Part 16

Late Sunday night, Liz lay awake in bed, watching Max sleep. The night was still, the air quiet. Normally, city nights are loud, busy…cars and buses going by at all times of the night, loud drunks leaving the clubs on Castro as late as possible…but this particular night all was silent, the only sound the steady rhythm of Max’s breathing.

The whole weekend was spent lying around lazily in the apartment, Liz grading papers from her variety of biology classes, Max reading Liz’s journals, updating himself on her life for the past ten years. Occasionally, when Max was particularly moved by something she had written, he would abandon the journal, distracting Liz from her work by smothering the back of her neck with dozens of soft kisses until she was driven to the brink of insanity, dragging him back to the bedroom.

They made love over and over again…every night before bed, every morning when they woke up, sometimes right in the middle of the day. They explored each other’s bodies intimately, memorizing what each other liked, taking notes on things, few as they were, that they didn’t like.

Liz didn’t think it was possible for her and Max to grow closer than they already were. They already knew all of each other’s secrets, each other’s feelings and emotions intimately. But this new physical closeness overwhelmed Liz…it was such a beautiful experience for her…one that she would always be thankful for.

Liz smiled as she watched Max sleep, a peaceful smile on his face, and Liz wondered if he was dreaming of her. She loved seeing him so happy, so alive. The weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders since the last time they had been together, back in high school, and the change showed in Max.

Liz knew it probably showed in herself as well. Her friends here in California knew her as a sad, lonely girl, who pined away all this time after some guy that she insisted that she would never see again. They knew that she was loyal, and dedicated…that she knew how to have fun when she let herself…but occasionally she would settle into a sad, wistful state where Max overwhelmed her soul…and all she wanted was him. Now that she had him, her life was complete. She never wanted to be apart from him again.

A thought suddenly occurred to Liz.

"Max!" She hissed, trying to wake him up. He murmured something in his sleep and stirred a bit, but didn’t quite wake up yet.

Eager to get him awake, Liz slid beneath the blankets, and began to attack his bare chest with hot kisses, running her lips over his hard ridges.

"Liz…" He moaned her name in his sleep, and Liz grinned. There was no doubt in her mind what he was dreaming about now, as his body began to react to her advances, and mumbled something unintelligible.

Grinning evilly, Liz moved even lower, closing her mouth around him, and suckling lightly, as her tongue rubbed up and down his length, occasionally swirling around the tip. Max moaned louder, and his hips began rocking against her, as Liz quickened her pace, bobbing her head against him.

Right as Max’s body reached it’s peak, his eyes flew open, realizing that it wasn’t a dream, as he exploded into Liz’s mouth, pouring himself into her while groaning her name in a low, guttural growl.

Smiling in satisfaction, Liz slid back out from under the sheets, curling up beside Max, as he captured her lips, kissing her thoroughly. Pulling back, Max stared at Liz with a curious expression in his eyes.

"Liz…not that I don’t appreciate it, but I do have to ask…what was that for?"

"You wouldn’t wake up." Liz replied with an innocent smile.

"Yeah…well, it is three in the morning, Liz…what’s going on?"

"I know…I’m sorry…I just wanted to ask you something." Liz admitted.

"What’s up?"

"Max…where’s your apartment? I mean, where were you living before you found me…because since that first day of classes you pretty much haven’t left my side."

"Um…I have this little place over in Daly City. Listen, I’m sorry…have I been crowding you? I just…I didn’t want to be away from you any more than necessary…I haven’t been there since that first day after class."

"Max…don’t think that. I want you here as much as you want to be here…maybe even more…"

Max grinned. "I don’t know if that’s possible, Liz…I can’t even imagine being anywhere else anymore."

"I can’t imagine you being anywhere else either, Max…that’s why I want you to move in. Officially, I mean. Will you? Move in with me, I mean."

Leaning over, Max pressed his lips softly against hers.

"I want to move in with you more than anything, Liz." Max replied honestly.

"Good." Liz sighed. "Hey, maybe tomorrow after school we should go over and start packing your things."

"Good idea." Max agreed. "Although it’s funny…I’ve barely even finished unpacking. I just moved in there a few days before school started. Since then I’ve been here…"

Liz groaned softly. "It was probably just a waste of money…to get the apartment at all."

"Liz…" Max started, a serious expression on his face. "Actually…that’s probably something I should tell you. Money isn’t an issue…at all."

"What do you mean?" Liz asked in confusion.

"Well…when I left Antar, my people arranged for me to be financially sound when I arrived here." He chuckled. "I told them it wasn’t necessary…but they insisted. ‘The King of Antar should be privileged enough to live like a king on earth as well.’ They just couldn’t comprehend that here I would be just a normal Joe."

"Untrue." Liz argued, a silly grin on her face. "You’re a king here as well…the king of my heart."

Max laughed aloud at her corny words, before kissing her deeply to emphasize her point.

"Get some sleep." Max suggested, settling himself back down, and pulling Liz closer against his body. "We’ve got a big week ahead of us, between the usual and moving my stuff."