47+48
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2004 12:10 am
PART 47
Several things happened at once. Max’s heart plummeted to his feet. Maria gasped in outrage. Michael cursed. Some of the Antarian guards rushed over.
And Max felt Liz flinch next to him. He gripped her hand tighter as James stepped between them and the oncoming Tess. Without even looking at Max, James took Tess’ arm firmly and steered her to the back of the little Antarian group. To say Max was relieved was an understatement. There was no way he wanted to have this confrontation in public and James had handled it perfectly. He had made Tess a part of their group without having her too close to Max and Liz.
Furiously tugging to get her arm out of James’ grip, Tess was fuming. “Get your hands—”
“Nice to see you again, Tess,” Michael took up position on her other side. “If you promise not to make a scene, we promise not to hurt and humiliate you in public.”
He had to fight to keep himself from glancing backwards to see what was going on with Tess, but Max knew he shouldn’t acknowledge her in any way right now as it would only add to the spectacle. So instead, he took a deep breath, pulled Liz closer to him, whispered “my Shani” in her ear, and continued walking towards the Dendar Royal group.
Liz wanted to die. If it weren’t for Max’s arm around her waist, she would’ve run away by now. Tess had managed to make her feel like the “other woman” in Max’s life. The one that stole him from his legitimate wife. She didn’t even want to know what the people of Dendar thought about her already! Then she heard him call her “my Shani”, my love, and she realized that the only opinion she cared about was his. Max Evans. Her husband three times over. So she straightened her shoulders and lifted her head proudly. She may not be seen as the true Queen of Antar, but she was the true love of the King of Antar.
The King of Dendar was exceedingly polite to them both, welcoming them to his planet and expressing the wish that Max’s presence would have a positive impact on the peace talks. He also “cordially invited” them to a function in their honor that would be held the following evening.
After saying a few words of thanks, Max motioned his group out of there. He needed to be alone with Liz. And he needed to sort out Tess.
Their suite in the Dendar palace was mansion-like. And the silence that thundered between the members of the group was overwhelming as they waited in the entrance hall for Nick and his men to finish their inspection of the place. Tess had started saying something, but Michael had slapped his hand over her mouth and kept her in pinned to his side. However, he could not stop the glares she was throwing at Max and Liz.
Max had turned his back on his former bride and pulled Liz into his arms so she could rest her head on his chest. He rubbed his hands over her back soothingly. He could feel how tired she was and he just wanted to get her to their room so she could take a nap.
Shilla was stunned yet again. She stood to the side, waiting for instructions and trying to understand the obviously strained atmosphere. She had been amazed when the “fake Queen”, as she has started referring to Tess, threw herself at Max during the reception. As far as she understood, Tess had not been bonded with Max, so what was she doing acting like he was hers? Shilla could just imagine how poor Liz was feeling. But at least it looked like Max was aware of that and trying to help her.
“Everything is fine,” Nick announced from the top of the staircase and Max turned to Michael.
“Wait here with her, please.” He took Liz and Maria upstairs. The rooms that were supposed to be his and Liz’s were magnificent. It consisted of two bedrooms and bathroom and an “informal living area”. Max halted in the door of the one bedroom, feeling that dull ache he had learned to associate with the resurfacing of his old memories suddenly pressing down on his temples. He grabbed for something to hold onto, and found only Liz.
Staggering under his unexpected weight, Liz managed to push him against the wall to hold him upright. “Max!” she cried.
“No,” he sounded weak. “Get me out of here,” his voice got a little stronger. “Please, Liz.”
They stumbled out of the room and into the other bedroom, Max started feeling better immediately.
“What did you see?” Liz asked him anxiously when he was seated on the side of the bed.
Max was still taking deep breaths in an attempt to get himself to calm down. “Uh… nothing specific. I just had… this feeling. This awful feeling.” He had felt dread and despair while going into that room. And he had seen a brief flash of Tess, grinning up at him seductively. He was betraying someone. His Shani.
“So we’ll just stay in this room then,” Liz said firmly. She had a feeling he wasn’t telling her everything, but right now, she didn’t want to know. Because whatever he wasn’t telling was bound to be about Tess.
Pulling Liz onto his lap, he nearly crushed her in a hug. “I have to go talk to her. I have to get her out of our lives for good.” He brushed her hair behind her ear. “Why don’t you take a nap until I get back?”
They kissed softly, longingly, lovingly. “I’ll be back,” Max whispered as he rested his forehead against hers. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He found Michael downstairs, glaring at Tess who was obviously trying to mind-warp the people in the hall. “Stop that, Tess.” His voice was hard and uncompromising.
She whirled towards him. “So Max Evans, King of Antar returns from the dead. Imagine my surprise to see my beloved dead husband!”
Max just got more angry at her sarcasm. “I was never your husband in this life, so just give it up. What do you want?”
She sauntered over to him. “Why King Max, I want to be Queen. How many times must I tell you this?"
“That’s not going to hap—”
“I’m not asking you to give up little Lizzie Parker—”
“It’s Liz Evans now,” he broke into her chattering, seeing her falter with satisfaction.
She recovered quickly. “Whatever. You can keep her as your mistress, just let me have the title.”
“That is never going to happen and you know it. I will never degrade Liz like that. She is my wife, my mate and my Queen and you better accept it or I will announce your scam to the planet.”
“Don’t threaten me, Max Evans. I know things about this war that you don’t. You are going to be in way over your head. And you wouldn’t want something to happen to your precious Liz while you are off fighting a war, now would you? You should have just left her at home.”
Max started towards her, but was stopped by Michael’s hand on his arm. “So help me, Tess, if anything happens to Liz, I’m coming after you.” His voice was quiet, deadly.
“You are so out of your league here. Think about my offer, I want an answer before the celebration tomorrow night.”
“You have my answer. It’s no.”
“Then I will just have to make sure that my position is clear during the party,” she announced smugly and flounced out the door.
Max was furious. He couldn’t remember ever being this angry in his life. “James…”
“I’m on it,” James answered promptly and left to follow Tess.
“What are you going to do, Maxwell?”
“I’m going to make sure she doesn’t attend that party tomorrow night, that’s what.”
Michael nodded, he didn’t really know what to say to his friend.
“Michael, have you maybe… started remembering stuff from our life on Antar? Or of being here on Dendar before?”
“No.” Michael was looking at him strangely. “Why?”
“I keep getting these-these flashes that I can’t make sense of. Nick can’t help me either. He only told me that I definitely WAS married to Tess and that it was arranged. And that I was miserable.”
“So what… are you getting flashes of you and Tess?”
“Only two. The rest are… about Liz.”
“What? Maxwell, that’s impossible. Maybe you just have her on the brain—”
“No Michael. I see her wearing these Antar Royal clothes. And I kept calling her ‘Shani’ during these flashes.”
“Ooh, calling her someone else’s name is not fine.”
“It means ‘Beloved’ in Antarian.” Max could see that Michael was completely floored.
“Whoa.”
“Yeah,” Max sighed. “It’s driving me crazy. I don’t know what to tell Liz. I don’t know what the hell happened while I was married to Tess. I don’t know if I knew Liz when we lived on Antar…” He thrust his hands through his hair in frustration.
Michael watched him pace in silence. “Yeah, I was wanting to ask you something too.”
Why did Michael sound so tentative?
“I—I uh… I want to get bonded to-to Maria,” Michael was staring at his feet causing Max to grin. This was going to lead to another ear-piercing shriek from the lively pixie. “I need you to help me, you know, plan things.”
Wiping the grin off his face so as not to increase Michael’s nervousness further, Max said solemnly: “Sure I’ll help.”
The two friends looked at each other. They had come a long way. From bickering and fighting to a place where each of them knew that the other got their back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
James waited around the corner to see which room Tess entered. He also caught a glimpse of a man waiting for her, his back turned to the door. Well, this certainly is interesting. Maybe Shilla can find out who Tess was seeing…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Max found Liz sleeping in their bed and Maria standing at the window. “Hey Maria,” he said softly, going over to join her.
“Hey,” she smiled up at him before risking a glance at Liz. “Did you get rid of the pest?”
He grinned. “Sort of. Is Liz okay?”
Maria looked over at her sleeping friend again. “I guess so. This pregnancy is not going to hurt her, is it?”
“I—I don’t know. So far she seems fine apart from the glowing stomach and morning sickness.”
“This is just killing you, isn’t it?” She stared up at him shrewdly.
“I… I would rather have done this on earth. I don’t like that I’m going to be away from her a lot while I’m here…”
“Well, she has me.”
“I know.” He hugged her spontaneously. “Thank you for accepting me in her life from the beginning.”
“Are you kidding?” Maria was laughing. “I told her you might be like those spiders that ate their mates after having sex when I found you two in Michael’s flat that first time. Boy, you two were all over each other!”
Max was blushing.
“Not that that has changed! Just so you know, I was ready to kick your ass if you did anything that would have hurt her.”
“That much I knew,” he assured her. “Do you think you could let me have some time alone with her? We could all meet for dinner later. Just tell Shilla if you need anything.”
He sat down on the side of the bed after Maria had left, softly brushing his hand over Liz’s hair. He would wait until she woke up, but it was time to make some new memories here on Dendar.
PART 48
A warmth was invading her womb, making Liz smile before she even opened her eyes. She was lying on her side and as she fought her way up through the layers of sleep, she felt Max gently caressing her stomach with the backs of his fingers. She found him lying next to her, his dark and expressive eyes resting on her face.
“Hey sleepyhead,” he said softly and lifted his hand to her face, continuing his caresses on her cheek. “Feel better now?”
“Yes,” she smiled at him. In quiet moments like these, when it was just the two of them and their love for each other, it was easy to forget that Max was anything other than her husband and the father of her unborn baby. To forget that he was the King of another planet, that he had had a destiny to fulfill and that he currently had a lot of lives depending on him. In these moments, he looked at her in a way that made her feel like they were the only two people in the universe. That she was all that mattered to him. That the universe could shiver into nothingness around them and he wouldn’t care. “And you?”
“I’m fine. I have all that I need right here next to me.” He leaned in for a kiss, tenderly brushing his lips over hers, but not allowing it to deepen too much. “I have good news,” he breathed against her mouth.
“Mmmm,” she didn’t want him to stop kissing her.
“Michael is finally going to pop the question.” He grinned when she jerked away in surprise.
“You’re kidding!”
“Nope. He is really nervous and we have to help him. So don’t tell Maria, okay?”
She flung her arms around his neck, pushing him onto his back on the bed and crawling on top of him. “Maria is going to be so happy!”
He closed his eyes to enjoy the little kisses she was raining all over his face. “Hey, if this is the response I get, I’ll have to get Michael to propose more often.”
She pulled back from him and shivered as he slid his hands under her top to caress the bare skin of her back. “You know very well that you don’t need any gimmicks to get such a response from me…” She sighed again as his hand moved higher and found the clasp of her bra.
He pressed her upper body tightly against his by flattening his one hand between her shoulder blades. His other hand moved into her hair, holding her face immobile as he trailed moist kisses from her lips to her ear. “This is the honeymoon I never had the previous time I was here.” His breath tickled her ear. “It should’ve been you…”
She kissed him urgently then, trying to eliminate whatever it was that he was remembering from the last time he was here, in this suite. “It’s me now, Max,” she promised him.
Need. Pure unadulterated need washed over her as Max finally allowed the floodgates of their connection to open. Trembling under the force of his need, Liz opened her mouth wider, allowing him complete access.
He sat them both up to slide Liz’s top and bra off in one smooth movement before pulling off his own shirt. His hands met at the small of her back and slowly trailed upwards until he could press her against his warm skin again. Both of them gasped at the electric contact.
Liz had to bite down a moan when his hands continued to roam her back and sides as he captured her lips again. Her breasts were starting to become sensitive due to her pregnancy and the friction between their bodies was exquisite. She was straddling his lap, clutching at the solid muscle of his upper arms, leaning into the kiss, her body curving into a taut bow before relaxing against his.
He kissed her eyes shut, then his mouth lingered over the smooth cream column of her throat, until he smiled against her skin and murmured: “You are so beautiful.”
They undressed each other further, getting in one another’s way and then his heated mouth found the fine skin at her waist. Liz looked down at the dark head moving against her and her heart swelled. Sudden tears blurred her vision; she lifted a hand and ran it through the black silk of his hair, cupping his cheek as he turned his face into her glowing stomach. How she loved him!
He kissed her navel, his tongue searching out the small indentation. The intimate touch sending quivers through her. “You are gorgeous too,” she told him huskily.
He laughed and kissed her mouth and her throat, and the junction of neck and shoulder, biting it gently, letting her feel his undisguised passion. It stopped her breath in her throat.
This time, their movements were unhurried. To Liz, it felt like everything had gone into slow motion. The way his hand stroked her skin, the powerful thud of her heart in her breast, her boneless lack of energy as she ran her fingers through his hair and curled her hand around his neck, feeling his life-force pulse against it. Her eyelids were weighted in anticipation.
Max’s kiss told her he had searched the universe for her, and that she was more precious to him than life itself. His touch sent fire through her, her breath lodged in her throat when he kissed her breasts. Instinctively, Liz held his head there for a long moment, reveling in the responses of her body.
She moved against him, quick, involuntary movements and she felt his reaction, growing, urgent, but instead of taking her, he said: “No, not yet.”
She protested, but he kept on caressing her, until her body was aching with the need to take him inside her.
“Touch me,” he finally said.
Drawing a long deep breath, Liz put her hand up to his shoulder, feeling the muscles bunch and quiver beneath her fingers. His skin was hot and she could smell the scent of his arousal, male and incredibly stimulating.
Slowly she ran her hand across his back, down the sleekness of his spine and over the taut muscles of his backside.
A groan was torn from deep within his throat.
Liz kissed his shoulder, then bit it, then licked the small red crescent she had made. From the corners of her eyes she noted his reaction, his smile, the way his eyes gleamed and darkened.
He touched her breasts again, causing an ache to unfurl deep within her. Her hips were moving against him and she slid her hand down his body, touching him intimately.
“No,” Max said in a strangled voice, it would be over too soon.
But Liz laughed at him, a smoky, seductive sound, before bending to flick her tongue across his chest. She pressed herself against him until he groaned something in a shaken voice and rolled her over, filling her with one hard thrust as though his life depended on it.
Stabbed by hunger, she ran her hands once more down his back before pulling his hips towards her. “I need you, Max.”
He looked at her for a long moment before replying: “I need you too.”
They moved together then, increasing their pace towards that ultimate release that they craved so much. Liz cried out as the waves of ecstasy flowed through her and Max followed instantaneously, racked by the same flood of sensation.
They lay panting in each other’s arms afterwards, basking in the completion only they could bring each other.
Max finally braced himself on his forearms and brushed her tousled hair from her face. “New memories.” It sounded like a promise.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Shilla was starting to lose hope. She had been chatting with some of the other servants in the palace at James’ request, but so far, no one was able to help her about the gentleman in Tess’ bedroom. All she had managed to find out was that there had been a steady stream of men visiting that bedroom in the past few years. If ever Shilla had doubts about the way that Max had handled his destiny and his choice, they were eradicated by this news.
She also made sure to tell the others about the amazing relationship between the Antarian Royal Couple, knowing that the news would soon reach everyone of importance in the Palace. But she kept carefully quiet about Liz’s pregnancy. By tomorrow night, there will be no doubt who Max’s real mate is…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz had taken Maria for a stroll through the palace grounds late the afternoon, giving the guys the chance to prepare for Michael’s proposal. They were surrounded by 10 men and no amount of pleading from Liz’s side to decrease the number had made an impression on Max. If someone wanted to get to his wife and child, they would have to go through quite a few bodies to do it. He had kissed her hard before they left, telling her to stay in contact.
“Check in time, chicca,” Maria told her with an amused grin while folding her arms and waiting for Liz to concentrate on letting Max know where they were and that they were still safe. “Boy, that man is adorable when he freaks out over you like this.”
“Haha, let’s go back and dress up for dinner.”
“Why?”
“Because… it’s our first dinner together and I-I’m trying to help Max make new memories here in this place.” Liz hoped that sounded convincing.
Maria looped her arm through Liz’s. “Eew, it must be a bit disconcerting for him to suddenly remember doing the nasty with Tess…” She felt Liz go rigid next to her and hastily tried to fix her blunder. “Damn, Lizzie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
“It’s okay. He doesn’t exactly remember that yet. Just that they were married…”
Stopping to pull Liz around to look at her, Maria took her hands. “You know that will never happen again, right? That she might be his past but—”
“I know. Thanks for telling me again, though.”
Maria hoped that Max has remembered all he was going to remember about his marriage to Tess. And for once, she was glad she didn’t get flashes of Michael’s past when he was with her, because she was very sure that she would not take seeing him and Isabel together very well.
“He’s crazy about you, Liz. What normal husband makes love with his wife at all hours of the day after nearly eight years of marriage?” Liz was starting to grin. “Come on, I saw how you glowed when you came out of that room this afternoon!”
“Maria!”
“And I saw King Max’s silly I’ve-been-getting-happy-with-Liz smile! We’ve been seeing it for years and we were all just too polite to say anything.”
Neither of the two women noticed that all the guards were trying to hide their own grins by now.
“Let’s go get dressed, Maria.” Liz’s cheeks were flaming by now. She had no idea that they were so obvious!
Max was waiting in the entrance hall when they got back and he looked at Maria as if she was losing her mind when she burst into hysterical giggles upon seeing him.
“She’s just-just insane,” Liz assured him as she kissed his warm mouth quickly and bundled Maria upstairs to where Isabel was waiting. It was make-over time!
The guys just stayed out of the way until all the primping and dressing was done upstairs and they watched appreciatively as the girls all came down the stairs in evening wear.
“Whoa, Michael, who managed to get you into a tux?” Maria walked over to her boyfriend of many years who seemed struck dumb at the moment.
Max sighed, took Liz’s hand and led them all outside to a large balcony from where they could see the three moons that orbited Dendar. A small table with two place settings was waiting for them.
“Don’t tell me this is one of Max’s little Liz schemes—”
“Maria,” Michael interrupted her and led her over to the table while their friends stood waiting at the door.
“What?” She truly seemed at a loss and looked over at Liz who was smiling at her broadly. “What?”
“Maria…” Michael was struggling again. “This is for you. For us.”
“I don’t… Michael Guerin!” Her sudden shriek made everyone jump.
“I—I don’t want you to live in sin anymore, so will you—”
“Yes!” She flung herself at him, raining kisses all over his face before finally pulling back. “Wait, you are asking me to marry you, right?”
This made them all burst out laughing and Nick took that as his cue to appear.
Maria cried her eyes out throughout the bonding ceremony. She couldn’t believe this was finally happening. For once, she was not one of the people in the small circle around Max and Liz, but was inside, with her space boy. Surrounded by her friends. Her mother would be so proud!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later that night, while Max was lying in bed holding Liz and staring up at the ceiling of their room, his mind returned to what had happened in that other bedroom. He knew he had to go back there and see if maybe he couldn’t remember something concrete. He gingerly moved away from Liz, but kept his hand on her bare arm until she got used to not having him plastered to her back.
Crossing the little lounge area, he walked resolutely towards the closed door. Nothing was worse than uncertainty.
Pushing the heavy door open, he immediately felt the pressure in his temples. Not even bothering to turn on a light, he fumbled his way to the bed and sat down. He heard voices in his head.
His own, indignant: “I can’t do this, Mother.”
A female voice: “It’s for the best, Zan. She is a beautiful and wonderful girl.”
His again, upset. “She’s not…”
“She’s not who? What is going on with you these last few months?”
Despair washed over him as he heard himself plead: “Please don’t ask me to do this…”
He was shivering by the time the flash ended. This at least confirmed what he already knew, he had not wanted to marry Tess. Rubbing his face tiredly, he became aware of Nick’s presence in the room, watching him silently.
“Liz sent me,” he clarified. “She thought I might be able to help you.”
“There is something about this room…” Max waved his hand.
“It was your parents’ room whenever the family stayed here. It became yours once you married.”
“Where did I sleep before...” He couldn’t even say it.
“In the room Michael and Maria are sharing.”
Damn, there was no way he was bothering those two tonight, but he desperately wanted to go to that room to see if he remembered anything from there. Maybe tomorrow…
“Nick, are you sure there was no one like Liz around on Antar? Could she have been in my life without any else’s knowledge?”
Taking a long time to answer, Nick finally stated: “I don’t know, Max. I’m beginning to think your parents showed me what they wanted me to see. If I had not heard some stories about you and-and Tess from the elders, I wouldn’t have known you were unhappily married. They certainly did not show me that. I only saw scenes from your life at war, growing up… Only one or two things from when you were married.” He met Max’s gaze in the moonlight. “If you are asking whether you might have had a mistress… I guess its possible.”
Max stared at his clasped hands. It was possible, yes, but why did he feel like he wouldn’t have done that to Liz even then? His heart rebelled at the thought. No, whatever his Shani had been in his previous life, she had not been his mistress.
tbc
Several things happened at once. Max’s heart plummeted to his feet. Maria gasped in outrage. Michael cursed. Some of the Antarian guards rushed over.
And Max felt Liz flinch next to him. He gripped her hand tighter as James stepped between them and the oncoming Tess. Without even looking at Max, James took Tess’ arm firmly and steered her to the back of the little Antarian group. To say Max was relieved was an understatement. There was no way he wanted to have this confrontation in public and James had handled it perfectly. He had made Tess a part of their group without having her too close to Max and Liz.
Furiously tugging to get her arm out of James’ grip, Tess was fuming. “Get your hands—”
“Nice to see you again, Tess,” Michael took up position on her other side. “If you promise not to make a scene, we promise not to hurt and humiliate you in public.”
He had to fight to keep himself from glancing backwards to see what was going on with Tess, but Max knew he shouldn’t acknowledge her in any way right now as it would only add to the spectacle. So instead, he took a deep breath, pulled Liz closer to him, whispered “my Shani” in her ear, and continued walking towards the Dendar Royal group.
Liz wanted to die. If it weren’t for Max’s arm around her waist, she would’ve run away by now. Tess had managed to make her feel like the “other woman” in Max’s life. The one that stole him from his legitimate wife. She didn’t even want to know what the people of Dendar thought about her already! Then she heard him call her “my Shani”, my love, and she realized that the only opinion she cared about was his. Max Evans. Her husband three times over. So she straightened her shoulders and lifted her head proudly. She may not be seen as the true Queen of Antar, but she was the true love of the King of Antar.
The King of Dendar was exceedingly polite to them both, welcoming them to his planet and expressing the wish that Max’s presence would have a positive impact on the peace talks. He also “cordially invited” them to a function in their honor that would be held the following evening.
After saying a few words of thanks, Max motioned his group out of there. He needed to be alone with Liz. And he needed to sort out Tess.
Their suite in the Dendar palace was mansion-like. And the silence that thundered between the members of the group was overwhelming as they waited in the entrance hall for Nick and his men to finish their inspection of the place. Tess had started saying something, but Michael had slapped his hand over her mouth and kept her in pinned to his side. However, he could not stop the glares she was throwing at Max and Liz.
Max had turned his back on his former bride and pulled Liz into his arms so she could rest her head on his chest. He rubbed his hands over her back soothingly. He could feel how tired she was and he just wanted to get her to their room so she could take a nap.
Shilla was stunned yet again. She stood to the side, waiting for instructions and trying to understand the obviously strained atmosphere. She had been amazed when the “fake Queen”, as she has started referring to Tess, threw herself at Max during the reception. As far as she understood, Tess had not been bonded with Max, so what was she doing acting like he was hers? Shilla could just imagine how poor Liz was feeling. But at least it looked like Max was aware of that and trying to help her.
“Everything is fine,” Nick announced from the top of the staircase and Max turned to Michael.
“Wait here with her, please.” He took Liz and Maria upstairs. The rooms that were supposed to be his and Liz’s were magnificent. It consisted of two bedrooms and bathroom and an “informal living area”. Max halted in the door of the one bedroom, feeling that dull ache he had learned to associate with the resurfacing of his old memories suddenly pressing down on his temples. He grabbed for something to hold onto, and found only Liz.
Staggering under his unexpected weight, Liz managed to push him against the wall to hold him upright. “Max!” she cried.
“No,” he sounded weak. “Get me out of here,” his voice got a little stronger. “Please, Liz.”
They stumbled out of the room and into the other bedroom, Max started feeling better immediately.
“What did you see?” Liz asked him anxiously when he was seated on the side of the bed.
Max was still taking deep breaths in an attempt to get himself to calm down. “Uh… nothing specific. I just had… this feeling. This awful feeling.” He had felt dread and despair while going into that room. And he had seen a brief flash of Tess, grinning up at him seductively. He was betraying someone. His Shani.
“So we’ll just stay in this room then,” Liz said firmly. She had a feeling he wasn’t telling her everything, but right now, she didn’t want to know. Because whatever he wasn’t telling was bound to be about Tess.
Pulling Liz onto his lap, he nearly crushed her in a hug. “I have to go talk to her. I have to get her out of our lives for good.” He brushed her hair behind her ear. “Why don’t you take a nap until I get back?”
They kissed softly, longingly, lovingly. “I’ll be back,” Max whispered as he rested his forehead against hers. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He found Michael downstairs, glaring at Tess who was obviously trying to mind-warp the people in the hall. “Stop that, Tess.” His voice was hard and uncompromising.
She whirled towards him. “So Max Evans, King of Antar returns from the dead. Imagine my surprise to see my beloved dead husband!”
Max just got more angry at her sarcasm. “I was never your husband in this life, so just give it up. What do you want?”
She sauntered over to him. “Why King Max, I want to be Queen. How many times must I tell you this?"
“That’s not going to hap—”
“I’m not asking you to give up little Lizzie Parker—”
“It’s Liz Evans now,” he broke into her chattering, seeing her falter with satisfaction.
She recovered quickly. “Whatever. You can keep her as your mistress, just let me have the title.”
“That is never going to happen and you know it. I will never degrade Liz like that. She is my wife, my mate and my Queen and you better accept it or I will announce your scam to the planet.”
“Don’t threaten me, Max Evans. I know things about this war that you don’t. You are going to be in way over your head. And you wouldn’t want something to happen to your precious Liz while you are off fighting a war, now would you? You should have just left her at home.”
Max started towards her, but was stopped by Michael’s hand on his arm. “So help me, Tess, if anything happens to Liz, I’m coming after you.” His voice was quiet, deadly.
“You are so out of your league here. Think about my offer, I want an answer before the celebration tomorrow night.”
“You have my answer. It’s no.”
“Then I will just have to make sure that my position is clear during the party,” she announced smugly and flounced out the door.
Max was furious. He couldn’t remember ever being this angry in his life. “James…”
“I’m on it,” James answered promptly and left to follow Tess.
“What are you going to do, Maxwell?”
“I’m going to make sure she doesn’t attend that party tomorrow night, that’s what.”
Michael nodded, he didn’t really know what to say to his friend.
“Michael, have you maybe… started remembering stuff from our life on Antar? Or of being here on Dendar before?”
“No.” Michael was looking at him strangely. “Why?”
“I keep getting these-these flashes that I can’t make sense of. Nick can’t help me either. He only told me that I definitely WAS married to Tess and that it was arranged. And that I was miserable.”
“So what… are you getting flashes of you and Tess?”
“Only two. The rest are… about Liz.”
“What? Maxwell, that’s impossible. Maybe you just have her on the brain—”
“No Michael. I see her wearing these Antar Royal clothes. And I kept calling her ‘Shani’ during these flashes.”
“Ooh, calling her someone else’s name is not fine.”
“It means ‘Beloved’ in Antarian.” Max could see that Michael was completely floored.
“Whoa.”
“Yeah,” Max sighed. “It’s driving me crazy. I don’t know what to tell Liz. I don’t know what the hell happened while I was married to Tess. I don’t know if I knew Liz when we lived on Antar…” He thrust his hands through his hair in frustration.
Michael watched him pace in silence. “Yeah, I was wanting to ask you something too.”
Why did Michael sound so tentative?
“I—I uh… I want to get bonded to-to Maria,” Michael was staring at his feet causing Max to grin. This was going to lead to another ear-piercing shriek from the lively pixie. “I need you to help me, you know, plan things.”
Wiping the grin off his face so as not to increase Michael’s nervousness further, Max said solemnly: “Sure I’ll help.”
The two friends looked at each other. They had come a long way. From bickering and fighting to a place where each of them knew that the other got their back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
James waited around the corner to see which room Tess entered. He also caught a glimpse of a man waiting for her, his back turned to the door. Well, this certainly is interesting. Maybe Shilla can find out who Tess was seeing…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Max found Liz sleeping in their bed and Maria standing at the window. “Hey Maria,” he said softly, going over to join her.
“Hey,” she smiled up at him before risking a glance at Liz. “Did you get rid of the pest?”
He grinned. “Sort of. Is Liz okay?”
Maria looked over at her sleeping friend again. “I guess so. This pregnancy is not going to hurt her, is it?”
“I—I don’t know. So far she seems fine apart from the glowing stomach and morning sickness.”
“This is just killing you, isn’t it?” She stared up at him shrewdly.
“I… I would rather have done this on earth. I don’t like that I’m going to be away from her a lot while I’m here…”
“Well, she has me.”
“I know.” He hugged her spontaneously. “Thank you for accepting me in her life from the beginning.”
“Are you kidding?” Maria was laughing. “I told her you might be like those spiders that ate their mates after having sex when I found you two in Michael’s flat that first time. Boy, you two were all over each other!”
Max was blushing.
“Not that that has changed! Just so you know, I was ready to kick your ass if you did anything that would have hurt her.”
“That much I knew,” he assured her. “Do you think you could let me have some time alone with her? We could all meet for dinner later. Just tell Shilla if you need anything.”
He sat down on the side of the bed after Maria had left, softly brushing his hand over Liz’s hair. He would wait until she woke up, but it was time to make some new memories here on Dendar.
PART 48
A warmth was invading her womb, making Liz smile before she even opened her eyes. She was lying on her side and as she fought her way up through the layers of sleep, she felt Max gently caressing her stomach with the backs of his fingers. She found him lying next to her, his dark and expressive eyes resting on her face.
“Hey sleepyhead,” he said softly and lifted his hand to her face, continuing his caresses on her cheek. “Feel better now?”
“Yes,” she smiled at him. In quiet moments like these, when it was just the two of them and their love for each other, it was easy to forget that Max was anything other than her husband and the father of her unborn baby. To forget that he was the King of another planet, that he had had a destiny to fulfill and that he currently had a lot of lives depending on him. In these moments, he looked at her in a way that made her feel like they were the only two people in the universe. That she was all that mattered to him. That the universe could shiver into nothingness around them and he wouldn’t care. “And you?”
“I’m fine. I have all that I need right here next to me.” He leaned in for a kiss, tenderly brushing his lips over hers, but not allowing it to deepen too much. “I have good news,” he breathed against her mouth.
“Mmmm,” she didn’t want him to stop kissing her.
“Michael is finally going to pop the question.” He grinned when she jerked away in surprise.
“You’re kidding!”
“Nope. He is really nervous and we have to help him. So don’t tell Maria, okay?”
She flung her arms around his neck, pushing him onto his back on the bed and crawling on top of him. “Maria is going to be so happy!”
He closed his eyes to enjoy the little kisses she was raining all over his face. “Hey, if this is the response I get, I’ll have to get Michael to propose more often.”
She pulled back from him and shivered as he slid his hands under her top to caress the bare skin of her back. “You know very well that you don’t need any gimmicks to get such a response from me…” She sighed again as his hand moved higher and found the clasp of her bra.
He pressed her upper body tightly against his by flattening his one hand between her shoulder blades. His other hand moved into her hair, holding her face immobile as he trailed moist kisses from her lips to her ear. “This is the honeymoon I never had the previous time I was here.” His breath tickled her ear. “It should’ve been you…”
She kissed him urgently then, trying to eliminate whatever it was that he was remembering from the last time he was here, in this suite. “It’s me now, Max,” she promised him.
Need. Pure unadulterated need washed over her as Max finally allowed the floodgates of their connection to open. Trembling under the force of his need, Liz opened her mouth wider, allowing him complete access.
He sat them both up to slide Liz’s top and bra off in one smooth movement before pulling off his own shirt. His hands met at the small of her back and slowly trailed upwards until he could press her against his warm skin again. Both of them gasped at the electric contact.
Liz had to bite down a moan when his hands continued to roam her back and sides as he captured her lips again. Her breasts were starting to become sensitive due to her pregnancy and the friction between their bodies was exquisite. She was straddling his lap, clutching at the solid muscle of his upper arms, leaning into the kiss, her body curving into a taut bow before relaxing against his.
He kissed her eyes shut, then his mouth lingered over the smooth cream column of her throat, until he smiled against her skin and murmured: “You are so beautiful.”
They undressed each other further, getting in one another’s way and then his heated mouth found the fine skin at her waist. Liz looked down at the dark head moving against her and her heart swelled. Sudden tears blurred her vision; she lifted a hand and ran it through the black silk of his hair, cupping his cheek as he turned his face into her glowing stomach. How she loved him!
He kissed her navel, his tongue searching out the small indentation. The intimate touch sending quivers through her. “You are gorgeous too,” she told him huskily.
He laughed and kissed her mouth and her throat, and the junction of neck and shoulder, biting it gently, letting her feel his undisguised passion. It stopped her breath in her throat.
This time, their movements were unhurried. To Liz, it felt like everything had gone into slow motion. The way his hand stroked her skin, the powerful thud of her heart in her breast, her boneless lack of energy as she ran her fingers through his hair and curled her hand around his neck, feeling his life-force pulse against it. Her eyelids were weighted in anticipation.
Max’s kiss told her he had searched the universe for her, and that she was more precious to him than life itself. His touch sent fire through her, her breath lodged in her throat when he kissed her breasts. Instinctively, Liz held his head there for a long moment, reveling in the responses of her body.
She moved against him, quick, involuntary movements and she felt his reaction, growing, urgent, but instead of taking her, he said: “No, not yet.”
She protested, but he kept on caressing her, until her body was aching with the need to take him inside her.
“Touch me,” he finally said.
Drawing a long deep breath, Liz put her hand up to his shoulder, feeling the muscles bunch and quiver beneath her fingers. His skin was hot and she could smell the scent of his arousal, male and incredibly stimulating.
Slowly she ran her hand across his back, down the sleekness of his spine and over the taut muscles of his backside.
A groan was torn from deep within his throat.
Liz kissed his shoulder, then bit it, then licked the small red crescent she had made. From the corners of her eyes she noted his reaction, his smile, the way his eyes gleamed and darkened.
He touched her breasts again, causing an ache to unfurl deep within her. Her hips were moving against him and she slid her hand down his body, touching him intimately.
“No,” Max said in a strangled voice, it would be over too soon.
But Liz laughed at him, a smoky, seductive sound, before bending to flick her tongue across his chest. She pressed herself against him until he groaned something in a shaken voice and rolled her over, filling her with one hard thrust as though his life depended on it.
Stabbed by hunger, she ran her hands once more down his back before pulling his hips towards her. “I need you, Max.”
He looked at her for a long moment before replying: “I need you too.”
They moved together then, increasing their pace towards that ultimate release that they craved so much. Liz cried out as the waves of ecstasy flowed through her and Max followed instantaneously, racked by the same flood of sensation.
They lay panting in each other’s arms afterwards, basking in the completion only they could bring each other.
Max finally braced himself on his forearms and brushed her tousled hair from her face. “New memories.” It sounded like a promise.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Shilla was starting to lose hope. She had been chatting with some of the other servants in the palace at James’ request, but so far, no one was able to help her about the gentleman in Tess’ bedroom. All she had managed to find out was that there had been a steady stream of men visiting that bedroom in the past few years. If ever Shilla had doubts about the way that Max had handled his destiny and his choice, they were eradicated by this news.
She also made sure to tell the others about the amazing relationship between the Antarian Royal Couple, knowing that the news would soon reach everyone of importance in the Palace. But she kept carefully quiet about Liz’s pregnancy. By tomorrow night, there will be no doubt who Max’s real mate is…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz had taken Maria for a stroll through the palace grounds late the afternoon, giving the guys the chance to prepare for Michael’s proposal. They were surrounded by 10 men and no amount of pleading from Liz’s side to decrease the number had made an impression on Max. If someone wanted to get to his wife and child, they would have to go through quite a few bodies to do it. He had kissed her hard before they left, telling her to stay in contact.
“Check in time, chicca,” Maria told her with an amused grin while folding her arms and waiting for Liz to concentrate on letting Max know where they were and that they were still safe. “Boy, that man is adorable when he freaks out over you like this.”
“Haha, let’s go back and dress up for dinner.”
“Why?”
“Because… it’s our first dinner together and I-I’m trying to help Max make new memories here in this place.” Liz hoped that sounded convincing.
Maria looped her arm through Liz’s. “Eew, it must be a bit disconcerting for him to suddenly remember doing the nasty with Tess…” She felt Liz go rigid next to her and hastily tried to fix her blunder. “Damn, Lizzie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
“It’s okay. He doesn’t exactly remember that yet. Just that they were married…”
Stopping to pull Liz around to look at her, Maria took her hands. “You know that will never happen again, right? That she might be his past but—”
“I know. Thanks for telling me again, though.”
Maria hoped that Max has remembered all he was going to remember about his marriage to Tess. And for once, she was glad she didn’t get flashes of Michael’s past when he was with her, because she was very sure that she would not take seeing him and Isabel together very well.
“He’s crazy about you, Liz. What normal husband makes love with his wife at all hours of the day after nearly eight years of marriage?” Liz was starting to grin. “Come on, I saw how you glowed when you came out of that room this afternoon!”
“Maria!”
“And I saw King Max’s silly I’ve-been-getting-happy-with-Liz smile! We’ve been seeing it for years and we were all just too polite to say anything.”
Neither of the two women noticed that all the guards were trying to hide their own grins by now.
“Let’s go get dressed, Maria.” Liz’s cheeks were flaming by now. She had no idea that they were so obvious!
Max was waiting in the entrance hall when they got back and he looked at Maria as if she was losing her mind when she burst into hysterical giggles upon seeing him.
“She’s just-just insane,” Liz assured him as she kissed his warm mouth quickly and bundled Maria upstairs to where Isabel was waiting. It was make-over time!
The guys just stayed out of the way until all the primping and dressing was done upstairs and they watched appreciatively as the girls all came down the stairs in evening wear.
“Whoa, Michael, who managed to get you into a tux?” Maria walked over to her boyfriend of many years who seemed struck dumb at the moment.
Max sighed, took Liz’s hand and led them all outside to a large balcony from where they could see the three moons that orbited Dendar. A small table with two place settings was waiting for them.
“Don’t tell me this is one of Max’s little Liz schemes—”
“Maria,” Michael interrupted her and led her over to the table while their friends stood waiting at the door.
“What?” She truly seemed at a loss and looked over at Liz who was smiling at her broadly. “What?”
“Maria…” Michael was struggling again. “This is for you. For us.”
“I don’t… Michael Guerin!” Her sudden shriek made everyone jump.
“I—I don’t want you to live in sin anymore, so will you—”
“Yes!” She flung herself at him, raining kisses all over his face before finally pulling back. “Wait, you are asking me to marry you, right?”
This made them all burst out laughing and Nick took that as his cue to appear.
Maria cried her eyes out throughout the bonding ceremony. She couldn’t believe this was finally happening. For once, she was not one of the people in the small circle around Max and Liz, but was inside, with her space boy. Surrounded by her friends. Her mother would be so proud!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later that night, while Max was lying in bed holding Liz and staring up at the ceiling of their room, his mind returned to what had happened in that other bedroom. He knew he had to go back there and see if maybe he couldn’t remember something concrete. He gingerly moved away from Liz, but kept his hand on her bare arm until she got used to not having him plastered to her back.
Crossing the little lounge area, he walked resolutely towards the closed door. Nothing was worse than uncertainty.
Pushing the heavy door open, he immediately felt the pressure in his temples. Not even bothering to turn on a light, he fumbled his way to the bed and sat down. He heard voices in his head.
His own, indignant: “I can’t do this, Mother.”
A female voice: “It’s for the best, Zan. She is a beautiful and wonderful girl.”
His again, upset. “She’s not…”
“She’s not who? What is going on with you these last few months?”
Despair washed over him as he heard himself plead: “Please don’t ask me to do this…”
He was shivering by the time the flash ended. This at least confirmed what he already knew, he had not wanted to marry Tess. Rubbing his face tiredly, he became aware of Nick’s presence in the room, watching him silently.
“Liz sent me,” he clarified. “She thought I might be able to help you.”
“There is something about this room…” Max waved his hand.
“It was your parents’ room whenever the family stayed here. It became yours once you married.”
“Where did I sleep before...” He couldn’t even say it.
“In the room Michael and Maria are sharing.”
Damn, there was no way he was bothering those two tonight, but he desperately wanted to go to that room to see if he remembered anything from there. Maybe tomorrow…
“Nick, are you sure there was no one like Liz around on Antar? Could she have been in my life without any else’s knowledge?”
Taking a long time to answer, Nick finally stated: “I don’t know, Max. I’m beginning to think your parents showed me what they wanted me to see. If I had not heard some stories about you and-and Tess from the elders, I wouldn’t have known you were unhappily married. They certainly did not show me that. I only saw scenes from your life at war, growing up… Only one or two things from when you were married.” He met Max’s gaze in the moonlight. “If you are asking whether you might have had a mistress… I guess its possible.”
Max stared at his clasped hands. It was possible, yes, but why did he feel like he wouldn’t have done that to Liz even then? His heart rebelled at the thought. No, whatever his Shani had been in his previous life, she had not been his mistress.
tbc