With Blinders On - AU M/L ADULT [COMPLETE]

[LilyFrancesca]

Title: With Blinders On

Author: Kyrra81, aka LilyFrancesca, aka StormDancer but really Krys

Category: Max and Liz AU/no aliens

Rating: ADULT/Mini Slash

Disclaimer: I don’t own them, Wish I did. No infringement intended.

Acknowledgment: Thanks to Billcotter.com for supplying the words to Zorro written by Norman Foster.

Summary: This was a challenge by Anya on the West Wing/Roswell fan fic page. It goes something like this: Liz has it all. A loving husband (Kyle), a great job that she loves. And baby on the way. But what happens when her life turns upside down. She finds out that her husband isn't the man she thought he was. This is what happens.

AN: Please let me know your thoughts




With Blinders On


Chapter One

The sun was shinning and the sky was a brilliant blue. Could this day get any better, thought Liz Valenti. She was making her way down Main Street toward her office and couldn’t help the smile that lit up her face.

Only this morning, Kyle her husband of two years, surprised her with a weekend of rest and relaxation at one of New Mexico’s newest spas. When she had asked him why, he beamed at her and replied, “Nothing but the best for the soon to be mother of my child!”

Liz ran a hand over her slightly swelling belly and felt a shiver of anticipation run thru her. Four and a half months ago, her doctor confirmed what she had been hoping, that she and Kyle were finally going to be parents.

To say that Kyle was surprised would be an understatement. “But I thought you were on the pill!” he exclaimed, when he came home from work that night and she told him the good news. Her crestfallen face showed him his mistake and he rapidly changed his tune. From that day until now, he had showered her with love and affection and Liz wallowed in it selfishly.

Growing up in a family where money and appearances were all that mattered, Liz had dreamed from the time she was a girl, of having a family of her own. A nice little house in a close-knit neighborhood where you annual income didn’t matter and if the family car was a bit on the shabby side, no one cared.

It was a fateful meeting when Liz bumped into a bewildered looking Kyle six years ago during their freshmen year of collage. Liz had been forced into going to Note Dame by her parents, and though it wasn’t her first pick, she decided to make the best of it and threw herself into her studies. Kyle on the other hand was there on a full football scholarship and had no ideas besides football running thru his head. Lucky for the both of them, they were able to help each other out. He taught Liz there was more to life than her studies and she in turn showed him that he might need something to fall back on if football fell through.

They were thick as thieves during the rest of their time at collage and when he was drafted by the Patriots, she followed him to Massachusetts. During his second start in the Nfl, a freak accident shattered both of his knees and his dreams of football glory were crushed right along with them.

Rehabilitation had been slow and his proposal of marriage a shock, but Liz stood by him and made a life for them in Springfield. With the money she inherited from her Father, she found a small apartment near the hospital and realizing her degree in English Lit. would be useless, she decided to go back to school.

On the suggestion for a friend, Liz enrolled in the interior design program at a small girls collage in the next town and by the time Kyle was ready to go home, she had a new lease on life. Kyle’s suggestion of moving back to his hometown thrilled her and three days after getting out of the hospital, Liz drove them half way across the country to Roswell, New Mexico.

So now here she was, walking to the studio she shared with her partner Maria Deluca, happily married, pregnant and deliriously happy for the first time in her life.

This day could not get any better if it tried!



###

“Kyle is sending you away again?” Maria asked, when Liz told her about the gift.

“What do you mean sending me away, Maria?” she asked, flipping thru fabric books.

“Well is he going with you?”

“No, he is going to be out of town and he didn’t like the idea of me sitting home, doing nothing.”

“Oh so it’s another business trip,” she said flatly.

“Yes Maria,” Liz said, starting to not like the tone of her friend’s voice. “He is a rep for a pharmaceutical company. That means he has to go out of town a couple times a month.”

“Yeah, I guess your right,” Maria conceded, seeing her comments were upsetting her.

Although Liz and Maria were as different as night and day, they became instant friends the day they met. Liz was new in town and Maria was working at a dead end job waiting tables at a alien theme cafe in town. Liz had come in looking for a paper and Maria enticed her to sit with her while she took a break.

Over the next half hour, their life stores were spilled and they decided with Maria’s flair and Liz education, they would join up and take the decorating scene of Roswell by storm.

It was only later that Maria found out who Liz’s husband was. Being the son of the town’s Sheriff had allowed Kyle to run a bit wild during his high school days and Maria had been on the wrong end of some of Kyle’s practical jokes. Never popular to begin with, Maria and her best friend Alex, shouldered the lions share of outcastism at West Roswell High, thanks to Kyle and his jock friends. Alex had been fortunate enough to have scored a partial scholarship to MIT and gotten his ass out.

Maria hadn’t been so lucky. Married and divorced by the time she was twenty, she was trying to make ends meet while hoping to stay below the radar. Her mother’s reputation of being the town whore, had eventually trickled down to include her whether she did the deeds she was accused of or not. Her supposed ‘unfaithfulness’ was the means for her divorce.

“So,” Maria said, braking the heavy silence. “We have to meet with the Bodwells this afternoon. Are you ready?”

“Hardly! That woman couldn’t make a decision if her life depended on it. You realize she has changed the color of the rug seven times?”

Maria laughed. “Tell me about it. His nibs is just as bad. It’s only a pool house for Christ’s sake. If we left anything up to him, it would look like a bordello.”

“God forbid! That’s why I’m hoping they’ll agree with these new choices. They must have seen every swatch in the studio by now. If they don’t like this, I give up,” Liz said and threw the book she was holding onto the table.

“I say we close the shop early and pretend we forgot the appointment. If we piss them off enough, they might go somewhere else,” Maria suggested waggling her brows.

“We can’t afford to lose this job, Maria. Besides, were the only designers left in town that agree to work with them. I heard Decorator’s Den had a restraining order put out on Mrs. Bodwell, keeping her at least fifty yards away from their building.”

“No way! I know she’s a pain, but that’s going a bit far.”

“I don’t blame Diane in the least. Mrs. B. threaten to fire bomb the place, because she didn’t like their installer's attitude toward their poodle.”

“Remind me me to make sure their not around the next time I give Peachykins a boot in the ass.”

“Maria!”

“Kidding, kidding,” she laughed holding out her hands.

“Just promise me you'll stay away from that dog.”

“Only if you let me borrow that green dress for my date tonight,” she bargained.

Liz knew she was getting off easy and cried, “Deal! Now will you help me load this stuff into the truck. The doctor said I shouldn't lift anything heavy.”

“Oh great,” mumbled Maria. “you get knocked up and I become a pack mule.”

[LilyFrancesca]

Thanks for the intrest, guys. I banged this out in six days and it has become my current fav, that is until I write my next fic Thaks again, K

Chapter Two


Liz opened the front door and called. “Kyle honey, I’m home!”

Kyle popped his head out of the kitchen and replied, “I thought that was my line.”

Flashing him a smile, she tried to kiss him, but he didn’t notice as he turned to go back into the room. Biting the inside of her lip, Liz shrugged and followed him in, tossing her keys and portfolio down on her desk. “So how was your day?”

“Crazy, like usual,” he replied, throwing a hand towel over his shoulder and picking up a knife. Chopping up a tomato, he continued, “Masterson wants me to leave tonight for New York instead of on Saturday.”

“Oh,” she replied, disappointed. “I thought you wanted to go to the ultrasound with me tomorrow.”

Coming around the counter, Kyle took her ito his arms. “I’m sorry babe, I forgot that was tomorrow. I can call and see if I can change the flight, but I might miss out on some good contacts at the dinner party tomorrow night.”

“No, no that’s okay. I know how important those dinners are. I’ll be fine. I take Maria with me.”

“Maria,” he said. “Well I guess she’s better than nothing.”

Liz pulled out his arms and looked up at him. “What is it with the two of you? I can’t understand why you guys aren’t friends. You have so much in common.”

“Me and Maria Deluca?” he scoffed. “What in the world could the two of us have in common?”

“Me for starters. Growing up in the same home town. Being raised by a single parent. You guys even like the same kind of drink.”

“You seem to forget that her mother is a whore and my Dad’s the sheriff,” he pointed out.

“Are you telling me you going to hold the sins of her mother against her?” she asked in disbelief. “If that’s true, then you should really hate me. My father was the biggest bastard around and my mother didn’t have a faithful bone in her body.”

“You know what I mean, Liz.”

“Apparently not,” she huffed. “Well Maria’s going to be here tomorrow and you won’t, so she’s going.”

“Fine. I’ll call Masterson and tell him I need to take a later flight. Happy?”

“No. I’m not going to be the reason you get chewed out at work. Go on your trip. I’ll be fine. Oh and find your own way to the airport. I’m taking a nap.” Liz threw the last remark over her shoulder and headed up the stairs.

Stripping off her clothes, she took a quick shower and as she was drying off she heard a horn honk out front. Looking thru the bedroom window, she saw Kyle walk down the drive and hand the driver his bag. Looking back at the house, he spied her in the window and waved. Liz pressed her hand against the window and watched him drive off into the approaching darkness.


###


“Would you like to know the sex?” the tech asked, turning away from the screen and looking at Liz.

Liz smiled and asked, “You can really tell this early?”

“Sure,” the woman smiled.

Liz turned to see what Maria thought and couldn’t hold back the laugh that burst from her throat. Maria was fairly bouncing in her chair, trying to get a better view of the baby. “What do you think, Maria?”

“Yes. Yes. Yes! I need to know. Let me know. What is it?!” she squealed almost falling off the chair.

Liz nodded and the tech said, “It’s a girl.”

“Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” Maria cried finally falling to the floor in her excitement.

Liz snorted and said to the tech, “You’d think it was hers or something.”

“Yours, mine, who cares. We’re having a baby girl!” Maria shouted, bounding off the floor and trying to hug Liz who was lying flat on the table.

Liz patted her back and said. “God, a girl. I really thought I was having a boy.”

“With Kyle as the father, you’ve got to be kidding,” Maria said, retaking her seat.

Liz scrunched her brow and asked, “What’s that suppose to mean?”

Maria gave her a queer look and then asked the tech, “Does she still have the same due date?”

“Actually, it’s changed,” the tech said, looking at the readings on the screen. “Judging by these measurements, you should be due around July twenty eighth.”

“That’s two weeks later than we thought,” Liz mused. “So that would mean I got pregnant around Halloween.”

“Didn’t you tell me about some really great sex the night of that party?” Maria asked.

“Maria!” Liz whispered, her face turning red.

“Well you did!” she replied, offended.

[LilyFrancesca]

Questions, questions! Is Kyle really such an ass? Is he cheating on Liz? Is she relly that clueless? Guess your going to have to wait. Thanks for the read, Hugs~Krys

Chapter Three


It was getting dark and Liz was tired. She had been driving for over and hour and still couldn't find the turn off for the resort. Pulling to the side of the road, she put the car in park and flipped on the map light. According to the brochure, she should have seen the sign by now. Throwing the thing to the floor, she flipped on her blinker and put the car in drive.

About a half mile along, a restaurant appeared off to her left and she pulled in. The only thing she hated about being pregnant were all the trips to the bathroom she had been taking lately. It was worse when she sneezed. Talk about embarrassing!

Sliding out of the car, she made a bee line for the restroom, then took a seat at the counter. A woman who could have easily fit in at Mel’s Diner came up and and handed her a menu. “Can I get you something to drink, honey” she asked with a snap of her gum.

Liz smiled and replied, “I’ll take an iced tea.”

“You got it.”

Liz scanned the menu, then the special’s board. “The blue plate is pretty good,” a voice said from behind her.

Liz spun on her stool and looked up into a pair of amber eyes. “Oh yeah?” she asked breathlessly.

Amber Eyes took the seat next her and replied, “I highly recommend it. I mean, even Bernie couldn’t screw up a Chef Salad.”

“Bernie?”

“That’d be me,” a gruff voice said.

Looking to her right, Liz spied a man in a white shirt leaning against the pass thru behind the counter. “Max is right, it is stupid proof, even for me.”

“Max?”

“That would be me.”

Liz gave her head a shake and returned her gaze to bronze Adonis sitting next to her. Her hand lifted unbidden from the counter and brushed back a lock of hair that fell across his forehead. It was as soft as it looked. His eyes caught hers and she saw specks of black sprinkled through their golden depths. His smile showed straight white teeth and a slight dimple in his smooth cheek.

Max took Liz’s hand from his face and shook it. “Max Evans,” he said rubbing his thumb across her skin, sending shivers up her spine.

“Li..Liz. Liz Valenti,” she sputtered, then snatched her hand from his.

“Nice to meet you,” he replied. “Valenti. You wouldn’t happen to be related to Kyle would you?”

“Kyle is my husband.”

“That’s why you look so familiar.”

“I do?”

“Yeah. We met a couple of months ago at the company’s Harvest Ball.”

“I met so many people that night. I’m sorry I don’t remember.”

Max flashed her a smile. He would never forget the night he met Elizabeth Valenti. She had walked in on Kyle’s arm during one of those silences that sometimes happen when a large group of people gather and all eyes turned to the striking couple. Liz was wearing a red velvet creation that hugged her luscious cures and Kyle matched her beauty in his impeccably tailored tuxedo.

Max’s date, his sister Isabel, had shut his gaping mouth with a finger under his chin and laughed. “It’s a woman, Max. You know wo-man. Say it with me. Wo. Man.”

“Shut up, Iz,” he snapped and she laughed harder.

It took Max over an hour to get up the nerve to approach Kyle and his beguiling wife. The three Jack Daniels straight up had a lot to do with it and the pounding headache he had the next morning gave proof to his foolishness. When he finally got close enough to hear her voice, he nearly chickened out when the sound of her laughter sent chills down his spine.

“Ah Max, my boy,” Doug Masterson called spying him. “Come over and meet Kyle and his lovely wife.”

Masterson introduced them, but Liz only had eyes for her husband. It became increasingly clear to those around them, that Liz was deeply in love with Kyle and to the common observer, he adored her as much. Max could tell the difference. Although Kyle doted on his wife, his eyes darted the room, watching the people around him, calculating. There was a guileful presents behind those blue eyes and for Liz’s sake, Max set out to find out what it was.

Which lead him to be at the restaurant when Liz walked in. He was returning from a trip to the Randolph Center Complex, where Kyle used the corporate credit card last week. There he found out Kyle had diner with someone not related to the company. He also purchased a gift certificate for the new spa, for his beloved wife to use the following weekend.

“I understand. I didn’t recognize you at first, either,” he lied. Picking up her discarded menu, he asked, “Mind if I join you?”

“I, uh, um, I’m not staying long,” she sputtered. Looking down at her hands, a spark reflected off her wedding ring. The image of Kyle, sitting in his wheel chair, placing the ring on her finger, flashed thru her mind.

What am I doing here? she asked herself. Her fight with Kyle had been stupid and she hated that they didn’t even kiss before he left.

Glancing at her watch, she thought she might be able to catch the red eye to New York if she was lucky. Her bag was already packed for the weekend, so why not spend it in the Big Apple with her husband.

Reaching into her purse, she placed a few dollars on the counter and got to her feet. “That’s and awful big tip for a glass of water,” commented the man next to her.

His voice stopped her and she said, turning, “Sorry, uh Max. I have to go.”

“Go?”

“I’m going to New York.”

“Maybe I’ll see you when you get back,” he said, disappointment shining in his eyes.

“Sure.”

Pulling out one of his cards, he scribbled his cell on the back and gave it to her, saying, “Liz, if you ever need anything, call me. Please.”

Stuffing the card into her purse, she ingnored the strangeness of his comment. “I have to go. Nice seeing you again, Max.”

“You too, Liz,” but she was already gone.

[LilyFrancesca]

I hope you guys like this part. It will begin to answer some of your questions. Peace~Krys


Chapter Four


Being pregnant did have it’s advantages, Liz thought, pulling up in front of the Four Seasons. After departing from the plane, a porter standing at the gate insisted that he carry her bag to the taxi stand and getting her on her way, hassle free. When she tried to tip him, the gruff, multi-pierced man named Zan, of all things, told her to take care of the baby and it would be enough.

Paying the cabbie, Liz slung her overnight bag over her arm and stepped out onto East 57th Street. Smiling at the doorman, she approached the front desk. “Hello, my name is Liz Valenti and my husband is registered here.”

The woman behind the desk blanched slightly at the last name. Kyle Valenti was well know at the Four Seasons. “What can I do to help you, Mrs. Valenti?” she asked politely.

“I flew in to surprise my husband and was hoping I could get a key to his room so I could freshen up before seeing him,” Liz asked, hoping she looked as pitiful as she felt. It had been a long night.

“Well, Mrs. Valenti, it is Four Seasons’ policy to only issue two key cards for each room and...”

“Why would Kyle already have two keys to his room?” Liz asked, interrupting her.

“Is there a problem here, Mz. Couture?” the concierge asked, walking over to them.

“Sir, I was just explaining to Mrs. Valenti that policy prohibits issuing more than two keys for a room,” Suzanne replied.

“Mrs. Valenti?” Hugh asked, intrigued. “Mrs. Kyle Valenti?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Liz replied, impressed he knew her husband.

Hugh Grossman smiled. Only this morning he prayed for a way to get revenge on Mr. Kyle Valenti. During Kyle’s last visit, Hugh had been embarrassed in front of some of the more important patrons to the hotel and it had impeached his creditability, all because of Kyle.

During routine inspection of the night’s receipts, Hugh had spied Kyle’s signature on a collection of room service slips. His ire had risen and he hoped that during Kyle’s stay, he could repay him for his humiliation and here she was.

“Oh, Mz. Couture, I think we can overlook policy this time. Mrs. Valenti had come a long way to see her husband.”

“Thank you, Mr. Grossman,” gushed Liz.

“My pleasure, Mrs. Valenti,” he beamed as Suzanne made up a key card and wrote the room number on the sleeve.

The two watched as the obviously pregnant woman entered the elevator and indicated what floor she needed to the attendant. The door closed and Suzanne spun to glare at her boss. “You and I both know he’s not alone in that room,” she hissed.

“Yes, Mz. Couture, I’m quite aware of who Mr. Valenti has been spending his time with.”

“But she’s pregnant!”

“Better she found out now than later,” he replied, but he remembered the grateful look the young woman gave him and his conscious roared to life. If he really was the decent man he believed himself to be, he would pick up the phone and inform Mr. Valenti of his wife’s arrival. Hugh Grossman’s hands stayed clapped behind his back as he began his morning rounds.


###


“Twenty fifth floor, ma’am,” the elevator attendant said, opening the doors.

Liz staggered into the hall and checked the number on the key. Following the signs, she let out a sigh when 2525 came into view. Sliding the key into the lock, she stepped into the suite.

The first thing she noticed were the vast amount of clothes strewn around the outer room. Dropping her bag on the floor next to the door, she made her way to the double doors opposite a marble fireplace. Shaking her head, she thought, Thank God he isn’t a slob like this at home.

Not truly expecting Kyle to be here, for they would have told her at the front desk, she threw open the door and they hit the walls with a bang. The sight that met her eyes made her go weak in the knees. Kyle lay bent over an overstuffed chair as a large blonde man rammed into him from behind.

Their eyes met across the room and he cried, “Liz!”

“You can call me by a different name, lover boy, “ the blonde groaned, “but at least get the gender right.”

Kyle tried bucking him off, but he mistook it for excitement and wrapped his large hands around Kyle’s hips and increased his speed.

Tears coursed down Liz’s face as she saw Kyle’s face contract in pleasure at his lover’s renewed adore. Disgust for his betrayal rose up and overwhelmed her normally genteel demeanor. Grabbing the first thing she saw, Liz threw with unusual accuracy, a vase that struck Kyle in the chest and exploded.

“Ow Liz, that hurt!” he yelled.

The blonde battering ram, hearing the sound of breaking porcelain, snapped his eyes open and froze.

Liz bent, picking up a shoe and threw it at her bastard of a husband. “You son of a bitch!” she screamed. “How could you do this to me! Me,” she poked herself in the chest, “who stood by you when your world crashed to the ground!”

An ashtray went flying and caught Blonde Boy in the shoulder. The pain set him into motion and he began backing away from the crazy woman with fire in her eyes. Grabbing a robe off the bed, he made his way as far from her as possible.

“Liz, it’s not what you think,” Kyle pleaded, ducking the coffee pot from the room service trolly.

“Not what I think?” she shrieked. “He,” she pointed to the Bammer, “was fucking my husband up the ass and you were enjoying it. So tell me, what part did I get wrong?”

Blondie had pulled on as many of his clothes he could find. Scuttling over to the door, he saw his lover get beamed off the side of the head with a plate of strawberries. The words call me were on the tip of his tongue, but he wisely chose to make a hasty exit. Leaving the door to the suite open, he brushed past the rapidly increasing crowd in the hall, his eyes downcast.

Running out of ammo, Liz cornered her soon to be ex-husband and began beating on his chest with her bare fists. “You lying, cheating bastard! I loved you! How could you do this to me? Our family?”

Kyle grabbed her flailing arms and pinned them at her sides. “Our family? Our family!” he spat. “Our family was just a product of your childlike imagination. You live in a dream world, Liz. And to tell you the truth, I’m glad you finally know the truth.”

“Well I’m overjoyed that one of us is,” she snapped. “My whole world has gone down the shitter but as long as your relieved, it’s okay.”

Wrenching out of his grasp she backed away from him. “How long? How long have you been a bisexual?” she demanded.

“I’m not a bisexual, Liz,” he responded. “I’m gay. Queer as the day is long.”

“But you.... we.... I don’t understand.”

“Didn’t you ever notice that I had to be half wasted before I could touch you with shuttering? God Liz, the only way I could screw you was from behind so I could imagine that you were a man.”

Liz’s eyes widened at his words, then her heart shattered and it didn’t matter any more. Nothing did. Spinning on her heel, she stopped only long enough to grab her bag before leaving her old life behind.

The concierge was among the milling people in the hallway. Taking pity on her and trying to salvage some of his honor, he preceded her to the elevator and keyed it for a continuous ride straight to the lobby.

Walking her to a secluded seating area, he gently pushed her into one of them, then knelt in front of her. “Is there any one I can call for you, madame?”

Liz turned soulless eyes toward him and he flinched at their lifelessness. “A ride,” she whispered. “ A ride to the airport will be fine.”

Rising to his feet, he said softly, “As you wish.” Hurrying to his desk, he ignored Suzanne’s frown and picked up the phone. Connecting to the garage, he said, “Graham, I need the town car brought around front. Yes, I know, but she’ll have to wait. A very important lady needs a ride to JFK.” Dropping the phone in it’s cradle, he stole one last look at Mrs. Valenti before lowering his eyes in shame.

[LilyFrancesca]

Nice, extra long chapter guys, hope you like it! Krys


Chapter Five


News of what happened in New York reached Max Evans’ ears before Liz stepped onto the plane bound for home. Throwing the phone, he slammed his hands on the table and let out a curse.

His sister came running in from the den, concern marring her beautiful face. “Max, what is it?”

Looking up at her, he replied, “Liz. She found out about Kyle.”

“What do you mean she found out? Found out what?”

“That the man she’s married to is a lying, cheating bastard,” he said, echoing Liz’s words.

“Are you talking about that woman from the Harvest Ball? The one with the gorgeous husband?”

“Yes and that gorgeous husband of hers has been screwing around behind her back.”

“Well that is certainly terrible, but what had that to do with you?”

“Iz he wasn’t cheating with a woman.”

The implication of his statement took a moment to sink in and she gasped. “Oh that poor girl.”

Trying to figure out how to help Liz, a name popped into his mind. “Maria!” he exclaimed. Jumping up from his seat, he retrieved the phone. Good thing Iz insisted they buy a shock resistant model. “Maria will know what to do.”

“Who’s Maria?” she asked totally confused. “And what can she do?”

Nodding his head, Max dialed 411. “Yes, Maria will know what we can do to help Liz.”


###


“When I get my hands on that man-fucking asshole,” Maria muttered as she watched the plane taxi up to the gate. “He’s going to wish his dick never saw the light of day.”

Isabel Evans would have laughed at the blonde’s foul mouth if the situation weren’t so tragic. Max had asked her to go to the airport and make sure Liz arrived and got safely delivered into the hands of her best friend. He would have gone himself, but Liz might remember their meeting at the diner and would wonder. Seeing how much this meant to her brother, Iz had canceled her photo shoot for the day and staked out a seat at the airport awaiting the arrival of Liz’s plane.

“Wait until I give that conceded, son of a bitch father of his a piece of my mind and tell him about what he did to Liz,” Maria said, working herself into a lather. “You would have thought that having his mother run off with another man would have shown him how hurtful it was, but oh no, not the high and mighty Kyle Valenti. He has to dip his wick in anything that shakes his way. Poor Liz. My poor, poor Liz.”

Isabel could see that if Maria continued, she would be useless when Liz showed up. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she stood and approach the petite woman. “I know you don’t know me, but Max sent me,” she said quickly.

Maria stopped her rambling and looked up at the breathtaking stranger. “Max sent you?”

“I’m his sister. Anyway, you need to calm down. Liz is going to be freaked enough for the both of you and if you keep ranting about what your going to do to Kyle, your going to hurt Liz even more by reminding her of what she lost.”

Maria’s eyes grew huge and she began nodding her head rapidly. “Yeah, your right. This is about Liz and not that fucker, Kyle. Liz is the one we have to take care of now. She’s going to need our help with the baby and everything so we need to calm down and get a grip.”

Isabel grabbed her shoulders and gave her a shake. “Enough!”

Maria gained her equilibrium with a shutter. Pulling out a bottle of oil, she unscrewed the cap and took a deep sniff. “Calm. Calm, cool, collected.” she whispered.

Isabel was relieve to read the word Patchouli written on the side of the bottle. She did not need a neurotic flying high on some bargain basement huffer. “Now, what were you saying about a baby?”

“Liz is pregnant. Didn’t you know?”

Max I’m going to kill you! “No I didn’t.” The door opened and passengers started to disembark. “Here she comes. Remember, you need to be her rock.”

Maria nodded and without a backward glance, raced over to hug her friend.


###

Isabel walked into her brother’s office completely ignoring his shocked assistant. Slamming the door behind her, she plopped down on his leather sofa.

“Did Liz get back okay?” he asked anxiously

Iz didn’t answer, but kept her penetrating stare focused on him. He met her gaze and like when they were children, they silently dared the other to break contact first. As usual, Max was the first to look away.

“What?” he asked.

“Why didn’t you tell me Liz was pregnant?”

“What!” he shouted jumping up from his chair and almost sending it our his third floor window.

“So I take it you didn’t know?”

“Of course I didn’t know! Jesus H. Christ, Iz,” he whispered, running his hand thru his hair. By the ragged state it was in, it wasn’t the first time he did it that day.

“Is it yours?”

“Mine? No that’s not possible,” he denied.

“Max, I know when your lying, even to yourself,” she pushed. The crease in his forehead was a dead give away. “What gives?”

Dropping back into his chair, his hand found his hair again and he tried to remember that night. The night he mistook for a highly erotic fantasy drummed up by an alcohol imbued brain. The night that changed his life forever.


“Come on Iz, come with me to the party,” Max whined batting his puppy dog eyes at her.

“Listen Max, I actually have a life, unlike you and I have a party of my own to go to. With a date, I might add. A real date and not my little brother,” she replied, finishing up her makeup. Her costume, designed by the most notorious costumer in LA., was that of a swan, with layers and layers of downey soft feathers draping over her body. The beauty of the thing was she looked completely nude under underneath, except for the sheer body suit that held the costume in place.

Checking the ribbons that would tie the mask over her face, Isabel turned from her mirror and laughed at her brother. “What do you call that thing?’”she asked, trying to catch her breath.

“Why I’m Zorro!” he said swishing his cape.

“Definitely, The Gay Blade,” she taunted.

“Come on. It’s all they had left in my size,” he complained. “Some of us don’t commission a costume eight months in advance, ya know.”

“Hey don’t get mad at me because you look stupid. I on the other hand, look magnificent!”

She had him there and he replied, “Honestly, sis, you look outstanding. That’s why I want you to come with me. With you there, no one will look twice an my lame costume.”

“Sorry, but if I miss my guess, my chariot awaits.” Sailing past him, she planted a kiss on his cheek and exited the house.

“Where are you going, anyway?” he asked, closing the door behind him and following her down the walk toward the waiting limo.

“Vegas, baby,” she said saucily. “Where else?” Blowing him a kiss, she slid into the car and he watched, head shaking, as the stretch pulled away from their shared house.


Forty minutes later found him outside of a large house in the best part of town. If it wasn't for his need to keep his boss happy, Max would never had accepted Doug Masterson’s invitation to his annual Halloween party. The last few years, he had made sure he was out of town this time of the month, but this year, there was nowhere to go, so he was stuck.

Ringing the bell, he wasn't surprised by the liveried servant who answered the door. Flipping out his invitation, he placed it on the extended silver salver and entered the ghoulishly decorated house.

Before him was a grand staircase that teemed with smoking cauldrons and elaborately carved pumpkins. Hanging from the twenty foot ceiling were massive spider webs, ensnared with a variety of human and animal body parts, guarded by their gargantuan weavers.

“The rest of the guests are in the ballroom,” informed the servant, indicating the stairs with a pointed glance. Dallying long enough, Max traipsed up the steps, toward the low hum of voices.

At the end of a long hall, the ballroom opened up before Max’s eyes. The decorations were just as fantastical as those found on the stairs and Max had to hand it to Doug; he really knew how to throw a party.

Scanning the crowd, he tried to locate anyone he knew, but gave it up as a lost cause. The costumes represented every era and monster tale. Creatures both pure and demonic mingled with historical figures in a gaudy display of wealth and prestige. His drab black costume made him stick out like a pauper in a palace.

“Glad to see you made it, Evans,” Doug said siding up next to him.

Max turned and smiled at the authentic outfit of Henry VIII Masterson sported. “How did you know it was me?”

“Out of the night, When the full moon is bright, Comes the horseman known as Zorro. This bold renegade, Carves a Z with his blade, a Z that stands for Zorro! Zorro, Zorro, the fox so cunning and free, Zorro, Zorro, makes the sign of the Z. Zorro! Zorro! Zorro!,” Doug cried and all eyes turned to look at them

Slowly, the crowded began chanting the name Zorro and knowing there was nothing he could do, Max whipped out his fake sword and cut the sign of the Z in the air. The crowd went wild and Max laughed despite himself.

Returning his blade to it’s scabbard, he flashed Doug a smile. “If I didn’t know better, I would say you planned that.”

The king shrugged his shoulders and replied, “Hey what can I say, I loved the show when I was a kid. Who else here could remember the theme song verbatim, huh?” Laughing, he put an arm around Max’s shoulder and said, “Anyway, you fit the part. Your crusade for the helpless is going to bankrupt me yet.”

“I’m only making sure we are working for the greater good and not profit alone,” Max replied, falling easily into the age old argument.

“Mercy, you rogue. Or I may rid you by way of my dear wife Anne.”

“I like my head where it is, sir. I’ll let it go. But only for tonight.”

“A body couldn’t ask for more. Go, go, mingle, have a good time. That’s what we’re here for.”

Performing a bow that would have made Guy Williams proud, Max swung his cape up and out of his way and made for the bar. A stiff drink would definitely make the night go by quicker. Receiving his Jack in a cut crystal glass, Max walked slowly thru the room admiring the varied players. Off to his right, Joan Jett danced with Sherlock Homes, while the wolf man rubbed his crotch against the good witch, Glenda.

Tossing back his drink, he placed it on the tray of a passing french maid and took one of the champagne flutes. Sipping, he smiled at the quality. Nothing but but the best for Douggie, he thought. Spying a likely dance partner, Max angled his way thru the crowed, at last believing this might not not be a total waist after all.


###

The pounding music filled Max’s ears, making him feel good. His latest dance partner was a jungle cat who had the same graceful moves of her compatriots. Her silk gloved hands ran up his chest and feathered the exposed skin at the base of his throat. His groin contracted at the touch and he proceeded to grind it into her belly.

His rough perusal of her only made Cat more ferocious. Grabbing a handful of his hair, she roughly pulled his head down to hers. The biting kiss he expected never came; instead a gentle lapping of her scalding tongue pumped blood straight into his cock, to near bursting.

A low growl and a satisfied smile pursed her succulent lips and Max thought he might explode then and there. The multiple glasses of Doug’s champagne bolstered his usually reserved bearing and without a thought to the consequences, he grabbed Cat’s paw in hand and literally dragged her off the dance floor. Barreling his way through the throng of highly intoxicated party goers, he stormed out of the ballroom and down a dimly lit hall.

The first few doors he encountered were locked and his frustration grew at each denial of privacy. Close to the end, a knob turned in his hand and finally, he was able to sweep his feline tormenter behind closed doors.

The room consisted of an obscenely large bed, that required steps to access the pillow strewn expanse. A highly carved headboard rose to the ceiling, which was toped off by a tester drapes in royal blue damask. A bed fit for Good King Henry, Max thought, sliding the bolt on the door to insure their continued privacy.

A mewling sound brought his attention back to his companion. Her lips were parted and she panted slightly. Not bothering with the lights, Max whipped the hat from his heat and reached for his mask. Her hands stopped him from untying the satin scarf and she shook her head. Groaning, he unstrapped his blade and dropped it to the floor.

Cat circled him and divested him of his cape and sash. Her efficient fingers unlaced his shirt and left it gaping over his tightly straining trousers. With a purr, she caressed his manhood though the fabric before pouncing off across the room, tail swishing temptingly.

Not one to ignore such a blatant invitation, Max stalked after her. Cat was quicker on her feet than he, and she easily evaded him, laughing as she did. For her, the thrill of the chase made the the final kill all the more savory.

Perching on the steps, she held out her hand, stopping him in his tracks. With a deliberately arousing caress, Cat fondled the cleft between her thighs before trailing her hand up her body to the hidden zipper of her body suit. Using her thumb and forefinger, she began to slide the fastener slowly down her spandex encased breasts.

Max’s hand imitated hers and he fondled himself thru his pants. A nipple peaked enticingly from the rapidly expanding space appearing between the shimmering material of her pelt and he nearly castrated himself with the involuntary clenching of his fingers. Withdrawing his hand, he pulled his shirt from his waistband to try to give himself some more breathing room.

Pirouetting, Cat placed her back to him and peeled the fur off her shoulders and down her arms. The soft light from the lamp next to the door caressed her dusky skin, making it glow. Peeking under one arm, she saw he was transfixed with the sight before him. Wiggling her ass, she managed to slid the costume over her hips and down to her feet. Stepping out of one leg than the other, Cat crawled up onto the bed, baring her glistening slit to his eager gaze.

Max bound upon the bed, ignoring the steps in his haste. Her sent filled his nostrils, his whole being. The musk tingled on the back of his tongue, promising a taste never before experienced.

Capturing her hips in his hands, he halted her progress and pressed his cheek against the taunt globes of her bottom. Darting out, his tongue flicked her protruding folds and he felt her quiver in response. As expected, she tasted like nothing he ever encountered before. It was heady and he leaned in for another taste, which was better than the first.

Cat pushed back against his probing mouth willing him to delve deeper into her womanhood. Max obliged her and thrusted his tongue between her lips and into her moist heat. He felt her muscles sucking him in further and his control disappeared.

The button of his pants went flying as he ripped them open and withdrew his swollen cock. He flipped her over and without waiting for permission, he sank to the hilt in her welcoming heat. Her answering yowl was music to his ears and he began pounding away at her like a machine on overdrive.

Even thought she was gloved and his shirt remained on, Cat’s nails still dug into his flesh, leaving half moon imprints that were days to fade. Slipping a hand between their bodies, Max flipped at her clit with a nail and he saw her nipples harden to tight little buds before his eyes. Bending down, he slowed his thrusts long enough to take one of the rose colored peaks into his mouth and between his teeth. Worrying it slowly, he increased his movements and began pulling back with his head.

Cat reared up and clamped her mouth onto his shoulder, biting back a scream.

Max felt the familiar building of presser from his balls and with one final tug, sent Cat over the edge as he pour his seed into her accepting womb. Again and again he jetted into her and with every spurt, felt more at one with her.

Cat released her hold on his shoulder and laid back with a contented moan. Pulling him down, she licked the side of his mouth. “Thank you,” she said. “That was the best we ever had.”

Her words came back to haunt him when hours later, he woke alone, the only evidence of their coupling were the tangled covers under him and her scent hanging in the air.


“It just might be,” he answered, his face stricken with anguish.

“How could you not know?” she asked in disbelief.

“I thought it was a dream,” he admitted. “I was drunk and yes, damn it, I did fuck someone the night of Doug’s halloween party, but I swear I didn’t know it was Liz!”

“Why do you now think it was Liz?”

Pulling out a paper from his desk, he handed her the company newsletter that had been waiting on his desk this morning. On the front page was a picture of a panther and Zorro. The caption below read, Kyle and Liz Valenti enjoy their time at Mr. Masterson's annual Halloween party.

Looking up at him she said, “So?”

“The woman I slept with at the party was dressed like a panther. I was dressed as Zorro. She thought I was her husband.”

Isabel's’ mouth formed a small ‘o’. “This isn’t good.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

[LilyFrancesca]

Heyla friends! I thought you might like that twist with Kyle, but alas it was part of the challange and not my idea. Now on to the next part.......enjoy. ~K~


Chapter Six

The drive back from the airport was done in silence. Maria, for once, was at a loss for words. What do you say to someone who’s whole life had dropped off the face of the planet? Sorry? It’ll get better? Things won’t look so bad in the morning? They were all bull shit and Maria knew it.

Unlocking the front door of the house, Maria helped Liz into her home. Liz drifted into the living room and gazed around dispassionately. How many times had her and Kyle snuggled together on the sofa to watch a movie? Fifty, a hundred times? It was all a front. A pretty show on his part, at least.

Eyes moving, she spied the large photo of them on their honeymoon hanging over the mantel. Her stomach soured and she had to look away. Her eyes refocused on other mementos of the now debunked life she shared with that prick and she had to face the truth that it was really over.

“I.. I can’t stay, here,” she croaked, reaching out toward her friend.

“That okay, sweets,” Maria said softly. “You can stay with me for a while.”

“No, that’s not what I mean,” she whispered. “I can’t stay here ever again. I need to get away from this, this lie.” Her voice broke on the last word and the sorrow she had held in check for the last ten hours, rushed into her heart. Falling to her knees, the tears began and she wasn’t sure they were ever going to stop.

Maria took her into her arms and rocked her softly, her own heart breaking for her friend.


###


One moving company, four burly men and Maria’s iron clad will were all that it took to separate Liz’s life from Kyle’s. That and heaps of money. After Liz recovered from the initial onrush of emotion, she laid out a list of things she needed to have done before Kyle returned from New York.

First was to find a new place to live. Maria suggested one of the new condo’s outside of town but Liz wanted something closer to the studio. Ringing up one of her friends, Maria found a three bedroom above the old restaurant where she and Liz met. Liz took it immediately. That’s where the burly men came in. In less than twenty four hours, the apartment had been scrubbed and repainted.

Finally, the nursery Liz had so painstakingly decorated was dismantled and resurrected in her new home. The only possessions she took from the house were the clothes she bought herself and those few pieces of furniture given to her by her grandmother. The rest, she bought new, ordered from her vendors and shipped next day air. Maria knew Kyle’s heart would give out when he got the bills, but it’s the least he deserved. He owed Liz that and so much more.

Next was to contact a lawyer and file papers for the divorce. Maria once again gave Liz the name of a friend and three signatures and four initials later, the papers were filed. If Kyle knew what was good for him, he would agree to the terms and dissolve that farce of a marriage, quietly.

Finally Liz contacted her father-in-law. She invited him out to diner and told him about what she found in New York and what she planed to do about it. To her surprise, Jim took her side in the matter. He had always suspected his son might be gay, but when he came back to Roswell with Liz as his wife, he believe Kyle was done with that stage in his life. What disgusted him the most was that his son was such a coward that he couldn’t face the world with what he truly was, but instead, skulked around behind the back of a truly good woman.

“I hope you’ll allow me to be a part of your life; yours and the baby’s,” Jim said, as he walked Liz out to her car.

Liz looked up into the gruff countenance of James Valenti and smiled. “I wouldn't think of giving you up,” she said. “You have been more of a father to me in the past two years, than my own was, my whole life. I plan on letting this baby know her Grandpa.”

Jim took her into his arms and thought his son was a fool.

[LilyFrancesca]

Heyla friends! Thanks to everyone who has left feedback, it really means a lot when you guys take the time to do it. But lurkers are always welcome too Hugs~Krys

Chapter Seven


Doug Masterson walked into Max’s office and shut the door quietly behind him. Max held up a finger, then finished with his conversation. Hitting the off button on the phone, Max pulled off his headset and placed it on the desk. “Please,” he said, holding out his hand, “have a seat.”

Doug made himself comfortable, then threw a folder on the desk. Max picked it up and saw that it was Kyle’s personel file. “I assume you heard about what happened in New York?” Masterson asked.

“Yes. By all reports, it wasn’t pretty.” Max replied, dropping the folder and wiping his hand on the leg of his pants.

“What do you think we should do about it?”

“We, sir? I don’t understand.”

“Max, I appreciate your respect, but sir was my father. Call me Doug. After all, we’ve known each other for seven years.”

“Yes si-, I mean Doug.”

“Now, about Kyle Valenti. I was wondering if you think we should get rid of him.”

“I don’t think I have the authority to make that kind of decision.”

“But you don’t like, do you?”

“No, I don’t”

“I don’t either, but he has a good track record with the company.”

Max nodded, not really understanding why Masterson had asked for his opinion on the matter. Max’s sole purpose at Metachem was to insure that those who needed the pharmaceuticals they made, got them whether they could afford them or not. He was proud to boast that Metachem was the only company on the market that gave away free meds, without using their customers as guinea pigs.

Doug watched the play of emotions crossing Max’s face and had a thought. Casting his net, he asked, “How do you think Liz is taking all this?”

Max flinched. His brain had focused on nothing else the last three days. He had been tempted so many times to pick up the phone and check on her, but stopped himself before he finished dialing. The fact that he was in love with her, didn’t give him the right to barge into her life, especially after what she had been though, no matter how much he yearned to comfort her.

His one call from Maria had told him that Liz had left the house she shared with Kyle and that she now had a place down town. As to her state of mind, he could only imagine and Maria had been tight lipped when he had asked. Her questions as to why he should care, made him end the call a lot sooner than he wanted.

“I’m hoping that she has someone she can go to,” Max finally said, when he realized Doug was waiting patiently for an answer.

And you wish it were you,* Masterson thought, smiling to himself. Most of Doug’s employees thought he was just a figure head at Metachem. Someone to wine and dine the investors and take them golfing. If they only knew how much he saw without them knowing, half would wish for the ground to swallow them whole. Not that he was a Peeping Tom or anything. People interested him and he enjoyed finding out what made them tick.

Max Evans was a prime example. When he hired him seven years ago, he knew he set an impossible task. Getting people to believe that a large company wanted to help them without any strings attached wasn’t something he believed could be done, but in only two and a half years, Max had built from the ground up, a set of support structures where any and all could get the help they needed, cost free.

To the company’s stock holders, it’s looked upon as a great PR move, but for Max, it’s mission. A calling to help his fellow man, not for the fame or publicity, but because it was the right thing to do.

Which was the reason he had been so surprised the morning after the Halloween party. Max had always conducted himself in an overly proper manor but when the head of his security had informed him of who had commandeered the master bedroom, he was taken aback. As he watched, he had seen Zorro, who he knew to be Max, and Liz enter together, when he was well aware that Kyle was busy elsewhere with the head of accounting. A few hours later, he had personally escorted Kyle and Liz to the front door and she seemed deliriously happy. Only after seeing the tape had he realized that both Kyle and Max were wearing the same costume.

The sixty-four thousand dollar question was; Did Max know he was with Kyle’s wife, or did Liz think she was with her husband? He tended to believe that Liz thought Max was Kyle and Max was unaware of who was behind the Cat mask.

“Do you think we should make some inquires? I’m sure things might be tough for her right now.” Doug asked, swishing the bait to and fro.

“No, Maria is helping her,” Max said absently, fiddling with his headset.

Aha! You do know what is happening with her. Doug was also well aware of Liz’s movements. He was the one who told the realtor to sell his childhood home to Mrs. Valenti when he heard she was looking for something near her business. He believed his mother would have approved to see the old apartment being used by Liz and her soon to be born child. He, himself, had nothing but good memories of the place and he hoped Liz would too.

Getting to his feet, Doug reached out and took Kyle’s file off the desk. Tucking it under his arm he said, “Well, let’s see what happens when Kyle gets back from New York and go from there.”

Max looked up, startled to see him still there. Rising, he replied. “If that is what you think is best, sir.”

Shaking his head, Doug let the office. He’s got it bad. Now what could I do to throw them two together. Hmm, maybe I’ll ask the wife......



###


“Liz, don’t shoot, it’s only me,” Maria called, coming thru the door. Putting the groceries on the kitchen table, she called out again. “Liz?”

“Out here Maria,” Liz called back. She was sitting on the balcony outside her room, enjoying the early spring air.

“God, how can you squeeze thought here?” Maria complained, coming thru the open window.

“Are you telling me I’m getting fat?” Liz asked teasingly.

“Not fat, but that belly is getting out there,” Maria laughed.

“Oh, you just wait until you have a baby,” she threatened. “I’m so going to make you regret those words.”

“Me, have a baby?” Maria scoffed. “Getting pregnant requires having sex and we both know that hasn’t happened in a very long time.”

“True, but your day will come and I’ll be there, wait and see.”

Maria looked up at the clouds and said wistfully, “I hope your right.” Snorting at her delusion, she spun on the lounge chair and said, “He called the studio again.”

Liz let out a sigh. She had hoped Kyle would just let it go and be done with it, but he wouldn’t and it got harder and harder each day to not speak with him at least. Liz couldn’t remember a time when she wasn't in love with Kyle and she kept going back to all the happy times they had shared. True, he took her heart and crushed it, but she still had possession that infernal organ and sometimes it whimpered for him deep into the night.

“You didn’t tell him where I was, did you,” she asked, half hoping Maria had.

“No way. I only have to hear the sound of his voice before I slam the down the phone,” she reassured her.

Looking away, Liz hid the disappointment she felt. Maybe Kyle was sorry and wanted to make it up to her. Maybe they could figure something out, where they both could have what they wanted while still being together.

“Stop it!”

Liz turned her gaze on her friend. Maria’s face was bright red and she looked really pissed. “What?”

“Stop making excuses for him.”

“I’m not...”

“You sure the hell are,” she interrupted. “Your thinking you could do something that would make it so the two of you could get back together, I know it.”

“Maria...”

“No. You listen to me, Liz. No matter what he says or does, he’s never going to change. Trust me on this, I’ve know him a lot longer than you and believe me when I say, Kyle is only interested in what’s best for Kyle.”

“You just don’t like him,” Liz defended. “He treated you bad in school and because of that, you see everything he does as despicable.”

“What he did to you was despicable! Kyle has always known what he was. He may have called me a whore, but he was the one jumping anything with a dick.” Maria stopped short when she saw how her words were upsetting her friend, but Liz had to know what she was giving up and how she would be better off without him.

Grabbing her hands and holding them tight when Liz tried to pull away, she said softly, “I love you Liz. Your my only family and I’m not saying these things to hurt you. You have to know that he’s never going to change, no matter what he promises. Can you sit there and tell me your willing to share him? Man or woman, it doesn’t matter. What does is, are your willing to give him the freedom to do what he wants without getting it in return?

“He won’t offer the same to you. He’ll want the illusion that you were a happy little family, while he went off a couple times a month to fulfill his baser needs. It would drive you crazy, thinking about who he was meeting and what they were doing. You would be miserable in a few months and that’s not the kind of surroundings you want to raise a child in.”

“But it hurts so much without him,” Liz wailed. “He was all I had for so long and I feel so alone. How am I suppose to have this baby, without him here to help me?”

“You’ve got me. And Jim would do anything you ask. Didn’t you tell me he was thrilled that you were having a girl? There are others who would be there for you too, if you only asked. You not alone, Liz, ever.”

Liz threw her arms around her and cried yet again. Maria held her tight and willed her to believe that she was loved, no matter what.

[LilyFrancesca]

This part goes out to Strawberry88; Here I am! Enjoy. PS~ thanks for the f/b everybody


Chapter Eight


Liz entered the studio and was surprised to see Kathleen Masterson browsing thru fabric books. Searching the store for Maria, she saw her on the phone at the desk. Taking a deep breath she approached the wife of Kyle’s boss. “Good morning, Kathleen,” she said pleasantly.

Kathy turned to look at Liz and was proud to say she kept her true feelings hidden. When Doug told her what had happened to Liz, her heart broke for the lovely young woman. On the few occasions they had been together, Kathy had found her to be pleasant with a keen sense of humor.

“Liz!” she said. “I had forgotten you owned this place.”

“Well, myself and Maria do,” Liz said, relieved to see something besides pity on her face. She was getting tired of people asking her if she was going to be okay.

“Margo Paterson told me about her new sun room and how she loved working with the ladies over at Fantasy Decor, so I decided to pop in and see what all the fuss was about.”

Liz smiled. Margo had been the easiest person to work with and doing the new addition to her house had been a joy. “I’m glad Margo like the results.”

“Like is an understatement, my dear. She has been bragging about Fantasy Decor to everyone she knows. If you don’t watch out, every matron in Roswell will be beating path to your door.”

“One can only hope,” Liz replied and Kathy laughed.

“You might regret those words when you meet some of those old biddies. I wouldn’t wish some of them on my worst enemy.”

“Sorry about that Mrs. Masterson,” Maria said, coming up to them. “The phone has been ringing off the hook this morning.”

Kathy shot Liz a pointed glance. “Please, call me Kathy.”

“What can we do to help you, Kathy?” Liz asked.

“Well, Doug mentioned to me that the corporate offices were starting to get a bit shabby and he wanted me to find a firm to handle the redecorating. Are you interested?”

Maria took a step back. “Interested? Hell yes we’re interested.”

“Maria!” Liz whispered.

“Aw, were all girls here,” Maria countered. “I’m sure Kathy is looking forward to spending her husband’s money as much as were are to help her.”

Kathy let out a whoop at the girl’s audacity. Looking to Liz, Kathy hoped she wasn’t going to fall over in embarrassment. “Liz, I grew up dirt poor and we didn’t have time to beat around the bush. Maria has the right of it. I do like spending Doug’s money and he knows it. I think were going to get along famously.”

“If you say so,” Liz muttered, but lead Kathy over to the conference table and set about making plans to visit the office.


###

“So as you can see, all the carpets in the public areas need to be replaced and I wanted to warm up the walls a bit. White is so boring,” Kathy said as she and Liz walked down the corridor.

Liz wrote rugs and new wall color underneath the considerable list Kathy had quoted to her so far. If this project got any bigger, Liz wound have to hire someone to run the studio while her and Maria oversaw this project.

“Is there anywhere else we need to see?” she asked, her back starting to get sore. As her belly grew larger, she found that standing for an extended period of time was beginning to ware her out. Where was all the energy the pregnancy books talked about during the second trimester? For her, it was a chore to get out of bed some days.

“Your looking a bit peaked, my dear,” Kathy said and spied an open door. “Here, let's get you a place to rest for a moment.”

“No, I’m fine, really.”

“Nonsense. I’ve been dragging you all over without out a thought for your condition.” Tugging on her arm, she pulled her into an office and onto a nice leather sofa. “There, that’s better.”

“Only for a moment,” Liz conceded, sinking down and having her back feel better immediately. She would have to check and see who the manufacturer of the sofa was and see about getting one for herself, it was pure heaven.

“What do you think of the job so far?” Kathleen asked, seeing Liz enjoy her moment of rest.

“I think it’s going to disrupt things here for a while,” Liz said truthfully. “Are you sure Mr. Masterson won’t mind?”

“Mind? He’s the one who wants it done as soon as possible,” she laughed. “He keeps talking about some celebration he’s planning, but won’t give me any details and it’s driving me nuts. To tell you the truth, I think he’s keeping it hush, hush to drive me batty.”

“Well what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” asked a silky smooth voice from the doorway.

Liz felt chills go up her spine. She heard that voice before, but couldn’t place it. Turning, she was surprised to see Max from the diner. “Max?”

Liz!” he exclaimed, having only see Kathleen sitting at one of the chairs before his desk. “What are you doing here?”

“Tsk, Tsk, Max,” reproached Kathy. “I know you have better manners than that.”

“Excuse me, Liz, Kathy. It’s only I didn’t see Liz there,” Max apologized, the tip of his ears reddening.

Kathy waved her hand in dismissal and noticed the time. “Goodness is it really two o’clock? I promised Mrs. Bodwell I’d go and see Peachykins in the Dog Fancy Fashion Show at the Marriot. I’ll never hear the end of it if I’m late.”

Getting to her feet, she took a hold of Max’s arm and implored, “Max, be a dear and show Liz the rest of the offices, will you? Her firm is overseeing the renovations and she needs to scope out the place so she can draw up some plans.”

Turning to Liz, she bent down and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Sorry to have to abandon you, but Peachykins is waiting.” Flashing them a smile, she breezed out the door.

“And that settles that,” mumbled Max.

“She is a force of nature, huh?” Liz asked, struggling to get out of the deep sofa.

Max reached for her arm and felt a shock at the contact. Searching Liz’s face, he looked for a similar reaction and was disappointed to see nothing to indicate she felt the same.

It took all of Liz’s willpower not to flinch at the rush of heat that assaulted her at Max’s touch. A spark of life came to being with the brief contact and she was amazed. She thought, that after all she had gone through these last few weeks would have erased any chance of her feeling again.

Clearing her throat, she said, “You don’t have to bother showing me about, Max. I’m sure your very busy.”

Max rubbed the back of his neck and let out a laugh. “As a matter of fact, Doug sent me a memo saying I was to help his wife in her little project.”

“He calls this little?” Liz asked in astonishment, showing him the three page list. “What does he consider big?”

“Who knows?” and who cares, he added to himself. If this meant he would be able to spend time with Liz, the rest of his work could go on the back burner with his blessing. He made a mental note to talk to his staff and have them continue as if he were still running the show, but not to disturb him in his new endeavor unless for an emergency. He was not going to squander this gift of Liz’s presence.

“You got me,” he answered. “I find it’s better to indulge him, that way I can do what I need to do, while he’s occupied elsewhere.”

“What do you do here, anyway?” Liz asked, accepting his invitation to proceed him out of his office.

“I’m head of what Doug calls, The Giving Away Buckets of Money Department,” he smiled and a shiver made the hair stand up on the back of Liz’s neck.

She couldn’t get the feeling she’s heard his voice before and not just at the diner. The hormones must be screwing with my brain, she thought. “Excuse me?”

“I oversee a series of clinics that administer to low income and homeless people who can’t afford insurance. We provide all the medications and make sure there are qualified doctors to dispense them.”

“That’s wonderful!” she exclaimed. “I wasn’t aware that Metachem cared for anything but the bottom line.”

That sounds like something Kyle told her. For him, that was all Metachem did stand for. Max fortunately knew better. “I was brought in by Doug himself, to see what we could do to help the less fortunate. He told me it really bothered him that there wasn’t health care for everyone in this country and he set about trying to fix it. We’re doing our best, but without help from the other drug companies, it’s like rolling boulders uphill, barehanded, in the rain.”

“Well, I think it’s a noble cause. It’s a shame that people who have less money seem to get sick more and there is nothing the government is doing to help.”

“I agree. I’ve been trying to get my sister to be a spokesperson for the cause, but she’s been so busy, she’s having a hard time finding time to sleep as it is.”

“Oh, does your sister have that kind of power?”

“Not power, but she is in the public eye and with her good looks, she should be able to charm those with money to pitch in.”

“Good looks?”

“She’s a fashion model.” At Liz’s confused look he added, “Isabel Evans.”

“She’s your sister?”

“Don’t let her hear you say it like that,” he laughed. “Her head is big enough as it is.”

“But she’s so huge! You can’t walk into a store or watch TV without seeing her face. I would never have guessed you were related.”

“I’m not sure how to take that comment,” he teased.

“Max, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend....”

Placing his hand on her arm, he replied, “I know what you meant. I was only teasing.”

“Oh you!” she scolded, a smile lighting up her face. His hand was burning a hole thru her blouse, but it felt good and she had to suppress a sigh when he let go and they continued their tour of the offices.

“I can introduce her to you if you like,” he offered. “”We share a house in town.”

“She lives in Roswell? Why ever for?”

“She likes the whole alien thing they have going on here and besides, would you look for her here?”

“Good point.” They had reached the elevators and Liz let out a sigh.

Max looked down into her face and saw the dark smudges under her eyes. When he saw her at the diner all those weeks ago, she had been wearing a large coat which explained him missing her pregnancy. Today, she had on a rose colored silk blouse that pulled gently over her swelling abdomen.

Noticing his gaze, Liz subconsciously placed a hand on her belly.

“When is the baby due?” he asked softly, not really sure he wanted to know.

“She’s due the end of July,” she said, her hand moving in slow circles.

“She?”

“Yeah, Aurora.”

“That’s beautiful.”

“Thanks, I thought so too.”

The ringing of the elevator broke them out of their trance. “I should be going,” she said. “I think I have enough here to give Kathy an idea of what we should do.”

“It seems I’m going to be involved also, so if you need anything, call me.”

“I will. Have a nice day Max.”

“You too.”

[LilyFrancesca]

Welcome PunkSk8er to my own personal Hell :evil: To all my other readers, thanks for the f/b. I just love getting the notices in my mailbox that someone has replied to my stories. Hugs!



Chapter Nine

Max walked into the house, oblivious of his surroundings. How he made it home in one piece was indeed a miracle. Isabel was sitting at the dining room table checking out slides and he walked by her, unnoticed.

Getting up from her chair, she followed in into the kitchen and leaning against the door frame, she watched him miss the glass he was trying to pour juice into. “Earth to Max, come in Max.”

Max blinked a few times, coming back to reality with a crash. “Oh shit,” he cried when he spied the mess he made on the counter. The trilling of his sister’s laugher made him grimace.

“What’s up with you?” she asked, throwing a towel at him.

Wiping up the juice, he mumbled, “Nothing.”

“Don’t give me that crap.” she chided him. “I saw the dreamy look on your face. You’d better fess up now, cuz you know I’m not going to give up until you do.”

Max knew that was no empty threat. She was like a dog with a bone and for that reason he had been trying to find a way to get her interested with the clinics. When she realized the good she could do, she would throw herself in feet first.

Sensing the inevitable, he said, “Liz’s is carrying my baby.”

“Are you sure?” she asked gently. The time for teasing had ended.

“I spoke with her today and she told me she was due at the end of July. Even you can count backwards to know when she got pregnant.”

“The end of October.”

“Bingo, give the pretty girl a prize.”

“Does she still thinks it Kyle’s?”

“No, I told her that it was me she screwed that night,” he snapped.

“Point taken, sorry.”

“No Iz, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t take out my frustration out on you,” he apologized. He then added, “It’s a girl by the way. She’s naming her Aurora.”

“Aw Max, a little girl! That’s wonderful.”

“Iz what am I going to do?”he asked, despair coloring his voice. “I know she’s mine but how do I tell her mother that I’m her father without having Liz hate me for it?”

“I don’t know Max, but we’ll think of something. We have to, there isn’t any other choice. You have a right to be in your daughter’s life.”

“Yeah but I want her mother too and right now I don’t think that’s even a possibility,” he sighed, shaking his head in defeat and walking out of the room.


###


The scalding water was beating down on her back and Liz let out a groan of delight. As of late, the only pleasure she was enjoying were her extended hot showers with the water massager. Flipping the switch, she set the dial to pulsate and began running it up and down her belly. The baby moved and she let out a laugh.

A flash of Max smiling at her went through her mind and she sobered. There had to be a law somewhere stating no one could be that good looking. And when he touched her, God, she thought she was going to melt into a puddle on the floor. The heat of his hand made her legs go weak even now, hours after the fact.

Closing her eyes, Liz envisioned what his bare hands on her skin would feel like and she came on the spot. Taking the massager, she slowly lowered it to the vee between her legs and pictured Max’s mouth moving along the same route. His tongue would be as hot as his hands and he would worship her with it.

Widening her stance, Liz angled the water to hit her sensitive labia and moaned at the exquisite feeling. It had been so many months since the last time her and Kyle had sex, the night she got pregnant to be exact and she was thrumming with need. Thinking back to that night, she blushed at how seductive she had been.

His eyes running over her body had made her feel beautiful, something she had never felt with him before. A vision of him fondling himself thru his pants sent fire shooing up her body and made her nipples harden. With her free hand, she rubbed the stiff peaks and let out a gasp. Her pregnancy made them more sensitive to the touch and she gave it a tug like he had while holding it between his teeth.

His growl before flipping her over gave her a sense of power that she relished. She had never know she could do that to him. Usually he took control, only letting her do what he wanted but this time, he gave more than he took. That was until he entered her and began thrusting deeply. Not that she minded. The sensations she felt from the unusual position made her orgasm electrifying.

Rubbing the edge of the massager against her clit. Liz relived every thrust of his cock and again she shattered. As she returned to earth, a thought floated to the front of her brain and she froze.

“God Liz, the only way I could screw you was from behind so I could imagine that you were a man.” If what he said was true, why did he do it that way at the party? Unless it wasn’t Kyle.....


###


Maria found her on the floor. Killing the water and throwing a towel over her friend, her heart was in her throat as she tried to rouse her. “Liz, sweets, you gotta wake up!” she cried, giving her a shake. “You gotta wake up and tell me what’s wrong.”

“Maria?” Liz asked her eyes fluttering open.

“Liz! Thank God your okay. What the hell happened?”

“Help me up.”

Getting to her feet, Liz grabbed the wall for support and indicated Maria should get her robe. Sliding it over her shoulders, Liz shrugged it on and tied the belt. Taking a deep breath, she tried to remember what had happened. She had been taking a shower and thinking about Kyle. Suddenly everything came back in a rush and she staggered.

“Liz!” cried Maria. “What’s the matter? Is it the baby?”

Shaking her head no, she stumbled into her bedroom and dropped onto the bed. Could it be true? Could it have ben someone else that night? If that was true, then Kyle wasn't Aurora’s father.

“Sweets, are you listening to me?” Maria yelped, bringing Liz out of her thoughts.

As the possibility sunk into Liz’s brain a smile began to form on her lips. When she raised her gaze to that of her anxious friend, she was grinning like a fool.

“Okay, now your really feaking me out!”

Liz laughed and threw her arms around her bewildered friend. Maria returned the hug, totally sure Liz had gone off the deep end and was never coming back. Pulling back Liz said, “Aurora's all mine, Maria All mine!”

“Of course she is, Liz. Your having her.”

“No. What I mean is, Kyle’s not the father. I don’t have to have anything else to do with him. Ever!”

“Whoa, back up. Your telling me you slept with someone else?”

“At the time I thought it was Kyle, but them I remembered something he told me when I was in New York and I realized it couldn’t have possible been him.”

“What did he say? No, don’t tell me, I can guess. So if Kyle’s not the daddy, who is?”

“Zorro.”

“I have an idea.” Maria said, jumping up from the bed. “You wait here and I’m going to call the doctor. Cuz I know you just didn’t say Zorro.”

Liz grabbed her hand and pulled her back to her seat. “Not really Zorro, but someone dressed like Zorro.” At Maria’s blank expression she added, “At the costume party!”

“But I thought Kyle was dressed as Zorro?”

“He was, but apparently so was someone else.”

“This is really fucked Liz, you know that right?”

“I should have known that it wasn’t Kyle from the start. Maybe it was all the champagne I drank, but I was having such a good time, that when he pulled me into an empty bedroom and made me feel so good, I didn’t care.”

“You did tell me that was the best sex you and Kyle ever had.”

Liz giggled. “Yeah, considering Kyle wasn’t even there.”

Maria laughed. “So what are you going to do?”

“Do? Nothing. I’m sure I’ll never find out who the guy was. Anyway, it doesn't matter. All that does is, Kyle will be out of my life for good.”

[LilyFrancesca]

I hope everyone had a good Turkey Day!


Chapter Ten

Maria was playing pack mule again. Liz held the door open for her and the pair walked into the lobby of Metachem. Glancing over at Liz, Maria sent her a glare that should have curled her hair. Who’s stupid idea was it to make up six presentation boards, anyway?

A brick wall suddenly appeared in front of her and she slammed into it with a grunt. “What the hell?”

“Watch where you going!” snapped an angry voice that instantly grated on her nerves.

“Me? Can’t you see I’m struggling here? You should have gotten out of my way,” she sneered.

“Maybe in the future, you should only take on what you can handle and from what I can see, it shouldn’t be much.” With that parting remark, he stepped around her and began whistling his way across the polished marble lobby.

Maria disengaged herself enough to see a broad back covered in a blue security shirt. Glancing over his shoulder, he shot her a condescending smile.

“That sombitch,” she growled under her breath. Turning to Liz she demanded, “And where were you? Did you at least get his name so I can report him to Kathy? Why they have such a prick working for them is beyond me but when I find out who he is, he’s going to rue the day he messed with Maria Deluca, I can tell you that.”

Liz held back a laugh. Maria was going into tornado mode and that was never good. Holding up her hand, Liz stopped the next tirade from starting as she said, “His name tag said M. Gurien. After the meeting, we’ll let Kathy know what happened and let them handle it.”

Maria was going to protest, but Liz stopped her. “Maria, we need this account and blowing up at the security guards is not going to get it.”

“Fine, but I get to tell Kathy how much of bastard he is and don’t expect me to mince words.”

Shaking her head, Liz replied. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”


###


Liz was sweating. Droplets were slowly running down between her breasts and she hated it. She had only expected Kathy to be at the presentation, but Doug and Max were there too and Max’s gaze was doing funny things to her insides. Maria was gaping at all the mistakes she was making and had to interrupt a few times to correct her.

Clearing her throat for the hundredth time, she concluded, “So I think you can see, we will be able to do most of the work after office hours and without much distraction. My subs have no problem working nights, so it works out well for all of us.”

“What you mean to say,” Doug said, humor in his tone, “is that they don’t mind up-charging for after hours.”

“True.”

Clapping his hands, he replied, “That works for me. As long as you can get it done before June twenty-fifth, I don’t care how you do it, or how much it costs.”

Maria gulped loudly and Kathy placed her hand on hers. “Haven’t you ever heard of the the term Carte Blanche ? When my Doug wants something, he gets it.”

Flashing his wife a smile, Doug stood. “Shall we my dear?” he asked, holding out his hand to her.

Kathy stood and they walked out of the board room together. “Now now there’s a couple who understand one another,” stated Max, watching them go.

“Damn it, I needed to talk to Kathy,” Maria complained.

“Maybe I can help,” Max offered coming around the table.

Maria pursed her lips. She liked Max Evans. He would be perfect for Liz, she just knew it, but she also knew Liz wasn’t interested in having someone in her life now, or in the future. “I um, it’s probably going to sound silly.”

“Come on Maria. If you were going to tell Kath about it, it must be something,” he cajoled.

Liz snorted. Maria shot her a glare. “When we came into the lobby this morning, I had a run in with one of the security guards.”

“Literally,” Liz injected.

“Whatever,” Maria said waving her hand. “I think he was very rude and something should be done about him.”

“What’s his name, maybe I could have a talk with him.”

“Gurien. M. Gurien.”

Max laughed. “Old Stonewall?”

“Who?”

“Michael Gurien, but everyone here calls him Stonewall.”

“Why?”

“Nothing gets in behind his defenses. He’s like a machine.”

“Maria got in,” Liz said. “He got all flushed when she was insulting him.”

“Really? I can’t believe it.”

“I don’t give a shit what you guys call him, tell him to get a grip. Oh and you should make sure you keep him out of polite company. You might loose business if he ran ito a potential client next time.”

Max bit back a laugh and said, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“See that you do,” she huffed, picking up the boards. “Number seven is off with her load. I’ll see you in the car, Liz.”

Max watched her go and asked, “Number seven?”

“Maria doesn’t have cable, so she’s stuck watching Grizzly Adams reruns,” Liz explained. Max smiled and a replay of her shower and what she wanted Max to do to her shot thru her mind. She barely suppressed a groan.

“Are you okay?” he asked, coming closer.

His scent hit her and she felt her mouth go dry. Licking her lips, she said, “Uh yeah I’m fine. Aurora gave me a good kick,” she lied.

“Really?” His hand came up and he asked, “Do you mind?”

“No, go ahead.”

Placing his hand on her belly, Max couldn’t decide what excited him more, touching Liz or feeling his daughter move under his palm. As if sensing him, she gave a jab and both he and Liz jumped.

“She’s a little spitfire,” he laughed.

“Tell me about it. Sometimes I wander if she’s doing karate in there.”

The urged to tell Liz about the two of them hit so hard, he grabbed the back of a chair to stabilized himself. Isabel had been harping on him to sit her down and explain what happened, but he told her he didn’t know how. She still thought Kyle was the father and the last thing Max wanted to do was cause Liz more pain.

Sensing his discomfort, Liz said quickly, “I should go, Maria is waiting.”

“Do you want to walk you down?”

“I can find my way,” she snapped.

Max blinked. Why was she mad? “Liz.”

“I have to go. See you later,” she said and walked out the double doors.


###


God I’m the biggest idiot in the world, Liz berated herself, punching the button for the lobby. Max didn’t do anything and I almost bit his head off. He must think I’m nuts. Shaking her head in disgust, she put her hand on her stomach. When Max touched her there, she thought she was going to faint. Beside Maria, he was the only one to feel the baby move. Somehow, his touch felt intimate, almost erotic. Nice, she chided, he wants to feel the baby and you get horny. Like he would want anything to do with me. I’m all fat, not to mention I’m pregnant with a another man’s baby, who ever he is.


“Are you okay?”

Liz blinked and looked up. Maria's security guard was standing in the door of the elevator. “Yes, thank you.”

“So, are you going to get out or are you going back up?” he asked sarcastically.

His rudeness brought her out of her musings and she replied, “No Stonewall, it’s all your,” and brushed past him.

“Hey!” he yelled, but she ignored him. “What is it with this place today,” he grumbled. “all the women are whacked.”


###

Liz slid into the passenger seat and snapped, “Let’s go.”

Maria shot her a startled glance and put the Jetta in drive. “What’s the matter?” she asked after a few minutes of heavy silence.

“Men suck,” Liz answered.

“Your only learning this now?”

“No, I think I’ve always know it but lately my track record had proven it to be a given.”

“What happened?”

“Oh, I let Max feel the baby, then I snapped at him and what did he do, he just stood there with a blank expression on his face. ThenI run into that Stonewall guy and he gives me some lip. I just want to go home and crawl under the covers for the rest of the week.”

Maria patted her hand and replied, “I don’t blame you, Sweets. With the month your having, it’s amazing your walking upright. How about I drop you off while I contact the contractor and give him the a-okay?”

Sounds good,” Liz agreed. “I don’t want to have to deal with anymore men today.”