Part 21

Max lay facing Liz, trailing his hand lazily along her side… stroking her hip, her upper thigh, then tracing the path back upward again. They’d been completely hushed ever since they’d finished making love. There were simply no words now, just the pure sense of completion they had found in one another. He could only gaze into her radiant dark eyes and lose himself-- could only trace his fingers across her flushed bare skin. He wanted to worship her, and words just wouldn’t do justice to all the things in his heart.

Only his eyes could show her, only his soul could speak across this joining.

He still burned for her, even though his body was deeply sated. The desire thrummed endlessly between them, calling back and forth… and yet this was something different than their earlier ripe need. He traced his palm lightly down her arm, onto her abdomen, and watched a glimmering path of silver form in its wake. He stopped when his hand came to rest on her soft stomach, and allowed his fingers to rest there for a moment.

What if he hadn’t saved her that day in the Crashdown?

He would never have known this moment, would never have experienced the future that now spread so openly before them.

He rubbed his thumb softly back and forth across the place where she’d been shot, stroking the heated skin there, almost yearning to heal her again. He wanted to take away the memory of that day from her mind, for surely it must still haunt her. He stared down at the beautiful creamy skin of her abdomen, so smooth and perfect. And then slowly he slid downward in her bed until his wet mouth met her stomach, and he pressed radiant, deliberate kisses against her there.

He was overwhelmed with the emotions in his heart, the way he wanted to protect this woman who was now such a part of him. He hated even remembering that she’d ever hurt at all… or that his future self had caused her such heartbreak.

That he had broken her heart, too… more than once.

All he wanted was to shield Liz, heal her. He continued raining tender kisses along her belly, and then he turned so that his cheek rested gently against her there. He had spilled himself within her tonight, and it amazed him to think that one day they might create a baby together…that their child might grow within her womb. He closed his eyes, savoring the notion… not that he wanted it now, but he loved the idea of a tiny life forged from their pure love. A child both alien and human… accepted fully by its parents, even with all that it was.

He felt Liz stroke his hair lightly away from his forehead, and then her small hand caressed his bare shoulders, lingered down along his upper back-- loving him fully, with every whisper of her skin against his own.

He only ever wanted to be just like this… bound up within her, drinking her in with all of his senses.

Again, he traced his fingers along the place where she’d been shot, and kissed her lovingly there.

What if he hadn’t been there that day at the Crashdown? What if he’d never had all of her, like this? Would he have wandered his whole life, seeking someone that he would never find—this twin mate to his own soul?

Liz sighed faintly, and her own deep contentment enveloped him. Across their bond, he knew how treasured she felt by him, how totally adored—just as he wanted her to. But something shifted slightly within their joining, and he couldn’t quite name it.

He slid upward in the bed again, until his face was within a breath of her own, and she stilled a gentle hand against his cheek.

You’ve already healed me… in every way, Max.

She placed her palm softly on his own muscled abdomen, in just the place where she’d been shot. He felt something stir within him there, a burning sensation that leapt at her mere touch.

What was happening?, he wondered.

You changed me forever that day, she whispered fiercely.

The burning intensified within him, flaring upward slightly into his chest as he met her gaze.

I wanted you to know what it felt like when you healed me Max, she said softly, now stroking his abdomen slowly beneath her fingers. This is what its like to be touched by you…

How had she done it? And how had she known it was precisely what his soul needed at this moment?

I don’t know, but it was in my heart…and I wanted you to feel your own touch…what your gift really is, Max.

He felt tears well up within his eyes, as he pressed his lips quietly against hers--and then his body answered in gentle arousal. He slid his hips close to her own, cupping her from behind as he pulled her near. She eased her arms around his his neck, drawing him closer, and the connection resonated with their growing desire.

Ripples of sunlight, skittering between them…something dormant growing quietly restless and demanding. Their bond was beckoning them again, cresting between them.

He groaned slightly in frustration. They couldn’t make love again, not with the way Liz’s room was starting to grow dark. That meant her parents would be home before long, and they couldn’t risk being discovered. He deepened their kiss for one final moment, allowing his tongue to intertwine and tease with her own. His heart began to pound more insistently… Liz’s skin began to flush beneath his hands…

They had to stop.

Slowly Liz broke the kiss, rolling away from his body a bit. He closed his eyes and tried to rein in the emotions that had erupted so suddenly within him…between them. The connection had become white hot again so instantly, only fueling the desire that had begun to churn within them both.

How would he even face parting from her later tonight? Or being near her again tomorrow at school, without allowing their connection to wildly unfurl?

She laughed gently, and took his hand within her own. You’re going to have to behave in Chemistry, Max.

He smiled and met her gaze, so tantalizingly seductive.

Only if you don’t look at me then like you are right now…if you do, it’ll all be over, Liz.

She tipped her chin upward coyly. Oh, it will, Mr. Evans? And what exactly will you do to me?

He was amazed by the ease with which they spoke across the connection now… it was so natural, just like talking out loud--yet more intimate and tempestuous. He glanced down for a moment, smiling conspiratorially.

Do you want me to tell you, Liz? Or just wait for me to show you then? He teased.

She stretched lazily in the bed, nestling her arms beneath her head. Her breasts rose beautifully with the gesture, and his eyes drank all of her in.

I think you should tell me now, she breathed seductively.

Her breasts arched so delicately, he wanted to take them in his mouth again… Oh, this was getting him nowhere fast. He couldn’t break away from her… she just kept calling him back, over and over.

You were saying? She prompted with a teasing laugh. His eyes flew to her own, and his mouth fell open a bit.

"You’re doing this to me on purpose," he gasped aloud. She smiled radiantly in reply, settling her hands more fully underneath her head.

It’s working, isn’t it? She asked.

Just you wait until class… I’m going to make you pay for this, sweetheart, he threatened.

She met his gaze playfully. Tell me what you’re going to do to me, Max.

"Okay, but unless you want me to completely devour you right now," he grasped the edge of the sheet, pulling it lightly over her. Then you better not tempt me so.

Their laughter spiraled between them, giddy and joyful—it had been such a long time since they had laughed as freely as they had this afternoon. He turned to face her in bed, resting on his elbow.

You were saying, she flirted.

He smiled at her softly. "Well, for one thing… I’ll immediately begin by wearing down your defenses… I’ll keep reaching for the connection, and it will drive you slowly crazy."

She glanced sideways at him under half-lowered lashes, and he felt a little thrill shoot through him. And then, you won’t be able to resist…and you’ll reach for it, too…and once that happens, it’s all over for you, He whispered, softly shaking his head. He brushed a stray hair away from her face, a smile playing at his lips.

Because then I’ll make love to you, right in chemistry class… without ever touching you, he continued huskily.

Max, she groaned slightly. If you do that to me, I’ll never forgive you.

He chewed on his lip for a moment, and took her hand within his. Maybe you won’t forgive me if I don’t.

Umm… was all she replied, and they fell into silent contentment again. He rubbed his thumb along her hand, then drew it slowly to his mouth.

And then he noticed the ring.

Their eyes met quickly, and he felt something strange turn over in his chest. He’d known the ring was important, but had forgotten it until now. Slowly, she pulled her hand away from his, and he felt something shift within their bond... something crucial flared within Liz.

She slipped the ring from her finger, and held it out to him in her upturned palm. He could only stare at it mutely for a moment, and then very tentatively he took it from her.

But he knew before he ever held it exactly what it meant between them.

"It’s your wedding ring, isn’t it, Liz?" he asked in a hushed voice. "From the future?"

"Read the inscription," she replied reverentially. "You won’t believe it."

He held the ring up so that he could read the faint engraving, and felt a wave of shock resonate through him…and then a deep answering thrill shot across their bond from Liz.

"That day in class," he whispered. "Oh, I wanted you back so terribly Liz. I would have done anything… I so wanted you to know that I didn’t care about my destiny—that I only wanted you."

He closed his eyes at the memory, and she touched his shoulder, stroking it beneath her hand. "Read the rest," she urged softly.

His eyes fluttered open, and he saw the date inscribed within the band. July 12, 2002, he breathed in awe. My God, we were just kids.

But I understand now, Max, she laughed. How could we have stood hiding this from our parents? Not being together all the time, when we were truly mated…so much more than married anyway?

He slid the ring onto his pinky and stared at it for a long moment. "So, I gave this to you—I mean, the future version of me?"

She nodded. "And he gave Future Me his own ring."

Future me… he laughed crazily. Mini Me, Future Me…he turned the words over playfully in his mind. Then he quickly grew serious again. "How could I have left you there… in 2014, Liz? I left you totally alone."

Max, she began. I don’t know everything that had happened, but I do know a terrible war was going on… we’ll have to talk about all of that, try to prepare ourselves… the others. And mostly we have to keep Tess here, no matter what. Otherwise it will all still happen.

He nodded somberly, turning the ring slowly on his finger—and knew just how dangerous things must have been if he’d been willing to leave Liz in the future.

He handed the ring back to her, placing it within her palm. "So, you put this ring on that night… didn’t you?" he asked, meeting her gaze intently. "The night I thought you’d slept with Kyle."

She cast her eyes downward, away from him. A little shiver of pain shot through her, and moved across their bond. He reached his hand to her, tipping her chin slowly upward, until her eyes met his own--and he was shocked by the raw emotion reflected in them.

"Even if I couldn’t have you… I still wanted you to be the husband of my heart," she whispered hoarsely.

Liz…what are you saying?

And his heart stopped within him—he swore it did.

She was quiet a long moment, then captured his hand within her own, pressing a tender kiss into his palm. I was going to be your wife… no matter what happened between you and Tess… even if I was the only one who knew.

He was stunned…he couldn’t fathom the depths of her love for him—except he could, because he loved her in exact and equal measure. She had been willing to be true to him, to consider herself his wife even if only within her heart. He pulled her roughly into his arms and simply held her.

It was the only way I could imagine facing life without you.

He cupped her face within both his hands, turning it upward. And now you are so much more than my wife, he whispered fiercely across their connection. And one day, we will marry… but that will only be a formality, for the world to see what we already know exists between us.

She nodded softly, and he pressed his forehead gently against hers.

"Elizabeth Evans," he whispered quietly. "Will you wear this ring…in honor of what we became to one another today?"

He pulled back so that he could see her eyes—could judge her reaction-- and was unsettled to see tears streaming down her face. He wiped them gently away with his thumb, as she gazed downward at the ring.

"I would have worn it anyway, Max" she replied huskily. Then she looked up at him suddenly. You called me Elizabeth Evans, she gasped as awareness dawned.

He nodded with a sly smile. I know I did…it’s who you are, Liz… after today.

He pulled her into his arms and rocked her softly against him. But so much more than that, too, he finished.

And they held each other like that, rocking together slightly as the twilight began to fade in Liz’s room. Max knew they needed to dress, had to leave this first time of incredible intimacy behind them, but neither of them could seem to make the break.

"Liz," he urged softly. "Your parents will be here soon, won’t they?"

"Yes," she nodded quietly, easing out of his arms. "I know we need to get dressed."

She slid across the bed, trailing her hand across his nakedness as she passed over him. He watched her gorgeous body as she moved across the room. He loved the way her hips swelled slightly…she was already such a woman at just seventeen. She glanced around the room, finally finding her bathrobe where it lay across the back of her desk chair.

She glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled playfully. "You are coming, aren’t you?" she teased. He groaned and slowly rolled out of bed, planting his feet obediently on the floor. She slipped easily into her soft cotton bathrobe, but then she stopped, suddenly staring down at her keyboard.

"Max," she asked softly. "What’s this?"

He joined her beside the desk, his body chilling suddenly as the breeze from the open window met his bare skin. She turned to him and handed him the white envelope.

"It’s addressed to both of us," she said curiously.

Max stared down at it for a long moment, his brows furrowing. Methodically, he began to tear the envelope open, feeling a little shiver as the fall breeze danced across his heated skin. And he had to wonder--who would have left a letter for both of them in Liz's room?

Part 22