A/N: I don't own the song, it belongs to Des'ree…

'Fuck…Shit! Fuck! Shit!' Alec cursed under his breath as he locked the bathroom door and turned to press his back against it. He closed his eyes and inhaled quickly and deeply through his nose, willing himself to 'calm the fuck down!' Feeling his body relax a little, he stepped away from the door and stood before the wash basin. He ducked his head and splashed his face and neck with cold water, trying to clear his mind and body of the riotous emotions he was feeling. He looked in the mirror at his reflection, watching droplets of water course down his face, dripping from his hair and traversing down his neck and onto his chest. After almost a minute of just staring at himself, he finally blinked and knew he was somewhat back in control. He turned and reached up to turn on the shower, letting it warm up as he skimmed his boxers off and stepped out of them. It was only when he stepped under the hot spray of the shower that he was finally ready to conduct the autopsy….

As he scrubbed his body Alec began making sense of things. 'Holy shit! Max and I were this close…this close…to..' he trailed off, not exactly sure what they had been close to doing seeing as they'd been actin like.. Well, not like humans anyway! He had felt a whole lot less human and whole lot more animal as he'd…done what he'd done to Max. It was like he was acting on instinct, but a type of instinct he'd never known before. He was used to his survival instincts, his killer instincts and his human instincts…but this, he didn't really know what this was 'but boy did it feel right!' he admitted as he stepped under the shower to rinse off his body. He reached for the shampoo and began lathering his hair, his eyes closing as he allowed his mind to flashback, his body reacting to the memory. Of how she'd felt in his arms, how he'd felt in hers, her smell, the feel of her hair, her hand on his face, her warm velvety tongue, the taste of her skin. His body grew hotter and tenser as his ears seemed to echo with the sound of her purrs of appreciation and he could feel something within struggling to break free to answer them. He quickly reached up and switched the dial to cold and felt the warring within subside.

Things between him and Max had been going brilliantly. They'd been flirting for days now and his confidence had grown with every successful play, every touch that had been welcomed and every kiss that he'd sneaked that hadn't been returned with a smack or a yell. In fact, last night, as he lay there for a while watching her sleep, he'd decided that when the moment was right, he was going to ask her out on an official date. He knew it was still a gamble and she could turn him down, but the way she'd been around him lately, he was at least eighty percent confident of her agreeing. He hadn't missed the way she'd been flirting back. He hadn't missed how she'd draw away his attention when other women flirted with him, how she'd snuggle up with him and rest her head on his shoulder as they watched TV, how she sought refuge in his arms, how she seemed to like the attention he'd lavished on her. And he couldn't forget his surprise at the feel of her fingers lovingly stroking through his hair when she thought he'd been asleep, or the warm happy feeling that had spread through him! He'd also noticed how she'd ditched her baggy t-shirt and boxers for skimpy strappy tops and tight boy shorts.

As he stepped out of the shower and dried off, he couldn't help but grin at the memory of her walking out of the bathroom towards the bed…their bed, the one that they shared…in just a black vest and tiny black shorts with a sexy red trim. His eyes had almost dropped out of his head as they drank in long golden brown legs, the curve of her tight ass, the tiny bit of exposed midriff, her flawless back... He'd damn near lost the ability to speak as all the blood in his body seemed to rush to his lower regions. She'd climbed in and nonchalantly settled herself against his side as she explained how the climate was so much warmer in Florida, which was where they still were, and the heat kept her up at nights. He'd had to manoeuvre his lower body away from hers whilst he willed his rock hard erection to go away! It had taken him forever to fall asleep that night. The feel of her arm on his chest, her right leg between both of his, her upper body pressed along his, his hand gently stroking the skin of her back…he just hadn't been able to resist the urge to lie there and enjoy it for a while…and pretend she was his.

Wrapping the towel around his waist, he began brushing his teeth. He was watching his reflection again as he thought 'everything was going perfectly, but then you had to go and fuck it up by goin' all primal…you really are a dumb ass!' He cursed himself 'she's gonna think you're a sleazy bastard or something for tryina jump from travel buddy to bonk buddy! Shit!' he panicked, she probably thought that just cause they'd been sending one another signals, he'd cockily assumed she'd be up for roll in the sack 'I have to apologise, but how the hell do I explain that I was actin on some kinda instinct, that it wasn't like I did it on purpose? That I'd never force myself on her, I love her dammit!' as his agitation grew, he scrubbed harder and harder, his gums beginning to bleed a little from the pressure he exerted on the brush. When the pain finally registered through his emotion, he spat into the basin and rinsed his mouth clean before letting out a long sigh. 'Such a fuckin' screw up!' he thought dejectedly, his head bowed, eyes closed 'if only she hadn't purred and did all that shit back, I might not have lost it…' his head jerked up and his eyes widened as realisation dawned.

'Wait a minute…that's right! she was just as involved as I was…it's not all my fault, she's just as much to blame!' he felt the guilty tension in his body ease off a little 'she was giving as good as she got, hell she encouraged me..lickin and purrin like that…what else was I supposed to do?' he reasoned, trying to justify his own actions. 'Ha! She can't kick my ass now!' he thought, relief flowing through him 'not when I can tell her she wasn't exactly a reluctant participant!' he smirked. However, the relief and the smirk soon dissipated when he heard the pounding on the door and Max's angry yell telling him to get out. Like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming juggernaut…he flinched at his impending doom.

Max hammered the door once more and stood back, one hand on her hip. "Asshole…chickenshit…soldier boy, my ass!" she muttered under her breath. A moment later, the door unlocked and opened slowly. Max hadn't really thought about what she was doing, she hadn't known what she was expecting to happen when she confronted him but as her eyes met his she felt her confidence abandon her. Fear, uncertainty, embarrassment all hit her at once and as her eyes darted down, taking in the rest of him, desire flooded through her leaving her trembling. She wrapped her arms around her sides, whether it was to stop the trembling or to prevent herself from reaching out to touch him, she wasn't really sure.

Alec cautiously stepped out into the room, catching her eye for a moment before looking away, wondering how badly she was going to rearrange his features, his body tense. When no blows came, he looked back at her and saw she was unable to look at him and it hurt him; it hurt to know that things had grown so complicated between them. He wished he knew how to get things back to how they were, but a time machine was something even a guy with his IQ couldn't conjure up. Max waited impatiently for him to speak, to say the right thing as always, to make things right again, but he wasn't forthcoming. Unwilling and unable to speak past her feelings herself, she simply grabbed her things and walked past him, keeping her body a safe distance away from his, locking the door behind her. She needed to think.

Surprised by her reactions, Alec stared at the washroom door for a long moment 'what the hell?' he wondered. He had been afraid that they'd screwed up their relationship but somehow, he hadn't been prepared for the reality of it…a part of him had hoped they'd both be able to pretend it had never happened. Feeling numb, he pulled out clean clothes and got dressed. He heard the shower turn on as he began packing their things and he let out a shaky breath. Losing his sense of connection and closeness to Max made him almost want to cry. His sadness turning to bitterness, he shoved their things into the bags angrily, taking out his frustration 'why is she blaming me? I didn't mean it to happen! And it's not like it was just me!' by the time he heard the shower turn off, he had grown so angry, with Max, with himself, with the complicated nature of their relationship even without this added hurdle, that he decided that he wouldn't let her push them back to square one, not without a fight.

When Max stepped under the soothing spray of the shower, she pressed her hands to the tiled wall, holding her arms out in front of her and bowing her head. Wishing the water could wash away her sadness. As the water ran down the length of her body and fell from her wet hair, she released her pent up emotions, fat teardrops falling from her eyes and swirling with the water at her feet. Her heart ached. She was going to lose Alec…over what? A few minutes of stupid feline DNA induced intimacy? She shook her head angrily 'No...No way, I'm not losing him over this bitch'

When Max finally emerged from the bathroom, her determination was in full force. As was Alec's. Both were ready to confront one another and salvage things. He was leaning against the headboard of the bed, the TV remote in his hand though it no longer held his attention. Max walked over and sat on the far end of the bed, needing the little bit of distance between them right now. Licking her lips, she began "Alec, about earlier… I'm…I'm sorry okay?" that had Alec sitting up straighter 'Max is apologing? Maybe I won't need to fight her' He listened intently. She sighed, her fingers playing with a thread on her jeans "I don't really know what happened to me back there...it.. it was like it wasn't even me" Suddenly, she felt Alec's hand reach out and still hers "It was the same for me too…I wasn't aware of what I was doing…I'm sorry…that I freaked you out" he added the last part, needing to know if she had indeed been scared off by his actions. She shook her head and gave him a sad smile "you really didn't know what you were doing either? She asked. He shook his head "No Max, I swear..I would never do that to you" she nodded her head to show she knew he meant it. She knew she should have been feeling glad that he didn't blame her and that she couldn't blame him but for some strange reason, she was feeling oddly disappointed.

"It felt like…like maybe it was the animal side of me taking over"

"I thought maybe it was the cat DNA in us"

"I dunno, whatever it was, it was….instinctive almost"

She nodded her head again "yeah, it felt…" 'Right, it felt so right' her heart was screaming "something like that, y'know" she ended lamely.

"So…Are we cool Maxie?" Alec asked softly, his head leaning in and tilting up to catch her eyes. She wouldn't meet his eyes; afraid he would see her disappointment in her face and got up from the bed, walking to her bag, keeping her back towards him. She shrugged as she knelt down to put her wash bag away "Yeah sure, everything's still the same" she replied in a flippant manner 'but it's not the same…it wont ever be and you know it!' her mind screamed.

Alec watched her walk away, heard her words and felt his heart sink. 'We can't just go back to how we were…at least I can't...I can't settle for that, not anymore.' To hell with pride and fear of rejection, right there, in that moment, he couldn't give a damn what the consequences of his next words were.

"What if I don't want it to be?" he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear.

She froze in her crouched position, her heart starting to pump faster. She swallowed hard "what do you mean?" she asked softly. She heard him get up off the bed and she stood and turned around to face him.

He walked over to stand in front of her, green eyes shining with sincerity and courage. He raised a hand to stroke his fingers down the side of her face as he spoke again, his voice low "I mean I don't want us to go back to how things were before" Confused eyes locked onto his and he held her gaze even though he was nervous as hell. "I know what happened earlier was out of our control and I know it was all wrong and shouldn't have happened, but to me…..it felt right"

There, just like that, it was out now and suddenly Alec felt a ton lighter. Even if she kicked his ass and rebuffed him, at least he didn't have to keep it locked in anymore "I understand if you don't feel the same way Max. I know you have feelings for Logan, but he's not here and I can't pretend anymore…I can't go on hiding the fact that I…..I feel something for you" he whispered. 'I know you feel something for me too…please Max, just let it be enough…pick me' his heart silently begged. His eyes watched her face, wanting to read her reaction.

Max couldn't believe her ears. Here was Alec, telling her he wanted something more. Reaching up, her hand stroked his jaw "Alec…" she faltered. Licking her lips she tried again "Alec, I think…I might feel something for you too" as soon as she said it, she wanted to jump up and down and crow victoriously, she was so happy!

Alec's eyes widened with surprise, part of him still not believing that his stubborn Maxie had just admitted having feelings for him.

Piano intro – I'm Kissing You by Des'ree

Cupping her face with both hands, tilting her face up, he smiled a genuine, relieved smile. Feeling elated and relieved that they had both stopped pussyfooting around and just admitted to their changing feelings, Max couldn't help but smile back.

Pride can stand a thousand trials
The strong will never fall

Still holding her head in his hands, Alec closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against hers, nuzzling her face with his nose before pressing his forehead to hers and asking softly

But watching stars without you,
My soul cried.

"Maxie?"

"Hmmm?"

"Can I kiss you?"

She pulled away to look at him, his hesitant eyes watching hers. He licked his lips nervously 'was that too fast?' he wondered.

Heaving heart is full of pain,

Even though she was an emotional wreck given the course of the morning, and there really was alot more to say, there wasn't anything she wanted more right now than to kiss him. Gazing into his eyes, she nodded her head and breathed out an "Okay."

Oh, oh, the aching.

Slowly, Alec brought his lips to hers. As they felt warm breath against their skin, their eyes slid shut and both their hearts skipped a beat. And then, he was pressing his lips to hers, in a soft, sweet kiss.

'Cause I'm kissing you, oh.

He drew back a little before pressing his lips to her full ones more insistently, feasting on them.

I'm kissing you, oh.

Max felt her legs tremble as his soft lips rubbed against hers and gasped when his tongue flicked out to lap at her lips, seeking entrance.

Touch me deep, pure and true

As the kiss deepened, they lost themselves to the taste of the other. His hands dropped from her face to wrap under her arms and over shoulders, pulling her body closer. One hand still cupping his jaw, she brought the other up around his neck to the back of his head, her fingers caressing his barcode.

Gift to me forever.

She didn't want him to ever stop. She sent her tongue snaking inside his mouth to duel with his and her ears picked up his low groan. She smiled against his lips.

'Cause I'm kissing you, oh

Sucking on her tongue lightly, Alec swallowed her soft moan of pleasure. One hand reached up to fist in her hair as he slanted his mouth over hers to deepen the kiss further

I'm kissing you, oh.

Parting only briefly for air, they met again in another deeper, passionate kiss. Their senses swimming in one another, they hungrily drank from one another's mouths.

A/N: Yay!! Finally!! Gosh this was really quite hard to write!! This is for you Bullet – hope y'all like it though! I wasn't gonna use a song in this chap I swear, but I think it helps the visualisation of the kiss scene! Don't worry bout them not sharing the extent of their feelings….That's still to come!