28.
Over the Rainbow Max's Apartment
Early Thursday
morning
(2008) Max is 23, Liz is 22
The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was his eyes observing her quietly.
"Hey," she said softly.
Everything was different now.
He smiled slowly and whispered, "Hey."
In only a couple of hours and with only a few words, everything had changed.
His hand brushed against her forehead. "How did you sleep?"
There were still a lot of conversations that needed to be explained and forgiven, but right now they were both content knowing that their feelings were reciprocated.
She smiled, a warm shiver rushing through her at the touch of his fingers against her skin. "Good. Really good."
He had barely slept at all. He had kept waking up to check if she was really there. Still sleeping next to him. But she hadn't moved an inch all night.
"Good dreams?"
She rubbed her eye with the back of her hand as she mumbled, "Can't remember."
"I bet you had a good conversation with someone at some point," Max said.
She looked at him suspiciously and said slowly, "Maybe…" Her eyes narrowed. "Why do you say that?"
He grinned. "You tend to talk in your sleep."
His grin widened as she looked stunningly chagrin. "I do not."
He chuckled. "Yes you do."
"I do not."
"'Oh Max ooooh Max'," he moaned and broke out in laughter as she flung herself at him.
"Shut up," she warned as she pressed her hand against his lips to stop them from making those embarrassing sounds. "You're full of it, Evans."
He grabbed a hold of her waist and pulled her currently semi-draped body more fully on top of his, which had her loosening her grip on his mouth.
Her body heated by its own device as he kissed the palm that was against his lips.
"But it's true," he murmured against her hand.
She looked down at him, momentarily having forgotten what they were talking about.
"You do talk in your sleep," he continued.
"We've been in the same bed a lot of times," she said, feeling her heart thumping against her ribs as she watched him slowly cover the entire surface of her palm with kisses. "Why haven't you noticed before?"
He stopped his ministrations and instead placed her hand down on his T-shirt clad chest, right above his heart. The twinkle was back in his eyes as he said, "Who says I haven't?"
She groaned and rolled off him, pressing her arms over her face so that her voice came out muffled. "Do I even want to know what I've told you throughout the years?"
"There's been a lot of moaning and…my name of course," she heard Max say as the blood flushed to her face.
"You're lying."
She felt him pull at her arms and finding no use in even trying to resist, she let him pull the arms away. With her eyes still firmly pressed together she felt him move closer, from the heat of his skin and his warm breath fluttering across her face. She trembled as he placed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose.
"Yes, I am."
"I don't like you anymore," she murmured and with her eyes still closed she was convinced that he was smiling at her.
"No?"
She shook her head firmly. "No. Go away."
She felt the bed dip and curiously peeked with one eye. She frowned as she saw him standing next to the bed. "Where're you goin'?"
"I'm going away," he answered.
She sighed loudly. "Come here, you moron."
He didn't need much more convincing than that and the next second he was laying on the bed, his chin resting on her collarbone as he looked up at her face. "You know, you are very high maintenance."
"I thought you knew that by now."
"Just saying…"
"Hmm."
"So…" His fingers trailed underneath her tank top at the bottom of the fabric and her breath fluttered in her throat. "Is there anything I can get you?"
She cocked her head to the side and smiled at him sweetly. "Are you gonna be my slave?"
He frowned, but couldn't help but laugh. "I'll be any slave you want."
"Kitchen slave?"
"Sure."
Her eyes brightened. "Would you clean my toilet?"
"Er…that's the same one Mike's using, so uhm…"
"No?"
"No."
"What about my homework slave?"
"You know what?" He spread his hand flat against her stomach underneath her top covering her bellybutton and she bit her bottom lip to stop herself from reacting. With a knowing smile on his lips, he slid his body slightly more north, his hand sliding along to come to rest across her rib, his thumb resting against the bottom of her bra. "I could be your sex slave."
A slow smile spread across her lips as she looked down at him. Her heart beat was loud in her ears as she took in his tousled hair which made him look very boyish in an incredibly sexy way. "Really?"
He shrugged, angling his hand underneath her top to trail his fingertips against the underside of her breast, and said casually, "I think I can do it."
"I have very high expectations, you know," Liz had time to say before her voice hitched in her throat as he pressed his lips into the indention at the base of her throat.
"Do you?" he asked, his voice making her skin vibrate and she clenched the sheet underneath her body in her fist.
"Uh-huh. I have certain criteria that need to be fulfilled."
"Criteria?"
His lips travelled up her throat in a heavenly combination of tickling and desire. A soft moan whispered across her lips.
"Yep. See-" she inhaled deeply as he placed a kiss against the sensitive skin behind her ear. "I was with this guy once…"
Her voice trailed off as he tensed against her ever so slightly, but enough for her to notice. Instinctively, she knew what he was assuming right then so she happily continued. Just because they had sorted some things out didn't mean that she still wouldn't enjoy watching Max Evans squirm.
"He kinda set the standard, you know."
Max lifted his head and looked at her, his eyes dark and drowning in emotions while he waited for her to continue. "So…what standard are we talking about?"
A slow smile spread across her lips which had Max audibly swallowing. "He knew exactly what I wanted. What I needed."
Max tried his best to keep his emotions under control, but jealousy was roaring its ugly head making it really difficult. "That's…handy." As casually as he could muster, he added, "What happened to this person?"
She brought her fingers up to his face and tenderly brushed a runaway strand of his bangs to the side, an almost pensive expression on her face. "He loved me."
There was wonder in her voice, as if she couldn't believe that to be true. Max's breath caught in his throat. His heart was hoping that she was talking about him, but he was deadly afraid that she was not.
Pain flashed in her eyes which had him automatically tightening his hold on her. "But he didn't know that I loved him too. Then one night we got really," she smiled at him and he brushed his fingers down her face with an answering sad smile, "really drunk. And things got a bit out of hand."
Concern crept into his facial features as she looked away from him, but not before he could see the deep pain tighten her lips.
"Lizzie…" he whispered.
She looked back at him, eyes glittering with fresh tears but hope flattering her weak smile. "But he took care of me. Even though I always pushed him away and always treated him like…well…shit," he grinned, brushing a tear away from her cheek with the flat of his thumb, "he treated me like someone really special that night."
"You are special," he whispered.
She shook her head slowly at him. "Why Max? I don't get it. Why me?"
He brushed another tear away and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. Pulling back slightly and leaning his forehead against hers, he looked into her eyes and asked, "Why not you?"
"There are so many beautiful, well-functioning girls out there. Why won't you go for one of them?"
"Because they're not you." He sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You still don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
"How beautiful you are."
She blushed and dropped her eyes, still not comfortable with compliments. She wasn't really used to them.
"I'm damaged."
"In the most beautiful way."
"Max…"
"Liz…"
She sighed. "What if you grow tired of me?"
He frowned and then pulled back from her. His voice was bordering on scolding as he said, "Liz…"
She pushed herself up into a sitting position, wrapped her arms around herself and said stubbornly, "I'm serious, Max."
"So am I, kitten," he said and to his right looked completely serious. "You still don't get it."
She pushed her bottom lip out in a temperamental pout and said, "Of course I do."
He shook his head and grabbed a hold of her upper arms, pulling her into his lap. Her thighs slid down on either side of his hips and he fastened his hands against the small of her back, effectively pushing her front up against him.
"Do you consider me a patient guy?"
She shrugged. "I guess."
"Who would put up with anything?"
She considered this for a second or two before answering, "Not really. I mean, you don't take crap."
He smiled and was slightly surprised that she knew that about him. But at the same time he knew he shouldn't be surprised. "Exactly. And how would you define our relationship?"
She looked at him for a moment before she rolled her eyes, knowing what he was fishing for, and said indifferently, "Yes, yes. I annoy you to death and all I ever do is give you crap."
"So why haven't I gotten rid of you?"
"Because you are a sucker for pain?" she asked brightly.
"Funny. Try again."
She sighed and dropped her eyes to where her hands were fiddling with the collar of his T-shirt. Her voice was a mere mumble as she said, "I know what you're saying. I just can't get rid of this fear that you're gonna leave."
He framed her face in his hands and brought their lips together in a slow kiss. "I'm not going anywhere."
"What if I scream at you too much?"
"I'll scream back."
"What if I throw stuff at you?"
"I'll take your stuff away."
"What if I kick you?"
He laughed. "Well, I won't be happy about that."
His laughter trailed off as she stilled, her small hands carefully tracing his face. "You know what?"
He looked at her adoringly. "What?"
"You're actually not all that bad, Evans."
He started laughing and as a wide grin spread across her face, he rolled them on the side so that she eventually ended up underneath him.
Breathlessly, he smiled at her, "She finally gets it."
Mischief dancing in her eyes, she said, "Maybe."
"How about a bath?" he asked out of the blue.
She narrowed her eyes, rebellion shining through as quickly as you ignite a match. "With you?"
"I'm your sex slave, aren't I?"
She stumbled over the words with only one word really coming out clearly, "Max…"
He softened, "Relax. Bath. For you. Alone."
She observed him quietly. "You're not mad?"
"We just became friends," Max said and Liz almost laughed at his choice of word. I guess friends was the next step after enemy, but she had always considered them friends anyway. In some backward way. "Let's not rush."
She arched her eyebrow. "Just friends? Because I don't really make out with Maria, you know."
He feigned disappointment, "You don't?" and she pushed him off her.
"You're so gross," she stated as she pulled the sheet off the bed to wrap around her body. Because even though she had plenty of clothes on, "It's freaking freezing in here by the way."
"It's all part of my evil plan to have you wanting to sleep close to me."
"That's just low, Evans. Even for you," she said, but was smiling on the inside. She was too happy today to be anywhere near annoyed with him.
Her eyes followed him as he passed her to the adjoining bathroom and she hugged the sheet closer as desire ripped through her body. He was wearing a black T-shirt and grey sweatpants, which for some reason made him look very sexy. The bed-head didn't hurt either.
She leaned against the doorframe as she watched him turn on the tap in the bathtub, adjust the heat and then straighten his back. Her eyes landed on his chest and she suppressed a laugh as she read the familiar text on his shirt (this was one of his older shirts); Drink till you want me
"What?" he asked as he saw her struggling facial expression.
She waved her hand in a don't-mind-me gesture and swallowed the laughter. He of all people really didn't need a shirt like that. But she couldn't help but see the irony in it. She herself hadn't let herself want him until she'd had a couple of glasses.
"Tell me, Evans," she said as he turned to the bathroom cabinet. "Is this something you do for all your girls?"
He chose to not address the 'all your girls' part of that question. "Nope. Only you."
She nodded, feeling oddly comforted by that answer. "Alrighty."
Then she narrowed her eyes as she focused on what he was pulling out of the cabinet. "What's that?"
The bottle was pink. It looked very…girly.
"Bubbles."
"Bubbles?"
He opened the lid to one of the small plastic bottles and poured it into the tub. "Bubbles."
"Hmmm," Liz said slowly. "Tell me something. If you never do this for other girls, why do you have bubbles at home?"
She just could not picture Max in a bubble bath. Oh wait. She could. Darn. Get out get out get out.
While Liz tried to abolish the mental image that was getting her really hot and bothered, Max's face flushed crimson red for a completely different reason.
"I never use it."
"Sure you don't," Liz said and tried not to snicker.
"Maria gave it to me."
"Maria?"
"She thought I needed to relax."
Liz started laughing. "That's…" she took a deep breath. "Hilarious."
Max frowned. "Apparently the smells are supposed to have a calming effect or something."
Liz pressed her arms around her middle as the laughter wrecked havoc on her stomach muscles. "Oh my God."
When Max started looking insulted, Liz laughed even harder. "It's not that funny."
"Did she-" she gasped for air "give you a bath cap as well?"
"Okay, that's it," he grumbled.
Liz's eyes had time to widen in fear before he grabbed her around the waist and draped her over his shoulder. Her laughter came to an abrupt stop as she hit her fists against his shoulder blades. "Put me down!"
He unceremoniously did just that. Into the bathtub.
She shrieked and tried to get up, but he pressed her back down. Her clothes clung to her body and she sputtered as bubbles tried to invade her mouth.
"What are you doing?" she yelled at him.
He put a finger across his lips and hushed, "Shh…neighbors."
Her eyes became like two narrow slits as she picked up on the smug draped across his face and within a few seconds she had grabbed a hold of the 'Drink till you want me' shirt and had pulled Max off balance, on top of her, into the bathtub.
He spluttered in surprise, his hands moving over her body as he tried to grab onto something to be able to push himself back to his feet again.
She gasped as his hands moved over her breasts, down over her hips and back up to her waist. "Max…"
He stopped struggling and let himself sink down against her body, his hands moving to cradle her face. "I thought you didn't want to take a bath with me."
"You were dirty," she enunciated slowly and he grinned.
Her hair swirled around her in the water as she sank further down from the weight of his body. His hands around her face were the only thing keeping her above the surface.
He looked at her seriously, brushing his thumb slowly over her bottom lip. "I love you."
Her eyes brightened before her mouth caught on and she smiled the biggest smile he had ever seen. "Yeah?"
He gently kissed her lips. "Yeah."
The water sloshed around them when she pulled her arms up to wrap them around his neck. Water flowed over the edges of the bathtub as her legs wrapped around his waist, crushing their wet bodies together.
Her heart raced as she tasted his lips. She shivered as her tongue touched his and her grip on his body tightened.
"You want some breakfast?" he said against her lips.
"You'll do," she answered and moaned as his hand fluttered downwards to brush over her breast.
"Toast?" he placed open-mouthed kisses along her jaw line while she threaded her fingers through his damp hair. "Bacon?" Her body arched up against his, causing the water to slosh some more, as he pulled her earlobe between his lips. She giggled as his breath tickled her ear, "Eggs? Omelet?"
"Only you," she gasped. She slid the back of her head up to rest on the edge of the bathtub as his hands moved down her sides and slid underneath her top.
"Pancakes?"
She closed her eyes and moaned in ecstasy as his palm cradled her left breast. "Mmm…pancakes."
His thumb brushed across her nipple and she trembled with desire. "Max."
His mouth traced along her shoulder, along the water surface, and he mumbled, "With maple syrup? Sugar? Jam? Ice cream?"
"Mmm…ice cream," she whispered and directed his lips back to hers. "I love ice cream."
He pulled back to smile at her and brush her hair away. With another touch of his lips against hers he pulled away, causing several more liters of water to flow over the edge of the tub.
She stared at him with her mouth falling open. "Wh-what are you doing?"
He smiled at her, running his finger slowly along her exposed wet thigh. "I'm making you breakfast."
"No," she said, and rose up to pull him back to her. But he was already moving out of the tub.
"No, where are you going?" she asked, her voice gaining in intensity.
His drenched clothes dripped water across the tiled floor and he pulled his T-shirt off.
She inhaled sharply at the sight of his tanned toned chest. He had been beautiful that night, but if possible he was even more beautiful now. In four years he had filled out. Grown into a man.
A mouth-wateringly beautiful man.
He smiled as he saw her eyes wander, trying very hard himself to stop himself from reacting to how every inch of her top was plastered to her front. Not to mention how transparent the water had made that piece of fabric.
"I'll leave you alone to tend to your bath now, okay?"
"Maaax…" she warned, daring him to leave her.
He smiled at her sweetly. "Oh, and it might be easier without clothes."
Her mouth fell open in dumbfounded disbelief and he quickly made a start for the door.
"You come back here right now," she yelled as he disappeared into the adjoining bedroom.
He laughed under his breath before yelling back over his shoulder. "Just take your time and relax."
"I hate you!" she yelled and he shook his head with the widest grin as he opened the bedroom door.
"Hate you too," he responded.
TBC...
