a/n: I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas! Thanks to lakergirl08, DiamondPrincess, and SJPearce for your kind reviews from the last chap! Sorry it's been a while. I was working on some MA videos, and that whole holiday thing!

Chapter 5

"I didn't know I had one of those!" Alec commented casually, referring to the pan, before moving away from the stove. He sat anxiously on a stool by the bar, clearly waiting to taste his breakfast.

Max could not believe his nerve. You ass! she said in her mind, but not out loud. She was getting extremely frustrated already and the day had barely begun. He was going to pay when this was all over. A thought came over her, something she'd already tried. But he was better at it, apparently. Maybe it would work anyway. She needed some satisfaction to get her through her day. And nothing brought more satisfaction than watching Alec squirm at his own game. A solid smile formed on her face as her lips curled upward in her game face. Her eyes narrowed upon him, the prey of her attack. That's right, Pretty Boy! Two can play at this game…

She plated his meal with a sugary sweet smile as she presented it before him. "Now, Alec," she told him, eyes focused entirely on him as she gave him an anxious stare of her own. "Don't be shy! Tell me what you think!"

Alec noted how determined she was for him to enjoy the meal. Was this really difficult for her? he wondered, trying to consider what exactly about making a pancake would prove a challenge. Of course, Max didn't exactly cook all the time.

As the hard nibble attacked his taste buds, he found himself trying to ignore the urge to choke on the foul piece that hardly tasted edible. Alec found real difficulty in swallowing it down and found himself questioning again whether or not it was truly edible.

He looked up into Max's large, anxious eyes and knew he had to say…something! "Wow, Max! This really tastes fantastic!" he praised as he finally managed to get the bite down in one large, forced gulp.

"Really?!" she replied, her face absolutely beaming. Alec wanted to put a smile on her face, but at what costs? He was fairly certain that his stomach would pay him back later for subjecting it to whatever it was that he was eating.

Max grinned at his predictable reaction. There is no way in hell that he actually enjoys those! she knew, which only made it more amusing to watch him pretend like it was the best thing he'd ever tasted. You are not a good faker, Alec!, she noted. "In that case…," she said, placing a 2nd pancake on his plate. She had to fight the urge to laugh out loud so she wouldn't ruin her cover. Yep, she thought again with a satisfied grin. There was really no pleasure quite like the joy brought with watching Alec be the one to squirm.

"Well!" she continued. "As soon as you're done with that, I'll clean everything up. Isn't that nice of me?" She grinned, knowing that in spite of the horrible tastes she was subjecting him to, he would have no choice but to again compliment her.

Alec eyed Max with apprehension. Was her plan possibly to torture him into forfeiting his win? But as Alec took another stare and took in the glorious sight of Max cooking him breakfast, he found the strength within him to keep up the charade. Yep, he confirmed, if this is the worst she can do, sign me up!

Even the choking that he had to stifle to keep his cover in front of her didn't take away from his amusement and delight in this moment as his own mischievous green eyes held her own brown anxious ones for a moment.

"Yes!" he agreed just as she'd predicted. "It really is so…. nice of you, Max." He sent her a knowing stare but didn't have to force the cocky grin that naturally followed the image of Max in front of him.

Max gave him an appreciative glance before turning away from his view with a hidden devilish grin at what she considered was the perfect start to a promising day. Despite the fact that she was currently the 'loser', seeing Alec try and stomach his meal didn't make her feel so defeated anymore.

-----------------------

Alec found the strength within him to finish her meal, offering a final forced "Yummy" before handing her the plate. He let himself enjoy an unnerving stare at her while he placed the dish in her hands.

"So why don't you go clean yourself up while I take care of this mess," Max offered innocently as she rinsed off his dirty dish.

"Great!" he said with a forced grin. Although he was still feeling confident about the situation, he had to wonder what she had in store for him next. He wondered if when he came out of the shower, he'd return to find she'd 'accidentally' broken his dishes by trying too hard.

He walked off toward his bedroom while scratching the back of his head. After the way he'd fallen asleep, with Max next to him, he really hadn't pictured this type of a morning. She had to be playing some kind of new angle. He tried not to focus on how the morning had been less than amazing, especially compared to the night preceding it, but he just couldn't shake it. Whatever game Max was playing, she definitely had the upper hand for the moment. But he was determined to enjoy the rest of the day. No, he wouldn't let her get away with these stunts much longer. She'd caught him by surprise, that was all. Well…and the fact that it was pancakes. I mean, who screws up pancakes, he asked in his mind. She had to be purposely trying to give him hell in spite of the fact that the next 3 days ought to be his most enjoyable ever. Just wait, Max, he thought to himself, his cocky grin back in place, that massage is going to come later, and there's nothing you can do to escape it!

------------------------------------------

Once Max heard the water running in his shower, she allowed herself to let out the laugh that had been building all morning. That was absolutely hilarious!, she thought to herself, satisfied with where things stood right now.

She had to admit, after the night she'd had, she wasn't so sure if she could pull off getting the upper hand. But once the initial shock of being so attracted to Alec had worn off, she found herself far more in control of her own actions. Or maybe it's because I've finally accepted it… she wondered. Oh, forget it! she fought with herself. Now I'm sounding like Cindy! Max loved her best friend to death, but the girl was always trying to hook Max up. Not everything in life is about gettin' ya monkey on! Max concluded.

Although she could definitely picture herself doing just that with Alec. Ugh, get a grip! she told herself. Sure, Alec was attractive. That move he'd made earlier with the egg had nearly caused her to lose her cool. She swallowed the truth of the moment. She'd actually wanted him to kiss her then. Well, how could anyone resist, really, with his scent surrounding her and being so close… Please, Max! Get a grip!, she told herself again. It was just that with the whole virus bitch, it had… been a while. Who cares if Alec is somewhat easy on the eyes, she told herself, knowing full well how much she sounded like a typical, superficial guy using that phrase.

Regardless of how attractive Alec was with his ripped abs and his cute face and his confident attitude…Max!

Max scrubbed the dish a bit harder to shake her wandering thoughts that were getting out of hand. A confident grin again returned to her face. Like she'd said earlier, he wasn't irresistible. And he wasn't invincible, either. By the end of the day, he'd be wishing she had won their air-hockey game!

--------------------------------------

Alec came out of the shower with a visual effect just as intense as he had the night before, steam surrounding him, his scent pouring out, his naked muscles wet and gleaming. But this time, it wasn't such a shock for Max, and she didn't gape at him like a lusty cheerleader. She'd given herself a pep talk while he was in the shower, and she felt she had just enough confidence right then to ignore how he made her temperature rise and to remain holding the upper hand.

"My turn," she told him as she handed him the keys to her Ninja and flashed him a genuine, confident grin.

Alec looked at her like she'd lost her mind. Her Ninja was like her baby. Was she trying to make up for almost killing him earlier with her cooking? "Wait…why are you giving me your keys?"

"My bike is way better than yours, we both know that. So, I'll let you arrive to work in style for once!" She loved that she could insult him and his possessions while still putting up the front of being nice. "We'll trade, get it? Unless of course, you don't want me riding your junker." She again grinned at him, knowing that insulting him really shouldn't be as gratifying as it was, but enjoying herself nonetheless.

Alec truly didn't know what to say to her. Junker? He considered arguing the quality of his bike, a true legend compared to hers, but looking at how happy she was in front of him made him think otherwise.

Max only continued to stare at him, reveling in his delayed response. Or was there going to be one at all?

Alec was staring at her with his mouth open, visibly unsure of what to say. Victory! Max couldn't help thinking as she found that she'd caught him speechless without shoving any ill-tasting food in his mouth. She broke the silence by continuing. "I promise I'll take a quick shower. You didn't use all the hot water did you? You don't mind, right?"

Alec shook his head. "No, no. I mean, go right ahead. I'll just…get dressed."

-------------------------------------------

Max exited the shower and gave him some of his own medicine as she walked out wearing only his blue towel.

Alec tried not to stare at her even though the sight was quite taking, with the steam coming out behind a wet, barely clothed Max. The scent that he'd reveled in falling asleep to the night before was now wafting all around his bathroom, and he found his thoughts wandering as he couldn't help picturing Max, completely naked in his shower, using his soap, wearing his towel…which coincidentally, he decided he preferred seeing her wearing his towel as opposed to himself. Alec eyeballed her up and down while trying not to be obvious. Yep, he decided, she definitely looks better in that towel.

"I forgot my clothes!" she told him, interrupting his thoughts while feigning a look of embarrassment. Inside, she truly appreciated the effect that she was clearly having on him, with his wandering eyes. Max grinned as she realized that the cheap shot was working to its full effect. Especially as his next statement again showed just how speechless she could make him.

"You…" Alec trailed as whatever he was going to say became garbled in his throat as an image of Max going about her day with no clothes filled his mind. He felt his temperature increasing even more and was silenced with his own pleasure and embarrassment at his thoughts.

"Here they are!" Max said cheerily as she picked up a pile she'd left on his living room floor.

She approached the door of the bathroom holding them in her hands. A lacy, black bra was on the top, part of it dangling. "Oops!" she said as it intentionally fell to the floor. She bent over to pick it up.

Alec looked away and cleared his throat, trying to be a gentleman as he knew that there was an 85 percent chance that Max's naked ass was right in front of him. Which of course, only served to cause an image of Max's ass to fill his mind.

He was relieved to hear the sound of the door shutting as he realized that his hormones could enjoy a break from going crazy. A grin settled firmly across his face in spite of how rattled he was feeling. If Max went about the entire day like this, taunting him right and left, it would at least provide for a good view.

------------------------------------------------

"Ready to go?" Max asked him as she held onto his keys. She clearly was, with her leather jacket and shades on.

"Yeah!" he answered, fully aware that this was quite possibly the least he'd spoken around another person probably ever. This speechless shit is gonna stop when we get to work! he decided, determined not to let Max get away with winning their unspoken competition.

As he sat on Max's Ninja, he had to admit that it really was a much nicer bike than his own. He'd ridden backside before, but being right up front had a true appeal to it. He felt a slight rush as he revved it to start with a grin. It really was nice of Max to let him ride it, even if in the offer she'd insulted his own bike.

He stiffened the urge to squeal "Woo-Hoo!" like a true spoiled hog and kept his happiness down to a short "Yeah!" as they sped off to get to work.

Alec loved the feel of the wind and the way he felt like he owned the road as he made his way to work, weaving expertly around the traffic with the superior maneuvering the incredible bike offered him.

But he found the grin on his face quickly fading as he took in the sight in front of him.

Max was swerving all over the road ahead. With every side motion that she made, he felt a piece of his own heart leap as he pictured his bike being smashed to smithereens. The way she was driving, he couldn't see it making the trip all in one piece.

"Max!" he called ahead as he noticed yet another jerk of hers. Had she never ridden anything so rough before? Sure, his ride wasn't nearly as smooth as her higher quality bike, but it wasn't like she was riding something ancient.

She must not have heard his shout since she only continued to speed up. Alec definitely enjoyed his share of reckless riding, but the way she was going, he decided that he'd rather she'd just ridden her own bike to work.

Alec found himself making sudden breaks more frequently than was safe with all of her abrupt stops. "Max!" he again called as she almost made him slam her own bike into his.

---------------------------

"That was the longest ride of my life!" Alec mumbled as he removed his helmet.

"What's that?" Max asked him with a grin. "So, how'd you enjoy the ride? My baby's amazing, isn't she?"

"She sure is!" Alec agreed with a cheesy smile. Hold that grin, Maxie! he thought to himself. Cuz it's gonna be wiped right off that gorgeous face of yours once you really start to fulfill my definition of 'nice'.

"So!" he said anxiously to her.

"What?" she asked.

"Keys?" he reminded her with an almost desperate look in his eyes.

"Oh!" she realized. "Here you go," she told him as she tossed them at him.

"Thanks!" Alec said with real emphasis. "That was just so nice of you, Maxie! Ready to keep it up?"

Max tried not to groan as she tried to think of a way to somehow make the next task of the day work in her favor. "You don't need to remind me," she told him with forced calmness and fake pleasure. "I'm gonna deliver all your packages."

Alec grinned. Finally something she couldn't work to her advantage. "Sweet!" he replied. "Better get started, babe!" he said with a smack on her ass as they entered the building.

Max felt a burning come over her cheeks as she fought the urge to punch him. Only today would Alec get away with that type of behavior. But damnit, she whined in her head, he is getting away with it!

"All right, Max, 2nd and Pierce. Alec, 4th and Lorrel," Normal said, tossing one at both of them.

Alec flashed Max a smile. "Ready to go?"

"You bet!" she said through gritted teeth as she practically ripped the package right out of his hands.

His green eyes narrowed into hers with golden glints of mischief as he moved his head right next to hers to whisper. "Oh, we both know that I would," he told her in a low voice.

Max felt a fury come over her as she heard the statement. She scolded herself for setting up the comment referring to the whole reason her enjoyment for the next 3 days was signed away- a stupid bet. Not to mention, the feel of Alec's hot breath against her ear as he whispered to her perked her senses in more than just hearing.

Max stared into his challenging eyes with determined ones of her own. She gave him a slightly seductive and ever confident grin before copying his move and whispering into his ear. "You're goin' down, Pretty Boy!" She pulled away and gave him an innocent look before getting on her bicycle.

"You really need to work on that whole being nice thing, Max," he told her with a cocky, amused grin as he mounted his own bicycle. "But I'm such a nice guy myself, that I'll let that one slide." He finished with a light punch on her shoulder, since he couldn't make a move at her butt again, as it was planted on the seat.

Max grinned back at him with genuine amusement in spite of her competitive spirit. As pissed off as he tended to make her, she was really starting to notice how appealing he could be sometimes.

With her competitive spirit back in full force, she sped out of Jam Pony to deliver his first package, with Alec following directly behind.

a/n: feel free to drop a review and let me know what you think! See you next ch!