Worth the Risk (Mature/Adult) Ch.20 1/15/06 COMPLETE!!

[To_Kiss_A_Frog]

Hey everyone! Are you all still anxious to find out whether or not they kiss Thanks to:

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Chapter 10

On our pursuit for well being…
On our pursuit for happiness and self indulgence…
So often do we forget the hearts of others…
And the fragility of human emotions.

~&~&~&~&~&


“We can’t do this.” His protest was no more than a quiet murmur as their lips hovered a mere inch apart. In the back of her mind, Liz knew he was right. She had just broken up with Kyle a little over six hours before and now she was out in the middle of nowhere, desperately wishing his cousin would kiss her. It was wrong, they both needed time, yet…

“Just once” she murmured as her eyes fluttered closed of their own volition.

A breathless moment later she felt the soft pressure of his full lips press against her own. Wild emotions slammed against her chest along with the thunderous beat of her heart as his mouth gently nibbled and coaxed. Tentative hands cupped her face, holding her to him while his mouth plundered and his tongue roamed.

A quiet moan escaped though if asked, neither would be able to tell you who it had come from.

Her hands grasped his shirt as she whole heartedly returned the kiss, matching his intense fervor with an equal amount of her own. It was too much… more than she had ever experienced as Liz easily got lost in the sensual caress. Then, without warning, Max tore his mouth away from hers and took in several gulps of fresh air.

Beside him, Liz continued to sit, panting and struggling to get her breath back. She felt like she had just run a marathon rather than exchanged a few kisses. “I’m sorry” he said while Liz easily recognized the anguish in his tone. Appraisingly, he looked at her and tentatively took her hand in his. “The last thing I want is for you to feel like I’m taking advantage of you or…”

“No” Liz interrupted, emphatically shaking her head. “Max… you didn’t do anything wrong and you certainly didn’t do anything I didn’t want… or ask for” she stated and briefly squeezed his fingers. “The truth is that I have no idea why this is happening but it is. I have these… feelings, for you and as much as they scare me, I don’t want them to go away” she admitted with sincerity gleaming in her brown eyes.

It was a big step for Liz, especially after everything that had just happened with Kyle. Logically, she realized that nothing could happen with Max… at least not now. It was too soon to start up a new relationship and would definitely be too soon for Kyle to see her with someone else… specifically someone he was related to.

“My mind tells me this is wrong” Max candidly spoke, all the while never releasing Liz’s hand from the warm confines of his own. “Kyle and I aren’t just a pair of casual acquaintances. We’re family and you are… were, his girlfriend.” Liz wondered if this was the brush off speech. Was he going to tell her that there was no chance for them and that she should just forget about it now? “But despite all of that, I feel like you and I connect on this whole other level that I never even knew existed” he confessed and fixed her with a curious stare. “Does that sound cheesy to you?” he asked.

“No” Liz replied, offering Max a small smile. “Because you just perfectly described what I feel around you.”

She watched him as he concentrated on some thought, unknown to Liz. She could see the inner battle reflected through his amber gaze as he stared, almost unseeing, at a spot just above her shoulder. Tenderly, he pushed the wind blown strands away from her face and pulled her close until their foreheads rested against one another. His scent enveloped her as a light breeze blew by, causing Liz to close her eyes as she committed it all to memory.

“You were with Kyle for two years, Liz. That’s a long time to love someone” Max eventually stated in a whisper that was almost carried away by the empty night. “Take some time to heal, to make sure you really know what you’d be getting yourself into with me” he advised just as she opened her mouth to protest.

“I do know” she declared and nearly wept from the gentleness of every single touch he bestowed upon her. “I know that I want you.”

“And if that’s truly what you want, a few weeks of thought won’t change it” Max countered and unable to help himself, placed another, small kiss upon her lips. Greedily, Liz held onto it, fearing it would be the last he’d give her. “Please just… give yourself some time, Liz. I’m not going anywhere.”

She sighed in defeat, instantly knowing that he wouldn’t change his mind. To herself, Liz acknowledged that he was probably right. Despite the fact that the break up had been her idea, she had been with Kyle for two years and she needed the chance to prove, to herself and to Max, that she was ready. “Can we still spend time together?” she queried in a soft voice that declared how defeated she truly felt.

“Truth is that I don’t think I can stop spending time with you, now that I know what it feels like to have your lips on mine” Max stated, causing Liz to emit a small groan of frustration. He obviously had no idea how his words effected her.

“Just once more” Liz murmured as she leaned in.

“Just once more” Max agreed as he closed the distance between their lips.


~&~&~&~&~&


An entire week had past since their night in the desert and Liz still couldn’t get their kiss out of her mind. Every time she closed her eyes, every time she heard his voice, it was there. The feel of his lips, the caress of his hands, the hard muscled chest pressed against her own soft one. He was taking up so much space in her mind that she hardly noticed the other changes around her.

Then one night, Michael walked into the Crashdown, wearing an expression of frustration mingled with weariness. “Hey, what’s wrong?” Liz asked and leaned her elbows on the counter as she observed her best friend. It had been so long since Liz had seen him looking so defeated, so obviously upset about something. “Did something happen at work today?”

“Nah… nothing like that” Michael replied, offering Liz a weak smile as he played with a discarded straw wrapper. “Actually, I’m really sorry to ask you this because I already know the truth but… well I have to.” His statement instantly had Liz straightening up as a confused expression marred her previously jovial face.

“What is it Michael? Do you need something or do you…?”

“No, nothing like that” he repeated, already understanding what she was asking. Harshly, he took a deep, ragged breath that worried Liz and reluctantly opened his mouth. “Maria is convinced that you broke up with Kyle because you were cheating on him. I think she even has Kyle believing it now and so I need you to tell me that they’re both wrong” he stated while he seemed almost physically pained by the question.

The words sunk in, leaving Liz with feeling she hadn’t experienced since the whole charade with her father. Liz didn’t like that feeling at all and desperately tried to push past it.

Trying not to let her anger and hurt show, Liz took a quick glance around them. “You know as well as I do what happened” she declared in a quiet hiss. Liz wasn’t angry at him, but at his meddling girlfriend who had managed to somehow make Kyle think something false and successfully put Michael in the middle of it. “You were the one who told me to figure out what I wanted and when I realized that it wasn’t Kyle, I ended things. But I promise you, Michael, I never cheated on Kyle.”

“Liz… I’m sorry. I…” he struggled only to trail off when he had no words.

“Can we just forget this conversation ever happened?” Liz requested, all the while barely concealing the seething anger she felt towards Maria Deluca. “I’m not mad at you. Nothing between has changed. I just… just don’t want to talk about this” she explained and watched Michael nod in compliance.

Plastering a small smile across her lips, Liz engaged Michael in a conversation about her latest Creative Writing assignment. As he always did, Michael listened, adding his two cents here and there, getting back change when he wrong. Before long, both were laughing over some crazy idea he had and neither noticed the figure that walked by, wearing an unreadable expression as he stared at the two.


~&~&~&~&~&


“Can I ask you something?”

“You just did, sugar” Max replied. Then, seeing her playful scowl, added, “But ask another.” Smiling, Liz rolled her eyes and snuggled a little closer to the warmth of his body. It was a cold night, colder than usual as the two sat out on her balcony, huddled together beneath a single blanket.

“What’s the deal with Maria?” Liz queried and found herself smiling as Max lifted his arm to wrap around her shivering body.

“What do you mean?” he asked back and placed a quick, chaste kiss against her hair. Around them, the quiet hum of Liz’s portable radio filled the otherwise quiet night. The beginning trains of Amazing by Blue October had Liz sighing softly, inaudibly as she leaned her head against the firmness of his chest.

How am I supposed to breathe
I try to relax, I touch your still frame
So I can watch you closer
And study the ways I believe I belong to you

“I’ve noticed that she’s isn’t exactly friendly with you or Isabel” Liz commented and traced imaginary images on his shirt with the tip of her finger. “I guess I’m just wondering why she can be really nice to some people and… really not nice to others” she finished, unsure of whether or not to mention Michael’s earlier information.

Then again, Max and Kyle lived together, maybe he already knew and just didn’t think anything of the claim since he knew the truth.

“I always figured it was because she was a bit jealous” Max admitted and stilled her hand against his chest. “Ticklish” he admitted when she shot him a questioning glance. “Her dad wasn’t all that great so really, all she had was aunt Amy. Then she goes and gets married to Uncle Jim and Maria suddenly has this new family but technically, they aren’t her family, you know” Max stated.

“Not really, no” Liz admitted, apologetically.

I scratch at your waistline… your doll hair
I dig up the thought of how your eyes glow
So I make you my religion, my collision, my escape goat
So have I found your secret weak spot, baby?

“Me and Isabel are related to Kyle and Uncle Jim by blood, Maria isn’t” Max elaborated though Liz knew from his tone that it wasn’t the way he looked at things. “I don’t care about that stuff, especially considering who my dad is but it always seemed to matter to Maria. I guess she acts bitchy towards us as a way to make herself feel better about everything” he surmised but admitted that Maria was really the only one who could accurately answer that question.

Nodding, Liz closed her eyes as the song continued to play. She had always enjoyed the melodic music of the Texas, indie rock band and had even managed to catch one of their live shows during her freshman year of college. “Who is this, anyway?” Max queried and began sifting his fingers through her soft tresses.

“Blue October” Liz replied and shot Max a questioning glance when he nudged her away. “What are…”

“Shh…” he whispered and pulled her up so that she stood before him. “I already like this song and I just want to dance with you” he explained and wrapped his arms around her waist. Following his lead with a smile on her face, Liz twined her arms around his neck as he slowly began to move.

Can you pretend I’m amazing?
I can pretend I’m amazing…
Instead of what we both know
I cut to the punch line baby
Can you pretend I’m amazing
Instead of what we both know

“For someone whose trying to give me time, you’re making it really hard to stay away from you” Liz murmured and rested her head against his chest. Automatically, he rested his cheek against her silky strands and grinned against her hair.

“I said I’d give you time to figure out what you wanted” Max acknowledged. “But I also want you to decide that I’m what you want” he admitted and pulled her a little closer to his body. Silently, Liz smiled but didn’t mention that he had nothing to worry about. She had already decided that he was what she wanted. Even if she tried, she wouldn’t have been able to change that. Luckily, Liz didn’t want to try and change anything.

Now our history is for sale
And for that I apologize
You see you’re my only know how
The study of when I believed I belonged to you

“When I’m with you, I forget that anything else exists” Max confessed, seemingly unaware of how profoundly his words impacted the petite girl in his arms. “Am I crazy or do you feel even an ounce of what I’m talking about?” he murmured and slowly began to glide one hand up and down the length of Liz’s spine.

She shivered though this time it had nothing to do with the chilled New Mexico night. “More than an ounce” she whispered back. “Definitely more than an ounce.”

You see I’ve made you into something delicious
My sweet ghost
So have I found your secret weak spot, baby?

Can you pretend I’m amazing?
I can pretend I’m amazing…
Instead of what we both know
I cut to the punch line baby
Can you pretend I’m amazing
Instead of what we both know

I’m so sorry
There it goes…
Back over there

[To_Kiss_A_Frog]

Hi everyone!!! I am so sorry that I took so long with this chapter. The truth is that it's been about 3/4 written for days already but I couldn't figure out the last part so I put it away until I could come up with something. I know that there might be a Maria fan out there that doesn't appreciate the last chapter, but I assure you that her behavior will serve a purpose, unfortunately she's going to be a bit of meanie for a while before that happens. Thank you to:

cherie
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For your wonderful feedback!!! Hello lurkers!

Chapter 11

After a few days, Liz almost forgot about Michael’s admission which revealed Maria’s beliefs over her breakup with Kyle. However, a visit from her ex-boyfriend, himself, stopped her progress the moment he walked through the Crashdown doors. Instantly, he zeroed in on Liz, who was busy wiping down the counter with one hand while holding a book in the other.

“We need to talk” he stated as Liz lowered the text and saw the determined glint in his eyes. “Can we go upstairs?” he asked and looked around then café. “Or would you rather do this down here?”

Perplexed by his attitude, Liz placed a scrap of paper in between two pages and placed the book on one of the shelves. “Upstairs, I guess” she replied and frowned when Kyle didn’t even wait before heading towards the swinging door. “Agnes just… just try not to leave while I’m gone” she asked the older woman and followed Kyle up towards the apartment. “Okay, what in the world is going on with you?” Liz demanded the moment they were behind her closed bedroom door.

“Did you cheat on me?” Kyle asked, without preamble. “Not that it really matters anymore but I need to know the truth” he explained then seemed to lose all the nerve that got him there in the first place.

“My feelings changed, Kyle, not me” Liz replied, then because he seemed to need the words, she added, “No, I never cheated on you.”

She wanted to demand that he explain how he could ever think she would do such a thing but refrained. She supposed she had thrown him for loop by suddenly breaking up with him and realized it wasn’t so far fetched for him to doubt her, even if, to her, his doubts were unfounded.

“Liz… what happened to us? Was I really that bad?” Kyle questioned in voice that seemed to be the polar opposite of his earlier tone. Quietly sighing, Liz sat down on her bed and patted the spot beside her. Kyle seemed hesitant at first but eventually followed her lead and lowered himself to the vacant space.

“This… what happened between us, isn’t either of our faults” Liz stated and offered him an apologetic smile. “We just grew apart and… and if you really thought about it, I truly believe you would see it too” she shrugged. It was one thing for her to know and understand it, but she had to take into account that Kyle had been blindsided by the breakup, or so it seemed. Liz truly did believe that the signs were there, both just chose to ignore them for too long.

“See what?” Kyle questioned, pinning her with a look that stated how desperate he was to understand.

Thrown, it took Liz a moment to gather her thoughts before turning back to Kyle. “You and I stopped talking, Kyle. Customers who came into the Crashdown and saw what I was reading or writing knew more about what was going on with me” she stated though it wasn’t meant as a dig. “And in that respect, I’m sure the teachers at school or your players, even, knew more about you at times than I did” she offered and watched as a look of guilt crossed his face. “Kyle?”

“That night of the storm… when we got stuck up near Albuquerque…” he began and almost seemed like he was forcing the words out. “Some of the guys kept trying to sneak into the cheerleaders’ rooms so Tess and I… we sort of sat out in the hallway like guard dogs and we ended up spending the whole night talking” he admitted.

Liz convinced herself that the sadness she felt was undeserved. Kyle hadn’t done anything that she hadn’t and in that instance, Liz understood why Max was so adamant about giving her time. Things like this, little revelations were going to pop up from time to time. Max knew that Liz needed the chance to adjust to it all, otherwise their relationship would be doomed before it even began.

With all the complications already in place because of Kyle and Max’s relation, the last thing they needed was another complication.

“Nothing more happened… well, she kissed me on the cheek but… but I didn’t sleep with her” Kyle vehemently declared. “I never cheated on you either.” He seemed so guilty about it all that Liz forced a smile to her face. Soothingly, she took her hand in his and gave it a quick squeeze before releasing him.

“I believe you” Liz stated and then because it seemed to be the only way, she asked, “So what was it like? Did you have a lot in common?”

Kyle seemed uneasy and Liz saw his inner struggle as he turned his eyes down to his clasped hands. She didn’t push him, understanding that this was difficult for both of them. “She’s nice” he confessed, softly. “She um… she has these older brothers who used to play in college so she’s a really big football fan. Knows a lot about the game. She’s… nice” he finished lamely, seeming so freaked over everything that Liz nearly smiled.

“I don’t know, Liz. I guess the signs were there, it’s just that… well that I cared about you so much that I wanted to ignore them” Kyle admitted and finally met her gaze, head on. “Even if it wasn’t the best thing for either of us.”

“I meant what I said before, Kyle. No matter what happens, I’m always gonna care about you” Liz declared and gave him a small smile. “You were a part of my life for a long time and I’m not just gonna forget about that. I’m not going to just forget about you” she stated and nearly sighed in relief when he nodded once, acknowledging her words.

“There is one thing that I need you do for me” Kyle stated and again, seemed to struggle with the words inside his head. “When you find someone that you want to be with. I need you to not tell me” he requested while a protest immediately made its way to Liz’s mouth.

While she knew that now was not the time to tell him about Max, she had no intention of keeping her feelings a secret forever. “That’s not a good idea, Kyle” she opined as he took her hand in his.

“I want to get over you” Kyle declared in a gentle voice. “You need me to get over you. Well I need you to do this for me. I think it would be a lot harder to let go if I knew you were out there dating some other guy. I need you to just keep it away from me until I can find a way past all of this” he explained and again, Liz wanted to decline but found herself focusing on his pleading eyes.

“Okay” she heard herself say.

Smiling, Kyle turned his eyes back to the wall in front of them. Liz wanted to ask him about the things Maria had accused her of but didn’t want to break the calm that had enveloped them. She wanted to be angry but forced herself to put that aside for now. She supposed that she would have been just as fiercely protective of Michael if someone had hurt him. In essence, he was as much a brother to her as Kyle was to Maria.

Liz focused on that, but it didn’t mean it was easy.


~&~&~&~&~&


“Thanks” Liz said and accepted her change and a large bag of takeout. The delicious scents wafted to her nose, making Liz’s mouth water in anticipation. Turning, she held tight to her bag as her body collided with another. Looking up, the person had bumped into had been the last one Liz expected to see. “Tess, hi” she greeted and offered the blonde woman a smile.

“Hi, Liz. How are you?” she queried while Liz found herself appraising the other woman.

She was very beautiful and seemed nice enough. The fact that she was also a big football plan would be a big plus for Kyle. “I’m good, thank you. Congratulations, by the way” she added while a look of confusion crossed Tess’ face. “I read in the paper that your girls won some awards at the latest cheer camp they attended” she elaborated as recognition dawned on the blonde’s face.

“Thanks. We all worked really hard for it so…” Tess trailed off, awkwardly.

“Right well… I’ll see you around” Liz smiled and waved before making a quick exit. As much as she was getting used to the idea that Kyle would probably end up with Tess, it didn’t change the uncomfortable feeling of having to make small talk with the woman. On the bright side, Liz hoped that Kyle would find happiness, whether it was with Tess or some woman he had yet to meet.

With that in mind, she dropped the bag down into her passenger seat and easily pulled out onto the street. In the distance, she heard muffled yells coming from the park where a group of boys had started a pickup game on the basketball courts. “Crash Into Me” interrupted her thoughts as Dave Mathews began to play on Liz’s cell phone.

“Hey” Liz answered, unable to keep the grin out of her voice as Max’s low timber flooded her ears. “I just picked up the food and I’m on my way out right now.”

“Great. I’m almost there now so I guess I’ll see you in a few minutes” Max stated while behind him, it was easy to hear the whirling wind blowing and the loud hum of traffic. Liz imagined him sitting behind the wheel of his jeep, completely oblivious to that fact that it was freezing outside “Drive safely, okay?” he added, bringing her back to the conversation at hand.

Several words later, Liz was speeding out of Roswell, headed towards the rock outcropping where she and Max had shared their first kiss.

When Max had first suggested a picnic out there, Liz had been skeptical. With the temperature dropping by the minute and nothing but wide open space to block the wind, she was positive they would freeze. Max, on the other hand, hadn’t seemed at all worried and assured Liz that they would be just fine.

Soon enough she reached her destination and pulled up right beside Max’s jeep. Liz didn’t even have a chance to turn her car off before the passenger door opened, revealing Max who quickly climbed in. “It is so cold out there” he stated and blew warmth onto his hands. Wisps of frost followed his words, leading Liz to believe that it had gotten colder in the time it took to drive out of town.

“What happened to the tough city boy that’s suffered through five winters off bitter freezes?” Liz taunted, throwing his earlier words back at him. Amusement was clear on her face as Max turned.

Easily, he grinned and with no shame at all, he admitted “He got used to the desert sun and can’t take the cold anymore.” Impulsively, or so it seemed, Max leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. He obviously meant the kiss to be a short greeting but once it began, Liz knew she didn’t want it to stop. Teasingly, she poked her tongue out to play with his and nearly sighed when she heard his low groan of approval. “Not a good idea, sugar” Max whispered as he pulled away.

To soothe the possible sting of his words, Max rested his forehead against hers so that their eyes remained locked. Liz saw several emotions in the brilliant depths and wondered if they were all for her. “Why isn’t it a good idea?” she murmured and grazed her lips against his in a ghost of a kiss.

“Because the desire to throw all my patience out the window and say your time is up is getting too tempting” Max stated while Liz realized that was probably the best compliment he could have given her just then. “And I don’t want to do that. I don’t want you to feel like I pressured you into anything.”

“Max… I know that it’s been less than a month since Kyle and I split up but… but I have absolutely no doubt in mind that our break up was for the best” Liz declared and couldn’t resist toying with the hair at the nape of his neck. “In fact… Kyle came to see me at the Crashdown earlier today.”

He didn’t pull away, that must be a good sign, Liz couldn’t help but think. “We talked about a few things, specifically his acceptance over everything and his desire to get over it… over us” she explained and impatiently waited for Max to say something in return.

Their windows slowly began to fog up, a result of the cold swirling air outside and the warm, comfortable air inside. “Do you think it’ll snow here?” Max queried in a voice so innocent and curious that Liz had to pull back to observe his expression. Eyes drifting to the small patch of visibility on the window, he watched the dust lift off the ground, fly several feet in the air before landing down again.

Gobsmacked, Liz blinked her lashes several times before shrugging.

“The way a crow shook down on me. The dust of snow from a hemlock tree. Has given my heart a change of mood. And saved some part of a day I had rued.”

Liz recognized the words of Robert Frost though had no idea why Max had just chosen to recite them. “I think what I’ll miss most about Manhattan is Rockefeller Center at Christmas time” he stated and continued to look out the window, oblivious to Liz’s confusion. With complete ease, he covered her hand with his and intertwined their fingers. “When I left New York to come here and run the pub, I couldn’t help but think about all the things I was going to miss” he explained, smiling slightly.

She should have asked him where he was going with his story but didn’t. Liz realized that for whatever reason, he wanted to share this memory with her, now, so she simply listened… and waited.

“Rockefeller Center at Christmas time. Central Park in the summer. Time Square on New Year’s Eve. The noise, the traffic, all the people. But I think the one thing I decided I was going to miss the most was the first day it snowed” Max declared and finally turned his twinkling amber eyes on Liz. “Everything smells so clean when it snows and the day seems brighter than usual.”

“It doesn’t usually snow in Roswell” Liz finally commented though she figured Max already knew as much.

“The entire plane ride here, I kept thinking about everything I was leaving behind” Max continued in an offhanded way. “I had made a life for myself somewhere else and then it was all gone in a moment’s notice. I couldn’t help but feel angry and even a bit bitter that Uncle Jack left it all to me when he knew how much I hated being here in New Mexico.” This was news to Liz who had never gotten an indication from Max that he hated being here. She couldn’t help but wonder why and if he still felt that way.

“There’s so much in my life that you don’t know a thing about” Max then said, almost as though he read her mind. “But I want you to know them. I want you to be a part of my life” he stated and smiled at her. “Because the truth is, since I met you, little by little, my views began to change. I stopped thinking about everything I left behind and began to realize everything I was slowly starting to gain.”

Liz began to understand that Max had realized what was between them long before she had. The thought alone made her heart flutter in excitement. “I need you to understand that Kyle is someone that will probably always be in my heart” she stated because there couldn’t be secrets and lies between them. She couldn’t stand it if there were. “But he occupies a small space next to Michael and next to my mom. The place I want you to have is very different.”

Max nodded and with that said, Liz continued to tell him all about her conversation with Kyle. She mentioned Tess and the request Kyle made about her personal life. As she had been, Max seemed slightly skeptical about how good an idea that was but in the end, he respected the word Liz had given Kyle and didn’t protest. “Why don’t we eat this food before it gets any colder?” Liz suggested, several minutes later.

In truth, she wasn’t entirely certain what had just transpired between them. There was no doubt in her mind that they had definitely taken a step forward, she just didn’t know what that one step meant. Again, almost as if he could read her mind, Max asked, “Liz, would you go out with me tomorrow?”

Smiling, Liz couldn’t help but tease, “You mean… like, on a date?”

Rather than answer with words, Max leaned forward and captured Liz’s mouth in a hungry kiss. Instantly, Liz found herself swept up in an onslaught of emotions. Passion and desire being at the forefront.

Teasingly, he sucked on her lower lip and swallowed her answering moans. Trying to get closer, Liz was practically in his lap as their lips continued to duel passionately. All the while, their hands roamed and acquainted themselves with one another. Long silky hair… hard, chiseled muscles…short, raven locks… soft, supple curves.

With the food promptly forgotten, Max and Liz managed to keep themselves warm for the remainder of the evening, making out like two teenagers in the backseat of her car.

[To_Kiss_A_Frog]

Hi everyone! Happy Thanksgiving I got this one out pretty quickly since I was awake anyway. Thank you to:

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For your wonderful feedback!! Hope everyone has a nice holiday and hello to all the lurkers *waves*

Chapter

“If I didn’t know you and Kyle broke up, I would swear you were going on a date.” Turning at the sound of her mother’s voice, Liz turned and met Nancy’s curious stare with a sheepish one of her own. “Uh oh, I better sit down for this one” she decided and hobbled towards the bed. Instantly, Liz pushed the mess aside, knowing that she and Nancy had an interesting discussion ahead of them.

“So… who’re you going out there?” she queried, fixing her daughter with a soft, motherly expression.

“Well, before I tell you that, I want you to know that I never cheated on Kyle. We were broken up before anything ever happened between me and… and the person I’m going out with” Liz stated in no uncertain terms. What with everything Nancy had gone through with Jeff, it was important to Liz that her mom know the circumstances behind her current situation. She had seen how destructive infidelity was and never wanted to cause anyone that kind of pain.

“I know you’d never do that, sweetheart” Nancy returned, placing a gentle hand against her daughter’s cheek. “So why don’t you put me out of my misery already and tell me who the lucky guy is” she prodded. Liz smiled at her mother’s impatience and took one, long, deep breath before revealing any names.

“It’s Max.”

A single blink was the only indication that Nancy had heard her daughter’s admission. Liz knew that it would be a surprise, especially given the link between Max and Kyle. The funny thing was, as nervous as Liz felt, waiting for her mother’s response, she couldn’t help but feel as thought a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Aside from Michael, Nancy’s opinion had always been at the top of her approval list. Knowing that her mom and best friend backed her always made Liz feel invincible, as though no one else’s view mattered while she had theirs. She already had Michael’s support with the whole Max situation, she only hoped that her mom would be able to give the same.

“Mom?” Liz called out when the older woman continued to remain quiet. “Mom?” she tried again, this time successfully bringing Nancy out of the daze she had fallen into. “Are you okay?” Liz asked, concerned.

“Oh, yes, I’m fine” Nancy smiled then said something that Liz had definitely not expected. “And as for you and Max, well… I can see it” she stated then rushed on before Liz had a chance to ask or say anything. “I saw it that day in the café when you first met. It was interesting because Kyle was right there, standing between the two of you and yet… the connection I saw didn’t include him” she shrugged as though her admission was no big deal.

“I um… you… did… um, what?” Liz finally got out, thoroughly confused which only seemed to make Nancy chuckle, affectionately.

“I can’t really explain it, honey. All I can say is that I saw something in your eyes when you looked at him” Nancy replied, giving Liz a half shrug. “And that same glint was in his eyes when he looked back. Then he started coming by all the time for lunch or to chat. He helped with inventory and I know he stayed up here with you on the night of storm” she added with a knowing look.

“Nothing happened” Liz rushed to explain just as Nancy held her hand up.

“I know that too” Nancy informed and took both of Liz’s hands between hers. “You loved Kyle and that’s a precious thing, but I also believe that there are so many different forms of love. The kind that makes your entire world spin so that you’re never the same is a rare one. I truly believe it’s not possible to fall out of it either.”

Nodding, Liz took the meaning behind her words. She understood that Nancy believed there was love for Kyle, she just didn’t think Liz had been in love with him. Maybe she’s right, Liz couldn’t help but think. In heart, she had always known that love was something that couldn’t and shouldn’t ever fade. It weathered a lot as people grew and changed but if it was real, it would never leave. You would never want it to leave.

“You know, it took me a long time to realize that I didn’t deserve what Jeff did” Nancy said, speaking so quietly that Liz almost had to strain to hear her. “I thought that maybe I had been a bad wife or that I hadn’t shown him enough times how much I loved him. I spent hours trying to figure out what I had done wrong but…”

“You didn’t do anything wrong” Liz vehemently protested.

“I know that now” Nancy replied, smiling weakly at her daughter in thanks. “What I’m trying to say is that as wonderful as love is, it can also hurt too. I know that it would have hurt if Jeff left me years ago but I think its hurts more now, realizing that I was stuck in a marriage I didn’t belong in anymore. I don’t want that to happen to you, sweetie. I don’t want you to wake up one day and regret the choices you made or the life you have.”

As tears began to fall, Liz wrapped her arms tightly around her mom. Soothingly she rocked back and forth, much as Nancy had done to her when she was a child. “Please understand that I never, ever, regretted having a daughter. I love you, Lizzie, please don’t ever doubt that” she murmured through her tears while all Liz could do was wordlessly nod.


~&~&~&~&~&


When Max arrived to pick Liz up, she and Nancy had long since finished their discussion. Each understood one another and when all was said and done, Nancy helped Liz get ready for her date.

“You look beautiful” Max stated as Liz opened the door. Gallantly, he offered her a bouquet of white roses and kissed her cheek. Earlier, when he had called to confirm a time, Max had instructed Liz to wear something dressy casual though he refused to tell her what they were doing or where they were going, other than that they had along drive ahead of them.

Smiling shyly, Liz thanked him and smelled the fragrant blooms. “Thank you” she added and invited Max in while she put the flower in a vase of water. Quickly, Liz worked in the kitchen, all the while careful not to spill any water on her outfit. After a half hour of trying to pick something out, she finally decided on a plain, black skirt that barely skimmed her knees, topped with a sparkly white camisole. The last thing she wanted was to have to change again because she was too excited about her date and got wet.

“You ready?” Max asked when Liz walked back out. He had been looking at the photographs lining her mantel and with his body half turned, Liz couldn’t resist giving him a quick once over.

Black slacks covering his tightly muscled legs… a dark green button down shirt that was stretched across his chest with every movement… sleeves rolled up to his forearms, exposing even more muscle for Liz’s hungry eyes. Unconsciously, she licked her lips in approval while a quiet growl from Max had Liz quickly falling out of the fantasy her mind had begun to conjure up.

Stepping forward, Max pulled her close and dipped his head to sample her plump lips. “Hmm…” Liz moaned just as he forced his mouth away. “Max…what?” she trailed off, wearing a confused expression.

“Your mom is home and kissing you would eventually lead to something we don’t want an audience for” he stated, causing Liz to blush as she realized what he meant. “Come on, otherwise we’ll be late” Max added and took Liz’s smaller hand in his. Still slightly dazed, Liz allowed him to lead her out of the apartment and down to the break room. It was then that she realized everyone would most likely stare at the pair if they walked out of the café together. “I’m just parked this way” he stated, nodding towards the side entrance.

“But how did you…?”

“Jose let me in” Max smiled and paused to help Liz with her jacket. Tenderly, he pushed a wisp of hair behind her ear and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. “You really do look beautiful” he murmured and kissed her one last time before the two stepped out into the cold, late October air.


~&~&~&~&~&


“I can’t believe you pulled this off” Liz stated in awe as Max pulled up to a little club called Music’s Haven. Despite her best efforts, she had been unable to get any information out of him throughout the entire drive to Alamogordo. Eventually, Liz gave up and the two easily fell into conversation about any and everything.

What had been surprising though understandable was Max’s admission about moving. Originally, living Kyle had seemed like a temporary solution to his problems. It gave Max the freedom to take his time looking for a place of his own though after a while, the two had forgotten about his original plan and continued to live as roommates. That no longer seemed like a good idea since Max was currently dating Kyle’s ex-girlfriend.

Now that they had finally arrived, Liz was almost entranced as she stared up at the Marquee in front of them. Four simple words yet they stood for so much more to Liz who couldn’t hold back a smile.

Live Tonight: Blue October

“There’s this old man who comes into the pub everyday for coffee around lunchtime and he brings a half dozen newspapers in with him” Max stated when Liz continued to remain silent. “By pure luck, I saw the ad about tonight’s show so I called and managed to get two tickets” he explained just as Liz graced him with a brilliant smile.

Liz had known Blue October was about to finish off their tour before going back into the studio to finish recording their new album, Foiled. As far as she had known, though, they were only scheduled to play Albuquerque this time around and almost couldn’t believe Max had found this show.

Unable to help her excitement, Liz threw her arms around his neck and hugged Max close. “Thank you” she whispered against his ear and nearly sighed in contentment when his hand buried itself in her long, chestnut hair.

“You’re welcome, sugar” Max replied and held her close for several more moments before finally releasing his hold. Reluctantly, Liz lowered her arms and sat back in her seat, instantly missing his warmth. “We should get inside before all the tables are taken” he suggested and asked Liz to wait while he walked around the jeep and opened her door.

With her hand in his, they made it into the club and actually managed to find a table near the front. What seemed like minutes later, Liz’s eyes remained riveted to the stage as the band took their place and plugged in their amps. With the show holding her attention, she never noticed the expression on Max’s face as he watched her. A smile graced his lips while another emotion lit his amber eyes to a shade akin to molten lava.

“This next one’s off our album, The Answers. Hope you all enjoy.”

Loudly, the crowd began to cheer as Ryan Delahoussaye chimed in on his electric violin at the start of Blue Sunshine. Liz quickly joined in after taking a sip of her drink and without even thinking about it, her hand made its way into Max’s and remained that way throughout the song. Four more passed and when they got to their final tune of the night, several couples began to dance as ‘Amazing’ filled the club.

“Would you dance with me?” Max requested, an amused smile playing at lips. Nibbling on her bottom lip, Liz wordlessly nodded and walked with Max to the area designated as a dance floor.

How am I supposed to breathe
I try to relax, I touch your still frame
So I can watch you closer
And study the ways I believe I belong to you

With their bodies pressed closely together, Max and Liz swayed to the easy rhythm of the guitar. It almost felt like a dream to Liz who was easily lulled by the steady beat of Max’s heart beneath her ear and the melodic voice of Justin Furstenfield singing the chorus. Sighing, she snuggled a little closer and thought about how easily she fit against Max.

Her earlier anger at Maria… her confusion over Kyle’s request… her sad conversation with Nancy… all of it just drifted away now that she was in Max’s arms. His warmth enveloped her like a protective blanket and though it was too soon, Liz couldn’t help but feel loved.

I scratch at your waistline… your doll hair
I dig up the thought of how your eyes glow
So I make you my religion, my collision, my escape goat
So have I found your secret weak spot, baby?

There was nothing overly sexual about the way Max’s hand gently caressed her waist yet it made Liz shiver. If asked, she wouldn’t be able to completely describe it but if she tried, Liz would say that there was something about his touch that somehow managed to convey how much he wanted her. It was strange, Liz knew as much, but it was the way she felt. It was the way he made her feel.

“There’s something I need to tell you” Max whispered in a low, husky timber. “I’m falling really hard and really fast for you.”

Liz felt her breath hitch at his words. Looking up at him, their eyes locked while Max lifted his hands to gently cup her face. He didn’t wait for a response and Liz realized that for now, he didn’t need one, he just needed her to know how he felt.

An instant before his lips met hers, Liz’s eyes fluttered closed. She melted against him and moaned in his mouth as his tongue hungrily sought out hers. Around them, the other couples remained dancing and the band continued playing though neither Max nor Liz paid them any attention. All that mattered then and there were the feelings growing between them.

You see I’ve made you into something delicious
My sweet ghost
So have I found your secret weak spot, baby?

Can you pretend I’m amazing?
I can pretend I’m amazing…
Instead of what we both know
I cut to the punch line baby
Can you pretend I’m amazing
Instead of what we both know

Liz knew she felt the same way. She had been falling for Max since before she even realized it but she waited. She waited because she wanted him to have no doubt in his mind over her feelings when she finally admitted them. She could wait and knew he could too, but the one thing that was growing increasingly difficult to hold off was her desire to take things a step further.

Liz wanted Max to make love to her. She wanted to feel his body below her… above her… inside of her. Little did she know that at that instant, Max was thinking the very same thing.

[To_Kiss_A_Frog]

Hi everyone!! Hope you all had a nice holiday and great day after shopping day Thank you to:

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For your wonderful feedback!! Hello to everyone new to the story or who just decided to come out of lurkdom. Thanks again, hope you enjoy!

Chapter

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

~&~&~&~&~&

The sound of her book snapping shut resonated throughout Liz’s small bedroom. Eyes dazed from hours spent skimming over Elizabeth Barrett Browning Sonnets, she struggled to focus on the bright red numbers of her digital clock. 2:30AM seemed almost impossible though when she began to read, Liz always managed to lose herself in the written word of her poet or author of choice.

Tired and slightly groggy, Liz crawled beneath her comforter and switched off the bedside lamp. Unfortunately, the moment she settled in for a long night’s rest and shut her eyes, Liz instantly became aware of the fact that aside from being tired, she wasn’t at all sleepy.

Groaning in frustration, she rolled onto her side and began to think about the last few weeks.

After her first official date with Max, things only seemed to get better between the two of them. Originally, Liz had worried that having to hide their relationship would take a toll on them, however, they made the most of it and actually made a little game out of sneaking around. She would slip into his office to surprise him when no one was around or he’d climb up to her balcony late at night for heavy make out sessions and more shared stories.

Still, despite their growing attraction, they had yet to take things any further than numerous bouts of arousing foreplay.

Liz, however, had hopes that things would soon change now that Max had found an apartment. It had only taken a couple weeks and ironically enough, the best place he could find had been in the same complex Michael currently lived in. Now, Max just had to get the rest of his stuff packed up and he would officially be a resident of Elm Parkway.

As for Kyle, Liz heard from both Max and Michael that he seemed to be adjusting to all the new changes in his life pretty well. West Roswell had managed to make it into the playoffs so he was more than busy with his coaching, trying to get the team ready for the first game. The surprising part had been when Michael sat Liz down and admitted to her that Kyle had asked out Tess.

Apparently, Maria had become her step-brother’s personal cheerleader and nudged him towards dating again. While Liz could admit that it stung a little, she was happy that Kyle was moving on and her only concern was why Maria had suddenly marked her as the enemy. Michael was just as confused by Maria’s behavior as anyone else and had tried, repeatedly, to figure out what the problem was. He had asked her several times, only to receive no answer until he finally decided that she wasn’t going to budge.

Liz appreciated his help but eventually just told Michael to leave it all alone. The last thing she wanted was put him in the middle of everything and she feared that enlisting his help would do exactly that.

It was silent now, save for the crickets outside and the faint blare of her mother’s radio, two rooms away. Normally the silence was a blessing to Liz who appreciated a quiet room when she read or wrote but now, hours away from sleep, the silence seemed almost deafening.

Minutes, though they felt like hours later, Crash into Me interrupted the unwelcome silence, causing a wide grin to spread across Liz’s lips. Swiftly, she reached around for her cell phone and quickly hit the TALK button. “Hey” she answered, unable to keep the smile out of her voice.

“Hey yourself” Max returned. “I didn’t wake you, did I?” he asked with a hint of concern in his voice that caused Liz’s smile to widen. She adored the fact that he cared so much about her and at the same time, did it so naturally. Liz believed that at times, he didn’t even realize he was acting protective, it just happened and she cherished those moments. Sometimes it only took a single look for him to convey how truly special she was to him. It was then that Liz became increasingly aware of just how far she had fallen for him.

“Not at all” Liz replied and snuggled a little deeper into bed. “How was work tonight?” she queried as a sound down in the alley drifted up to her ears. Suspecting it was only a pack of cats trying to find a meal in the Crashdown garbage cans, Liz ignored the intrusion and tuned back in just as Max gave her a surprising answer.

“Don’t know. I wasn’t there tonight” he stated in an offhanded way. Frowning, Liz tried to remember whether or not he had mentioned anything about having something else to do. Immediately after, she silently chided herself for her reaction. Max was his own person and didn’t have to report his whereabouts. Still… Liz couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that he had taken a night off and didn’t call earlier.

“Oh” was all she could come up with and hoped Max wouldn’t be able to tell anything was wrong.

“Tell you what sugar, put on a pair of shoes, grab a sweater and then go out onto your balcony” Max instructed just as another sound wafted up through one half opened window. Smiling, Liz pushed the comforter away and did as she was asked, all the while trying to hold in her anxiousness as she realized Max had been the one making noise out in the alley.

With the phone still held up to her ear, Liz climbed through the window and leaned over the ledge. “Fancy meeting you here” she stated as he stared up at her, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Would you meet me down here?” he asked in a teasing, almost challenging tone. Appraisingly, Liz stared back down and pretended to think things over before finally snapping her phone shut. Carefully, she swung over the ledge and quickly ambled down the rickety latter. Cringing at the noise, Liz shook her head as she hopped down onto the pavement. “Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes” Max stated and drew her close for a sweet, lingering kiss.

“Has anyone ever told you what a charmer you can be?” Liz queried and barely held in her mirth as he smirkeed and cocked his head to side, as though to say, ‘duh.’ “Not that I don’t enjoy the company, but do you wanna explain why we’re hanging out in the alley instead of upstairs with a blanket?”

“Well that’s an easy one” Max returned and took Liz’s hand in his. “Because I’m kidnapping you.”

Before she could respond, Liz found herself being tugged towards Max’s jeep which had been discretely parked behind the café. “What are…” she tried to ask only to find herself silenced by the feel of Max’s lips on her own. “Shhh…” he stated while Liz was tempted to ask again in hopes that he would bestow another kiss on her lips. “Get in” he encouraged and held the door open for Liz to climb inside the chilly vehicle.

Quickly, Max hurried to his side and soon enough, shot out onto the street. Several attempts later, Liz sat back against the seat, pretending to sulk because Max still refused to reveal where they were going. “I never noticed how impatient you are” he teased and turned onto a familiar street. Instantly, Liz realized where they were headed and barely kept the smile off her face.

“I’m impatient because I can hardly wait to be alone with you” Liz returned, smoothly while this time, it was Max’s turn to grin.

Soon enough, Max pulled up to his new home and cut the engine. “I took the night off from work because I wanted to bring some of my stuff over” he stated as Liz turned to regard him with an understanding expression. “The majority of my furniture is sitting in a storage locker up in New York so it’s still pretty bare but I wanted you to be my first guest.” Liz marveled at his ability to make the grandest gestures out of what would normally seem insignificant to anyone else.

Boldly, Liz leaned forward so that her lips hovered right beside Max’s ear. Quietly, she whispered, “Overnight guest?”

Mimicking the gesture, Max pressed a soft kiss to Liz’s neck and in a sexy timber that had Liz’s body shivering, he whispered back, “Yes.” One word. It was one word, yet it was enough to have Liz’s heart racing until it beat a fast staccato against her chest. Eyes fluttering closed, she enjoyed the feel of his lips on her skin and wondered when it had gotten so hot inside the jeep. “Come on” he murmured and kissed her one last time before pulling away.

Dazed and already thoroughly seduced, Liz followed Max down the sidewalk to his apartment. The bitter cold now had no effect on her over heated body as she stood behind him, anxious to get inside for an encore performance. “There’s water but I won’t have power for a couple days” Max stated as he pushed the door open, revealing the setup he had created for her.

At least a dozen candles rested along the floor and on what little furniture there was. His mattress, minus a frame, was sitting in the center of the room, covered by a thick goose down comforter and several pillows. Then Liz heard it. The quiet strains of a song drifted to her ears and nearly caused tears to form in her eyes.

And even if the sun refused to shine
Even if romance ran out of rhyme
You would still have my heart until the end of time
You’re all I need, my love, my valentine

“I know that this looks like some sort of… seduction scene or something but the truth is that even if you wanted to just sleep tonight, I would okay with that” Max stated as he took both of Liz’s hands between his. “This… you and me… it came out of nowhere and there are no rules about what happens when.” Tenderly, he cupped her cheek and leaned down so that his forehead rested against hers. He waited until their lips were only a breath away before opening his eyes and in the process, opened himself up to Liz. “I love you” he murmured and closed the distance while she was still breathless from his words.

Whimpering from the intensity of his feelings and the passion he kissed her with, Liz surrendered herself to the onslaught of emotions that came with his confession. “Hmm…” Liz moaned at the feel of Max’s hands wandering up and down her body. Panting, she finally pulled away. “Max” she said and ran her thumb across his bottom lip. Closing her eyes, she pulled his head down to rest against hers as she struggled to catch her breath. “I’m in love you” she whispered.

Max didn’t respond right away and when he did, Liz wasn’t surprised by the words that fell from his mouth. “Open your eyes” he gently demanded.

As she met his gaze the eyes staring back at her were a beautiful amber that had darkened with desire. “I love you, Max Evans” Liz stated and smiled when he allowed his eyes to close for just a moment, as though savoring her words. “You’re right. What’s happening between us was so… so out of left field but I can’t stop these feelings I have for you. I don’t want to stop them because they feel more real to me than anything else ever has before. I don’t care how much or how little time has passed. I love you” she promised and instantly found herself swept up in his loving embrace.

His mouth never left hers as Max carried Liz to bed. Intense wouldn’t have been a strong enough word to describe the feelings Liz felt as they laid side by side, kissing and caressing. His hands were hot against her skin as he skimmed them up and down her spine, eliciting an approving moan from Liz who already begun her own exploration.

Muscles, everywhere she touched. They bunched beneath her fingers, alluding to the idea that Max was just as affected by Liz as she was by him. Urgent. Their kisses became more urgent until the need to feel bare skin became too great.

Rolling around, Liz ended up on top of Max and wasted no time pulling the thin t-shirt off her body. Groaning, Max sat up and closed his lips around one pink nipple. “Max…” Liz moaned as he flicked his tongue over her several times before hungrily sucking the hard bud into his mouth. “Oh god…” she panted as he switched sides and continued to suck her nipples until they were completely sensitive.

She wanted to feel his skin against hers and nudged him away for the second it took to pull his shirt off. He was beautiful and Liz felt her arousal pool between her legs as she felt his hardness press up against her heated core. “You’re beautiful” he murmured against her skin, taking the words right from her mouth.

“Hmm… so are you” Liz replied as they rolled around again until she was pinned beneath him.

The way his eyes roamed over her made Liz feel brazen and sexual. Never before had she felt this free, this open with anyone in bed.

While she wasn’t a virgin and enjoyed sex well enough, Liz had never really understood the intensity everyone described. There weren’t tumultuous explosions or stars behind her eyes. Liz had truly believed that it was all cliché, something actors pretended in movies or writers wrote in some books. But now, the raw passion in Max eyes, the same that was reflected in her own, was pure and unadulterated. Liz somehow knew that this time, she would see stars.

“So beautiful” he whispered and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Eager hands pushed and pulled on their clothes, each desperate to remove all the barriers lying between them.

She moaned and shook as he trailed his lips down her body. Her nipples, hungrily sucked until they were puckered. Not an inch of her stomach remained unkissed as he continued down to the juncture between her thighs. Liz felt her breath hitch as he gently nudged her legs apart.

This had been something else Liz had never particularly enjoyed though one flick of Max’s tongue had her bucking up off the bed in ecstasy.

Encouraged by her response, Max continued to lick the length of her wet slit while his hands roamed back up to cup her breasts in his hands. “Oh god Max… that feels… so good” Liz panted as she struggled to find her breath. It was so much… too much as he quickly brought her up. She thought it couldn’t feel any better but the moment he dipped his tongue inside her drenched core, Liz screamed in release.

Eagerly, Max drank up her juices and waited her to stop shaking before he crawled back up her body. Tenderly, he pushed the hair from her face and placed several kisses against her neck, her cheeks, her lips… anywhere he could reach. “I love the way you respond to me” he murmured against her ear as he lightly sucked on a particularly sensitive spot.

“That was amazing” Liz declared as she pulled his lips back to hers. Hotly, they dueled for dominance as Max and Liz rolled around again. He still came up the winner though Liz had no complaints as his hard body pinned her against the mattress. “I want you so much” she said and met his lips again. This time it was soft and languid as they seduced each other until it became too difficult to hold back.

“Are you sure this is what you want?”

There was no hesitation in her voice as Liz replied, “More than anything.” Max reached for his discarded pants, ready to pull a condom from his wallet when Liz’s hand on his stilled him. “I’m on the pill and… I want to feel all of you” she said and watched his already desire darkened eyes shine with the emotion Liz now recognized as love.

“I love you” he told her one last time and settled between her thighs.

Guiding his erection to her wet core, Max teased her clit several times with the blunt mushroom tip before plunging deep inside. “Ah…” both let out simultaneous moans of bliss. He was long and thick, filling her up completely while Max marveled at how pleasurably tight she was around him. “You feel so good” Max stated as he slowly began to move.

More moans of pleasure followed as he plunged in and out, setting a steady rhythm. Liz had never felt anything as good as Max felt inside of her. She felt heat creep up her body as she writhed around beneath him. Desperately, Liz bucked her hips up, trying to get as close to him as she could. “Ah… Max…more… I need more” she pleaded and fisted her hands in the sheets as his strokes became longer and harder.

Bringing his lips down to hers, Max plundered Liz’s mouth in a fiery kiss filled with lust and passion. Harder… faster… longer… his thrusts picked up speed until their hips were slamming together. He swallowed her moans and arched into her touch as Liz’s nails gently scraped across his shoulders.

His name was a mantra falling from her lips. Hers was a reverent caress whispered into the silent night.

“So close” she murmured. Max took that as a challenge and pushed deeper until Liz screamed in ecstasy. A thousand spasms of pleasure coursed up and down her body while Max continued his sure, even strokes. He was so close… so incredibly close and groaned against her neck as Liz tightly began to clench her muscles around him.

He moved faster, desperately trying to reach his end. Liz continued to moan as he built her up all over again. Her mouth sought his, holding him close to her body as one orgasm drifted into the next. “Ah… Liz!” he groaned in pure satisfaction. Shaking and whimpering with pleasure, Liz felt the exact moment he let go and called his name out as his release triggered hers. “Max!”

She was breathless again as his body stilled over hers. This time, his kiss was sweet and tender, filling Liz with all the love he held inside.

Rolling over, Max took Liz with him and covered their sweat slicked bodies with the comforter. His heart was beating a mile a minute, she thought as she rested on top of his chest.

Liz wanted to tell him that he made her see stars. She wanted him to know incredible he made her feel… how safe she felt in his arms. She wanted to tell him everything but when she turned her face up to meet his gaze, he simply pushed the hair from her face and murmured two simple words.

“I know.”

~&~&~&~&~&

If there were no words
No way to speak
I would still hear you

[To_Kiss_A_Frog]

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great holiday!!! Sorry for the delay but I spent the past week with my family so I never really sat down to write. Thank you for your patience, your feedback and your bumps. I'll try not to make you wait so long for the next one. Again, happy holidays!!!!

Chapter 14

“I really wish you could come with me” Max admitted as he zipped up his suitcase. Smiling sadly, Liz finally began to feel the weight of her previous decision. In the beginning, it had seemed only fair that she comply with Kyle’s wish to keep her personal life separate from him. In truth, it had been guilt over their abrupt breakup though at the time, Liz had truly believed that she was doing the right thing. Now, it seemed unfair and even selfish that he had made such a request.

“I wish I could too, but there’d be no way to explain it” Liz replied while Max took a moment to put his luggage on the floor so that he could take a seat beside her on the bed. “You’re going to have to send my congratulations to Isabel for me” she added, trying to sound upbeat about his upcoming trip.

The idea that he was spending their first Thanksgiving as a couple in New York, while she was tucked away in New Mexico saddened Liz more than she cared to admit. Still, there was nothing that either could do to change it. Isabel had been adamant that she did not want to wait any longer to become Mrs. Alexander Whitman and there was no way that Liz could accompany Max to New York. “I know this isn’t much of a consolation but Isabel said she was sorry you couldn’t make it” Max stated as he took her hand in his.

Liz had been a bit unsure at first when Max mentioned the conversation he had with Isabel about their new relationship. The surprising thing, however, had been when Isabel said Max was only confirming her suspicions. Apparently she had seen the sparks between the two during her last visit… at least that was what she swore to. The declaration made Liz wonder whether or not anyone else ever noticed the looks they shared or the obvious comfort between the two of them. She also decided that if the truth about their relationship were to come out, she would neither deny nor apologize for it. She loved Max and he loved her. Liz wouldn’t change that for anything in the world.

“Did you decide whether or not you were going to spend the holiday at your dad’s?” Liz asked instead because the last thing she wanted to do was sit in sadness when she only had a few hours left with Max.

“No, actually, I’m having dinner with Zan and Ava.” Another surprise had been the phone call Max received the week before. Throughout his entire relationship with Ava, Max had always gotten the impression that she and Zan looked to each other as siblings. Isabel and Zan had never been extremely close because of her penchant for traveling while Lonnie blamed everyone for Philip’s absence in her life as a kid. Max believed that Zan finally found a sister-like figure in Ava and maybe he had, but since Max had moved to New Mexico, his brother and ex-girlfriend began spending a lot of time together. Now, months later, the two had begun dating one another. “Isabel and the band are having a dinner at some little hole in the wall and my dad is going to some company dinner or something like that” he shrugged, unconcerned.

Briefly, Liz’s mind wandered to the year before. Nancy had spent the entire morning in the kitchen, slaving over a turkey with all the trimmings while Jeff had managed to slip away for several hours. At the time, he had fed Liz and her mom some story about picking up a lost delivery in Las Cruces. Neither had yet realized that he was actually visiting his mistress.

The memory was one of many that made Liz anxious about holidays. Looking back on it now, she couldn’t remember a single one where her dad had actually been happy. He always seemed angry, like she and Nancy were personally ruining it for him. Even now, Liz wondered about it though she had never worked up the courage to ask her mother about it. She figured that some things were probably better left buried in the past.

“Hey, what’s going on in there, sugar?” Max asked, successfully dragging Liz out of her thoughts. Blinking twice, Liz focused on his concerned expression and felt her heart melting. With every look, he managed to convey just how important she was to him. Somehow, he managed to make every sappy cliché come true and sound appealing at the same time.

“Nothing important” Liz replied and smiled to show she was okay. “Do you know how amazing you are?” she then asked, temporarily throwing Max off. This time, he was the one who blinked in surprise at her abrupt change of subject while Liz took the opportunity to seat herself in his lap. Instantly, his arms encircled her petite frame as she leaned down to place a soft kiss against his lips.

“At the risk of sounding completely cheesy, I’m really going to miss you while I’m gone” Max admitted as she lightly rested against him. With gentle fingers, he methodically ran his hands through her silken strands of chestnut, effectively lulling Liz into a sense of peacefulness. The confession brought another smile to Liz’s lips while she snuggled a little closer. As always, his scent enveloped her senses and comforted Liz as easily as his embrace did.

“I’m really gonna miss you too” Liz returned. Thankfully, Michael and his mom had already confirmed their presence at their thanksgiving lunch. It was a long standing tradition that Liz had genuinely believed would end because of Maria’s recent behavior, something Liz had yet to understand.

Her thoughts were halted as she felt Max trail his hands beneath her sweater. Eyes fluttered closed as he caressed her bare skin, leaving goose flesh in his wake. His lips were soft as they kissed a path across her neck, leading up to Liz’s eager mouth. Hotly, their tongues dueled, fueling the fire that was always present between them as his hands buried themselves in her hair.

Impatiently, Liz attempted to snuggle closer and began working on the buttons of Max’s old, chambray shirt. At first touch, his muscles bunched beneath her fingers, causing Liz to shiver in anticipation. She loved the way he responded to her every touch and knew he felt the same way every time she whimpered or moaned against him. Two weeks since their first night together had only cemented the love they shared. Since then, Liz had spent nearly every night in his bed. It wasn’t just about sex though, it was about being together… about falling asleep and waking up beside the person you loved.

“So beautiful” he murmured against her skin as the two leaned back on the mattress. Soon enough, their clothes rested on the floor in a haphazard pile as their arms and legs intertwined. Sighing, Liz closed her eyes in pleasure as Max slipped between her wet folds. It only took a few moments to build her up before she exploded, shaking and shivering above him. The two rolled around and again, he built her up and waited for her to go over before he found his own release


~&~&~&~&~&


“So what am I cooking?” Michael asked and took a long drink of murky, hot coffee. Pensively, Liz rested her elbows on the counter and considered his offer. With Nancy’s recent condition and Mrs. Guerin’s dislike for most holidays, it was unlikely that either would be able to do much in the kitchen, leaving Liz and now Michael, to get their Thanksgiving meal prepared.

“Do you feel up to the challenge of making mom’s famous stuffing?” Liz dared and internally grinned as a look of defiant determination crossed Michael’s features. She knew, from many years worth of experience, that Michael never backed down from a dare or a challenge. “I mean… I can do it, if you don’t think you can pull off the…” she trailed off as Maria walked into the diner. Liz hadn’t expected a warm greeting but didn’t figure Maria would completely ignore her presence as she plopped down on a stool beside Michael.

“Hi, honey. What time are you coming by my place on Thursday?” she questioned, wearing an expectant look as one of confusion replaced Michael’s earlier defiance.

“What are you talking about?” Michael asked back as Liz took the opportunity to give the two some privacy. More out of boredom than anything else, she grabbed a dishrag and began wiping down several clean tables. With the holidays quickly approaching and the rapidly declining temperature, there were only a few still in the café despite the early hour. “Maria… wait!” Liz heard and turned as her best friend chased after his angry girlfriend. Puzzled, Liz frowned when she saw Maria’s BMW shoot out onto the road like a bat out of hell. “Shit” Michael swore as he stepped back into the warmth of the Crashdown.

“What was that all about?” Liz asked, concerned as Michael dropped down into his previously vacated seat. Frustration marred his face as he took downed the rest of his coffee in a single gulp. “Mike… what is it?” she repeated and placed her hand over his on the counter. The action seemed to visibly calm him as he dragged in a deep breath and opened his mouth to answer.

“I thought that Maria was going to New York with Amy, Jim and Kyle for Isabel’s wedding but apparently, I thought wrong” Michael stated and shook his head. “Maria never told me that was going to be the only one in her family not going so it never occurred to me that I should have made plans with her.” Liz was beginning to see the problem. Maria had most likely assumed Michael would just spend the day with her and must have gotten quite a surprise when he explained that he was committed to the Parker/Guerin Thanksgiving luncheon.

“Listen Michael, if you want to spend the day with Maria then… then just do it” Liz offered. She was tired of all the problems her breakup was causing everyone around her. Liz hated that Michael felt as though he was being pulled in two different directions and was willing to do anything to make things a little easier for him. None of this was his fault, he just happened to get caught up in a disagreement between his best friend and girlfriend, a disagreement that even Liz was confused about.

“That isn’t the point” Michael stated with a small shrug. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t listen to her complain about you or watch her fill Kyle’s heads with nonsense. She needs to figure out what her problem is before she can expect me to stand beside her.” Anyone else might have been surprised by his declaration though Liz wasn’t. Michael could be very open and honest about his feelings, it was just that there weren’t many people he would trust those feelings with. “Maybe we just weren’t meant to be, you know?” he added, causing guilt and remorse to fill Liz.

“I’m a big girl, don’t worry about me” she assured with a small smile. “Maybe I can talk to her, find out what her problem with me is and maybe we can find a way to work it out” Liz suggested though silently, she wondered if the idea would end up being fruitless. The chances of Maria opening up and having a heart to heart about what was really bugging her seemed slim to none. Michael most likely knew this just as well as Liz did but she had to do something. Michael had been there for her so many times over the years and now, Liz wanted to be there for him. “Have a Will Smith, on the house and I’ll call you later after I talk to Maria.”

Not waiting for a response, Liz tossed her dishrag against the counter and flew through the swinging door to grab her jacket and keys.


~&~&~&~&~&


“What are you doing here?” Maria demanded as Liz stood on her front stoop, contemplating the best way to broach the subject of the blonde’s latest ire. “Well?” Liz bit back a scathing reply as Maria’s attitude quickly pissed her off, more so than she already had been. After leaving Michael, Liz had been fully prepared to try and bury the hatchet but now, standing and being berated just for showing up, Liz decided she had taken enough of Maria’s verbal abuse.

“What the hell is your problem?” Liz questioned and pushed past Maria into her foyer. “I would truly like to know what I did that somehow made me your number one enemy.”

“I don’t believe I invited you in” Maria immediately protested. In response, Liz ignored her demands and casually strolled into the living room. With a stubbornness rarely seen by anyone but Michael and her mother, Liz perched on the settee and quietly waited for Maria to join her. While Liz had initially tried to consider everyone’s feelings, she was tired of pushing her own well being aside in order to spare everyone else. She wanted to be selfish now because she truly did not believe she had done anything wrong. She never cheated on Kyle and had been honest about her waning feelings.

“You know, I really don’t care whether or not you hate me. I believe that you don’t really have a good reason for it but I’ll accept it” Liz admitted when Maria remained mute and standing. “But none of this is Michael’s fault and it isn’t fair to him that he’s caught between us.”

“Don’t you dare talk to me about Michael” Maria exploded while Liz leaned back, surprised by the anger in the blonde’s voice. “I’m so fucking sick of him always leaping to your defense and here you are, doing the exact same thing to him. I don’t need you to defend Michael. He isn’t the problem, you are” she venomously yelled.

“What did I ever do to you?” Liz demanded as she rose from her seat. Anger took over as she stood, toe to toe with Maria. Their glares were unwavering, locked in a battle of wills that neither was willing to lose to the other. “If you can give me one reason why you dislike me so much, I’ll leave you alone. If you can give me one reason, I won’t stand in the way of your thanksgiving plans with Michael” she stated and watched as Maria considered the offer.

“You’re always in my way” Maria flippantly replied, shrugging half heartedly. “There’s your reason, now get out.”

“You mean with Michael” Liz elaborated, ignoring the second half of Maria’s statement. “In case you forgot, he was my friend first. I’ve known him since we were kids and you never heard or saw me treating you like garbage just because you took time away from our friendship. What right do you have to do it to me?” she queried, wondering whether or not Maria would actually answer a second question.

“You really don’t get it, do you?” Maria asked in disbelief. “No matter what happens with me and Michael, you will always hold a piece of him that I can never touch. Do you know what something like feels like? Can you imagine how much it hurts to know that I will never be his first priority?” she questioned and tiredly seated herself on the soft, leather couch. “You already had Michael wrapped around your finger when we first started dating and I can’t help but wonder when it will ever be enough for you. Kyle and Michael and who knows who else.”

Flabbergasted, Liz remained standing, playing Maria’s words over and again in her head. “I don’t have anyone wrapped around my finger” she finally stated. “I love Michael, I always have but he’s like my big brother. I’m like a little sister to him” she declared and searched for a way to explain her own outlook without offending Maria in the process. “But Michael’s in love with you. It isn’t a competition because the two of us mean two completely different things to him. There’d be no way to compare” she informed and watched as the cynicism refused to leave Maria’s features.

“As for Kyle… well, it’s different too. I never had him wrapped around my finger and I still don’t now” she declared simply, unsure of how to proceed. Liz knew that her words were slowly penetrating Maria’s defense but they were obviously not enough to change her mind. “You and I never have to be friends. I can live with that but Michael can’t. It’s too hard for him to be stuck in the middle and we need to figure out some way to get through this.”

“You’re not the only one who loves him, you know” Maria argued though her voice lacked its earlier bite. “I don’t want to hurt him anymore than you do but I honestly don’t see how we can compromise” she sadly admitted.

“Well I’m not leaving until we figure something out” Liz declared in a strong voice. Primly, she seated herself across from Maria and pushed her jacket off her shoulders. Slowly, she pulled the hat off her head and removed the scarf around her neck as Maria watched, slightly annoyed. “We have one thing in common and that’s Michael. There has to be some way to build off of that” she stated as the two women once again found themselves locked in a silent battle.

In this instance, there would be no winner and no loser. This wasn’t about Maria and it wasn’t about Liz, it was about Michael. The two just had to remember that as they worked to find a solution to their ongoing dislike for one another.


~&~&~&~&~&

“Lizzie… its dad. I know that it’s been a while but I was hoping we could talk… mend a few fences. I um… I’ll be in Roswell on the day after Thanksgiving so if you want to get together, call the motel on 285 South, I should be in sometime after noon. I really hope to see you. I um… I love you Lizzie. Bye.”

*Beep*

[To_Kiss_A_Frog]

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For your wonderful feedback!! Now I know that the last chapter caused some debate and I wont name names but I did have some PM's and I just wanted to address a few things first.

Each person has their reasons for behaving the way they do. Yes, Maria is insecure and because of that, she didn't talk to Michael about certain feelings. Michael is so used to relying on Liz that he never really realized that he was putting Maria in an awkward position. The two really do love each other and during this chapter, we see them doing some work on their relationship and we'll see more later as well.

Thank you again for your feedback and I hope you like this next chapter!

Chapter 15

“Secrets” is a daily word
Yet it does not exist
Muffled…it remits surmise
Murmured…it has ceased
Dungeoned in the Human Breast
Doubtless secrets lie
But that Grate inviolate
Goes nor comes away
Nothing with a Tongue or Ear
Secrets stapled there
Will emerge but once…and dumb
To the Sepulchre


~&~&~&~&~&


After an hour of back and forth discussion, Liz and Maria came to the conclusion that they would never resolve anything between themselves. The problem involved three people, therefore the discussion should consist of the same number. It was this conclusion that explained why Michael answered the knock at his door and found the two women standing on his front porch. If he was surprised or even worried, he never showed it as he let the two inside. “What’s up?” he asked, rocking back and forth on his heels.

Liz’s first impulse was to answer the question herself but she finally understood that her constant comfort around Michael was part of the problem for Maria and decided to hang back while the blonde responded to Michael’s inquiry. Quietly, she listened to the explanation and was once again assaulted with the hurt Maria felt over the entire situation. Admittedly, Liz never truly believed that Maria had a good reason for her feelings but after their long talk and her words now, Liz realized that she had initially been too hasty with her judgment.

Michael, for the most part, remained quiet and just listened. The expressions on his face showed apology and disbelief but still, he continued to just listen. The two friends waited as Maria got everything out and when she finally fell silent, neither was really sure where to begin. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you felt this way?” Michael asked in a steady voice. “Why didn’t you ever give me the chance to talk about this with you?”

“What was I supposed to say, Michael? Huh? Liz is your best friend and I know that she comes first with you. How was I supposed to sit you down and tell you how much it bothers me?” Maria asked back though it would seem that all their earlier conversations had left her drained and tired. She wasn’t really fighting, merely answering and asking questions.

“I just don’t understand what would make you think that you aren’t just as important to me” Michael replied and briefly looked to Liz who continued to remain silent. “Liz is like a sister to me, the same way that Kyle is a brother to you. She isn’t my blood and he isn’t yours but that doesn’t stop you from looking at him like family… and it doesn’t stop me from looking at her like family.” Maria opened her mouth to protest then when Michael held up a hand to halt her progress. “Liz isn’t a threat to our relationship. The two are two completely different things. She’s… she will never be you.”

“And I’ll never be her” Maria all but cried. It was then that Liz decided she had been wrong. The problem may have involved three people but this discussion was meant for two. She wasn’t the one that could make things better, Michael was. She realized that it was something very personal and private between them, something she shouldn’t have been listening to. “I’ll never get all the little inside jokes… I’ll never know all the stories… I’ll never be a part of any of it. She’s this… this incredible person to you and there’s no way that I could ever match up against that.”

“I don’t want you to be Liz, I want you to be Maria, the woman I’m in love with” Michael declared as fire lit his eyes. He was searching for an adequate enough explanation and finally came up with one he hoped she would understand. “I never got to be there for you when your mom remarried, Kyle was. I never got to hold you when you woke up from nightmares as a kid, your mom did. I never got to hear your first song, the first time you sang it, your family did. It’s impossible to make up for our childhoods because we can never get that time back. All we can do is build from now and that’s what I want with you, Maria. Don’t you see that?” he asked as Liz discretely slipped out his front door.

Her hand shook as she reached inside her purse, searching for her car keys. Fingers fumbling, she dropped them on the concrete and took a deep steadying breath before bending down to pick them up. She hadn’t even realized how shaken up the whole encounter made her until she attempted to leave the complex. She hadn’t realized how much it would hurt to finally have the truth, to know that her best friend was in a bad situation because of her.

Making a quick decision, Liz drove a few yards over and parked her car behind Max’s apartment. Glancing around, she wondered whether or not it was a good idea and eventually decided it didn’t matter. Slowly, she climbed out of her car and walked up to his front door. Gently, she fingered the key he had given her before placing it in the lock and turning the knob. His scent immediately greeted her, causing Liz to feel a small pang of sadness. He had only been gone a couple days and already, she missed him terribly.

How do I,
Get through the night without you?
If I had to live without you
What kind of life would that be?

Slow, long steps led her around the sparsely decorated apartment. Candles nearly burnt down to the wick from his first few nights without electricity still littered the area. A thick rug that partially covered the floor, a square kitchen table, the bed… all places where they had made love.

Grapes of Wrath rested on top of the mantel but it was his bookmark that caught Liz’s attention. A single strip of photographs from a carnival booth. Liz remembered how Max decided to take that night off so he could take her to a carnival in Clovis. She grinned excitedly on the Ferris Wheel and smiled when he won her a big, pink elephant in one of the booths. He laughed when she crashed her bumper car into his and cheered her on as she attempted to win him a small stuffed animal at the basketball toss. Then, at the end of the night, she dragged him into a photo booth and sat on his lap as the camera snapped eight pictures. They were laughing… hugging… kissing and looking completely in love.

Liz thought back to her own bedroom where a strip of four pictures rested on her desk. It hit her then, like a ton of bricks, exactly how Maria felt.

Granted, Liz didn’t believe that Michael put her before any and everyone else but she could admit that they were close friends. She realized how difficult it must be for Maria to believe that the person she loved more than anything didn’t hold her in the same regard. The only problem was that Liz did feel as though Michael cared just as deeply for Maria as she did for him. She supposed though that now, it was in Michael’s hands to show her that.

It also made Liz think back to Kyle and that fact that her relationship with Max was bound to hurt him when he eventually found out. She had known that since the beginning and maybe what she did had been selfish but she wouldn’t have been doing anyone any favors by staying with Kyle when she wasn’t in love with him. He deserved better and so did she.

“How did everything get so screwed up?” she asked herself and distractedly flipped through the pages in Max’s novel.

“Do you always do whatever makes you happy, Liz?” he questioned, again with the intensity marring his handsome face. “Are you happy? Are you happy going to college through correspondence classes? Are you happy running the Crashdown instead of interning somewhere or focusing on whatever brilliant book you’re gonna one day write? Are you happy with Ky… are you happy?” he finished though Liz had heard the unfinished question.

Was she happy with Kyle?

Two months ago she would have said yes. Granted, they didn’t have a great love story. They weren’t Romeo and Juliet. They weren’t Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara. Yet still… Kyle loved her and in return, she loved him back. Now Liz wondered how she could have ever mistaken love for what she felt for Kyle.

He was sweet and kind and dependable. Liz couldn’t deny that she cared deeply for him but being around Max felt like something had awakened inside of her. He made her feel things so intensely yet at the same time, he comforted her with the simplest gesture. Though just as quickly as these thoughts bubbled to the surface, Liz forced them back down.

He had once asked her if she was happy with her life. She couldn’t honestly say that she was then and a part of her was still unhappy now because of all the secrets and hurt following them all around like a dark cloud. Liz didn’t want to keep secrets anymore and decided, then and there, that when Max returned from New York, she’d talk to him about coming clean with Kyle.

It was time for the secrets to end.


~&~&~&~&~&


“Lizzie… its dad. I know that it’s been a while but I was hoping we could talk… mend a few fences. I um… I’ll be in Roswell on the day after Thanksgiving so if you want to get together, call the motel on 285 South, I should be in sometime after noon. I really hope to see you. I um… I love you Lizzie. Bye.”

*Beep*

A myriad of emotions flooded Liz as she listened to the message for the third time. The first and second hadn’t been enough to get over the shock of hearing his voice after so many months. Unfortunately she was no closer to understanding his sudden reappearance after the third listen either. “What do you want from me?” she asked aloud, somehow knowing that an ulterior motive was buried beneath his desire to visit. “What in the world could you possibly want?”

The night Jeff walked out of the Crashdown had been a painful one for both Liz and Nancy though for different reasons. Now, Liz believed she could handle a confrontation with her dad but the last thing she wanted was for Nancy to have to deal with him again. He had caused her enough pain and anguish.

Thankfully, Max called before Liz could think about it any further. “Hey, how was the rehearsal dinner?” she asked and settled back against the small mountain of pillows.

“Interesting” Max replied while Liz strained to hear him over the noisy background. “Sorry… Alex’s band is here and they’re playing music and telling stories” he explained as another round of raucous laughter filled the air around him. “How are you, sugar?” he asked. Liz could hear it getting quieter with each passing second and figured Max had walked into another room. “Missing me, I hope.”

Liz was unable to hold back a smile and teasingly replied, “Maybe. How about you? You miss me?”

“Like crazy” Max shamelessly admitted. “I miss having you beside me at night… being able to roll over and make love to you.” His voice was low and easily seduced Liz. All other thoughts of her father and problems with Maria flew out of her mind as she snuggled a little deeper into her mattress and flicked her lamp light off. “I miss having your sweet scent on my skin and your body on top of mine.”

Oh I
I need you in my arms, need you to hold
You’re my world, my heart, my soul
If you ever leave
Baby you would take away everything good in my life

“I want you so much right now” Liz confessed as a deep longing filled her heart. She wanted Max beside her, wanted to share everything with him. She wanted to feel his arms around her.

“The feeling is definitely mutual” Max replied in a quiet voice. “Listen, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the last couple of days and I don’t expect an answer right now, but I wanted you to think about something” he stated, causing Liz to sit up in concern over the seriousness in his voice. “I want to tell Kyle the truth. I don’t want to hide us anymore.” Not for the first time and most likely, not for the last, Liz wondered how Max had the uncanny ability to know exactly what she needed and needed to hear.

And tell me now
How do I live without you?
I want to know

“What changed your mind?” she queried though had no intention of denying his request.

“The fact that I couldn’t bring you here” Max answered. “Kyle’s my family, he always will be but as much as I want to protect him, I want to openly love you.”

How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?

“You can’t see me, but I’m smiling right now” Liz informed and heard Max quietly chuckle on the other end. “Actually, I want to tell Kyle the truth too. Earlier today I was trying to figure out a way to bring it up to you” she admitted and reached onto her nightstand to set the alarm. “I know it’s not going to be easy but I’m willing to try anyway. I guess I just want to openly love you too” Liz murmured and again, wished that she could have Max beside her.

It was amazing how quickly and how deeply she had fallen in love with him.

For the next few minutes the two talked about anything and nothing at all. Jeff’s message on her machine remained forgotten as Liz listened to Max’s quiet, husky voice. Just the sound made her feel safe and comforted so that when they finally hung up, Liz was able to drift into a peaceful, undisturbed sleep.


~&~&~&~&~&


“Hi… welcome” Liz greeted, trying to hold back the surprise she felt as Michael, accompanied by Maria, stood at her front door. When Mrs. Guerin had showed up earlier that morning, Liz fielded questions about Michael’s tardiness since she hadn’t been sure whether or not he would be showing up at all. “Come in” she invited and gestured for them to sit on the couch while their moms chatted in Nancy’s room.

“This is for you” Maria offered in a quiet voice and held out a Key Lime Pie. “I didn’t make it” she added while Liz offered her a small smile.

“Um… help yourself to a drink while I go check on the turkey” Liz suggested and left the two alone in her living room. Swiftly, she hurried down the stairs and grabbed two oven mitts as a timer went off. The smell of candied yams and cornbread assaulted her as Liz pulled open the second oven door. Carefully, she set the dishes down on a counter and went about basting the turkey.

“Need any help?”

“Sure” Liz replied without turning. “I already started working on the stuffing but you can finish it up if you want” she offered and silently waited. If Michael wanted to talk to her about what had happened, he would do it on his own time whenever he was ready. Liz did, however, take Maria’s presence as a good sign.

Silently, the two continued to work around one another until the silence became too much. “I’m sorry… for getting you stuck in the middle of everything” Michael apologized while he continued to mix ingredients in a bowl. “I shouldn’t have let you go see Maria yesterday, I should have done it myself. But thank you” he added and only looked up when he saw Liz’s shadow fall over the counter.

Smiling, Liz wrapped her arms around Michael in a sisterly embrace.

Afterwards, Michael explained he had talked to Maria about the Thanksgiving tradition. She said she understood that it meant so much to him because he and his mother had been doing it ever since he had lost his father. He also told Liz that after lunch, he and Maria had plans to spend the rest of the day together, alone. Liz understood and didn’t ask any other questions. It wasn’t that she didn’t think Michael would have answered them, she just didn’t think she had a right to know.

With the floodgates then opened, Liz told Michael all about her father’s phone message and listened to him berate the older man for a solid two minutes before he stopped and asked Liz what she was going to do. “I’m not sure” she answered, honestly. “I don’t really want to deal with him but if he wants something, he isn’t above coming here and bugging my mom about it.”

“Not if he knows what’s good for him” Michael returned as Liz silently prayed it wouldn’t come to that. “So what does Max have to say about it?” he then asked while a look of guilt covered Liz’s face. “You didn’t tell him. Why?”

“I don’t want him to worry” Liz replied and began working on the next dish. “He’s all the way in New York and the last thing I want is for him to think about me when he should be having fun and celebrating his sister’s wedding… you know? Besides, I haven’t even decided what I’m gonna do yet.”

“Bull” Michael bluntly stated. “You know you’re gonna see him because one, you’re curious and two, you’re scared for your mom.”

“Maybe… I guess we’ll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out.”

[To_Kiss_A_Frog]

Hey everyone! Lately I've been inspired to finish this story up so here's another chapter for you all. Hope you enjoy it! Thank you to:

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Chapter 16

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage, need not be lived again


~&~&~&~&~&


Liz sat in her parked car for a full ten minutes before she worked up the courage to go up to the check-in desk. “Jeff Parker, please” she requested and fidgeted nervously as the older gentleman looked up the information. His fingers clicked over the keyboard as he studied the screen, then realizing that he couldn’t see the small type, dug around in a nearby drawer for his spectacles. Each passing second proved to be a difficult one as Liz forced herself not to turn and walk away.

“Ah… here we are. Room 117” he stated and offered Liz a small smile before returning to his jumbo crossword puzzle.

The cold air assaulted her as soon as Liz stepped out onto the concrete. Tentatively, she looked both ways before turning right towards her father’s door. 115…116…117. With her eyes close, she silently braced herself for whatever was about to happen and raised her hand to knock on the battered wood.

Moments later, she heard a chain rattle along with two locks being turned. Jeff Parker then appeared, looking just as he had months before. “Lizzie” he greeted in surprise, as though he hadn’t expected her to actually show up. “Come in” he offered and attempted to pull her into his embrace. A small frown marred his face when she side-stepped him though he didn’t comment and merely gestured for her to have a seat. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s been a while” Liz replied because she wasn’t yet sure whether or not it was good to see him. “How was your Thanksgiving?” she then asked and glanced around the shabby room. It was strange. She would have expected him to stay at the pricier hotel on Citrus, especially since he had always been so picky about where he was, what he wore…what he ate.

“It was… okay, I guess” Jeff shrugged and took a sip from a dirty, glass tumbler. “I don’t really have much to be thankful for though” he added, causing Liz to instantly raise her guard.

“What about Gabrielle and the baby? Hasn’t she already given birth?” Liz asked and briefly wondered whether or not she now had a baby brother or a sister. Despite all the broken feelings between her and her father, Liz didn’t blame the child he had conceived. Their problems stemmed from a much deeper and longer conflict.

“Yes… you have a sister” Jeff answered and poured the rest of the amber liquid down his throat. “Her name is Candace, born two weeks ago to the day.” Liz smiled but noticed that Jeff didn’t seem as happy as a new father should be. “It’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. See… Gabrielle and I aren’t… well we’re not together and now that Candace is born, she’s asking for child support” he stated as a sinking feeling of dread made itself at home in the pit of Liz’s stomach.

“And…” Liz queried, waiting for the punch line that was sure to be anything but amusing.

“And I was hoping that maybe you’d talk to Nancy for me” Jeff admitted while Liz noted his lack of remorse over the request.

“What exactly do you want me to talk to her about?” Liz questioned, unable to hold back the bite from her voice. Jeff either didn’t notice or chose to ignore it as he poured himself another drink. In that moment, Liz realized what a mistake she had made. Jeff hadn’t changed and he was about to give her one more reason to dislike him.

“I’m sure you know that our divorce will be final at the beginning of December but I was thinking that with her condition, I could come back to run the café” Jeff suggested in an upbeat manner. “I wouldn’t ask to go back to the apartment or anything but… well I know that café better than anyone and maybe this way you’ll have a chance to go back to school… a real school.” Liz bit back the bile that threatened to rise up as she sat, listening to her father pitch his idea. “If you really think about it, you’ll see that it’s beneficial to everyone involved.”

Liz wasn’t religious but she knew right from wrong. She knew it was wrong to seek revenge or to pass judgment on someone else but she couldn’t deny that the idea of helping her father left a bitter taste in her mouth. In the end, it was a choice of right or wrong and while she didn’t wish suffering on anyone, she realized that Jeff Parker still believed he had done nothing wrong. In a way, Liz pitied him from that and it was her desire to see him take responsibility for a change that led her to her decision.

“Actually… I don’t need to talk to mom about it” Liz informed and hid her shaking hands in her coat pockets. “After you left, she signed the café over to me… I own it, not mom.” The café, opened by her grandfather in the forties had been handed down for three generations, finally falling into Nancy’s hands. It was the one thing Nancy never put Jeff’s name to when they got married and because of that, he had no legal claim to it.

“That’s wonderful” Jeff replied and for the first time, gave her a genuine smile. Liz couldn’t remember a time when he had ever smiled at her like that.

“I don’t think you understand” Liz said and pulled her keys from her pocket. “In the end, I don’t really care what you did or said to me but I do care about what happened to mom. You lied and cheated and maybe one day she’ll forgive you for it but I can’t. You made your bed, dad. Now it’s time to lie in it.”

The scowl on his face was one she quickly recognized though the danger in his eyes, so much like her own, was something she didn’t. Before she could respond, he grabbed both her arms in a vice-like grip and pulled her close so that her face was only inches away from his own. “Don’t you dare put all the blame on me when you could have stopped her from going to Santa Fe. It’s your fault that she got into that accident, not mine.” The words echoed in her head, reminding Liz of that fateful night in the hospital when he had first uttered them.

“That might have worked before but it won’t work now” Liz spat and pushed him away. A sharp pain shot threw her wrists the moment he released his grasp, leaving two angry red handprints that were sure to bruise. “If you ever touch me again…” she threatened and let her sentence hang in the air as she reached for the doorknob. Quickly, Jeff slammed his hand against the wood, preventing Liz from leaving the room.

“You obviously don’t understand what kind of situation I’m in” he said, wearing a wild look in his eyes. “Gabrielle is asking for too much, more than I have and… and I need the money Liz. Do you want me to be out on the streets? Do you really have the heart to do that to me?” Liz might have been fooled by his act but had seen it enough times used on her mother and his friends to be swayed.

“You made your choice… now I’ve made mine” Liz murmured and wretched the door open. Quickly, she tried to walk away but stopped dead in her tracks as she looked out into the parking lot and found Max leaning against her car. “What?” she whispered to herself and didn’t hear Jeff following. Before she could react, he tugged her arm so that she had no choice but to face him and attempted one last plea. “Let go” she demanded, all the while wondering if beneath his hard exterior he had always been a monster.

“Lizzie… please” he tried one final time. Not another word was uttered before Max pushed him away and stood in front of Liz, protectively. “Who the hell are you?!” Jeff demanded as his wounded routine slipped away in favor of more anger.

“Lay a hand on her again and you’ll see what it’s like to fight with someone your own size” Max warned, wearing a hard look that obviously intimidated Jeff. With his hands raised, Liz’s father took a step back, seemingly realizing that Max wasn’t someone he wanted to mess with. Slowly he backed away and returned to his room. Only then did Max turn and look Liz over for any signs that Jeff Parker had physically harmed her.

There was fire in his molten amber orbs as he noted the forming bruises on her wrists and the tears living in the corners of her eyes. Gently, he pressed a kiss against her skin and with wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Liz wanted to ask what he was doing there but found she was still too surprised to form the words. Carefully, he pulled the keys from her hand and walked straight to her car, bypassing his own parked jeep.

As Max drove towards his apartment, Liz noted the way he tightly gripped the steering wheel but each time he laid his hand on her, it was filled with tender gentleness. For a moment, she allowed her eyes to close, knowing that as long as he was beside her, she would be safe.

It wasn’t until they were inside the warmth of his home that she finally asked, “How did you know?”

“Michael called me last night” Max replied and pulled Liz down onto the bed beside him. “He said it was time he took a step back and gave you the chance to need me. But what I want to know, is why didn’t you tell me?”

Turning away, Liz took a moment to gather her thoughts. “I guess there were a lot of reasons” she finally admitted. “I wanted to believe that I would be okay… that despite our past, he would never hurt me” she explained, her mind briefly flashing back to scene in his motel room. “I wanted to believe that I could stand on my own to do this and I just… I just didn’t want you to worry about me. You already care so much and always listen that I just wanted you to be able to sit back and enjoy your sister’s wedding.”

Silently, Max listened and waited until she was through before nudging Liz back so that she lay beside him. Instantly, she curled into his side and snuggled into his embrace. “Loving you means that I’m always going to worry and I’m always going to care. Loving me back means never hiding from me” he murmured and placed a kiss against her hair. “We already hold so many secrets, please don’t ever hide from me.”

“I promise” Liz whispered and closed her eyes, taking in his scent… the feel of his body beside her own. Slowly, she recounted what happened in the room before he had shown up. The anger radiated from his body with each passing word though his hands only ever held her with calm reverence. “So what exactly did Michael say to you?” she then asked once her story had been told.

“He said that he didn’t trust your dad. I’m glad he didn’t” Max stated and continued to run his hands through her hair. “He has ever done that before? Ever tried to hurt you like that before?”

“No” Liz honestly replied. Jeff Parker had been a bastard throughout her childhood but that day had been the first he had ever physically tried to hurt her. Until then it had always been emotional. “The horrible thing is that I want to see Candace. I want her to know that she has a sister… that despite whatever our dad has done, she still has me.” The admittance was one that hurt but she couldn’t be sorry for it. Somehow she knew that Nancy would understand though Liz wasn’t sure if Gabrielle would let it happen.

“Trust me sugar, I can understand that” Max replied.

“Speaking of your siblings, how was the wedding?” Liz queried, realizing that they had been so consumed with Jeff that she had yet to ask how his trip had gone.

“Isabel wore a blue dress” Max stated with laughter in his voice. “She said that white was too much of a stretch for her lifestyle so… the wedding itself was definitely interesting. Crazy looking tropical flowers, loud music all down the isle and enough drunk people to fill the dance floor afterwards.” Liz tried to picture each description as Max talked about the night, ending with a Harley Davidson that took Alex and Isabel to their hotel.

“Sounds like you had a lot of fun” Liz deduced and moaned softly as Max placed small kisses against her neck.

“I would have had more fun if you were there” Max replied trailed his lips up to her from a long, passionate kiss. Liz felt her body hum in anticipation and lowered her hands to the hem of Max’s sweater. Impatiently, she pulled it up and couldn’t resist poking her tongue out to lave at one honeyed nipple. The way he groaned in response encouraged Liz who placed several kisses against his skin.

Together, they rolled around, kissing and pulling clothes off along the way. “Max” Liz whimpered and threw her head back as kissed a trail down to her breasts. His hot tongue caressed her nipple before pulling the aroused bud into his mouth. Hungrily he sucked it into a hard peak before laving the other with the same attention. Slowly, he caressed her skin with his lips all the way down to her wet center. “Ah” she gasped at the first touch of his tongue to her core.

His hands pushed her legs further apart as he settled between her thighs. Expertly, he licked her moist flesh before dipping his tongue deep inside her. Liz’s hips bucked up and desperately, she fisted the sheets in her hands.

Liz felt heat spread through her entire body as he lightly sucked her clit into his mouth. Opened wide before him, Max plunged two fingers inside her drenched core and felt her shake and shiver as one orgasm rushed throughout her body. Panting, she murmured his name in pleasure as he drank up her juices. Still shivering from the force of her orgasm, Liz accepted Max’s kiss and tasted herself on his mouth. Nudging him, Max got the hint and rolled over so that she lay above him.

As tortuously slow as he had been, Liz kissed down his body until she reached his large and very hard erection. Teasingly, she licked the head and smiled as it jumped to get closer to her mouth. Max’s eyes closed in ecstasy as she took him deep into her mouth. “Uh… Liz” he groaned as she stroked what couldn’t fit in her mouth with her hand. Up and down her head bobbed until he was close to going over that felt him lengthen and harden in her mouth.

Quickly, he nudged her head away and without wasting any time Liz settled in his lap. “I love you” she whispered and sank down on his thick length. “Ah, Max” she moaned and slowly rocked against him.

His hands held onto her hips, assisting her movements while Liz raised her own hands up to cup her breasts. Biting her lip in pleasure, she gently tugged on her nipples and saw Max’s eyes visibly darken with the action. “You feel so good… so wet” Max groaned in approval and began to thrust up into her welcoming depths.

Liz continued to writhe on top of him as their hips slammed together. Gradually, they began to move faster until she was practically bouncing on his hard prick.

When Max sat up, he took one nipple into his mouth, gently scraping his teeth against the pink bud while Liz arched into him. “Ah… I’m so close” she panted and moaned loudly when Max began to lightly finger her clit. “Ah… yes… MAX!” she screamed in satisfaction as Max found his own release. Groaning against her skin, he continued to pump inside of her until she had milked him dry.

Sweat slicked and satisfied, the two collapsed against one another on the mattress. “God, that’s amazing” Liz murmured as she rested her cheek in the crook of his neck. Before, she had always believed that sex was just an outlet for frustration, something that two people in a relationship were supposed to do. Since she was first with Max, Liz realized that it wasn’t about obligation or scratching an itch, it was about wanting to give your partner pleasure… wanting to express the love you felt towards one another.

“Only with you” Max whispered back.


~&~&~&~&~&


Later that night, Max and Liz returned to the motel so that he could pick up his jeep. Curiously, Liz searched for Jeff’s car but found it missing. She could admit that she was curious where he had gone and what he intended to do but had to acknowledge that it wasn’t her problem. Her father chose the hand he had been dealt while Nancy had not. “You okay?” Max asked as he knelt down in front of her car window.

“I shouldn’t care” she stated. “So why do I?”

“Because that’s just the person you are” Max replied and pushed the hair from her face. “You care even when someone gives you a reason not to. It’s one of the things that makes you so incredible.”

“Sometimes I wonder if you love me more than I deserve to be loved” she admitted and held his gaze when she wanted to look away.

“Who’s to say what we deserve?” Max asked back. “All I know is that when I look at you, I feel something that I’ve never felt before. When I’m away from you, all I want is more time together. I love you, Liz and whether either us deserves that or not doesn’t matter because nothing can change what I feel for you.”

“I don’t deserve you” Liz stated. “But I’m glad you think I do.”

[To_Kiss_A_Frog]

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Chapter 17

Well you, had me from “Hello”
I felt love start to grow
The moment that I looked into your eyes, you won me
It was over from the start
You completely stole my heart
And now you won’t let go
I never even had a chance you know
You had me from “Hello”


~&~&~&~&~&


“Are you sure this is what you want, Sugar? Because I can easily call into the pub and go with you” Max offered as he and Liz stood together, wrapped in a tight embrace.

After several days’ worth of back and worth, he finally relented and agreed to stay behind while she went to tell Kyle the truth. Originally, he argued that they should share the task of coming clean since the truth involved both of them, however, Liz argued that Kyle would only feel outnumbered if they both went. That was when Max suggested that he talk to Kyle alone because they were family. Liz, however, wasn’t fooled by the excuse and knew that Max just didn’t want for Kyle to lose his temper with her.

While Liz could acknowledge that Kyle would be hurt and most likely angry, she refused to back down. She made her choice to break up with Kyle and to begin seeing Max, therefore, she truly believed that it was her place alone to tell him the truth.

As much as Max disagreed and continued trying to change Liz’s mind, he respected her wish and eventually gave in. “I’ll be fine, Max. Kyle isn’t going to do anything to me” she assured, knowing that the encounter she recently had with Jeff was still fresh on both their minds.

“Look… I’ve known Kyle all my life and I know that he would never hurt you, but he’s gonna be angry as hell and you’ve never seen that side of him before” Max tried to explain. “Just… just promise me one thing.” Liz stared up into his eyes, trying to unlock all the secrets he still held inside with that single glance. She could see the nervousness in his gaze and couldn’t help but realize how much things had changed since that first moment when they shook hands in the crowded, Crashdown Café.

He had been a mystery at first, someone she couldn’t quite decipher. He knew things about her just by taking a look into her eyes and no matter what her pain was, he always seemed to somehow relate or understand. Liz realized that he had had his own share of troubles over the years and she couldn’t help but wonder if they could really be called terrible if they managed to turn him into the incredible man standing before her.

Even now, Liz marveled at his ability to have more patience and understanding than anyone else she knew. “Promise me that we’ll get through this together” Max requested and didn’t bother to mask the vulnerability in his eyes. It was the first time he had ever completely let his guard down and showed that beneath his calm exterior, he did have worries and fears like everyone else.

“Max…I don’t know what’s going to happen after today” Liz admitted and fisted her hands in his shirt when she looked up and saw his walls quickly coming back up. “But I love you and no amount of arguing or guilt is going to change that. You’re the one I want to be with. You’re it for me.”

“I wish things could have been different” Max confessed and paced back and forth until he came to a stop against the bricks beside Liz’s window. “When I came here, the last thing I expected was to fall in love with my cousin’s girlfriend. Truthfully, I didn’t even think it was possible for me to fall in love with anyone.” The way he said it, so amazed and surprised by it all made Liz curious. Quickly, she tried to think back on all their conversations and despite mentioning Ava a time or two, Liz couldn’t remember a time when he had actually, really talked about his past relationships.

“Why did you and Ava break up?” Liz found herself asking. “I mean… it wasn’t just because you were leaving or anything, right?” she queried, knowing that if it had been her, she would have followed him to the ends of the earth if meant staying together.

“No, it wasn’t because of that” Max dutifully replied and slid down the wall to the rest on the cold concrete. Curiously, Liz walked over to one of her lawn chairs and made herself comfortable. A cold breeze blew through the air, circling the pair before disappearing again though neither seemed concerned with the dropping temperatures. “I wouldn’t say that I’ve had a lot of girlfriends. I dated a lot but there were only a few that I ever really cared about.”

Liz wasn’t surprised by the idea of him dating a lot. After all, Max was a wonderful and extremely good looking man. She couldn’t imagine that there was a woman out there that met him and didn’t want to date him. “Maybe it was growing up with two parents that had serious commitment issues or maybe it was my own head trip but I never fell in love. I mean… I loved Ava. She’s a great person, very sweet and very beautiful but I wasn’t in love with her. I actually wondered if maybe there was something wrong with me, you know. Beautiful woman, great person and still… nothing.”

Liz knew she had nothing to worry about but it still hurt to hear Max describe his ex-girlfriend. Until now, she had just been a name, a memory but Liz could no longer pretend that this woman hadn’t touched Max’s life in some way. She realized it was kind of selfish, especially since Max had to stare her ex in the face every day but Liz couldn’t help the way she felt.

“Ava knew it and I know she was hurt by it but for whatever reason, reasons I’ll probably never know, she stuck it out with me” Max continued and studied his hands as they rested on his raised knees. “The day I met you, I felt something. I had no idea what it was but I knew that it was different. Then when we talked at the barbecue, I decided it was just a little jolt from meeting someone that could hold their own against me.” He smiled then as he thought back to that night and Liz found herself mimicking the action.

As though it were yesterday, she remembered the drive home and the little argument along the way.

“So what do you think of Roswell?” he eventually asked, repeating her earlier question. Liz, who had been staring out into the darkness, didn’t hear him the first time and emitted a loud gasp when he called her name out, effectively grabbing her attention. “Kyle never mentioned you were spacey” he commented.

“Funny… Kyle never mentioned what a big mouth you have” Liz fired back and blushed almost instantly after. “Oh my god, I can’t believe I just said that” she muttered darkly and buried her face in her hands in embarrassment.

“It’s really not a big deal” Max assured as he turned on Citrus and rolled to a stop as he tried to remember where the Crashdown Café was.

“Left” she directed absent mindedly.

“Anyway, like I was saying, it’s not a big deal” Max continued as he turned on Main and drove straight to the café. “I like joking around with people and have no time for people who can’t play along. At least you have fire in you. Just don’t be so quick to feel bad about it” he suggested and while Liz was tempted to give him another, unkind, response, she curbed the impulse as he pulled up to the front doors.

Despite her best efforts, Liz had been unable to peg him into any category. Even now, she still didn’t think she could. “I think the first time I realized what I was feeling for you was the night we took inventory in the café. I told you things… personal things but I had no idea why. It wasn’t until later when you asked me why you were sharing that I understood there was something between us… something that neither of us shared with anyone else. Something that went beyond understanding each other’s pain. I just couldn’t say that to you then, I had no right to.”

“So why me? Why fall in love, for the first time, with someone you couldn’t have?” Liz asked and sat forward a little, eager to hear his answer.

“Because… it was you.”

It shouldn’t have been an answer and Liz shouldn’t have understood him but for whatever reason, she accepted it. She couldn’t explain why she had fallen so quickly and so deeply for Max but that didn’t stop it from happening. “No one would have guessed you hadn’t spent your entire life in love with someone” Liz quietly murmured, thinking about all the little things he did for her, all the little ways he showed her how special she was.

“I guess when you fall, really fall in love with someone, it becomes easy to slip into” Max replied, just as quietly.

Liz had read more than a thousand poems and sonnets. She read some of the most beautiful words ever written yet Max managed to bring tears to her eyes and chills to her skin with the simplest admissions. Maybe it was because Liz could hear the love in his voice and knew that it was all for her. “I love you” she said.

“I’m in love with you” Max replied


~&~&~&~&~&


Nervously, Liz wiped her sweaty palms against the denim of her jeans as she stared at Kyle’s front door. It had been so easy to pretend everything would be okay but now, moments away from telling him about her new relationship, Liz wasn’t quite as confident as she had been. “Now or never” she murmured and knocked on the door before she could change her mind and walk away.

Moments later, the door opened, revealing Kyle who seemed puzzled to see her. “Liz… hey, what are you doing here?” he asked though not unkindly. Liz didn’t blame him considering that they hadn’t really stopped and talked with one another since that day in the café.

“I was hoping we could talk. Can I come in?” she asked and clenched her hands in her pockets out of nervousness when he stepped aside and let her pass. Curiously, Liz found herself looking around, trying to spot any changes in the living room as she took a seat on the couch. “I see you still don’t believe in vacuums” she teased just as his mantel came into view. So much empty space replaced all the pictures that had once sat on top, depicting two years of their relationship. Now, the only frames that remained were of Amy and Jim’s wedding along with a family shot taken five years before.

“Yeah, with the football team doing so well this year, I’m hardly ever here” Kyle replied. Liz easily read his uncomfortable feelings over her presence and decided that small talk probably wasn’t the best way to go. “How’ve you been? How’s your mom?” he then asked and for a moment, Liz saw the same Kyle she dated. He still cared about her, that much was apparent but Liz couldn’t help wondering how quickly it would change after she told him her reason for stopping by.

“We’re okay, thanks” she answered and seeing no easy way to break it to him, decided to just jump right in. “Um… listen, Kyle… I know that I told you I would keep my personal life away from you and I have, but um… but I’ve started dating someone and I don’t want to have to hide it” Liz admitted and watched a dozen emotions cross his eyes. “I know that you’re dating Tess and I’m happy for you… I really am but I want the chance to be out in the open too. So before I do that, I wanted to come to you first and tell you about it.”

It took a moment before Kyle reacted but when he did, he seemed slightly defeated. “I know that it wasn’t fair of me to ask you that. I knew it then but I did it anyway because I wasn’t sure I could deal with it, you know? But you’re right. I am dating Tess and everyone knows it so you deserve to be able to do the same” he agreed and took Liz’s hand in his. “Just because we broke up doesn’t mean I want you to be unhappy.”

With a small smile, Liz squeezed his hand before releasing it. “Thank you. That means a lot to me” she said and took a deep breath before broaching the next part of her confession. “Okay… I have no idea how to say this to you so… the guy… it’s so important to me that you know and understand I didn’t begin seeing him until after you and I broke up. Not once, did I ever cheat on you. Please know that” she implored, knowing that it would be his first assumption that she and Max fooled around before she had officially broken up with him.

“I believe you” Kyle assured, giving Liz the final push to get the words out.

“He and I started out as friends… just friends and eventually it became something more” Liz began, trying to explain with as little detail as possible. “It wasn’t expected or planned or even… conventional, really but it happened and I really just hope that you can understand it.”

“I get it, Liz” Kyle replied. “Tess and I started out as friends too and we didn’t plan on anything happening but it did. I understand it” he stated though apparently thought the explanation portion of the conversation was through.

“There’s one more thing” Liz added and again, took a steadying breath before uttering the words that would finally bring her relationship with Max out into the open. “It’s Max.”

“What’s Max?” Kyle queried, confused.

“The guy I’m seeing. It’s Max.”

He didn’t speak for several moments, causing Liz’s nervousness to spike. A dozen different scenarios ran through her mind, ending when Kyle’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Let me get this straight. You broke up with me and started dating my cousin. My cousin who is like a brother to me, began dating my ex-girlfriend? Are you fucking kidding me?” he demanded and instantly stood from his seat, trying to put some distance between then.

“It isn’t like he moved in on me and I dumped you to be with him. He was a friend to me and the feelings I started to have for him were what caused me to take a step back and think about my relationship with you” Liz tried to explain but struggled to find the right words. “I never cheated on you. He never tried anything, never… never did anything. He was just there and he listened and I just… I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I hurt you.”

“He knew how I felt about you. You knew what I thought about him. How in the world could you do that, Liz? How could he?” Kyle questioned, considerably calmer than he had originally been. “And where is he now? Great boyfriend to leave you all alone to break the news” he bit out.

“It wasn’t like that, Kyle” she defended. “He wanted to come but I thought you’d feel like we were ganging up on you so he went to the pub to catch up on some paperwork.”

“If he was really a man, he would have come by himself. Instead, he sends you to break the news and take the fall” Kyle criticized, wearing a look of disbelief on his previously angered features.

“This isn’t the dark ages Kyle. The little woman doesn’t sit at home knitting while the man goes out to do her bidding” Liz snapped, irritated. “This was what I wanted and he cared enough about me to let me come here on my own. He respected me enough to do this for me. That’s what kind of a man he is, Kyle. A caring one who treats me like an equal” she yelled.

“Fine. You want this settled, then it’s settled. You and me… it’s done, it’s over, I’ve moved on. But Max… Max was family and until he comes here and talks to me, we’ll never be settled” Kyle stated and dug his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He would have looked vulnerable if it hadn’t been for the scowl on his face. Liz understood that he was angry, justifiably and she worried about what would happen when Max and Kyle finally talked.

At a loss for words, Liz opened and closed her mouth several times before drawing a blank. “It’s time for you to go. Go back to Max” Kyle said when the silence became too much to bare.

She wanted to protest but found she couldn’t. She was sorry for hurting him but couldn’t be sorry for loving Max. She hoped that Kyle would come to terms with everything, though not for her but for her boyfriend. “Goodbye, Kyle” she murmured and didn’t look back, not even when his quiet voice flitted to her ears.

“Goodbye, Liz.”

[To_Kiss_A_Frog]

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Chapter 18

<center>All human actions have one or more of the seven causes:
Chance, Nature, Compulsion, Habit, Reason, Passion and Desire
~Aristotle~</center>


~&~&~&~&~&


Liz drove around for what seemed like hours before finally passing the “Welcome to Roswell” sign. A big green alien to greet her as she slowed her car to the speed limit. Instantly, a loud beep filled the interior, causing Liz to realize her cell phone had been in Roam throughout her extended driving excursion. With her service suddenly returned, another song began to play, alerting her to a waiting message in her voice box.

Keying in her password, Liz hummed quietly as she waited for the voice on the other end. Her assumption that it was Max had been wrong with Michael’s concerned voice came through the ear pierce.

“Liz… don’t speed or anything but wherever you are, you should come back home. I need you at the Crashdown”

Frowning, Liz hit the accelerator as the second message begun to play. This time it was Max but rather than ask how her talk with Kyle had gone, he asked where she was and requested she immediately call him. The third and final message was Michael again, wondering where in the hell she was.

With fear in the pit of her stomach, Liz didn’t bother to heed the speed limit as she sped towards Main Street. Upon turning, the sight that greeted her were two deputy cars, blocking off a portion of the street while people milled around, trying to get a glimpse into the windows. A feeling akin to hysteria quickly bubbled forth as she screeched to a halt beside one of the cruisers. In her haste, hair flying about wildly, one of the deputies grabbed her around the waist and attempted to hold her back.

“Let me go, damn it” she demanded and pounded her fist against his chest. Hanson, who stood nearby, recognized her voice and immediately told the rookie to let her go. Running past two other deputies, Liz stopped in her tracks, momentarily stunned into silence by the sight of broken windows and glass covered floors. “Liz!” she heard and turned to see Max, Michael and Kyle all standing inside, wearing concerned expressions on their faces.

A sob broke free as everything hit her at once. Unconcerned with slipping or possibly cutting herself, Liz rushed inside and threw herself into Max’s arms. His response was instantaneous as he held her close to his body. Tears soaked his shirt though Liz didn’t notice as silent tears continued to fall from her eyes. “Why? Who?” she choked out then seemed to realize something else. Pushing away from his embrace, her eyes searched the battered café.

“She’s upstairs with Mrs. Guerin and Aunt Amy” Max informed, understanding what had cause her abrupt movements. “She’s okay, sugar. Not a scratch on her.”

Slumped in relief, Liz wordlessly nodded and chanced another glance around the room. Broken dishes… a bent chair resting beside the empty window panes and broken glass… there were several upturned tables and spilt food coating the linoleum floor. “What happened?” she asked again, this time receiving her answer from Kyle.

“After you left, I thought about what happened… what I said and I wanted to come by here and talk to you. I was calmer and I thought that maybe we could clear up some things but just after I showed up, Max walked through the doors” Kyle explained then quieted as Max took over.

“When you didn’t call, I got worried so I packed up my inventory slips and decided to stop by here. I saw Kyle’s car parked out front and I wanted to come in… to talk to him, give him a chance to say whatever he needed to, to me” Max added and looked back at Kyle before continuing. “We hadn’t even gotten a word out between the two of us before your dad showed up. He was ranting and yelling, scaring the customers, asking to see your mom. Kyle and I tried to calm him down, to get him out but he slugged Kyle in the jaw. I had gone into the break-room where your mom was sitting and got her upstairs before Jeff ever saw her face.”

“Then he called me” Michael threw in as Liz noticed, for the first time, that he was in uniform. “By the time I arrived, Max and Kyle had him on the ground and the place was a mess.”

Mess was an understatement as Liz stared at the wreckage. She wondered what had happened in those moments that had caused the complete disarray of the café. “How did one person manage to make such a mess?” she found herself asking though there was no blame or accusation in her tone. She didn’t even want to think about what could have happened to the café or to Nancy if Max and Kyle hadn’t been around.

“It’s what he came for, Liz” Max stated and recounted the rantings of a bitter, resentful man. Jeff Parker wanted to mess things up, wanted to make things difficult for Liz and Nancy as a penance for declining his request for help. He hadn’t carried a knife or a gun but did use a bat… an old Louisville Slugger that Liz remembered seeing in their hall closet as a child. “No one could have taken him down by themselves… it would have been too dangerous and that person probably would have gotten hit.”

His explanation, while logical, was all a defense for Kyle. He had been left alone as Max secured her mother though Max obviously believed Kyle couldn’t have helped the situation on his own. A swinging bat would have made it impossible to get close to Jeff… unless he was distracted in front of him and missed the person behind him.

“This is…insane. Things like this don’t happen in real life… they happen in Lifetime movies” Liz muttered and ran her hands over her face, swiping away the tears that still lingered against her skin. “Where is he now?”

“Dad took him away” Kyle answered in a quiet voice. Anything else he might have said was halted by the insistent ringing of his cell phone. “Excuse me.”

“Just give me a few minutes to file my statements and change my shirt, then I’ll come back and help board up the windows” Michael offered. It was only then that Liz felt the chill that swept in through the panes. Nodding, Liz accepted his offer and heard his footsteps over the broken glass as he walked away. A feeling of helplessness and guilt quickly built up inside as Liz momentarily considered what could have happened or what she could have prevented.

Sensing her impending breakdown, Max walked forward and enveloped her tightly in his arms. “It’s okay, sugar” he soothed and methodically ran his hands through her windswept chestnut locks. “This isn’t your fault. He had a chance to accept what happened and walk away or to get revenge for it and this was the choice he made. You couldn’t have changed that” he assured with such confidence that Liz found herself nodding against his chest.

“Oh god, Max… what if he tried to go after mom? What if… if you and Kyle hadn’t… been here?” she hiccupped as a fresh batch of tears began to fall. The possibility was just too painful as she tightly fisted his shirt in her hands, afraid to let him go. “This is my home. This is where I grew up, where I felt safe and now… now I can’t. Why would he do this? I’m his… his daughter. Didn’t that ever matter to him? Didn’t it ever… matter?” Her last words fell as a whisper from her lips as she struggled to get closer to Max’s warmth.

Throughout her slow meltdown, Max continued to hold her, whispering soothing words in her ear. So wrapped up in each other, neither noticed when Kyle discretely slipped out of the café.

Liz waited until she had calmed down before heading upstairs to check on Nancy. Amy and Mrs. Guerin both stood outside Nancy’s bedroom as she and Liz talked. “It’s all my fault” Liz confessed and explained what had happened after Thanksgiving. “I thought I was doing the right thing but… I never expected him to do this” she worried.

“Lizzie… none of this is your fault” Nancy assured cupped her daughter’s face between two frail hands. “For the longest time, I used to wonder what I had done wrong. I thought that I could have done something to fix things and just missed out on my chance but I don’t look at it that way anymore. You shouldn’t either. Jeff didn’t have to do this but he did it anyway. Don’t take responsibility for his mistakes… he doesn’t deserve it.”


~&~&~&~&~&


Half an hour later, Max and Michael pitched in and helped Liz clear up the café while the two women continued to keep Nancy company. When he was through at the station, Jim showed up to lend a hand but the big surprise was when Kyle, accompanied by both Tess and Maria, arrived and wordlessly began helping. Silently, Liz and Max shared a look and a smile across the room. “Will the insurance cover the cost of damages?” Tess asked at one point as the two women emptied the contents of their dust pans into a bin by the side door.

“Hopefully, but I still need to call the company tomorrow and have someone come survey everything” Liz answered and prepared to walk back into the dining area when Tess’ hand on her stopped her.

“I talked to Kyle earlier, I know about you and Max” she stated, wearing a sympathetic expression. “What happens in your life now and your past with Kyle is none of my business, I understand that but for Kyle’s sake… just give him some time” she advised. At a loss for words, Liz stood trying to figure out how to respond when again, Tess did it for her. “I’m going to be honest with you. I fell in love with Kyle while the two of you were together so I kind of have an idea about the way you’re feeling. It isn’t easy wanting someone you shouldn’t want.”

Nodding, Liz offered her a small smile and hung back for a moment as Tess walked through the door.

Fatigued and a little hungry, she plopped down on the old, orange couch and pulled out her cell phone. “Hi, I’d like to order five large pizzas. Three with pepperoni, one with mushroom and one plain cheese” she ordered, deciding that those three topping should cover the six people cleaning and the three people upstairs. “Delivery. Crashdown Café. Thank you.” Tossing the phone against the cushions, Liz took one long, deep breath and rejoined the cleaning group. “I ordered pizza” she announced and began clearing out the area around the soda fountain.

The guys managed to get the windows and door boarded up while the girls swept up all the broken shards and cleaned the food up off the floor. By the time the tables and chairs were righted, a knock sounded against the wood, calling attention to the delivery boy standing on the other side. Grabbing her purse, Liz reached inside to pull out some cash when Max’s hand closed over hers. “I got it” he said and handed the pizza guy money before Liz had a chance to protest.

“Please tell me you ordered mushroom” Michael said as he sniffed the boxes.

“What, did I just meet you yesterday?” Liz queried and smiled as Michael rolled his eyes. Grabbing one box of pepperoni, Liz carried it upstairs to the three ladies while Michael and Tess searched around for plates.

“It’s too quiet in here” Liz heard as she ambled down the stairs, minutes later. When she walked through the break room, she flicked the dial on the little radio and didn’t wait to find out what the next song would be. Upon entering the room, she temporarily faltered as the lyrics to an old favorite made their way to her ears.

So you think that it’s over
Say your love has finally reached the end
Any time you call, night or day
I’ll be right there for you
If you need a friend

Instantly, Michael groaned as the twang of an old, acoustic guitar blasted through the little speakers into the dining room. “You must have just met me yesterday if you’re playing oldies” he commented. “Dig out a Metallica CD or something” he all but begged as the others laughed at his antics.

“Who is this, anyway?” Tess queried.

“Tesla” Max and Liz answered at the same time. Michael didn’t bat an eyelash, Kyle looked away and Maria, who had no idea about Max and Liz, looked at them both as though they were weird. “Alex got Isabel into oldies and she forced the stuff on me, what’s your excuse?” Max teased, momentarily ignoring the tension in the room.

“My mom forced it on us” Michael answered for her when Kyle walked away from the table to refill his drink. “Anyway, change this shi… crap” he said to Liz and shot her an expectant look.

It’s gonna take a little time, I know
Time is sure to mend your broken heart
But don’t you even worry, pretty darling
‘Cos I know you’ll find love again

Not long after they finished up all the pizza, everyone began to clear out, finally leaving Max alone with Liz. “Can I spend the night?” he asked, causing Liz to smile. She knew he was asking because of the things she said when she cried. Jeff had really done a number on the café and combined with their encounter the week before, Liz couldn’t help but cringe at the idea of listening to the silence all night.

“I really… really love you” Liz replied and held out her hand for him to take. Together, they walked up stairs and locked the apartment door behind them. Max went straight to Liz’s room while she went to check on her mother who had already fallen asleep. Pulling the blanket up a little higher, Liz clicked off the lamp and quietly closed the door. “You look at home” she commented when she found Max lounging on her bed, looking very comfortable.

“Come here” he beckoned and held his arms out towards her. Without hesitation, Liz slipped into his embrace and for the first time that night, she closed her eyes. “Tomorrow, we’ll get everything straightened out” Max assured a voice that Liz couldn’t help but trust. “You don’t have to worry about him anymore. I won’t ever let him hurt you” he promised with a chaste kiss against her skin.


~&~&~&~&~&


The next morning, after several long phone calls, Liz managed to settle things with the insurance company. Afterwards, Nancy called in some favors with a couple old friends and arranged to have a contractor come by later that afternoon to give them an estimate on damages. With any luck, they would have everything squared away before the week was over.

As for Jeff, Liz decided to press charges for what he had done to the café while Kyle went ahead and did the same for assault. In the end, he would probably serve a few months in a county jail and then get sentenced to a couple years of probation. Liz couldn’t bring herself to feel sorry about it though. Jeff had done it to himself, had thrown his own life away. Liz only hoped that his latest stint might be the one that opened his eyes. Even in her anger, she didn’t want to contemplate the possibility that he had gone through all of his troubles, only to end up more bitter and angrier than he had been.

“Hey, can I come in?” Looking up from her homework, Liz was surprised to see Kyle standing in her doorway. Two days before, Max had stopped by his place to talk but Kyle hadn’t answered the door. Max wasn’t sure if he had been out or just didn’t want to talk but in any case, he didn’t push it.

“Sure. Come in” Liz invited and stood from her seat on the bed to pull out her desk chair.

“I just came from Max’s apartment” Kyle informed and sat down on the newly vacated seat. “We had a long talk about… you, about me, about him, about… everything, actually. It didn’t start out very well but half way through, a couple of things hit me” he admitted. “When you broke up with me, it really hurt but I started getting past it, I started dating Tess and I was happy. I’m still happy with Tess but I guess that finding out you were with Max was a really big blow to my ego.”

Surprisingly, the confession didn’t surprise Liz. “It still kind of is but Max pointed something out to me. His younger brother, Zan is currently dating Max’s ex-girlfriend, Ava. The thing is that Max wasn’t mad when he found out. Then the whole time we were in New York, he talked and laughed with them. They had dinner and… and it was all okay. He was able to do that because he knew that Ava wasn’t the one for him but she was happy with Zan. You’re happy with Max, aren’t you?”

“I am” Liz replied, unable to hold back a smile as she thought about the man who made her feel more alive than she had ever felt before.

“Yeah…” Kyle quietly echoed. “That day your dad broke into the café, I knew you and Max had something different. You just ran to him, like some sort of natural instinct” he mused. Clasping his hands between his legs, he leaned forward a little and looked Liz straight in the eye. “I watched the two of you. You needed him and he just knew exactly what to say to make you feel like everything would be alright. I’m not sure why I never saw it before… maybe because I had no reason to look but its there, Liz. I get that now.”

“So what does this mean? For you and me and Max. What does it mean?” she asked.

“Well I won’t be suggesting any double dates in the near future but it means I’ll get over it. You were really straight forward with me from the beginning and I know you hid this thing with Max because I asked you too” Kyle replied and took Liz’s hand in his. “So anyway, um... that’s all I had to say.”

Nodding, Liz felt Kyle squeeze her hand one last time before he got up. “Thank you” she added because it just seemed like the right thing to say.

“Thank Max” Kyle stated as a look of confusion crossed Liz’s features. “In the café, when he was talking about your dad, Max said that Jeff had a chance to accept what happened and walk away or to get revenge for it and trashing the café was the choice he made. Well I’m choosing to walk away” he explained, then turned and did just that. He walked away.

[To_Kiss_A_Frog]

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Chapter 19

Moonlight on canvas, midnight and wine
Two shadows starting to softly combine
The picture they’re painting
Is one of the heart
And to those who have seen it
It’s a true work of art


~&~&~&~&~&


“Have you figured out what you’re going to get Max for Christmas?” Nancy queried, sounding every bit a curious mother as she looked towards her daughter expectantly. “Only five more shopping days left, you know?” she felt the need to add when Liz didn’t immediately answer.

Two weeks had past since the day Kyle came to see her. Hours later, Liz finally had the chance to stop by Max’s apartment and found him sound asleep on his bed, sporting a shiner. Without a second thought, Liz shook him awake, all the while letting her anger bubble up to boiling point. She couldn’t believe Kyle tried to hit him and decided she would give him a piece of her mind the next time he tried to set foot into the café.

Imagine the surprise Liz received when Max explained that he let Kyle hit him. It was barbaric and childish but it came about because of a football when they were kids.

Apparently, Max had this autographed football by some player that Liz had never heard of or remembered later, and Kyle took it without asking. The thing ended up in someone else’s back yard and became kibble for the neighbor’s Pit Bulls. To even the score, Kyle stood still and asked Max to punch him as punishment for taking something that he had no right taking. This time around, Max had been the one who stood still while Kyle punched him in the face.

Not only was Liz appalled but she was also pretty angry at both. In the end, she realized that it was just their way of settling what had happened and if in the end, they were both okay, then she would just push past her irritation over being considered a possession.

“Actually… there’s something I want to talk to you about” Liz admitted and prepared herself for a discussion she was unprepared to have. Frowning slightly, Nancy nodded and gestured for Liz to continue. “A couple nights ago, Max and I were talking and… he sort of, asked me to move in with him” she rushed out, feeling like a teenager asking to go out on her first date.

While she knew and understood that the choice was hers alone, she was afraid that her mom wouldn’t be ready for Liz to leave. As strong as she was, Nancy still wasn’t up to par, physically and Liz only hoped that she would be honest about whether or not she was ready for Liz to move out.

“Liz…sweetie, I’ve appreciated everything you’ve done and everything you’ve given up to be here with me” Nancy stated and held her hand up when Liz opened her mouth to protest. “But I’m the parent here. I’m supposed to take care of you so I wouldn’t be much of a mother if I let you give up something you really want, just for me. The question is whether or not this is really something you want” she said, gently.

“I know that most people wouldn’t understand this” Liz admitted as she sat down beside her mother. “We haven’t been together for very long, especially considering how long I was with Kyle without ever even considering moving together. It’s just that Max is… different. I don’t need months and years to figure it out. I already know that he’s the person I want to spend my life with. He’s the only person I can see myself growing old with” she said, then embarrassed by her bold declaration, looked away to stare out the window.

“It’s easy to see how much he loves you” Nancy murmured in a slightly wistful voice that had Liz returning her gaze. “It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks. What matters is that you’re happy because while we wish it could last forever, realistically, not all happiness does. So don’t ever take it for granted… love him with all that you have and if living with him is what you want, that don’t let anyone hold you back. If loving him forever is what you want… don’t you ever let anyone hold you back” she advised and took Liz’s chin in her hand. “Okay?”

“Just for the record, I don’t regret anything I’ve done” Liz stated in no uncertain terms. “I made the choice to come back here and I can’t regret doing that, not after everything you’ve done for me.”

Smiling through her tears, Nancy pulled Liz into her embrace and marveled at the beautiful little girl who had turned into an extraordinary woman.

Silently, Liz was grateful that her mom understood her desire to say yes to Max. She knew that it would seem strange to some and it was entirely too possible that both Kyle and Maria would have something to say about it but Liz couldn’t bring herself to care about that. She didn’t care that maybe she was moving too fast by normal standards because by her standards, everything was moving naturally.


~&~&~&~&~&


Steam on the window, salt in a kiss
Two hearts have never pounded like this
Inspired by a vision
That they can’t command
Erasing the boarders
With each brush of a hand

Even though Liz had already made her decision, she didn’t share it with Max for several days… five in fact.

“Hmmm… morning” Liz murmured as she felt Max trail several kisses down her neck. Eyes still closed, she wrapped her arms around his neck and welcomed the weight of his body on hers. “When I move in here, you better wake up like this every morning” she teased and felt Max still above her. With a smile playing on her lips, she slowly fluttered her eyes open and settled on his tentative expression. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart” she added and watched his smile grow.

“Merry Christmas, sugar” Max replied and flipped Liz over so that she hovered above him. Slowly, he inched his hands upward, caressing every inch of skin he could reach before trailing his fingertips back down. “So you want to live with me, huh?” he asked, his calm coolness back in place.

“Uh huh” Liz shivered at the feather light feel of his hands on her body. Unable to help herself, she ground against his naked body and tossed her head back in pleasure at the delicious friction between their bodies. “You still want me here?” she softly gasped when his hands cupped and molded her breasts. The pads of his thumbs rubbed small circles around her nipples while goose flesh crawled up her skin.

“I want you everywhere” Max muttered while familiarizing himself with every nuance… every curve of her body. “Always.”

The heat radiating from his palms soothed and aroused at the same time. Liz felt him moving beneath her in time to her hips. A familiar, sexy dance that left her shivering with want and desire. His seduction was never quite the same but always effective, Liz couldn’t help but think. “More” she moaned in a lust clouded voice as he stared up at her with dazed, bedroom eyes. “Please, more.”

Hands on her hips, he lifted her up enough and groaned as she sank down on his thick erection. Max sat up and with his arms wrapped around her lithe body, the two rocked back and forth, unhurried and passionately. “Max” she softly moaned when he dragged his kisses across her collarbone and took one stiffened nipple between his lips. “Hmm… yes” Liz breathed as his hot tongue laved at her breast while his hand wreaked havoc on the other one. Tweaking and gently tugging, his actions caused her to move a little quicker.

Thrusting upwards into her welcoming body, Max emitted a low groan of satisfaction every time she clenched her inner muscles around him. Impatiently, their mouths met and dueled passionately while their lower bodies fulfilled the raw hunger of their desires. “You feel so good… hmm… so wet” Max whispered against her ear. His breath tickled Liz’s skin while her own breath came out in short pants.

Liz hooked her arms around his, which were wrapped tightly around her body. Not a breath or wisp of wind could have passed between them as they moved together in perfect tandem. “Max… I’m so close” Liz moaned and bit her lip in relief as he thrust up harder and quicker. Small spasms of pleasure began, emanating from where they were joined until it was too much and Liz exploded with a cry of uninhibited passion. “Ah… yes… Max!” she called out in ecstasy.

The feel of her tightening around him was too much and with a low grown, Max lengthened and came, shooting wads of his warm seed into her wet, spasming body.

With their breathing labored and their bodies still joined, Max and Liz fused their lips back together. Intense, hungry kisses were shared while they slowly came down from their pleasured high. “I love you so much” Max said and pushed her damp locks away from her face.

“I still shiver every time you say that to me” Liz whispered and rested her forehead down against his. It was a sparkle in his eyes, a certain lilt in his voice, it was the way his entire body conveyed how much he loved her while his lips uttered the words. Tightly, she grasped onto the feeling and used it to chase away the chill everything else in her life had caused.

“Then you’ll never stop shivering” Max replied and leaned back against the mattress, pulling Liz with him so that she rested entirely on his muscled body. “Because I never intend to stop saying it.”

“Hmm…” Liz moaned and rested her cheek against his rapidly beating heart. Eyes closed and breath slowed, her mother’s earlier words floated into her mind. “I’ll love you forever” she found herself whispering before sleep once again claimed her.


~&~&~&~&~&


Hours later, after a long, restful nap, Max and Liz exchanged Christmas gifts. Liz absolutely adored the bracelet and earrings Max picked out though her gift to him was a bit less traditional. Having to drive to the Crashdown to receive it, Max was more than a little curious but it was all worth it to Liz when he grinned and laughed heartedly at the sight of a cuddly, six month old puppy. “You really do pay attention when I talk” Max teased and leaned back when the puppy attempted to swipe it’s large, pink tongue across his face.

Because Diane had a fretful allergy to pet hair, Max was never able to have a cat or dog or any animal he could actually play with. It wasn’t some deep rooted scar or something he always longed for but he once mentioned that after he had gotten settled into his apartment, he wanted to try and take care of a pet.

Now that Liz had agreed to move in, she really liked the idea of them raising a dog together. To her, it seemed domestic yet easy enough to handle. “So what are you going to name him?” Liz queried, ignoring the little shot at her short attention span.

“Well…” Max trailed off as he studied the cuddly golden lab. “Since you’re moving in and he’ll actually be ours rather than just mine, I think we should both name him” he suggested, causing Liz to smile brightly in agreement. “My suggestion is… Charlie” he proudly said. Laughter bubbled forth from Liz’s mouth the moment he got his name out. “What? There’s nothing wrong with Charlie” he said in a playfully wounded tone.

“Okay…okay” Liz agreed and thought for close to a minute before she chimed in with her own name. “Brown” she said and crossed her arms over her chest triumphantly. “We’ll call him Charlie Brown.”

With a smile playing at the corners of his lips, Max nodded once in consent. “Alright, sugar. Charlie Brown it is” he agreed.

Afterwards, the two parted ways to celebrate with their respective families. Amy had invited Max over and while Kyle seemed to be adjusting well enough, neither Max nor Liz wanted to push things by having her tag along. The break would also give Liz time alone with her mother and later, with Michael.

Michael. As for him and Maria… well they were still mending their relationship. When she first found out about Liz and Max, her first impulse was to be angry though it was Kyle who had curbed it for her. He pointed out that he had his own girlfriend and that if he could get past everything that happened, then she should too. Liz wasn’t sure why he did it, but she was grateful that he finally stepped in and explained to his step-sister that what Liz was doing wasn’t all that different from what he was doing. In the end, he really was the only one who could get through to her.

Truthfully, Liz didn’t blame Maria for her protectiveness. If she had hurt Michael, Liz might have reacted the same way at first.

“How’d he like the puppy?” Nancy queried as she settled beside her daughter with a slice of fruitcake on her lap. Liz couldn’t help but smile at the one person she knew who ate fruitcake because she liked it and not because she was just trying to be polite.

“He liked it” Liz replied and rested her head against her mother’s shoulder. “I love you, mom. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, honey” Nancy returned and pressed a kiss to her daughter’s hair.