Thankyou to Teegs for betaring

Chapter 8

Hearing movement in the apartment he came quickly to consciousness. Must have dozed off he thought glancing sleepily down at Max lying sprawled across him, he nuzzled her hair breathing in her scent now a mixture of both him and her. He loved his own smell on her. He felt calmer the tension of the past two days gone now that he was no longer dominated by his need to find her.

Since her heat his feelings for her were even stronger protective, possessive he thought uncomfortably, her heat had triggered the change he now felt a deeper more primitive more primal connection. His instincts recognized her, her smell, her sound her presence.

He'd always operated from his instincts, he was comfortable with them. If he lived in the jungle like his feline ancestors it would be simple, he'd fight for her, she would be his, end of story. But unfortunately only his instincts were jungle bound, his life wasn't out here in the ordinarys world wasn't.

So what now where did they go from here. How was it gonna work Logan, Max, him  and his kid just one big happy family? He mused cynically.

Yeah like Logan's gonna go for that he scoffed, smiling sardonically to himself then bitterly as he realized that while Logan might have the luxury of not accepting it he didn't. If he wanted to stay in Max's life, be there for her and the baby he'd have to accept whatever role she chose to give him. Scapegoat, friend, helper, lover, mate…yeah right, not much chance of the last two, not very likely she was going to choose him over Logan, even with the baby.

He was hardly likely to be the candidate of choice to raise a baby with, the guy who tried to kill her to save his own skin. She's really had some fond memories of him…… yeah she's really gonna pick him. He thought hopelessly.

Max shifted restlessly in her sleep, he gently hitched her higher on his shoulder stroking her hair until he felt her start to relax again.

Heat had connected her to him in a manner he didn't know how to override, his primordial instincts recognized her as his mate, he didn't know how he could go back to living on the periphery of her life, watching her with Logan and keeping quiet about how he felt.

What was the alternative if she wouldn't give him a chance? Could he leave her, in the past he'd thought about it, when the hopelessness of wanting, loving someone who didn't want him had gotten too much? But no matter how bad things had been between them, he hadn't been able to do it.

Now it was even more complicated, there was also his child he wouldn't just be leaving Max he'd be leaving his child to grow up without him.

But how would a baby fare in their sort of complicated triangle? Maybe it would be best for him to just bow out, remove the dilemma. But even if he could do that, if he could override his instincts, his heart and leave them, who would protect them. Logan sure as hell couldn't. In fact she needed someone to protect her from Logan he thought remembering some of the dangerous situations Logan had sent her into.

Fuck what a mess whichever way I turn I'm fucked.

Pregnant, and later with a child she would be even more vulnerable to White. She needed him and he need to be there for her. No point in worrying about it now he decided peering at her peaceful content face as she shifted her head on his shoulder. It's not as if she can make any decisions while she's still in heat anyway.

Careful not to wake her he gently eased her off him, slid his shoulder out from under her head and settled her onto the pillow. He wanted to talk to Cece about the crying, and the other hormonal stuff, Manticore's lessons about heat had left more blanks than they had filled.

With a bit of luck he'd be back before she woke up he didn't want to miss any more of her heat, he wanted to make the most of the rest of it while he could. Gazing down at her he brushed her hair off her face.

Closing the door quietly, he went into the living room, both Cece and Biggs were there and he could smell food.

"Smells good," he said to Cece ignoring Biggs.

"I wanted to tell you she was here, Man. I really did but Cece said she'd hurt me if I did," Biggs blurted contritely, shrugging his shoulders.

Alec remembering Cece's punch in his gut felt some small sympathy for him.

"We've already heard, that you told the whole of Command that you didn't tell Max to kill your baby," he said, looking pointedly at Cece.

"I tried to tell her," he explained, motioning at Cece, "that sending Max away in the middle of her heat definitely wasn't something you'd do, and telling her to get an abortion didn't sound right either, but nnnoo she knew best… 'How could Max get that wrong?'" he said, mimicking Cece's voice and rolling his eyes.

"I always know best," Cece reinforced  glaring at him.

"Max misheard what I said to her," Alec said defensively. "I did not tell her to get an abortion and I sure as hell didn't send her away."

Cece raised her eyebrow skeptically.

"Okay, okay I fucked up. But I only told her to take the morning after pill if I wasn't gonna be allowed to raise my own kid. If Logan was gonna raise it he mumbled. I do want it but I want to be its father with Max I…"

"Have you told Max this?" Cece impatiently, interrupted his rambling.

"Of course."

"You've told her that you want her to be your mate?" she asked, eyebrow raised again.

Alec gaped at her, "Well I, well…no…not…exactly…like that," he said awkwardly. "But I sort …of said…that when I said I wanted the baby."

She raised her eyebrow again.

"Didn't I?" He asked plaintively.

Cece rolled her eyes.

"Well you don't just come right out and ask someone be your mate, " he added defensively.

"Not Max anyway," he mumbled.

"And you know this why?"

"Well…all guys know that," he looked over at Biggs who nodded sagely in support.

"Yeah we all know that." Biggs echoed. "Yeah there are certain things that come first."

"And these are?" Cece asked eyebrow again raised.

Biggs looked at Alec who looked back shrugging his shoulders.

"Oh pleeease," Cece laughed at Biggs in amusement. "This from a guy who when he first met me thought a hand on my leg and a 'hey babe your place or mine?' was high romance."

"Hey," Biggs said indignantly. "That kind of stuff is private."

"And you can stop smirking," she said pointedly to Alec. "At least he asked."

"Yeah," mumbled Biggs all thoughts of solidarity abandoned as he looked at Alec's smirking face. "And I won't be stupid enough to miss most of your heat either," he said, earning him a death glare from Alec, and a fond smile from Cece.

"So Cece you think I should just come right out and ask Max to be with me," Alec asked, gesturing expansively. "Cold, just like that."

"Well, the other option would be what Alec…to wait for her to ask you?"

He could see her point not a likely scenario.

"What's the deal with the hormones Cece? All this crying and stuff it's a bit disconcerting…I mean this is Max."

"You're the first transgenic Max has been with so this was her first real heat. It's normal to be moody, dependent, emotional and even weepy in heat. She had a huge hormonal response to you but she hasn't been able to work it through because you effectively chased her away when she still needed to be with you," Cece ended reprovingly.

"I thought her heat was over, I didn't want her to go," Alec groaned miserably. "Believe me no one knows I've fucked up better than me."

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He could hear her crying again as he went into the hall. Balancing her food in one hand he opened the door to her room with the other. She was lying on her side clutching a pillow sobbing.

"Max."

Spinning around, she sat up wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.

"Alec I thought you'd gone," she said tragically. "Left me again," she added heart wrenchingly her eyes brimful of tears.

"No…I'm still here, I'm not going anywhere until your heats finished and you're feeling yourself again," he soothed.

She smiled tremulously at him.

Its like he was in a weird parallel universe, he thought, smiling goofily back at her as he nodded his head reassuringly.

"Cece's made you some food," he handed her the plate, as he sat down beside her his back against the headboard. She promptly swung herself across him, one of her knees burrowing between his thighs as she reached across and put the plate on the bedside table.

"No Max, you've got to eat, Cece's been worried about you not eating," his hands went to her hips to lift her off. She sat down on his thigh putting her arms around his neck she pulled his head down and put lips on his ear, "I'm…glad…your…back…I…missed…you," she breathed throatily between licks.

Oh God, the ear thing…she missed me, he thought dazedly, closing his eyes. He still couldn't quite believe she needed him, wanted to do this with him. He groaned as her mouth left his ear and she nipped and sucked her way down his neck.

"Max," he said, struggling to clear his head, "Cece has made you some food, you need to eat."

"Don't wanna eat, want you," she was back to his ear again now.

It had worried him when Cece had said she hadn't been eating, what with the baby and the stress on her body from heat, she needed more food not less. Closing his arms around her he nuzzled her neck breathing in her intoxicating scent momentarily surrendering to the pleasure of just being able to hold her again.

Twinning his hand in her hair he gently prized her mouth of him. "Eat first," he said firmly, kissing her quickly, before lifting her off his thigh and handing her the plate.

"Okay," she agreed obediently taking the plate from him, smiling sweetly.

Alec blinked, shocked, Max had just done what he'd asked, no argument, no pain, no swearing, he peered at her cautiously, suspiciously but all she did was start to eat her meal. Another benefit of heat, the hormones must make her agreeable he finally decided.  He could really get used to agreeable Max. He thought complacently smirking smugly as he settled back to watch her eat.

She liked looking at him, she decided, studying his face as she ate. OC was right he is pretty but it's more than that. There's just something about him. The way he smiles his expressions, his personality his unapologetic maleness.

Alec, tensing uncomfortably under her intense scrutiny wondered what she was thinking about. It couldn't be good he decoded she never looked at him unless he'd done something to piss her off.

He thought about the crap things he'd done to her, the messes he'd got himself into. The stupid things he'd done some of them exclusively just to get her to attention to get her to notice him. He cursed himself for his past idiocy.

All those fond memories of him and his screw-ups she had to contrast against her memories of solid, upstanding, dependable good old Logan, he though hopelessly, pain slicing through him.

Puzzled, she sensed his mood changing and watched his expression turn bleak.

"What's the matter?" she asked worriedly.

"Ah nothing Max," he answered warily.

She shrugged frowning and continued to study him as she ate, eyes roaming over his short spiky hair framing the strong angles of his face. She could feel her nipples start to tighten and her body flush with desire for him, she hurried to finish her meal.

"Alec growing increasingly more tense under her unwavering stare started to fidget.

"Like what you see huh?" he asked cockily in an effort to break the tension.

Oh great, really mature you idiot he told himself, immediately wishing he could call back his words.

She didn't answer him just put her empty plate down and climbed over onto his lap again.

"Shut up Alec," she whispered into his ear before sticking her tongue into it.

She can even make 'Shut up' sound sexy he thought relieved she wasn't pissed of with him.

Groaning he leaned his ear into her mouth and started to undo her pants. Still nuzzling his ear, he felt her hands at his waist trying to undo his belt. Fumbling impatiently she sat back on him so she could see what she was doing.

Oh god I love heat he thought, watching her absorbed face as she tugged eagerly at his belt, trying to get into his pants as quickly as possible. Smiling triumphantly she finally got her hand inside and clasped around his throbbing erection. Groaning he moved into her hand.

She liked the feel of him warm and hard and silky, she thought stroking her hand up his hard length watching his eyes close and his head fall back. Leaning forward she ran her tongue up his now exposed throat. When she held him, she could feel him throbbing in her hand and it was so sexy the sounds he made and the way he moved into her hand.

Alec lost in the sensations of her hand moving on him and her mouth sucking on his neck felt her move into him rubbing her body against his, offering herself to him and he wanted nothing more than to bury himself deep inside her again. If he couldn't have her heart, he could at least have this, she was eager for this, eager for his touch.

Threading his hand through her hair he angled her head and dipping his he covered her mouth his tongue caressing hers as he held her tight against him her breasts pressed against his chest his hands stroking up her back. His mouth hot and demanding, hers answering in kind.

Gasping for air she slanted her mouth off his trying to calm her racing heart, impatiently his mouth followed hers claiming it again in another electrifying kiss.

Her head hazy and her body throbbing with desire she gave herself up to the pounding excitement of his hands and mouth on her body clinging to the warm solid strength of him.

She could feel his impatience and it matched her own. Hands quickly on the hem of his shirt, she tore it up his body and pulled it over his head, his lips hot and demanding immediately back on hers.

She wanted their clothes off, wanted nothing between his body and hers moaning, and frustrated she pushed him off her and scrambled off the bed. Hurriedly pushing her pants and her panties down her legs she wiggled to get them off quickly, glancing at him, she noticed him distractedly watching her instead of removing his clothes.

"Yours too, off. " she demanded impatiently.

He watched her raptly as she hastily scrambled back down beside him, naked now kneeling on the bed urgently unfastening his boots. Pulling them off she grabbed his pants as he pushed them down his legs and quickly pulled them off.

Moving quickly back up the bed she swung her leg over his lap he grabbed her hips pulling her tight against him his erection pressed between their bodies her breasts soft and full against him.

Rubbing herself against him she slid her hands between their moving bodies slid them slowly across the ridges of his abs feeling them flex involuntarily as she moved over him, licking along his collarbone arching against him she slid her hands slowly up his chest and around his neck.

Hand in his hair she pulled his head back to better access his mouth her eyes caught his and she stopped arrested, green eyes stared openly into brown and she watched the play of emotions behind them as he stared back at her. Her eyes fell quickly to his mouth, her original destination before darting rapidly back to mesh with his again.

During the first part of her heat he'd recognized her driving need to just have him inside her, his own hormones had demanded the same. He had let her set the pace mostly fast and frenzied, it was different now she was still in heat but it felt less compulsive, he could take his time, enjoy her.

Something feels different, she thought searching his face for what had changed she stared back at him hesitantly.

His eyes roamed her suddenly uncertain face and her eyes fell away before returning shyly to his.

Max shy, he thought, grinning incredulously, over the first two days of her heat they'd had each other in every which way it was possible and now she was shy of him. Still grinning his hand in her hair he pulled her head down and sealed her mouth with his her hungry response was immediate, he absorbed it kissing her gently tentatively seeking the new rhythm he wanted from her.

She responded her kiss gentling as she sighed into his mouth, he kept kissing her until she was relaxed and boneless in his arms, still kissing her he slid them down the bed until she was lying on her back.

She felt heat pooling hot and aching between her legs, his long slow languid kisses were sapping her strength she felt drugged, boneless her mind hazy and floating.

He heard her groan of discontent when he finally slid his mouth off hers, leaning over her taking in her flushed cheeks, tangled hair, swollen lips and languorous eyes. For now she's mine, he thought, with satisfaction.

Breathing in her scent, he cupped her breast his fingers rubbing her nipple as he kissed and sucked his way down her neck to her other nipple. Pleased when he found it already swollen in anticipation, he heard her soft gasp as he lazily circled it with his tongue.

Max blissfully ran her hands through his hair as she held his mouth to her breast.

"That's good I like that," she panted moaning as she pushed her breast up into his mouth. I know you like it Maxie I like it too he thought with satisfaction. Her pleasure and the heady smell of her desire were intoxicating he felt another rush of blood to his groin. Still massaging one nipple with his fingers he suckled the other one.

Max awash in sensation felt his tongue slide down her body, tensing in anticipation as she felt his hot breathe and the swirl of his tongue as he circled her navel, the gentle scrape of his teeth as he sucked it, she arched up into his mouth.

Her hands holding his head Alec felt her tense and lift her hips to him as he moved down her body.

"Yes, yes I like that," she moaned.

"What do you like Max?" he asked turning sideways to look at her as he kissed her thigh.

Moaning she opened her legs for him, bending her leg aside he kissed along her inner thigh.

"This?" he asked his voice deep his eyes on her as sucked her thigh.

"Alec, pleeeease," she moaned as he continued to tease her.

She felt him lick slowly, torturously along her inner thing moving closer to where she wanted him, she gasped and jerked her hips as his mouth finally found her and she felt his tongue lap across her sensitive nerves.

She could feel his warm breath on her, the wet heat of his mouth as he teased and tantalized her before finally settling his mouth over her sensitive bundle of nerves. Mindless with pleasure she moaned and withered as he licked and sucked her. Everything receded her only focus his lips and tongue, his hot breath on her sensitive flesh.

Alec tried to hold her withering hips still, her taste and her smell filled his senses as he tasted sucked and teased her. She moaned thrusting her hips up to bring herself closer as she cupped his head holding him to her. He slipped his finger inside her as his mouth and tongue continued to push her towards release.

He could feel her muscles start to spasm around his finger as her body started to jerk, and she came shuddering and screaming his name, he continued to lick her through it until he felt the tension leave her body.

Running his hand along the length of her thigh he moved her leg to his waist as he knelt between her legs she immediately circled him with her other leg.

She felt him lean over her and closed her eyes anticipating his thrust into her body instead he slid his arms under her shoulders and lifted her off the bed. Their bodies now flush eye to eye he slowly moved his hips and lowered her until he was deep inside her hard and throbbing.

"Two days in heat without you has been torture," she whispered her warm breathe in his ear as she rested immobile on him squeezing him inside her, enjoying the feeling of him sheathed inside her again. His body warm and hard under hers, his strong arms around her holding her close, her breasts pushed against his chest, his mouth wet and warm as he sucked her neck she arched in his arms as he started to move.

Alec his body on fire for her heard her words and knew that he had never felt better than this.  He slid his hands up her back into her hair and pulled her hard down onto him as he thrust up into her. Straining into her he could hear her panting, feel her inner muscles clamping down around him their bodies slick and sweaty as he move into her.

"Harder, Alec faster," she moaned into his ear he could feel his control unraveling as she became more frenzied, he loved her like this wild and frantic for release, wanting him as much as he wanted her.

Still moving into her he laid her back down on the bed, picking up speed he pounded into her as she clung to him whimpering into his shoulder. He could feel the first tremors start to move through her, felt her bite down into his shoulder, he angled her head and covered her mouth with his as he pushed harder into her. He felt her muscles contracting around him as she shuddered and gasped beneath him.

Max could feel his tension feel the muscles in his back bunching as she clung to him. She heard his low guttural grunt as she lost herself in wave after wave of pleasure.

Arms around him she held his still shaking body on top of hers. He was hot and heavy and slick with sweat, she could feel his heavy, warm breath on her neck and she didn't want to move. When he tried to roll off her she wouldn't let him go.

"I'm too heavy," his voice was low and deep.

"No I like it," she whispered licking the sweat off his shoulder as she stroked his sweat damp back. She liked it a lot, she thought blissfully.

Arms around her he finally rolled to his side taking her with him she lay contentedly in his arms sucking along his collarbone as he kissed her neck.

"Is it always like this between X5's?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah, its always better…we're stronger we've got more stamina, humans can't keep up with us. We're better matched with each other," he answered, his lips on her ear his voice low and deep making her shiver.

"But it's never been like this for me before." He added as he kissed his way down her neck.

"Because I'm in heat?

Pulling back enough to see her face his eyes roamed over her, she looked flushed her hair was tangled and her eyes languid and content. She smiled lazily at him. Here like this she's mine, he thought contentedly, bending he lightly brushed his lips across hers. Maybe this along with the baby will be enough to keep her with me.

"No it'll be the same when you're not in heat you and I are good together. That won't change when your heat finishes." He watched carefully for her reaction.

She appeared to think about it. At least she didn't laugh at the idea of him and her together after her heat. Hadn't dismissed it out of hand, he reasoned. Her gentle licking and nibbling of his collarbone was becoming distracting.

She knew he was right she'd never been as hot for anyone as she was for him. It wasn't just the heat, when he touched her, her body came alive, everything else faded from focus it had never been like that for her before. Yes, it would be just as good with him when she wasn't in heat and she felt both relieved and ridiculously pleased that he felt the same.

Moving back a bit she looked up into his face their gazes locked as he stared back at her she felt his hand on her face and his thumb stroking her cheek.

His eyes dropped from hers to her lips still swollen from his kisses, dipping his head he kissed her sliding his tongue into her mouth as he pulled her closer and her world hazily spun out of focus.

TBC

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