PART FOUR

Max turned the key in the front door, and stepped into the living room. He was surprised to find the house totally dark, and for a moment his heart lurched with quiet apprehension. What if Liz had left? What if she’d had second thoughts, and abandoned him forever. He couldn’t suppress the rapid beats now pounding within his chest, as he stepped through the dark hallway toward his bedroom.

He opened the door, swallowing hard, and saw Liz draped across his bed, her head nestled cozily against his favorite pillow.

Liz…completely naked and so delicately beautiful in the moonlight that cascaded through his window, that he felt his chest tighten sharply.

"Hi," she said, as a slow, flirtatious smile spread across her features. Their eyes locked for one eternal moment, and Max felt sheer heat begin cresting all through his body in response.

Somehow he’d just never expected that she would have laid herself so open to him, so fully like this.

And it conveyed so much. That she was already his fully and without reservation, and that they would only be sealing that fact tonight.

He knelt beside the bed, his face so near her own that his breath fanned across her cheek. Even in the darkness, he could see that she was blushing terribly—her boldness came with that cost.

"Hey," he whispered, willing himself to stare only into her eyes for the moment, nowhere else just yet.

She gazed up at him, her eyes hooded and seductive—inky black pools that he might drown in. His heart was thundering now, and he couldn’t help but allow a brief glance across her form. He drew in a shaky breath at the sight of her.

"You like?" She asked huskily, noting his wandering gaze.

All he could do was nod in response, swallowing hard, as he took in all her soft curves, her creamy skin.

"I’ve been waiting," she breathed. "You were gone a while."

Max suddenly felt incredibly guilty. Did she know what had almost happened with Michael? She had to suspect.

"I-I’m…" He could only stammer a bit, feeling his face flush terribly.

"Max," she interrupted him, placing her hand gently on his arm. "I know you took him home. It’s okay…I was just kind of teasing you."

It’s okay, she’d said…and he instinctively knew that she meant all of it, not just his tardiness. Everything that was opening between the three of them this night.

He felt the fear that had begun choking his thoughts loosen its vice-like grip. He nodded slowly, and began trailing his fingers across her belly, then lower on her abdomen, just slowly stroking her bare skin. He traced the delicate dusting of freckles on her stomach, followed the path where it lead even lower, and then stopped just above her dark patch of hair. He heard her gasp quietly in the darkness, as his own breathing began to intensify tremendously.

"I’m surprised you were so…" He struggled for the right word, even as his voice seemed to be eluding him at the moment. He swept his hand over her beautifully naked form, indicating his thoughts, and took a deep, steadying breath.

"Prepared?" She offered with a playful smile. A headily seductive smile.

"Yes," he finished, aware that just running his hand across her bare skin had caused his chest to rise and fall in quick pants. He was already so overheated from his earlier tumble with Michael, that this was quickly becoming his undoing.

"Max?" She whispered softly, cupping his face softly within her hands, and dragging his lips down to meet her own. They were like velvet against his, so soft and inviting, and her familiar kisses were delirious and addictive.

In fact, he knew he was already completely addicted to all of this, before it had even begun.

"Umm?" He murmured.

"Stop talking." With that, she opened her mouth fully to him, and their tongues began slowly entwining…then softness shifted, becoming heated and rough. His sweet, gentle Liz, suddenly so fiery, revealing the promise of so much more than he’d ever imagined.

He removed his shoes, easing onto the bed beside her. She began unbuttoning his shirt, slipping it quickly out of his pants, evening their score so that his skin would be bare against her own. Her tiny hand pressed just inside his waistband, reaching, yearning for more. So familiar, so like with Michael.

Suddenly, he felt Michael…his energy. Saw him where he’d left him, lying on the floor, and knew that he was imagining this…what Liz was doing to him. He felt Michael’s burning desire shiver across his skin, blend with all the erotic heat that was generating between himself and Liz. It was the three of them now, because the pull was too great—back and forth. When he’d been with Michael earlier, Liz had danced constantly on the periphery of his emotions and thoughts.

And now with Liz, Michael was an ethereal part of their emotional terrain. They were joining, binding all of themselves to one another this night. It could never be two again, always three, perfectly joined.

Max gasped softly, drawing in quick gulps of air as tiny hands plundered low within his pants, the zipper down now, and he moaned low in his throat. As she eased his boxers lower, he felt himself spring free, and he leapt strongly at her touch. He could only moan low in his throat, as her warm fingers closed firmly around him. He could only ache desperately at her first tentative touch…so tantalizing and erotic.

Of course, this was the second time tonight she’d stroked him this way, yet now she was more gentle and loving, not like before when she’d been so hurt.

And he’d been filled with painful need then, too, but it had been tempered by all his raging fear. So, he’d let her take him the rough way that she had--anything to have her—and now as she rubbed him firmly within her hands, the emotion was so very different. He ached for her, felt fire churning within him at her touch—but there was no fear. Only love and acceptance radiating between the two of them…and physical need that raged like wildfire.

He needed her more than his next breath, and the fact that he’d almost lost her tonight only intensified the sweet aching he felt at the touch of her hands. He cried out softly in her ear, burying his face in her hair, as he slipped his hand slowly between her legs, feeling the silky patch of hair. Then, he allowed a tentative finger to begin exploring inside of her. And now it was Liz who moaned loudly, as their mouths began greedily devouring one another.

"I love you so much, Liz," he murmured. "So much…"

"I love you, too," she whispered. "I always have."

Liz couldn’t believe the sensations sweeping through her body, the way he felt within her hands. He was velvety soft within her palm, yet so firm all at once. As she rubbed him, she felt a little bit of moisture form within her palm, and it thrilled her to the core. This was Max—all of him—just spilling ever so slightly at the mere touch of her fingers.

And what was he doing within her, the way he was delicately stroking her, back and forth. She shivered at his touch…and felt heat begin welling within her.

Unearthly heat.

She stilled her exploration a moment, and tried to slow her ragged, desperate breathing. Max gazed at her, concern etched across his features, and she smiled slowly at him.

"I feel you…within me," she whispered.

He nodded, and begin gently slipping his finger within her again.

"No, Max," she gasped. "I feel your…energy or something. And it’s building."

He gazed down into her eyes for a long moment, and stroked her hair away from her face.

"Are you uncomfortable? Does it hurt?" She heard the concern in his voice, and shook her head vigorously.

"No, sweetheart," she whispered. "It’s wonderful…because it’s the best of you."

He slipped out of his shirt then, and kicked his jeans roughly off. Liz pulled his boxers more fully off of him, and he cast those quickly aside. She could only gaze at his body now, and she swore she’d never seen anything more beautiful in her life. He was perfectly contoured, all planes and smooth lines, and yet his muscled form was so surprisingly graceful. She gasped softly, over and over, trying to still the energy that was continuing to well within her.

He bent his head down and began kissing her, so slowly now, as if he was savoring each and every taste of her like a delicacy. Then his lips stilled briefly.

"I feel you, too, Liz," he cried softly. "There’s a different…energy that I’m starting to feel."

"Right in your chest?" she asked softly, threading her fingers through his soft hair.

"Yes," he moaned. "Yes, sweet Liz…oh God. It’s you. I feel you all within me now."

Liz felt hot tears spring to her eyes, as he cupped her face gently within her hands. "I want inside you, sweetheart."

"I want that, too," she breathed.

"But I don’t want to hurt you," he lamented quietly. "And I know I will."

"I don’t care about that, Max," She reassured him. "I just want all of you…more than anything ever in my life."

He slipped slowly between her legs, and Liz felt his firmness press softly against her. He hesitated, seemed a bit unsure, and she saw pain flicker in his amber eyes. Max was so gentle, and would never willingly hurt her, and she knew it was killing him. She slipped her hand between their hips, and guided him more closely to her opening.

And he began easing in, just barely…and after one moment of brief hesitation, thrust firmly within her. It hurt, but only momentarily, because the pain was quickly overshadowed by the ecstasy of what it felt like to have him nestled warmly within her. Just as she felt his electric heat roiling all inside of her now…and sensed her own building within him. Somehow she just knew that their energy was banking, mingling…joining.

Oh, God, she thought as he began thrusting very gently within her. We’re completely entwining.

And at that precise moment, she felt something seal within her, as an unearthly roaring sound began humming in her ears. She realized then that Max Evans had just bonded her permanently to himself. Without even meaning to he’d taken possession of her eternally.

Even as she realized it, she felt her desire spiral crazily, and began meeting his thrusts with desperate vigor. And the night seemed to part then, like a veil, as they entered an otherworldly place together, just the two of them…with the energy of a third humming delicately right around them.

They lay in the darkness, all quiet and hushed, holding one another. Max stroked her arms softly, her hair…nearly every place he could find. And drank her in with all his senses, especially the growing intoxication of her scent. He’d always known Liz’s scent—could actually identify it in a crowd, or at a distance—and yet now her aroma seemed to pervade his senses more thoroughly than ever before. So he closed his eyes, and drew it in, over and over, his head growing dizzy with it.

Liz was curled softly against him, her head just resting near his heart. Her palm lay against his chest, and he knew in that moment, that he could know no greater contentment than just holding her like this.

Then a thought began edging in…they needed to dress and go to Michael’s. Max was so tired, but his body began instantly thrumming with energy just at the thought of him. Because this moment would multiply and become even sweeter, once they were there. All this gentle love and adoration would simply spill over to Michael—they would draw him into their union quickly and without regret.

Two would become three. Three would become one.

He shivered slightly at the thought, and glanced at Liz, cuddled so softly within his arms. He wondered if she was afraid, and pictured in his mind what it would be like for the three of them. And had an undeniable flash—of Michael holding Liz, and God there was so much love in his eyes. In this vision, Michael was absolutely in love with her, every bit as much as Max was…his eyes simply worshipped her.

And Max knew beyond a doubt that he’d just glimpsed some future moment, and that it wasn’t going to be just about Liz and Michael sharing him, but just as much about Max sharing each with the other.

His heart began racing wildly because it was what he’d most dreamed of, had wanted to hope for--and this vision now confirmed it.

Two would become three tonight…and those three would become permanently one.

Forever.