| Part 91 ************** Max and Liz held hands, looking around at their classmates. �What do you want to do first?� Liz smiled, pulling Max towards the line for pictures. �Let�s get our pictures out of the way. I see everyone in line already.� Max let Liz pull him, joining their friends in line while they waited for their pictures to be taken. Isabel smiled at them, as she leaned into Alex�s embrace. �Hey, what took you guys so long?� Max stood behind Liz, wrapping his arms around her waist. �We went home for a little bit. Mom and dad got a little camera crazy. Actually, I think I�m still partially blind.� �I know, mom took like two rolls of film of me and Alex.� Maria shouted from the top of the line. �She couldn�t be any worse than my mom. She and Jim took pictures of me alone, then of me with Kyle, then me with Courtney, then me with Michael, then with the four of us.� Everyone giggled at Maria�s straightforwardness, knowing that her description of Amy Valenti was dead on. One by one each of the couples took their pictures together. Finally, Max and Liz stepped up to the somewhat tacky background, waiting for instructions from the photographer. �Alright. Aren�t we a handsome couple?� Max and Liz just exchanged a look, both of them trying their best not to laugh. Max leaned his forehead against Liz, his eyes staring deeply into hers, like a star-struck lover. He just couldn�t help himself. Before they realized what had happened, the photographer snapped a picture. �That was great. Now, how about we try it with the two of you facing each other, but your faces looking towards the camera?� Max and Liz did as they were told. Max placed his hands on Liz�s hips, pulling her closer to his body, while she placed her palm on his chest smiling towards the camera. The camera flashed again. The photographer stuck his head out from behind the camera. �You guys seem like you�ve done this before.� Max pulled Liz to his chest, placing a kiss on her forehead as he laughed. Liz placed her hand on his shoulder, her head falling backward as she laughed. The camera man unexpectedly took another shot, capturing the playful ease that Max and Liz seemed to radiate. They were the only couple where he hadn�t had to put them in a tacky pose. He had just let them be themselves, snapping up pictures when he could. The rest of the group made their way back onto the set, being arranged by the photo assistant so that they could take their group picture. �Ok, smile like you mean it!� All eight teenagers gave their cheesiest grins, letting the photographer take the picture. Alex mimicked the photographer in good jest, causing everyone to burst out laughing. The photographer, took another quick shot of the group laughing together, so carefree. �Thank you, ladies and gents.� ************** The group had found a table, putting their stuff on it, as they all headed out to the dance floor. Max pulled Liz as close to him as possible, not wanting to be apart from her. He buried his face in her neck, placing light kisses all the way down to her shoulder. Her skin was so soft, he couldn�t resist the urge to nip at her softness. Liz giggled, swaying her hips to the music. �Max, you do realize that this isn�t even a slow song, right?� Max pulled back, his amber eyes dancing with a playfulness that sparkled in the shining lights above them. �So?� Liz wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head towards hers. �But everyone�s staring at us.� Max twirled Liz in his arms, dipping her backwards before pulling her up again. �They�re only staring cos they�re jealous.� Liz looked at him with laughter in her eyes. �They�re jealous?� �Uh huh. They�re jealous because I have the most beautiful girl in the world, dancing in my arms.� He winked at her, giving her a roguish smile. Liz shook her head at him, her hand coming to rest on his chest as she kneaded his muscles softly. �Well, Mr. Evans. Keep laying it on thick, like that, and you may just get lucky tonight.� Max waggled his eyebrows at her, his hands passing over her tush, giving it a quick squeeze. �You promise?� The look of pure astonishment on Liz�s face caused a belly laugh to erupt from his lips. Liz nipped at his neck, her tongue sneaking out to ease away the pain. �Promise.� Before Max could retort, Kyle�s voice worked it�s way through his brain. �Hey, this is supposed to be a PG rated event.� Maria and Michael made their way to them, dancing to the music. �Yeah, you guys. Quit gettin� freaky on the dance floor.� Alex turned his head, yelling over the booming music. �Who�s gettin� freaky on the dance floor?� �Max and Liz.� Liz tried to glare at her friends, but it wasn�t working. �Funny you guys. Real funny.� She turned around, her burning face laying on Max�s chest. �Remind me again why these people are our friends?� Max just laughed, twisting them around. �Because, we love them, and they love us. Simple as that.� Liz looked up, her smile the mirror image of Max�s. �Simple as that, huh?� Max just nodded. �Yep, simple as that.� Part 92 Rated: NC-17 *********** The prom had come and gone. And pretty soon, everyone began parting ways, wanting to spend some quality alone time with their significant other. Max stood behind Liz, waiting for her to open the apartment door. She gave him a quick smile, leading him into the house. �I�m sorry about the mess, but I haven�t had much of a chance to clean up since I moved back in.� Liz had started walking to her room, but Max pulled her back, fusing his lips with hers. His warm breath tickled her skin, his hands caressing her face as he drank from her, tasting her with his mouth. With heavy pants, he pulled away, greedily sucking in air. He ran his hands up and down her bare arms, loving the feel of her warm skin in his palms. Sounding completely breathless, Liz kept her eyes closed, feeling slightly light headed after that kiss. �Wha- What was that for?� Max let his hand drift to Liz�s cheek, coming down to caress the base of her neck. �I�ve been waiting to do that all night.� Liz smiled, kissing his jaw. She linked their hands, pulling him towards her bedroom. �C�mon.� As they got there, Liz reached for the light switch, but decided against it. Instead, she lit up the candles that she had decoratively put around the room. Max had taken off his jacket, hanging it onto the back of her desk chair. He started with his tie, draping it on top of his jacket, then he unbuttoned the first few buttons of his white dress shirt, untucking it from his pants. He rolled up the sleeves, finally looking up to see Liz staring at him with unadulterated desire, making him shiver to the core. Liz had grown silent the moment Max had started making himself comfortable, her eyes glued to the skin of his chest, as he revealed more and more to her hungry eyes. His bronzed skin glistened in the candle light, making her heady for more. She swallowed convulsively, hoping to wet her parched throat. Their eyes met as he looked up, both of them sharing a heated stare. Max kicked off his shoes, walking towards Liz. �You don�t mind that I uh...� he motioned to the rest of his tux that was laid out over her chair. Liz shook her head, the dark curls of her hair bouncing atop her head. �N-no...I was....I was just about to tell you to get comfortable.� Liz sat on the bed, taking off her pumps, throwing them across the room. �If I never see those pair of shoes again, I�ll die a happy woman.� Max couldn�t resist the urge to laugh, taking a seat beside Liz on the bed. �What�s the matter? Why are you giving your shoes the evil eye?� Liz stopped sending death stares to her shoes from the corner of the room, turning to look at Max. �Well you try dancing and walking all night in heels, and let�s see if you�ll be singing a different tune.� �Come here.� Max leaned down, lifting Liz�s leg, taking her foot in his hands, giving it a gentle massage. At first, Liz had tried to pull away, embarrassed that Max was touching her feet, but he insisted that he wanted to do it for her. Liz could feel her head lolling backwards, the intense pleasure Max was giving to her feet was absolutely amazing. He had magic hands. The way he paid close attention to her abused feet told her how much he loved her. I mean, how many guys would willingly give their girl a foot rub out of the goodness of his heart? Right. I didn�t think so. Liz opened her eyes as Max switched feet, giving her other foot the same exquisite experience. Her eyes watched the way his hands, delicately rubbed the aches away, making her smile. All of a sudden, she pulled her feet away, upon seeing his hands. They reminded her of her plan. �Did I....was it not good?� Max fumbled a little, not exactly sure what he done wrong. He had been sure a minute ago that Liz was enjoying his foot massage, but the way she had so abruptly pulled her foot away told him otherwise. Liz shook her head. �No, no..it was absolutely perfect.� She reached out to stroke his face, gently running her fingertips across his cheek. �I just...well there was something I wanted to..uh....I wanted to ask you something before I completely lose my nerve, and well...I better do it now before I chicken out.� Max watched with unveiled amusement, as Liz babbled incessantly. She looked totally adorable when she did it. Not wanting to discourage her from continuing, Max just nodded, not speaking. Liz swallowed a few times, reaching for his hand. She traced his ring finger delicately, before placing a kiss on it. �Max, you know that this past year has been the best of my life. The day that you walked into the Crashdown, I knew that my life was gonna change forever. That because of you, the sun is always gonna shine brighter, and the birds are always gonna be chirping. And then your little boy walked into my life and he stole my heart. The both of you did.� Liz smiled, feeling the onslaught of tears coming. �I never thought about it before, but every time the three of us go out now....I get this amazing feeling in my heart when people realize that you guys belong to me, and vice versa. That the three of us were meant to be. I know that we already know it in our hearts, but before the year is over, I want to make it official.� Max had to wipe away at the tears pooling in his eyes. Everything Liz was saying was true. He had been planning on giving her a similar speech, but that would have to wait until she was done talking. Liz reached into her bedside table, taking out a black velvet box. Her hand shook as she took it out, holding it out for Max. Max looked at her curiously, taking the box from her. �What�s this?� �It�s for you.� Liz let out a nervous laugh. �Well, actually, it�s something for the both of us.� Max gave Liz one last look, hoping to get some sort of clue from her, but she wouldn�t give. He snapped the black box open, his heart, thumping wildly in his chest. Inside the black box, held two gold wedding bands. By the time Max had looked up, Liz had gotten on her knees in front of him. �Max Evans, will you marry me?� Max smiled. �Isn�t that supposed to be my line?� Liz reached for his hand, holding onto it for dear life. �Like you said. Our relationship hasn�t exactly been traditional. I thought we should keep up with that tradition.� She turned hopeful eyes at him, offering a nervous smile. �What do you say?� Max shook his head, pulling Liz back to a sitting position. �I�d have to say no.� Liz felt the bottom drop out, her heart sinking into her stomach. The tears wouldn�t even come. She was so shocked that he had said no, that she hadn�t seen him move from the bed, getting down on one knee in front of her. �I know that our relationship has been less than traditional, but this is something I�ve been waiting to do all my life. I just didn�t know it.� He reached into his pocket, pulling out a similar black box. He snapped back the top, revealing a diamond ring. �Elizabeth Claudia Parker. Will you marry me?� Liz was stunned speechless. When had he turned the tables on her? �Wha- Where did you get that?� Max looked at the diamond ring in his hand, then up to Liz�s face. �I�ve had it for a while. I just never had the courage to...to ask you. Every time I tried to ask you before, I chickened out. And well, I�ve been planning on proposing all night, but you uh...you kinda beat me to it.� Liz blushed at her own forwardness. �I don�t know what to say.� Max looked at her with hopeful eyes, taking her hand in his. �Say you�ll marry. Say that you�ll spend the rest of your life with me. I know that I don�t deserve you, but I can�t help but be selfish.... Marry me?� Liz jumped forward, landing in Max�s arms. She planted kisses all over his face. �YES! I�ll marry you.� Max could feel his cheeks hurting from the intensity of his smile. He rolled them over, planting kisses on Liz. He grabbed the diamond, placing it on her finger. Liz reached for her own box, sliding the gold band on Max�s ring finger. He took the box out of her hands, sliding the matching ring over the diamond. They both looked at their hands, silly smiles on their faces. Max brought his lips down, placing a kiss on Liz�s lips. �I love you.� �Love you too.� Max pulled back to smile, but the smile died on his lips as he saw the compromising position they were in. Liz was lying on her back, with him laying on top of her. He was nestled between her legs, looking as if they were in the act of making love. Max felt himself instantly harden, causing Liz to gasp. They were both shocked at how quickly the mood changed. Liz cupped the side of Max�s face, bringing his lips down to hers again. She moaned on contact, opening her mouth wider over his, seeking warmth in his mouth. They both sighed on contact of their tongues, their breaths coming out in sharp noises from the corners of their lips. They refused to part lips, their tongues dueling in a seductive dance. Liz opened her legs wider, wrapping her legs around Max�s waist, trying to bring him as close to her as possible. Max ripped his lips away from Liz�s swollen lips, making a wet trail down her neck. His lips suckled her skin, spending quite a bit of time on her pulse point. His hand drifted under the skirt of her dress, running up her naked legs. Once he reached the barrier of her panties, he tried to push them out of the way, but Liz�s hand stopped him. �I don�t want that....I want....I want you....Please make love to me.� Max swallowed past the lump in his throat, taking in Liz�s ravished look. How could he say no? He stood up, pulling her to stand in front of him. He whispered in her ear, his hands running up and down her back. �Anything for my wife.� He pulled up her hand, placing a kiss on her ring finger that held her rings. He gave her a slow smile, reaching to take the pins out of her hair, letting her brown hair cascade around her shoulders. He softly ran his fingers through her hair, giving her a reverent smile. �I�ve always imagined your hair falling over my chest when we make love.� Liz could feel her breath quicken, her chest heaving. With shaky hands, she unbuttoned the rest of his shirt, pulling it off his shoulders to land on the floor. �I�ve imagined that too.� Max smiled, stealing another kiss from her lips. Liz reached for the snap on his pants, but Max�s hand stopped her. �It�s my turn.� One by one, he pulled down the spaghetti straps of her dress, his eyes delighting in her olive skin. He traced her collar bone, reaching for the straps again. This time, he yanked them down, revealing her perky breasts. He traced a path from the top of her breast to the nipple, smiling as the nipple hardened under his touch. �So, beautiful.� Unable to wait, Max dipped his head, letting his tongue taste her nipple. He opened his mouth over the mound, pulling her nipple to the roof of his mouth, before releasing it. He continued going from breast to breast, loving the breathy moans coming from Liz. When her legs began to wobble beneath her, Max stood up, yanking the rest of her dress down. He stood still, his manhood throbbing in his pants at the sight of her in a pair of white lace panties. The way she would place her weight from leg to leg, causing her hips to shift, did nothing to calm his raging desire. Before conscious thought returned to him, Liz began unbuttoning his pants. �My turn.� The two of them stood in front of each other in just their underwear, their chests heaving. Taking the initiative, Max reached for Liz�s panties, pulling them down her slim legs. When he was done, she did the same for him, leading him towards the bed. The two of them lay down, not really touching one another. Max traced the contours of Liz�s face. �Are you scared?� �Not anymore.� She reached for him, pulling him to lay on top of her. She spread her legs, letting him lie in between her legs. They both gasped at the first contact of his heated flesh against her moist core. �Max!� He buried his face in her neck, trying to gain some semblance of control. �I know.� Trying to slow them down a little, Max leaned up on his forearms, leaning down to devour Liz�s lips. She complied, loving the way he ravished her mouth like he couldn�t get enough. His hands reached down, cupping her breasts, tweaking her nipples. Liz writhed beneath him, her hips bucking up. Max groaned as he felt himself glide across Liz�s wetness. Pulling away, he sat up. �No!� Max looked back down to Liz, seeing her so ready for him. He felt himself twitch, wanting nothing more than to bury himself within her, but he couldn�t. He had to get the condom out of his pants pocket, first. He was all too familiar with how easy it was to get carried away, and how the one time you didn�t use a condom served to change the rest of your life forever. He had learned that the hard way. He wouldn�t subject Liz to that. �I�m just...I gotta get-� He motioned to his pants that were haphazardly laying on the floor. Liz grabbed his wrist, making him look at her. �Open the drawer.� Max did as he was told, sliding the drawer open. His eyes grew wide when he caught sight of at least three different condom boxes. He looked to Liz questioningly, but she only blushed. �I uh...I went and got those after the first time we went to Sitting Bulls Falls, but I uh...I didn�t know which ones to get, so I...I sorta got them all.� Max smiled, leaning down to kiss her. He loved how thoughtful she was, and how she was always prepared. He reached for one of the condoms, tearing away the foil package. As he began to roll the latex on himself, he felt the bed shift as Liz moved to sit beside him. �Can I...Can I do that?� Her timid voice sent waves of desire to course through his body, making him visibly shiver. He chose to nod his head, knowing that his voice wasn�t in working capacity right now. Liz slowly rolled the latex on him, taking the time to feel the strength of his flesh. When she was done, she ran her hands up and down, beginning a rhythm. Max grabbed her hand. �N-no...Don�t!� Liz flushed, thinking she had done something wrong, but Max brought her hand up to his lips. �You have to stop, otherwise, this is gonna be over before it even starts.� Liz blushed again when she realized what he was talking about. God, he must think her a complete fool for being so innocent. �Hey, stop it. Remember, we�re learning together. Just because I have a son, doesn�t mean I�m this great expert.� Liz nodded against his hand, coming back to lie on the bed. She pulled him on top of her, kissing him again. They continued that way for a while, until Liz�s incessant rocking of her hips began driving Max crazy. He reached his hand down, coating his hand in her essence. He slid his fingers inside her, thrusting to prepare her for a much larger invasion. When he realized that she was as ready as she would ever be, he pulled away his fingers. Liz whimpered at the loss, but the whimper turned into a moan as she felt Max position himself at her entrance. He twined their fingers together, placing them above her head. �I don�t want to hurt you.� �If you...don�t do it....I will...� Liz panted against his chest. Max nodded, letting himself probe deeper. He resisted the urge to push through like a raging bull, instead, going slowly to let her adjust to his presence inside her. When he reached her barrier, he turned worried eyes to her. �There�s still time to stop.� Liz shook her head, pulling his lips to hers for a kiss. �Don�t stop.� �This is gonna hurt.� Liz just nodded, biting her lip in anticipation. Max put one of his hands on her hips, helping to ease himself all the way in. As he tore through, he whispered against her lips. �I love you.� Liz grimaced in pain, overwhelmed with having Max fully sheathed inside her. Max knew this, so he lay still, planting kisses all over he face, whispering loving words to her. After a few moments, Liz opened her eyes. �I�m ready.� Max looked at her skeptically, not wanting to push too much on her, but his eyes closed in sweet agony as her walls clamped down around him. �I said I was ready.� Max took the hint, slowly thrusting in and out. Liz closed her eyes, feeling the slight pain of having him stretch her to full capacity. But in the back of her mind, she could feel a tremor of pleasure, if only she reached for it. Max�s groans of satisfaction excited Liz. She delved deep, reaching for the source of pleasure. A loud gasp made it�s way past her lips as she found it, the pain becoming nothing but a dull ache. She moaned, urging Max to go faster. He placed a kiss to her breast, picking up his pace. Their moans of pleasure, echoed through Liz�s bedroom walls. Max opened his eyes, as his thrusts became more aggressive. Knowing that the end was almost upon him, he twined their fingers together, holding their arms above Liz�s head. �Liz, open your eyes.� Liz licked her lips, doing as Max�s voice asked. He reached down a hand, rubbing his thumb over her nub. Liz bucked her hips forward, her walls clamping down on Max. Max grimaced, feeling the bottom drop out as he let go, his seed spilling forth. Their eyes locked, and for that moment in time, they saw stars together. Part 93 Rated: NC-17 *********** Max and Liz lay quietly cuddled under the covers, both of them unable to stop touching the other. Liz grinned as the moonlight shined over the diamond on her finger, reminding her that she and Max had just proposed to each other. Her heart had almost stopped beating when he had refused her proposal, instead, proposing to her. If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up. Max kissed the top of her head, pulling her closer to his chest as his hands, wandered over her naked back. �Are you ok?� Liz smiled against his chest, placing a kiss over his heart. She rested her chin on his chest, looking up into his amber gaze. �I�m great. This night couldn�t be more perfect.� Max breathed a sigh of relief, letting his head fall back against the pillow. �So it was alright, then?� He felt his cheeks burn as he asked whether or not she enjoyed herself as much as he had. Liz giggled, moving to lay completely on top of him. �It was more than alright. Words can�t even begin to describe how perfect everything was. How perfect you are.� She brushed her lips against his in a light kiss, loving the feel of their softness. �Mmm....you taste so good.� Max grinned, his hands resting on the small of her back, pushing her down onto him. He moved his head forward, his lips latching onto the inviting skin of her neck. �You,� nip, �taste,� kiss, �pretty,� suckle, �good too.� Liz let out a throaty laugh, moving so that she was straddling Max. She ran the tips of her fingers down his chest, watching with barely restrained amusement as his eyes blackened with desire. His eyes followed the path of her hands, finally landing on the apex of her thighs, slowly raking up the rest of her body. He licked his lips as his eyes landed on her round breasts, unable to keep his hands to himself. With feather-light touches, his fingers danced around her breasts, moving towards her areolas, never touching her nipples. Her breasts bounced against her chest, as her breathing became labored from Max�s ministrations. She arched her back, thrusting her breasts forward, wanting him to quit his teasing. Expecting to feel his fingers on her nipples, Liz let her head fall back, her eyes closing in torturous anticipation. Her audible gasp echoed in the small room, as his warm, wet mouth opened around her nipple, his tongue laving it with an agonizing slowness. Her hips thrust forward, her wetness gliding across his hardening member. Max groaned against her breast, her unintentional seduction driving him to the point of insanity. Liz held Max�s head against her chest, her hands combing through his hair as his moan caused a vibrating sensation against her breast. Liz felt herself growing wet, her desire building in the pit of her stomach, threatening to consume her. How was it possible to get this worked up so soon? The question slipped from her mind as Max�s hands tightened around her waist, keeping her from squirming against him. He ripped his mouth from her breasts, his hand pulling her chin down to bring her lips down for a hungry kiss. A low moan passed Liz�s lips as Max ravished her with his mouth, his tongue seeking to take her over. Unable to keep her passion in tact, Liz squeezed her thighs around Max�s hips, trying to get his attention. Growling, Max ran his hands up Liz�s thighs, his hands giving them a firm squeeze. Reluctantly pulling his lips from hers, his breaths came out harshly against her lips as he tried to speak. �Liz....are you...sure?� Liz leaned to the side, pulling her drawer open. She grabbed another foil package, trying desperately to tear it open. When her hands continued to fumble with shakiness, she gave up, bringing the packet to her lips, tearing it open with her teeth. She spit out the foil, throwing the rest of the packet on the floor as she moved down Max�s thighs. She took a second to admire his flesh, watching as he stood proud and tall, waiting for her attention. Just as it did the first time she had laid eyes on it, it twitched as if greeting her. Liz smiled, leaning down to place a kiss on the head. Max fell back on the bed, his eyes shut tightly at the touch of Liz�s soft lips on his heated flesh. His hands curled up in the sheets as Liz�s warm mouth enveloped him, moving up and down, devouring him inch by glorious inch. He tried to still his hips, not wanting to force himself down her throat, but his hips had a mind of their own. Liz let out a pleasure filled moan, encouraging Max to go further. Her hand gripped his hip hard, his delicate skin bruising at her touch. But he didn�t care. Her mouth was doing incredible things to him and it was all he could do to keep from exploding. His eyes flew open at the thought, pulling Liz into a sitting position. He grabbed the condom from her hands, quickly rolling it onto himself. He reached for her hips, urging her to ride him. Liz rose up, slowly sliding herself on him. Their mutual moans served to fill the silence around them, the candlelight flickering, casting shadows across the walls. Liz experimentally sat up, sitting back down slowly. The low keening sound coming from Max�s throat and the way his eyes were shut tightly told her that she was doing something correctly. She smiled, glad that she was in control and that she was the one doing all of the work this time. She sat up and again, using her thigh muscles as leverage. She pulled up until only the tip of him was inside her, then quickly sank down his shaft. Liz gasped loudly, enjoying the different sensation that this position provided. Encouraged by Max�s moans, she continued to rock up and down, going as fast as she could, trying to build a rhythm. Her muscles began to ache with the effort, but she chose to ignore it, continuing with the ferocity of her movements. Her face was contorted in a grimace of pleasure as Max�s hands blindly reached for her breasts, squeezing them together, before sitting up to place his mouth over it. Her head fell back, sweat covering their bodies as they continued to glide against each other. Liz felt the pleasure building to the breaking point, but her thighs began to cramp from their constant movement. A frustrated sigh escaped her lips, knowing she was so close, yet so far from ultimate pleasure. Max felt her distress, his hands moving to her hips to help her. His hips thrust forward, their movements going that much faster. Their lips found one another as their bodies moved with a blinding fury. �Oh God....Liz!� He buried his face in her neck, his slick forehead sliding onto her shoulder. Liz bit her lip, her breath catching in her throat as her orgasm ripped through her body. Her walls thundered around Max, gripping him tightly, milking him to completion. Max�s hips bucked uncontrollably, thrusting in and out of her till he was spent. His body went rigid as he poured himself inside her, his chest heaving with short breaths. �Max!� Liz threw her head back, swaying back and forth as her body went limp. Max breathed in her musky scent, fresh from their lovemaking, a smile on his lips. He pulled his face from her neck, placing light kisses all the way to her lips, his kiss a stark contrast from their frenzied movements from seconds ago. With heavy hands, Max ran his hands down her back, his fingers dancing lightly down the indentation of her spine. He leaned his forehead against hers, a wide smile on his lips. �Wow.� Liz giggled, her lips capturing his in a playful kiss. �Definitely, wow.� They stayed that way until their rapidly drying bodies shivered from the cold. They scrambled under the covers, their bodies snuggling together so that not a slip of paper could pass between them. Their hands linked, laying over Max�s chest, as their breaths evened out, both of them falling into a content sleep, smiles dancing on their lips. Part 94 ************ Max awoke just a little after dawn. A smile tinted his lips as he felt Liz�s warm body laying next to his. Sometime during the night, she had shifted position, so that she was facing away from him. Max moved so that he was lying on his side, his head propped on his hand as he watched her sleep. She slept on her stomach, her long chocolate tresses cascading over her olive skin. The blanket was bunched around her waist, tangling around her legs. Max bit back a laugh as he realized that she was a blanket hog. He was barely covered in the blanket to be considered sharing, he thought amusedly. But he didn�t mind, because she was his blanket hog. Unable to keep from touching her, Max lifted his hand, running it through her hair. His fingertips danced across her back, trailing all the way to the small of her back. He flattened his palm against her, running it back up, then down her arm. He pushed her hair to the side, his hand delicately grazing her shoulder. Liz shifted, the blanket falling lower, revealing a glimpse of her tush. Max grinned, enjoying the view of her completely immersed in sleep. �Max....� Her muffled voice startled him, making him think that he had woken her, but the snuffling sound coming from her told him otherwise. He shook his head, feeling extremely giddy that even in sleep, she thought about him, just like he thought about her. Watching Liz like this, he knew that this was where he wanted to be for the rest of his life. He couldn�t imagine making it through another night without having her in his arms, or seeing her face when he first woke up in the morning. He hoped that he could convince her to have an early summer wedding, because it was becoming increasingly hard for him to be away from her. Not to mention, Noah as well. Max always felt his heart ache when Noah would wake up in the middle of the night, calling out for Liz, instead having to settle for the comfort of his arms, when the only thing he wanted was Liz�s scent, Liz�s arms holding him. Whoever coined the phrase �Like father; like son� sure knew what they were talking about, he thought ruefully. ************* Liz stretched her arms above her head, grinning like a fool. She had had the best dream last night. It had been the night of prom. She and Max had proposed to each other, and they had made love. Twice! It had felt extremely real too. She almost didn�t want to wake up to find that it was all a dream. It was all Liz could do to keep from jumping out of bed, running down the hall screaming for joy. But being as she was never really a morning person, and that it was just a dream, she didn�t really see the point. She rolled over, stiffening when she ran into a warm, hard body. Omigod! Liz slowly opened her eyes, flinching when the light hit her eyes. When they finally focused, she saw Max�s smiling face, watching her intently. His love evident in his eyes as he continued to watch her. Liz smiled back, moving towards him to place a kiss on his lips. So maybe her dream wasn�t too far off. �Morning.� Max pulled her flush with his body, causing her to gasp. Liz�s eyes practically bugged out of her head when she felt Max�s body against hers. Correction, his naked body against her naked body. Did she mention the fact that they were both naked? Max grew concerned, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek. �Liz. Are you alright?� Liz held her left hand in front of her face, and sure enough a diamond ring and a gold wedding band adorned it. Her eyes flew to Max�s left hand, the same gold band on his ring finger. So it wasn�t a dream. Liz took several deep breaths to keep herself from hyperventilating. The words, �it wasn�t a dream� tumbled through her head like a mantra, making her giddy. Still obviously concerned, Max gently squeezed her shoulder. �Liz?� He waited expectantly, wanting to know what had gotten her so worked up. �It wasn�t a dream.� The words fell from her mouth before she could think. She was still trying to come to terms with it, and to keep from mauling Max at the mere thought of it. Max grew worried, not really sure how to react to what she had just said. The wild look in her eyes frightened him, making him think the worst. Did she regret what had transpired between them? Did she hate him for taking her virginity? It was eating him inside, making his stomach churn. �Do you....are you upset?� Liz sobered when she heard the torment in his voice. �God, Max...please don�t think that. Don�t ever think that I would regret anything that happened last night. It was the most perfect night of my life. So perfect that I thought that it was just something that I had conjured up in my mind.� She placed her hands over his cheeks, pulling his lips to hers for a love affirming kiss. �I�m sorry I gave you the wrong impression, but I just....I still find it hard to believe that this is happening to me. That you belong to me.� Max smiled against her lips, breathing a sigh of relief. He brushed his lips against her forehead, pulling back so that he could look into her eyes. She smiled back, using the smile that made him feel like he was the only person on earth. �How long have you been awake?� Max ran his fingers through her hair, chuckling as he spoke. �About an hour.� Liz flushed, burying her face in his chest. �Why didn�t you wake me? This so embarrassing.� Max pulled her chin up, grinning at her. �Don�t be that way. The truth is, you looked so peaceful, I didn�t have the heart to wake you. Besides, you seemed pretty spent after last night.� He winked at her, resulting in her cheeks turning a darker shade of pink. �Max, quit it.� Max laughed, kissing her head. �Ok, I promise I�ll stop.� Max sat up, sighing as if the world was about to end. �I hate to do this, but I should probably get home.� Liz nodded, pulling the sheet up against her chest as he stood up to put his clothes back on. She grinned as she eyed his butt as he bent forward to pull his boxers on. �I wouldn�t happen to be able to convince you take a shower with me before you leave would I?� Max groaned, pulling his pants on before he could change his mind. �Don�t tempt me. I know my parents said no curfew, but I don�t think they meant I could stay out till six in the morning.� Liz pouted, throwing her legs over the side of the bed. �Fine.� She walked to fetch her robe, wincing when the throbbing pain between her legs made itself known. Max ran to her, helping her to sit down. �Liz? Are you ok?� Liz gave him a sheepish grin as he helped her into her robe. �I�m fine. I guess last night�s activities are finally taking their toll on me,� she finished lamely. Max frowned, his amber gaze clouding with concern. He opened his mouth to speak, but Liz beat him to it. �Don�t even say it, Max. I don�t want to hear it. What happened between us last night was absolutely beautiful, and my being sore today is something natural. Besides, I hardly doubt that giving birth is a piece of cake, but it doesn�t make me want to have a baby with you any less. It�s the same thing here. We made love for the first time last night, and with pleasure comes a little pain. But I wouldn�t take any of that back. And I�m hoping you feel the same way.� Max had to smile at her logic. How did she know to say all the right things to calm him down? He opened his mouth to speak again, but was silenced by Liz�s answer. �Yes I�m sure, so don�t even ask me that question.� Max chuckled, kissing her before he went to put the rest of his clothing on. When he was dressed he stood in front of her, playing with the gold band on his finger. �This is another thing I hate to do, but I�m gonna have to take this off for now. I don�t want to give my mom a coronary before the actually wedding.� Liz giggled, pulling off the gold band from her own finger. She fidgeted with the diamond ring, looking up to meet his eyes. �Do you want me to hold off on wearing this for a while?� �No! Why would you think that?� Liz shrugged her shoulders. �I don�t know. I just don�t want you to feel awkward or anything.� Max pulled her face to his, trying to make her understand. �Liz, when I asked you to marry me, I meant it. That ring is a symbol of our commitment together. I want people to see that ring on your finger and know that you belong to me, and that I belong to you. The only reason I�m not wearing your ring yet is because I don�t want my mother getting the wrong idea.� Liz nodded, her forehead rubbing against his. �I understand.� She kissed him, smiling as she pushed him away. �Go, before I change my mind and keep you prisoner here.� Max laughed as he walked backwards to her window. �Ok, I�ll go. But only if you promise to come to the house in like an hour?� Liz nodded, wrapping her robe tighter around her body. �I promise. Now get outta here before I lose any control I have left.� Max gave her a dopey grin, waving as he jumped through her window. This is what heaven must be like, they thought. Part 95 ********** Max held his tuxedo jacket over his shoulder as he walked into the house. As he had expected, everyone was still sound asleep. He walked quietly up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. When he reached his room, he closed the door behind him, walking up to Noah�s crib. He was still sound asleep, his long lashes resting against his rosy cheeks. As per usual, he sucked on his thumb, his other arm encasing his pooh bear. Max leaned across the wooden bars, placing a light kiss on his soft hair. He smiled, walking towards the bathroom, stripping as he went. He turned the shower on, letting the water warm up as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. The person looking back at him was so different from the person who he used to see. The person he saw was sickeningly happy, the several years of age wearing away with the permanent grin on his lips. He was sure that people were gonna be able to tell that he and Liz had consummated their relationship last night, just by looking at him. But he could care less. He and Liz had given themselves to each other in the most intimate of ways, last night. There was nothing between them now. At first, Max had never imagined sharing with himself with anyone but Tess. He had thought that what they had was supposed to span lifetimes. But he had been wrong. The love he shared with Liz was the love of a lifetime. It was what people called love between soul mates. He had never really considered Tess as his soul mate. He knew that he had loved her, but it wasn�t anything more than that. Liz was the epitome of a soul mate. She made him feel things he never knew existed. He never knew that it was possible to love someone so much that you felt like your heart would burst because it was overflowing with love. He knew that that probably sounded corny, and that it sounded lame, but it was the honest truth. His smile grew a little brighter at the thought that Liz had agreed to marry him. He never would�ve thought that she was going to propose to him. When she had asked him, all else seemed to exist at that moment. It proved to him more than ever that they were so in sync, so in love that they almost shared the same thoughts, the same emotions. He looked at his body�s reflection in the mirror and he couldn�t help but remember the night of passion they had shared. She had left her mark on him, a number of times, on a number of different places he thought wickedly. He shook his head, jumping into the shower as the bathroom began to mist up. There�d be plenty of time to mull over that later, he thought. *********** As he came out of the shower, refreshed and awake, his heart broke at the sound of Noah�s sobs. �Momma!� His voice had grown hoarse as he continued to call out. He had pulled himself up into a standing position, leaning across the wooden bars. �Momma!� Max plucked him out of his crib, cradling him against his chest. He rocked him back and forth, whispering in his ear. �Little man, don�t cry. It�s ok. Your momma�s gonna be here soon.� Max walked around the room, his large hand running down Noah�s little back, trying to soothe him. �You know, your momma misses you too. She even came by to visit you last night, but you were already sleeping.� He kissed his temple walking to the window seat. �I know how hard it is not having her around, because I feel the same way. But you don�t have to worry about that anymore, because your momma agreed to marry me last night.� Max grinned, thinking about their dual proposal. �We�re gonna be a real family. No one will be able to take her away from us.� He pulled back, looking into Noah�s face. He had calmed down, Max�s deep even voice, serving as a balm to his soul. �You like the sound of that, little man?� Noah just reached out to touch his face, smiling as if he had understood everything that Max had said. Just then, the door flew open, revealing a very tired looking Diane and Phillip. Diane walked into the room, wrapping her robe tighter around herself. �Oh, hi honey. We didn�t think you were back yet so we came in here, cause we heard Noah crying.� Max stood up, holding Noah against his chest. �He�s fine now. He�s just missing Liz.� Diane gave him a sympathetic look, knowing how attached little Noah had become to Liz. Phillip yawned from the doorway, waving goodbye. �Well, it seems like you�ve got everything under control here. We�re gonna head back to bed.� �Wait!� Phillip turned back around. �Yes, Max?� �Well, seeing as you�re both up, there was something I wanted to talk to you about.� Phillip walked into the room, pulling Diane to sit beside him on Max�s bed. �We�re listening.� Max stood up, putting Noah back in his crib. He took his desk chair, pulling it up in front of his parents and taking a seat. He took a deep breath, giving his parents a nervous smile. �You guys have always said that I could come to you with anything, and that you guys would listen. You guys have already proved that whatever mistakes I make in my life, that you would never turn your back on me. That your love is unconditional, and regardless of what happens, you would support me and let me make my own decisions.� Diane smiled, trying to be as encouraging as she could be. �That�s right, honey. Nothing�s changed that.� Max gave her a tight smile as he continued. �Good, because there�s something that I wanted to share with you guys.� Both parents looked at each other, then turning their attention back to Max. �Go on.� �Last night, I proposed to Liz, and she accepted.� The dopey grin returned to his lips as he remembered. Phillip smiled, speaking first. �That�s great, Max, but don�t you think the two of you are a little young to be thinking about marriage? I mean you�re both so young. You have the rest of your lives to get married if that really is what the two of you want to do.� �Your father�s right, Max. It isn�t that we don�t like Liz, or disapprove of your relationship with her. The truth is, we love her like a daughter already. She�s the best thing that could�ve happened to you and Noah. But the truth of it is, the two of you are just about to graduate high school. Are you sure that the two of you are ready for that kind of commitment? Marriage is serious business. It isn�t something to take lightly.� Max nodded, expecting as much. He wasn�t angry at his parents, because he completely understood things from their point of view. It only meant that they loved him so much to care that he knew what he was getting himself into. �I understand all of that. I never would have even asked Liz if I wasn�t really sure that this was what I wanted. I don�t see the point in waiting, when I know that she�s the only one for me. I love her so much it hurts. I can�t imagine graduating school without knowing that Liz and I aren�t going to make this final commitment. The truth is, marriage is just a legality that we have to go through. Because in my mind, in my heart, and in my soul, Liz and I are already married.� Diane felt the tears sting her eyes at Max�s honesty. She had figured that that was the case, but she was his mother. Even though she knew that in her heart, she wouldn�t be herself if she didn�t make sure. She reached out to touch his hand, squeezing it firmly in her own. �If that�s what you and Liz really want, there�s nothing we can do stop you. The two of you are mature adults that are capable of making your own decisions. But I want you to know, that your father and I will be behind the two of you every step of the way to support you guys.� Max teared up at his mother�s continuous support. �Thank you for understanding. Because it isn�t just what I want, it�s what we need.� Phillip, pulled Max into a hug, his voice cracking a little. �I�m proud of you Max. I want you to know that. You have no idea what it does to me, that you feel comfortable enough to talk to us.� He and Diane walked to the door, wiping away their tears. �Well, I don�t think we�ll be getting any sleep after that,� she finished with a chuckle. �Tell you what. Why don�t you invite your friends over for breakfast? I�m sure you and Liz would like to be able to tell them all at the same time.� Max smiled, thanking his parents for everything. As they shut the door behind them, he walked over to his desk, picking up the ring Liz had given him. After that talk that he had with his parents, there was no need to keep from wearing it. He placed it on his left hand, loving the way it looked on his hand. He knew that they weren�t married yet, but Liz had given him the ring, and he wanted to wear it so that people everywhere would know that he was taken. He walked towards Noah, picking him up. �Let�s go and wait for your momma to get here.� Back Next |
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