Zack flew back away from the counter and away from Max's touch. She had said that they could be nothing more then siblings and friends. "Max?"
His features were in shadow, she could not see his eyes, and yet Max felt her flesh turning molten under his gaze. She raised her arms to him in silent invitation and then purred softly. "Zack."
His heart was hammering so hard that he honestly feared it might do some damage to him, his breathing was shallow and quick. He was warm and felt a rush of blood up into his cheeks. There was a persistent pounding in his head. "Maxie I thought you wanted to wait it-"
"I think I know what I want Zack." Max tore around the counter and had him pinned suddenly against the wall.
"Max you're about four days in and the worst of it is just beginning. You said you wanted to get through this. I'm going to help you-"
"Shhh," Max put a finger to Zack's lips. "I know you're going to help me."
"No, Maxie that's not what I meant." Zack squirmed and pushed Max away grinning coyly at her. "Think about Logan you said that you were doing this for him."
"Now I want to do it for me Zack. For us. For the family and yes for Logan. I want to protect him. Now assume your usual role." Max chased after Zack grabbing him by the shoulder and spinning him back to face her. "Fight me."
"What?" Zack's mind screamed fight her, I'd rather love her. He blinked. "Fight you?"
"I have to get rid of this aggression somehow." Max dropped into a sparing stance.
"Trying to turn me into Krit?" Zack snapped smirking at her.
"Shut up." Max snapped. "I thought you said you'd help me." Max quipped.
"I want to help you Maxie I'll fight you if you want." Zack smirked an
animalistic glint in his eyes.
"Square off. Let's go!" Max rushed at Zack.
*
"Whoa man careful." Sketchy reached out to steady a wobbly Logan. "You're lucky you don't have to walk home man."
"Why?" Logan was drinking straight out of his own pitcher of beer through a straw.
Sketchy laughed. "Because I sure as hell wouldn't want to drag you all the way back to your place. I know it's hard enough for Original Cindy and Max to drag me back to my place. Yours is a hell of a lot father away."
"Damn Sketchy where's the wisdom commin from tonight?" Original Cindy asked.
"Altered states of mind open you up to higher states of consciousness." Herbal offered.
"Ri-ight." Original Cindy rolled her eyes.
Logan struck the table in front of him and struggled to sit up straighter if he'd been capable of standing he would have. "I love her."
The group fell silent at his declaration.
"What?" Original Cindy gasped.
"Max. I love her. She's perfect in every way and she doesn't even know I exist." Logan chugged his beer and looked as if he might cry.
"Don't kind yourself lickety-boo. My Boo loves you even if her screwed up upbringing won't let her admit it."
"Da woman knows you exist alright." Herbal threw in his two cents.
"She hates me. She only wants to be friends." Logan wined.
"Logan listen to Original Cindy Boo" Original Cindy yelled at him. "No one knows my Boo better then Original Cindy. My Boo's got it bad for you Wheel-boy." Original Cindy put a hand on Logan's shoulder and was met with an evil glare at the sound of her old nickname for him.
"You're lying to me." Logan looked miserable feeling sorry for himself.
"Original Cindy don't lie Logan." She held up her glass of beer. "Dis stuff's betta then any truth serum those black helicopter boys could cook up. It's just like you tellin us the truth about my Boo."
Logan drunk his beer and thought hard about what Original Cindy had said and simply nodded.
"Max stops the entire world when her pager goes off and it's you." Sketchy offered. "She'd kill a guy to get to a pay phone."
Logan forced a small grin and turned back to the solace of his drink. "If you three little ponies are right then why'd she stand me up on the one-year anniversary of the first day we met?"
Original Cindy blanched and winched she hadn't known the circumstances of the night, if she had she would have insisted that Max go over to Logan's crib. The heat cycle would have been perfect to move forward their relationship. "She's really sick Logan."
"I could have taken good care of her." Logan spoke up.
"She didn't want you to see her as weak." Original Cindy said reassuringly to Logan.
"Hasn't anyone ever taken care of you when you're sick?" Logan challenged her. "I think it's nice I don't see needing someone's help as a weakness."
"You know Max she's different." Original Cindy spoke up.
"She's always guarded." Logan nodded drinking more.
*
Thrust, dodge, thrust, dodge, and block. It was as if Zack and Max were fencing instead of sparing. It was a ridiculous game of cat and mouse. Bait and switch. Flirt with words fight with flesh. The sound of flesh hitting flesh. The smell of their smell of their sweaty bodies. The vision of the other in front of them. It was an all out sensory assault. Max attacked Zack who blocked her. Zack charged Max and she blocked him. Both growled softly. Max struck out with a fist at Zack who caught it. Their gazes locked again and they both froze. There was a static tension in the air in the room mixing with both of their labored breathing.
"Max?" Zack screamed.
"Zack!" Max purred.
It was as if time itself stood still. Neither of the two batted and eye. Their locked gaze was not broken and neither of them dare to breath or move. Max lunged suddenly at Zack and then ducked his block throwing herself up against him and into a forced embrace. Zack's mind as well as the endorphins pumping through his blood stream screamed that he cling to her for dear life. His overwhelming emotions shadowed out all doubt. He loved her! Commonsense somehow prevailed, she wanted her big brother right now, her leader, advisor and protector. Above all the mission right now was to get her safely and purely through this just as he had promised her he would.
Zack took a deep breath and countered her move he clung to her just long enough to flip her over his shoulder. Max flew through the air, crashed into the far wall and landed crumpled on the couch beneath her. She rolled over dazed and hurt by the snub but not physically impaired. She was on her feet in seconds gaping at Zack with tears in her eyes. The air in the room was thick with the smell of the tension between the two. Max tore after Zack pinning him up against the wall. She pressed her lips against his. Warmth and a tingle coursed through her skin. This was something they both craved. A look of surprise was plastered on Zack's face but also one of contentment.
"Max?" He gasped her name. It was a plea and a search for permission all at once. Was she really sure?
"Yes. Yes Zack." Max purred pressing up against him their bodies touching in all the right places. "Help me help yourself."
That was all the consent Zack needed. There was a flurry of motion. Flying hands and startled gasps as clothing was ripped off and discarded in a rampant frenzied scramble to reach the bedroom. Clothes were scattered strewn around the apartment as their bodies melded into one. Zack clad in only a pair of black silk boxers and Max in a matching red and black zebra striped lace bra and panty set. Zack gathered Max up into his arms and threw her on to the bed.
He stood for a moment above her while they both stripped completely. An animalistic growl escaped Zack and he pounced on top of her. Regardless of their true feelings about each other this was not an act of love but an act of all out passionate need. Aggression and brute force ruled out over everything and dominated their movements. It was truly animalistic speed, rough and insistent. Each bit the others neck until they drew the others blood. Zack teased Max and took her to the breaking point and then let up until she screamed and writhed, begged and pleaded under him. She raised her hips trying to draw him inside of her but he had ideas all his own.
It played out like a torture session for Max the waiting and anticipation as he brought her closer to what she needed and backed off yet again. She screamed and clawed at him trying to urge him to take her. Max was insane with need and couldn't take it anymore. "Zack please." She moaned.
With an evil grin and an animalistic growl there bodies became one. A chaotic meld of slick flesh grasping flesh and clinging hands. As quickly as they became one they tore apart with the speed that only two X5's could produce. They had amazing speed but also enduring stamina as well. They were designed to be the perfect union.
*
Logan blinked hard his vision blurred by drunken tears. He gaped at Sketchy. "You're sure man? I mean I can always have Bling pick me up and take me home like I was going to."
"Are you kidding man? This is cause for celebration. You're not getting out of this that easily. You've finally proclaimed that Max is the hottie and love of you're life that we've always known just by looking at the two of you."
"Yeah Lickety-boo you gotta crash at homeboy's crib. This party aint stoppin till Original Cindy gotta drag your sloppy drunken arses home."
The four friends laughed and continued to drink. This was in all honesty exactly what Logan needed. Of course he loved Max he had known that for a long time. It took the fear of loosing her on this special night to realize just how much he couldn't stand living without her. Max had not only saved his life countless times but she gave him a reason to go on living. She was his world. He loved Max he just hopped she loved him as well. He prayed that she was feeling well enough that he could tell her how he felt tomorrow. He also hoped he wasn't too hung over that he screwed it all up. All of his fears faded as Herbal returned with another set of pitchers of beer.
*
Several things had gotten broken. Their frenzied movements somehow had thrown the couple off the bed and on to the floor where the second and third rounds had begun. Zack's neck was a bloody bruised mess but he couldn't have been happier. The bites he inflicted on Max were somewhat more restrained and gentile only out of some warped sense of honor towards Logan. He focused on leaving no tell tale markings. Zack's promise no matter how flimsy still held he loved Max but didn't want to interfere with her and Logan. He gave Max what she needed and kept her faithful in some small way.
Zack scooped Max up off the floor and threw her down on to the bed for the fourth round. There was a brief few seconds between each where the necessary precautions were taken but the momentum never really stopped. They both preformed at top form as they were designed to do. Finally Max sagged and relaxed under Zack pulling him into a deep meaningful hug. "I love you." It was the first timer in their entire existence where they had spoken in sync without the words sounding clipped and harsh. It was almost an endearing moment if it had not been for the actions that had just taken place.
"Thank you Zack."
"Thank you Max."
Zack rolled off of Max to a mumbled protest from her to dispose of the protection and found her drifting off to sleep when he returned. He lay down next to her and she rolled over seeking the comfort, security and warmth of his arms her breathing coming in ragged gasps as she clung to him. Her breathing eventually evened out and she fell asleep in his arms just before he too fell asleep due to sheer exhaustion.
*
Logan and Sketchy stumbled back to Sketchy's pad guided by Original Cindy and Herbal. Herbal found his own way home. Original Cindy crashed on the couch to make sure that Logan woke up all right and with enough time to tell Max the conclusion he had come to about them. Logan and Sketchy slept head to foot on Sketchy's bed and were passed out cold by the time Herbal started his journey home. They were too respectively obliterated to stay awake any longer. Logan fell asleep with the image of Max in his head all dressed up just for him.
*
Max woke up curled up in Zack's arms intertwined with him and they activities of the past night came crashing back to her. She jerked awake and Zack was instantly alert. "Shh Maxie it's okay. It's okay." Zack stroked her hair softly.
"Morning Zack." Max smiled. She hugged him softly and he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
They both eventually pulled apart from the embrace and found their clothing, which was easier for Max. She simply pulled new clothes out of her closet and draws. Zack had to hunt for all of his clothes from the night before. Max seemed a whole lot better then she had been the night before. She was still on edge but it wasn't as intense. She seemed slightly unsettled by the happening of the night before and yet oddly calmed by them. They ate the traditional X5 breakfast of champions a portion of left over cold Chinese food. By the time they had finished eating Zack could tell Max was still troubled and on edge. It crushed him and he sighed but he promised that he wouldn't interfere and would keep her faithful. Half a promise was better then none.
"GO to him." Zack said it deadpan. He loved Max and always would but he couldn't rightfully hold her back. This time he didn't want to be the one to leave. Too many times before one of them had been hurt like that.
"You're sure?" Max was begging but had already shrugged her coat on.
"Yes just go." Zack snapped dejectedly. "You know it's what you want."
She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you Zack you're the best."
So Max left. Her parting remark hurting more then anything else. Zack knew that she had a good twenty-four hours left until the heat cycle completely died down. He would be fine and she still had enough time left to reconcile things with Logan. As much as Zack hated Logan he loved Max. It seemed to be what Max wanted. Therefore it was what was best for Max and anything that made her happy made him happy in some way.
*
Original Cindy had woken Logan and Sketchy up at a reasonable time. Logan was still groggy and Sketchy had thrown a pillow at her before he rolled over and went back to sleep. Original Cindy made sure that Logan was home safely and then took off to drop in for a surprise visit on her new squeeze. No sooner had she left and Logan sat down before heard Max's voice. She sounded oddly timid.
"Hey Logan?"
"I'm in here Max." He called from the couch.
Max stood in the doorway looking more beautiful then Logan had ever seen her even though she wasn't dressed up. Infact she was wearing an old beat up pair of gray sweat pants and Logan's Seattle Seahawks jersey. Logan didn't remember ever lending her the jersey but he didn't mind seeing her in it at all.
"Logan I didn't mean to-"
"Max I really need to-"
"No you go first." They said at the same time and laughed. The situation called for it.
"Logan I need to apologize for-"
"Max don't it's okay. Original Cindy told me you were sick. I completely understand. Just next time it happens I'd apreciate a phone call."
"Logan you're amazing." Max purred looking as if she might cry.
"Max I have something serious to tell you."
Max blanched. Could he be so mad at her that he never wanted to see her again? She whimpered softly averting her eyes as he took her hands. Hands that were shaking and Max had not even noticed until now. No, it wasn't a seizure. Zack had made sure she took her morning dose of Typtophan like a good little soldier with breakfast. Just like a norm would take a daily dose of vitamin C. This shaking had nothing to due with Manticore this was all Max and pure nerves.
"Max?"
"Yes Logan?"
"I," Logan paused. "I should have told you this a long time ago Max but I was too proud and too scared."
Max nodded. There were tears in her eyes and a lump in the back of her throat. She didn't trust herself to speak. Her gesture was meant to tell her to continue and he did.
"Max I . . ."
"Logan it's okay. I can take anything you have to say to me now. My philosophy has always been hope for the best expect the worst. I have to live like that." She squeezed his hand lightly in some sort of reassurance.
Logan looked like the one that might cry now. Max never seemed to cease to amaze him. He gazed deeply into Max's eyes holding tightly to her hands.
"Max Guevara. I love you. X5-452. I love everything about you. You give me a reason to open my eyes in the morning. A drive I didn't even find in marriage. I love you." He said it softly the last time.
Max could count the number of times she had cried her entire life on both hands. Soldiers didn't cry. Big girls didn't cry. Loners didn't have reasons to cry. Yet with those simple three words Max had become a basket case. She was grinning like a fool as tears streamed down her face. Maybe she was a fool, a fool in love. Happy tears, the only other time in her life she had cried them was on the night after the escape when she realized she was safe and free. She fled into Logan's waiting arms.
"I feel the same way Logan. I ..."It was hard to say but all the brick walls and barricades inside her came tumbling down. "I love you."
Max was crying and shuddering and suddenly his closeness was just too much for her to bear. She reverted back to the jungle pantheress she had been the night before with Zack.
"Logan." She purred fiercely.
"Max?" He gasped her name as she moved to fiercely grasp his wrists. He cocked his head imploring as to exactly what she meant.
"I've wanted to hear you say that for the longest time." Max answered breathlessly. "We've passed a large hurtle today. As long as we're moving ahead why don't we take it further?"
"Max we just declared our love for each other I don't want to rush anything." Logan said carefully.
"But Logan I know what I want." Max purred and pouted then winked seductively. "I want you Logan Cale."
"Max, my love, are you sure?" It felt so good to finally be able to call her that.
"Does this answer your question?" Max purred and rushed Logan all at once. She pounced on him their lips joining passionately.
Logan gasped under the presence of her soft warm lips but offered no protest.
Max moaned and scooped Logan tenderly off the couch rushing down the hallway with him in her arms. She knew he wouldn't have been able to walk fast enough to make her happy. She paused only for a second. Guestroom or Master bedroom? Then she kicked open Logan's bedroom door and tossed him down on to the bed pouncing on to of him.
"Max wait!" Logan grasped her wrists stopping her and gently rolling her off of him. He knew he couldn't have done it if she hadn't wanted him to have control.
"What?" Her breathless plea made her sound like a whiney little child but only for a second.
Logan stood over the bed and cocked his head motioning softly. "Lay down Max I want to do this right."
Tenderly, softly, slowly her stripped her of her clothing allowing her to do the same to him. He even surprised her by using his teeth to remove his jersey from her upper body. Max was still on fire and showed no signs of cooling down anytime soon. Logan took things slowly teasing Max as Zack had but differently. He paused at moments out of pure respect looking for signs of conformation from Max. A soft nod of her head or a wink and a needy smile was all he needed.
Max screamed out Logan's name though the action was gentile and soothing at all times. This was truly an act of pure love. Simplistic love making with the person she loved. They lay next to each other when it was finally over angelic smiles of pleasure plastered on their faces. Max sighed snuggling into the safety of Logan's arms.
Everything was as it should be. They slept together safe in each other's arms completely exhausted and content. They woke up and then repeated the entire thing all over again. The cycle continued for the next two days breaking periodically for eating, sleeping and showering. They did everything together except for when Max called in sick to work. The heat cycle was over. Her and Logan were in love. Max was sure it was her, the truth and not just Manticore as it had been with Zack. Everything was right in the world. There was no longer any misunderstanding and this definitely wasn't any mistake.
