Author: Linda
E-mail: [email protected]
Category: M/L (mostly), M/M, I/A
Rating: PG-14
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Just borrowing 'em. Promise to return them the way I found 'em. ;-)
Summary: Post heatwave, and how the six Roswell High kids become closer and realize through good times and bad, that no matter what they go through, it really is, "the six of them against the world". They go to Mexico for winter break, learn more about the aliens they came from, and all with the FBI and a certain sheriff, one step behind them. Or is there someone closer?
Liz sat leaning back against Max's warm body, snuggled between his legs, on a blanket, just watching the bonfire. Max was leaning against a rock, and enjoying the feel of Liz so close to him. In his arms, where it felt so right.
He looked over and noticed that Michael and Maria were also cuddled up on a blanket together watching the fire. They were lying side by side, holding hands while Maria leaned on Michael's chest, and he played with her hair, gently twisting a soft strand around his finger.
Then Max smiled brighter as he saw Isabel and Alex. There
wasn't anyone better for Isabel. He was glad that Alex was the
one to have gotten through his sister's tough outer layer, and
found the softness inside. Isabel was leaning her head on Alex's
shoulder and they, too, were on a blanket
holding hands. Isabel was smiling, and looked at peace.
Both Michael and Isabel looked perfectly content. Max had never seen Isabel or Michael look so completely relaxed and open before. He wondered if he looked the same way, and guessed he did. He couldn't imagine being anymore content. He closed his eyes and smiled, just enjoying the moment.
Who would have thought that the three of them would find happiness, contentment and yes, love, with these three earthlings? Max knew he would feel this way if he ever let himself be with Liz, but to see Isabel and Michael also so happy only made Max even more at peace.
A gasp from both Liz and Maria made Max open his eyes with a questioning look at Liz. Then he heard the song and smiled. One of Liz's favorites was playing. Ginny Owen's song, "If You Want Me To" had just started.
Max pushed up against the rock, stood up and held out his hand to Liz. He smiled softly at her when she beamed up at him with happiness. As Max took Liz into his arms and slowly led her in a small circle to the song, he saw Maria pull Michael up, and Isabel pull Alex up. He chucked, wondering if the guys were going to kill him later for starting this. Then he saw the expressions on both Michael and Alex's face as they held the girls, and he knew they wouldn't say anything.
Smiling, Max concentrated on the small bundle of warmth and love in his arms and looked down into her eyes."Hi." She smiled.
Max gave a half smile that was so Max. "Hi yourself."
Liz snuggled closer to him and just enjoyed leaning against his warm, bare chest and watching the flickering of the firelight play across his muscles as he turned with her in the slow dance. She sighed. They hadn't done anything since that night of the pool party in the hot tub. With all the events that had followed that night, neither had felt it would be right, and Liz knew Max had also been so tired from worrying about her, and watching over her at night.
But here they were free for a few days. Free to enjoy just being together without the worry of the sheriff, or the FBI, or whatever had happened to their classmates. Just for a little while Liz wanted to forget all that and just enjoy being with Max.
As they glided to the music, Liz slowly started to realize that there was an ever-growing need against her tummy. She drew in a breath and looked up into Max's eyes.
His eyes were burning intently into hers, and there was a knowing smile on his face, as he watched Liz become aware of what he had been feeling for the last half hour.
He too was remembering their spontaneous passion in the hot tub that night that now seemed so long ago.
Liz swallowed as she continued to feel that need against her as they danced. She felt warm all over and her own body's response startled her. Max felt Liz's own response where she was pressed up against his chest, and sucked in his breath. He wondered how cold the temperature was in the ocean. Maybe they could make out just a little in the water.
Max looked around desperately, suddenly wanting to be alone with Liz, to kiss her, to touch her. Finally Max stopped dancing and took Liz's hand. "Come on," he said quietly as he led them away from the party.
"Was it something we said?" called Michael's amused voice as Max led Liz away.
Maria smiled and hit his arm playfully. Then she suddenly shuddered.
Michael frowned down at her. "Cold?" he asked. The fire was warm, and so was the balmy night air. And with Maria this close, he couldn't have been any hotter.
"No, not really. I just--I don't know--it felt as if someone was watching me or something, forget it," Maria shrugged.
"Maybe someone is watching you. You look awfully cute in that little bikini," Michael lowered his voice and teased her.
Maria laughed and forgot about the uncomfortable feeling she had had a few minutes ago.
Alex and Isabel were in their own world. They swayed to the soft music, just enjoying being together, and not having to worry about anything else.
Max led Liz to a quiet secluded spot up the beach from the bonfire.They could still see the fire roaring in the distance, but here in the shadows no one could see them.
Liz's heart was pounding loudly in her ears as she watched Max set up the blanket he had grabbed at the last minute. Then she watched as he straightened up and just looked at her. Liz felt her legs turn to Jello.
He was so sexy! Her Max. He was standing there in just his swim trunks, the moonlight caressing his strong, well-built body. And his eyes, as usual, pulled her in.
When Max held out his hand, Liz reached for it and he drew her down onto the blanket with him. Liz sighed as Max leaned on an elbow and pulled her closer against him while his other hand caressed the sensitive skin of her back.
Liz again felt the passion of Max against her stomach and couldn't help but move closer to him. "Max," she sighed and looked up into his eyes, waiting.
Max gave her his cute half smile. Liz loved that look, even his eyes smiled. It was a look he reserved only for her. Without a word Max took his hand from Liz's back, and gently slid his hand into her soft silky hair and cupped her cheek. Then he lowered his eyes to her lips.Liz sucked in a deep breath, her lips tingling from his heated gaze.
She watched as Max's soulful eyes went to half-mast as he slowly camecloser to her lips with his own.She felt his breath on her lips right before he opened his mouth over hers in a sweet, but intense kiss.
She remembered the first kiss a few months ago, the sweet gentle probing and tasting of each other. Then she remembered the loss of control kiss in the eraser room the next day, and the passionate kiss in the hot tub. Each kiss with Max was different, yet equally as stimulating, as exciting, and as new as the first one.
Liz sighed into his mouth as he opened his wider over hers, as if he couldn't get enough of her. When she felt his tongue slip between her teeth and search out her own she moaned and grabbed his shoulders, then slid her hands around his neck and just held on. Just a kiss from Max Evans, and Liz's head spun.
She tentatively touched her tongue to his and tasted him.
Max's whole body was burning. He had Liz all wrapped around him, kissing him back with all the passion he could feel from her, and they were barely wearing anything. Max didn't know if he could hold out. Maybe he shouldn't have brought her so far from everyone else. He had to stop this.
Then Liz's hand wandered around to his chest and started caressing his muscles and he knew she was trying to memorize every muscle and ridge she caressed on his chest. Max groaned and kissed her deeper. Just another minute and he would stop them, just one more kiss.
Liz ached. Max knew he should stop them, but he couldn't. He had been in love with Liz since he'd first laid eyes on her, and here with her, all hot and soft in his arms, and wanting him as much as he wanted her, Max lost what little control he had left.
Max took her mouth in a deep kiss. Giving her all of his passion and love in that kiss. He took his tongue to the farthest reaches of her throat, and caressed her mouth completely, not leaving an inch of it un-tasted.
When Liz arched up into him, to get closer, he jerked up. God, what were they doing?! Max started to clear his head, his love for Liz and protecting her, foremost in his mind.
Liz felt him start to pull away, and she whimpered. "Max, no, please. I need you!"
"Liz! God, Liz," Max said and put his forehead to hers, and just stayed frozen where he was. "We can't, love." He groaned. It killed him to stop. He shouldn't have brought her out here. Knowing that their special connection gave them no control.
"Max, I'm on the pill. I've been on the pill for a year. I have an irregular cycle," she explained, knowing his biggest concern.
Max sucked in his breath. God he didn't want to hear that. The last of his willpower fell away. He was too inexperienced, too in love, and too far-gone, to not give them both what they needed more than anything right then.
Slowly Max gave up the fight and did what his body was screaming at him to do. Liz, too, was beyond control. She just wanted Max. All of her logic disappeared when she was with Max. When they connected.
Liz caressed his chest and neck and face. Her eyes never left his, and she could feel what he was feeling, their connection so intense. Max leaned down and kissed a trail of light kisses up her chest, and buried his face in her neck for a minute, breathe in the scents of Liz, and then with his mouth open, he dragged it up her neck, over her jaw and cheek bone, and to her own, waiting, trembling mouth.
Max took her mouth as he did her body, deeply and lovingly. He caressed every inch of her mouth, and ran his tongue around her parted lips, and then tickled the very corners of her mouth with his tongue. He felt Liz smile and he smiled. Then he again covered her mouth completely and started deep lazy strokes into her mouth with his tongue.
Liz moved first. She followed the rhythm that Max tongue had taken, and started to move her body.
"I love you, Liz. I always have," he whispered hoarsely, and then started to move with her. Then he was kissing her again. Kissing her with love and gentle caresses. Letting her know how special she was to him.
Liz sighed and met his kisses. Her slender arms encircled his strong neck, and her fingers gently caressed his strong muscular back.
Later, Max slowly eased out of Liz's arms. They had to get back. How long had they been gone? How had he let this happen?
Liz saw the little frown start between Max's eyes and she lifted her hand and eased the tiny worry line between his brow. "Max, I love you. You are the only one for me. Please don't have misgivings now. I couldn't stand it," she whispered.
"No, Liz, not misgivings. I'm not sorry that I loved you. I just feel like I should have been more responsible. Liz, we don't know that this can work. The two of us are so different," he started to explain, not sure himself what he was trying to say.
Liz smiled. "I don't know. I think it worked very well myself," she teased.
Max grinned at her and then kissed her hand that had once again cupped his face. He knew what she was trying to tell him. That it was too late to worry. And maybe she was right. They were meant.
Max knew that over the last few months, his feelings for her had intensified. The danger all around them in Roswell, and the thought that it could be Liz that had disappeared, was never far from Max's mind. The fact that he might never have seen her again had only made him need her more. And he knew she had felt the same way.
They had bonded even more, all those nights that Max had slept on the chair outside Liz's window, with her wrapped in his arms. He sighed, knowing this had been inevitable. And no, he wasn't sorry. He could never be sorry for loving Liz. Giving her what they both needed so much. They had bonded in every way up until now, and this had just been inevitable for the final part of their bonding.
When Max left Liz's arms, she shivered. She felt empty and chilled. Max's hot body had been like a warm blanket over her protecting her from the breeze from the ocean.Max knew what Liz was feeling, for he felt it too, the loss of connection.
He helped her dress, and let her help him. These little personal things they did for each other after their intense loving, was needed as much as the loving had been.
The shadow crept away, his fury building. How dare Max make love to Liz Parker! And here he had thought that maybe, just maybe, Liz had been pure enough for him. Good enough for him. For he had believed that her heart had been good and pure, and that maybe he had finally found a girl that he would keep. Instead of angrily tossing them away in disappointment when they betrayed him.
Max Evans had everything. He hated Max. He had always hated Max. And now, it was going to be Max's turn to pay. But not tonight. Tonight they were safe from his plans. He would not betray himself yet. Not let the people of Roswell realize how close among them their hell was. For if he did take someone from Roswell here, they would know it was someone on this trip. And he was not about to get caught.
He had gone years out-witting them. He would not ruin it now in a moment of anger.All the plans he had been making over the years.
But he needed to vent his anger somewhere. He turned toward the quiet end of the boardwalk ahead, looking for just the right prey. Someone local, so as not to be connected with Roswell.