Title: Here I Am

Author: Kristin aka KiaraAlexisKlay

Rating: Mature

Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel

Always

She woke up before he did, the sound of another heartbeat, another set of lungs rising and falling vibrating gently against her bringing her to consciousness. One strong, toned arm was bent at the elbow slightly and doubled as a pillow for both him and her, while the other rested with an ease and degree of familiarity across her thigh and hip that should have had her screaming and running.

Max waited for the panic to set in; she waited for that rush of adrenaline and passion to take the normal exit stage left it always did after a night of such flurried activities. Unusually enough, or maybe not so, it didn't. All that came to her sense was a heady, musky scent that smelled of cat and man, damp earth and burbling streams, of warm fur rubbing against naked skin and places no fur should have went. It was completely masculine and impossibly intoxicating. Nothing had ever smelled so good. Or felt so right.

With an unmistakable feline motion, she shifted slightly to lay on her back, arching her body and stretching cramped muscles, the groan leaving her lips coming out as a deeply growl. She winced slightly at the soreness she felt all over, and not all of it had to do with the sleeping arrangements.

It hurt, but strangely, she reveled in that hurt. She had earned every bite, every scratch, and ache in places that she'd only ever given her heat victims but never experienced herself. All due to her partner, her lover, who had made sure without a shadow of a doubt that she knew and would remember who had been between her legs. As if she could ever forget.

Her lips curved into a pleased smile as she turned her head and regarded the sleeping man beside her. His chest was now against her right shoulder and his free arm was now slung over her lower stomach and brushed the opposite leg. Her eyes raked every exposed inch of him from her vantage point and she gave a contented sigh. Gradually her eyes fluttered, not putting up much of a resistance, as she drifted off into a satisfied slumber despite the sunlight streaming through the window.

Alec waited until his hearing told him that Max had once again fallen asleep before opening his eyes. He'd been pulled from his slumber as he'd felt someone watching him, and a few deep breaths had confirmed it was she. He had to fight not to hold his breath, to let her know he was aware of her wakefulness, and set her in a panic. The same instinct that had goaded him, urged him, last night to finally take her as his own, had warned him against that.

It was a good thing too. Primitively, he knew that she was his now, and he was hers, and that she couldn't get away from him now anyway even had they wanted too, but that wasn't the point. The point was, Max had to chose for herself, in her own mind, consciously that this was what she wanted, what she chose. He'd waited this long for her, what was a few moments of introspection, now that he'd made her his?

So patiently he'd endured her inspection, trying not to give himself away, though all he wanted to do was laugh and kiss her senseless again. He tried not to groan, as he felt her move her body against his, he wanted to make a move, let her know of his desire for her, and hoping she wasn't paying attention to much to certain places just yet. It was will power alone that kept the smirk off his face when he heard that groaning growl.

He'd always suspected, having observed Max carefully and subtly pumped O.C., Sketchy, and other co-workers for information, that Max's heat victims just hadn't done it for her. If he step aside from his cocky arrogance for a moment, he would have to admit that she had never coupled with another transgenic before, so therefore she couldn't have possibly known that that was what she'd craved, what she needed, what she hadn't a chance to experience being so isolated from her own kind.

She did now and now she's feeling it, he smirked, smiling down fondly at the dark brunette tucked under his arm. She had shifted again, turning to face him, unconsciously seeking comfort and protection in his warmth, burying herself against his side. One of her arms had found itself on top of his, her small olive hand a contrast between his fair bicep. Her breath feathered against his chest, the sensation sending goosebumps all along his body, and a shock down his spine.

He shivered and tightened his grip on her, gently lifting her up and rolling her onto him, so she was now lying flush against the front of his body. She stirred slightly in her slumber, a rare incident that, but remained asleep, after snuggling into his chest, breathing deep of his fragrance.

A lock of her hair slipped down and teased his face, and Alec reached upward to seize the errant strands, and paused as Max's unique scent captured his heart and mind and thinking process. She smelled soft, and strong, of vanilla and cherry, leather and the tangy conglomerate of petrol, grease, and machinery from her 'baby' motorcycle.

There was a deeper scent beneath all that, of sunshine on a crisp, fall day when the sky is clear with unnatural clarity and the wind holding the first warning chill of winter to come, of curling up in a dark den with the brush of fur, the scent of the earth, the presence of family to curl up next to on icy winter's nights. Most of all there was the scent of utter femininity, and not the lace a frills type either.

She smelled like home. Like belonging.

Max shifted again, and this time she was awake. Luminous, chocolate orbs met with golden tinged hazel ones, and there was a moment of complete recognition. Like so many times in the past, like so many shared glances, each knew without saying anything or making any motion what the other knew and felt.

So often, even when they were arguing with each other or fighting, they were aware of each other's thoughts and moods, even if one of them didn't know it themselves. They could go long moments in conversations where they seemed to be having a private discussion just by glancing at each other, staring into each others eyes. It had unnerved their friends, it had unnerved them, but it had felt so right that they soon didn't fight it anymore.

Max stared at Alec, and she liked whatever it was that she saw. At least her inner kitty knew what it was and made herself known by seductive curving of lips and deep-throated purr as she raised her head and neck off his chest only to angle slightly, tongue popping out to tease gently but swiftly against his throat, eyes rolling upward to see what his reaction would be, even as she spoke in a sultry rumble, drawing the word out,

"Morning."

Alec shuddered and gasped in surprised pleasure at the unexpected playfulness Max was exhibiting. Somehow, he'd always known it was deep inside her, but he'd never had a chance to experience it. His eyes darkened at her flirty greeting, and he felt his chest vibrate from her purring, and tingling from where her hands brushed against him.

"Morning," he greeted back, voice deep and broken by his growl. He still had some of her hair in his hand, and he quickly grabbed more in each of his hands, holding her head hostage as he jerked her head upward while drawing her closer so he could feast upon her caramel throat and give back a little of what she was dishing out.

Max gasped at the violence of it all, but it wasn't in fear, or not just in fear. There was excitement, and anticipation –boy was there ever anticipation! She loved the feel of his teeth at her throat, of knowing she was completely at his mercy, her pulse points exposed and the feel of his tongue so soft so moist so warm licking and suckling. The fear and promise of danger was like sugar and spice, it made it all so much…more.

Alec was enjoying himself, hands tangled in Max's hair, keeping her head locked in his grip and feasting at her throat. He could smell the fear as well as the rising lust and excitement and he was inordinately pleased with himself, that he could cause such a reaction in her. He worked he way down, still holding her head in his grasp, stretching her neck just a little further to tighten the muscles, laughing against her skin as he felt the muscles twitch under his ministrations even as she groaned against him.

But Max wasn't going to tamely lay back and let Alec have all the fun ravishing her, even though she would have no qualms or regrets in doing so. Alec's hands were busy in her hair and on her neck so he was relatively unprotected in other areas. Laughing, Max started to move.

"Max," Alec growled, but was cut off as she fused their mouths together. Her tongue snaked in and began a rhythmic pattern echoed and accompanied by her hands which were currently sliding down his exposed sides and ribs, and her hips, which were currently driving him and his lower half insane.

"Yes, Alec?" the vixen purred against his mouth, angling for an attack on his ear. Oh, now that did it!

Snarling, Alec bunched his abdominal muscles and before she knew it Max found herself flipped over and back to the ground, staring breathlessly at Alec's chest as it swam into view.

She looked up into his eyes, which now glowed amber more than any other color, and a pleased cackling growl came out of her throat, easing into a purring rumble, crooning lovingly to her mate.

He answered her in kind, throat adding a deeper, brassier note to her song, eyes glowing as they looked upon her in a mix of lust, love, possessiveness, need, and longing. He pressed their lower halves together, even as he looked at her with something akin to desperation.

Something inside of Max melted, and she could feel her face softening in response, and an urgent need to respond, to take away that lost look in his eyes. Raising herself up on elbow, she gently kissed his chest, lifting her head and kissing his neck, tilting ever so slightly to one side and meeting his lips in a soft, almost chaste kiss. One arm reached up and wrapped its slim self around the cording of his muscle and over both shoulders, bringing their fronts in contact as well.

Alec lowered his Max to the floor even as one arm wrapped around her waist to brace her as she lay once again on her back. Part of him still couldn't believe this was happening, but he was going to make the best of it. For a moment, all he could do was stare at the shapely figure below him, taking in every curve, every swell of the hip and breast, the planes and angles of her stomach, the arch of one leg that was slightly bent. And she belonged to him.

"You are so perfect," he murmured, tracing with his fingers in as light touch as possible the same path his eyes had just taking. Max let out a shaky breath, even as she still felt little aftershocks of tingling from wherever his hand had touched her.

"So are you," she answered breathlessly, taking him in as well, lifting her hand to his cheek, bringing his eyes and attention back to her. The intensity in his gaze tore her breath and her will away in one fell swoop, but she still managed to smile, thrilling that he answered her back in kind.

"Love me?" she requested and his gaze turned tender and any doubt or insecurity vanished in an instant.

"Always," he remarked with that trademark smirk.