Thank you Teegs for the betaring
Chapter Twelve
It was late Biggs and Cece were probably asleep but they needed a place to stay and Biggs did a pretty good field dressing as he remembered.
Biggs groaned when he opened the door. "I thought I was gonna get some sleep tonight," he whined, rolling his eyes as he stood aside to let them in.
"Cece asleep?"
"Yeah," Biggs laughed. "She sleeps like an ordinary, nothing wakes her."
"We need to stay another night. White found my place tonight and TC is the safest place for us at the moment."
He looked down at Max standing quiet and dejected beside him. "Why don't you go to bed, Max, I'll be there after Biggs has fixed my shoulder?" He eased his arm out of his jacket. Biggs moved behind him to have a look at it.
"Your shoulder, what's wrong with your shoulder?" startled, she moved quickly behind him to look.
Now his jacket was off she could see the wound there was a lot of blood, no exit point she realized moving round the front, bullets got to be still in there, right in the muscle by the joint, must be painful and will be worst when it's dug out.
He must have been hit as they went through the bedroom door and she didn't even notice she thought guiltily. "Why didn't you tell me Alec?" she moaned, feeling even worse when she remembered how he'd held her weight as they swung across the rooftops.
He looked at her in surprise. "Didn't think to," he shrugged. "No point, there was nothing we could do about it until we got back here, " he pulled out a chair and sat down. Before she had a chance to think about helping him he grabbed his tee shirt by the back of the neck and grimacing pulled it quickly over his head and up his arms.
"I can do it," she offered, wanting to do something to help, she grabbed a swab as Biggs set out the Med Kit.
"Nah, its all right Max I've done this for him a few times, I'll do it."
"Go to bed Max you look really tired. It won't take long." Alec looked her tired tense face over with concern.
"No I'll wait," she said quietly, feeling useless she moved a chair close to his and sat down to watch Biggs work.
"How many times has Biggs had to patch you up?" she asked hoping to divert him from the pain.
"A few times can't remember."
"About five, six times," Biggs answered.
Max looked at Alec in surprise. "That's a lot of times to be shot?" He's either incredibly careless or he's seen a lot of action, somehow she didn't think he was careless, she shivered remembering his eyes before Whites men came thought the window and what had happened afterwards.
"He's been injured more than that," Biggs said matter of factly. "Those were just field dressings I did."
More than that, just how much action had they seen? she wondered. She heard his hiss of pain as Biggs started to dig into his shoulder for the bullet. Leaning into him she leant her forehead against his uninjured shoulder. Her gesture surprised him but it's comforting he thought as he stroked her hair and tried to block out the pain.
As Biggs worked she thought about how little she actually knew about their lives at Manticore. She hadn't wanted to know, had dismissed the thought of anything to do with Manticore as evil. She'd been so arrogant and dismissive about so many things she hadn't properly understood.
Alec's eyes and his response when White had cornered them in his apartment had forced her to think about where Manticore training ended and Transgenic instincts started. She couldn't get the picture of his eyes from my mind. She remembered those eyes from her first kill, the time her unit had tracked and killed that prisoner Lydecker had sent them after. They'd all had those eyes that day she remembered miserably. Frowning she felt him flinch as Biggs dug deeper into his shoulder.
The pain was making him light headed and nauseous, the bullet was deep and Biggs was finding it difficult to get a grip on it. Not one of his more successful doctoring attempts Alec reflected humourlessly. Having Max there was helping, distracting him from the pain. Her cheek was against his upper arm and she was rubbing his stomach. It was incredibly soothing and comforting. He'd never had anyone try to comfort him like this when he was in pain before. That Max would want to do that for him made him feel that he mattered to her. He didn't begrudge a little pain for that.
Breathing a heart felt sigh of relief Max watched as Biggs finally withdrew the tweezers the bullet grasped between the points. It had taken too long, and must have been excruciating. Alec was ashen faced and his forehead was sweaty.
"Do you think he'll need some blood?" she asked anxiously.
"Nah he'll be fine. He's lost a bit, but not enough to be transfused. He'll be a lot better after a good nights sleep." Biggs replied, smoothing on a dressing.
"Thanks Biggs." Alec got slowly to his feet. He glanced over at Max she looked dead on her feet, her face tight and strained. Her heat should have been spent safe and secluded not like this, he thought disgustedly. No wonder she looks so exhausted.
Earlier after her heat had finished and she'd still wanted him he'd been blissfully hopeful that she was going to accept him as her mate everything had felt so right between them but now he could sense how fragile and confused she was.
"Come on Max let's go to bed you look dead on your feet."
She frowned anxiously at him "Alec I…"
Suddenly afraid he knew what she was going to say, desperate to stave off the inevitable, he put his finger on her lips.
"Its late Max I feel like crap. Let's just go to bed huh? We can talk in the morning." Taking her hand he moved toward the door relieved when she followed. As long as she's still in my bed its not over he told himself.
"Are you okay?" She hovered anxiously as he sat heavily on the bed.
"Yeah, fine just really tired."
Kneeling down she started to undo his boots. "I can do it I'm all right, its just a scratch," bending down he undid them himself.
Manticore taught him it was weakness to need help. It's nothing personal she told herself as she sat down beside him and watched as he took his boots off and then his clothes, her thoughts again in turmoil.
Finally naked he looked at her quizzically. Of their own accord her eyes ran up us body and she felt an instant flush of desire for him. He's injured for God's sake she told herself in disgust. Quickly jumping up she moved aside so he could get into the bed.
She saw him wince as he settled himself against the headboard. He'll probably be a lot more comfortable sleeping on his own, with that shoulder he won't want her plastered to his side. Flushing, she remembered how she had slept sprawled all over him during her heat.
She felt suddenly awkward as his wary eyes caught hers. "Um there's another room. I'll sleep in there it'll be more comfortable for you." She saw the flare of something in his eyes, just a glimpse, so quick she almost didn't catch it before he replaced it with that bland smiling mask he did so well. Surprised suddenly unsure she hovered in the doorway. He watched her standing uncomfortably by the door, he wanted her here not in the other room frantically he searched his brain for words to keep her there.
"Alec?"
"What?" he asked eagerly seizing any opportunity to delay her leaving.
"Thanks."
This is it…this is where she tells me thanks for the sex but I'll pass on the rest he braced himself for the inevitable.
"For what?" he asked unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.
"For tonight, for saving me from White." She frowned not understanding his mood change.
It took a few seconds for her words to penetrate. When they did he just stared at her shocked. She's not dumping him he thought she's thanking him.
"That's okay Max anytime." Tiredly he closed his eyes, suddenly feeling very drained.
She could see how tired he was. " Lie down," she moved to the bed. "You'll feel much better once you've had some sleep," her hand on his shoulder she urged him down. Grabbing her hand as he moved down the bed he pulled her down beside him.
"Stay here Max, " he murmured into her hair pulling her close. "My shoulders fine."
"You sure it won't be uncomfortable," pulling back she peered up at him.
"No, it's just a scratch I'm alright."
He felt his tension start to ease as she settled herself beside him.
"Alec what was White talking about when he said two males were brawling in the hall?"
"I haven't the faintest idea, Max," he mumbled innocently into the top of her head.
She snorted into his chest as she slung her arm around his waist. Smiling he drifted off to sleep.
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She'd slept for a few hours and was now wide-awake. Had she been at home she would have gone for a ride on her baby, here, her only option was to lie there and think about all the confusing stuff her heat had raised. At least he's still asleep. She felt his forehead again checking his temperature for the twentieth time that night.
"Hey," he blinked sleepily.
"How are you feeling?"
"Okay a bit dry mouthed."
"I'll get you a drink," she offered quickly springing up.
"I can get it."
"Don't be stupid Alec! You're hurt, I'll get it for you," she sighed exasperated.
"So your heat's over,"
Distracted, she watched his throat move as he drank the water.
"I'm really sorry I fucked it all up Max."
"It wasn't fucked up it was just confusing. It took me by surprise it was so different. But it definitely wasn't fucked up, I enjoyed it." Smiling shyly her eyes darted away from his as she arranged herself on the bed beside him, her head propped on her hand. "What?" she demanded indignantly, watching his lips twitch as he tried to keep a straight face.
"Nothing Max."
He couldn't help it these little glimpses of shy Max were just so surprising. Hell she was surprising, different lighter, happier maybe he wondered searching her face, he couldn't put his finger on it exactly but she seemed different. He supposed a solid week of non-stop mind-blowing sex could do that for you, he mused, complacently breaking into a full-blown grin.
"What's so funny Alec?" she huffed petulantly, pinching his side.
He grabbed her hand laughing, "Who'd have thought you'd admit to enjoying anything with me, Max, let alone sex."
He'd meant it lightly as a joke dismayed he watched her face tense and cloud, her lips forming an unhappy pout.
"I know I haven't been very nice to you sometimes," she mumbled, her eyes downcast. She thought about how hard he'd tried to fit into her world. OC, Joshua even Sketchy had told her that she needed to ease up on him, not be so judgemental and so contemptuous but she hadn't listened and had continued measuring him against standards that had no relevance to him, human standards. He couldn't win she realized unhappily.
Alec angry with himself for ruining her mood racked his brain for something, anything to lighten it again.
"You can make it up to me with sex," he blurted, raising his eyebrows suggestively at her.
The minute it was out of his mouth he wanted to call it back. Her eyes came back to his and she stared at him, his heart sinking he waited for a scathing barrage of abuse, dumbfounded he watched her face light with a radiant smile.
"I'll take that under advisement," mimicking him she raised her eyebrows suggestively. "I'll get back to you, " she added, still grinning.
Alec just stared at her astounded I've got that parallel universe feeling again. he grinned carefully back at her.
"I've been thinking about of a lot of things over the last week," she said suddenly serious again, vulnerable brown eyes gazed into green. "So much seems to have happened and I haven't sorted it all out yet. But I will," she promised, her eyes sliding nervously off his. "I just need time."
How much time? he wondered his face still, his expression bland as he stared back at her.
"I've been thinking about when I was a child in Manticore. I remember the first time I killed. Lydecker sent my unit out to hunt this guy, we were hyped and scared, when we found him we literally tore him limb from limb. I remember my brothers and sisters eyes that day. In your apartment before those men came through the window, when you woke up your eyes were like my siblings eyes that day they didn't look human Alec they were scary, feral looking."
Frowning he waited for her to go on not sure of what she wanted from him. Max not sure what she wanted from him either stared back at him.
"My eyes aren't human Max," he said finally, "My instincts woke me, sometimes when I'm operating on my instincts before my training or my head has a chance to kick in, its maybe more obvious that I'm not human than at other times."
He still had her hand in his, twining their fingers she moved into his side and she felt his arm go around her.
"I've been trying to block the memory of that killing from my mind for twelve years. Subconsciously I think I've always thought killing that man was as much a fault of my being Transgenic as it was of my Manticore training."
Pulling her closer into him he gently stroked her hair. "You killed him because Manticore made you do it, Max, it wasn't about you being Transgenic and unable to control yourself. Manticore took away your choice."
Relaxing into him she closed her eyes thinking how good it was to be able to finally talk about this, to not have to hide it and to know that he understood. "I've always thought anything to do with Manticore was tainted but since my heat I've realized that sometimes I also disdain what's Transgenic because I've not been able to separate the two."
"Distinguishing between what's Manticore what's Transgenic and what's instinctive is hard for all of us Max. We're all on a learning curve."
Lost in thought again she was absently running her finger along his collarbone and it was starting to tickle.
"So, how are the hormones?" He moved her hand down onto his stomach, "I can't smell heat anymore, but you still have a different smell."
"Probably pregnancy hormones," she answered absently.
Oh God, now her hand was stroking his stomach, he felt blood starting to rush to his groin. He stilled her hand on him.
She looked quizzically up at him.
He grinned down at her.
"I'm going to get up, have a bath and maybe go over to Command and see what's been happening while we've been…" her head stumbled around for words.
"Fucking Max," he whispered into her ear, smirking.
"Yes…whatever Alec," she snapped, sitting up and huffily wrapping the sheet around her.
" I was going to ask you if you wanted to share my bath but…"
"Yes I do," he interrupted quickly, swinging out of bed, "I'm very wiffy," he smiled engagingly, hopefully at her.
Laughing softly she shuffled out of the room wrapped in her sheet. Alec followed naked behind her. Grinning smugly to himself he watched the rounded cheeks of her ass flexing through the thin material of the sheet as she swayed in front of him.
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She'd always loved hot baths, always thought nothing could be more decadent more hedonistic. That was until she'd had one with Alec wrapped around her, blissfully she leaned back against his chest. His kisses along her neck were turning into little nibbling bites she arched her neck to give him better access.
"How's your shoulder?" she moved her hand to his head to hold his mouth on her.
"Better," he breathed into the ear he was kissing, smiling when he felt her shiver.
"Good," she whispered, turning her head to nuzzle his throat. His eyes closed blissfully as she nibbled and sucked.
"I don't want to hurt you." She sighed into his ear her eyes drifting languidly closed as he stroked her stomach.
"Can't feel a thing." Moving her hair aside he kissed the back of her neck, she felt his hot breath as he nibbled and sucked her barcode before nibbling down her neck and gently biting the curve where it joined her shoulder.
"I love that," she moaned moving her shoulder closer into his mouth as his teeth gently grazed her neck. He slid his hand down her stomach through her soft silky curls and between her legs. Her hips jerked as his fingers moved through the swollen warm heat of her.
"This Max?" he breathed hotly into her ear the vibration from his deep voice making her shiver.
"All of it," she whispered, moving into his hand as she reached behind her and pulled his head down. Her gaze locked with his as she stroked her fingertips along the curve of his jaw urging him closer, his mouth opened hungrily over hers and his tongue stroked into her mouth caressing hers, his taste invading her senses. She closed her eyes oblivious to everything but the throbbing ache between her legs and Alec his strong warm chest pressed against her back his hands and his mouth on her turning her body liquid with excitement heat and need.
Her hand was on the side of his face holding his mouth on her, as she moved against his hand. She was rubbing her ass back against his erection, the friction was driving him crazy he could feel his control starting to slip, he needed to be inside her.
"Max," he whispered hoarsely into her mouth leaning forward his good arm around her waist as he lifted her, she moved her hips and he heard himself groan as she sank slowly down on him.
She loved that sound he made when he first entered her. She could feel him hard and deep and pulsing inside her the tip of him brushing her cervix, she tightened her muscles and squeezed and heard him groan low in his throat. Feeling him start to move up into her she slid down on him rotating her hips, he groaned again. She loved this too he seemed to be able to touch every place inside her. She could feel the warm water lapping around them.
Burying his face in the curve of her neck he cupped her breast in one hand his other hand back between her legs as he continued to move up into her setting the hard, fast pace he knew she liked. Closing her eyes her head fell back onto his shoulder his mouth immediately seeking the long length of her neck nipping and sucking as he thrust repeatedly into her.
She could feel his hand cupping and squeezing her breast as he pulled her nipple and his other hand was rubbing her swollen throbbing bundle of nerves. He pulled her tighter against him as her body started to shake and quiver and she moaned as her climax hit her, feeling her muscles tighten and grab around him he pumped wildly into her groaning her name, his teeth grazing her shoulder as he exploded into her.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against his heaving chest his warm breath tickling her ear. Hand cradling her cheek he turned her face and tenderly nibbled her bottom lip before brushing his lips across hers quickly repeatedly, her eyes drifted closed dreamily. She loved the way he just couldn't seemed to get enough of just kissing her. Every time he made love to her it made her want him more. She would have thought that having made love with him so often now he would have less power to affect her not more. But that hadn't happened and didn't look like it would happen she mused drifting off to think about Logan…*
Every night she spent in his bed bound them closer. All he have to do was be patient and show her the advantages of being with him, she was his now and he intended to keep it that way. Uneasily he dismissed the thought that his growing possessiveness would make it so much harder if she didn't choose him.
"Do you think we woke Biggs up again?" she smirked up at him.
"Yep," he laughed.
"Good, give him something to smirk about," she giggled back.
If anybody had told him a week ago that Max would be happy and giggling and in his arms he'd have thought they were mad, smiling he tilted her chin up and bent to kiss her.
TBC
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