Chapter 7

Alec was practically beaming as he re-entered Crash, shirt casually slung over his shoulder.

Max took her steps cautiously as she followed him. Even though the massage was meant to unhinge him, she felt it was her own emotions that were shaken by the sensual moment.

Her body was more than tense- it had been intensified and almost ignited with…pleasure. Having Alec's magnificent body completely under her control gave Max a greater rush than she could have ever imagined.

Even though she was supposed to be the one in control during the intimate moment, being the one giving the massage, somehow it made her lose more of her cool. Now she wasn't entirely sure of anything. Part of her was asking what just happened, while the other told her to brush the moment off, that it was just a massage.

Then why am I still hot from it? she asked herself. Her jacket was still outside, and even though Crash was more crowded than usual, she couldn't help but think that some of the flush lighting her face was from her own desire.

She wanted Alec.

The truth wouldn't be heard fully in her mind. Her heart was pounding while her head raced, trying to piece together some way that it couldn't be true, that the situation had just gotten the better of her, and it didn't mean what the creeping up her spine and the urging at the back of her mind had been telling her ever since last night when she'd first paid attention to all of the details of Alec.

Somewhere between the irritated slaps across his face and working together to help transgenics, she'd come to appreciate the smallest details to the man that he was. His flirtations that used to annoy her to no end had somehow come to make her heart feel lighter and bring a smile inching across her face. The sculpted body that had been practically thrown at her on their first meeting now held restraint and patience.

Alec wasn't stupid. As many times as she'd called him an idiot before, she knew just how perceptive he was. He had to know that all he needed was to slide his soft lips over hers and she'd be done fighting her heart's desires.

The fact that he'd only been taunting her throughout the day while still waiting for her to make the conscious choice served to scare her slightly. Not only because of just how strong her attraction was to Alec, but because he wasn't taking advantage of it.

What is going on with me? she asked herself, trying to push away her mixed feelings to a forgotten corner of her mind. It was harder for her today than it usually was, shoving aside her emotions.

Feelings this strong couldn't just happen overnight. It was even more unsettling for her to know that her pull to Alec must have been going on for longer than she'd been willing to see.

So I've wanted the cocky smart-ass since day one? she fought with herself.

Now that she played in her mind the glimpses of her first moments with Alec, she knew the truth. A part of her had wanted him even at their first meeting. But a Manticore cell wasn't exactly the best place to encourage romance. Not to mention something about the idea of forced 'breeding partners' tended to be a hell of a mood-killer.

And there was Logan… she reminded herself.

Was? Referring to the older man in the past tense automatically like that didn't hurt like it should have. Realizing that as much as she'd been fighting to hold onto their relationship, it just wasn't there, didn't fill her with emptiness like it should have.

'Cuz losing the 'love of your life' was supposed to suck. But as Max looked up to Alec, her hand in his as they walked back into Crash, she found that she didn't feel empty at all. They moved in what seemed like slow-motion as Max found her thoughts racing.

I want Alec, she said again in her mind.

But the realization only served to bring a certain discomfort over her. It was a heavy truth to swallow, and she wasn't so sure that she was ready. Just two days ago, two days ago, she'd been content with life, even if it meant waiting for the cure to be with Logan.

And in only one day where she'd been stripped of her barriers of insults and slaps upside his head, she found herself actually desiring the guy that she'd come close to naming 'Dick'.

In her dazed confusion, she wandered to the table. Alec's motions paralleled hers as he approached the table in a daze himself, though his was more due to being in a surreal state of complete satisfaction.

Alec had known that he was going to enjoy a massage from Max, but he hadn't expected to all but melt underneath her touch. He wondered if she realized that as soon as her warm hands collided with his skin, she completely owned him.

Don't kill the moment by thinking too much into it! he told himself, determined not to let anything ruin the pleasured state that he was now in. He played the highlights of the day in his mind, starting with Max's glorious exiting of his shower, wearing his blue towel, all the way through to the addicting feeling that her touch had given him. His heart was already hers, whether she knew it or not, but in that moment, his body was, too.

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The pair sat down slowly in a drifting action, as though they were on a cloud, which was quite fitting, being that most people were in similar states, though theirs due to alcohol consumption. Given the hour, everyone had plenty of the altering substance in their system so that everyone seemed to be floating on a cloud.

Both settled down to Alec's now cold plate.

"Still hungry?" Cindy asked with a questioning stare.

The words seemed to pull Alec out of a beautiful dream. He took a minute to answer her, as though coming down from a dizzying height. "Right…" he mumbled, before coming fully to his senses. "My sandwich…"

O.C. eyed him with suspicion. Once his token smirk was back in place, she brushed off his weird behavior. But she wasn't going to bypass the fact that the pair had been missing for a good hour. She eyed Max with a knowing grin. Did my boo finally give in? she wondered.

"So, Max," she began. "Original Cindy has been chillin' here alone with this foo (she motioned to Sketchy), which is all good. But a mystery has fallen over her that she ain't in the right mind ta be solvin', so do a girl a favor."

Max was grateful for any reason to quit thinking about how mixed up she was feeling with Alec's effect on her and quickly answered. "You got it!"

Cindy smiled. "I got a shirtless, dreamy-eyed Pretty Boy sittin here on one side. And a quiet, ahem, comfortable, homegirl on the other. Not to mention that hour of time that passed while you two was…well, I guess that's where Original Cindy needs some help fillin' in the blanks."

Max grinned almost nervously. Cindy had a way of knowing everything without Max even admitting to anything. "Interesting story…" Max trailed, wondering what her friend was getting at.

"Original Cindy has had a few in ya absence. So, that favor…"

"Yes…"

"Original Cindy needs a clue. Or better yet, why don't you just tell me everything, cuz I really don't think I can connect the dots right now."

Max laughed. "You act like it's a big secret. I mean, what do you think happened? The usual! I just kicked his ass around for a bit." She shrugged casually and took a sip of her now warm beer as she finished.

She was hoping her friend wouldn't push the question any further. Max was more than a little confused. The whole situation was quickly becoming too much for her to handle. It was difficult enough having her confusion thrust in her face within her own mind as she considered her day. But having it shoved at her by her friends, too, was something she wasn't ready for. She was finally accepting that she was attracted to Alec, but after that massage, it seemed even deeper than that. It was like he had some power over her body that she had no control over.

"Are you done yet?" Max almost snapped at him as she found herself feeling hot again. She suddenly wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.

OC couldn't help snickering.

"What?" Max asked. Her eyes held a certain fear in them as she studied Cindy. Does she know?

The thought only made Max more concerned and confused. Know what? she asked herself.

The answer was trapped in the back of her throat. She still couldn't say it out loud. How you feel about Alec, she answered herself in her mind. Her heart was racing and she again looked over to Alec's sandwich. God, what is taking him so long? He didn't even seem to notice her irritation. Or anything for that matter. As Max searched his eyes, she realized he was lost in thought. And must be a damn good one, too! He looked like he was in heaven.

Oh my God! Max felt her own face flush for a moment as she realized. He must be thinking about the massage! Max scanned the exit, that suddenly looked miles away, with tons of people in the way. I've got to get out of here!

Cindy looked back and forth to both of them. "You two! You're hilarious, you know that, Boo!"

"What are you laughin' at?" Max asked her in between glances at the exit that seemed to be getting further away with every look.

"Girl, I been sittin' sidelines this whole dealio. Lemme run this. You two play some air hockey. High stakes. Golden Boy wins, so my girl has to be nice to him. And somehow that ends with you kickin' his ass? ….For an hour? And if that's true, you some kinda masochist?" She turned to Alec as she finished.

Alec swallowed his bite slowly as he contemplated the question. Man, why'd she have to kill the mood? he thought. She'd distracted him from reliving Max's massage in his mind. And worse, her comment had somehow struck a sensitive spot in his pride. A masochist? It was a question he'd already asked himself before, the seriousness of it threatening to ruin his momentary bliss.

"No…" he trailed innocently, trying not to think of it too much. But if every time Max kicked his ass, it ended with her massaging him like that, he definitely wouldn't mind. Does that make me a masochist? he thought with a sarcastic grin as he again recalled just how good it felt to have Max's soothing hands rubbing his tired muscles.

"Excuse me!" Max protested in her own defense. "I was just making sure he was more tense. You know, so he could better enjoy his massage." Her words had more aggression than they normally would, a sign of how worked up she was. She again made a desperate glance toward the door. I really want to get out of here!

Cindy opened her mouth wide in surprise but also approval. "So that is what was goin' down!" She took another drink of her beer while considering something before laughing. "Oh, come on now, Max! You tellin' a sista here that you put the smack-down on 'im only for Golden Boy's benefit?"

Max began to consider just how much 'benefit' she'd received in stroking Alec's magnificent body whose touch seemed to send shockwaves of pleasure coursing through her. As she contemplated it further, she found her thoughts interrupted by a familiar face headed her way. Thank you! she thought to herself in appreciation, grateful to have an excuse to quit thinking about Alec and the sorts of 'benefits' that he brought to her.

She was relieved momentarily, until her eyes rose to meet his drunken stare. Ugh, Sketchy, you are such an idiot, she couldn't help thinking as he stumbled toward her. She hoped he wouldn't bug her again about playing a stupid game of air hockey.

This night was supposed to end up with me humiliating Alec in front of all our friends. Wasn't that the plan? But somehow it was turning out to be a cruel test of her patience, as she found herself feeling more irritation and discomfort as the night went on. God, I really don't know how much more of this place I can take, she thought to herself in defeat.

Why'd we have to pick Crash? I should have known this place would be ridiculous tonight! The night before, she'd assumed that her match with Alec would be old news. Guess I was wrong! These idiots have nothing better to do than talk about a game they had nothing to do with!

"Max!" Sketchy said, interrupting her discomforting thoughts as he made his way through the crowd to their table. "I drank most of those pitchers, unfortunately."

Max waved her hand in front of her face dramatically. "And then some! Sketchy, you reek," she told him.

"Normal's here!" he replied randomly.

Max swallowed to try and prepare herself for the annoyance that always came with Normal. What in the hell is he doing here?! she asked herself. Normal usually avoided his employees after-hours like they were diseased. His presence only increased Max's annoyance, not to mention, confusion, over how things were turning out for the evening.

The last time Normal and Sketchy had stumbled upon Max and Alec together, they'd been at a club, and it had been more than embarrassing for her. Alec had quickly 'covered' for their cover by letting them believe that Max was some dancer for extra cash.

The memory served to remind Max of how annoying Alec was, with his constant smirking and laughing, talking, and breathing… She remembered a time when she'd told Cindy that he was 'bad news'.

'Suga, you got issues," had been her friend's response. Don't I know it! Max thought to herself, accepting just how upside down her world felt right now. Part of her still found Alec just as obnoxious as ever. But another part that was shining through more than she wanted at the moment was telling her that she wanted him.

Max quit confusing herself with her thoughts. It was just pissing her off anyway. She still had two days to get through. And if she wanted to do that, she'd have to make it through the so-far horrible night first.

And here comes a way for it to get worse, she thought with a groan as Normal came closer to their table.

She tried to brush off the fact that she was sitting with Alec. Knowing Normal, he'd probably assume something stupid, like it was a date.

As he approached the table, he opened his annoying mouth to shout something at the pair. Max rolled her eyes and tried to keep a straight face to hold through the lame comment that was surely coming. Probably something along the lines of, 'For the love of Mike! This is why I never come to this establishment. Sights that'll scar me for life. My insurance'll never cover the damages. I don't care what you two idiots do tonight, but you better be at work tomorrow bright and early! Bip Bip!'

Okay, fine, maybe he won't be that wordy, she second-guessed herself. Damnit, Max! she told herself. Quit getting distracted and just focus on keeping a straight face!

As Max stared at Normal with her usual face whenever he was around (the one that read, 'I couldn't care less'), she found it more difficult than she first anticipated to keep that straight, 'whatever' face. She was especially thrown off-guard by his blunt greeting.

"My money's on Golden Boy!" Normal's annoying voice could be heard through the crowd.

Her irritation with the night quickly escalated into anger as she tried to understand what was happening. Normal is making a bet for Alec… here? "What the hell is this?" Max asked, trying to get a hold on the situation.

"You're not the only one making a bet tonight, Pumpkin!" Normal told her as he came through, finally making his way to her table.

Max didn't understand what he meant immediately. Normal knows about our bet? There's another bet tonight? She looked up at Alec for some help in figuring out what was going on. "Did you bring me here on purpose?" she asked him.

"What?" Alec returned, finally coming out of his daze. He took a few glances around the room, as if taking in his surroundings for the first time.

He looked up to meet her demanding face. Did you bring me here on purpose… he contemplated her question in his mind. "I asked to come here, didn't I?" he reminded her, his voice more edgy than he intended. Geez, what's her problem? Who cares if I meant to come here or not? It's the one place where she'll chill out! …At least, that's what I thought.

Max couldn't conceal the glare that followed his response. That asshole made another bet tonight?

Sketchy grinned at the group. "Max, word is there's a rematch goin' down tonight. Unfortunately, my assets have been somewhat dissolved for the remainder of the evening." He paused to let out a gross beer belch. "I think I bought too much beer."

Cindy let out a short laugh. "Foo', you shoulda saved some benjamins fa tha ride home. Cuz yo' ass ain't fit to even walk right now!"

Max found her annoyance increasing as she noted that her friends were all in such joking moods, while she was feeling more uncomfortable and upset by the second. She turned to Alec, about to demand what the stakes were this time, when she saw yet another now familiar face headed her way. She groaned in her mind. Could this night get any worse?! She looked up at him, her mouth held shut in a tight frown that she had to rip open to see what he wanted this time. "And what do you want?"

"Max!" Sean greeted. He was clearly more intoxicated now than the last time she'd seen him. "Air hockey! I'll play you!" He was surrounded by a small of group of guys, apparently his friends.

"Max!" one of them eyed her, letting the name roll of his tongue as he checked her out slowly, ending with a grin of approval. "I can't wait to see that body move out there."

Max looked back to Alec's plate, which thankfully was almost finished. He gave her a questioning stare. "Max, do you know this guy?" His voice sounded calm and calculated, but deep and somehow full of emotion, despite his calm demeanor.

Before she could respond to anyone, another guy came up to her. "So a rematch is goin' on? Excellent! My money's on Max!" He placed an encouraging hand on Max's shoulder as he finished.

Alec calmly slid his now empty plate to the side. He stood up, and although he never once expressed any anger in words or actions, the vibe coming off him was clear. His posture was aggressive as he stared at the guy with his arms folded. It was an unspoken request to back off.

In the man's drunken stupor, he didn't even notice Alec's possessive stance, although Max certainly did. While it offered her some relief to see that Alec wasn't pleased with the situation either, she was still upset that he'd brought her here in the first place.

Before Alec could follow up his sudden change of attitude with a few words, Max ripped herself away from the guy.

"Get your hands off me!" Max commented in a disgusted voice as she immediately backed up…only to bump into yet another wasted guy.

"What are you waitin' for, sweetheart? Start the match, already! Let's get this game on!" he said to her.

Alec tensed as he found himself holding back the urge to throw a punch. He was about to tell them all to back off, when he felt a nudge at his side.

The stranger who prodded Alec with his elbow quickly followed through with a few rude words, surely fueled by the dissolving of his inhibitions, thanks to the alcohol in his system. "Yeah, come on, Pretty Boy. Why don't you get your ass out there already?" Then he looked at Max. "Sweetie, you can get a little more comfortable tonight if you want."

Alec's eyes moved from the place of contact to the man's distant-looking eyes, narrowing as he stared him face-to-face.

As Alec took a moment to calm himself down before doing something he'd regret, Max spoke up, her voice indicating just how angry she was at this point.

"I'm not your sweetie!" Max told the guy disgustedly. She couldn't believe what was happening. There was now an entire crowd of people blocking her from the exit. Max could kick their asses easily, but now wasn't such a welcoming time for her to be advertising herself as a transgenic.

Why do they want us to have a rematch? she thought with frustration. I'm so sick of this damn game!

It was too much. She was done. A day, fine, whatever, that's all I can do. She turned to Alec, about to tell him to shove the rest of the bet up his pretty little ass, when Normal piped up again.

"Bip bip, people! I have bets to collect and I can only stand so much exposure to you morons. Let's go!"

Cindy rolled her eyes. "Normal, ain't nobody forcin' yo ass to chill here." She pointed toward the exit. "There's the door. Use it if ya so bothered."

Max took the moment to also stare at the door, which looked forever away and was covered with what looked like a swarm of drunken idiots, all apparently wanting to have some fun by watching a rematch of last night's game.

Max no longer felt the need to tell Alec to shove the bet. Now, she had a different set of words in her head to tell him as she considered Normal's words, as well as everyone's actions around her. Normal has bets to collect… and everyone's expecting a rematch… and Alec brought me here on purpose…

"You planned all this, didn't you?" she blurted to Alec, her voice accusing. "You want a rematch?" She tried not to get too carried away, jumping to conclusions. After her body's reactions to him tonight, as well as the whisper that was pressing to be heard from her heart, she really wanted to hold onto the sliver of hope that told her maybe Alec didn't intentionally plan all of this.

She knew he had an annoying habit of making bets, but at her expense? And without her knowledge? She eyed him cautiously, studying his face for the truth. Somehow she'd led herself to believe that he wanted her, more than winning some stupid bet. But maybe I was wrong, she thought to herself, frustrated that she couldn't read him better.

Alec felt the remaining happiness inside of him all but dissolve away into nothing as he held Max's stare. Her dark eyes shone with hurt just as strongly as anger. His lips parted out of both shock and the fact that he wanted to give her some sort of answer. But the words that were grazing the tip of his tongue wouldn't come out right away. He swallowed, trying to think of what he should tell her.

I can't believe she really thinks that, he thought to himself. He knew that he hadn't exactly devoted the day to showing Max how he really felt about her, but he certainly had never given her any reason to believe he'd trick her in this way and lead her right into a situation that he knew would make her uncomfortable.

"Golden Boy! $50!" Normal shouted into the crowd, interrupting his thoughts.

"Alec?!" Max asked him, her tone holding more urgency than she normally held for him. Even though she wasn't certain how she felt for him or anyone right now in her confusion, she was positive that if he had manipulated her into coming out tonight just for a rematch or to watch her take her clothes off in an attempt to win, she'd never forgive him.

"No, Max, I swear!" he told her, much to her relief. He pulled her closer toward him to whisper something. "Come on, it's getting crazy in here," she heard his soft, deep voice as his breath brushed gently against the side of her face.

Max willingly allowed him to guide her, weaving through the crazy drunken mess. Her hand slid into his as they walked toward the exit, Alec's strong arm firmly moving all roadblocks aside.

Someone stood in his way, blocking their path. "Hey, you can't leave yet!" the stranger said. "It's just about to get fun!"

Alec elbowed past the idiot without a word and continued on his way.

a/n: Thanks soooo much for everyone who read the last chap and reviewed! They really do inspire me and put me in the right head space to write the next one!
s, djonie, Deirax, p3karen, FemmePhantom, milo04, christique, predatorynature, jorie, purplebunnywabbit, Mahine, smartieepants,and FaeFolk: You guys are awesome! I am really glad to hear you still like this one :D

Well shucks! I went all plottie on you guys, so now I have a tale to wrap up! Which means it's still not done! I'm positive this time, though, there's one final chapter to end this the right way! So I will see ya all next time, with the last update! Until then... ciao!