APRIL 2021, SEATTLE

The rain was coming down hard. It ran in channels down the road and made puddles like small ponds at street corners. Alec chased Max through the gloom. She swerved and dodged between two burnt out cars, heading for the opposite side of the street. She splashed through a puddle, but it hid a dip in the road and was deeper than she'd anticipated. It slowed her down by half a second. Forewarned, Alec expertly vaulted the puddle. He was gaining on her. He stretched out his arm to grab her jacket but Max put on a burst of speed and darted down an alley. She would have eluded him then, but the alley exit was blocked. She'd hit a dead end. 

Alec was behind her, outstretched arms blocking her way. She stood poised to run, her weight balanced on the balls of her feet. He smirked at her. "Face it, Max. You're It."

She laughed and tossed her hair back over her shoulders. "You still have to tag me." 

She faked left and tried to slip under his arm, but he was ready for her. He spun and lunged and caught her sleeve. Her foot skidded on a wet newspaper, and she lost her balance and fell back into his arms. 

Above them the thunder rolled. Lightning crackled and illuminated her breathless, laughing face. Beyond thought Alec bent his head and kissed her. Her lips were cold and tasted like the rain. Her mouth opened in a small "o" of surprise. Alec ran his tongue over her lips and delved into her mouth. His tongue tangled with hers sent a shiver down Max's spine. Instinctively her arms curled around his back and one hand slid into his hair. She kissed him back, and now it was her turn to explore, to taste his mouth with her tongue. He ground his hips against hers and she could feel his desire and her own need was an ache that filled her. Clothes were an impediment. She wanted his hands on her bare flesh; she wanted to feel his weight on top of her. 

She tore herself away from his lips and his arms, but before he could misunderstand she grabbed his shirt with both hands and stepped backwards down the alley, pulling him with her, a promise in her eyes. He took her hand and ran with her through the rain. Max refused to think or to reconsider. She ached for him and she let that fill her, blocking everything else out.

Max jumped into Alec's arms as he struggled with his key. She wrapped his legs around his waist, and bit him on the neck. Alec groaned and turned so that she was pressed between him and the door. He devoured her, kissing her cheek and jaw and throat. He fumbled blindly with the doorknob and the door finally gave way. They shed their sodden clothes as they stumbled towards the bedroom. Eager hands and lips caressed bare flesh. She fell backwards across the bed and he fell onto her, and she arched her back to meet his thrust.

----*----

Max sat curled on his sofa, a mug of coffee cradled in her hands. The storm had blown itself out in the night, and now the sun was shining. It was a beautiful day. Max had borrowed one of Alec's old shirts and it smelled like him. A smile played about her lips, but her musings were interrupted by a knock at the door. Alec was still in the shower so Max padded across the room on bare feet to answer it. She opened the door to find Logan on the other side.

She stopped breathing. Logan stared at her in shock. He took in the sight of her, dressed only in Alec's shirt, her legs bare. He could see their clothing scattered on the floor, still lying where they'd dropped it in their impatience. A look of such hurt and sorrow crossed his face that Max winced as if struck. He opened his mouth but no words came out. The silence stretched out between them. The ticking of the clock boomed like cannon fire. Behind her Alec came into view, shirtless, his hair still wet from his shower.

"You bastard," Logan whispered. He shook his head in denial, and backed away, and fled.

Max shut the door and walked past Alec, unseeing, and collapsed on the sofa. There was a blank look of shock on her face and her eyes darted wildly around the room, the way a dreamer searches for an escape from a nightmare. 

"It's over, isn't it," Alec asked grimly. She didn't answer. It was almost as if she hadn't heard him, as if he wasn't there. He had dared to open himself up again, to feel, to admit he needed her, and now she didn't even know he was in the room. It was over before it had even begun. He turned and snatched his shirt from the floor and bolted. The door slammed shut behind him. 

When his feet hit the pavement he took off running. He headed for a park and lost himself among the trees. He tried to run her out of his system. He was haunted by her – her mischievous smile, the sound of her laughter, the taste of her lips, the feel of her silken hair sliding through his fingers, the gleam of her flesh in the moonlight. But she ran with him, part of his blood, his skin, his heart. He stopped and leaned panting against a tree. He punched it, but it was old and strong and didn't yield. The bark scraped his knuckles. He flung himself to the grass, his head cushioned in his arms. He stared up at the sky, his eyes narrowed against the morning sun. Its brightness mocked him.

Long moments passed as he lay there waiting, though he wasn't sure what he waited for. His answer came with the swish of her footsteps in the long grass. She sat cross-legged beside him. To find him so quickly she must have followed him and not Logan. But he didn't know if that was a good thing or not. His heart ached at the sight of her. He loved her. It was as if he'd been wandering in the dark until she came and opened the door and offered him another chance to live. "Don't walk away because of him, Max.  If you want to be with me, then be with me," he said.

"Logan once told me that the universe is right on schedule and everything happens for a reason…I don't know if it's true, but it's a nice thought. Comforting." She turned to look at him with a questioning look in her eyes.

Alec stared back in surprise and wondered if he had a chance after all. He let go of his defences and took the risk. "I love you, Max," he whispered.

She nodded and then moved to curl up by his side, her head pillowed on his chest. "I think I love you too," she whispered. Alec brought his arms from under his head and held her close. He breathed in the scent of her hair and his heart pounded in her ear.