Title: Chances
Author: Lusmeitli
Rating: NC-17
Show: DA
Disclaimer: They’re still not mine
and I still have no money, so don’t sue
Genre: Angst/Romance
Pairing: same old, same old
Summary: Max realises that she never
gave Alec a chance in the first place. But is it too late?
A/N: I
know you’re terribly intrigued by this o ever so clever summary of mine. But before
you read this, I think you should know that I’m going to pretend a few things
like: a. Biggs didn’t die, b. Cece didn’t die, c. I
have lots of money so I can buy the show, let the nuns write the screenplay and
air the show again. Doc, if you couldn’t have guessed by his name, is the
doctor of TC. I might also add that I was not exactly in a jolly mood when I
wrote this. So maybe it’s a bit more angsty.
Alec sighed. He had to wait an
entire working day to get on his machine and race through the streets.
Throughout the whole day he was thinking about the moment when he finally would
get on his machine, kick-start it, rev the engine and speed off. How the machine would vibrate between his legs, how the sound of
the engine would seem like a sweet song to his ears, how the wind would feel on
his face. How in a curve he would push his machine down with his knee,
till the footpeg nearly touched the ground and then accelerate his way out of
the curve, using his other knee to push the machine back up. With every
delivered package this blissful moment so yearningly awaited came nearer.
It had all started out as a normal
day. He got up, took a shower, got dressed, headed for work. After his first
delivery, it had happened.
Flashback
Max stood by the lockers, glaring at
him as soon as he entered the building.
“Okay, what did I do now?“ he asked.
She just pouted her lips and
continued glaring at him. Whilst opening his locker, Alec mentally checked his
peccadillo-list. But he couldn’t find anything that might cause her anger, so
he thought it was the usual reason: Just because he was Alec. That seemed to be
good enough a reason for Max to be pissed off for a whole day, even a whole
week. Just the sight of him seemed to make her feel sick.
Alec sighed. Sometimes he felt
terribly tired and sick of this game. No matter how hard he tried to be a good
guy, to turn his life upside down for her royal highness to please, it never
was enough. So right at that moment he decided to not try to please her
anymore. He would manage somehow not to care about that anymore. Hell,
Manticore made him not care anymore a couple of times and he was quite
reluctant then. He knew the methods, so he could eventually use them.
He closed his locker and faced her
glare yet again.
“What?“ he
asked calmly.
“You’re such a screw up,“ she hissed.
“It would help if I knew what I screwed
up this time,“ he retorted.
She crossed her arms in front of her
chest. “Just a general remark.“
He felt resignation and hurt wash
trough him. He mumbled “Go figure“ and went to
Biggs hit him on his shoulder. “What
did she say?”
Alec glanced at Max and sighed: “You
know, the usual lovers’ talk. You screwed up, blah blah, you’re
a jerk, yadda yadda.”
Whilst pedalling trough the streets
with Biggs, he felt the lump in his throat grow bigger and bigger. By the end
of his tours, it was so big, he couldn’t swallow it anymore. It made him feel
cold.
End of flashback.
He didn’t go to Crash that night. He
had something else on his mind. He had to make himself not care. And the first
step to that was his bike. He hurried home to TC, to the garage - and there it
was. His KTM Duke II 640. Relief washed through him by
the comforting feel of the cold metal underneath his fingertips.
He got on the bike and let his hands
wander along the curves of the tank, then kick-started it, revved the engine
and sped off. With every changed gear, he felt the lump in his throat melt a
bit. By the time he had left the city behind, he finally allowed all the
emotions to come up.
So he wasn’t exactly the man a
mother would wish as husband for her overprotected daughter. That was okay with
him. Because he didn’t want any missy in his life. He
wanted someone who knew life and wasn’t afraid to stand up to it. Someone
like... Max.
He felt lonely and alone. He had
come to
A sudden thought struck his mind. If
Rachel had known him the way Max did, would she have turned her back on him
too? Would she have wished him out of her life too? He would never know. But he
did know that Max had never really given him a chance. Maybe he hadn’t tried
hard enough. Maybe he had and just didn’t want to accept that the one he loved
simply didn’t like him.
Yes, he loved her. So much it scared
him. But his love was unrequited. For a short instant he mused what Max would
say if he told her he loved her. Either she would die in a violent fit of
laughter or kick his ass to the moon. Though the latter would
be more likely. That thought hurt. Actually, thinking of Max generally hurt.
He had tried really hard to show her
that he had changed. And he had. It was not as if he was playing some kind of farce.
He had tried to show her that he wasn’t as bad as she thought. He had tried to
make up to her for all the things he had messed up. He had tried to apologise
to her. As she didn’t want to accept his apology in words, he had tried to show
her by actions that he really meant it. Never mind what a Sisyphean task it
was.
He was glad that she had stepped
into his life and turned it upside down. But he thought she was unfair to him.
He at least deserved a chance. She was all gentle and understanding, when it
came to other transgenics or transhumans. She always went „o, I understand,
it’s not easy to live here, to be free, you poor thing have been through so
much, but I’ll help you, you do great“. That sort of thing.
Support was what they called it.
But when it came to him, she applied
a completely different standard. Somehow she expected him to know all those
things others were allowed to discover and explore. Somehow she expected him to
never slip up, whilst others could make as many mistakes as they wanted to. She
would understand. But when it came to him, she never even bothered hearing him
out. Somehow she didn’t seem to care whether he adjusted or not.
Maybe it was because he reminded her
so much of Ben. Of course that must bring back painful memories she long tried
to bury inside. He had never blamed her for having killed his twin. Not once.
He had given her the chance to explain, he had listened and understood.
Maybe it was because each time she
looked at him, she was reminded of that moment of
weakness, when she had saved his life and given up on the antigen. But then, she
could have just let him die. She didn’t, for whatever reason.
Maybe it was her frustration about
Or maybe it was just because she was
unable to cope with her troubles in life in general and had to take it out on
someone. And since he was around, why not on him? Bad weather?
Blame it on Alec. Shoelace torn? Alec’s
fault. Out of shampoo? Kick Alec’s ass. Want to feel better? Hit Alec. Of
course he was sort of offering her to pick on him. Apart from
just existing and being around. He usually would retort to her bitching.
He admitted that much. Maybe she took it out on him because he was the only one
up to take her on. Both verbally and physically.
Naturally, he had never let it come to the physical part. Well, apart from that
one time at
Still… Didn’t she see that he was
crazy for her? Everyone else at Jam Pony and some at
Of course, he could always leave the
city and her behind. But then, that definitely would court her resentment. And
he couldn’t bare the thought that the only person in the world he ever truly
and wholeheartedly cared about thought ill of him for the rest of her life.
Besides, he had somehow settled in in TC. He had
found some friends. Maybe not old cronies, but still,
friends.
Alec blinked away the stinging at
the back of his eyes. He slowed down, pulled over and brought his bike to a halt.
He leaned over the tank and hid his face in his crossed arms. O he was so
tired. Tired of trying to do the right thing and never
winning her benevolence – or at least something else than her hate –, tired of
feeling lonely and alone, tired of the hurt. He was tired of waking to yet
another day Max would find ways to make him feel sorry for something he didn’t
do. The coldness of the night crept up on him, chilling him to the bone,
creeping through his body into his soul. The only warmth he felt right now
radiated from the motor of his bike. The lump in his throat was back and bigger
than ever. He sat up again.
So this was it. He took a couple of
deep breaths, closed his eyes and concentrated. He mentally put the resignation
in a box, labelled it and locked it away. He put the frustration in a box,
labelled it and locked it away. He put the hurt in a box, labelled it and
locked it away. He put the memories of her shouting at him in a box, labelled
it and locked it away. Then he put his love for her in a box.
When he opened his eyes again, the
lump in this throat was gone. He didn’t feel good, he didn’t feel bad. He felt
indifferent. Time to get back to the city.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Alec behaves all weird,” Max
complained to OC.
“Weird, suga’?” OC slammed her locker shut and watched Max watching
Alec who stood by
“Yes, weird,” Max insisted. OC gave
her a questioning look and she sighed. “Well, a week ago I called him a screw
up and he looked at me with those hurt puppy eyes and went off like a dog with
its tail between its legs. And then, all of a sudden he just smiles and acts as
if I just said ‘lovely weather we’re having’.”
“Your point being?” asked OC.
Max slammed her hands onto the bench
she was sitting on. “Weird! This is not the Alec I know!”
OC sat down next to her friend and
made her look at her. “Suga’, you ain’t very nice to
Alec.” Max wanted to object, but OC stopped her by waving her hand. “You’ve rarely
been. You never gave this boy a chance, boo. And I’m startin’
to think that maybe you should.”
Max pouted her lips and crossed her
arms, ready to give her opinion on the matter, but OC stopped her once again.
“Boo, Alec’s changed. He ain’t no longer a screw up.
He’s done some great work for TC and Logan AND for you. But you never see. All
you do is blame him for no reason. And you hurt him. Don’t think Alec can hide
that from OC. Maybe,” she closed with a look towards Alec, “maybe, he finally
found a way to deal with it.” She sighed and patted Max on her shoulder. “I
know truth hurts, boo, but you needed some plain-talking.”
Max felt awkwardly taken aback by OC’s monologue. She still sat on the bench after OC had
long gone and stared at the spot where Alec had stood until some moments ago.
Did she really alienate him? No, she didn’t, she just gave him what he
deserved, for he screwed up everything, like, like…… Max was dumbfounded as
realisation hit her. He hadn’t screwed up anything since…. well, since at least
half a year. At the very least.
Cindy’s words echoed in her head:
“You never gave this boy a chance, boo. And I’m startin’
to think that maybe you should.” They didn’t leave her mind and she carried
them home that night.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Alec was at Crash. He was flirting
with a fake blonde. Well, no, she was flirting with him. She was hanging on
every word that passed his lips, laughing too often and too loud, her intentions more than obvious to Alec. He could hold a
speech on the use of matchsticks and she still would laugh. He was certain that
she didn’t remember one second of their conversation. Well, it was not memorable
anyway. As he glanced over his shoulder, he saw Max sitting on a table with OC.
He sighed inwardly. He had locked all those boxes away, but his love for her...
He just couldn’t do it.
All right, time for the big escape.
He put some green on the counter and turned to the blonde: “I must whiz. Thanks
for the lovely conversation.“ He didn’t bother that
his companion eagerly ran after him, trying to cling to his hand, babbling some
nonsense. He just walked up the steps and out of Crash. He could feel Max’ eyes
burn holes into his back, but he didn’t turn around. He didn’t notice someone else
follow them up the stairs.
Outside Crash, the blonde flung her
arms around his neck. “Are we goin’ to your place?“ Alec freed himself of her sticky arms. She was sweating
considerably. He shrugged the thought off.
“Sorry honey, I’m gonna call it a night.“
“O, but I WANT you, NOW,“ the blonde cried out desperately.
Alec raised an eyebrow. “Look, Tess...“
“My name’s JESS,“
blondie interfered.
“Whatever, I’m really tired and I
want to go to bed. ALONE.“ He softly but firmly pushed
her away from him and turned around to walk away. But she hurried after him on
her high heels, throwing her arms around his neck again.
“O no! You can’t leave me,“ she said. “Give me at least a kiss!”
The tone of her voice caught Alec’s
interest. She was nervous. He felt her sticky, sweaty hands around his neck. Her
lips were pursed. He glanced at her forehead and saw drops of sweat. The smell
of sour, biting sweat penetrated his senses. She was very nervous indeed. He
caught her glimpse to something behind them. His hair stood up at the back. It
was too late.
“You bitch,“
he growled, before a short series of shots exploded through the night. Alec
felt each bullet hit his body in slow motion. He felt the burning, as the small
leads ripped through his clothes, skin, muscles and bones. He felt how some
exited his body at the front. *Not a good shot,* flashed though his mind. *Too
scattered, not aimed for the heart.* He felt the instant nausea and weakness.
The power of the bullets hitting on him forced him down on his knees. That
bitch had tricked him into a trap. Whilst falling, he registered that the
blonde had already hit the floor, being killed by the two bullets that had
passed right through his body into hers. Judging from the astounded look on her
face, whoever it was that had attacked him, had ‘omitted’ certain details of
the plan.
The sharp pain seared through him as
something warm started to trickle down his body where it had been hit. His
vision blurred as he heard some shouting and footsteps in the distance.
Everything seemed to be put on slow motion, his hearing, his feeling, even his
vision, as he watched the concrete slowly approach his face. He felt the thud
as his face hit the ground merely inches from the glassy staring blonde. Then
darkness claimed him.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Alec!“ OC
hurried to his form, seconds after he had hit the ground. She kneeled and
turned his slumped figure. “Alec? Do you hear me?“
His eyes were closed, his face pale.
OC looked down at the blood on the concrete, on his clothes, on her clothes and
on her hands. She started to panic. What if Alec died right here in her arms?
He might be a super soldier, but there was only so much he could take. He
couldn’t die! He had to be there for Max, she had just about succeeded to talk
some sense into her boo, he was the only one who could make her boo happy and
he just couldn’t die now!
“Max?!!!“
She called out. “MAX!!!”
“Somebody help!“
She shouted, tears streaming down her face as she rocked Alec’s body close to
hers.
* * * * * * * * *
“What happened?“
Max asked, her face pale as she watched Alec’s still figure through the glass.
They had taken him to TC’s infirmary, it was safest
for him.
OC stepped beside her, her hands and
clothes still covered in his blood. “I saw him with that chick, I know her from
somewhere, just can’t remember right now. Just had a bad feelin’. So I followed them outside. She tricked him
into a trap. They shot him into his back, killed blondie
too. Then they ran off.“ She turned to Max. “He didn’t
do anything, Max. He was just.... Alec.“ Tears welled
up in her eyes.
Max turned to face her friend. Her
shaken, blood smeared appearance made her almost cry too. Instead, she
swallowed down her tears and took her friend in her arms. “He was just... Alec.“ Those words haunted her. She had constantly pushed him
away, hurt him, bossed him around, bitched at him for the same reason. Because he was just Alec. She felt a wave of guilt wash
through her as her eyes wandered to Alec again. He looked so.... lost. He was
always there for her when she needed him and when he most needed her, she
wasn’t there.
The Cece
came out of his room. “You can go in and see him now,“
she said and added hesitantly: “We did our best, Max, but we’re not sure
whether he’ll survive the night. I’ll be next doors.“
She nodded sympathetically and walked off.
OC shoved her towards the door. “Go
on in, I’ll wait here.“
Max took a deep breath and pushed
the door open. It was one thing to watch Alec through a pane which spared her
the beeping and whirring noises of the machines that were connected to him. But
it was something different to actually hear the breathing and his heart beat.
And yet again, it was something completely different to smell him. Underneath
all the sterile smell, there was a strange sweetish scent. It sent shivers down
her spine and her mind was hit by sudden flashbacks of moments she had inhaled
that scent. She knew it all too well. It was the scent of someone having been
shot, the scent of great pain, the scent of blood.
Max’ stomach rebelled, but she
struggled, closed her eyes, concentrated and then stepped to the bed. Alec had
always struck her as a strong, elegant, agile man with handsome features with
very expressive eyes. They were closed now, so she couldn’t read them. His
features were very pale, almost of the same colour as the white bed linen. One
could have thought he was simply sleeping, if it weren’t for the big cut on his
forehead, caused when he hit the ground. His chest was bare, but for the wires
attached to it and the dressings and bandages covering his chest, indicating
there were some more on his back. His hands lay by his sides. An IV penetrated
his delicate skin at one hand.
Max didn’t hold back her tears any
longer. She softly grabbed his free hand and sobbed at the coolness that met
her skin. Cece had put a chair close to his bed and
Max sat down, pulling it as close as possible to the bed. She encircled his
hand with both of hers, stupidly hoping that her warmth would radiate onto him
and bring him back. What she would give for one of his annoying remarks right
now. Just to see this cocky grin would be the greatest gift in the world to
her.
She looked at the machines in the
room. This was all Alec’s doing. He had provided all sorts of things for the
infirmary. She never asked him how he managed to supply all these things, after
he arrived at TC with the stuff the first time. He had had a big content grin
on his face. “Look, Maxie, I have a surprise for
you!” He had looked all anxious to show her his surprise.
He had opened the doors of the van
and dramatically waved with his hands. “Ta-da!” he
sang. She took a quick look at the boxes at front and then had exploded. She
had bawled him out why he was running after stupid medical machines when they
needed to find much more important computer hardware for
“You know how I hate hospitals,” he
had said and started to unload the van, “besides, I thought it might be a good
idea to have our own hospital so we don’t need to worry about any tests or
being discovered or having White paying us a visit whilst patching up our
injured.”
She now felt shame surge up as her
eyes wandered over the machines and the room again. He probably wouldn’t be
alive anymore if he hadn’t provided the medical necessities himself. He had, in
a way, saved his own life.
“Alec...“ she
said, her voice thick with tears and pain. “I’m so sorry, Alec. For being so
blind, for being so mean, for not wanting to see, for… everything.” She
carefully clung onto his hand, bringing it to her face, kissing it with
trembling lips and resting it against her forehead.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Max spent the entire night by his
side, holding his hand, silently praying, alarmed each time Cece
entered the room to check on him. Cece glanced at her
once and then softly said: “I am sure it will do him good to have you here.
Talk to him.”
“Can he hear me?” Max asked.
Cece checked on the
IV. “Honestly? I don’t know. But it sure won’t do any harm.”
She turned to leave the room. “Cece?” She stopped and turned around again.
“Could you please take care of OC?”
Max asked.
“Why certainly,” she said and quietly
left the room.
Max scanned her brain. “Talk to
him.” Yeah, but about what? So she started to tell him
about her day at work, describing each delivery very detailed. She told him
about her plans for TC. Then she stopped and looked at him. She sighed heavily.
“Alec, it’s horrifying to see you
like this. All quiet and so pale........,” she tried to blink the tears away,
in vain. “Oh, Alec...” In this moment, her pager went off. She looked at the
number.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Max woke up when someone gently
placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Joshua and Cindy. She got up
and let go of Alec’s hand to be comforted with a warm hug from the dogman.
“Alec all right?” he asked. Max
sighed into the hug and disengaged from his arms.
“The Doc and Cece
told me that he’ll be fine.” She turned to OC. “And how are you?”
Cindy gave her a comforting smile
and pulled her into a hug. “I’m fine, Cece took good care of me. Shame she’s straight.”
Max smiled slightly at that comment.
OC’s eyes displayed concern. Not
only for Alec, but for Max too. She had puffy eyes and she looked
worried.
“Listen, Max, apparently
Joshua nodded. “Mole very annoyed.
Threatened to leave TC and go and shoot
“I’ve got more important things on
my mind now than that. It’s not as if I’m the only transgenic he could ask for
help,” Max stated furiously.
“Why don’t you tell him yourself?”
OC suggested.
“I will,” she fumed and headed for
the door. “I won’t be long, stay here with him, talk to him, he seems to like
it.”
With that, she was out the door.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Max stormed up the stairs to the
head quarter. She was fuming and the people that crossed her path didn’t dare
talk to her. She heard Mole instantly.
”If that son of a bitch is gonna call once more, I’m
seriously gonna enjoy killing him,” he growled.
Biggs was rather busy trying to calm
the lizard-man down. “Easy, easy, why don’t we just go outside for a nice
smoke? Look what a fine cigar I have here…” Both men watched Max storm by them
and stop in front of the computer.
Max hit enter and sat down. “
The screen showed a baffled
“So what?” Max snapped.
“Well, it was important,”
“Because?”
Mole, Biggs, Dix and others didn’t
try to hide their curiosity and stepped closer to Max.
Max’ nostrils slowly began to flare.
“And you couldn’t have possibly asked any of the MANY other transgenics?”
“Well,”
“Did the thought cross your mind
that I might be busy worrying my ass off over Alec?” she shouted.
“He was shot yesterday, he’s very
badly injured.” Max’ voice could be much more sharper
than
“Well, my condolences. About that IT
device, Max, what I need is a special proce–“
He was cut off. Max had disconnected
the line. Everyone stared at her, astounded.
“How DARE he?” she fumed.
That moment, the computer beeped
again, announcing an incoming call. Max turned and hit enter, but before
She quickly glanced around, said:
“Alec will be fine,” and hurried back to the infirmary, leaving some rather
confused transgenics and transhumans behind.
“Biggs,
buddy,” Mole smiled, “let’s go for a smoke. I need a cigar after that.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When Alec woke up, Cece leaned over him. “Welcome back,” she said and smiled.
He felt terrible. His whole body
seemed to be one big ache. He blinked and noticed that he was at TC’s infirmary. Connected to machines he had provided.
*Such an irony,* he thought.
“What happened?” he asked with a
throaty voice.
Cece filled him in
on the details, then Doc stepped into Alec’s view.
“Four bullets, two straight though, one made a little bit of a mess in your
left side and the other was stuck in a rib, after nearly having perforated your
lungs.” He watched Alec faintly shrug and smiled. “You have a nasty cut on your
forehead though.”
“Cruel bastards,” Alec said dryly.
“We patched you up best as we could
and you’ll be all right in a couple of days, given your revved up body,” Cece added and Doc nodded in agreement.
“Thanks,” he shifted slightly
uncomfortably. “How long have I been out?”
Doc sighed. “Five days. We had to
keep you from moving around and risking a reopening of the wounds.”
“So you gave me a little extra
sleep?” Doc nodded. Alec smiled. “Now, what’s for dinner and where are my
visitors?”
Cece grinned. “You
already have two waiting outside and I am quite sure someone will be very
thrilled to hear that you’re up again.”
Alec raised his eyebrow at the last
bit, but decided to ignore it. “Wave them in.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
OC was quite relieved to finally see
him up and alive again. She hugged him carefully, but warmly. “You scared me to
death, boo,” she said.
“I heard you saved my life. Thank
you,” Alec said, his warm, grateful eyes making her
want to cry.
”Stop that mushy talkin’. I just hailed an ambulance,
that’s all,” she said, trying to blink the tears away. Alec understood that she
didn’t want to talk about it, so he gave it a rest.
Joshua stepped to Alec and hugged
him too, though not as careful as Cindy, making Alec
nearly jump. “Joshua so happy Alec’s all right again!” He let go of Alec’s body
and beamed at him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Alec still wondered who that person
was who would be thrilled to hear that he was all right again. For the only
visitors he had had were OC, Joshua, Mole and Biggs. Mole and Biggs had looked
glad that he was up again, but not exactly thrilled, so maybe it was someone
else? But who?
Two days after he had woken up, Max
stepped into his room and sat down onto the very far end of his bed. He was
surprised to see her. “Max.”
She looked different. She looked....
he couldn’t quite say how she looked. Different was just the best word to
describe it.
They sat there for the longest time.
He didn’t know what to say and she didn’t know how to say it. Finally, Max
blurted out: “I’m so glad you’re better!” and flung her arms around him.
Alec was thunderstruck. He had
expected her to shout at him, at the very best just sit there and punish him
with silence and glares. But having her flung around his neck was slightly
bewildering and confusing. He sat there petrified. He felt her body start to
shake as she realised he wasn’t hugging her back. He heard her soft sobs that
constantly grew louder.
“I-h… am….
so-h…. so-h-orry,” she sobbed into his shoulder.
“I-h… didn’t mean to be-h so mean to-h you-hu-hu… Oh
Alec-h….”
This was strange. It was weird. Max sobbing. What was this all about? Until four days ago,
she didn’t give a damn about him and now this? What had caused her sudden
change of attitude? This sudden burst of emotion? He
still sat there, unmoving. The sobbing got harder and he felt tears soak his
t-shirt. Her hands desperately clung to him.
“O-h Alec-h… I beg you-h…please accept my-h apolo-h-gy! I’ve be-h-haved like a co-h-omplete idiot…I
never meant to-h hurt you-h… I was so-h blind… I’m so sorry, so-h sorry…”
For a long instant, Alec was tempted
to close his eyes and wrap his arms around her. He smelt her shampoo and her
skin. But he clenched his teeth, grabbed her arms and pushed her gently away
from him.
“Max, what is this all about? It was
not your fault that I was shot,” he started, but she shook her head.
“No, it’s not tha-h-at,”
she searched his face. She was afraid to tell him, she was afraid of so many
things, but she was scared by his face. It was hard. But his eyes told her that
he had an emotional storm raving inside too.
She took a couple of deep breaths
and continued: “I’m so sorry for all the mean things I said. So sorry for
blaming you for everything that went wrong in my life. So
sorry for having hurt you. So sorry for not giving you
a chance.”
His features softened,
the storm in his eyes wilder than before.
“I was so blind. Please, forgive
me,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
He took in her sight. She had puffy
eyes, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were pleading.
It pained him to see her like that, suffering, insecure, begging. He lifted his
hand to a strand of hair and softly tucked it behind her ear. She closed her
eyes at this gesture and he felt the desire to take her into his arms and kiss
her blind well up.
“Everybody deserves a second chance,
Max” he said quietly.
Her eyes sprung open at his words
and filled with tears again. “But I never even gave you a first chance,” she
whispered.
He moved his hand to the back of her
head and pulled her to him. He wanted to kiss her so bad, but he didn’t want to
scare her. Instead, he placed his lips on her forehead and closed his eyes, as
her arms encircled him once again. This time he hugged her back. He swallowed
hard at the feeling of her warm body pressed to hers, her hot breath tickling
the skin of his sensitive throat.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“OC, we need to talk,” Max said and
sat down opposite her friend, who had her dinner at Jam Pony.
“Shoot,” OC said, before biting into
a sandwich.
“Hypothetical situation,” Max
started. ”A girl, tow guys. She thinks she’s in love with the first guy, but
she can’t be together with him…”
“Highly hypothetical indeed,” Cindy
muttered.
“…the other guy drives her nuts, she
treats him like shit and suddenly her friend opens her eyes…”
“Fine friend,” OC stated, smiling.
“…and the girl finally sees that the
first guy is crap and the second guy is hot. Can you follow?”
“You betcha,”
OC said and took another bite of the sandwich.
Max shuffled put her hands onto the
table. “So if said hypothetical girl wants to be together with hypothetical
second guy, what would she have to do?”
“Hypothetically?” Max nodded. OC
leaned forward and smiled at Max. “Stay with the first guy.” She watched as
Max’ face fell and laughed. “So we’re talking hypothetically, huh?” She
chuckled. “Boo, just dump
Max sighed relieved. “Yeah, but
how?”
OC grinned. “Well, try the
hypothetical story on him, he’s bright, he’ll get it.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Two days later, Alec was allowed to
go back home to his apartment. Max had left his room shortly after their
embrace and had turned up twice a day to say hi. He was quite confused by the
looks she threw his way. If it weren’t Max, he seriously would have thought she
desired him. But, as already mentioned, this was Max.
So Alec walked towards his apartment,
Biggs accompanying him, despite Alec’s multiple assuring that he was all right
and didn’t need any help. It was true, for he felt a lot better. The wounds
were healing just fine, he didn’t need any more bandages and the scars would
disappear in a few weeks. All he really wanted was a hot shower and his bed.
Biggs stayed, to make sure he was
okay. “This is ridiculous,” Alec complained, “I don’t need a nanny.”
But Biggs sat down on the couch,
turned on the telly and said: “Kiddy goes take shower,
nanny watches telly.”
Alec sighed and disappeared in the
bathroom. This really was just plain ridiculous. The wounds were doing fine, he
felt okayish, a little bit wobbly in the knees,
perhaps, but he was nearly pain-free. Of course, certain areas still felt a
little tense when he did certain movements. But that would go away in a couple
of days.
He undresses and turned on the
shower. He stepped under the water jet and sighed contently. This was exactly
what he had wanted to do as soon as Cece had
announced that he could go home. Alec enjoyed the hot water run over his body.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Max opened the door and entered
Alec’s flat. Biggs looked at her in surprise, but he threw a look to the
bathroom door and then back to Max and quickly got up and left. Max sat down on
the couch. She switched off the TV and sat back. She was nervous. Very nervous. She couldn’t stop thinking about him. It was
time she let him know.
She had been afraid that
“I want to break up with you, Logan. There’s
no use in holding up this farce. We both know that what we feel for each other
is not love, but rather the joy over a lucrative joint venture.”
The lizard-man had a very big grin
on his face after they had left. Of course,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And now she sat here, waiting for
Alec. She had no clue what she would do or say, but she would figure out
something as soon as the sound of running water would stop and he would come
out of the shower.
The sheer thought of him in the
shower made her heart beat faster. She looked at the watch on the counter. How
much longer did this shower go? She was up and about to go and check on him,
when the water stopped. She sat back down again, nervous.
The bathroom door opened and Alec
exited, a soft whirl of steam streaming out of the bathroom behind him. Max
watched him and subconsciously licked her lips. He wore nothing but a towel
around his waist. His hair was dripping wet. Water drops shimmered on his
shoulders, chest and abs.
It was as if Alec had expected her
to sit there instead of Biggs. His eyes were dark.
“Alec, we need to talk,” she
started.
He slowly moved across the room,
causing some drops to melt together and slowly make their way down his body to
be soaked up by his towel. Max followed a drop’s path from his shoulder down
his perfect chest, over a healing wound and over his abs, missing the navel by
an inch and, finally, before being able to sneak down any further, be absorbed
by his towel. Her eyes rested at the rim of the towel where the drop’s voyage
had cruelly been stopped. She wondered how his skin felt and wanted to let her
fingers and mouth follow the drop’s path. A sudden heat let her flush. Words
left her.
„Max.“
His husky voice brought her back to
reality and she met his eyes. He had watched her watch him and he now felt a
primitive content when he saw her eyes, darkened with desire. Her eyes were
like magnets, pulling him to her. And he didn’t resist. He couldn’t even if he
wanted to. She licked her lips again. That was when he lost control. She jumped
up and met him half way, nearly jumping at the feel of his hands cupping her
face and his lips crushing down on hers. Electricity shot through them at their
touch. Max slipped her hands around his waist and caressed his wet back, making
him shiver and his kiss grew more passionate. Their lips opened and their
tongues met, eagerly probing and trying the other. Max moaned at his taste, it
was addictive.
Alec’s hands wandered down Max’
shirt and pulled it up and over her head. It landed somewhere on the floor,
quickly followed by shoes and her jeans. Alec guided Max to the couch and
softly laid her down. He stared at the beauty before him and met her lips once
again in a hungry kiss. He slowly moved down her body, making sure he didn’t
touch her, but taking her in with his eyes.
A water drop fell from his hair and
softly landed on her stomach. Max stared at the drop and then back into Alec’s
eyes. They were burning and he slightly smiled as his lips eagerly dove down to
lick it up. He groaned at the taste of her skin. The goose bumps and the
arching of her back told him that she liked it too.
Another drop landed on her left
breast, soaking through the tissue of her bra. His hands slowly went around her
back, unhooking the clothing, making it join its comrades on the floor. There
was a tiny drop left on her skin and Alec closed his hot lips over it, softly
licking it up. His mouth wandered to her hardened nipple and softly sucked on
it. A small cry escaped Max’ lips and Alec smiled into her silky skin. He
fondled her other breast, with one hand, the other holding her still.
Alec bowed his head and nearly
rested it on her chest, but he only touched her with his wet hair, moving down
her body, leaving a wet trail on her skin. She gulped when she saw where he had
stopped, but all thoughts were banned from her mind when his lips attacked her
skin, following the drawn out path. She couldn’t think anymore, his lips drove
her crazy, his swirling and sucking tongue teasing her flesh, making it hard
for her to breathe. She almost stumbled over the edge right then. Her hands
lazily found their way back onto his skin, sliding up his back, resting in his
damp hair as he settled between her legs.
She opened her eyes and looked down
when he stopped his actions. She saw the hunger in his eyes. He licked his lips
and she subconsciously did the same, knowing what was to come. His eyes were
still locked with hers, when his tongue darted out to her aching centre and her
head fell back at the sensations shooting through her.
“Alec!“ she
moaned.
His skilled tongue licked, lightly
bit and soothed her clit, making her spiralling to heights, she’d never been to
before. He inserted a finger into her wet folds and inhaled sharply when he
felt how ready for him she was. She was so tight, it took all his will not to
lose it right then and there. He added another finger, softly stretching her
and starting at a slow rhythm to pump in and out of her. He continued to lick
her clit and to watch her, as she finally toppled over the edge and spiralled
down, crying out his name.
Alec withdrew his fingers from her,
softly blew on her shivering inner thighs and kissed his way up her body. His
lips sealed hers in a passionate kiss, which she eagerly returned, faintly
tasting herself on his tongue, making her moan. She slowly licked the few
remaining water drops from his shoulder, making him hiss in return. Her hands
pulled him closer to her, raging over his back and neck, softly caressing his barcode.
He groaned into their kiss. To feel her fingers on his skin drove him crazy.
He grabbed her left knee and softly
brought it up over his shoulder, motioning her other leg to wrap around his
waist. She gladly did and looked up into his eyes. They were dark, the fire in
them flickering dangerously. He placed his tip at her wet entry.
“Yours?“
she asked breathlessly, realising how important his answer was to her. She held
her breath.
His eyes softened, he cupped her
face with one hand and gave her a languished kiss. Then he parted and locked
his eyes with hers. He let his heart speak.
“Mine.“
With that he pushed all the way into her with one swift motion. They both
moaned at the sensation, both shuddering at their joining. They stilled for a
moment.
“Yours?“
Alec asked Max with a husky voice. He softly put his hand across her heart.
She nodded and put her hand across
his. “Mine.“
Her voice was full of emotion, tears
shimmering in her eyes. He bent down to give her a tender kiss. Then Alec
started to move in and out of her at a maddening pace. He moved her leg up
further, until it touched her shoulder, allowing him to penetrate even deeper
into her. His tip hit her cervix, causing her to shudder violently. Max
couldn’t move, as she was effectively pinned down onto the couch by his weight.
He continued his actions, slipping one hand down to where their bodies were
connected, rubbing her clit. Max’ eyes rolled back and fluttered shut.
“Max,“ he
breathed and moved faster and harder in and out of her, “look at me!“
She reluctantly opened her eyes and
met his gaze. The emotions displayed there, sent her over the edge into
blissful oblivion.
“Alec!“
Alec heard her cry. He felt her
clamp around him and pushed into her hard one more time, hitting her cervix again,
sending another shudder through her and him as she contracted around him. He
felt his release shoot into her body as the orgasm hit him hard.
He collapsed
over her and rested his head in the curve of her neck, kissing her sensitive
skin there. Her hands caressed his hair and his back. He gently slipped out of
her and turned them around. Max carefully avoided his wounds and nuzzled her
head to his chest. Her hand found his and their fingers interlaced intimately.
They lay in silence for a while.
“I’m glad we
talked,” Alec said with a smile and kissed her hair.
She looked
up to him with warm eyes. “Me too. Though,” a devilish grin spread on her face,
“there are certain aspects that need to be clarified. Elaborately.”
His eyes
darkened immediately. “Now that you mention it. That
asks for an immediate thorough discussion, don’t you think?”
She smiled
up to him and licked her lips as he moved his head closer. “Absolutely.”
Then his mouth claimed hers again.