PART SIX

Michael watched as Max quietly closed the bedroom door behind him, and could only relish the sight of his naked body, how graceful and very lean he was. As Max padded softly toward him in the darkness, Michael thought how he reminded him of a cat—so thin and sleek, and absolutely beautiful.

He wanted to stroke him, all those tight muscles, those narrow hips—how he wanted to caress every bit of him, Michael realized as he stepped noiselessly toward him in the darkness.

And how he’d love to make him purr, Michael thought with an amused grin. He wondered if he could, as Max stopped just in front of him, where he sat on the sofa and Michael noticed that his cock gleamed with a thin sheen of coating. Gingerly, Michael slid his finger across the tip of his erection, meeting Max’s hungry gaze. He felt a little bit of wetness spill beneath his touch, and he spread it with the lubricant across Max’s smooth skin, his own groin growing even more taut at the way Max’s erection leapt at his slightest touch. Michael’s body responded powerfully, tightening in its lowest parts, when Max gasped at his touch, pressing his eyes shut.

"Liz did this?" Michael questioned flirtatiously, clasping Max more tightly within his hand, working him in a steady rhythm, his hand sliding easily across his taut cock.

"Very… verbal," Max managed to choke out, moaning at Michael’s touch.

"Yeah, you said that before."

"You…obviously, too," Max groaned in a ragged breath, and Michael suddenly understood what he was doing to Max, his affect on him—how he’d been pushing him further to the edge—and he sped his rhythm, his hand sliding so easily over Max’s warm skin.

Michael’s heart had begun beating much more quickly, as his own groin strained painfully. He slipped a hand behind Max’s bottom, drawing him right between his own legs. "Come closer," he breathed heavily, as he felt the soft hairs of Max’s legs brush against his own. Max threaded his fingers through Michael’s hair, whispering his name like a prayer, as he threw his head back in obvious pleasure.

Michael let his palm drop away from the firm line of Max’s erection, and slipped his other hand along Max’s lower back, simultaneously moving his lips forward to press a gentle kiss against his abdomen. Michael allowed his tongue to slowly circle around Max’s belly button—as he had earlier when they’d still been separated by such distances… clothing, Liz, time. Now, as earlier, he pressed soft kisses against the warm skin of Max’s stomach, and sighed at the murmured sounds his lips evoked.

Max moaned quietly at his touch, rubbing his shoulders, stroking his skin so lovingly, it caused Michael’s breath to hitch in his throat. No one had ever done this for him—no one had ever simply loved him so honestly as the man standing right before him. Michael’s lips stilled against Max’s abdomen, and he fell backwards onto the couch, pulling Max down with him, on top of himself.

Max tumbled loosely on top of Michael with a light groan, adjusting himself so that his cock inserted slickly between Michael’s legs. He wanted Michael to feel how very ready he was, how he throbbed for him now.

"Michael," he breathed heavily, pressing his hips firmly downward. "You’ve done this to me…do you feel it?"

Michael nodded breathlessly, kissing him deeply. Yet these kisses between them were different, they were leading Max places where he’d never gone—they were an invitation to his very soul.

Max wanted him to know the affect he’d wrought within his body…Liz took him to the same heights, but this was different. This belonged only to his other lover, his mate from his past life. Yet, Michael had no idea what they’d been together.

Had no idea, that without Liz, he was only a shadow of himself…that because of her, he could lie in his arms tonight, and join his soul to Michael’s. Otherwise, he’d have been too frightened, would have backed away moments before in the bedroom…perhaps hours ago in his own room.

But Liz had completed him now, and he could finish it all with Michael…could complete the mating of this night.

"Michael," he murmured, nudging his face against his neck, feeling the roughness of his stubble, already so pronounced just hours after his last shave. Michael was so masculine, so rough and textured in every way. Which only made what they’d been in their past life so very delicate. "There’s something you need to know."

Michael tipped his face upward toward Max’s, breathing heavily against his lips—staring into his eyes as his chest fell in heavy pants. Max had barely realized that they’d gotten this close so quickly; his mind had been so focused on what he needed Michael to know before they made love.

Yet now, it all came into sudden clarity…he was on top of Michael, his erection pressing urgently between his legs, and Michael was gazing up at him with such longing, that suddenly Max found breathing quite difficult. He wanted nothing more than to take Michael tonight…or to be taken, he was no longer sure. All Max knew, was that he needed their bodies to join primally, physically…yearned beyond description for their souls to meld. And he knew that they wouldn’t actually knit together that way until their bodies did.

But he didn’t care who really took whom in these moments. He just wanted the joining more than his next breath.

"Michael," he murmured again, thrusting roughly between his legs. "I love you."

He couldn’t say anything else, not now. How could he?

Michael cupped his face roughly within his palms, stilling his rough kisses, forcing Max’s eyes to meet his own. It was a moment laced with much power, not the least because their masculine energy had begun spiraling insanely. Max had felt it right within his abdomen when Michael had kissed him there, and now it just swam within every bit of him.

"I love you," Max breathed again, planting desperate kisses along Michael’s jaw. He felt so vulnerable, yet the only alternative was to tell Michael the truth—everything right now. How could he explain what they’d been together in their previous life? That they’d been mated, married…so much more than this, so much more than they’d ever be able to accomplish in this lifetime.

And yet that wasn’t true, because no matter who penetrated whom tonight, it would be just like his experience with Liz…they would mesh together. They would join every bit of their souls eternally. And then three would finally…oh, god, finally become one, Max breathed. Something had begun within him, something that demanded such a mating of the three.

Liz was his soul, his body, his other half. But so was Michael, and until they finished this, he wouldn’t be complete.

But when they did forge this union, all would gain clarity. And then he would help Michael meld with Liz, their souls would also merge so beautifully.

Max wanted to make love to Michael more than anything now, as their hips rocked gently together, Max slipping just between his legs, so slick because of what Liz had done. As Michael stared up at him, his warm brown eyes full of countless emotions—things Max wouldn’t even try to name—Max realized he wanted to come inside Michael, not vice versa as he’d believed earlier.

It was why Liz had applied the slick lubricant all along his erection. She’d known, even then, who needed to take whom.

"Max," Michael breathed, bucking his hips up against him. "What are we doing? What’s happening here? I don’t know anymore."

"Me neither," Max whispered gruffly, slipping his hands beneath Michael’s lower back. Oh, but Max did know. He knew that he needed inside Michael more than his next breath.

"I was going…to—" Michael stammered, as Max took him roughly with his mouth.

"Shh…" Max whispered, tugging on his lower lip. "Just let this happen."

"But…wh—at," Michael’s breathing was so uneven now, he could hardly speak, as their lips met over and over in the darkness.

"It doesn’t matter," Max reassured him, stroking his hair lightly off his forehead. "Whatever happens…it’s just us."

"Yes," Michael agreed hoarsely, slipping his fingers through Max’s hair roughly. "And I know that I love you, Max. God, I do," he whispered hoarsely.

Their eyes met for a long, sustained moment and everything stilled between them. Their movements, their caresses…everything. It all hung suspended, as Max lay just on top of Michael like that, between his legs. The only important detail was the yearning between them, and the realization that tonight was changing everything irrevocably.

"Make love to me," Michael suddenly urged. "I need you, Max…right inside of me."

Max gulped unsteadily, and stared down at Michael for what felt an eternity. Then, very gently he slipped his hands beneath Michael’s hips, raising him against himself, so that nothing seemed to separate them.

"I want that," Max confessed. "I just need to be inside you…now."

"Then do it."

Michael’s voice was hoarse, throaty with all the emotions transmitting between the two of them—lovers already, without any sealing of the fact.

"I—I’m not…" Max hesitated awkwardly, gazing down at him. "Not sure."

"How to do it?" Michael offered gently, and Max shook his head vigorously.

"I know what I want," Max breathed huskily, barely able to speak the emotions coursing through his body were that intense. "Just…so unsure."

Michael stroked his shoulders, kissing his neck languidly for a long moment. "Maxwell," he whispered. "We’ll figure it out together."

His words were like a heady concoction, and Max felt his groin tighten painfully, erotically. Michael’s words made him want to take control…he wanted to know exactly how to proceed. He focused on the way he slipped right between Michael’s legs, how slick he was from Liz’s attentions, and drew in a tight breath. He drew his hands beneath Michael’s knees, pressing them upward so that they surrounded him, and heard Michael gasp softly.

Michael knew what he was doing, where this was now leading, and he bucked his hips upward instantly, responding primally to Max’s movements.

They hesitated a moment, their gazes locking as Michael’s legs came up around him.

"Max," Michael whispered. "It’s weird, I know…but I want it, okay?"

Max could only swallow hard, nodding as he raised himself awkwardly on his elbows, allowing room for Michael to shift against him. Michael pressed upward, settling more firmly into place, and Max grazed his fingers against his cock, slickening them, and then slipped two fingers easily inside Michael. Gently, he fondled the ring of muscle there, just stroking him rhythmically, as Michael moaned loudly. His eyes pressed shut, as Max removed his fingers, easing into position. Michael’s legs tightened around him as he bucked upwards again, readying for what Max was about to do—and slowly Max penetrated him, easing in as gently as he could.

Oh, god…one…one…we’re one now, Max thought. One…one…one…three now…one.

It was all he could think as he slipped inside his lover, creating a quiet rhythm that matched his thoughts. So different than Liz, so much tighter, so beautiful. He could only drag in the sharpest of breaths, over and over as he entered Michael. The way he surrounded him…encompassed him was so new.

The expression on Michael’s face was lovely, and Max could only feel tears sting his eyes…as the two of them totally joined, rocking so gently.

It was like earlier with Liz, yet so different…this was new terrain, nothing Max had ever known. And Michael had never looked this way before, his eyes pressed tightly shut, gasping softly as he cried Max’s name over and over.

Max loved the way his name sounded on his lips at just that moment…how reverentially Michael uttered it. Lovers…bonded mates…joined eternally all in this moment.

But then, the most beautiful thing happened. He felt Michael enter him in kind, felt their souls brush roughly together…something totally spiritual that mirrored their physical joining.

"Oh, god," Max murmured, burying his face into Michael’s neck. "Oh…oh…oh." As he pressed in and out, so gently—he’d never hurt Michael willingly—he was aware of something much deeper happening. He felt something twist tightly within his chest. "No, no…" he whispered heatedly.

"Yes, Max," Michael murmured, meeting his gentle thrusts. "Oh, yes." His voice was so ragged, Max might not have recognized it, had he not been right beneath him.

"Do…you…feel…?" Max attempted to voice the question, but couldn’t even get it out. His only awareness was of Michael, so incredibly tight around him, so sweet and beautiful. Not Liz…different.

Beautiful in his own right, his hips rocking against his own as his groin tightened so painfully.

But more than that, the intense sensation, just as with Liz, that their souls were being forged into one being.

"Max…Max…Max…" Michael murmured, over and over, pressing kisses against his throat. "How could I not? God, how could I not feel you…joining with me."?

And with his words, Max lost all control, and shuddered desperately right within Michael, gasping for life. Searching for his soul.

He’d lost it two times tonight now, and was no longer sure who held it, except he knew that he didn’t anymore. He belonged thoroughly to his two lovers.

All that remained was for them to all forge into one exotic, beautiful union.

Three were quite nearly one.