Part 14

Liz didn't bother saying anything to Max about the stubble he'd left in the sink that morning when he'd shaved; she'd learned long ago that it made no difference. Instead, she dropped his toothbrush into the sink on top of it and smirked as she left the bathroom. Outside the window, dawn was barely tinting the horizon so she was more than surprised to wake up and find Max gone; his brief note about going to the gym only served to pique her curiosity as it had been many months since he had partaken in his one time favourite activity.

She was due at the labs in an hour so she dropped a waffle into the toaster and set the kettle to boil. Normally, she hated instant coffee but she simply lacked the energy to go about setting up the coffee maker. She dropped a teaspoon full of granules into her cup, added a dash of milk and leaned against the counter closing her eyes. It had been two weeks since she'd broken up with Soren and she was surprised by how easy it was to adjust to not being with him. Logically, she knew it was because he hadn't been around in the months leading up to their break up but there was still a part of her that felt guilty for her lack of reaction. She was still waiting for the pain to hit, expecting it to come at her like a freight train. It never did and the guilt swelled.

She stiffened when she felt two arms slide around her waist before relaxing and melting into Max's chest, breathing out a long heavy sigh. She covered his arms with her own and drew in a breath when his fingers began massaging her hips.

"Oh God, Max," she groaned and tried to pull away from him but he just chuckled and pulled her in closer. "You stink!"

"It's just the heady scent of man, Liz. Don't pretend like it doesn't turn you on."

At his words – and maybe the fact that she could feel his very obvious arousal pressed against her back – she felt heat flood between her legs and she bit back another, much more pleased groan. She felt him duck his head into her neck, bending his knees behind her and managed to succeed in rubbing his erection against her butt.

"It's disgusting."

He made a noise but it was wordless and Liz couldn't stop her hips from rolling slightly and she smirked at the low rumble that emanated from Max's chest. His fingers on her hips tightened and he pulled her further back against him, his hips jerking and Liz lost coherent thought for a moment.

"You heading off to work?" He asked conversationally as his fingers worked their way under the shirt she wore, stroking the skin of her waist before he brushed the back of his fingers across her abdomen. She felt her thighs rub against one another as her body tightened against his fingers.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice husky as she pressed herself back against him, eliciting another grumble from him. Her waffle popped and Liz reached over to pull it from the toaster, rubbing her butt against Max's cock and he gripped her hips, thrusting against her a couple of times before groaning and pulling away from her. She sighed in relief as well as frustration as he settled against the counter beside her, his arms crossed over his chest. He made no attempt to adjust the protrusion in his pants and Liz couldn't help but let her eyes drift down as she took a bite of her waffle.

"I can't believe you're eating that dry," he said but the scratchy tone of his voice gave him away. Liz smirked and watched as he slid up onto the counter, his hands resting in his thighs as he looked just past Liz's head. "You're right," he said a few moments later as he dropped his head to the side and lifted his arm over his head, "I do stink." Liz lifted her hand and set it on his thigh, rubbing gently, barely holding back her laugh as his hips jerked involuntarily. His large hand came over hers, pressing hers flat against his thigh and Liz looked up to his face that was contorted with barely there restraint. "Don't start something you're not going to finish."

Liz smirked and drew her hand away from him, wondering what the hell she was doing.

"Who said I wasn't going to finish it?" She asked as she stepped in between his legs, settling her hands on either of his thighs. She felt his ankles wrap around the back of her knees holding her in place even as his eyebrows drew together in confusion. "You still have that favour to call in," she said quietly, wishing that he would, hoping that he wouldn't. She heard him draw in a quick breath as his hands settled on her hips and she looked up to his face again and saw him looking over her shoulder.

"You have to leave for work soon," he said tightly and Liz frowned, feeling the instant sting of rejection. She quirked an eyebrow at him, despite it, and tried for playfulness as she drew back.

"Well in that case, I better go."

She struggled against his grip for a moment before he let her go. She tried to smirk at him as he sat on the worktop before she turned and fled to the relative safety of her bedroom. Once there, she shut the door and leaned against it, dropping her head into her hands.

"Shit," she said, barely holding back the tears that stung the back of her eyes. "I can't believe I just did that," she murmured and fought back the sob that threatened to escape. That would not do. She banged her head quietly against the door a few times before pushing herself off it and walking to her bed. "Of course he wouldn't want you, stupid," she murmured to herself as she pulled the covers back, tossing the pillows over as she searched for her BlackBerry amongst the sheets. She grit her teeth and shook her head and fought against the stubborn lump in her throat. "Fuck."

It took her a few minutes but she found her phone tucked inside one her pillowcases and she gripped it victoriously in her fist when there was a knock on the door to her bedroom, followed by Max's voice.

"Liz?" She saw the handle dip slightly but he made no move to open the door. "Can I come in?"

She wanted to say no, she really did but when she went to voice her protest, she acquiesced instead and the door opened slowly. Max stood there, still holding the handle as he stared at her sheepishly, the faintest hint of regret lining his eyes. She looked away and moved to the closet, pulling out a bag and dropped her phone into it, not speaking to him.

The floorboards creaked alerting her to the fact that he had stepped into the room. A few moments later, she felt his heat behind her alerting her to his proximity and she felt the embarrassment sting across her cheeks. She didn't turn around, even when he placed a hand on her shoulder, attempting to turn her.

"I'm sorry," he murmured quietly and she felt his body sag slightly and take a step away from her. His hand dropped from her shoulder and she gulped at the loss of contact. Damn hormones. "I don't want to..." Liz but the inside of her lip, feeling the humiliation rise. "It took every ounce of my willpower to tell you no, just now." Liz tilted her head in his direction, surprised by his words. "I just don't... I don't think it's a good idea to... to..."

She spun then, smiling brightly. Falsely. She put her hand on his shoulder as she moved past him, making sure she didn't brush against him as she passed.

"Don't worry about it."

As she fled to the hall, grabbing her jacket and purse, she heard his voice calling to her but she didn't stop. She didn't listen. On the stairs outside her apartment, she put a hand to her face, covering her eyes and let out a ridiculous laugh.

"Fuck."