PART THREE

Michael stared out at the dark streets of Roswell, listening to the hum of the jeep’s motor. He and Max were silent, just listening to the radio. His hand rested on Max’s thigh, and every time he shifted gears or hit the breaks, the feel of his taut muscles sent a shiver through him. He could only imagine what those legs would feel like against him…around him. He closed his eyes, as his heart quickened its pace—and stroked the lean thigh beneath his hand.

He felt Max’s hand close over his own, stilling it. His skin was amazingly warm and Michael’s heart only spiraled within him even more. He opened his eyes, glancing sideways at Max. They were nearing his apartment, and then Max would leave…would go to Liz.

And he would make love to her, long and slow.

She would always be his first, always.

She’d made that abundantly clear in his backyard, Michael thought glancing down at the front of Max’s jeans.

She would be his first, and he never would be, and he couldn’t help but feel a sharp pain at the thought. Yet he knew Max would never have had it any other way, even with where things had been seemingly headed earlier. He would have stopped it, Michael was certain.

Or was he so sure?

But now she’d be his first, forever the one to lay that claim on his heart…his body.

"She’ll have had you first," he barely whispered. He hadn’t even really meant to say it out loud.

Max had pulled up in front of his apartment now, and he turned sharply toward him. When he saw pain flash in Max’s eyes, he felt a wave of grief. He’d hurt him.

"Max, I’m okay with it."

"I know," he said softly.

"I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way for you," he continued. "Or her."

Max smiled in the darkness, and their fingers threaded together. "Let’s go inside a minute," he answered, his voice suddenly rich and husky.

Michael stared back, trying to read his amber eyes, but it was so dark. "Just a minute,"

Max urged.

Michael nodded silently, swallowing hard, and opened the car door.



He turned the key in the lock, and stepped into the dark apartment. Max stood closely behind him, and he could feel energy radiating from him, even with the small distance that separated them. Max closed the door behind him, and then turned toward him, quickly pulling his mouth to his. The kiss was tantalizingly slow and gentle, his warm lips barely parting, and Michael felt it sear him all the way to his toes. Max slipped his hands up into his hair, pulling him closer, and opened his mouth more fully. Their tongues began a slow, erotic dance, and he felt Max’s heart hammering against his own.

How could he possibly wait?

But he would. He would have waited forever to have this again.

Michael’s breathing quickly became heavy, as Max deepened the kiss, became more insistent, pulling him closer toward him. Michael slipped his hands around the small of his back, felt his rippled muscles, let his hands roam upward.

Michael began to burn for him, all through his body, as need quickly escalated…painfully.

This couldn’t start again. Not yet.

He broke the kiss, gasping a bit, and pulled back to stare into Max’s eyes. He saw such raw hunger there, it almost stopped his heart. He smiled softly, just gazing at him.

"I’m going to tell you something, Max," he whispered.

"What?"

"Your eyes are amazing," he said, shaking his head. "So beautiful and sexy." His voice was reverential, because it was how he felt.

Max flushed instantly at his words, his cheeks staining a deep red.

"Does that embarrass you?" He asked quietly.

Max shook his head, swallowing hard. "Not at all…no."

"Good," he whispered, stroking his palm down the front of Max’s chest, until it rested low on his abdomen.

Max glanced down, drawing in a sharp breath. "I better go," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Just one more thing," Michael breathed.

"Yeah?"

"This," and Michael dropped to his knees, slipping Max’s shirt out of his jeans quickly. He raised it, so that the skin just above his waistband was exposed and kissed him softly there, slowly, trailing his tongue across the warm, golden skin.

He pressed the edge of his pants down, kissing him slightly lower. Teasing him seductively with his tongue…promising more.

Max moaned low in the back of his throat, threading his hands roughly through his hair. Michael slipped his hands behind him, cupping him softly, pulling him closer. He was so incredibly firm…every bit of his body was so lean and amazing to touch.

He pressed his lips gently against his belly button, tantalizing him with kisses. "This is a promise of what’s to come," Michael whispered.

"Michael…" Max’s voice was almost unrecognizable to him, so throaty and filled with passion.

Then Max dropped to his knees in front of him, and kissed him fully, greedily.

"I’ve got to go," Max murmured, yet his actions contradicted his words. Instead, he began slowly easing him onto his back, his lips crushing against his.

"You said that before."

"Yeah, I did," he groaned, opening his mouth fully, and their tongues began entwining heatedly.

Max slid easily on top of him, more burning kisses. Michael threaded his fingers through his hair, cupped his face within his hands, as their tongues flicked wildly together.

He had a sudden flash, the briefest image…of what Liz had done for Max in the backyard. Saw how beautiful he was within her hands. God, she was beautiful, too, even as upset as she had been. The two of them together were so gorgeous, so amazing…and they would both be his. He moaned softly, tracing his fingers across Max’s lower back.
Their breaths came in pants now, uneven and ragged. Michael could feel Max’s erection pressing against his thigh, and he shifted so that his own brushed just against it. Max cried out softly as their bodies touched there, and Michael began bucking gently against him, back and forth.

This had to stop. Right now. Liz was first. Liz was first.

His cheeks burned, his whole body was on fire, as Max’s beautiful energy began pooling all within him. He began shaking slightly in response to it.

Max thrust against him more quickly now, rubbing against him, as he pulled his hips even more closely up against his own.

"I’ve got to go," Max murmured again, kissing his neck, nipping at the skin there.

"You’d better," Michael gasped desperately. "Or I’ll be your first, not Liz."

Oh, how he wished he’d have that place in Max’s heart…share that bond forever. But he knew it could only be Liz—wanted it so much for the both of them, despite the emotions warring within him.

Yet, Michael couldn’t stop thrusting his hips frantically upward against Max, meeting his rhythm, just couldn’t stop. The feel of his firmness, pressing against his own, was so terribly arousing.

Fire building, growing…energy banking right between the two of them…culminating right where they brushed against each other’s legs. Burning, burning…fire absolutely searing him.

Max slipped his thigh between his legs, and now they pressed even closer, just rocking back and forth desperately. Michael clasped his hips firmly within his hands, wanting more of him. He ached painfully now, desperate for release…needed all of Max.

Oh, God, who would stop this? They were in serious trouble. How had it happened so quickly? Neither of them had meant this to happen.

Max had his shirt out of his pants now, was unbuttoning it quickly with shaky hands, kissing his chest, still bucking his hips against his own. He felt Max’s fingers slip just inside his waistband, knew what he wanted. His fingers stroked his skin there, pushing downward, feeling below his boxers…so clearly yearning. They were wandering dangerously close to a precipice, some place they shouldn’t be. Max began reaching for his pants button, working at it, then suddenly dropped his hand away. He groaned, exhaling loudly.

"If I don’t go now, I won’t be able to stop," Max said, his voice husky and his breathing desperate. "I absolutely won’t."

Then Max’s lips stilled against his skin, and his hips stopped their frantic thrusting.
"But I’ll be back."

Michael stroked his hair roughly, and their eyes met in the darkness. He couldn’t believe the emotions he saw in those amber depths, or the way Max’s chest rose and fell with gasping breaths. His lips looked so swollen, and his cheeks were totally aflame.

All because of him. This is what he did to Max, how he affected him.

And so incredibly easily, with his slightest touch. He felt a little thrill shoot through him at the realization.

"It’s going to be beautiful," Michael whispered, stroking his dark hair. And he meant it all…with Liz, with the three of them.

Max’s face, already so flushed, deepened in color.

"I love you," he whispered, rising to his feet.

Michael could only lie there, and close his eyes tightly. This would be the longest few hours of his life.



Max’s hands trembled slightly against the steering wheel. He was still trying to calm his breathing, which was more even now, but certainly not normal. Nothing could have prepared him for tonight—for how powerfully this was all affecting him. He’d had no intention of letting things go so far in Michael’s apartment, but the emotions had been so overpowering. The memories never stopped flooding over him, every single time they touched like that.

Only this time, he’d remembered more than their love. He’d remembered their desire for one another. Oh, god…if remembering their love had been his undoing earlier, then these awakening memories of their desire would be his death. No wonder this was so explosive between them now—they’d never stopped wanting one another in their past life. Had never been able to get enough of each other.

Just like he felt with Liz in this lifetime. So much like it, so similar, it was almost eerie. It was like that relationship mirrored the one in his past life.

Maybe it was why he’d responded so strongly to her from the earliest age—perhaps there was some strange connection between the way he felt about both of them.

Max shook his head. He didn’t really understand where he was going with that thought.
And yet he did, because it was exactly what he’d said to Liz earlier. They were both his destiny, completing both his disparate sides. His balance.

One thing was certain—he’d meant everything he’d told Liz tonight. His love for her hadn’t diminished one bit, even as these memories of his past love awakened. If anything they’d only intensified.

And now they would make love, she would be fully his, completely in every way.

He still ached so from Michael’s touch, he wondered what he would do once Liz took him in her arms. He felt his heart race crazily, and he hit the accelerator. He couldn’t wait another moment, not with the way he strained so painfully within his pants.

He needed Liz, all of her…needed to possess her now. He’d waited so long for this night.