PART SEVENTEEN

Max tumbled through the window and landed on the floor with a soft thud. In fact, a bit too soft, he thought, as the floor seemed to shift beneath him.

"Maxwell!" Michael groaned and Max looked up to find himself staring straight down into Michael’s brown eyes. Max blinked a few times trying to clear his foggy mind, yet remained positioned right where he’d landed--soundly on top of Michael.

"God, that hurts," Michael groaned, trying to shove him off, and finally Max realized that his knee was planted squarely against Michael’s groin. Max rolled onto his back and lay like that, staring up at Liz’s stars of David, which had begun to shimmy in a strange pattern.

"I mean, Max on top isn’t usually a bad thing," Michael clarified with a soft laugh, as Max wondered why Liz’s entire room had begun to gyrate uncontrollably. Was it somehow a reflection of his rapidly escalating pulse? Maybe that was a problem for drunken aliens-- perhaps their environments began to reflect their mental state.

"For that matter, Max on the bottom isn’t half-bad either," Michael continued huskily, rolling onto his side. He traced the outline of Max’s jaw with his fingertip, surprisingly gentle and loving.

"More a matter of how he landed?" Liz asked, staring down at them both. She pulled her robe tight around herself, a half-smile playing at her lips. Max suddenly felt incredibly sheepish for having gotten drunk, ridiculous even for being sprawled in the middle of Liz’s floor like some recently initiated frat boy.

"You could say that," Michael agreed, sitting up. Max studied him, drinking in his perfectly nude form, silhouetted almost exclusively by the faint bathroom light spilling across the floor. Michael’s body was always surprisingly beautiful, not nearly so lanky as he tended to remember it. Especially now, as the light accented his shoulders and hips perfectly, leaving only a bit to Max’s intoxicated imagination.

"Hey, Liz," Max laughed, his gaze moving toward Liz with open admiration. Even when he was sober, it took a lot of work to conceal the way she flipped his heart, how just looking at her left him breathless. Now, his alcohol-saturated mind couldn’t filter out the impact she was having on him, the way she made his pulse skitter crazily. He could only lay flat on his back and admire the beauty that she was, the woman she’d become even in the past week.

"God, you’re…so gorgeous, Liz," he breathed, closing his right eye. If one Liz was too much for his system, then the two he was currently admiring might simply overload his brain. "Somehow…you’re more beautiful than ever tonight."

Liz tucked her hair behind her ear, blushing a bit. "I forgive you," she finally teased, her whiskey laugh sending shivers down Max’s spine. Then, what had been a dubious smile only moments before, suddenly widened, illuminating her entire face.

"King of Antar," she finally announced with a soft shake of her head. "The floor is not the spot for you."

"No?" Max questioned, feeling his pulse quicken as he wondered what would come next. She extended a hand toward him, as Michael rose to his feet easily, leaving only Max lying sprawled awkwardly on his back.

Max grasped Liz’s hand and struggled to his feet, as Max felt Michael’s strong arms slip around him from behind, looping dangerously low around his abdomen, as Liz stepped right in front of him.

"Not at all the place," she whispered huskily, tugging softly on the collar of his dress shirt. Michael began slowly unfastening his pants, easing open his belt first, then opening the button. Liz answered Michael, by lowering Max’s dress shirt off his arms, until he was left only in his undershirt.

Max closed his eyes at the intimacy of so much contact from his lovers, at the sensation of them closing in around him. He felt fingertips graze the skin of his abdomen, his chest, as his feet grew increasingly unsteady beneath him. Michael responded to his gentle swaying by immediately drawing him backwards against his chest for support.

Max pressed his eyes shut, drinking in the sensation of their dual touch, loving the erotic blending of their hands on him—that he didn’t know who was touching what part of him, as his pants pooled at his feet. He moaned softly, arching his head backwards into Michael’s neck. Michael planted slow, delicate kisses along his jaw line, as he pushed on his boxers forcefully. He knew those were Michael’s hands, recognized some difference in the aggressive way he explored so low…at the urgency with which he removed his underwear.

Max was aware that his breathing had quickened almost unreasonably, as Liz’s small hand began caressing him between the legs, rubbing firmly back and forth. He cried out, pulling her much closer against him—needing to kiss her, to devour her. She wrapped her small arms around his neck, drawing his mouth down toward her own, and he felt Michael mirror the action from behind, slowly kissing him along the nape of the neck, as Max’s lips met Liz’s. The two of them were sandwiching Max between themselves, setting about a dual seduction that left him even more dizzy and disoriented, as his hands trembled against Liz’s face.

Liz shrugged in an offhanded manner, and suddenly her soft robe spilled to the floor, exposing her completely to both of them. Michael’s hands had begun an upward journey along Max’s chest, easing his undershirt off, until now Max felt cool air kissing his exposed skin.

"Off with this," Michael growled in Max’s ear, as he tugged softly on the shirt. Max lifted his arms obediently, so that now his only remaining clothes were the dark sock he wore. Those could go later, he thought, as he felt Michael press hard against him from behind, slipping between his legs as he began slowly caressing his hips.

"Max," Liz murmured softly, breaking their kiss. "There’s something you need to know about Michael."

"Wh-what?" Max managed to gasp, as Liz tugged on Michael’s hips, dragging him even closer behind Max, until Michael’s hard cock pushed insistently against Max’s bare skin. Max was electrified by the growing proximity of their bodies, of Liz in front—of the way the three of them seemed to be coming together in a wholly new way.

"Michael’s obsessed with your ass," she purred, as she began coaxing Michael’s hips into a soft rhythm behind him, and Michael didn’t resist at all as he began rocking against Max. "He thinks its…oh what, was that Michael?"

Michael howled low in his throat from behind him, but otherwise remained quiet, as Max felt his very erect cock pushing harder between his legs.

"Michael," Liz laughed coyly, continuing to lead Michael in his rhythm behind Max. "You can do better than that."

"Elizabeth," he panted. "I think I’m going to have to…pay you…back for…this."

"It’s just the truth," she teased, gazing up with hooded eyes. "Shouldn’t bother you at all."

"You love my ass?" Max laughed giddily, as Liz seemed to urge Michael even closer behind Max, and he had the sensation that she was leading them together, drawing them into lovemaking. Michael now pushed in and out between Max’s legs, slipping into a rhythm that caused Max’s breath to hitch in his throat, as he rubbed insistently against his groin.

"Damn, Maxwell, your ass is gorgeous, okay?" Michael groaned, and then cupped it within his hands with surprising gentleness. "I believe I told Liz it is full and sexy as hell."

"Round," Liz prompted, splaying her open palms across Max’s chest, teasing his nipples with her fingertips. "But it’s your chest that kills us both, Max."

"Work of art," Michael finished breathlessly, reaching around Max to thread his fingers through Liz’s hair. "Both of you…Liz knows that’s what I really said."

Max’s head seemed to clear a bit at Michael’s words, as if he knew this wasn’t a merely casual admission. "Michael?" He asked, feeling surprisingly vulnerable himself. "Do you mean that?"

"He wants to paint us together," Liz whispered and Max’s eyes fluttered open to find Liz staring at Michael with undisguised tenderness. She reached to touch his cheek, where Michael had nuzzled his mouth against Max’s throat.

"I’d love that," Max answered, surprised that his voice came out thick and husky. "Very much."

"I need more than this," Michael groaned in his ear. "Please…this is starting to feel like my punishment."

"If this is punishment, remind me to be bad more often," Max laughed giddily. He didn’t miss the mischievous sparkle that danced in Liz’s eyes in reply, then slowly her gaze moved toward Michael.

"What do you want, Michael?" Liz breathed, reaching her arms around Max’s neck, and extending them around Michael’s at the same time, so that she managed to loop them both within her embrace. "My two sexy, beautiful lovers. What do you want tonight?"

When had Liz become so bold, Max wondered fuzzily? Somehow, they all had in just the past week, he thought with a gentle laugh.

Liz stared back at him, her large dark eyes widening a bit, almost as if she’d read his mind. Her gaze flitted between the two of them, and Max wondered if Michael’s expression mirrored the urgent desire he’d sensed in his voice…or the way his erection seemed to be nearly throbbing between Max’s legs.

Liz’s eyes locked with Michael’s and unspoken words became electric between them, even though the room remained silent, save the gentle noise of their heavy pants. I want him, Elizabeth. She swore she heard it in her mind. But no more than you.

God, Michael Guerin didn’t talk that way, she thought, wondering why she’d heard it so clearly. I want him and you…together. Somehow at once.

She had definitely heard that, and raised her eyebrows in reply when he blushed a bit. She formed his name silently with her lips, asking for more confirmation.

Michael? She begged quietly, as Max’s hands roamed across her lower back.

Michael nodded, his cheeks deepening in color as he dropped his eyes. She knew what he was really asking of her, and her heart began to slam within her chest in reply. How would they manage that?

She had no idea, but then again, she could never have anticipated anything about this relationship from the beginning.

"Max," she breathed in his ear. "I think we’ve gotten a bit away from the royal punishment."

"Umm…" he purred in reply, cupping one of her breasts. His eyes were pressed tightly closed, and he was oblivious, lost in a joyous and drunken arousal, she realized. Something about the sated look on his face was almost innocent, she realized, and the thought saddened her. So many times Max’s world had weighed heavily upon his shoulders, such that he’d rarely allowed himself to simply find joy and satisfaction like this…perfect acceptance. Those words had eluded Max for much of his life, Liz thought, cupping his face within her small palm.

She met Michael’s gaze again and knew what had to happen—what they needed to do for Max this night. She felt a devilish smile play at her lips, as Michael raised his eyebrows in question of her now. She stroked Max’s hair slowly beneath her fingertips, as he buried his mouth against her neck, kissing low on her collarbone. She nodded nearly imperceptibly toward Max with her head, and Michael’s mouth fell open for a moment as he clearly caught her meaning.

All of us, she mouthed silently. Finally, Michael nodded, as Liz guided his hips again, beginning a soft rhythm between Max and himself, coaxing into being exactly what she wanted.

Michael’s need for them both had become overwhelming, as his body had nearly quaked with every thrust between Maxwell’s legs. Especially the way Liz kept staring up at him, her dark eyes even blacker with her undisguised need for them both. Yet it was Max’s body he kept pushing against, even as he stared into Liz’s eyes. He’d guessed what she’d wanted almost immediately, but the problem was he couldn’t figure out how to make it happen.

They seemed frozen like a beautiful sculpture—the sort of thing he sometimes imagined—just the three of them entwined as one, as they stood in the middle of Liz’s moonlit floor. Now, how to lead them to bed? Especially when he ached to be inside Max so badly, that he thought he might spill right where he stood if Max didn’t stop rocking backwards against him, drawing him even nearer to the brink.

"Max," he finally begged hoarsely. "Not here." Max stilled his rhythm and Michael stroked his fingertips down his hipbone. "God, your ass is gorgeous," he finally laughed, feeling how full and round it was within his hands. "I think Liz is right about me."

"Obsessed," she teased again, as she stepped apart from them, moving toward the bed. "Come with me, my loves."

Michael stepped apart from Max and followed her to the bed, where he collapsed with a soft, helpless groan. Liz drew him immediately into her arms and their lips crushed together, an explosion of the heat they’d been feeling for the past moments when Max stood between them. Michael rolled easily on top of her, expecting to feel Max join them any moment as he parted her legs with his hand.

"Maxwell," he finally moaned, as Liz spread her legs wide to him. Michael heard no reply, and finally looked over his shoulder to find Max staring down at them dully, swaying slightly as he studied them. "Didn’t all that sober you up yet?" Michael groaned, as he felt Liz’s wetness against his hard cock.

Max slowly eased toward the bed, studying them with a strange expression that Michael couldn’t read. "Are you going to make love to her again?" Max asked, in a soft voice filled with vulnerability, and Michael instantly wanted to reassure him.

"No, you idiot. I’m going to make love to you if you’d just get here already."

Max raked a hand through his hair, his golden eyes seeming a bit lost. "Maxwell, please," Michael begged quietly. "Do we have to spell out for you what we have planned?"

"Yeah…I guess so," he answered, his confused voice nearly inaudible.

"Okay," Michael sighed, rolling off of Liz so that he lay on his back staring up at Max. "Liz wants you to make love to her, and I want to make love to you…so the idea is that we’ll all make love together at the same time."

Max’s mouth fell open and he stood at the foot of the bed, speechless for more than ten seconds.

"Max?" Liz finally asked. "I mean…if you want that." Michael could hear the uncertainty in her voice, and wondered how she couldn’t read Max any better at just that moment. Michael had no trouble understanding the stunned expression in Max’s amber eyes, but maybe it was a guy thing he realized.

Finally, Max dropped his gaze and swallowed hard. "I-I…" he couldn’t seem to do anything but stammer, so Michael eased onto his knees, meeting him at the end of the bed.

"I know," Michael smiled, pulling Max onto the bed with them. "Nearly overwhelming, isn’t it?"

Max nodded silently, gazing between the two of them, as Michael urged him downward onto Liz. He loved the idea of initiating their lovemaking, of leading them together like this. They seemed almost shy together for some reason that Michael couldn’t pinpoint, as Max slipped on top of her.

Michael settled on his side, just watching the two of them together, and Michael had to wonder if he’d even seen them make love quite like this yet, as he thought over the past week. That first night, after Michael and Liz had consummated their relationship, Max had made love to her afterwards. But there’d been something almost reassuring in the gesture, a re-sealing of their love.

This was decidedly different.

Now Liz gazed up into Max’s eyes, her lips swollen and full and her hair tousled across the pillow beneath her. When Michael and Liz had made love earlier, it hadn’t been because Max wanted it, or as a formal sealing of their threesome. It had been borne of pure desire, and now Liz lay beneath Max with a similar look in her eyes. Raw need. Love. Openness.

But those qualities were no longer the sole property of Maxwell Evans after tonight. Michael Guerin had branded her in his own way now, so that as the two of them came together again, Michael knew it was different. Not diminished in any way…just transformed.

Max was gorgeous, his muscled back all sinew as he moved easily on top of Liz. Michael had to reach out and caress his shoulders, touch the intricate planes that rippled in the half-light of the room. Max shivered a bit at his touch, which only made Michael want to explore his body even more intimately.

Michael edged closer, running his palm to the small of Max’s back, then resting it there, as Max slowly moved his hips against Liz. A palpable hush fell over them all, as Michael rose onto his knees, and moved behind Max. He opened his legs wide, and straddled them both so that he could caress Max more freely. Meanwhile, Max never stopped exploring Liz, and her legs parted to him.

Michael had to open his own legs quite wide to manage the position, especially once Liz’s knees rose on both sides of Max’s hips, and for a moment he could only stare down in awe at the two of them. Then, he took Max’s shoulders within his open palms and slowly began stroking his upper body, his arms, and leaned low to kiss him on the back. He trailed the fiery kiss lower, until it grazed Max just above the buttocks. Then, he rested his mouth there a moment, slowly nibbling which only seemed to electrify the pair of lovers beneath him.

Michael wasn’t sure, but he had the sense that Max thrust deep inside of Liz at precisely that moment, and he reached low beneath Max to cup her hips within his own hands…to establish the rhythm between the two of them. A rhythm that he planned to join himself at just the right moment.

Which meant it needed to be slow and deliberate. Delicate even…a dance for the three of them.

Michael reached between Max’s legs and touched the place where he was joined with Liz. Max would crest out just a bit, then thrust in again. Michael found just that spot, so that his fingertips stroked Max each time he withdrew, and very delicately, allowed his touch to drive Max wild. And he’d tease Liz in just the same way, allowing his fingers to form a third entity in their beautiful lovemaking.

All the while, he allowed his lips to roam across Max’s muscled back, as he managed to prop himself over them. But it wasn’t enough. He needed to be more deeply involved in what was happening, needed to take a vital role. Silhouetting their every motion could never be enough, not when the heat from their bodies was wavering across his skin like this, leaving him sweaty and filled with need for them both.

He eased upward, so that his mouth grazed Max’s ear, as his lower torso mirrored every thrust of Max’s own body. Michael’s cock began pressing hard against Max’s buttocks, urging them slightly apart, as he whispered softly in his ear.

"Maxwell, I…want you." He knew his voice was almost ragged, as Max turned his head to the side, kissing him softly on the cheek.

Liz met Michael’s eyes, as she moved beneath Max, her fingers entwining in Max’s hair. For a moment, Michael feared he’d seem an interloper, thought they might want to be together as a twosome—until Liz’s swollen lips parted in a soft smile, and she touched his own cheek.

"Michael, we both need you," she replied in a desperate voice. "Now."

Michael eased off of them, rolling onto his side, then in one swift tumble, Max moved off of Liz, so that his back remained to Michael. She urged her legs high around his waist, and Max parted his own legs in a subtle, inviting gesture meant for Michael.

Michael moaned quietly when he realized he was missing one key ingredient that was quite necessary.

"Uh…Liz…" God, why was it so embarrassing? He heard her throaty laugh, as she peeked over Max’s shoulder at him.

"Bathroom cabinet," she whispered. "In my makeup bag."

Michael nodded obediently and nearly sprinted to the bathroom and back with the small white tube, then gingerly assumed his spot in the bed again. He lay slowly on his side, facing Max’s back, and stared straight into Liz’s dark eyes.

"Oh, Michael," Max sighed quietly, lifting his hand off of Liz’s waist, and reaching behind for Michael’s upper thigh. "Hurry…please."

Michael opened the tube and a generous amount of the cool liquid spilled on his fingertips. He felt rushed and overeager, but he was afraid this moment would pass if he didn’t move quickly.

First, he coated himself in a quick gesture, tingling at the instant sensation of the lubricant against his stiff erection. Then, he began to lovingly massage more between Max’s legs, stroking the thick ring of muscle surrounding Max’s opening. Max’s rhythm inside of Liz changed in response, deepened in a certain way, as he pushed further back toward Michael with each thrust.

Michael began to join their movements first with his fingers, slowly thrusting inside his lover every time he pushed out of Liz. He felt the hairs along Max’s upper thighs tickle his own legs a bit, as he moved into perfect mirroring position behind him.

"Maxwell," he warned softly, as he moved his fingers away. "Are you…ready?"

Max answered by catching Michael’s upper thigh with his palm and urging him onward. Michael felt Max’s need in the way he clutched his leg almost painfully, begging him to enter. Michael covered Max’s hand with his own, pushing quickly against his opening, as he moved inside him in one swift movement.


Max cried out, his eyes widening as he stilled within Liz. She’d had her eyes closed, lost in the sensations of Max moving inside of her, so full and tantalizing with every movement of his hips. The soft cry had surprised her, even though she knew what was about to happen, so when her eyes flew open and she found Max arching backwards into Michael it had aroused her indescribably. The thought that Michael had just joined the two of them, that it was truly three as one now, caused her entire body to quake in reply.

Max buried his face in her hair, and she had the sense that now Michael took over the lovemaking between Max and herself, as he established the rhythm for the three of them. Max was clearly lost to them both, as he moved between them, gasping softly over and over with every movement. Liz smiled, brushing Max’s bangs lightly off of his forehead.

"Sweetheart," she whispered. "You okay?"

"Umm…" was all he could manage, as he clasped her tightly around the waist, drawing her much closer against him. Finally, he managed to pant softly in her ear. "Love…you…"

"Me, too," she laughed softly, her eyes locking with Michael’s. She was surprised by the expression on his face, which was almost primal…something untamed she’d not exactly glimpsed before. But it didn’t frighten her, and she reached over Max’s shoulder to touch his cheek. He turned his face to plant a warm kiss in her palm, all the while continuing his gentle thrusts from behind Max.

"Michael?" She queried, feeling giddy. "How about you, sweetheart?"

"Going…mad," he groaned, closing his eyes. "Both…of you…"

Liz hoisted her leg a bit higher, and Michael caught her thigh, pulling it around his own hips so that Max was locked between the two of them. Liz moaned, throwing her head back at the sensation of their three bodies meeting so intimately. Michael’s hand wandered up around her waist, meeting Max’s and she felt their fingers entwine against her side.

"Damn," Michael murmured softly, burying his face against the back of Max’s neck. "I…I’m starting to feel…kind of…drunk."

"I’m feeling better," Max panted with ragged breaths, leaning back against Michael’s chest. "Much."

"I…bet," Michael growled, his brown eyes flashing wildly and Liz suddenly understood. Somehow, Max had transferred his intoxicated state to Michael. "Should have thrown you in the shower when…I damn well…could."

"You complaining?" Max teased and Liz noticed that a wicked grin had begun to spread across his features. His eyes danced with mischief and intense pleasure as they alternated between narrowing or widening, depending on the moment.

"Just…gonna…kick your ass…still."

"Only once you stop fucking it," Max laughed huskily, deepening his thrusts inside of Liz with sudden urgency. Michael seemed to nearly chase after him, mirroring the hungry thrusting.

Max knew he was at the breaking point. The feel of Liz’s warm, wet walls surrounding him so fully, and then the sensation of Michael pumping inside of his own tight ones was nearly too much.

But that wasn’t proving his undoing. It was the soul blending that had caused his body to ache and thrum with unspent alien energy. He felt almost as if he needed to blast something, as if he were Michael Guerin, a warrior in need of a good solid energy burst. It went beyond sexual arousal, beyond mating, even past orgasmic pleasure.

What had begun roiling in his blood was pure alien and he loved it. Was already addicted, even as he felt the twin souls of his lovers gyrating and spiraling right inside of him, their three hearts more than joined. Blended…no separation.

Liz inside of him, and both of them inside Michael. And back and forth they kept darting, and every time he opened his eyes, sighing at the cresting pleasure that tore through his body, it seemed that neither of them knew. Neither understood that they’d taken him someplace forbidden and exotic all at once.

And he knew he was about to go beyond the point of no return. That he’d lose himself deep inside Liz, his warm seed spilling freely within her. And that he’d feel Michael’s seed within himself at that precise moment. Mingling, mixing their essences, both physically and spiritually.

Something would arise in that moment. Something they weren’t prepared for, he was convinced of it, as he heard Michael begin crying his name. Loudly, without thought of being found out or heard. As Michael’s hands clutched him, desperate, needy and their bodies trembled together, Michael finding his release without apology.

Pure, erotic need, culminating as all three bodies sped as one…and he heard more cries, less sharp and was surprised to realize they emanated from himself, were his own murmurings of their names. Over and over, as he pumped into Liz, his body racking with shudders, he cried out a mixture of their beautiful names…

Michaelizabeth…Lizmichaeliz…oh…oh…Michealiz….

As one, they rose into the night, then slowly glided to the ground. They had entered a secret, forbidden place, just the three of them…and there would be no going back after tonight. Not ever.