A/N: Sorry it has taken me so long to get this posted. I've had it written for forever, but I haven't been able to type it. Work has kept me swamped and my computer at home is fried at the moment. I have two more chapters finished too so I'll try really hard to find time to get them typed.

A/N #2: I'm not above begging. The more reviews I get the more motivated I am to get this stuff posted. =) Enjoy!

In the heat of the night

It had been over a month since the incident in Max's cell and Alec was beginning to lose hope that there would ever be a repeat. No matter how hard he tried to orchestrate it, the right time just kept eluding them. All he ever seemed to manage was a shy smile here and there or a flirtatious touch when they brushed up against each other in the hall. They were still paired up as breeding partners and Alec dutifully made his appearance in her cell each night, but there seemed to be an unspoken agreement between them that nothing would happen during the at time period. It was their own little act of defiance against the powers that be of Manticore.

The doctors had begun to get a little suspicious when Max consistently failed her pregnancy tests. She told them about her seizure though and after a number of tests and examinations they agreed that was a plausible explanation. They gave her a supply of tryptophan and sent her on her way with the encouragement to "Keep up the good work!" Alec got quite a kick out of that, when she told him.

Max was in the gym working out some of her pent up energy. She'd been edgy all day and she was taking her frustrations out on some of the punching bags when Alec found her. He stood quietly just inside the door watching her for several minutes. Max moved around the mat punching and kicking the bags with all her might, spinning and jumping and doing back flips back and forth between them. It was at times like these when her cat DNA was most evident. She attacked the bags with feline grace and an almost predatory instinct. Alec wasn't sure what had her so worked up, but he was definitely enjoying the show.

Max paused for a moment and stripped off her shirt leaving her clad in only a sports bra and her camouflage pants. She didn't usually sweat all that much but right now she was burning up. Alec watched as a drop of sweat ran down her stomach and into the waistband of her pants. He sucked in a deep breath as his eyes followed the rivulet down and his mind went into overload.

"See something you like?" Max purred in his ear.

Alec jumped, he had been so caught up in his wicked thoughts that he hadn't seen her blur over to his side. He took another deep breath trying to regain control of his thoughts, Max's proximity isn't helping, when he was assaulted by the scent of her pheromones. Alec's eyes snapped open, wide. Max is in heat!

Alec began to back away quickly. His own feline DNA was at war with his mind. He wanted Max, Wanted her badly and not just because of the heat; he'd always wanted her. But not like this, his mind screamed. Alec continued to move back until he bumped into the gym wall.

When his back came in contact with the wall, Max jumped him. Literally. Wrapping her legs around his waist, Max slammed her mouth down on his. Alec gave in to his passion for a moment, spinning them both around until Max was pressed up against the wall. Alec's tongue dove into her mouth tasting her. Max purred again and began pulling at Alec's shirt trying to get it off so she could reach the zipper on his pants.

Alec came to his senses suddenly and pushed himself away from the wall, effectively dropping Max on her ass.

"Hey!" she cried out indignantly.

"I'm sorry, Max, but I can't do this" Alec said running his fingers through his hair in frustration. "You would hate me for it later."

"No, I wouldn't. I promise." Max was crawling seductively across the floor towards Alec.

Alec swallowed hard at the sight in front of him. Max was really pushing his limits and he didn't know how much longer he could restrain himself. "I'm sorry. I just can't take that chance." Alec turned and fled the room.

"Fine then" she shouted after him. "If you won't help me, I'll find someone who will!"

Alec was almost too far away to hear Max's retort. But hear it he did and it stopped him in his tracks. Find someone else. His feline DNA didn't like that idea AT ALL. "Oh, hell no!" he muttered turning and stalking back towards the gym.

When Alec got back to the gym, there was already someone else there. Biggs had followed the scent of pheromones too. Alec found Max with her arms around Biggs's neck purring into his ear. Lucky for Biggs nothing else had happened yet or Alec would have neutered him on the spot. As it was, the hair on the back of Alec's neck was beginning to rise. Alec growled and the two culprits spun around to face him.

Max was pleased to see that Alec had come back. She rather liked this territorial side of him. It might be kind of fun to tease him just a bit, she thought. I wonder who'd win.

"Biggsy" Max whined pressing her back up against his chest and wiggling against him. "I have an itch and Alec won't help me scratch it." Max pouted and began to circle the two boys as they faced off.

Biggs snaked his arm out and caught Max around the waist as she rubbed by him. "I'll help." He pulled her flush against him and whispered gruffly in her ear. "I'll scratch anywhere you want, baby." Biggs's eyes never left Alec's face. He was playing a dangerous game, challenging his CO for Max, but right now Biggs didn't care.

Alec growled again, louder this time, but he never moved. He could fight Biggs for the rights to Max, but he didn't want to do that if he didn't have to. Alec still had just enough control over himself to know that Max wouldn't want to be considered anyone's prize. She might enjoy that now, but when she came to her senses later she would feel very used. Nevertheless, as far as he was concerned, Max was his and he wasn't going to share. If it came down to that Alec would take Biggs down. Max shivered at the primal look in Alec's eyes. Alec caught her gaze and held it for a moment then said one simple word. "Mine" After that he turned and walked out the door hoping and praying that she would choose him.

Almost as if she was under a spell, Max pulled herself out of Biggs's arms and followed Alec out of the room. Biggs didn't try to stop her. He knew that the SIC had chosen her mate and it wasn't going to be him.

Max and Alec walked silently through the halls to his room. Alec shut the door behind them and began to circle Max who was standing in the middle of the floor. Alec walked around her a few times occasionally letting his body brush up against her or his fingers trail across her shoulders or his breath caress her neck as he leaned in to smell her. After a few minutes Max was literally trembling in anticipation. The scent of pheromones was overwhelming. Alec paused behind her and leaned in to nibble on her ear and neck. When he bit her gently on that extra sensitive spot just above her collarbone Max's legs gave way. Alec reached down and scooped her up into his arms. Looking into her eyes he asked quietly "Max, are you sure you want this?"

Max nodded. Alec laid her down on the bed and said again, more tenderly this time, "Mine."

"Yours" she replied, drawing him down to kiss her...

A/N #3: Sorry for cutting it off there, but this is only rated PG-13. Use your imaginations for the rest! It's more fun that way anyway!