Charade.

A Max/Alec character pairing story based on the TV series Dark Angel (Cameron/Eglee)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of "Dark Angel's" original storylines or characters. This author is in no way associated with the owners, writers or producers of this show.

Chapter One (told from Alec's POV)

I can't do this anymore. It's literally killing me. I can't concentrate or sleep. I can't even laugh and joke around anymore. All of the looks, the touches and the kisses...the damn "pretend" make-out sessions that are only for HIS benefit. Shit I'm pretty sure Logan should be hating ME right now, not the other way around.

God why is he staying so long? Can't he talk to Dix later? I take the opportunity to kiss sensuously along Max's shoulder and neck, making my way up to her sighing lips. As I kiss her again, I can't help but think that this is torture for the both of us. Logan and I that is. It's almost worse being the one who CAN touch her though. Now I can hear Logan's voice in my head saying "bullshit Alec!". But he doesn't know what it's like to have her and NOT really have her. I mean if he were the one with her right now, well then I guess I wouldn't be having this problem. I wouldn't have Max in my lap either.

I used to think men did things for her just because she's hot. I mean let's face it, Max is not exactly Miss Personality. But I know different now. She's so much more than her outside layer and her prickly words. What's on the inside...well it pretty much sealed the deal for me. But don't get me wrong the hotness factor doesn't hurt either!

I refocus my attention and gently suck her ear lobe into my mouth, running my fingers along her barcode. I can feel Max shiver then tense all of a sudden and I instinctually tighten my arms around her knowing the "session" is coming to an end. I swear I have a permanant case of blue balls since this whole charade began.

"I think he's gone", she says softly and slowly pulls back. Of course I already know this. I can feel the change in her as soon as he leaves a room. It's like this instant on/off button she has. Who knew Max was such a good liar? She certainly learned more at Manticore than she wants anyone to believe, including herself for that matter.

"Sorry for jumping you without warning", Max whispers into my ear attempting to explain her rash actions. Was it only ten minutes ago that I was doing something completely different than I am right now?

"I didn't know he was going to be here." She gently removes herself from my lap. By here, she means our local rec center in TC. Someone managed to steal an old movie projector so that we can entertain ourselves watching pre-pulse movies during our down time. I suppose it's also a way for the trannies to learn more about human behavior so they can blend into the outside world.

"Alec! Did you hear me?" Max's voice startles me from my thoughts.

"Uh yeah", I lie, suddenly realising I haven't actually spoken since we stopped sucking face.

"Whatever, I'm gonna head home to bed. I'll see you in the morning". Then she turns and heads quickly out the door. To anyone watching us it would appear that I've said something stupid (again) and that she's pissed at me. Nothing new really.

Heading home means going back to OUR apartment. Everyone at TC also thinks we're together so innocently Luke asked us to share a living space since there's not much of it in TC. How could we say no being TC's leaders and all? That's another thing, CO and SIC working side by side every day, going home to the same apartment every night and having random make out sessions whenever the "need" arises. I can't escape having the woman of my dreams just out of my reach for even a second...believe I've tried.

Why couldn't this have stayed simple? Max and me...friends with benefits and no strings. If only she hadn't been so worried when I got shot again. About a month ago, we went on a supply run together and ran in to a few problems. White for one along his group of jacked up familiars. Of course I took a bullet, two in fact but that's nothing new right? Max stayed up all night watching over me, changed my bandages and kept my fever down. That was the night I knew. She felt so much compassion for someone she barely tolerated. Everyone in TC just thought she was worried about her "boyfriend" but something changed between us that night. Especially for me. We became friends, partners for the greater good of the trannie family and all that. I also realized why I stayed in Seattle all those months ago...love.

I SHOULD just stay here at the rec center. Find a bottle of Mole's moonshine and get shit faced until I pass out. But no I find myself heading home after awhile. I can hear her soft breathing as soon as I enter the apartment. Her scent is everywhere, permeating every space as I move towards my destination. I sigh, removing my pants and shirt and collaspe onto the ratty old couch. It wasn't comfortable...far from it actually but I'd be damned if I was going to share a bed with Max too. She'd suggested quite innocently one night that we could share the bed. It was a double after all. I declined rather strongly explaining what a terrible bed hog I was because COME ON, that went beyond even my limits.

As I settled back into the too soft cushions off the couch, I pulled a blanket over my lower half and started to replay the evening over in my head. Bad idea. I could still hear her soft moans, feel the bare skin of her back and taste the deliciousnous of her mouth. She'd opened herself up to the probing of my tongue tonight. A rarity in our daily little "shows". Usually the situation didn't have time to escalate to that point but tonight the gods smiled on me granting me a small slice of heaven before ripping it away again.

I could feel myself grow hard remembering the feel of her breasts pressed against my chest. Did I imagine that her nipples had hardened or did that actually happen? Reality and fantasy were melding together at that moment. Shit, here come the blue balls again. Might have to do something about that tonight. I listened intently to the sounds coming from the other room, still hearing the soft breathing of a sleeping Max. What the hell! I won't sleep if I don't at least try to take care of this.

I push down the front of my pre-pulse boxers, something adorned with a Disney character, Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck I think. My erection springs free but I'm still covered mostly by the blanket I have over me. I close my eyes and grasp my stiff shaft, tugging firmly from base to tip. I repeat the action several times until I'm unbelievable hard. I imagine that it's Max's hand making these motions, a bit of a stretch given hers is much smaller than my own but I go with anyhow. I continue repeating this action at a brisk pace until I'm panting softly with need. It feels good but I can't quite get there yet. I release myself to lick the palm of my hand, returning it to motion. This time, I imagine it's Max's lips caressing where my hand is. Her tongue licking lazy strokes up the side and sucking it hard into the cavern of her hot little mouth. Yup that does it! Suddenly I gasp and make a mess of my one and only blanket. Well shit now I have to do my laundry! I guess my serious case of blue balls is slightly relieved so it could be worse. My breathing gradually starts to even out and that's when I sense her.

"Alec." I look up completely shocked. Max is yawning but staring at me intently. I wonder how much she saw and then I see it, the flash of desire and embarassment in her eyes.

Well, I guess things can get worse.

End Chapter One.