming in protest. No time to worry about that now, he had to get back at Liz for this one.
He caught her stretching her body in the bathroom and she looked at him with a blush. “I overextended some parts of my body, I think…”
Guilt came tearing through Max. “Oh god, honey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—. I mean—. I should’ve treated you better!” Why hadn’t he realized before that if his body hurt, Liz’s must feel ten times worse. He rushed over to her side. “Let me help!”
“Max!” Liz cried in exasperation. “Did it look like I was complaining last night? Or that I’m complaining now for that matter?”
He was unconvinced. “No. But you never complain about anything.” He took a deep breath. “Maybe we should just… just take it slow today.”
Liz gaped at him fleetingly before narrowing her eyes sternly: “No Max. We’re not going to take it slow. You are going to fix me up and then the problem will be solved.”
His gaze flickered away from hers uncertainly. “I guess… Liz, I don’t want you to feel like… like you have to.”
“Don’t make me show you how stupid that comment is, Max. What is wrong with you? I thought we were past all this?”
Suppressing the horrible and demeaning image of Liz still imprinted on his memory from that Tess-induced dream he had last Sunday night, he tried to collect himself. “I—I just—. Just let me help you. Please.”
Liz looked at him assessingly and wondered what had made him so paranoid about looking like he was abusing her body.
He pulled her into the shower with him and, together with the warm water, his gentle hands chased all the aches from her muscles. Afterwards, she stepped closer to him and gave him a sweet kiss. “Thank you. My hero.”
Max blushed before staring into her eyes intently. “Liz… I—I love you. So much. And… and I would never treat you like… like a thing, to be used. You know that, right?” He sounded anxious.
Frowning, Liz cupped her hand over his cheek, ignoring the water that threatened to run into her eyes as she looked up at him. “Yes, Max. I know that! And there is a big difference between what happened last night and using me. We made love. You made love to me. Every touch spoke of love. That’s not using me, that’s loving me.”
Some of the fear drained from his gaze as he brushed her hair back from her face repeatedly. “Promise you will tell me if you ever feel like I was—”
She stopped him with a finger on his lips. “No, I won’t promise you, because it would never be necessary. Max, you would never do that!” She waited a few beats before continuing. “Please tell me what happened to make you feel this way? Was it… was it me? Was it something I did?”
His eyes widened in shock. “No!” he fairly yelled. “I mean… no. It’s… it’s nothing. I’ll stop. I promise.”
He was hiding something from her and Liz felt a little hurt by it, but she decided not to press the issue now. Instead she handed him her shampoo and let him wash her hair. By the time he was finished, they were locked in a tight embrace, kissing as if they hadn’t already tried to make up for the week apart last night.
Max carried her back to their bed, not caring that they left a wet trail from the bathroom. He kissed her softly and tenderly, sucking at her lower lip while his hands held her close to his heart. They had just tumbled onto the bed when the phone started ringing.
“Ignore it,” Max muttered against her throat.
“What if it’s your mom?” Liz said breathlessly and fumbled for the instrument while trying not to get too far away from his mouth.
“I don’t care. Leave it.” He attempted to catch her flailing hand, but she managed to evade him and grab the phone.
“Hello?” Liz bit her lip in an effort to stop a moan as Max’s lips drifted over her shoulder blade and moved lower.
“Hi Liz?” The voice sounded unfamiliar and Liz thanked her lucky stars that it wasn’t Diane Evans who would have had no trouble guessing why Liz was sounding so strange.
“Yeah?”
“It’s Stacey and Kristy and the gang! We thought we’d all have breakfast together here at your hotel? You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
Liz was having serious trouble following the conversation. Max had progressed to her stomach and was busy drawing lazy little patterns with his tongue low on her belly. What did the voice say? Oh yes, something about breakfast. “Uhm… ahh… breakfast. Yeah, breakfast seems…like, ah… like a good idea.”
“Okay great! We’ll meet you in the restaurant downstairs! Is Max coming too?”
Squirming under Max’s continued attack of her body, Liz tried to concentrate. Max… Something about Max coming… Liz bolted upright in the bed, startling Max. She was completely panicking. Did she say something to give them the idea that Max was… that she was…
“Liz? Will Max come down to breakfast too? We’d all like to meet him.”
Oh. Oh! ‘Max coming’ referred to him going down to breakfast with her. Not… She cleared her throat. “Yeah, he’ll be there.”
Max was mock-glaring at her when she finally put the phone down. “Did you just tell someone we’d have breakfast with them?”
Her eyes widened. “Yeah… Max!” she cried, “this is all your fault! You distracted me. Now I can’t even remember who I talked to!” Liz searched her memory wildly. It was a girl. Yes! That’s it, it was Stacey. Max was going to kill her… “Uhm, well, Stacey and some of the people from my course are downstairs for breakfast…”
“Stacey?” Max looked blank.
Liz leapt from the bed, ignoring her body’s protests that it was frustrated and needed Max more than breakfast. “Get dressed, Max! They’re waiting and I really don’t need to give them more fodder for gossip.”
Max observed her frantic running around the room with amusement. “Do you have any idea how cute you look right now?” This halted her momentarily and she blushed.
“Max!”
He held up his hands in surrender. “Okay. But you owe me. Big!”
They arrived downstairs 15 minutes later. Liz blanched when she saw that 4 other people were sitting at the table with Stacey and Kristy. They had brought two guys and two more girls from her class. The girls were all gaping at Max and Liz held his hand tighter, trying not to glare at them. They were obviously here to scope out Max and she wasn’t about to share him with anyone else during his short time here.
Max gave her one of his crooked half-smiles before doing the round of introductions. Liz felt marginally better that he didn’t let go of her hand while doing it, but she couldn’t believe the blatant way these other girls were flirting with Max! She had forgotten that in Roswell, everyone knew her and Max were together, so none of the girls, bar the occasional brazen hussy, even bothered anymore. Seeing girls throwing themselves at him like this was a new experience for her. Not all of them were that obvious. It was clear that Stacey was hanging onto Max’s every move but she did nothing except giggle. However, the one other girl, Erica, was definitely trying to get Max’s attention.
It didn’t take long for Max to become irritated and frustrated. He had dragged Liz’s chair close to his before sitting down and he made sure that she was within touching distance… and that he was touching her. His body was screaming for more of her, but here he had to sit and listen to silly giggling about things that weren’t even funny to him, while the two guys were making puppy eyes at Liz. He stared them down. Damn! Where was alien death ray vision when you needed it? He ate something, but he didn’t really notice what it was. His attention was focussed on Liz and on how long it would take her to eat what she had left on her plate.
Liz turned her head and her eyes met Max’s. She fell into his gaze headlong and forgot all about the rest of the group. His eyes were sending her a million messages at once and she watched in slow motion as his hand came up to brush her hair behind her ear.
He dimly registered that Erica was saying something, but his mind had trouble making that a priority above the feel of Liz’s silken hair and skin against his fingers. His gaze dropped to her mouth. Her beautiful luscious mouth…
“Max?” His name being said rather petulantly brought him back from the brink. He shot Liz another glance before turning to answer the girl. Damn, what was her name again?
They made an effort from then on to stay part of the discussion around the table, but their intense awareness of each other was unmistakable to the rest of the group. They did stuff instinctively, like pass each other the salt, without being asked. Liz gave Max one of her packets of sugar when their coffee arrived, because he liked his sweeter than she did hers. It was effortless and obvious. This was a real couple, not a teenage fling.
After the group had left, Max looked at Liz, wondering what she wanted to do now. He knew what he wanted to do, but maybe he should stop acting like a sex-starved barbarian for a few hours. That image of Liz from the Tess-dream flitted across his mind again. “So, do you want to show me a little of Boston?” he forced himself to ask.
Liz glanced at him uncertainly. Something weird was going on with him again. She felt it through their connection. Something was still bothering him. “Yeah… I guess.” No, I don’t want to. I want to go back to my room and just be with you!
They ended up on a train and Max pressed Liz’s back against him, folding his arms around her as they stood in the packed car. They were both quiet and he wondered what she was thinking.
When they got off at their stop, Liz turned to him and said solemnly: “I want to go back, Max. I’d really rather just be with you than…” She waved her hand at their surroundings. “Please?” Her voice became even softer: “Unless you really want—“
He grabbed her face in his hands, relief flooding through his body. “God no! I thought… Nevermind! Let’s just go back, this was a really stupid idea!”
“So this was all for my benefit? Because you had some crazy idea that I wouldn’t want to—”
He kissed her hard. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget that I should just be me with you. Just be honest…”
She met his eyes. “Yes, you can be a real idiot sometimes. Now let’s go back so I can punish you for this!”
He grinned at her, looking for all the world like a young man in love, instead of the leader of an alien race with lots of responsibilities. He took her breath away when he looked like that. Maybe the hair thing would be a good way to start the rest of their day in bed…
PART 18
It was the second time that they ran breathless through the lobby of the hotel in their haste to get up to their room. This time, Max held his hand over the controls of the elevator and they managed to make it up to the 35th floor without interruptions. He backed her from the lift while still kissing her, but that was going to take too long, so he swung her up into his arms and fairly jogged to her door. The key was in his pocket and Liz took her time fishing it out until Max threatened to drop her if she didn’t stop teasing him. She relented and he kicked the door shut behind them gratefully.
Liz enjoyed feeling him move against her as he let her slide to the ground. She looked at him through her eyelashes as his hands cupped her rear and brought them closer together. “Max?”
“Yeah?” He was leaning his forehead against hers, his eyes closed.
“Take off your shirt.” That got his attention.
She stared in his eyes, watching them grow darker as the seconds ticked by. Then he slowly backed away from her and started unbuttoning his shirt. It seemed to take forever for Liz. She watched dry-mouthed as more and more of his skin was revealed until she stepped forward and pushed the shirt from his shoulders. He looked at her, clearly realizing she was up to something and that she should make the next move. Liz smiled slightly. Max was a clever guy.
Shrugging out of her jacket and blouse, she wriggled out of her white jeans next, knowing that Max was following her every move avidly. When she was clad in just her panties and tank top, she straightened and let her eyes drop to his pants. “Everything else too.”
Max swallowed, an endearing sign telling her he was getting nervous about her plans. But he didn’t say anything, just yanked off the rest of his clothes before looking at her again.
Now it was her turn to swallow. How can a man be this beautiful? Even stranger was that a man this beautiful, inside and out, was interested in her…
“Hey,” his soft voice stopped her thoughts. His knowing gaze told her he knew she was having one of her moments of self-doubt.
She collected herself and pulled him to the bed. “Lie down,” she instructed, “and no touching!”
His eyes jerked to hers at her last statement. But still he said nothing and did her bidding by lying down on the cool sheets and placing his hands flat on the bed at his sides.
Liz walked to the foot of the bed, hiding her flaming face with her hair. I can’t believe what I’m about to do! But then her eyes met Max’s and she could see his hungry desire and his overwhelming love for her, and she knew that she would do this for him. Exactly because he has never asked her to live out one of his fantasies and had chosen to expend all his energy on living out hers. But she suddenly panicked that she would make a hash of her attempt at seduction. She swallowed again and decided that the worst thing that could happen was that he could laugh at her, and knowing Max, that would never happen.
“Liz?” His voice startled her from her contemplation and she blushed when she found that she had been staring at his body while worrying about her next move. “Honey, you don’t have to…”
This brought her head up sharply. “No, I want to, I’m just a bit…”
“Shy?” he provided with a tender smile. Did she have any idea how sexy she looked to him, standing at his feet with a soft blush creeping over her face and neck? His chest constricted from the force of his feelings for this girl. This is why he wanted her so much, because she was such a tantalizing blend of innocent and temptress. He sat up, desperate to get his arms around her and hug the breath out of her.
This snapped Liz out of her moment of nervousness. “Hey! Get back down, Mister.”
He lay back down slowly, suddenly unbearably exited. He watched with heavy eyelids as Liz crawled onto the bed and swiped her long hair over one shoulder so it spilled down in a beautiful chocolate waterfall. And suddenly he knew what she was going to do. Oh god!
Liz ran her hands over his feet and calves unhurriedly, letting her fingers shape him. She looked up at Max who was clutching the sheets already, his face a study in suppressed hunger. He was watching her every move avidly, like he couldn’t bear to miss one second of her seduction. She knelt next to him and bent over, her hair sliding over his skin as she trailed her lips over him. She moved up at a leisurely pace until her lips reached the sensitive skin of his hip.
A sound, something between a groan and a moan, was torn from Max when Liz’s hair fleetingly caressed his arousal. His hands were reaching for her before he even realized it. He pulled her up to his mouth urgently, fusing his lips to hers and kissing her hard. He was losing control at an alarming rate… a frightening rate. He squeezed his eyes shut, pulling back from her and taking deep breaths. This was too much. If this went on, he would hurt Liz.
“Look at me, Max,” Liz instructed him in a firm voice. She had heard every thought that just went through his head. He didn’t respond immediately, so she cupped his face and forced it up towards hers. Kissing him tenderly on each eyelid, she ordered again: “Open you eyes.”
Max did so reluctantly, still desperately trying to get himself under control. He blinked when he saw the unconditional love shining in her eyes.
“Stop this,” she said softly. “You will never hurt me.”
“Liz…”
She leant closer to his mouth. “I love making you lose control. It doesn’t happen often enough. Being a bit rough sometimes is fine with me.” She straddled his hips and started sliding downwards, her hair drifting over his chest like soft silk, causing goosebumps on his flesh and tremors in his muscles. Dipping her tongue into his navel, she met his gaze: “Let go, Max. It’s allowed…” Then she moved lower.
Max arched off the bed involuntarily. The feeling of her mouth and that hair that has bewitched him for so long, caressing him so intimately was causing an explosion of lust in his body. His mind grappled to contain all the desires he felt as she used her hair to outline and trace every inch of him. He was shaking with the force of desire coursing through him.
“Turn over…” By now, Max was in no state to resist and he meekly complied. His hands curled into fists on the pillows as his mind’s eye conjured up images of what she looked like while tantalizing him. He heard the rustle of clothes as Liz undressed, only to return to sliding her body and her hair over him, from the backs of his thighs to his shoulders. Strands of her hair spilled over his cheek and into his mouth when she finally lay stretched out fully on his back. He dragged air into his lungs with great effort, hearing his own panting echo loudly in the room.
She nuzzled his ear, snaking her tongue out to trace its contours and he groaned again, starting to twist around so he could get to her. She stopped him with gentle but firm hands. “Not yet…”
Desperate. Liz wanted him desperate and completely out of control. She wanted him to do the worst thing he could to her so she could prove to him that he would never treat her badly. That even when he lost control, he would still treat her like with love. So she wriggled a bit lower, until she could press her face between his shoulder blades. Even his back is sexy… It was a stray thought. She ran her hands over his arms, feeling the muscles strain as he tried to keep himself still. Curling one hand around his right bicep, she moved the other until she could slip her index finger into his mouth. Making a small sound when he swirled his tongue around it, she took turns with her other fingers, allowing him to wet each one in turn. Trailing a wet path from his mouth, she let her fingers drift down his side before sliding her hand between his body and the bed. Max moved slightly to allow her access. Her hand found the ridges on his stomach, but that was not her target. As her hand found his arousal, she nipped his shoulder blade with her teeth before smoothing the little mark over with her tongue.
Max was close to having a heart-attack. Her touch was driving him insane and to feel her warm body lying flush on his back, with her hair drifting lightly over his sensitized skin, was just making it worse. Yes, he always wanted her, but this was…
He grabbed hold of her one arm to hold her steady as he rolled over. It was such a swift move that Liz only registered the change when she was settled on his chest, her hips trapped between his thighs. She stared at the dazed look in his eyes with astonishment. He looked… primal.
He was close to the edge, Max realized. He needed to give himself time to recover marginally… But as he watched, Liz licked her lips and moved lower, her hair obscuring her actions. Max lost it then, completely. He jerked her up, turning her on her back and entered her with a driving force just this side of violence. He dimly heard her cry out his name, but his body was beyond his mind’s control. He dragged her legs around his hips and braced one hand on the bed as the other gripped her rear, lifting her into each thrust. He had no idea what he was doing, he only knew he had to get inside her as deeply and completely as he could. Until their bodies were meshed into one. That’s what he wanted, for her to become a part of him. Liz was scratching his back, making keening sounds that only increased his desire. The explosion that slammed into him nearly caused him to black out and it took a few minutes for his head to clear. Liz was shuddering in his arms, their bodies seemingly locked into place from the intensity of what just happened. Max wrenched his head up, urgently searching Liz’s face for any sign that she was hurt or upset. He found her arched backwards in abandon over his arm, her eyes closed in complete ecstasy and her breath racing from her lungs.
“Liz…Oh god, I…”
She opened her eyes with difficulty to meet his anxious gaze. “Oh Max, that was… incredible!”
That floored him.
He finally let go of her bottom, laying her back down on the bed gently, but Liz refused to unlock her legs from around him. “Stay with me…”
“I’ll crush you.”
“No you won’t.”
But he moved them until they lay on their sides, their heads sharing one pillow. Liz pouted as he moved out of her. Running his fingers through her hair, his eyes avoided hers. “I-I don’t know what came over—”
She cupped his cheeks and forced him to look at her. “You lost control. And it was awesome.” His eyes flickered away from hers again. “And I didn’t break in two. In fact, you nearly made me see stars.” She realized how that sounded. “I don’t mean the normal flashes you give me… Max! I didn’t see any flashes! Did you?”
“No,” he said wonderingly, “but I was so out of it, I don’t think I would’ve noticed.” He looked at her closely. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
There was only one option to that question. “Connect with me. Find out for yourself.”
His hands shook as he placed them on her face. The connection was instantaneous, a mere widening of the link that already existed between them. Her ecstasy washed over him in a wave, covering him with her glory in the way he had completely lost himself in her. He took a deep shuddering breath, relief and profound gratitude flooding over him for finding her. Liz. His other half. “God, Liz…”
Tears welled in Liz’s eyes as he rubbed his lips gently over hers. They shared long, deep, tender kisses that spoke of a love found only rarely in this universe. I love you, she told him over and over in her mind.
Afterwards, he pulled her into his side and she lay her head on his shoulder, throwing her leg and arm over him. He picked up her hand, lacing their fingers together. He rubbed his hand over her empty ring finger. “So have you thrown my ring down the drain already?” he asked amused.
Liz’s sharp intake of breath sounded loud in the silent room. “I took it off to shower earlier and then…” She looked up at him in concern. “I’m sorry, Max! It’s just… I’m not used to wearing it on my finger yet since I can’t really wear it to school, so…”
He kissed her forehead. “Don’t panic. I knew you left it in the bathroom. I’m just pulling your leg.”
They lay quietly for a few minutes, before Liz asked the question that had been burning in her mind all morning. “So, are you going to tell me what made you so weird with me earlier?”
Max swallowed. Damn.
tbc
His whole body ached, but Max could care less. It was a good ache. One that confirmed that he had gotten very little sleep last night. Liz’s hair was spread over his chest and he ran his fingers through the silky tresses softly as he watched her. He was sprawled on his back, with Liz draped over him almost like she wanted to make sure that he couldn’t disappear without her knowledge. He risked a glance at the bedside clock and saw that it was 09h00 already. He supposed they should get some breakfast, he couldn’t expect Liz to get all this exercise and not get hungry!
Not opening her eyes, Liz smiled against his warm skin. This was one of her favorite things in life, waking up in Max’s arms. His gentle stroking of her hair made her feel like a pampered cat, she just wanted to lie here and purr. Last night had been nothing short of incredible, but they ended up so exhausted early this morning that nothing could keep sleep away anymore. She shifted slightly, still too lax to really move, but trailed her fingers over Max’s stomach, watching the little tremors under his skin follow her touch. Max had been mortified when she saw one of his dreams from last week in a flash. Being Max, he tried to control his waking fantasies so that she couldn’t see anything really wild by accident when they kissed or made love, but he had no control over his dreams. She had always known that he had a thing for her hair, but seeing that dream of his completely stunned her. So he liked having her hair all over him? Hmmm, she could do something with that knowledge later…
Grabbing her hand to stop her from creating a problem for him, Max brought it to his mouth for a kiss before asking: “How about some breakfast, beautiful?”
Finally opening her eyes, Liz pouted at him and moved over his body until she lay completely on top of him. She rested her head on her crossed arms on his chest and wriggled around until she was comfortable, pretending not to hear Max’s soft gasp. She faked a surprised look when his hands came up to grip her hips and still her movements.
“Are you trying to kill me?” he asked with a strained voice.
She giggled. “No… So are you hungry?”
“Yes!” It was a low growl and had very little to do with food. His hands were now stroking her bottom and the backs of her thighs.
She looked at him for a few moments, enjoying the look of intent desire on his face, before she got up and tossed: “I just have to take a quick shower,” over her shoulder at him.
Max was flummoxed. He lay on the bed and watched her cute tush disappear into the bathroom and wondered what the hell had just happened. The little minx had completely played him! Throwing back the covers, he grimaced as he got out of bed, his muscles were still screaming in protest. No time to worry about that now, he had to get back at Liz for this one.
He caught her stretching her body in the bathroom and she looked at him with a blush. “I overextended some parts of my body, I think…”
Guilt came tearing through Max. “Oh god, honey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—. I mean—. I should’ve treated you better!” Why hadn’t he realized before that if his body hurt, Liz’s must feel ten times worse. He rushed over to her side. “Let me help!”
“Max!” Liz cried in exasperation. “Did it look like I was complaining last night? Or that I’m complaining now for that matter?”
He was unconvinced. “No. But you never complain about anything.” He took a deep breath. “Maybe we should just… just take it slow today.”
Liz gaped at him fleetingly before narrowing her eyes sternly: “No Max. We’re not going to take it slow. You are going to fix me up and then the problem will be solved.”
His gaze flickered away from hers uncertainly. “I guess… Liz, I don’t want you to feel like… like you have to.”
“Don’t make me show you how stupid that comment is, Max. What is wrong with you? I thought we were past all this?”
Suppressing the horrible and demeaning image of Liz still imprinted on his memory from that Tess-induced dream he had last Sunday night, he tried to collect himself. “I—I just—. Just let me help you. Please.”
Liz looked at him assessingly and wondered what had made him so paranoid about looking like he was abusing her body.
He pulled her into the shower with him and, together with the warm water, his gentle hands chased all the aches from her muscles. Afterwards, she stepped closer to him and gave him a sweet kiss. “Thank you. My hero.”
Max blushed before staring into her eyes intently. “Liz… I—I love you. So much. And… and I would never treat you like… like a thing, to be used. You know that, right?” He sounded anxious.
Frowning, Liz cupped her hand over his cheek, ignoring the water that threatened to run into her eyes as she looked up at him. “Yes, Max. I know that! And there is a big difference between what happened last night and using me. We made love. You made love to me. Every touch spoke of love. That’s not using me, that’s loving me.”
Some of the fear drained from his gaze as he brushed her hair back from her face repeatedly. “Promise you will tell me if you ever feel like I was—”
She stopped him with a finger on his lips. “No, I won’t promise you, because it would never be necessary. Max, you would never do that!” She waited a few beats before continuing. “Please tell me what happened to make you feel this way? Was it… was it me? Was it something I did?”
His eyes widened in shock. “No!” he fairly yelled. “I mean… no. It’s… it’s nothing. I’ll stop. I promise.”
He was hiding something from her and Liz felt a little hurt by it, but she decided not to press the issue now. Instead she handed him her shampoo and let him wash her hair. By the time he was finished, they were locked in a tight embrace, kissing as if they hadn’t already tried to make up for the week apart last night.
Max carried her back to their bed, not caring that they left a wet trail from the bathroom. He kissed her softly and tenderly, sucking at her lower lip while his hands held her close to his heart. They had just tumbled onto the bed when the phone started ringing.
“Ignore it,” Max muttered against her throat.
“What if it’s your mom?” Liz said breathlessly and fumbled for the instrument while trying not to get too far away from his mouth.
“I don’t care. Leave it.” He attempted to catch her flailing hand, but she managed to evade him and grab the phone.
“Hello?” Liz bit her lip in an effort to stop a moan as Max’s lips drifted over her shoulder blade and moved lower.
“Hi Liz?” The voice sounded unfamiliar and Liz thanked her lucky stars that it wasn’t Diane Evans who would have had no trouble guessing why Liz was sounding so strange.
“Yeah?”
“It’s Stacey and Kristy and the gang! We thought we’d all have breakfast together here at your hotel? You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
Liz was having serious trouble following the conversation. Max had progressed to her stomach and was busy drawing lazy little patterns with his tongue low on her belly. What did the voice say? Oh yes, something about breakfast. “Uhm… ahh… breakfast. Yeah, breakfast seems…like, ah… like a good idea.”
“Okay great! We’ll meet you in the restaurant downstairs! Is Max coming too?”
Squirming under Max’s continued attack of her body, Liz tried to concentrate. Max… Something about Max coming… Liz bolted upright in the bed, startling Max. She was completely panicking. Did she say something to give them the idea that Max was… that she was…
“Liz? Will Max come down to breakfast too? We’d all like to meet him.”
Oh. Oh! ‘Max coming’ referred to him going down to breakfast with her. Not… She cleared her throat. “Yeah, he’ll be there.”
Max was mock-glaring at her when she finally put the phone down. “Did you just tell someone we’d have breakfast with them?”
Her eyes widened. “Yeah… Max!” she cried, “this is all your fault! You distracted me. Now I can’t even remember who I talked to!” Liz searched her memory wildly. It was a girl. Yes! That’s it, it was Stacey. Max was going to kill her… “Uhm, well, Stacey and some of the people from my course are downstairs for breakfast…”
“Stacey?” Max looked blank.
Liz leapt from the bed, ignoring her body’s protests that it was frustrated and needed Max more than breakfast. “Get dressed, Max! They’re waiting and I really don’t need to give them more fodder for gossip.”
Max observed her frantic running around the room with amusement. “Do you have any idea how cute you look right now?” This halted her momentarily and she blushed.
“Max!”
He held up his hands in surrender. “Okay. But you owe me. Big!”
They arrived downstairs 15 minutes later. Liz blanched when she saw that 4 other people were sitting at the table with Stacey and Kristy. They had brought two guys and two more girls from her class. The girls were all gaping at Max and Liz held his hand tighter, trying not to glare at them. They were obviously here to scope out Max and she wasn’t about to share him with anyone else during his short time here.
Max gave her one of his crooked half-smiles before doing the round of introductions. Liz felt marginally better that he didn’t let go of her hand while doing it, but she couldn’t believe the blatant way these other girls were flirting with Max! She had forgotten that in Roswell, everyone knew her and Max were together, so none of the girls, bar the occasional brazen hussy, even bothered anymore. Seeing girls throwing themselves at him like this was a new experience for her. Not all of them were that obvious. It was clear that Stacey was hanging onto Max’s every move but she did nothing except giggle. However, the one other girl, Erica, was definitely trying to get Max’s attention.
It didn’t take long for Max to become irritated and frustrated. He had dragged Liz’s chair close to his before sitting down and he made sure that she was within touching distance… and that he was touching her. His body was screaming for more of her, but here he had to sit and listen to silly giggling about things that weren’t even funny to him, while the two guys were making puppy eyes at Liz. He stared them down. Damn! Where was alien death ray vision when you needed it? He ate something, but he didn’t really notice what it was. His attention was focussed on Liz and on how long it would take her to eat what she had left on her plate.
Liz turned her head and her eyes met Max’s. She fell into his gaze headlong and forgot all about the rest of the group. His eyes were sending her a million messages at once and she watched in slow motion as his hand came up to brush her hair behind her ear.
He dimly registered that Erica was saying something, but his mind had trouble making that a priority above the feel of Liz’s silken hair and skin against his fingers. His gaze dropped to her mouth. Her beautiful luscious mouth…
“Max?” His name being said rather petulantly brought him back from the brink. He shot Liz another glance before turning to answer the girl. Damn, what was her name again?
They made an effort from then on to stay part of the discussion around the table, but their intense awareness of each other was unmistakable to the rest of the group. They did stuff instinctively, like pass each other the salt, without being asked. Liz gave Max one of her packets of sugar when their coffee arrived, because he liked his sweeter than she did hers. It was effortless and obvious. This was a real couple, not a teenage fling.
After the group had left, Max looked at Liz, wondering what she wanted to do now. He knew what he wanted to do, but maybe he should stop acting like a sex-starved barbarian for a few hours. That image of Liz from the Tess-dream flitted across his mind again. “So, do you want to show me a little of Boston?” he forced himself to ask.
Liz glanced at him uncertainly. Something weird was going on with him again. She felt it through their connection. Something was still bothering him. “Yeah… I guess.” No, I don’t want to. I want to go back to my room and just be with you!
They ended up on a train and Max pressed Liz’s back against him, folding his arms around her as they stood in the packed car. They were both quiet and he wondered what she was thinking.
When they got off at their stop, Liz turned to him and said solemnly: “I want to go back, Max. I’d really rather just be with you than…” She waved her hand at their surroundings. “Please?” Her voice became even softer: “Unless you really want—“
He grabbed her face in his hands, relief flooding through his body. “God no! I thought… Nevermind! Let’s just go back, this was a really stupid idea!”
“So this was all for my benefit? Because you had some crazy idea that I wouldn’t want to—”
He kissed her hard. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget that I should just be me with you. Just be honest…”
She met his eyes. “Yes, you can be a real idiot sometimes. Now let’s go back so I can punish you for this!”
He grinned at her, looking for all the world like a young man in love, instead of the leader of an alien race with lots of responsibilities. He took her breath away when he looked like that. Maybe the hair thing would be a good way to start the rest of their day in bed…
PART 18
It was the second time that they ran breathless through the lobby of the hotel in their haste to get up to their room. This time, Max held his hand over the controls of the elevator and they managed to make it up to the 35th floor without interruptions. He backed her from the lift while still kissing her, but that was going to take too long, so he swung her up into his arms and fairly jogged to her door. The key was in his pocket and Liz took her time fishing it out until Max threatened to drop her if she didn’t stop teasing him. She relented and he kicked the door shut behind them gratefully.
Liz enjoyed feeling him move against her as he let her slide to the ground. She looked at him through her eyelashes as his hands cupped her rear and brought them closer together. “Max?”
“Yeah?” He was leaning his forehead against hers, his eyes closed.
“Take off your shirt.” That got his attention.
She stared in his eyes, watching them grow darker as the seconds ticked by. Then he slowly backed away from her and started unbuttoning his shirt. It seemed to take forever for Liz. She watched dry-mouthed as more and more of his skin was revealed until she stepped forward and pushed the shirt from his shoulders. He looked at her, clearly realizing she was up to something and that she should make the next move. Liz smiled slightly. Max was a clever guy.
Shrugging out of her jacket and blouse, she wriggled out of her white jeans next, knowing that Max was following her every move avidly. When she was clad in just her panties and tank top, she straightened and let her eyes drop to his pants. “Everything else too.”
Max swallowed, an endearing sign telling her he was getting nervous about her plans. But he didn’t say anything, just yanked off the rest of his clothes before looking at her again.
Now it was her turn to swallow. How can a man be this beautiful? Even stranger was that a man this beautiful, inside and out, was interested in her…
“Hey,” his soft voice stopped her thoughts. His knowing gaze told her he knew she was having one of her moments of self-doubt.
She collected herself and pulled him to the bed. “Lie down,” she instructed, “and no touching!”
His eyes jerked to hers at her last statement. But still he said nothing and did her bidding by lying down on the cool sheets and placing his hands flat on the bed at his sides.
Liz walked to the foot of the bed, hiding her flaming face with her hair. I can’t believe what I’m about to do! But then her eyes met Max’s and she could see his hungry desire and his overwhelming love for her, and she knew that she would do this for him. Exactly because he has never asked her to live out one of his fantasies and had chosen to expend all his energy on living out hers. But she suddenly panicked that she would make a hash of her attempt at seduction. She swallowed again and decided that the worst thing that could happen was that he could laugh at her, and knowing Max, that would never happen.
“Liz?” His voice startled her from her contemplation and she blushed when she found that she had been staring at his body while worrying about her next move. “Honey, you don’t have to…”
This brought her head up sharply. “No, I want to, I’m just a bit…”
“Shy?” he provided with a tender smile. Did she have any idea how sexy she looked to him, standing at his feet with a soft blush creeping over her face and neck? His chest constricted from the force of his feelings for this girl. This is why he wanted her so much, because she was such a tantalizing blend of innocent and temptress. He sat up, desperate to get his arms around her and hug the breath out of her.
This snapped Liz out of her moment of nervousness. “Hey! Get back down, Mister.”
He lay back down slowly, suddenly unbearably exited. He watched with heavy eyelids as Liz crawled onto the bed and swiped her long hair over one shoulder so it spilled down in a beautiful chocolate waterfall. And suddenly he knew what she was going to do. Oh god!
Liz ran her hands over his feet and calves unhurriedly, letting her fingers shape him. She looked up at Max who was clutching the sheets already, his face a study in suppressed hunger. He was watching her every move avidly, like he couldn’t bear to miss one second of her seduction. She knelt next to him and bent over, her hair sliding over his skin as she trailed her lips over him. She moved up at a leisurely pace until her lips reached the sensitive skin of his hip.
A sound, something between a groan and a moan, was torn from Max when Liz’s hair fleetingly caressed his arousal. His hands were reaching for her before he even realized it. He pulled her up to his mouth urgently, fusing his lips to hers and kissing her hard. He was losing control at an alarming rate… a frightening rate. He squeezed his eyes shut, pulling back from her and taking deep breaths. This was too much. If this went on, he would hurt Liz.
“Look at me, Max,” Liz instructed him in a firm voice. She had heard every thought that just went through his head. He didn’t respond immediately, so she cupped his face and forced it up towards hers. Kissing him tenderly on each eyelid, she ordered again: “Open you eyes.”
Max did so reluctantly, still desperately trying to get himself under control. He blinked when he saw the unconditional love shining in her eyes.
“Stop this,” she said softly. “You will never hurt me.”
“Liz…”
She leant closer to his mouth. “I love making you lose control. It doesn’t happen often enough. Being a bit rough sometimes is fine with me.” She straddled his hips and started sliding downwards, her hair drifting over his chest like soft silk, causing goosebumps on his flesh and tremors in his muscles. Dipping her tongue into his navel, she met his gaze: “Let go, Max. It’s allowed…” Then she moved lower.
Max arched off the bed involuntarily. The feeling of her mouth and that hair that has bewitched him for so long, caressing him so intimately was causing an explosion of lust in his body. His mind grappled to contain all the desires he felt as she used her hair to outline and trace every inch of him. He was shaking with the force of desire coursing through him.
“Turn over…” By now, Max was in no state to resist and he meekly complied. His hands curled into fists on the pillows as his mind’s eye conjured up images of what she looked like while tantalizing him. He heard the rustle of clothes as Liz undressed, only to return to sliding her body and her hair over him, from the backs of his thighs to his shoulders. Strands of her hair spilled over his cheek and into his mouth when she finally lay stretched out fully on his back. He dragged air into his lungs with great effort, hearing his own panting echo loudly in the room.
She nuzzled his ear, snaking her tongue out to trace its contours and he groaned again, starting to twist around so he could get to her. She stopped him with gentle but firm hands. “Not yet…”
Desperate. Liz wanted him desperate and completely out of control. She wanted him to do the worst thing he could to her so she could prove to him that he would never treat her badly. That even when he lost control, he would still treat her like with love. So she wriggled a bit lower, until she could press her face between his shoulder blades. Even his back is sexy… It was a stray thought. She ran her hands over his arms, feeling the muscles strain as he tried to keep himself still. Curling one hand around his right bicep, she moved the other until she could slip her index finger into his mouth. Making a small sound when he swirled his tongue around it, she took turns with her other fingers, allowing him to wet each one in turn. Trailing a wet path from his mouth, she let her fingers drift down his side before sliding her hand between his body and the bed. Max moved slightly to allow her access. Her hand found the ridges on his stomach, but that was not her target. As her hand found his arousal, she nipped his shoulder blade with her teeth before smoothing the little mark over with her tongue.
Max was close to having a heart-attack. Her touch was driving him insane and to feel her warm body lying flush on his back, with her hair drifting lightly over his sensitized skin, was just making it worse. Yes, he always wanted her, but this was…
He grabbed hold of her one arm to hold her steady as he rolled over. It was such a swift move that Liz only registered the change when she was settled on his chest, her hips trapped between his thighs. She stared at the dazed look in his eyes with astonishment. He looked… primal.
He was close to the edge, Max realized. He needed to give himself time to recover marginally… But as he watched, Liz licked her lips and moved lower, her hair obscuring her actions. Max lost it then, completely. He jerked her up, turning her on her back and entered her with a driving force just this side of violence. He dimly heard her cry out his name, but his body was beyond his mind’s control. He dragged her legs around his hips and braced one hand on the bed as the other gripped her rear, lifting her into each thrust. He had no idea what he was doing, he only knew he had to get inside her as deeply and completely as he could. Until their bodies were meshed into one. That’s what he wanted, for her to become a part of him. Liz was scratching his back, making keening sounds that only increased his desire. The explosion that slammed into him nearly caused him to black out and it took a few minutes for his head to clear. Liz was shuddering in his arms, their bodies seemingly locked into place from the intensity of what just happened. Max wrenched his head up, urgently searching Liz’s face for any sign that she was hurt or upset. He found her arched backwards in abandon over his arm, her eyes closed in complete ecstasy and her breath racing from her lungs.
“Liz…Oh god, I…”
She opened her eyes with difficulty to meet his anxious gaze. “Oh Max, that was… incredible!”
That floored him.
He finally let go of her bottom, laying her back down on the bed gently, but Liz refused to unlock her legs from around him. “Stay with me…”
“I’ll crush you.”
“No you won’t.”
But he moved them until they lay on their sides, their heads sharing one pillow. Liz pouted as he moved out of her. Running his fingers through her hair, his eyes avoided hers. “I-I don’t know what came over—”
She cupped his cheeks and forced him to look at her. “You lost control. And it was awesome.” His eyes flickered away from hers again. “And I didn’t break in two. In fact, you nearly made me see stars.” She realized how that sounded. “I don’t mean the normal flashes you give me… Max! I didn’t see any flashes! Did you?”
“No,” he said wonderingly, “but I was so out of it, I don’t think I would’ve noticed.” He looked at her closely. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
There was only one option to that question. “Connect with me. Find out for yourself.”
His hands shook as he placed them on her face. The connection was instantaneous, a mere widening of the link that already existed between them. Her ecstasy washed over him in a wave, covering him with her glory in the way he had completely lost himself in her. He took a deep shuddering breath, relief and profound gratitude flooding over him for finding her. Liz. His other half. “God, Liz…”
Tears welled in Liz’s eyes as he rubbed his lips gently over hers. They shared long, deep, tender kisses that spoke of a love found only rarely in this universe. I love you, she told him over and over in her mind.
Afterwards, he pulled her into his side and she lay her head on his shoulder, throwing her leg and arm over him. He picked up her hand, lacing their fingers together. He rubbed his hand over her empty ring finger. “So have you thrown my ring down the drain already?” he asked amused.
Liz’s sharp intake of breath sounded loud in the silent room. “I took it off to shower earlier and then…” She looked up at him in concern. “I’m sorry, Max! It’s just… I’m not used to wearing it on my finger yet since I can’t really wear it to school, so…”
He kissed her forehead. “Don’t panic. I knew you left it in the bathroom. I’m just pulling your leg.”
They lay quietly for a few minutes, before Liz asked the question that had been burning in her mind all morning. “So, are you going to tell me what made you so weird with me earlier?”
Max swallowed. Damn.
tbc
19+20
PART 19
Liz lifted herself on one elbow, looking down at Max. He had literally frozen after her question. “Max?”
After a long silence, he spoke so softly that Liz had to strain to hear him. “That Sunday, when you came to me… When Tess had been there...”
Nodding in encouragement, Liz thought back to the telephone conversation they had the next evening about Tess’ appearance in his room and her subsequent disappearance from Roswell. She remembered Max had been so disgusted by the whole thing that he only gave her the barest details of what had happened. He had worried more about the fact that Tess had apparently been under the impression that Liz was pregnant and what that would mean for Liz’s safety. As a result, Nick had been instructed to never leave her side. That had only ended when Max was sure that both Tess and Nacedo had seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth.
He finally looked at her, his eyes filled with torture. “Liz, she made me dream about you. I wanted to do things… I—I was… dreaming of using you in… such horrible ways. Ways that would hurt you… demean—”
She stopped his desperate rambling with a tender kiss. “It wasn’t your dream, Max,” she whispered against his lips. “Those things weren’t coming from inside you. They never would.” She trailed her fingers over his cheekbone and lips.
He watched her intently, and as he did, it felt like a huge weight was lifting off his shoulders. It left him almost dizzy with relief and wonder about how deep Liz’s trust in him went. He curled her body against his, holding her tightly and whispered in her ear: “I used to dream about you loving me back, but it was nothing as amazing as this. As reality.”
They spent the rest of the day in the room, watching a movie on TV, talking and finally lying in the bath together for about half-an-hour before having to go out to dinner with Diane.
Dinner was a fun affair, especially after Diane made a comment about how nice it was to see the sparkle back in Max’s eyes. Liz had had to put her ring back around her neck, because they wanted to wait until close to graduation before telling their parents about their engagement. They chatted about the course and Diane’s case, as well as what to do for Michael’s birthday that was coming up.
Afterwards, when Diane had left, Max and Liz bought ice-cream and went for a walk, looking in shop windows while holding hands. Max felt profoundly grateful again for the sense of normalcy his life currently had. No alien wars to be fought, no unwanted destiny hanging over their heads, no FBI hunters on their tails… just him and Liz, being a family.
He made love to her so tenderly back in their room that Liz had tears in her eyes when it was over. They fell asleep with Liz tucked tightly into Max’s body, her back against his chest and his arm draped around her waist. They were both tired after the physically draining night and the emotionally draining day they had, and being back in each other’s arms meant a good night’s sleep for both of them for a change.
Liz went out and bought them some bagels and coffee for breakfast while Max was still sleeping on Sunday morning. He was flying out again around lunch and she wanted this to be a private little breakfast for two. When she got back to the room, Max was in the shower.
She smiled to herself. Time to surprise him! She pulled off her clothes and sneaked into the bathroom to jerk open the shower curtain. Max stood waiting for her with a smirk and Liz belatedly realized that he had probably known the minute she had arrived in the room. This connection could be really annoying sometimes!
He lifted her in with him and kissed her soundly. “Have I told you you look cute when you pout?”
She smiled up at him. “Does that mean that you will kiss me again if I pout some more?”
He bent his head again and teased her mouth with light little touches of his lips. “Hmmm, I never need an excuse to kiss you.” He swiped his tongue across her lower lip, making her gasp. You just breathing is sexy to me.”
“I brought breakfast,” she said when he moved to kiss her again.
“I don’t care…” he replied, sweeping her up and proceeding to ravish her thoroughly.
After breakfast, consisting of the bagels and the coffee that Max had heated again with his hand, they settled next to each other on the floor to catch up on some urgent school work they had to finish for Monday. Liz lay on her stomach, chewing a pen and Max ended up lying with his head on the small of her back, reading the next chapter of his English assignment. Even doing homework together was a tradition for them. They were both serious about studying and had gotten used to working together in a companionable silence.
A little later, Max came back from the bathroom and smiled when he saw that Liz had fallen asleep on her book. He picked her up gently and put her on the bed, brushing her hair from her face.
His tender touches woke Liz from her doze and she blinked up at him sleepily. “How long before we have to leave for the airport?”
He glanced at the bedside clock, already feeling a bit melancholy at the thought of leaving her again. “About three hours.”
Turning over on her back, Liz looked up at him seriously. “Could you kiss me until then?”
He nodded and bent towards her mouth, but she stopped him. “I meant kiss me… all over, Max.” She stared up into his eyes, underscoring her request with the need in her gaze.
Kiss her all over? Hell yes! Liz was always beautiful to him, but Liz looking all tousled and sleepy just sent him into overdrive. It still freaked him out sometimes. Liz Parker, the girl he had loved from afar for all of his life, was now a permanent resident in his bed. Not only that, she made love with him every chance she got. During those first few months in their new apartment, Max made a point of watching Liz sleep and wake up. He loved the way she looked in the mornings, her hair tangled around her and her face slightly flushed and more often than not, she still showed signs of having made love with him sometime during the night. The sight always took his breath away.
Liz sat up to allow him to undress her. He did it carefully, as if he were unwrapping a present. He felt her dark eyes on him as he bent to the task and her gaze never left him, even after he had laid her back down, bare to his eyes. Only then did he meet her gaze and purposely let her see his feelings in his eyes. You are so beautiful.
When his lips touched hers softly, Liz sighed and closed her eyes. “Max…” It wasn’t a question or a plea, just a statement of fact. She felt him move his mouth over her face and neck, moving lower and lower as he traced every inch of her with his lips. His touches were tender and light, making her shiver with delight. And when they finally came together much later, they stared into each other’s eyes. Each watching every emotion and sensation on the other’s face. The flashes were of their quiet moments together this time, moments that reaffirmed their love and commitment.
Later, they packed Max’s stuff and phoned for a cab. Just before they left the room, Max turned to Liz and took her face in his hands. “I love you,” he said and kissed her eyelids, her cheeks and her forehead.
She threw her arms around his neck and rubbed her nose against his. “And I love you. Always.”
Max grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder and took her hand as they left for the lobby. Inside the elevator, he hugged her close to his side and rested his cheek on the top of her head. The elevator stopped on the 32nd floor to let in the older couple that rode up with them the day Max had arrived. The couple smiled at them before turning around to watch the floor numbers go by.
Liz felt Max grin and she blushed. Wow, they had really been out of control when he first arrived! She stiffened when Max started rubbing his hand over her hip, moving closer to her breast all the time. She jerked back and gave him a stern look, but he just grinned at her innocently. “Just teasing you, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear. Liz felt a tug at her heart at the thought that he was leaving again. At least this time she was only sad, not as inconsolable as she had been last week. She idly wondered if it had to do with the fact that Tess was gone and she didn’t have to worry about Max this time.
They were quiet in the cab on the way to the airport, just snuggling together as closely as they could. When they arrived, Nick was waiting with Diane and his face was grim. Liz felt Max tense up next to her and wondered what was wrong now.
“Hi Max, Liz,” Nick said. He always managed to look like he was battling not to bow when he greeted Max, Liz thought. “We need to talk.”
Max just nodded and went to book in his stuff before they went to a coffee shop. After they had all been settled in with a cup of coffee, Nick started softly. “I have news about Tess and Nacedo.” His statement was met with silence, so he continued. “They left earth.”
“What?!” Diane cried.
Max’s grip on Liz’s hand tightened. “How? Where did they go?”
“We’re not sure. We think maybe they went to Eric’s planet. Ours was destroyed and there are only four more that are inhabited as far as we know.” He paused before continuing: “I guess they could’ve gone to any of the four. All we know is that Nacedo was contacted and they were picked up in Frazier Woods early last Monday morning.”
“So what exactly does this mean for us?” Max asked.
Nick sighed. “I’m not sure yet. They are gone for good, I would guess. But…” He met Max’s gaze. “But it may also mean that these other races now know you are still on earth. Alive.”
Glancing at Liz, Max said: “There isn’t much we can do about that now. We just have to stay careful.”
Nodding, Nick also met Liz’s worried eyes: “Don’t worry, I have people working on trying to find out where they are. And what they are doing…”
The boarding call for Max and Diane’s flight was announced and everyone walked to the exit. Max stopped Nick as Liz and Diane were saying good-bye. “Please talk to everyone. If anyone wants to leave earth, now that it’s possible, they are free to go.”
Nick smiled at Max. “It was always possible for us to go to any planet we liked. We chose to be here, with you.”
Liz came up to join Max and Nick left with Diane to give them a few moments alone. They hugged tightly, before Liz pulled back. “Max… If-if you need to go… I mean—“
He grabbed her face in his hands. “I’m not ever going anywhere without you. Don’t even think that!” He kissed her, promising his love with his touches.
They clung to each other until Max finally tore himself away and walked off with his hands in his pockets and his head bent. God, was it ever going to become easier to leave her?
Liz wiped the tears from her eyes as she watched him. She was turning into a real crybaby! Nick joined her and they went to watch the plane take off into the blue sky. Pressing her hand against the glass window, Liz sent a silent prayer to the machine that was carrying Max away from her so swiftly: “Please get him home safely, he is my everything…”
PART 20
**ONE WEEK LATER***
I’m finally going home! Sitting on the plane next to Nick, Liz reflected on the past week. Monday had been utter hell of course. The story about her “hottie” boyfriend and her uninhibited behavior around him had done the rounds and she suddenly found herself the center of attraction in the class. The girls wanted to know everything about Max and those that had seen him gushed endlessly about how sexy he was. Liz wanted to knock their teeth out, he was hers and they shouldn’t be talking about him like that! She even contemplated putting her ring back on to shut them up, but the idea of ruining the surprise for her friends and family stopped her.
The guys… well, they apparently just wanted her now. ‘We didn’t know you were such a warm-blooded babe, Liz!’ She ignored them for the most part, but she could see that Nick got annoyed with all the little comments and cautioned him not to do anything about it. He gave her a look that said Max would have a fit about this if he knew, but left it there.
Luckily the course had gotten more intense as the week progressed and everyone reverted to studying almost non-stop. The best candidate from the course would get a college scholarship for the first year and it was a sweet incentive indeed. Liz ended up just missing the prize but she was proud of herself anyway. Not as much as Nick though, who had immediately phoned Max to spill about her wonderful course grades. Liz looked at him indulgently. He was acting more like a big brother every day.
Nick grinned back at her. He had a lot to be happy about. He was delivering Liz back to Max safely, for which he was eternally grateful. Awful things always seemed to happen to one of them when Max and Liz were apart and he never wanted to be the person to tell Max Evans something was wrong with his Liz. But here they were going home, Liz was fine and he could just imagine Max pacing with anticipation in the arrival’s hall of the Albuquerque airport right now!
His smile vanished as he contemplated the whole mess with Nacedo and Tess. They haven’t been able to find them yet, but it was difficult when they had to rely on members of the other races for information. He couldn’t really risk sending out a lot of communications since that would only alert other aliens of his group here on earth. And earth was not ready to hear that an alien King and some of his people had been living among them for a while! Nick decided to only talk to Max or Liz after he had something concrete to report. They needed to live normally for as long as they could.
He would also not tell either Max or Liz about the guy he intercepted in front of Liz’s room one night. One of her classmates who decided to come find out if Liz was as hot as everyone told him. Nick had been tempted to rough the guy up a little, Liz WAS the mate of his leader after all, but in the end, he settled for scaring the living daylights out of the guy. Afterwards, he couldn’t help thinking that his race’s strategy of bonding a male and female sometime during puberty was maybe not such a bad idea. It cut out a lot of this macho fighting over one woman.
Max sat in the airport with his hands clasped between his knees, looking outwardly calm when he was anything but. Liz was coming home! He had left his four friends in the middle of decorating Michael’s apartment (much to Michael’s disgust) for a homecoming party that would take place later tonight. But first, he was taking Liz home to their apartment for a private homecoming celebration.
After he came back from Boston last Sunday night, he had moved back into the apartment. With Tess gone and knowing that there was only a week left before Liz returned, he felt like facing the empty apartment again. He had needed to feel Liz’s presence around him and having her things all over the place, her scent permeating all the rooms, helped a little when missing her got too much to bear. It also helped when he started finding little notes she left him all over the place. Stuff like: I’m missing hearing your voice right now and You’re the love of my life were scribbled on little pieces of paper in Liz’s meticulous handwriting. He found them in his underwear and socks, in the coffee can, inside some of his notebooks… They made him smile and love her even more. Not all were so innocent and romantic though, and these made him ache to hold her again.
School had seemed empty without her. He missed meeting her at her locker or just hearing her voice. Not that he was allowed much time to himself. Maria and Michael were all over him and he couldn’t remember seeing so many movies in one week in his life. Only after he pleaded that he needed time to study, did they allow him a night alone.
The plane touched down with a soft bump and Liz had to fight down the urge to jump and run through all the people to get to Max. Stay calm, she cautioned herself. She thought she was doing well until Nick handed her her carry-on luggage from the overhead compartment and she realized her hands were shaking. It seemed to take forever to walk off the plane. Liz felt close to hyperventilating and she had to remind herself to breathe normally as she followed the queue of disembarking passengers. However, all rational thought flew out of the window when she caught sight of Max, waiting just inside the arrival hall door for her, his hands in his pockets. Their eyes met first, sending each other messages over the space that still existed between them. The next moment she was in his arms, being held tightly against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face closer into his throat. Her heart was singing: I’m home! I’m home! I’m home! Home was in Max Evans’ arms… wherever he was.
“Wow, I missed you!” His voice was rough in her ear and he still did not let her out of his arms. “I’m so proud of you.” They weren’t kissing, but just stood clasped in a tight embrace for endless minutes until Max finally noticed Nick standing off to the side. “Hey Nick. Welcome back.”
Liz could hear the rumble of Max’s voice under her ear and nothing had ever sounded so sweet. She twisted around in Max’s arms and beamed a brilliant smile at Nick. “I don’t know how to thank you. For looking out for me these two weeks.”
“Me either,” Max added. His eyes told Nick everything he didn’t want to say in front of Liz. Thank you for keeping her safe. Thank you for bringing her back.
“Well, I’m off. My wife hasn’t seen me in a week!” Nick picked up his bags. “Take care, you two,” he said before disappearing to where he had left his car.
Max turned Liz back to face him and cupped her cheeks with his hands. His eyes traced her features for a long time, until Liz curled her fingers into his sweater and tugged him closer. “A kiss would be good now!”
He was grinning against her lips: “Minx!” The kiss was tender and full of love, their mouths fitting together perfectly. It lasted for long breathless minutes before Max lifted his head and said: “Let’s go home.”
He took her hand and grabbed her luggage before steering her outside to the Jeep. The ride home was lengthy and Liz twisted around in her seat so she could watch him drive. Being away from him for almost two weeks made her appreciate simple pleasures like this again. Max kept flashing smiles at her and touching her when driving allowed it. So finally, Liz gave up trying to stay away from him and maneuvered herself so she could lie with her head on his thigh. It was glorious to feel the heat of his skin through his khaki pants and she rubbed her hand over his leg, just enjoying being close to him again.
Max brushed her hair from her face tenderly until his fingers could skim over the soft skin of her face. She was just perfect to him. Tiny and beautiful and wonderful and perfect. His Liz.
~*~*~*~*~*~
It was late afternoon when they got home and Max took her up to say hi to her parents first. They were overjoyed to see her back in one piece, not to mention beaming with pride because she did so well during the course. Max hung back to allow them some time together and watched indulgently as she dug small gifts for her mom and dad from her bags. They promised to have lunch together the next day and Liz walked back into Max’s embrace before turning to say good-bye. Her mom had tears in her eyes again, but she just waved them off when they asked about it. “I’m fine. Go.”
When Max and Liz had left the apartment, Nancy turned to her husband. “She’s grown up, Jeff! She doesn’t need me anymore.” Jeff just held her and refrained to mention that Liz had apparently stopped needing them as soon as Max Evans had entered her life. He was used to Nancy’s bouts of sadness because Liz was not her little girl anymore. He felt the same way. It was hard watching his little princess look at another man like he was the center of her universe. And he tried not to think too much about the fact that Max was all too intimate with Liz. He was just happy that they hadn’t lost Liz completely during all the craziness that took place last summer.
Downstairs, Max picked Liz up to carry her into the apartment, making her laugh delightedly. A laugh that turned into a surprised gasp when she saw the bunches of flowers that adorned the small apartment. They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the bedroom and even in the bathroom. She swung around to Max who was clearly enjoying her reaction. He held open his arms and she flung herself into his chest. “I love you! You are the sweetest man alive!”
“Welcome home,” he whispered against her hair, holding her tightly.
Finally moving away, he took her hand and led her into the bedroom. He reached out and took the ring from her neck, sliding it from its chain before slipping it onto her finger. Lifting her hand, he kissed the finger with the ring on. “I wish you could wear this already,” he said wistfully.
“Me too.” She leaned closer to him, silently asking him to kiss her.
He caught her face in his hands, resting his forehead against hers. “Liz, I—I want to take it slow right now. I want to feel every second of being with you, so don’t make it impossible for me, okay?”
Smiling she stepped into his body and looked up at him through her eyelashes. “Are you saying that I could make it impossible for you?”
“Yes!” he groaned, grabbing her hips and moving her back a bit. “You know very well you can drive me completely insane if you want to, so please… just let me do this.”
Seeing that he was completely serious, Liz nodded her acquiescence. And she wasn’t sorry. For Max undressed her slowly before running his hands and his mouth over every inch of her skin. He kept the pace of their lovemaking languid and tender in spite of her pleas and it all built to a wonderful explosion for both of them. Liz ended up lying boneless and completely satisfied in his arms, wondering again what she had done to deserve this.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The party with all of their friends later that night was fun, mostly because Michael kept grumbling about how the girls had turned his apartment into something from a freak-show carnival for which Maria smacked him every time. Liz had to tell stories of Boston and of her course mates and Maria regaled everyone on the latest embarrassing gossip going around school. Liz watched as they consumed all the pizza that was delivered and sighed. It was good to be home.
~*~*~*~*~*~
They were jerked awake by loud knocking on their door the next morning. “What the hell?” Max glared at the clock before stumbling out of bed and yanking on some pants. “Stay here, love, I’ll go see who it is.” He gave Liz a quick kiss on her shoulder and left.
Liz, being Liz, didn’t follow orders, but grabbed her robe and got up. When she arrived in the living room, she was just in time to hear Nick saying: “I have news…”
tbc
Liz lifted herself on one elbow, looking down at Max. He had literally frozen after her question. “Max?”
After a long silence, he spoke so softly that Liz had to strain to hear him. “That Sunday, when you came to me… When Tess had been there...”
Nodding in encouragement, Liz thought back to the telephone conversation they had the next evening about Tess’ appearance in his room and her subsequent disappearance from Roswell. She remembered Max had been so disgusted by the whole thing that he only gave her the barest details of what had happened. He had worried more about the fact that Tess had apparently been under the impression that Liz was pregnant and what that would mean for Liz’s safety. As a result, Nick had been instructed to never leave her side. That had only ended when Max was sure that both Tess and Nacedo had seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth.
He finally looked at her, his eyes filled with torture. “Liz, she made me dream about you. I wanted to do things… I—I was… dreaming of using you in… such horrible ways. Ways that would hurt you… demean—”
She stopped his desperate rambling with a tender kiss. “It wasn’t your dream, Max,” she whispered against his lips. “Those things weren’t coming from inside you. They never would.” She trailed her fingers over his cheekbone and lips.
He watched her intently, and as he did, it felt like a huge weight was lifting off his shoulders. It left him almost dizzy with relief and wonder about how deep Liz’s trust in him went. He curled her body against his, holding her tightly and whispered in her ear: “I used to dream about you loving me back, but it was nothing as amazing as this. As reality.”
They spent the rest of the day in the room, watching a movie on TV, talking and finally lying in the bath together for about half-an-hour before having to go out to dinner with Diane.
Dinner was a fun affair, especially after Diane made a comment about how nice it was to see the sparkle back in Max’s eyes. Liz had had to put her ring back around her neck, because they wanted to wait until close to graduation before telling their parents about their engagement. They chatted about the course and Diane’s case, as well as what to do for Michael’s birthday that was coming up.
Afterwards, when Diane had left, Max and Liz bought ice-cream and went for a walk, looking in shop windows while holding hands. Max felt profoundly grateful again for the sense of normalcy his life currently had. No alien wars to be fought, no unwanted destiny hanging over their heads, no FBI hunters on their tails… just him and Liz, being a family.
He made love to her so tenderly back in their room that Liz had tears in her eyes when it was over. They fell asleep with Liz tucked tightly into Max’s body, her back against his chest and his arm draped around her waist. They were both tired after the physically draining night and the emotionally draining day they had, and being back in each other’s arms meant a good night’s sleep for both of them for a change.
Liz went out and bought them some bagels and coffee for breakfast while Max was still sleeping on Sunday morning. He was flying out again around lunch and she wanted this to be a private little breakfast for two. When she got back to the room, Max was in the shower.
She smiled to herself. Time to surprise him! She pulled off her clothes and sneaked into the bathroom to jerk open the shower curtain. Max stood waiting for her with a smirk and Liz belatedly realized that he had probably known the minute she had arrived in the room. This connection could be really annoying sometimes!
He lifted her in with him and kissed her soundly. “Have I told you you look cute when you pout?”
She smiled up at him. “Does that mean that you will kiss me again if I pout some more?”
He bent his head again and teased her mouth with light little touches of his lips. “Hmmm, I never need an excuse to kiss you.” He swiped his tongue across her lower lip, making her gasp. You just breathing is sexy to me.”
“I brought breakfast,” she said when he moved to kiss her again.
“I don’t care…” he replied, sweeping her up and proceeding to ravish her thoroughly.
After breakfast, consisting of the bagels and the coffee that Max had heated again with his hand, they settled next to each other on the floor to catch up on some urgent school work they had to finish for Monday. Liz lay on her stomach, chewing a pen and Max ended up lying with his head on the small of her back, reading the next chapter of his English assignment. Even doing homework together was a tradition for them. They were both serious about studying and had gotten used to working together in a companionable silence.
A little later, Max came back from the bathroom and smiled when he saw that Liz had fallen asleep on her book. He picked her up gently and put her on the bed, brushing her hair from her face.
His tender touches woke Liz from her doze and she blinked up at him sleepily. “How long before we have to leave for the airport?”
He glanced at the bedside clock, already feeling a bit melancholy at the thought of leaving her again. “About three hours.”
Turning over on her back, Liz looked up at him seriously. “Could you kiss me until then?”
He nodded and bent towards her mouth, but she stopped him. “I meant kiss me… all over, Max.” She stared up into his eyes, underscoring her request with the need in her gaze.
Kiss her all over? Hell yes! Liz was always beautiful to him, but Liz looking all tousled and sleepy just sent him into overdrive. It still freaked him out sometimes. Liz Parker, the girl he had loved from afar for all of his life, was now a permanent resident in his bed. Not only that, she made love with him every chance she got. During those first few months in their new apartment, Max made a point of watching Liz sleep and wake up. He loved the way she looked in the mornings, her hair tangled around her and her face slightly flushed and more often than not, she still showed signs of having made love with him sometime during the night. The sight always took his breath away.
Liz sat up to allow him to undress her. He did it carefully, as if he were unwrapping a present. He felt her dark eyes on him as he bent to the task and her gaze never left him, even after he had laid her back down, bare to his eyes. Only then did he meet her gaze and purposely let her see his feelings in his eyes. You are so beautiful.
When his lips touched hers softly, Liz sighed and closed her eyes. “Max…” It wasn’t a question or a plea, just a statement of fact. She felt him move his mouth over her face and neck, moving lower and lower as he traced every inch of her with his lips. His touches were tender and light, making her shiver with delight. And when they finally came together much later, they stared into each other’s eyes. Each watching every emotion and sensation on the other’s face. The flashes were of their quiet moments together this time, moments that reaffirmed their love and commitment.
Later, they packed Max’s stuff and phoned for a cab. Just before they left the room, Max turned to Liz and took her face in his hands. “I love you,” he said and kissed her eyelids, her cheeks and her forehead.
She threw her arms around his neck and rubbed her nose against his. “And I love you. Always.”
Max grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder and took her hand as they left for the lobby. Inside the elevator, he hugged her close to his side and rested his cheek on the top of her head. The elevator stopped on the 32nd floor to let in the older couple that rode up with them the day Max had arrived. The couple smiled at them before turning around to watch the floor numbers go by.
Liz felt Max grin and she blushed. Wow, they had really been out of control when he first arrived! She stiffened when Max started rubbing his hand over her hip, moving closer to her breast all the time. She jerked back and gave him a stern look, but he just grinned at her innocently. “Just teasing you, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear. Liz felt a tug at her heart at the thought that he was leaving again. At least this time she was only sad, not as inconsolable as she had been last week. She idly wondered if it had to do with the fact that Tess was gone and she didn’t have to worry about Max this time.
They were quiet in the cab on the way to the airport, just snuggling together as closely as they could. When they arrived, Nick was waiting with Diane and his face was grim. Liz felt Max tense up next to her and wondered what was wrong now.
“Hi Max, Liz,” Nick said. He always managed to look like he was battling not to bow when he greeted Max, Liz thought. “We need to talk.”
Max just nodded and went to book in his stuff before they went to a coffee shop. After they had all been settled in with a cup of coffee, Nick started softly. “I have news about Tess and Nacedo.” His statement was met with silence, so he continued. “They left earth.”
“What?!” Diane cried.
Max’s grip on Liz’s hand tightened. “How? Where did they go?”
“We’re not sure. We think maybe they went to Eric’s planet. Ours was destroyed and there are only four more that are inhabited as far as we know.” He paused before continuing: “I guess they could’ve gone to any of the four. All we know is that Nacedo was contacted and they were picked up in Frazier Woods early last Monday morning.”
“So what exactly does this mean for us?” Max asked.
Nick sighed. “I’m not sure yet. They are gone for good, I would guess. But…” He met Max’s gaze. “But it may also mean that these other races now know you are still on earth. Alive.”
Glancing at Liz, Max said: “There isn’t much we can do about that now. We just have to stay careful.”
Nodding, Nick also met Liz’s worried eyes: “Don’t worry, I have people working on trying to find out where they are. And what they are doing…”
The boarding call for Max and Diane’s flight was announced and everyone walked to the exit. Max stopped Nick as Liz and Diane were saying good-bye. “Please talk to everyone. If anyone wants to leave earth, now that it’s possible, they are free to go.”
Nick smiled at Max. “It was always possible for us to go to any planet we liked. We chose to be here, with you.”
Liz came up to join Max and Nick left with Diane to give them a few moments alone. They hugged tightly, before Liz pulled back. “Max… If-if you need to go… I mean—“
He grabbed her face in his hands. “I’m not ever going anywhere without you. Don’t even think that!” He kissed her, promising his love with his touches.
They clung to each other until Max finally tore himself away and walked off with his hands in his pockets and his head bent. God, was it ever going to become easier to leave her?
Liz wiped the tears from her eyes as she watched him. She was turning into a real crybaby! Nick joined her and they went to watch the plane take off into the blue sky. Pressing her hand against the glass window, Liz sent a silent prayer to the machine that was carrying Max away from her so swiftly: “Please get him home safely, he is my everything…”
PART 20
**ONE WEEK LATER***
I’m finally going home! Sitting on the plane next to Nick, Liz reflected on the past week. Monday had been utter hell of course. The story about her “hottie” boyfriend and her uninhibited behavior around him had done the rounds and she suddenly found herself the center of attraction in the class. The girls wanted to know everything about Max and those that had seen him gushed endlessly about how sexy he was. Liz wanted to knock their teeth out, he was hers and they shouldn’t be talking about him like that! She even contemplated putting her ring back on to shut them up, but the idea of ruining the surprise for her friends and family stopped her.
The guys… well, they apparently just wanted her now. ‘We didn’t know you were such a warm-blooded babe, Liz!’ She ignored them for the most part, but she could see that Nick got annoyed with all the little comments and cautioned him not to do anything about it. He gave her a look that said Max would have a fit about this if he knew, but left it there.
Luckily the course had gotten more intense as the week progressed and everyone reverted to studying almost non-stop. The best candidate from the course would get a college scholarship for the first year and it was a sweet incentive indeed. Liz ended up just missing the prize but she was proud of herself anyway. Not as much as Nick though, who had immediately phoned Max to spill about her wonderful course grades. Liz looked at him indulgently. He was acting more like a big brother every day.
Nick grinned back at her. He had a lot to be happy about. He was delivering Liz back to Max safely, for which he was eternally grateful. Awful things always seemed to happen to one of them when Max and Liz were apart and he never wanted to be the person to tell Max Evans something was wrong with his Liz. But here they were going home, Liz was fine and he could just imagine Max pacing with anticipation in the arrival’s hall of the Albuquerque airport right now!
His smile vanished as he contemplated the whole mess with Nacedo and Tess. They haven’t been able to find them yet, but it was difficult when they had to rely on members of the other races for information. He couldn’t really risk sending out a lot of communications since that would only alert other aliens of his group here on earth. And earth was not ready to hear that an alien King and some of his people had been living among them for a while! Nick decided to only talk to Max or Liz after he had something concrete to report. They needed to live normally for as long as they could.
He would also not tell either Max or Liz about the guy he intercepted in front of Liz’s room one night. One of her classmates who decided to come find out if Liz was as hot as everyone told him. Nick had been tempted to rough the guy up a little, Liz WAS the mate of his leader after all, but in the end, he settled for scaring the living daylights out of the guy. Afterwards, he couldn’t help thinking that his race’s strategy of bonding a male and female sometime during puberty was maybe not such a bad idea. It cut out a lot of this macho fighting over one woman.
Max sat in the airport with his hands clasped between his knees, looking outwardly calm when he was anything but. Liz was coming home! He had left his four friends in the middle of decorating Michael’s apartment (much to Michael’s disgust) for a homecoming party that would take place later tonight. But first, he was taking Liz home to their apartment for a private homecoming celebration.
After he came back from Boston last Sunday night, he had moved back into the apartment. With Tess gone and knowing that there was only a week left before Liz returned, he felt like facing the empty apartment again. He had needed to feel Liz’s presence around him and having her things all over the place, her scent permeating all the rooms, helped a little when missing her got too much to bear. It also helped when he started finding little notes she left him all over the place. Stuff like: I’m missing hearing your voice right now and You’re the love of my life were scribbled on little pieces of paper in Liz’s meticulous handwriting. He found them in his underwear and socks, in the coffee can, inside some of his notebooks… They made him smile and love her even more. Not all were so innocent and romantic though, and these made him ache to hold her again.
School had seemed empty without her. He missed meeting her at her locker or just hearing her voice. Not that he was allowed much time to himself. Maria and Michael were all over him and he couldn’t remember seeing so many movies in one week in his life. Only after he pleaded that he needed time to study, did they allow him a night alone.
The plane touched down with a soft bump and Liz had to fight down the urge to jump and run through all the people to get to Max. Stay calm, she cautioned herself. She thought she was doing well until Nick handed her her carry-on luggage from the overhead compartment and she realized her hands were shaking. It seemed to take forever to walk off the plane. Liz felt close to hyperventilating and she had to remind herself to breathe normally as she followed the queue of disembarking passengers. However, all rational thought flew out of the window when she caught sight of Max, waiting just inside the arrival hall door for her, his hands in his pockets. Their eyes met first, sending each other messages over the space that still existed between them. The next moment she was in his arms, being held tightly against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face closer into his throat. Her heart was singing: I’m home! I’m home! I’m home! Home was in Max Evans’ arms… wherever he was.
“Wow, I missed you!” His voice was rough in her ear and he still did not let her out of his arms. “I’m so proud of you.” They weren’t kissing, but just stood clasped in a tight embrace for endless minutes until Max finally noticed Nick standing off to the side. “Hey Nick. Welcome back.”
Liz could hear the rumble of Max’s voice under her ear and nothing had ever sounded so sweet. She twisted around in Max’s arms and beamed a brilliant smile at Nick. “I don’t know how to thank you. For looking out for me these two weeks.”
“Me either,” Max added. His eyes told Nick everything he didn’t want to say in front of Liz. Thank you for keeping her safe. Thank you for bringing her back.
“Well, I’m off. My wife hasn’t seen me in a week!” Nick picked up his bags. “Take care, you two,” he said before disappearing to where he had left his car.
Max turned Liz back to face him and cupped her cheeks with his hands. His eyes traced her features for a long time, until Liz curled her fingers into his sweater and tugged him closer. “A kiss would be good now!”
He was grinning against her lips: “Minx!” The kiss was tender and full of love, their mouths fitting together perfectly. It lasted for long breathless minutes before Max lifted his head and said: “Let’s go home.”
He took her hand and grabbed her luggage before steering her outside to the Jeep. The ride home was lengthy and Liz twisted around in her seat so she could watch him drive. Being away from him for almost two weeks made her appreciate simple pleasures like this again. Max kept flashing smiles at her and touching her when driving allowed it. So finally, Liz gave up trying to stay away from him and maneuvered herself so she could lie with her head on his thigh. It was glorious to feel the heat of his skin through his khaki pants and she rubbed her hand over his leg, just enjoying being close to him again.
Max brushed her hair from her face tenderly until his fingers could skim over the soft skin of her face. She was just perfect to him. Tiny and beautiful and wonderful and perfect. His Liz.
~*~*~*~*~*~
It was late afternoon when they got home and Max took her up to say hi to her parents first. They were overjoyed to see her back in one piece, not to mention beaming with pride because she did so well during the course. Max hung back to allow them some time together and watched indulgently as she dug small gifts for her mom and dad from her bags. They promised to have lunch together the next day and Liz walked back into Max’s embrace before turning to say good-bye. Her mom had tears in her eyes again, but she just waved them off when they asked about it. “I’m fine. Go.”
When Max and Liz had left the apartment, Nancy turned to her husband. “She’s grown up, Jeff! She doesn’t need me anymore.” Jeff just held her and refrained to mention that Liz had apparently stopped needing them as soon as Max Evans had entered her life. He was used to Nancy’s bouts of sadness because Liz was not her little girl anymore. He felt the same way. It was hard watching his little princess look at another man like he was the center of her universe. And he tried not to think too much about the fact that Max was all too intimate with Liz. He was just happy that they hadn’t lost Liz completely during all the craziness that took place last summer.
Downstairs, Max picked Liz up to carry her into the apartment, making her laugh delightedly. A laugh that turned into a surprised gasp when she saw the bunches of flowers that adorned the small apartment. They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the bedroom and even in the bathroom. She swung around to Max who was clearly enjoying her reaction. He held open his arms and she flung herself into his chest. “I love you! You are the sweetest man alive!”
“Welcome home,” he whispered against her hair, holding her tightly.
Finally moving away, he took her hand and led her into the bedroom. He reached out and took the ring from her neck, sliding it from its chain before slipping it onto her finger. Lifting her hand, he kissed the finger with the ring on. “I wish you could wear this already,” he said wistfully.
“Me too.” She leaned closer to him, silently asking him to kiss her.
He caught her face in his hands, resting his forehead against hers. “Liz, I—I want to take it slow right now. I want to feel every second of being with you, so don’t make it impossible for me, okay?”
Smiling she stepped into his body and looked up at him through her eyelashes. “Are you saying that I could make it impossible for you?”
“Yes!” he groaned, grabbing her hips and moving her back a bit. “You know very well you can drive me completely insane if you want to, so please… just let me do this.”
Seeing that he was completely serious, Liz nodded her acquiescence. And she wasn’t sorry. For Max undressed her slowly before running his hands and his mouth over every inch of her skin. He kept the pace of their lovemaking languid and tender in spite of her pleas and it all built to a wonderful explosion for both of them. Liz ended up lying boneless and completely satisfied in his arms, wondering again what she had done to deserve this.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The party with all of their friends later that night was fun, mostly because Michael kept grumbling about how the girls had turned his apartment into something from a freak-show carnival for which Maria smacked him every time. Liz had to tell stories of Boston and of her course mates and Maria regaled everyone on the latest embarrassing gossip going around school. Liz watched as they consumed all the pizza that was delivered and sighed. It was good to be home.
~*~*~*~*~*~
They were jerked awake by loud knocking on their door the next morning. “What the hell?” Max glared at the clock before stumbling out of bed and yanking on some pants. “Stay here, love, I’ll go see who it is.” He gave Liz a quick kiss on her shoulder and left.
Liz, being Liz, didn’t follow orders, but grabbed her robe and got up. When she arrived in the living room, she was just in time to hear Nick saying: “I have news…”
tbc
21+22
PART 21
Hearing Liz’s soft gasp, Max turned to her and held out his hand. Liz rushed to his side, feeling his arm drape across her shoulders as he pulled her into the warm comfort of his body.
Nick held up his hands. “Don’t worry! It’s good news actually.”
Max relaxed visibly and he hugged Liz closer instinctively. “Is it about Tess and Nacedo?”
Nodding, Nick thrust his hands through his hair. “Yes. I don’t think they meant to, but they’ve actually done us a huge favor.”
Max motioned Nick towards a chair in the living room and sat down with Liz on his lap. He unconsciously rubbed his hand over her back comfortingly.
“She told them that everyone from our race but her and Nacedo had perished with the planet or in the subsequent crash here on earth. She has convinced them that she is the only surviving royal and she is being treated like a queen on Dendar.”
“Dendar?” Max looked perplexed. “Is that the planet where Eric and his people come from?”
“No. I guess I should explain better. I had hoped we could put everything behind us after you and Eric made peace, but…” He looked over Max’s shoulder in contemplation. “You see, there are… were five planets in our solar system. Our planet, Antar, and Eric’s, Tresar, were at war most of the time. The other three planets were always sort of neutral, mostly due to the fact that they had no real natural resources that were of value to us, so nobody bothered them. We assumed there were spies all over the other three planets, so we decided to send you all to a planet no one has ever heard of when the war came to a head. Earth was the only place we felt certain you could be hidden for a long period of time without detection. When Antar was destroyed, my group had to decide whether we would go to one of the other three planets and claim refugee status or whether we would come here. We came here in the hopes that you were still alive… and that we could find you.”
“But… can you leave? I mean…”
“No. Apparently your… I mean the Earth’s atmosphere was… We could land, but our ship didn’t make it in an effort to return to space. It was the same thing that happened to the ship you came on.”
“So how did Tess and Nacedo leave?” Max had a crushing grip on Liz’s hand by now.
“I’m guessing that there is new technology by now. That whoever contacted Nacedo from Dendar was able to pick them up in Frazier Woods and leave again.”
Max nodded. He was too stunned to speak. This was a lot to take in.
It was Liz’s turn to slide a comforting hand over Max’s shoulder now. “Uhm… Does that mean you guys are stuck here? Forever? And that everyone thinks Max is… is dead?”
“Yeah. Essentially.” Nick was watching Max who was staring at the floor with an unreadable expression. “We have people we can contact on Dendar now, if you want to…”
Max was shaking his head before Nick even finished. “No. Let them think we are dead. That means they will stop looking for us.” He paused before continuing softly. “My planet’s name was Antar?”
“Yes. It was a beautiful green planet, filled with life. A little like earth in some places, I guess.”
Max has lapsed deep into thought and Liz and Nick give each other a knowing glance before Nick got up to leave. “I’ll see you guys again soon. Good luck with going back to regular old West Roswell High, Liz.”
After seeing Nick out, Liz returned to find Max leaning forward in his chair, his elbows on his knees. Climbing in behind his back, Liz straddled his hips, slipped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his warm skin. “Are you okay?”
His fingers laced through hers as he sighed. “It’s just weird, you know. My planet was always this… this far-off dream. Hearing the name has made it more…”
“Real?” she asked, rubbing her face against his bare back.
“Yeah.”
Liz wrapped her legs around his waist, enveloping him with herself as completely as she could. “What can I do?”
He was quiet for a long time. “Just—just be you. And be with me.”
“Always.” She kissed the indentation of his spine and felt some of the tenseness leave his muscles. “Max… You know you should probably… discuss this with Michael and Isabel.” She was almost afraid to mention this. What if Michael decided that he wanted to go? What if they all went to this other planet to see what it’s like?
Max tugged at her arm. “Come here,” he commanded. She moved around until she was straddling his lap. He cupped her face and stated: “You know I will not leave you here. If the others want to go, we’ll go. All of us.” He looked at her for a few more seconds before he kissed her sweetly. Their lips clung together as their tongues dueled and danced for a few endless moments. His voice was rough when he spoke against her mouth: “Now can I stop pretending that I don’t notice you aren’t wearing anything under this robe?”
Grinning, Liz wiggled in his lap. “I noticed you noticed!” She ran a hand over his face. “I’m sorry about just now. I—I just can’t be without you.”
“I feel the same way, so I guess we can stop badgering ourselves about it. We’re never going to be apart again for long periods, I won’t allow it.” He slid his hands under the edges of her robe, parting it and baring her to his eyes.
Liz clutched at his shoulders, her head falling back and exposing her neck to him. His lips descended on her throat, nipping and licking at her skin until she sighed with pleasure. “You should… probably—probably call… Michael and…”
“Later,” he mumbled against her, his breath feathering over her heated skin. “Much later…”
~*~*~*~*~*~
They finally called a meeting with the others late the afternoon. Lunch with Liz’s parents had dragged past for Liz. She was truly worried about especially Michael’s reaction to the news of the possibility of visiting the other planets.
Everyone sat around Liz and Max’s living room like they have so many times before. But it felt different this time. There was tension in the air.
Liz ran around bringing everyone sodas until Max finally put an end to her restlessness by grabbing her hand and pulling down next to him. They looked into each other’s eyes for a long moment before Max turned to the other four.
Watching Max as he quietly but firmly explained what happened to Tess and Nacedo and that the possibility existed that they could visit these other planets if they wanted, Liz couldn’t help but be impressed with him. He had an inner strength that was inspiring to watch. Liz wondered at the fact that he was so… intact, in spite of the insanity that had taken place around him for most of his life. He had remained the gentle soul that she first got to know so long ago. But now she knew that underneath that gentle exterior ran a vein of steel. He absolutely deserved to be the king of an entire race. This stray thought made Liz’s heart stop in her chest. He deserved so much more than a mundane life here on earth. A life with an ordinary human wife, a white picket fence and a boring office job…
As the odd gasp indicated, Max had his little audience’s complete attention as he relayed all he knew. Observing the reactions of everyone, it became clear to Liz that this afternoon was going to have a definite impact on the group. Michael was starting to clench his jaw while Maria was sending little worried looks at him. Alex sat with a stunned look on his face and Isabel’s eyes were filling with tears. Liz unconsciously moved closer to Max and he put his arm around her to fit her to his side.
“We need to discuss what we want to do,” Max said as he met everyone’s gaze in turn. “Iz?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think I can decide that right now…. I need to think about it first.”
Max nodded. “Michael?”
Michael stared at the floor before glancing at Maria quickly. “I need time too.”
“Maria?”
Maria seemed a bit surprised that Max would want her opinion too. “I…” She looked at Michael. “I can understand it if you want to go find out more about the other planets. I-I could support that.” Her voice was soft at the end.
Giving her a small encouraging smile, Max looked at Alex.
“Hey, traveling through space? I could do that… You know, if… you guys wanted me to go.” He avoided looking at anyone in particular.
Hugging Liz harder, Max answered for both of them. “We would rather not go right now. They think we are dead, so we have time to be normal for a while. We could finish school first and maybe go later. I don’t think this is a one time only opportunity.” Max and Michael were looking at each other now. “But if it’s really important to any of you that we go soon, then we’ll go.”
Liz held her breath to see if Michael was going to fight Max about the way he was handling this whole thing, but it didn’t happen. Instead, Michael got up and said to Maria: “Let’s go. We’ll talk about this again later, Maxwell.”
It was quiet after everyone had left and Liz busied herself with tidying the living room. Max stood at the window, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. When Liz finally joined him, his beautiful hazel eyes were solemn. “I’m going to ask you this for the last time.” He took her hands in his. “I know you love me. But… I thought things were going to be normal from now on. That you and I will have the future we’ve always dreamed of. But Liz, I—I don’t think that is going to happen. There is always going to be something that crops up.” His gaze wavered from her steady one. “Are you really prepared for everything that will result from being with me? To give up on so much? To have no security about the future? To maybe go to some strange planet without your family…”
Her smile made him falter.
“Yes,” she answered simply.
“Liz…” he sounded dubious.
“Yes, Max,” she stated more firmly. Moving closer to him, she speared her fingers through his hair. “You matter more to me than any of those things you mentioned. And the only security for the future I need is that you will continue to love me. And you will, I know that.”
“Yes!” he said fiercely. “Yes, I will.”
Hearing his vow ringing in her ears, Liz buried her face in his chest and felt his arms wrap around her. Please give me strength to never disappoint this man! she prayed silently.
~*~*~*~*~*~
After that, things went back to normal. They went to school, they studied, wrote exams and went to the movies. It was like everyone had tacitly agreed not to discuss the possibility of leaving the planet again. However, as the weeks progressed, Max and Liz realized they had a much more immediate problem to deal with. One that had nothing to do with alien destinies or interplanetary travel. No, it was very much a teenagers-living-on-earth problem. And for once, it was one that alien powers couldn’t solve…
PART 22
Max found Liz in front of her locker. She had been back from Boston for months now, but midterms were taking up most of their time and they hardly saw each other. Even though they shared an apartment and a bed, they haven’t really had time to talk lately. Most nights one of them fell asleep while the other was still studying, so quality time together had been scarce and they were both starting to feel it.
“Hey sweetheart,” Max said as he reached her and slipped his arms around her waist. Liz leaned back into his chest immediately. “How did the exam go?”
She sighed. “Fine, I guess.”
Rubbing his cheek against hers, he smiled. His Liz always sounded like this after an exam only to get the highest marks in the class when the results came out. “I miss you,” his voice was low and raspy.
Liz spun around in his embrace, lifting her arms around his neck. “Me too!”
Max had to reign in his impulse to swoop down on her mouth and plunder her lips. They were still in school and were trying not to cause any more problems for themselves or their parents until Liz turned 18 too. Which, thankfully, was soon. But he couldn’t keep himself from kissing her softly for few seconds, trying not to let things get out of control. Liz made a soft sound against his mouth and he felt the answering kick of desire in his gut.
When he pulled away, he noticed one of the teachers standing at the other end of the hall watching them. As soon as the teacher saw that Max was looking at her, she turned and walked off. Max frowned, remembering that the teachers had started to show more than a passing interest in him and Liz before she went on course. He moved his hands away from Liz and shoved them into his pockets. Why could they not just be left alone? It was not as if their grades were bad or anything!
Liz was blinking up at him, disorientated by his sudden withdrawal. “What’s wrong. Max?”
“The teachers… We have to be careful, Liz.” Seeing her face fall, he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear tenderly. “Just for a little while still, okay?”
She nodded mutely. She was getting so sick of being in school and having to explain to people about her and Max. Just a few more weeks, then she would be 18 too and they could stop worrying about authority figures paying them too much attention…
~*~*~*~*~*~
***TWO WEEKS LATER***
Everyone was at the Evans’ except Liz. Max had called a secret meeting to discuss the plans for Liz’s 18th birthday. She had managed to surprise him with a small gathering for his birthday, and he intended to make hers special as well. Also, this party would mean the end of them hiding the true nature of their relationship to everyone. He planned to tell the others about the engagement then before going public with it.
The last two weeks had been hell. It was clear that they had become the target of an investigation and Max had taken to sneaking around in the middle of the night again. He hated it. He hated that Liz had to move back into her old bedroom and that he was staying in their apartment alone. He hated having to climb up her fire escape in the middle of the night to be with her and he hated that they had to organize times to see each other. Having sex with Liz in the room next to where her parents were sleeping was not fun. It put a severe cramp in their relationship and he took to dragging Liz off to the apartment only to take her back again later when he wanted to be alone with her. They were both starting to feel the effects of too little sleep. Only one more week, he promised himself…
“Maxwell!” Michael’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Could you get back from Planet Liz so we can finish your latest little scheme, please? And where is the lovely Miss Liz anyway?”
Max stilled for a moment, remembering the last time when Michael had accused him of being on Planet Liz. It had been moments before Jans had abducted him into that underground bunker, making Liz think that he was dead. He shook his head, trying to get rid of the memory. It still hurt when he remembered how afraid he had been that Liz would give up on life… to be with him. “She’s with her Bio teacher. They’re discussing her college plans.”
This caught the attention of their parents. “Have you guys decided your college plans yet?”
Max hesitated. He had received the letters from Harvard yesterday and he intended to surprise Liz with hers on her birthday. “Yeah, we have…”
“And?”
“And we’re both going to Harvard.”
This announcement led to pandemonium. All the parents bore down on Max, hugging him while getting emotional about how wonderful their children were.
Max finally had to put a stop to it all by holding up his hands. “Please! Liz doesn’t know yet. I want to surprise her with her letter. She got a scholarship to study molecular biology.”
“She did?” Nancy burst into tears again.
“What are you going to do, son?” Philip was looking at Max.
“I’m going to study medicine. I want to get into medical research…” Max had thought long and hard about what he wanted to do with his life. He had talked to Liz about it for hours. He never really thought about his future much until this last year. Together, they had decided that Max was better off not becoming an actual doctor, too much chance of him getting into situations where he might want to use his powers. Instead, Max would get into research into incurable diseases since that would allow him to remain true to his healing nature without him having to have too much contact with other people. Max was actually starting to get exited about going to college. He was still working on a few details, like where they would live, but he was already sure of one detail: Liz Parker would be Liz Evans before she started her first class at Harvard!
After all the excitement had died down and they finalized the plans for the little party for Liz, Max went home, hoping that Liz wasn’t there yet so he wouldn’t have to explain his whereabouts. He found the apartment empty and made his way through to the Crashdown, finding Maria in the back putting on her apron. She smiled at him: “Better be careful, lover boy, I see our guidance counselor out in the booths.”
Cursing under his breath, Max looked out through the window and sure enough, there was Mrs. Moore sitting primly at one of the tables. When he turned back he surprised a solemn expression on Maria’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“I—I’m just going to miss you and Lizzie when you go off to college, that’s all…” She trailed off.
Max nodded. He had also wondered how they were all going to cope with the group breaking up. They had gotten used to doing most everything together and it would be strange to be without this support network all the way out in Boston. He put his arm around Maria. “I know, we’ll just have to make an effort to see each other regularly.” But they both knew it would never be the same again…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz bounced into the café a few minutes later, dying to see Max and tell him about her afternoon with her teacher. However, she was intercepted by Maria who quietly pointed out that now was not a good time for Liz to look like she was running to the backroom for a secret rendezvous with a certain dark-haired boyfriend of hers. Liz had to relent and went upstairs to her room. Her phone was ringing when she got there.
“Hello?”
“Hey Liz.” Max’s voice slid over her senses like warm silk.
“Max! Where are you?”
“I’m at the UFO Museum. I wanted to ask my girlfriend if she would like to have dinner with me at the Crashdown. Do you think she would agree to that?”
“I don’t know,” Liz answered with a smile in her voice. “I hear there are teachers hanging out at that café lately and maybe your girlfriend would want to do stuff to you that those teachers shouldn’t see?”
“I know about the teachers. I thought maybe they would stop being so suspicious if they saw me having dinner with my girlfriend in a public place for a change?”
“Maybe…”
“I do intend being alone with her later, though. But don’t tell her, it’s a surprise.”
Liz pretended to think about it. “Hmmm, you sound like a nice guy to date. It’s a pity you already have a girlfriend. Is there any chance you might consider cheating on her with me?”
He chuckled. “That depends.”
“On what?”
His voice lowered. “On whether you are as beautiful, smart and sexy as she is.”
“I think you might be surprised!”
“Meet me downstairs in 10 minutes? I’ll give you my verdict then.”
“Okay!” Liz was grinning when she put the phone down. She dashed to her closet, throwing a skirt and blouse on her bed to change into. For some silly reason this felt like a date. She and Max went out every so often, but mostly their real dates were few and far between. Especially with all the studying they’ve been doing lately…
When she arrived in the café in rush a few minutes later, she saw Mrs. Moore chatting with her dad and Max in his usual booth. She said a perfunctory ‘hi’ to the teacher and her father and went over to join Max. He got up as she approached, his eyes sweeping over her appreciatively. They kissed quickly, both aware of the teacher’s attention.
Max took both of her hands in his when she settled across from him in the booth. “You are right, you are just as gorgeous and sexy as my girlfriend.”
Liz was squirming under his warm gaze. “Oh? And what about smart?”
“Well, I’d need to talk to you for a bit to know that, wouldn’t I?”
Liz glanced at the teacher, who was still sneaking glances at them while drinking her coffee. “Max, this is horrible! I hate having to hide like this.”
“I know, sweetheart. But you’ll be legal soon and then I’m giving up on any and all pretence.” He rubbed his thumbs over the backs of her hands. “I love you. We have coped with worse things than this.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” His caresses on her hands grew softer, more sensual, as his eyes traced the contours of her face. Liz felt herself flush and she licked her lips instinctively.
This caused Max’s eyes to turn a shade darker as they fixed on her moist mouth. “When was the last time I kissed you?”
“I—I think very… early this morning?”
He moved his fingers onto her wrist, feeling her pulse race under his touch. “Liz…”
They were interrupted by a throat being cleared loudly next to them. Maria still had the worst timing ever.
“Hi, I’m Maria and I will be your waitress tonight. Can I get you some drinks?” It was clear that she had a hard time not laughing.
When both Max and Liz just stared at her, she put her notepad away. “Oh-kay! So I’ll come back later. But you two should really get a room, you are making the other patrons jealous!”
They looked at each other and smiled when Maria left. “I thought we’d get better if we lived together,” Max said ruefully.
“Yeah, me too. But unfortunately I now know that you even look sexy brushing your teeth!” Liz grinned at Max’s embarrassment.
He recovered quickly. “Please don’t make my mind go to images of you in a towel! I’m desperately trying to keep my cool here.”
Liz tangled her feet with his under the table, making Max gasp. “I like you when you’re not—”
“Miss Parker? Could I speak with you for a few minutes?” The voice belonged to Mrs. Moore.
Liz met Max’s gaze. She wondered how much of their conversation the teacher had heard. “Uhm… Sure.”
Max gave her hands a squeeze before she got up to follow the teacher to the back room. He wished he could go with her to face whatever this was.
Liz turned to Mrs. Moore when they were alone, looking at her expectantly.
“I just talked to your father about you and Max Evans,” Mrs. Moore began. “And I think we have to straighten a few things out…”
tbc
Hearing Liz’s soft gasp, Max turned to her and held out his hand. Liz rushed to his side, feeling his arm drape across her shoulders as he pulled her into the warm comfort of his body.
Nick held up his hands. “Don’t worry! It’s good news actually.”
Max relaxed visibly and he hugged Liz closer instinctively. “Is it about Tess and Nacedo?”
Nodding, Nick thrust his hands through his hair. “Yes. I don’t think they meant to, but they’ve actually done us a huge favor.”
Max motioned Nick towards a chair in the living room and sat down with Liz on his lap. He unconsciously rubbed his hand over her back comfortingly.
“She told them that everyone from our race but her and Nacedo had perished with the planet or in the subsequent crash here on earth. She has convinced them that she is the only surviving royal and she is being treated like a queen on Dendar.”
“Dendar?” Max looked perplexed. “Is that the planet where Eric and his people come from?”
“No. I guess I should explain better. I had hoped we could put everything behind us after you and Eric made peace, but…” He looked over Max’s shoulder in contemplation. “You see, there are… were five planets in our solar system. Our planet, Antar, and Eric’s, Tresar, were at war most of the time. The other three planets were always sort of neutral, mostly due to the fact that they had no real natural resources that were of value to us, so nobody bothered them. We assumed there were spies all over the other three planets, so we decided to send you all to a planet no one has ever heard of when the war came to a head. Earth was the only place we felt certain you could be hidden for a long period of time without detection. When Antar was destroyed, my group had to decide whether we would go to one of the other three planets and claim refugee status or whether we would come here. We came here in the hopes that you were still alive… and that we could find you.”
“But… can you leave? I mean…”
“No. Apparently your… I mean the Earth’s atmosphere was… We could land, but our ship didn’t make it in an effort to return to space. It was the same thing that happened to the ship you came on.”
“So how did Tess and Nacedo leave?” Max had a crushing grip on Liz’s hand by now.
“I’m guessing that there is new technology by now. That whoever contacted Nacedo from Dendar was able to pick them up in Frazier Woods and leave again.”
Max nodded. He was too stunned to speak. This was a lot to take in.
It was Liz’s turn to slide a comforting hand over Max’s shoulder now. “Uhm… Does that mean you guys are stuck here? Forever? And that everyone thinks Max is… is dead?”
“Yeah. Essentially.” Nick was watching Max who was staring at the floor with an unreadable expression. “We have people we can contact on Dendar now, if you want to…”
Max was shaking his head before Nick even finished. “No. Let them think we are dead. That means they will stop looking for us.” He paused before continuing softly. “My planet’s name was Antar?”
“Yes. It was a beautiful green planet, filled with life. A little like earth in some places, I guess.”
Max has lapsed deep into thought and Liz and Nick give each other a knowing glance before Nick got up to leave. “I’ll see you guys again soon. Good luck with going back to regular old West Roswell High, Liz.”
After seeing Nick out, Liz returned to find Max leaning forward in his chair, his elbows on his knees. Climbing in behind his back, Liz straddled his hips, slipped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his warm skin. “Are you okay?”
His fingers laced through hers as he sighed. “It’s just weird, you know. My planet was always this… this far-off dream. Hearing the name has made it more…”
“Real?” she asked, rubbing her face against his bare back.
“Yeah.”
Liz wrapped her legs around his waist, enveloping him with herself as completely as she could. “What can I do?”
He was quiet for a long time. “Just—just be you. And be with me.”
“Always.” She kissed the indentation of his spine and felt some of the tenseness leave his muscles. “Max… You know you should probably… discuss this with Michael and Isabel.” She was almost afraid to mention this. What if Michael decided that he wanted to go? What if they all went to this other planet to see what it’s like?
Max tugged at her arm. “Come here,” he commanded. She moved around until she was straddling his lap. He cupped her face and stated: “You know I will not leave you here. If the others want to go, we’ll go. All of us.” He looked at her for a few more seconds before he kissed her sweetly. Their lips clung together as their tongues dueled and danced for a few endless moments. His voice was rough when he spoke against her mouth: “Now can I stop pretending that I don’t notice you aren’t wearing anything under this robe?”
Grinning, Liz wiggled in his lap. “I noticed you noticed!” She ran a hand over his face. “I’m sorry about just now. I—I just can’t be without you.”
“I feel the same way, so I guess we can stop badgering ourselves about it. We’re never going to be apart again for long periods, I won’t allow it.” He slid his hands under the edges of her robe, parting it and baring her to his eyes.
Liz clutched at his shoulders, her head falling back and exposing her neck to him. His lips descended on her throat, nipping and licking at her skin until she sighed with pleasure. “You should… probably—probably call… Michael and…”
“Later,” he mumbled against her, his breath feathering over her heated skin. “Much later…”
~*~*~*~*~*~
They finally called a meeting with the others late the afternoon. Lunch with Liz’s parents had dragged past for Liz. She was truly worried about especially Michael’s reaction to the news of the possibility of visiting the other planets.
Everyone sat around Liz and Max’s living room like they have so many times before. But it felt different this time. There was tension in the air.
Liz ran around bringing everyone sodas until Max finally put an end to her restlessness by grabbing her hand and pulling down next to him. They looked into each other’s eyes for a long moment before Max turned to the other four.
Watching Max as he quietly but firmly explained what happened to Tess and Nacedo and that the possibility existed that they could visit these other planets if they wanted, Liz couldn’t help but be impressed with him. He had an inner strength that was inspiring to watch. Liz wondered at the fact that he was so… intact, in spite of the insanity that had taken place around him for most of his life. He had remained the gentle soul that she first got to know so long ago. But now she knew that underneath that gentle exterior ran a vein of steel. He absolutely deserved to be the king of an entire race. This stray thought made Liz’s heart stop in her chest. He deserved so much more than a mundane life here on earth. A life with an ordinary human wife, a white picket fence and a boring office job…
As the odd gasp indicated, Max had his little audience’s complete attention as he relayed all he knew. Observing the reactions of everyone, it became clear to Liz that this afternoon was going to have a definite impact on the group. Michael was starting to clench his jaw while Maria was sending little worried looks at him. Alex sat with a stunned look on his face and Isabel’s eyes were filling with tears. Liz unconsciously moved closer to Max and he put his arm around her to fit her to his side.
“We need to discuss what we want to do,” Max said as he met everyone’s gaze in turn. “Iz?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think I can decide that right now…. I need to think about it first.”
Max nodded. “Michael?”
Michael stared at the floor before glancing at Maria quickly. “I need time too.”
“Maria?”
Maria seemed a bit surprised that Max would want her opinion too. “I…” She looked at Michael. “I can understand it if you want to go find out more about the other planets. I-I could support that.” Her voice was soft at the end.
Giving her a small encouraging smile, Max looked at Alex.
“Hey, traveling through space? I could do that… You know, if… you guys wanted me to go.” He avoided looking at anyone in particular.
Hugging Liz harder, Max answered for both of them. “We would rather not go right now. They think we are dead, so we have time to be normal for a while. We could finish school first and maybe go later. I don’t think this is a one time only opportunity.” Max and Michael were looking at each other now. “But if it’s really important to any of you that we go soon, then we’ll go.”
Liz held her breath to see if Michael was going to fight Max about the way he was handling this whole thing, but it didn’t happen. Instead, Michael got up and said to Maria: “Let’s go. We’ll talk about this again later, Maxwell.”
It was quiet after everyone had left and Liz busied herself with tidying the living room. Max stood at the window, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. When Liz finally joined him, his beautiful hazel eyes were solemn. “I’m going to ask you this for the last time.” He took her hands in his. “I know you love me. But… I thought things were going to be normal from now on. That you and I will have the future we’ve always dreamed of. But Liz, I—I don’t think that is going to happen. There is always going to be something that crops up.” His gaze wavered from her steady one. “Are you really prepared for everything that will result from being with me? To give up on so much? To have no security about the future? To maybe go to some strange planet without your family…”
Her smile made him falter.
“Yes,” she answered simply.
“Liz…” he sounded dubious.
“Yes, Max,” she stated more firmly. Moving closer to him, she speared her fingers through his hair. “You matter more to me than any of those things you mentioned. And the only security for the future I need is that you will continue to love me. And you will, I know that.”
“Yes!” he said fiercely. “Yes, I will.”
Hearing his vow ringing in her ears, Liz buried her face in his chest and felt his arms wrap around her. Please give me strength to never disappoint this man! she prayed silently.
~*~*~*~*~*~
After that, things went back to normal. They went to school, they studied, wrote exams and went to the movies. It was like everyone had tacitly agreed not to discuss the possibility of leaving the planet again. However, as the weeks progressed, Max and Liz realized they had a much more immediate problem to deal with. One that had nothing to do with alien destinies or interplanetary travel. No, it was very much a teenagers-living-on-earth problem. And for once, it was one that alien powers couldn’t solve…
PART 22
Max found Liz in front of her locker. She had been back from Boston for months now, but midterms were taking up most of their time and they hardly saw each other. Even though they shared an apartment and a bed, they haven’t really had time to talk lately. Most nights one of them fell asleep while the other was still studying, so quality time together had been scarce and they were both starting to feel it.
“Hey sweetheart,” Max said as he reached her and slipped his arms around her waist. Liz leaned back into his chest immediately. “How did the exam go?”
She sighed. “Fine, I guess.”
Rubbing his cheek against hers, he smiled. His Liz always sounded like this after an exam only to get the highest marks in the class when the results came out. “I miss you,” his voice was low and raspy.
Liz spun around in his embrace, lifting her arms around his neck. “Me too!”
Max had to reign in his impulse to swoop down on her mouth and plunder her lips. They were still in school and were trying not to cause any more problems for themselves or their parents until Liz turned 18 too. Which, thankfully, was soon. But he couldn’t keep himself from kissing her softly for few seconds, trying not to let things get out of control. Liz made a soft sound against his mouth and he felt the answering kick of desire in his gut.
When he pulled away, he noticed one of the teachers standing at the other end of the hall watching them. As soon as the teacher saw that Max was looking at her, she turned and walked off. Max frowned, remembering that the teachers had started to show more than a passing interest in him and Liz before she went on course. He moved his hands away from Liz and shoved them into his pockets. Why could they not just be left alone? It was not as if their grades were bad or anything!
Liz was blinking up at him, disorientated by his sudden withdrawal. “What’s wrong. Max?”
“The teachers… We have to be careful, Liz.” Seeing her face fall, he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear tenderly. “Just for a little while still, okay?”
She nodded mutely. She was getting so sick of being in school and having to explain to people about her and Max. Just a few more weeks, then she would be 18 too and they could stop worrying about authority figures paying them too much attention…
~*~*~*~*~*~
***TWO WEEKS LATER***
Everyone was at the Evans’ except Liz. Max had called a secret meeting to discuss the plans for Liz’s 18th birthday. She had managed to surprise him with a small gathering for his birthday, and he intended to make hers special as well. Also, this party would mean the end of them hiding the true nature of their relationship to everyone. He planned to tell the others about the engagement then before going public with it.
The last two weeks had been hell. It was clear that they had become the target of an investigation and Max had taken to sneaking around in the middle of the night again. He hated it. He hated that Liz had to move back into her old bedroom and that he was staying in their apartment alone. He hated having to climb up her fire escape in the middle of the night to be with her and he hated that they had to organize times to see each other. Having sex with Liz in the room next to where her parents were sleeping was not fun. It put a severe cramp in their relationship and he took to dragging Liz off to the apartment only to take her back again later when he wanted to be alone with her. They were both starting to feel the effects of too little sleep. Only one more week, he promised himself…
“Maxwell!” Michael’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Could you get back from Planet Liz so we can finish your latest little scheme, please? And where is the lovely Miss Liz anyway?”
Max stilled for a moment, remembering the last time when Michael had accused him of being on Planet Liz. It had been moments before Jans had abducted him into that underground bunker, making Liz think that he was dead. He shook his head, trying to get rid of the memory. It still hurt when he remembered how afraid he had been that Liz would give up on life… to be with him. “She’s with her Bio teacher. They’re discussing her college plans.”
This caught the attention of their parents. “Have you guys decided your college plans yet?”
Max hesitated. He had received the letters from Harvard yesterday and he intended to surprise Liz with hers on her birthday. “Yeah, we have…”
“And?”
“And we’re both going to Harvard.”
This announcement led to pandemonium. All the parents bore down on Max, hugging him while getting emotional about how wonderful their children were.
Max finally had to put a stop to it all by holding up his hands. “Please! Liz doesn’t know yet. I want to surprise her with her letter. She got a scholarship to study molecular biology.”
“She did?” Nancy burst into tears again.
“What are you going to do, son?” Philip was looking at Max.
“I’m going to study medicine. I want to get into medical research…” Max had thought long and hard about what he wanted to do with his life. He had talked to Liz about it for hours. He never really thought about his future much until this last year. Together, they had decided that Max was better off not becoming an actual doctor, too much chance of him getting into situations where he might want to use his powers. Instead, Max would get into research into incurable diseases since that would allow him to remain true to his healing nature without him having to have too much contact with other people. Max was actually starting to get exited about going to college. He was still working on a few details, like where they would live, but he was already sure of one detail: Liz Parker would be Liz Evans before she started her first class at Harvard!
After all the excitement had died down and they finalized the plans for the little party for Liz, Max went home, hoping that Liz wasn’t there yet so he wouldn’t have to explain his whereabouts. He found the apartment empty and made his way through to the Crashdown, finding Maria in the back putting on her apron. She smiled at him: “Better be careful, lover boy, I see our guidance counselor out in the booths.”
Cursing under his breath, Max looked out through the window and sure enough, there was Mrs. Moore sitting primly at one of the tables. When he turned back he surprised a solemn expression on Maria’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“I—I’m just going to miss you and Lizzie when you go off to college, that’s all…” She trailed off.
Max nodded. He had also wondered how they were all going to cope with the group breaking up. They had gotten used to doing most everything together and it would be strange to be without this support network all the way out in Boston. He put his arm around Maria. “I know, we’ll just have to make an effort to see each other regularly.” But they both knew it would never be the same again…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz bounced into the café a few minutes later, dying to see Max and tell him about her afternoon with her teacher. However, she was intercepted by Maria who quietly pointed out that now was not a good time for Liz to look like she was running to the backroom for a secret rendezvous with a certain dark-haired boyfriend of hers. Liz had to relent and went upstairs to her room. Her phone was ringing when she got there.
“Hello?”
“Hey Liz.” Max’s voice slid over her senses like warm silk.
“Max! Where are you?”
“I’m at the UFO Museum. I wanted to ask my girlfriend if she would like to have dinner with me at the Crashdown. Do you think she would agree to that?”
“I don’t know,” Liz answered with a smile in her voice. “I hear there are teachers hanging out at that café lately and maybe your girlfriend would want to do stuff to you that those teachers shouldn’t see?”
“I know about the teachers. I thought maybe they would stop being so suspicious if they saw me having dinner with my girlfriend in a public place for a change?”
“Maybe…”
“I do intend being alone with her later, though. But don’t tell her, it’s a surprise.”
Liz pretended to think about it. “Hmmm, you sound like a nice guy to date. It’s a pity you already have a girlfriend. Is there any chance you might consider cheating on her with me?”
He chuckled. “That depends.”
“On what?”
His voice lowered. “On whether you are as beautiful, smart and sexy as she is.”
“I think you might be surprised!”
“Meet me downstairs in 10 minutes? I’ll give you my verdict then.”
“Okay!” Liz was grinning when she put the phone down. She dashed to her closet, throwing a skirt and blouse on her bed to change into. For some silly reason this felt like a date. She and Max went out every so often, but mostly their real dates were few and far between. Especially with all the studying they’ve been doing lately…
When she arrived in the café in rush a few minutes later, she saw Mrs. Moore chatting with her dad and Max in his usual booth. She said a perfunctory ‘hi’ to the teacher and her father and went over to join Max. He got up as she approached, his eyes sweeping over her appreciatively. They kissed quickly, both aware of the teacher’s attention.
Max took both of her hands in his when she settled across from him in the booth. “You are right, you are just as gorgeous and sexy as my girlfriend.”
Liz was squirming under his warm gaze. “Oh? And what about smart?”
“Well, I’d need to talk to you for a bit to know that, wouldn’t I?”
Liz glanced at the teacher, who was still sneaking glances at them while drinking her coffee. “Max, this is horrible! I hate having to hide like this.”
“I know, sweetheart. But you’ll be legal soon and then I’m giving up on any and all pretence.” He rubbed his thumbs over the backs of her hands. “I love you. We have coped with worse things than this.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” His caresses on her hands grew softer, more sensual, as his eyes traced the contours of her face. Liz felt herself flush and she licked her lips instinctively.
This caused Max’s eyes to turn a shade darker as they fixed on her moist mouth. “When was the last time I kissed you?”
“I—I think very… early this morning?”
He moved his fingers onto her wrist, feeling her pulse race under his touch. “Liz…”
They were interrupted by a throat being cleared loudly next to them. Maria still had the worst timing ever.
“Hi, I’m Maria and I will be your waitress tonight. Can I get you some drinks?” It was clear that she had a hard time not laughing.
When both Max and Liz just stared at her, she put her notepad away. “Oh-kay! So I’ll come back later. But you two should really get a room, you are making the other patrons jealous!”
They looked at each other and smiled when Maria left. “I thought we’d get better if we lived together,” Max said ruefully.
“Yeah, me too. But unfortunately I now know that you even look sexy brushing your teeth!” Liz grinned at Max’s embarrassment.
He recovered quickly. “Please don’t make my mind go to images of you in a towel! I’m desperately trying to keep my cool here.”
Liz tangled her feet with his under the table, making Max gasp. “I like you when you’re not—”
“Miss Parker? Could I speak with you for a few minutes?” The voice belonged to Mrs. Moore.
Liz met Max’s gaze. She wondered how much of their conversation the teacher had heard. “Uhm… Sure.”
Max gave her hands a squeeze before she got up to follow the teacher to the back room. He wished he could go with her to face whatever this was.
Liz turned to Mrs. Moore when they were alone, looking at her expectantly.
“I just talked to your father about you and Max Evans,” Mrs. Moore began. “And I think we have to straighten a few things out…”
tbc
23+24
PART 23
Max watched with a frown as the teacher and Liz disappeared into the back. What was going on?
“Hey Max,” Jeff sounded upbeat, but his face turned serious when he saw Max’s look of concern. “What’s wrong? Where’s Lizzie?”
Gesturing towards the back room, Max said: “That teacher took her back there. What did she talk to you about?”
Jeff was frowning now. “She wanted to know if we were aware of the fact that you two seemed too close. I told her that we were well aware of how serious you two were about your relationship and that the school should only concern itself with your grades.”
The two most important men in Liz’s life shared a look, before Max got up from the table. “Let’s go see what’s going on…”
Relief flooded through Liz as the backroom door swung open to reveal Max and Jeff, both with mirroring determined expressions.
Mrs. Moore blanched when she was faced with all three of them.
“Is there a problem that I’m not aware of?” Jeff asked her.
“Ah… no, I just wanted to make sure everything was fine with Liz,” Mrs. Moore replied.
Max took Liz’s hand in his, squeezing it in support.
“Everything is just wonderful, Mrs. Moore,” Liz said quietly while moving closer to Max.
Jeff had had enough. “Mrs. Moore, I would appreciate it if the school butts out of my children’s private lives. They are doing exceptionally well in school and that is all that you need to worry about. Trust me when I say that neither Max nor Liz has been hiding anything about themselves from us or the Evans’. I trust them. Also, Max is already 18 and Liz will be 18 soon, so I guess what they do in their off time is up to them. Surely you have better things to do than go around checking up on students after hours?”
Both Max and Liz stared at Jeff in amazement. He normally cannot be described as a vocal person and here he was telling off their teacher!
Mrs. Moore seemed at a loss as to what to say to Jeff. She gaped at all of them for a few seconds and then mumbled: “Well, everything is fine then so I’ll… just leave.”
Max hugged Liz against him when the teacher left with Jeff in tow. “What do you say we kick this dive and go home? To our home,” he whispered in her ear.
Nodding against his shoulder, Liz inhaled his scent deeply. She loved being close to him and being able to smell him. It was such a unique Max scent: warm, exotic, exiting and sexy. And right now, it made her want to be with him so badly. To be able to press her skin against his. Yes, Max Evans had put a force on her…
~*~*~*~*~*~
***ONE WEEK LATER***
Liz rolled over onto her stomach and found Max’s side of the bed empty. She opened one eye to see the time on the bedside clock. Too early for him to be up yet. The next moment, something soft slid over her bare shoulder. Shivering, Liz tried to turn over, but Max covered her back with his chest, nuzzling her cheek before placing light little kisses all over the side of her face.
“Happy birthday, sleepyhead,” he said softly, his breath feathering over her sensitive skin. “How does it feel to be 18?”
“Hmmm…” She contemplated the sensation of the warm skin of Max’s bare chest sliding over her back as his one hand gently moved her hair away from her neck and spread it over the pillow. “I’m liking it so far.”
He reared away from her a bit and this time she saw what it was that he was sliding across her skin. It was a white rose. Max used it to trace all of her features, taking his time with her mouth, still keeping her virtually pinned underneath him.
“Max!” she gasped, desperately wanting to be able to touch him back.
“No, wait,” he said. “This is the first time I’m making love to you legally and I intend to do it thoroughly.”
He caressed the indentation of her spine with the rose, slowly pushing the sheet that covered her lower. Then he followed the same path with his lips. Finally, he tore the sheet away completely, leaving her totally bare to his eyes. Instead of continuing his caresses, he carefully fit his body to hers, not lying on top of her, but covering just enough of her so that she could feel his skin next to hers. She lay facing away from him and he pressed his cheek against hers again. “I love you, Liz,” he stated simply.
Tangling her fingers with his, Liz felt like her heart was going to burst with happiness. “And I love you.”
Curling his arm around her waist, he moved her onto her side, still facing away from him and pressed his face into her hair. “You mean everything to me…”
Liz inhaled sharply. “Thank you, Max, for not giving up on me. Ever.” Last time he had said those words Liz had felt like her heart was being ripped out. She had known then that he meant them, but also that a destiny he didn’t ask for didn’t allow him to mean them. Walking away from him with those words ringing in her ears had hurt so much she could hardly breathe. This time she knew he meant the words too. And this time, he was allowed to say them. And that made her gloriously happy.
He allowed her to turn towards him and she faced him, her heart clenching at the blinding joy she could see in his eyes. “I’m going to do my best to always make you this happy, Max,” she promised him, touching her fingers to his mouth.
Rolling them over unexpectedly, Max settled his body on top of Liz’s, again marveling at how tiny she really was. So tiny and yet so made for him.
Liz held her breath until he angled his head and tasted her soft mouth with a devastatingly direct hunger that shot right down to her toes. Her lips burned and her thighs trembled as he rimmed her parted lips with the tip of his tongue, teasing her, making her desperate for his invasion of her mouth. When his tongue finally tangled with hers, it electrified her, tore a moan from her throat and sent her hands into his hair, pulling him closer for more.
Their connection flared to life, showering them in images of themselves, entwined in passion and lost within each other. Max trembled against her and she knew he was trying to keep himself in control so he could pay full attention to what he was doing to her. The rose he had been caressing her with lay forgotten next to them on the bed as his hands shaped her curves, trailing fire where they went.
Max fought his own urgency as he watched Liz’s reaction with dark, heated eyes. She arched underneath him, her head flung back and her eyes shut tightly as she instinctively tried to get closer to his arousal. He teased her by keeping his body just far enough away that she couldn’t quite manage to touch him properly.
She reached up to him suddenly, finding his mouth again for herself and parting her lips to the invasion of his tongue. He shuddered violently against her, his control slipping as he kissed her back with raw, hungry force.
His hand slipped lower, touching her intimately, making her whimper and writhe underneath him. “When you respond like that, all I can think about is being inside you.” It was a groan against her lips, his voice hoarse with passion.
“Then please… please, Max!” she begged. And he complied, entering her slowly to extend their pleasure. He gripped her hips, halting her frantic movements against him, changing her rhythm to fit his. He kept their advance to that final peak gradual, making sure that the release would be explosive. And he held Liz tightly as she shuddered in his arms, his name tumbling from her lips with that little catch in her voice that he loved so much. He watched as she came undone in his embrace, her fingers digging into his shoulders and her breathing rapid and labored. This was his Liz. The one no one but him had ever seen…
She finally opened her eyes and wrapped her legs around his hips. Her voice was still husky when she promised: “Your turn, Max…” And sent him over the edge with a small movement of her hips.
“Oh god, Liz…” Coherence left him as he rode out the storm she had stirred up inside him. And for a few exquisite moments, Liz Parker was in complete control of the leader of an entire alien race…
~*~*~*~*~*~
She was all dressed up and had no idea where she was going. Liz smoothed her hair once again as her eyes wandered to the Harvard acceptance letter that lay on her dresser. Max had finally gotten around to give it to her this morning and she had promptly burst into tears with joy. Her dream of studying molecular biology at Harvard was coming true. And even better, she was going there with Max…
The school day had been uneventful, apart from her friends surprising her with a cupcake and a birthday candle during lunch in the quad. And, of course, Maria doing a loud rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” which made them the center of attention and made Liz dive into Max’s shoulder to hide her face.
Oh, and Max dragging her into the Eraser Room saying that this was the last time he could make-out with her on her birthday in this little room. And boy did he make it count! Okay, so the day had not really been uneventful…
Now, here she was, waiting for Max to finish dressing so he could take her out to dinner somewhere. She fingered the chain around her neck carrying her engagement ring absently. Max had given her a delicate charm bracelet for her birthday, one that had little stars and planets hanging from it. He had had a lopsided grin on his face when she opened it, saying he had thought it was a fitting gift.
Max halted in the door of their room, watching Liz sit at the dresser. She looked ethereal with the lights dancing from her hair and turning her smooth skin into the color of moonlight. She took his breath away. He watched as she turned towards him, a smile lighting up her whole face. “Lord, you’re beautiful…” he said wonderingly.
Liz blushed and stood up, suddenly unnerved by his intense appraisal. “And you are biased.”
Smiling, he countered: “So what if I am?” He caught her hands when she reached him and kissed her softly on the tip of her nose. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
Max told her that his parents wanted to wish her happy birthday in person and that they had to stop by his old house first. Diane and Philip met them in the hallway, hugging Liz before taking her into the den where all her friends and her parents were congregated.
“Surprise!” Maria yelled. When she noticed she was the only one she glared at her friends: “How do you all expect to graduate when you can’t even follow simple instructions?” The same thing had happened during Michael’s birthday party and Maria was getting tired of trying to teach them how to throw a successful surprise party.
Liz was happy nonetheless and she finally got Maria to stop calling their friends names. She got more presents, among others a sweater from Isabel with tiny buttons down the front that Isabel claimed was actually a present to Max, causing him to squirm in embarrassment and everyone else to laugh at his discomfort. She also got a leather case from her parents who could finally beam at her proudly about Harvard.
It was late when Max finally pulled her to her feet and the room went quiet. Still holding on to her hands, he took a deep breath before saying: “Liz, I—I talked to your parents and… I asked them if I could marry you.”
Liz stopped breathing as his hands found the chain around her neck and lifted his engagement ring from its nestling place between her breasts. The ring was still warm from her body heat when he slipped it onto her finger.
“They said yes.” His eyes met hers unwaveringly. “So will you please wear this on your finger from now on? And never take it off again? And marry me soon?”
He smiled as he watched her eyes fill with tears because he knew her answer before she even said it out loud. Yes! “Yes.”
Applause broke out around them as they kissed softly.
“Finally!” Michael grouched.
“Oooh, a wedding!” Maria’s gleeful voice.
“I’m choosing my own bride’s maid dress!” Isabel sounded firm.
“Oh god! Another wedding!” Alex whined.
But the only thing Liz and Max heard was their own thoughts. I will love you forever…
PART 24
They got married in the sunshine on the Saturday after they all graduated from high school. The wedding was small and was held in a small chapel with only their parents, friends and Nick and his wife in attendance.
Of course, the school authorities had had trouble with two of their students being engaged so openly and Michael was never going to let Max forget that their “fearless leader” had needed his lawyer dad to help him with this problem. Philip and the rest of the parents had eventually convinced the school board that Max and Liz knew what they were doing, was not going to disrupt school activities and had full parental consent for their actions (even though they technically didn’t need it).
Max had chafed under all this attention. He wanted to live his life with Liz and not be subjected to interrogation for it. He had had enough of that from Nacedo and everyone else already. For the first time, it irritated him that he couldn’t tell these people to take a flying leap and that Liz was already his two times over according to the laws of his own people. But, eventually, it all blew over and the stares and whispers following Max and Liz in the hallways of West Roswell High died down.
Preparing for a wedding while trying to study for finals put a lot of strain on everyone. Isabel and Maria bickered endlessly about their bride’s maid dresses until Liz decided on a color for them and told them that they could each fashion a dress to their own tastes. For the rest, Isabel took care of planning the small reception that was to be held in the garden of the Evans’ home. At first, Maria and Liz had tried to help, but Isabel got scary so they just gave up.
The day had finally arrived. Max felt like a huge fist was squeezing his chest and he thrust his hands through his hair for the umpteenth time that morning. Liz had been staying with her parents since Thursday night and he had only gotten to see her for a little while last night. He wasn’t worried about Liz not showing up, he was worried something horrible would happen to ruin this day that he had been dreaming about for so long. He kept locating Liz through their connection, making sure she hasn’t been abducted or something. He knew he was being ridiculous, but there have been quite a number of moments during his life where he had been afraid that he would never see Liz again and he never wanted to relive them. Especially not on their wedding day…
“Maxwell! Would you quit wearing a groove in the floor? It’s not like the girl can escape you or anything!” Michael was supremely irritated with the whole affair. Figures that his leader would be a complete sap for a girl.
Max just sighed. How could he explain his fear to Michael? Michael lived life in broad strokes, Max lived in small nuances. They saw life from two very opposing angles. “I know she will be here, Michael. I—I just want everything to be perfect.”
“And here I was starting to think maybe you and Isabel weren’t really related,” Alex stated from his position slouched on the couch. They were waiting in the side-room of the chapel for the appointed wedding hour and Alex and Michael were getting really bored with everything. Trust Max to take this whole commitment thing to the extreme!
Liz was staring at herself in the mirror. She was nervous, really nervous. Not about Max. Never about Max. She was nervous about something going wrong today. She was, after all, Miss-Gotta-Have-A-Plan Parker. A small smile touched her lips. Actually, soon it will be Mrs-Gotta-Have-A-Plan Evans. Liz Evans. Her smile grew to a delighted laugh. Mrs. Liz Evans!
“Liz, babe, not a good time to be losing it, okay?” Maria arrived in a rush. “Isabel is freaking out over the napkins that are all wrong and you are standing here laughing. What’s up with that?”
Whirling around, Liz hugged Maria. “I’m going to be Mrs. Liz Evans, Maria!”
Maria pulled away and smoothed her dress. “And why is that such a big deal? It’s not like you haven’t been practicing signing that name for years now. Or that you haven’t been living and acting like Mrs. Evans for the last two years. Or that anyone of us ever doubted this day would finally come. Or that—”
“Okay Maria! I get the point,” Liz cried. She was deliriously happy and Maria was not going to rain on her parade.
“Well, then put on your dress, girl! The man is probably going to beam you there with some of his freaky alien powers if you don’t arrive on time!”
Nancy came in to help Liz dress. She was emotional and ended up wiping some tears off when she saw Liz in her wedding dress.
“How do I look?” Liz asked nervously.
“Absolutely gorgeous,” Nancy said past the lump in her throat. “My baby… All grown up!”
“Max is going to die, Lizzie,” Maria added softly.
“I agree,” Isabel spoke from the doorway. “You look stunning. Dark-haired girls always look better in wedding dresses.”
Giving her a look, Maria came over to hug Liz carefully. “Max is one lucky alien, chica.”
“Thank you.”
“Now let’s get this show on the road!” Isabel clapped her hands, back in organizer mode.
Max stood perfectly still at the front of the chapel, his mind busy talking to Liz.
After watching this for a few minutes, Michael slapped him on the back. “Not the time to space out, Maxwell. I hear cars arriving.”
“I know. She’s here,” Max answered, turning to the door.
Isabel and Maria came in first, smiling broadly at the group of men standing at the end of the isle. “Well, that’s probably the closest I’ll ever get Michael Guerin to an altar,” Maria said from the side of her mouth to Isabel.
“Hmmm, don’t be so sure!” Isabel whispered back, startling Maria.
Max gave both girls a perfunctory smile, but his attention wandered to the door again. And then she appeared on the arm of her father… Her dress was the color of ivory and the strapless bodice fit her curves perfectly. The skirt of the dress was wide and swirled around her as she moved. In her hair, she wore the white roses that he had given her last night.
Liz felt Max’s gaze wander from the top of her upswept hair to the tips of her shoes peeking from beneath her dress. When his eyes met hers again, they were warm and filled with love and wonder.
I didn’t think you could get more beautiful, his mind whispered to hers.
I love you, Max Evans! she whispered back.
“Be happy, honey,” Jeff told her before kissing her lightly and giving her over to Max.
They stared in each other’s eyes, oblivious to everything around them. Max lifted his hand and reverently touched her cheek.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman…” The preacher went through the motions, but Max and Liz couldn’t stop looking at each other. Their hands were tightly entwined and for a fleeting second, they saw two little children playing in a garden again. Both of them gasped at the vision.
Their “I do’s” were said softly, but firmly. They were only confirming again what their hearts have known for a long time. They belonged to each other.
Liz felt absurdly pleased when she slipped the ring on Max’s finger. Finally, an outward sign that he was hers! She saw from his half-smile that he knew what she was thinking.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!”
Max ignored Alex’s ‘like he ever needed an invitation to do that’ and wrapped his arm around Liz’s waist, lifting her up against him until she was eye-level with him. “I love you, Liz Evans!” He said clearly before swooping in to kiss her mouth. Most wedding kisses were quick and tame, but not this one. Max practically devoured her lips, sliding his tongue against hers as his other hand came up to cup her cheek.
Liz put her arms around his neck and let herself be swept away by his passion. She kissed him back ardently, letting him see into her soul with each kiss.
As always, it was Alex that broke up the moment. “Okay you two, isn’t that what got you in this mess in the first place?”
Finally letting Liz slide down his body until her feet touched the ground, Max grinned at her. Liz looked completely dazed and… ravished. And for once, he didn’t have to try and ‘fix’ her up so no one would know.
They finished the formalities and emerged from the chapel with rose petals raining down on them. Maria and Alex were taking pictures and Alex commiserated with Philip for having to drive the car with the newly weds. “They gonna suck face all the way, Mr. E! You do realize that, don’t you?”
Philip watched his son, who had seemed very uninterested in girls for a long time, in the rearview mirror, kissing his new wife as if the world would end if he stopped. Tearing his eyes away when Liz climbed on Max lap, he ruefully admitted that it sure looked like they had had enough practice with kissing.
Back at the house, Isabel glared at Max for ruining Liz’s make-up and waved her hand over Liz’s face to fix the damage. Max could care less. He grabbed Isabel around the middle and kissed her cheek. “Thanks for everything, Izzy!”
They ate, they danced, they chatted. It was a wonderful, sunny day and everything that the new Mr. and Mrs. Evans had wanted.
Liz threw her bouquet to the only two unmarried girls in the room, and Maria caught it! Michael just raised an eyebrow until Max took off Liz’s garter (he took his time with it) and walked straight to Michael to hand it to him personally. Michael was completely flummoxed and stood there gaping at them all while their laughter filled the garden.
Max and Liz had asked to go the Evans’ cabin in Carlsbad for their second honeymoon too, and Max was driving them up there in the Jeep. Alex had made sure that the Jeep looked like a carnival, filled with balloons and streamers and saying “Just Married” on the bonnet.
Max swung Liz, still wearing her wedding dress, into the passenger seat and they finally waved goodbye to their families.
“You could’ve given me some time to get out of this dress before we left, you know!” Liz smiled at him.
Giving her a disbelieving look, Max stated simply: “If you thought I would’ve let anyone but me take that dress off you today, you were sadly mistaken…. So you will wear that dress until I can undress you. Okay, Mrs. Evans?”
Opening her mouth to say something, Liz decided that her first action as Max’s wife would be to follow this order of his. He was a King after all…
tbc
Max watched with a frown as the teacher and Liz disappeared into the back. What was going on?
“Hey Max,” Jeff sounded upbeat, but his face turned serious when he saw Max’s look of concern. “What’s wrong? Where’s Lizzie?”
Gesturing towards the back room, Max said: “That teacher took her back there. What did she talk to you about?”
Jeff was frowning now. “She wanted to know if we were aware of the fact that you two seemed too close. I told her that we were well aware of how serious you two were about your relationship and that the school should only concern itself with your grades.”
The two most important men in Liz’s life shared a look, before Max got up from the table. “Let’s go see what’s going on…”
Relief flooded through Liz as the backroom door swung open to reveal Max and Jeff, both with mirroring determined expressions.
Mrs. Moore blanched when she was faced with all three of them.
“Is there a problem that I’m not aware of?” Jeff asked her.
“Ah… no, I just wanted to make sure everything was fine with Liz,” Mrs. Moore replied.
Max took Liz’s hand in his, squeezing it in support.
“Everything is just wonderful, Mrs. Moore,” Liz said quietly while moving closer to Max.
Jeff had had enough. “Mrs. Moore, I would appreciate it if the school butts out of my children’s private lives. They are doing exceptionally well in school and that is all that you need to worry about. Trust me when I say that neither Max nor Liz has been hiding anything about themselves from us or the Evans’. I trust them. Also, Max is already 18 and Liz will be 18 soon, so I guess what they do in their off time is up to them. Surely you have better things to do than go around checking up on students after hours?”
Both Max and Liz stared at Jeff in amazement. He normally cannot be described as a vocal person and here he was telling off their teacher!
Mrs. Moore seemed at a loss as to what to say to Jeff. She gaped at all of them for a few seconds and then mumbled: “Well, everything is fine then so I’ll… just leave.”
Max hugged Liz against him when the teacher left with Jeff in tow. “What do you say we kick this dive and go home? To our home,” he whispered in her ear.
Nodding against his shoulder, Liz inhaled his scent deeply. She loved being close to him and being able to smell him. It was such a unique Max scent: warm, exotic, exiting and sexy. And right now, it made her want to be with him so badly. To be able to press her skin against his. Yes, Max Evans had put a force on her…
~*~*~*~*~*~
***ONE WEEK LATER***
Liz rolled over onto her stomach and found Max’s side of the bed empty. She opened one eye to see the time on the bedside clock. Too early for him to be up yet. The next moment, something soft slid over her bare shoulder. Shivering, Liz tried to turn over, but Max covered her back with his chest, nuzzling her cheek before placing light little kisses all over the side of her face.
“Happy birthday, sleepyhead,” he said softly, his breath feathering over her sensitive skin. “How does it feel to be 18?”
“Hmmm…” She contemplated the sensation of the warm skin of Max’s bare chest sliding over her back as his one hand gently moved her hair away from her neck and spread it over the pillow. “I’m liking it so far.”
He reared away from her a bit and this time she saw what it was that he was sliding across her skin. It was a white rose. Max used it to trace all of her features, taking his time with her mouth, still keeping her virtually pinned underneath him.
“Max!” she gasped, desperately wanting to be able to touch him back.
“No, wait,” he said. “This is the first time I’m making love to you legally and I intend to do it thoroughly.”
He caressed the indentation of her spine with the rose, slowly pushing the sheet that covered her lower. Then he followed the same path with his lips. Finally, he tore the sheet away completely, leaving her totally bare to his eyes. Instead of continuing his caresses, he carefully fit his body to hers, not lying on top of her, but covering just enough of her so that she could feel his skin next to hers. She lay facing away from him and he pressed his cheek against hers again. “I love you, Liz,” he stated simply.
Tangling her fingers with his, Liz felt like her heart was going to burst with happiness. “And I love you.”
Curling his arm around her waist, he moved her onto her side, still facing away from him and pressed his face into her hair. “You mean everything to me…”
Liz inhaled sharply. “Thank you, Max, for not giving up on me. Ever.” Last time he had said those words Liz had felt like her heart was being ripped out. She had known then that he meant them, but also that a destiny he didn’t ask for didn’t allow him to mean them. Walking away from him with those words ringing in her ears had hurt so much she could hardly breathe. This time she knew he meant the words too. And this time, he was allowed to say them. And that made her gloriously happy.
He allowed her to turn towards him and she faced him, her heart clenching at the blinding joy she could see in his eyes. “I’m going to do my best to always make you this happy, Max,” she promised him, touching her fingers to his mouth.
Rolling them over unexpectedly, Max settled his body on top of Liz’s, again marveling at how tiny she really was. So tiny and yet so made for him.
Liz held her breath until he angled his head and tasted her soft mouth with a devastatingly direct hunger that shot right down to her toes. Her lips burned and her thighs trembled as he rimmed her parted lips with the tip of his tongue, teasing her, making her desperate for his invasion of her mouth. When his tongue finally tangled with hers, it electrified her, tore a moan from her throat and sent her hands into his hair, pulling him closer for more.
Their connection flared to life, showering them in images of themselves, entwined in passion and lost within each other. Max trembled against her and she knew he was trying to keep himself in control so he could pay full attention to what he was doing to her. The rose he had been caressing her with lay forgotten next to them on the bed as his hands shaped her curves, trailing fire where they went.
Max fought his own urgency as he watched Liz’s reaction with dark, heated eyes. She arched underneath him, her head flung back and her eyes shut tightly as she instinctively tried to get closer to his arousal. He teased her by keeping his body just far enough away that she couldn’t quite manage to touch him properly.
She reached up to him suddenly, finding his mouth again for herself and parting her lips to the invasion of his tongue. He shuddered violently against her, his control slipping as he kissed her back with raw, hungry force.
His hand slipped lower, touching her intimately, making her whimper and writhe underneath him. “When you respond like that, all I can think about is being inside you.” It was a groan against her lips, his voice hoarse with passion.
“Then please… please, Max!” she begged. And he complied, entering her slowly to extend their pleasure. He gripped her hips, halting her frantic movements against him, changing her rhythm to fit his. He kept their advance to that final peak gradual, making sure that the release would be explosive. And he held Liz tightly as she shuddered in his arms, his name tumbling from her lips with that little catch in her voice that he loved so much. He watched as she came undone in his embrace, her fingers digging into his shoulders and her breathing rapid and labored. This was his Liz. The one no one but him had ever seen…
She finally opened her eyes and wrapped her legs around his hips. Her voice was still husky when she promised: “Your turn, Max…” And sent him over the edge with a small movement of her hips.
“Oh god, Liz…” Coherence left him as he rode out the storm she had stirred up inside him. And for a few exquisite moments, Liz Parker was in complete control of the leader of an entire alien race…
~*~*~*~*~*~
She was all dressed up and had no idea where she was going. Liz smoothed her hair once again as her eyes wandered to the Harvard acceptance letter that lay on her dresser. Max had finally gotten around to give it to her this morning and she had promptly burst into tears with joy. Her dream of studying molecular biology at Harvard was coming true. And even better, she was going there with Max…
The school day had been uneventful, apart from her friends surprising her with a cupcake and a birthday candle during lunch in the quad. And, of course, Maria doing a loud rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” which made them the center of attention and made Liz dive into Max’s shoulder to hide her face.
Oh, and Max dragging her into the Eraser Room saying that this was the last time he could make-out with her on her birthday in this little room. And boy did he make it count! Okay, so the day had not really been uneventful…
Now, here she was, waiting for Max to finish dressing so he could take her out to dinner somewhere. She fingered the chain around her neck carrying her engagement ring absently. Max had given her a delicate charm bracelet for her birthday, one that had little stars and planets hanging from it. He had had a lopsided grin on his face when she opened it, saying he had thought it was a fitting gift.
Max halted in the door of their room, watching Liz sit at the dresser. She looked ethereal with the lights dancing from her hair and turning her smooth skin into the color of moonlight. She took his breath away. He watched as she turned towards him, a smile lighting up her whole face. “Lord, you’re beautiful…” he said wonderingly.
Liz blushed and stood up, suddenly unnerved by his intense appraisal. “And you are biased.”
Smiling, he countered: “So what if I am?” He caught her hands when she reached him and kissed her softly on the tip of her nose. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
Max told her that his parents wanted to wish her happy birthday in person and that they had to stop by his old house first. Diane and Philip met them in the hallway, hugging Liz before taking her into the den where all her friends and her parents were congregated.
“Surprise!” Maria yelled. When she noticed she was the only one she glared at her friends: “How do you all expect to graduate when you can’t even follow simple instructions?” The same thing had happened during Michael’s birthday party and Maria was getting tired of trying to teach them how to throw a successful surprise party.
Liz was happy nonetheless and she finally got Maria to stop calling their friends names. She got more presents, among others a sweater from Isabel with tiny buttons down the front that Isabel claimed was actually a present to Max, causing him to squirm in embarrassment and everyone else to laugh at his discomfort. She also got a leather case from her parents who could finally beam at her proudly about Harvard.
It was late when Max finally pulled her to her feet and the room went quiet. Still holding on to her hands, he took a deep breath before saying: “Liz, I—I talked to your parents and… I asked them if I could marry you.”
Liz stopped breathing as his hands found the chain around her neck and lifted his engagement ring from its nestling place between her breasts. The ring was still warm from her body heat when he slipped it onto her finger.
“They said yes.” His eyes met hers unwaveringly. “So will you please wear this on your finger from now on? And never take it off again? And marry me soon?”
He smiled as he watched her eyes fill with tears because he knew her answer before she even said it out loud. Yes! “Yes.”
Applause broke out around them as they kissed softly.
“Finally!” Michael grouched.
“Oooh, a wedding!” Maria’s gleeful voice.
“I’m choosing my own bride’s maid dress!” Isabel sounded firm.
“Oh god! Another wedding!” Alex whined.
But the only thing Liz and Max heard was their own thoughts. I will love you forever…
PART 24
They got married in the sunshine on the Saturday after they all graduated from high school. The wedding was small and was held in a small chapel with only their parents, friends and Nick and his wife in attendance.
Of course, the school authorities had had trouble with two of their students being engaged so openly and Michael was never going to let Max forget that their “fearless leader” had needed his lawyer dad to help him with this problem. Philip and the rest of the parents had eventually convinced the school board that Max and Liz knew what they were doing, was not going to disrupt school activities and had full parental consent for their actions (even though they technically didn’t need it).
Max had chafed under all this attention. He wanted to live his life with Liz and not be subjected to interrogation for it. He had had enough of that from Nacedo and everyone else already. For the first time, it irritated him that he couldn’t tell these people to take a flying leap and that Liz was already his two times over according to the laws of his own people. But, eventually, it all blew over and the stares and whispers following Max and Liz in the hallways of West Roswell High died down.
Preparing for a wedding while trying to study for finals put a lot of strain on everyone. Isabel and Maria bickered endlessly about their bride’s maid dresses until Liz decided on a color for them and told them that they could each fashion a dress to their own tastes. For the rest, Isabel took care of planning the small reception that was to be held in the garden of the Evans’ home. At first, Maria and Liz had tried to help, but Isabel got scary so they just gave up.
The day had finally arrived. Max felt like a huge fist was squeezing his chest and he thrust his hands through his hair for the umpteenth time that morning. Liz had been staying with her parents since Thursday night and he had only gotten to see her for a little while last night. He wasn’t worried about Liz not showing up, he was worried something horrible would happen to ruin this day that he had been dreaming about for so long. He kept locating Liz through their connection, making sure she hasn’t been abducted or something. He knew he was being ridiculous, but there have been quite a number of moments during his life where he had been afraid that he would never see Liz again and he never wanted to relive them. Especially not on their wedding day…
“Maxwell! Would you quit wearing a groove in the floor? It’s not like the girl can escape you or anything!” Michael was supremely irritated with the whole affair. Figures that his leader would be a complete sap for a girl.
Max just sighed. How could he explain his fear to Michael? Michael lived life in broad strokes, Max lived in small nuances. They saw life from two very opposing angles. “I know she will be here, Michael. I—I just want everything to be perfect.”
“And here I was starting to think maybe you and Isabel weren’t really related,” Alex stated from his position slouched on the couch. They were waiting in the side-room of the chapel for the appointed wedding hour and Alex and Michael were getting really bored with everything. Trust Max to take this whole commitment thing to the extreme!
Liz was staring at herself in the mirror. She was nervous, really nervous. Not about Max. Never about Max. She was nervous about something going wrong today. She was, after all, Miss-Gotta-Have-A-Plan Parker. A small smile touched her lips. Actually, soon it will be Mrs-Gotta-Have-A-Plan Evans. Liz Evans. Her smile grew to a delighted laugh. Mrs. Liz Evans!
“Liz, babe, not a good time to be losing it, okay?” Maria arrived in a rush. “Isabel is freaking out over the napkins that are all wrong and you are standing here laughing. What’s up with that?”
Whirling around, Liz hugged Maria. “I’m going to be Mrs. Liz Evans, Maria!”
Maria pulled away and smoothed her dress. “And why is that such a big deal? It’s not like you haven’t been practicing signing that name for years now. Or that you haven’t been living and acting like Mrs. Evans for the last two years. Or that anyone of us ever doubted this day would finally come. Or that—”
“Okay Maria! I get the point,” Liz cried. She was deliriously happy and Maria was not going to rain on her parade.
“Well, then put on your dress, girl! The man is probably going to beam you there with some of his freaky alien powers if you don’t arrive on time!”
Nancy came in to help Liz dress. She was emotional and ended up wiping some tears off when she saw Liz in her wedding dress.
“How do I look?” Liz asked nervously.
“Absolutely gorgeous,” Nancy said past the lump in her throat. “My baby… All grown up!”
“Max is going to die, Lizzie,” Maria added softly.
“I agree,” Isabel spoke from the doorway. “You look stunning. Dark-haired girls always look better in wedding dresses.”
Giving her a look, Maria came over to hug Liz carefully. “Max is one lucky alien, chica.”
“Thank you.”
“Now let’s get this show on the road!” Isabel clapped her hands, back in organizer mode.
Max stood perfectly still at the front of the chapel, his mind busy talking to Liz.
After watching this for a few minutes, Michael slapped him on the back. “Not the time to space out, Maxwell. I hear cars arriving.”
“I know. She’s here,” Max answered, turning to the door.
Isabel and Maria came in first, smiling broadly at the group of men standing at the end of the isle. “Well, that’s probably the closest I’ll ever get Michael Guerin to an altar,” Maria said from the side of her mouth to Isabel.
“Hmmm, don’t be so sure!” Isabel whispered back, startling Maria.
Max gave both girls a perfunctory smile, but his attention wandered to the door again. And then she appeared on the arm of her father… Her dress was the color of ivory and the strapless bodice fit her curves perfectly. The skirt of the dress was wide and swirled around her as she moved. In her hair, she wore the white roses that he had given her last night.
Liz felt Max’s gaze wander from the top of her upswept hair to the tips of her shoes peeking from beneath her dress. When his eyes met hers again, they were warm and filled with love and wonder.
I didn’t think you could get more beautiful, his mind whispered to hers.
I love you, Max Evans! she whispered back.
“Be happy, honey,” Jeff told her before kissing her lightly and giving her over to Max.
They stared in each other’s eyes, oblivious to everything around them. Max lifted his hand and reverently touched her cheek.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman…” The preacher went through the motions, but Max and Liz couldn’t stop looking at each other. Their hands were tightly entwined and for a fleeting second, they saw two little children playing in a garden again. Both of them gasped at the vision.
Their “I do’s” were said softly, but firmly. They were only confirming again what their hearts have known for a long time. They belonged to each other.
Liz felt absurdly pleased when she slipped the ring on Max’s finger. Finally, an outward sign that he was hers! She saw from his half-smile that he knew what she was thinking.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!”
Max ignored Alex’s ‘like he ever needed an invitation to do that’ and wrapped his arm around Liz’s waist, lifting her up against him until she was eye-level with him. “I love you, Liz Evans!” He said clearly before swooping in to kiss her mouth. Most wedding kisses were quick and tame, but not this one. Max practically devoured her lips, sliding his tongue against hers as his other hand came up to cup her cheek.
Liz put her arms around his neck and let herself be swept away by his passion. She kissed him back ardently, letting him see into her soul with each kiss.
As always, it was Alex that broke up the moment. “Okay you two, isn’t that what got you in this mess in the first place?”
Finally letting Liz slide down his body until her feet touched the ground, Max grinned at her. Liz looked completely dazed and… ravished. And for once, he didn’t have to try and ‘fix’ her up so no one would know.
They finished the formalities and emerged from the chapel with rose petals raining down on them. Maria and Alex were taking pictures and Alex commiserated with Philip for having to drive the car with the newly weds. “They gonna suck face all the way, Mr. E! You do realize that, don’t you?”
Philip watched his son, who had seemed very uninterested in girls for a long time, in the rearview mirror, kissing his new wife as if the world would end if he stopped. Tearing his eyes away when Liz climbed on Max lap, he ruefully admitted that it sure looked like they had had enough practice with kissing.
Back at the house, Isabel glared at Max for ruining Liz’s make-up and waved her hand over Liz’s face to fix the damage. Max could care less. He grabbed Isabel around the middle and kissed her cheek. “Thanks for everything, Izzy!”
They ate, they danced, they chatted. It was a wonderful, sunny day and everything that the new Mr. and Mrs. Evans had wanted.
Liz threw her bouquet to the only two unmarried girls in the room, and Maria caught it! Michael just raised an eyebrow until Max took off Liz’s garter (he took his time with it) and walked straight to Michael to hand it to him personally. Michael was completely flummoxed and stood there gaping at them all while their laughter filled the garden.
Max and Liz had asked to go the Evans’ cabin in Carlsbad for their second honeymoon too, and Max was driving them up there in the Jeep. Alex had made sure that the Jeep looked like a carnival, filled with balloons and streamers and saying “Just Married” on the bonnet.
Max swung Liz, still wearing her wedding dress, into the passenger seat and they finally waved goodbye to their families.
“You could’ve given me some time to get out of this dress before we left, you know!” Liz smiled at him.
Giving her a disbelieving look, Max stated simply: “If you thought I would’ve let anyone but me take that dress off you today, you were sadly mistaken…. So you will wear that dress until I can undress you. Okay, Mrs. Evans?”
Opening her mouth to say something, Liz decided that her first action as Max’s wife would be to follow this order of his. He was a King after all…
tbc
25+26
PART 25
The drive to Carlsbad was longer than they remembered. Max and Liz kept stealing glances at each other, wanting the ride to be over so they could be closer.
Max’s eyes wandered over Liz’s bare shoulders to the swell of her breasts, just visible above the top of her bodice, for the umpteenth time. What was it about seeing the bare shoulders of a girl that was so alluring to guys? Liz shifted towards him and he jerked his gaze back to the road. Good lord, you’d swear he’d never seen Liz before! Although, it has been a few days…
He had taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves before getting in the Jeep. His tie was undone and the first few buttons of his shirt were open and Liz practically drooled at the sight of all that skin.
“Max…” Her voice was low and sultry and when he looked back at her, she was leaning towards him. Nothing in the world could’ve stopped him from staring at her curves again. What he wouldn’t do to be able to run his tongue along the edge of her dress right now…
“Would you just stop and… and kiss me. Please…”
Belatedly he realized that she must’ve been aware of his thoughts all along. Adhering to her request, he pulled the Jeep off the side of the road, driving a small way away from the highway. When he turned off the engine, the only sound that could be heard was their labored breathing. Max shoved his seat back as far as it would go and lifted Liz onto his lap, his eyes never leaving hers. Her dress billowed around them and Liz pulled it from between them as she straddled his hips with her silk-stocking clad legs. I’m just going to kiss her, he told himself. Our first time making love as a married couple is not going to be in this Jeep!
But all thought flew from his head when Liz pressed her mouth against the warm skin of his throat and touched him with her tongue. His head was spinning and he only realized she had unbuttoned his shirt when her hands glided over his bare stomach. He gasped involuntarily and cupped the back of her neck with his hand, pressing her closer to him. While his mind was trying to hold onto some semblance of control, his body was betraying him at a dizzying speed. This was Liz in his arms, his wife, and she was still wearing her wedding dress…
Liz lifted her lips from his chest and quickly closed the distance between them, placing her mouth against his as she whispered: “Stop thinking, Max, I want you to—”
She never got to finish her sentence, because suddenly and totally unexpectedly she heard Max groan deep down in his throat, and the next minute she was being dragged tightly against his body as his mouth opened over hers. His one hand cupped her face and his lips moved against hers with devastating passion. It made her whole body ache for more intimate caresses from him. As if on cue, his other hand slipped to her side, moving slowly upwards before finding the curve of her breast. His fingers trailed over the smooth, soft skin at the top of her bodice, causing fire to fly through her body.
Her pulse was racing underneath his touch and Max desperately wanted to press his lips over her heart. Liz shivered as his mouth started to caress the delicate curve of her throat. He put both hands around her waist, lifting her higher against him so that he could finally fulfill his fantasy.
“Have you got any idea just how much I’ve been wanting to do this?” he whispered against the skin just above her bodice. “How much I’ve ached to kiss you like this all day?”
There was no space for a flirty answer. Even though Liz had been perfectly aware of what was going through his mind while they were driving, his mouth was making it impossible for her to do anything but whimper his name.
He took his time, leaving a trail of wet kisses over the swell of her breasts deliberately and carefully, making sure he didn’t miss a spot. His body was tight, crying out its need for this girl in his arms, but he had been fantasizing about this for too long to hurry it. Resting his hands on her ribcage, he lightly ran his thumbs over her as his tongue traced the line of her dress above her breasts. Liz whimpered again and he pressed his mouth to her sensitive skin, this time sucking lightly. Liz’s moan was loud in the silent night and it reminded Max that this was not where he wanted to finish what they had started.
She moaned again when he pulled away from her, this time in disappointment. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to him tightly as he fought to calm himself down. “Oh lord Liz, I’m sorry! I should never have… I just wanted to…” He felt her nod against him jerkily in understanding. Neither of them had thought things would get so out of hand.
They sat like that for a long time, Liz cradled against Max’s chest as he rubbed her leg soothingly. When he felt like he could function again, he gently lifted her away from him. “Are you ready to—” But his eyes fell on the light marks he had left on her skin and desire streaked through him again.
Liz was watching him with wide eyes. “Yeah, I think we should go…”
“Maybe we shouldn’t do the abstinence thing again soon,” he said wryly, trying to lighten the mood, but only eliciting a weak smile from Liz.
He helped her back onto her own seat, trying not to look at her. They better get to that damn cabin soon!
~*~*~*~*~*~
It was dark when they arrived at the cabin and Max made Liz wait in the Jeep so he could unlock the door and turn on the lights. Liz watched him disappear into the cabin and had a few minutes to reminisce about the last time she was here. There had been time for nothing but her and Max. Being alone together. It had been a time that was precious to both of them.
He appeared next to her and stared at her for a few seconds before tenderly lifting her from her seat and cradling her against his chest. Liz was looking into his eyes so adoringly that it felt like his heart was going to explode with all the love her felt for her. How did he deserve such devotion?
It felt like she was floating when he carried her from the Jeep. She had a fleeting glimpse of an inky black night with millions of stars twinkling down on them before they went inside and Max dropped a kiss on her mouth. “Thank you,” he said softly.
“For what?”
“For marrying me today. For looking so beautiful… Most of all for loving me back.” So many emotions clouded his voice.
“No Max, you made me the happiest girl alive today.” She reached up and kissed him again, her lips lingering over his.
He had been walking to the bedroom at the back of the cabin, but his footsteps suddenly faltered. “Are—are you hungry? It’s kinda late…”
Smiling up at him, Liz allowed all her desire for him to shine from her eyes. “No. I want you to make love to me. That’s all I need right now.”
She heard his breath stop and start again at a faster pace. His gaze drifted down to her mouth, still swollen from his kisses. “Yes,” he answered and proceeded into the dark bedroom.
“Max?” she questioned. “I want to see—”
The room was suddenly filled with candlelight that cast a warm glow over everything. Max let her slide down to the floor slowly, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “I want to see too…”
He stood her in front of the tall antique mirror that was perched in one corner of the room, turning her towards it and wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. Liz was stunned at the way she looked. Flushed. Aroused. Lips swollen and puffy. Breasts heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Was this what Max saw when he made love to her? Her questioning gaze met his in the mirror.
He laid his cheek against hers and brought up a shaking hand to touch her mouth. “You are always so beautiful to me, but this… this just floors me. Every time.” He trailed his hand down and smoothed it over her breast, listening to the small sound she made. “Because this look is because of me. For me. It’s my look, Liz.” He turned his head until he could kiss her jaw line, his unoccupied hand splaying over her stomach and pressing her back against his hard body.
He was so obviously aroused that Liz sighed and leaned into his caresses. He kissed her shoulders as his hand continued to tease her through her dress. When his warm lips reached the sensitive back of her neck, she trembled as he ran his tongue over her skin. “Max…” Her fingers curled into the material of his pants, clinging to his hard thighs to stay upright. Her eyes were drifting shut but she fought to keep them on the reflection in the mirror. Seeing Max’s hands against her was incredibly erotic.
He was kissing her shoulder blades now, his hands abandoning their other tasks to find the first tiny button at the back of her dress. He knew he could cheat and open this dress with a wave of his hand, but tonight he wanted to savor every moment of taking this dress off her. He opened each little button slowly, kissing the skin he was revealing. The row of buttons ended on the curve of her bottom and he stood slowly to his feet when the last one was undone.
For some reason, Liz was clutching the dress to her chest and her breath stopped when Max’s dark eyes met hers again in the mirror. Slowly and deliberately, his hands peeled the back of the dress open and crept inside to slide around her torso. Without realizing it, Liz lifted her hands slightly to allow him to cup his hands over her breasts. Then he stepped closer until he was pressed against her back. “Let go, love.” It was a soft, but firm command.
Her fingers obeyed automatically and the dress slithered to the floor, pooling at their feet. Liz was left wearing a scrap of silk and her stockings. And Max’s hands. The sight made her dizzy with desire. So much that she couldn’t wait any longer for him to finish this torment and take her.
She spun around in his arms, moaning his name against his lips and pressed tiny kisses against his mouth, his jaw, his throat. She pressed her body even closer to his, moving frantically against him, bestowing feverish, eager kisses against whichever bit of him she could reach.
“Oh god Liz, slow down, honey…” She could hear him protesting, but at the same time his hand came back up to cup her breast.
Liz shuddered in sensual delight as he touched her and her eyes, bright with passion, found his to silently beg for more. She put out a shaking finger to trace his lips, her eyes widening as his tongue snaked out to touch it. Holding his gaze, she pulled her finger away and deliberately brought it to her own mouth, curling her tongue around it.
His whole body seemed to be caught up, galvanized by the fierce shudder that racked him. His hands cupped her breasts and his mouth covered hers. Liz could feel his hands shaping her as they slid down her back before coming to rest on the rounded curves of her bottom. He bent his head and caressed her breast with gentle, slow strokes that increased the ache in the pit of her belly and made her move feverishly against him.
Her hands found his shoulders, shoving the shirt from him so she could reach his back as he continued his tormenting caresses on her breasts. “Yes!” she told him fiercely and suddenly his urgency returned.
Pulling away from him, she told him hotly: “I want to see you, all of you!” Her hands were reaching for the fastening of his pants, but he stepped away from her and completed the task himself.
Now it was Max’s turn to stand enthralled as her hands moved over his body. She knew every hill and valley. She knew what reaction he had to each place she touched. Her fingers trailed over his hard stomach, feeling the muscles clench under his skin. He groaned as her hand closed around him and explored him deliberately.
Drawing back from him, Liz looked at the bed and then at him, but before she could say anything he was removing her hand from his body and telling her hoarsely: “My turn again…”
She stood perfectly still as he removed the rest of her clothing. The sensation of his hands sliding down her thighs to remove her stockings and then moving back up over them far more slowly made her feel as though she was melting from the inside out. As she closed her eyes he stood up and picked her up in his arms, carrying her over to the bed. Laying her carefully on it, he started to touch and caress her.
This was heaven. Max kissed his way down the length of her body, dimly hearing Liz’s soft moan when he reached her thighs. He took his time exploring her, adapting his touches to her reactions. It was intoxicating to listen to her moans and sighs, to hear his name torn from her throat. Then she was pulling frantically at his shoulders, whispering thickly, the words almost lost against his chest: “Please, Max…”
He moved onto her, into her, slowly – too slowly. Her hands slid down his back, urging him faster, deeper and she felt him pause. But her body wouldn’t let him. She needed more…
Her needs slammed into his mind and Max nearly lost it on the spot. “Liz!” Her name was a fierce moan that was still echoing around the room when he gave up trying to slow them down. Their union was intense and their release mind-blowing. They were alternately kissing and crying each other’s names while the waves washed over them.
Max collapsed against her afterwards wondering how it was possible that this could just get better every time. He was completely and utterly addicted to making love with Liz. His Liz. His wife.
Holding her tightly, he rolled them onto their sides, so they lay looking at each other. He brushed her hair tenderly from her face, remembering belatedly that he had not removed the roses and pins before making love to her. He did so now, pulling each rose and pin from her hair carefully while she watched him.
When he was finished, Liz took his hand and kissed each finger reverently. “I love you Max Evans. And I—I promise to always make you happy, as happy as you make me,” she declared fervently.
He was smiling when he kissed her mouth. I know you will, Liz. I know you will… His new wife had made a huge difference in his life already. She had made him look forward to the future…
PART 26
**** SEVEN YEARS LATER****
Max felt the now familiar excitement take hold of him as he parked the Jeep in their driveway behind Liz’s little car. Their driveway – as in his and Liz’s. The house was small, but it had a yard and Max and Liz had fallen in love with it when they first arrived in Albuquerque a year ago. It had reminded them a little bit of the yard they kept seeing during their visions.
They had finished their studies at Harvard and, while they would’ve liked to stay in Boston and work at Harvard, there were no positions available at their former university, so they had decided to move closer to Roswell. Closer to Max’s people. Closer to their families. And to a place where both of them could work in their chosen fields.
Michael and Maria, who were finally living together after years of arguing about it, had moved out here four years ago, while Alex intended to follow them here when he finished his studies at MIT at the end of the year. Isabel had moved to Albuquerque when Michael and Maria did, unwilling to be too far away from all her family. She lived in an apartment in the city and was designing for a local boutique.
Studying at Harvard had been one of the most wonderful and toughest things Max had ever done. They had lived in a small apartment on campus, doing everything they could to limit financial expenses, but Max wouldn’t have traded the experience for the world. It had taught them a lot about each other, more than they had ever learned while living at the back of the Crashdown under the protective wings of their parents. They had learned to work hard to reach their goals and to still make time to love each other while being under enormous strain. They had even bickered a few times about silly things, the way married people did. The first time, it had ended with them staring at each other in surprise after which they proceeded to rip each other’s clothes off. And since then it had become an unwritten rule of sorts, any disagreement was solved before bedtime and forgotten in each other’s arms.
He was eager to get home, Liz had a few days off from work and she was busy doing some interior decorating to their house. He loved helping her. Actually, he loved doing anything with her because they mostly saw each other after work lately. They were both working at the University of New Mexico, Liz at their School of Medicine Molecular Research Center and Max at the UNM Hospital Cancer Research and Treatment Center. He also taught a class at the university as part of his job and had found to his surprise that he liked doing it. Liz teased him constantly about how much his female students swooned over him, but as usual, Max was oblivious to any female attention that didn’t bear the name Liz Evans.
The front door was locked, they had never really managed to get rid of their sense of caution. Stepping inside, he yelled: “Hi honey, I’m home!” He still got a kick out of that.
“I’m in the kitchen,” Liz called back and he veered off to his left towards her voice. Only to nearly have a heart-attack when he found her perched precariously on a tall ladder, painting the ceiling.
“Liz!” he cried and hurried over to take hold of the ladder. “Get down from there!”
She blinked down at him in surprise and got that stubborn look on her face that he normally thought was really cute. "Liz,” he warned her, “don’t make me come up there to get you!” He could see that she was still contemplating whether or not to actually obey him, so he added: “I’ll paint the ceiling. Please, just come down from there.”
As usual, the subtle approach worked better on his wife than the authoritarian one. Liz gave an exaggerated sigh before asking impishly: “Can I decide what you wear while you’re painting?”
“What?” He was stumped, but if it got her down from there, he would agree to anything. “Yeah, sure. Whatever.”
She fairly bounced from the top of the ladder, causing Max to hold his breath until he could grab her around her waist to lift her down. She resisted him and climbed down until she reached the second-to-last rung and was face-to-face with him.
Turning around, she let go of the ladder and wrapped her arms around his neck before nuzzling his face. “Hello Max,” she said and swiped her tongue over his bottom lip. His lips parted instinctively as his arms slipped around her waist and pulled her closer, but she backed away before he could kiss her. “Repeat after me: Liz is not an invalid. She can do things without hurting herself.”
He grinned at her, not embarrassed in the slightest that he was still so overprotective of her. “Whatever.”
“Wrong answer!” She cupped his cheeks and lowered her voice suggestively: “If you say it, I might make it worth your while…”
Schooling his face into a longsuffering expression, he said: “I guess, but I’m kinda getting tired of always having to give in to your sexual advances—”
Score! Liz’s mouth fell open in shock and he burst out laughing before picking her up from the ladder and spinning her around. “I’m joking, love! I can’t believe you fell for it.”
“You absolute jerk!” Liz cried. “Put me down so I can kick your butt.”
He dumped her onto the kitchen counter and caught her hands in his, just to make sure she didn’t get a chance to use them on him. She was wearing cut-off denim overalls splattered with paint. Her hair was covered by an old faded bandana and she had white sneakers on her feet. She looked incredible sexy… and really pissed! Max panicked immediately and let go of her hands. “Liz, sweetheart…”
The next moment Liz had wrapped her legs around his hips and grabbed his shirt to yank him against her. Max was unprepared for her move and stumbled forward, nearly falling on top of her until he braced himself on the counter with his hands next to her hips. Liz attacked him, there was no other way to describe it. She wrapped herself around him and kissed him senseless. She kissed him until he felt faint with lack of oxygen and saw stars exploding in his head. She ripped his shirt open, buttons flying everywhere, and scratched her nails over his chest and abdomen. She sent him wicked fantasies through their connection and Max nearly went over the edge. His hands plucked the scarf from her hair, but before he could do anything else, Liz had pushed him backwards. She caught him off guard again, so she easily moved him away from her.
“Are you two at it again?” Maria’s voice floated in from the kitchen window. “Would you start acting like you’re not 17 anymore?”
Liz ran her gaze over Max deliberately. He was panting like he was about ready to die. His hair was completely mussed, his shirt was hanging open, he had marks on his chest and his mouth was showing the signs of her attack. But best of all, he seemed completely and utterly stunned and confused by the sudden changes in her actions. Liz hopped off the counter, brushing against him as she passed him on her way to the door. “Payback’s a bitch, Mr. Evans.”
His groan was loud and heartfelt. Several things bugged him right now. Firstly, why on earth were they living in the same city as Maria, who apparently made it her business to show up at inopportune moments like these? Secondly, what the hell just happened? Thirdly, Liz was seemingly trying to ensure that he would not live through the next five years to see his 30th birthday. Fourthly, his body was ready to explode and there was nothing he could do about it now. Apart from taking a cold shower… Damn it, he was going to get Liz for this one!
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he passed Liz and Maria in the hallway. “Well, hello to you too, Prince Charming!” Maria grinned at him. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
“To the shower!” he muttered with a glare in Liz’s direction. Their laughter followed him to the bathroom.
“Lizzie, you’re going to kill the guy,” Maria sounded sorry for Max.
“Don’t worry, he knows very well he can get back at me easily.”
Maria flung herself down on the couch in the living room. “Admit it, Liz. You love that he acts around you like he does. And if you won’t admit it now, I could lend you Michael Guerin for a while. Trust me, you’ll see the difference immediately!”
Liz was grinning. “Okay, I admit it. I love being the center of Max’s universe. But it’s only fair, since he’s the center of mine too.”
“Argh! You two are the worst! How long has it been now? Nearly 10 years that you are together? And still you are the two biggest saps on the planet.”
They heard the shower being shut off and Liz jumped to her feet. “Just excuse me a minute, Maria, I’ll be right back.”
She returned with a broad smile on her face and Maria looked at her suspiciously. “What are you up to?”
“Just picking out some clothes for Max,” Liz answered vaguely. “I actually needed to talk to you about this weekend. Nick and his wife are coming up to come show us their new baby and I was wondering if Alex could maybe stay with you guys? I don’t think our house can take four more people!”
“Alex is coming? Great! Sure he can.” Maria looked pleased. “So, we’re finally all going to be together for a weekend again, heh? It’s been a long time.”
“Yeah. And I can’t wait to see Nick’s little girl!” Liz’s eyes were shining as she talked and Maria couldn’t help but wonder if Liz was starting to feel that it was time she and Max got pregnant themselves. “How’s Michael?”
“You know, grouchy and horny. Same as ever,” Maria replied. “He is starting to do well with his paintings, though. I think it freaks him out a little.”
Liz turned serious after a few moments. “Maria, I know we never really talked about it, but… do you think we should have forced them to go to that planet in high school? I sometimes wonder if maybe they would’ve gone if we weren’t around.”
“They made the choice, Lizzie, not us. Michael never asked me about it, he just decided to stay and never said a word about it. Besides, did we really want to know what a planet that would embrace the blonde as a Queen would look like?”
Liz glanced in the direction of the kitchen where they could hear Max moving around. “It’s just, they have this whole other side that they continue to deny because of us, Maria. Max tries so hard to be just human sometimes that it scares me. He’s… he’s so much more. But he doesn’t allow himself to be because of me.”
Maria was shaking her head. “I still say, it was their choice, Liz.”
“I guess,” Liz answered softly. Thoughts of Max’s alien heritage had been plaguing her more and more recently and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was coming from him. That she was feeling things he was trying to hide from her and from himself. She was glad Nick was coming over the weekend, it was time she talked to him about this.
Jumping up, she waved Maria out the door. “I need to finish this house before the guests come over, so I’ll see you around.”
Maria kissed her on the cheek impulsively. “Its going to be fine, Lizzie. Now go watch Max paint, I can see you are dying to!”
Liz was still grinning when she got back to the kitchen, but the grin fled her face as soon as she saw her husband. He had actually put on what she told him to and she wondered at how clueless Max can be sometimes. He truly had no idea why she had dressed him up in one of his oldest jeans and a T-shirt with the arms ripped off. Her mouth dried as she watched him stretch towards the ceiling. His jeans were riding low on his hips and the shirt let her see every movement of muscle in his arms as he worked.
He knew she was there, watching him, but he decided to finish the ceiling first before acknowledging her. Let her stew a little for working him up like that earlier. When he finally dropped the paint roller and looked over at Liz, the look on her face was incredible. She was literally stripping him with her eyes and Max felt that look reverberate through his entire body. He never tired of Liz wanting him. It was as astonishing and heady to him now as it had been in high school.
She knew every part of that body intimately. She had seen and explored it thousands of times, but it still had the power to take her breath away. Not because he was merely beautiful, but because it was him. Wonderful, amazing, sexy Max Evans was inside that body.
He fairly flew off the ladder and came to her, scooping her into his arms. “We’re not going to get interrupted again, are we?”
Liz laughed breathlessly. “No.”
“Good,” he fairly growled. “You owe me some serious loving, Mrs. Evans!”
So she began making up for earlier while he was still carrying her to their room…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Nick looked around the circle of people gathered at his house. The Council. The meeting had been short and to the point. “I will talk to him this weekend. We have to act quickly…”
tbc
The drive to Carlsbad was longer than they remembered. Max and Liz kept stealing glances at each other, wanting the ride to be over so they could be closer.
Max’s eyes wandered over Liz’s bare shoulders to the swell of her breasts, just visible above the top of her bodice, for the umpteenth time. What was it about seeing the bare shoulders of a girl that was so alluring to guys? Liz shifted towards him and he jerked his gaze back to the road. Good lord, you’d swear he’d never seen Liz before! Although, it has been a few days…
He had taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves before getting in the Jeep. His tie was undone and the first few buttons of his shirt were open and Liz practically drooled at the sight of all that skin.
“Max…” Her voice was low and sultry and when he looked back at her, she was leaning towards him. Nothing in the world could’ve stopped him from staring at her curves again. What he wouldn’t do to be able to run his tongue along the edge of her dress right now…
“Would you just stop and… and kiss me. Please…”
Belatedly he realized that she must’ve been aware of his thoughts all along. Adhering to her request, he pulled the Jeep off the side of the road, driving a small way away from the highway. When he turned off the engine, the only sound that could be heard was their labored breathing. Max shoved his seat back as far as it would go and lifted Liz onto his lap, his eyes never leaving hers. Her dress billowed around them and Liz pulled it from between them as she straddled his hips with her silk-stocking clad legs. I’m just going to kiss her, he told himself. Our first time making love as a married couple is not going to be in this Jeep!
But all thought flew from his head when Liz pressed her mouth against the warm skin of his throat and touched him with her tongue. His head was spinning and he only realized she had unbuttoned his shirt when her hands glided over his bare stomach. He gasped involuntarily and cupped the back of her neck with his hand, pressing her closer to him. While his mind was trying to hold onto some semblance of control, his body was betraying him at a dizzying speed. This was Liz in his arms, his wife, and she was still wearing her wedding dress…
Liz lifted her lips from his chest and quickly closed the distance between them, placing her mouth against his as she whispered: “Stop thinking, Max, I want you to—”
She never got to finish her sentence, because suddenly and totally unexpectedly she heard Max groan deep down in his throat, and the next minute she was being dragged tightly against his body as his mouth opened over hers. His one hand cupped her face and his lips moved against hers with devastating passion. It made her whole body ache for more intimate caresses from him. As if on cue, his other hand slipped to her side, moving slowly upwards before finding the curve of her breast. His fingers trailed over the smooth, soft skin at the top of her bodice, causing fire to fly through her body.
Her pulse was racing underneath his touch and Max desperately wanted to press his lips over her heart. Liz shivered as his mouth started to caress the delicate curve of her throat. He put both hands around her waist, lifting her higher against him so that he could finally fulfill his fantasy.
“Have you got any idea just how much I’ve been wanting to do this?” he whispered against the skin just above her bodice. “How much I’ve ached to kiss you like this all day?”
There was no space for a flirty answer. Even though Liz had been perfectly aware of what was going through his mind while they were driving, his mouth was making it impossible for her to do anything but whimper his name.
He took his time, leaving a trail of wet kisses over the swell of her breasts deliberately and carefully, making sure he didn’t miss a spot. His body was tight, crying out its need for this girl in his arms, but he had been fantasizing about this for too long to hurry it. Resting his hands on her ribcage, he lightly ran his thumbs over her as his tongue traced the line of her dress above her breasts. Liz whimpered again and he pressed his mouth to her sensitive skin, this time sucking lightly. Liz’s moan was loud in the silent night and it reminded Max that this was not where he wanted to finish what they had started.
She moaned again when he pulled away from her, this time in disappointment. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to him tightly as he fought to calm himself down. “Oh lord Liz, I’m sorry! I should never have… I just wanted to…” He felt her nod against him jerkily in understanding. Neither of them had thought things would get so out of hand.
They sat like that for a long time, Liz cradled against Max’s chest as he rubbed her leg soothingly. When he felt like he could function again, he gently lifted her away from him. “Are you ready to—” But his eyes fell on the light marks he had left on her skin and desire streaked through him again.
Liz was watching him with wide eyes. “Yeah, I think we should go…”
“Maybe we shouldn’t do the abstinence thing again soon,” he said wryly, trying to lighten the mood, but only eliciting a weak smile from Liz.
He helped her back onto her own seat, trying not to look at her. They better get to that damn cabin soon!
~*~*~*~*~*~
It was dark when they arrived at the cabin and Max made Liz wait in the Jeep so he could unlock the door and turn on the lights. Liz watched him disappear into the cabin and had a few minutes to reminisce about the last time she was here. There had been time for nothing but her and Max. Being alone together. It had been a time that was precious to both of them.
He appeared next to her and stared at her for a few seconds before tenderly lifting her from her seat and cradling her against his chest. Liz was looking into his eyes so adoringly that it felt like his heart was going to explode with all the love her felt for her. How did he deserve such devotion?
It felt like she was floating when he carried her from the Jeep. She had a fleeting glimpse of an inky black night with millions of stars twinkling down on them before they went inside and Max dropped a kiss on her mouth. “Thank you,” he said softly.
“For what?”
“For marrying me today. For looking so beautiful… Most of all for loving me back.” So many emotions clouded his voice.
“No Max, you made me the happiest girl alive today.” She reached up and kissed him again, her lips lingering over his.
He had been walking to the bedroom at the back of the cabin, but his footsteps suddenly faltered. “Are—are you hungry? It’s kinda late…”
Smiling up at him, Liz allowed all her desire for him to shine from her eyes. “No. I want you to make love to me. That’s all I need right now.”
She heard his breath stop and start again at a faster pace. His gaze drifted down to her mouth, still swollen from his kisses. “Yes,” he answered and proceeded into the dark bedroom.
“Max?” she questioned. “I want to see—”
The room was suddenly filled with candlelight that cast a warm glow over everything. Max let her slide down to the floor slowly, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “I want to see too…”
He stood her in front of the tall antique mirror that was perched in one corner of the room, turning her towards it and wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. Liz was stunned at the way she looked. Flushed. Aroused. Lips swollen and puffy. Breasts heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Was this what Max saw when he made love to her? Her questioning gaze met his in the mirror.
He laid his cheek against hers and brought up a shaking hand to touch her mouth. “You are always so beautiful to me, but this… this just floors me. Every time.” He trailed his hand down and smoothed it over her breast, listening to the small sound she made. “Because this look is because of me. For me. It’s my look, Liz.” He turned his head until he could kiss her jaw line, his unoccupied hand splaying over her stomach and pressing her back against his hard body.
He was so obviously aroused that Liz sighed and leaned into his caresses. He kissed her shoulders as his hand continued to tease her through her dress. When his warm lips reached the sensitive back of her neck, she trembled as he ran his tongue over her skin. “Max…” Her fingers curled into the material of his pants, clinging to his hard thighs to stay upright. Her eyes were drifting shut but she fought to keep them on the reflection in the mirror. Seeing Max’s hands against her was incredibly erotic.
He was kissing her shoulder blades now, his hands abandoning their other tasks to find the first tiny button at the back of her dress. He knew he could cheat and open this dress with a wave of his hand, but tonight he wanted to savor every moment of taking this dress off her. He opened each little button slowly, kissing the skin he was revealing. The row of buttons ended on the curve of her bottom and he stood slowly to his feet when the last one was undone.
For some reason, Liz was clutching the dress to her chest and her breath stopped when Max’s dark eyes met hers again in the mirror. Slowly and deliberately, his hands peeled the back of the dress open and crept inside to slide around her torso. Without realizing it, Liz lifted her hands slightly to allow him to cup his hands over her breasts. Then he stepped closer until he was pressed against her back. “Let go, love.” It was a soft, but firm command.
Her fingers obeyed automatically and the dress slithered to the floor, pooling at their feet. Liz was left wearing a scrap of silk and her stockings. And Max’s hands. The sight made her dizzy with desire. So much that she couldn’t wait any longer for him to finish this torment and take her.
She spun around in his arms, moaning his name against his lips and pressed tiny kisses against his mouth, his jaw, his throat. She pressed her body even closer to his, moving frantically against him, bestowing feverish, eager kisses against whichever bit of him she could reach.
“Oh god Liz, slow down, honey…” She could hear him protesting, but at the same time his hand came back up to cup her breast.
Liz shuddered in sensual delight as he touched her and her eyes, bright with passion, found his to silently beg for more. She put out a shaking finger to trace his lips, her eyes widening as his tongue snaked out to touch it. Holding his gaze, she pulled her finger away and deliberately brought it to her own mouth, curling her tongue around it.
His whole body seemed to be caught up, galvanized by the fierce shudder that racked him. His hands cupped her breasts and his mouth covered hers. Liz could feel his hands shaping her as they slid down her back before coming to rest on the rounded curves of her bottom. He bent his head and caressed her breast with gentle, slow strokes that increased the ache in the pit of her belly and made her move feverishly against him.
Her hands found his shoulders, shoving the shirt from him so she could reach his back as he continued his tormenting caresses on her breasts. “Yes!” she told him fiercely and suddenly his urgency returned.
Pulling away from him, she told him hotly: “I want to see you, all of you!” Her hands were reaching for the fastening of his pants, but he stepped away from her and completed the task himself.
Now it was Max’s turn to stand enthralled as her hands moved over his body. She knew every hill and valley. She knew what reaction he had to each place she touched. Her fingers trailed over his hard stomach, feeling the muscles clench under his skin. He groaned as her hand closed around him and explored him deliberately.
Drawing back from him, Liz looked at the bed and then at him, but before she could say anything he was removing her hand from his body and telling her hoarsely: “My turn again…”
She stood perfectly still as he removed the rest of her clothing. The sensation of his hands sliding down her thighs to remove her stockings and then moving back up over them far more slowly made her feel as though she was melting from the inside out. As she closed her eyes he stood up and picked her up in his arms, carrying her over to the bed. Laying her carefully on it, he started to touch and caress her.
This was heaven. Max kissed his way down the length of her body, dimly hearing Liz’s soft moan when he reached her thighs. He took his time exploring her, adapting his touches to her reactions. It was intoxicating to listen to her moans and sighs, to hear his name torn from her throat. Then she was pulling frantically at his shoulders, whispering thickly, the words almost lost against his chest: “Please, Max…”
He moved onto her, into her, slowly – too slowly. Her hands slid down his back, urging him faster, deeper and she felt him pause. But her body wouldn’t let him. She needed more…
Her needs slammed into his mind and Max nearly lost it on the spot. “Liz!” Her name was a fierce moan that was still echoing around the room when he gave up trying to slow them down. Their union was intense and their release mind-blowing. They were alternately kissing and crying each other’s names while the waves washed over them.
Max collapsed against her afterwards wondering how it was possible that this could just get better every time. He was completely and utterly addicted to making love with Liz. His Liz. His wife.
Holding her tightly, he rolled them onto their sides, so they lay looking at each other. He brushed her hair tenderly from her face, remembering belatedly that he had not removed the roses and pins before making love to her. He did so now, pulling each rose and pin from her hair carefully while she watched him.
When he was finished, Liz took his hand and kissed each finger reverently. “I love you Max Evans. And I—I promise to always make you happy, as happy as you make me,” she declared fervently.
He was smiling when he kissed her mouth. I know you will, Liz. I know you will… His new wife had made a huge difference in his life already. She had made him look forward to the future…
PART 26
**** SEVEN YEARS LATER****
Max felt the now familiar excitement take hold of him as he parked the Jeep in their driveway behind Liz’s little car. Their driveway – as in his and Liz’s. The house was small, but it had a yard and Max and Liz had fallen in love with it when they first arrived in Albuquerque a year ago. It had reminded them a little bit of the yard they kept seeing during their visions.
They had finished their studies at Harvard and, while they would’ve liked to stay in Boston and work at Harvard, there were no positions available at their former university, so they had decided to move closer to Roswell. Closer to Max’s people. Closer to their families. And to a place where both of them could work in their chosen fields.
Michael and Maria, who were finally living together after years of arguing about it, had moved out here four years ago, while Alex intended to follow them here when he finished his studies at MIT at the end of the year. Isabel had moved to Albuquerque when Michael and Maria did, unwilling to be too far away from all her family. She lived in an apartment in the city and was designing for a local boutique.
Studying at Harvard had been one of the most wonderful and toughest things Max had ever done. They had lived in a small apartment on campus, doing everything they could to limit financial expenses, but Max wouldn’t have traded the experience for the world. It had taught them a lot about each other, more than they had ever learned while living at the back of the Crashdown under the protective wings of their parents. They had learned to work hard to reach their goals and to still make time to love each other while being under enormous strain. They had even bickered a few times about silly things, the way married people did. The first time, it had ended with them staring at each other in surprise after which they proceeded to rip each other’s clothes off. And since then it had become an unwritten rule of sorts, any disagreement was solved before bedtime and forgotten in each other’s arms.
He was eager to get home, Liz had a few days off from work and she was busy doing some interior decorating to their house. He loved helping her. Actually, he loved doing anything with her because they mostly saw each other after work lately. They were both working at the University of New Mexico, Liz at their School of Medicine Molecular Research Center and Max at the UNM Hospital Cancer Research and Treatment Center. He also taught a class at the university as part of his job and had found to his surprise that he liked doing it. Liz teased him constantly about how much his female students swooned over him, but as usual, Max was oblivious to any female attention that didn’t bear the name Liz Evans.
The front door was locked, they had never really managed to get rid of their sense of caution. Stepping inside, he yelled: “Hi honey, I’m home!” He still got a kick out of that.
“I’m in the kitchen,” Liz called back and he veered off to his left towards her voice. Only to nearly have a heart-attack when he found her perched precariously on a tall ladder, painting the ceiling.
“Liz!” he cried and hurried over to take hold of the ladder. “Get down from there!”
She blinked down at him in surprise and got that stubborn look on her face that he normally thought was really cute. "Liz,” he warned her, “don’t make me come up there to get you!” He could see that she was still contemplating whether or not to actually obey him, so he added: “I’ll paint the ceiling. Please, just come down from there.”
As usual, the subtle approach worked better on his wife than the authoritarian one. Liz gave an exaggerated sigh before asking impishly: “Can I decide what you wear while you’re painting?”
“What?” He was stumped, but if it got her down from there, he would agree to anything. “Yeah, sure. Whatever.”
She fairly bounced from the top of the ladder, causing Max to hold his breath until he could grab her around her waist to lift her down. She resisted him and climbed down until she reached the second-to-last rung and was face-to-face with him.
Turning around, she let go of the ladder and wrapped her arms around his neck before nuzzling his face. “Hello Max,” she said and swiped her tongue over his bottom lip. His lips parted instinctively as his arms slipped around her waist and pulled her closer, but she backed away before he could kiss her. “Repeat after me: Liz is not an invalid. She can do things without hurting herself.”
He grinned at her, not embarrassed in the slightest that he was still so overprotective of her. “Whatever.”
“Wrong answer!” She cupped his cheeks and lowered her voice suggestively: “If you say it, I might make it worth your while…”
Schooling his face into a longsuffering expression, he said: “I guess, but I’m kinda getting tired of always having to give in to your sexual advances—”
Score! Liz’s mouth fell open in shock and he burst out laughing before picking her up from the ladder and spinning her around. “I’m joking, love! I can’t believe you fell for it.”
“You absolute jerk!” Liz cried. “Put me down so I can kick your butt.”
He dumped her onto the kitchen counter and caught her hands in his, just to make sure she didn’t get a chance to use them on him. She was wearing cut-off denim overalls splattered with paint. Her hair was covered by an old faded bandana and she had white sneakers on her feet. She looked incredible sexy… and really pissed! Max panicked immediately and let go of her hands. “Liz, sweetheart…”
The next moment Liz had wrapped her legs around his hips and grabbed his shirt to yank him against her. Max was unprepared for her move and stumbled forward, nearly falling on top of her until he braced himself on the counter with his hands next to her hips. Liz attacked him, there was no other way to describe it. She wrapped herself around him and kissed him senseless. She kissed him until he felt faint with lack of oxygen and saw stars exploding in his head. She ripped his shirt open, buttons flying everywhere, and scratched her nails over his chest and abdomen. She sent him wicked fantasies through their connection and Max nearly went over the edge. His hands plucked the scarf from her hair, but before he could do anything else, Liz had pushed him backwards. She caught him off guard again, so she easily moved him away from her.
“Are you two at it again?” Maria’s voice floated in from the kitchen window. “Would you start acting like you’re not 17 anymore?”
Liz ran her gaze over Max deliberately. He was panting like he was about ready to die. His hair was completely mussed, his shirt was hanging open, he had marks on his chest and his mouth was showing the signs of her attack. But best of all, he seemed completely and utterly stunned and confused by the sudden changes in her actions. Liz hopped off the counter, brushing against him as she passed him on her way to the door. “Payback’s a bitch, Mr. Evans.”
His groan was loud and heartfelt. Several things bugged him right now. Firstly, why on earth were they living in the same city as Maria, who apparently made it her business to show up at inopportune moments like these? Secondly, what the hell just happened? Thirdly, Liz was seemingly trying to ensure that he would not live through the next five years to see his 30th birthday. Fourthly, his body was ready to explode and there was nothing he could do about it now. Apart from taking a cold shower… Damn it, he was going to get Liz for this one!
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he passed Liz and Maria in the hallway. “Well, hello to you too, Prince Charming!” Maria grinned at him. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
“To the shower!” he muttered with a glare in Liz’s direction. Their laughter followed him to the bathroom.
“Lizzie, you’re going to kill the guy,” Maria sounded sorry for Max.
“Don’t worry, he knows very well he can get back at me easily.”
Maria flung herself down on the couch in the living room. “Admit it, Liz. You love that he acts around you like he does. And if you won’t admit it now, I could lend you Michael Guerin for a while. Trust me, you’ll see the difference immediately!”
Liz was grinning. “Okay, I admit it. I love being the center of Max’s universe. But it’s only fair, since he’s the center of mine too.”
“Argh! You two are the worst! How long has it been now? Nearly 10 years that you are together? And still you are the two biggest saps on the planet.”
They heard the shower being shut off and Liz jumped to her feet. “Just excuse me a minute, Maria, I’ll be right back.”
She returned with a broad smile on her face and Maria looked at her suspiciously. “What are you up to?”
“Just picking out some clothes for Max,” Liz answered vaguely. “I actually needed to talk to you about this weekend. Nick and his wife are coming up to come show us their new baby and I was wondering if Alex could maybe stay with you guys? I don’t think our house can take four more people!”
“Alex is coming? Great! Sure he can.” Maria looked pleased. “So, we’re finally all going to be together for a weekend again, heh? It’s been a long time.”
“Yeah. And I can’t wait to see Nick’s little girl!” Liz’s eyes were shining as she talked and Maria couldn’t help but wonder if Liz was starting to feel that it was time she and Max got pregnant themselves. “How’s Michael?”
“You know, grouchy and horny. Same as ever,” Maria replied. “He is starting to do well with his paintings, though. I think it freaks him out a little.”
Liz turned serious after a few moments. “Maria, I know we never really talked about it, but… do you think we should have forced them to go to that planet in high school? I sometimes wonder if maybe they would’ve gone if we weren’t around.”
“They made the choice, Lizzie, not us. Michael never asked me about it, he just decided to stay and never said a word about it. Besides, did we really want to know what a planet that would embrace the blonde as a Queen would look like?”
Liz glanced in the direction of the kitchen where they could hear Max moving around. “It’s just, they have this whole other side that they continue to deny because of us, Maria. Max tries so hard to be just human sometimes that it scares me. He’s… he’s so much more. But he doesn’t allow himself to be because of me.”
Maria was shaking her head. “I still say, it was their choice, Liz.”
“I guess,” Liz answered softly. Thoughts of Max’s alien heritage had been plaguing her more and more recently and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was coming from him. That she was feeling things he was trying to hide from her and from himself. She was glad Nick was coming over the weekend, it was time she talked to him about this.
Jumping up, she waved Maria out the door. “I need to finish this house before the guests come over, so I’ll see you around.”
Maria kissed her on the cheek impulsively. “Its going to be fine, Lizzie. Now go watch Max paint, I can see you are dying to!”
Liz was still grinning when she got back to the kitchen, but the grin fled her face as soon as she saw her husband. He had actually put on what she told him to and she wondered at how clueless Max can be sometimes. He truly had no idea why she had dressed him up in one of his oldest jeans and a T-shirt with the arms ripped off. Her mouth dried as she watched him stretch towards the ceiling. His jeans were riding low on his hips and the shirt let her see every movement of muscle in his arms as he worked.
He knew she was there, watching him, but he decided to finish the ceiling first before acknowledging her. Let her stew a little for working him up like that earlier. When he finally dropped the paint roller and looked over at Liz, the look on her face was incredible. She was literally stripping him with her eyes and Max felt that look reverberate through his entire body. He never tired of Liz wanting him. It was as astonishing and heady to him now as it had been in high school.
She knew every part of that body intimately. She had seen and explored it thousands of times, but it still had the power to take her breath away. Not because he was merely beautiful, but because it was him. Wonderful, amazing, sexy Max Evans was inside that body.
He fairly flew off the ladder and came to her, scooping her into his arms. “We’re not going to get interrupted again, are we?”
Liz laughed breathlessly. “No.”
“Good,” he fairly growled. “You owe me some serious loving, Mrs. Evans!”
So she began making up for earlier while he was still carrying her to their room…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Nick looked around the circle of people gathered at his house. The Council. The meeting had been short and to the point. “I will talk to him this weekend. We have to act quickly…”
tbc