This Thing Called Life

Chapter 12- Home

Max woke to the feel of warm, hard flesh pressed against her. She sighed with contentment as memories of the previous night washed over her. She blushed as she recalled how thoroughly Alec had loved her, how he'd made her come alive again.

Snuggling deeper into his embrace, his strong arm wrapped tightly around her waist, she smiled. He was hers. He was here. And she wasn't going to let anything wreck this moment or her future. She was ready to face her demons, the ghosts of her past, as long as he was by her side.

It would be hard, going back to Seattle . But she knew that Alec would never be happy here. Farm life wasn't for everyone and though it had been good therapy for her, and the time she spent with Adam had been good for her soul, it was time to go back home. Besides, she wanted to find Little Max.

Max ached when she thought of Little Max, her sister Jace's only child. She'd left the little girl with Charlie, hoping he would care for her. Max hadn't really thought it through. She had been hell-bent on getting out of dodge, as far away from the painful memories as possible. Max knew she couldn't have taken the child with her, she hadn't had a plan or a destination and she had no idea how to care for a little person. Max also knew that asking Logan for help was out of the question. It would be up to her alone, and maybe with Alec's help, she could find her niece and get her back.

Alec stirred beside her and she turned, running her hand lightly up and down his muscular arm.

"Good morning." She said softly as she stroked his cheek.

"'Morning, baby." Alec smiled sexily and stretched languidly.

She leaned in to kiss him but he pulled back slightly. Max's eyes held hurt and uncertainty as she looked at him.

He chuckled lightly. "Morning breath, Maxie."

Max punched him lightly on the arm and laughed. She made a show of sniffing the air, then wrinkled her nose in mock disgust.

"It's more than the breath, pretty-boy. You're whiffy all over!"

"Hey! You're not all roses yourself this morning!" Alec's eyes glinted mischievously and before she knew it, he'd flipped her on her back, pinning her beneath him. Alec then proceeded to tickle her relentlessly.

"That's what you get for insulting the perfect man!"

"You wish, pretty-boy! Think you're hot stuff!" she retorted between gasps as she frantically fought his hands. Alec's deft fingers found their marks as she writhed and giggled helplessly.

"You seemed to think so last night!" came the cocky reply.

Max giggled again. Alec didn't have time to prepare himself as Max maneuvered herself under him, legs spread and arms going limp. He looked down at her in surprise. Without warning, Max gripped his thighs tightly between her legs and flipped them over.

Alec yelped as he landed hard on his ass, the softness of the mattress now forgotten as he rubbed the sore spot with one hand and held Max close to his chest with the other.

"You're a little hellcat, you know that?" Alec was laughing as he took in Max's disheveled appearance.

"And you love it." she purred seductively.

"Hell yeah." His voice was husky. Taking in their positions, Alec thrust his hips upwards, reminding her how much he really loved it.

Max bent to kiss him when suddenly the door slammed open and a confused and panicked voice called out.

"Max? You okay in here? We heard something crash!"

"Oh shit!" Alec gasped. Lying fully naked, and completely aroused on the floor of Max's bedroom was not how he had intended to greet everyone.

A deep blush rose from Max's breasts to her face as she scrambled off Alec. Peeking out from the side of the bed she replied quickly.

"Uh, Katie, I just fell off the bed. I'll be down in a minute."

"Max, you sure you're okay? Was it another nightmare?"

"Really, I'm fine. I'll be right down. Just let me get dressed." Katie looked at Max strangely but when no other explanations were forthcoming she left the room and closed the door.

"That was close." Alec rose to his feet and reached for his clothes.

"Like you care about being seen in the nude." Max retorted playfully.

"Not at all. But this is their house…and it's not exactly how I wanted to get to know everyone."

"You mean you know Adam would kill you."

Alec bit his lip. "Something like that." Max was in a fit of giggles. Alec joined in after a moment. It could have been a bad situation. As it was, he'd have to deal with Adam in a little while. But for now, he was perfectly content to be here with Max in the moment.

Alec pulled her to him, kissing her gently, almost reverently. His words were soft and hopeful when he spoke.

"Come home with me, Maxie? Back to Seattle ? I know it will be hard, but…"

She put a finger to his lips to quiet him. "Home is with you. Where else would I go?"

- FIN -