Part 22

Max sat on the edge of Liz’s lounge chair, holding her hand softly within his own. He stroked his thumb lightly across her knuckles, and stopped to trace a pattern along the back of her wedding ring. She nestled close to him, and he inhaled her wonderful scent.

They had been sitting quietly like this for nearly thirty minutes on her porch.

Absolutely dumbfounded. Speechless.

And then periodically one of them would silently unfold the mysterious letter and read it again.

His body buzzed with the warmth of their lovemaking… still hummed with Liz and their connection. Inside and out he felt her, that hadn’t diminished—but the letter had turned their world on its very axis. He shivered a little as the cool night air touched his flushed skin, and he settled closer to Liz.

Liz… his true bride.

His Zillia…

He closed his eyes for a long moment, and then he felt Liz’s small palm stroke the length of his arm. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, and he glanced sideways at her. It was so like Liz—she’d had the shock of her life in the last thirty minutes, and yet he could feel that her only concern was for him.

He sensed the fullness of her love surround him, encompass him…reach toward him.

Max? She hesitated a moment, resting her hand on his forearm. You’re so quiet… are you okay?

He nodded slowly, drawing her hand to his lips, kissing it tenderly.

"Max, it’s true. It has to be," she whispered urgently. "No one else knew about your coming back in time. No one else knew why you did—and what you asked me to do."

Of course its true, he replied fervently, gazing at her for a long moment. I think I always knew you were my bride, Liz.

Tonight had only confirmed it for him. Their joining had felt so familiar, so absolutely natural between them—it was part of how he’d recognized it for what it was.

Because it was something he’d known before.

And now he understood that he’d recognized their mating… across lifetimes.

He watched Liz chew her lip a long moment, and noticed that she’d begun to turn her wedding ring unconsciously around her finger.

"This changes everything," she whispered seriously, staring at her hands. "For all of us—especially Tess."

"Well, it doesn’t change anything between us, " he reminded her gently, tracing his hand up the length of her thigh.

No, not between us… now, she whispered, and he saw her flush deeply in the darkness.

Somehow, I’ve always known what you were to me, Liz…always. Her eyes flew to his. "And I knew it for certain tonight," he breathed, cupping her face within his hands.

Tears pooled suddenly in her eyes. I always wanted it to be true…that day at the cave…the months afterward, all I ever wished was that it was me instead of Tess, she confessed quietly.

He drew her body close to his, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to her mouth. Oh, my love… my wife, he sighed.

She answered his kiss softly, delicately, but he felt something grow anxious within her. He pulled back quickly, staring into her dark eyes for a long moment.

"What about Tess?" She asked. "How will we ever explain this to her? What if she leaves?"

He groaned inwardly. How would they ever explain this to Tess? And she couldn’t leave Roswell. But he felt dread rise up within his own heart--it was so difficult to trust her, yet she was such a crucial part of their unit.

We have to trust Marco’s letter…and he says that she will stay if she knows, he replied.

Max reached for the letter, which had been resting loosely on Liz’s lap. Maybe if they studied it, more answers would present themselves—a strategy for revealing everything to the others.

Liz handed him the thin piece of paper and he began to read the scrawling letter again. The handwriting was difficult to decipher, yet the words still rang true within his heart.


My Dearest Max and Liz—

You must stand as one. Without pure unity among you all, the tragedies of your past will repeat themselves.

Liz, I do not know why Max’s future self did not reveal these things to you. Perhaps he was convinced that Tess would only stay if he accepted her as the bride he knew she thought she was. But with all that I know about the two of you—your love and your deep connection—I can only say that his plan would have only failed.

And so I leave you with this truth.

Max, there is one final thing I must beg of you. If we do indeed meet again in the future… Should I do something that seems wholly unforgiveable…traitorous even…I beg you not to turn me away.

I ask you in advance for your forgiveness, that you may find it in your heart at that time to give.

You see, I came here today as your enemy, prepared to see you die.

But I am ending it—for reasons far too complicated to explain—once again ready to die for you instead. Because the two of you were always and foremost, my beloved king and queen.

Yours,
M.


Max closed the letter and was silent a long moment. Liz waited for his reply, feeling anxiety grow within her. She doubted very seriously whether Tess would believe the letter—or accept the truth. Tess was far too fixated on Max…too in love with him, in her own bizarre way.

"We’ll show her the letter," Max said resolutely. "We’ll tell her everything--about me traveling from the future, the granolith…everything."

"Max, are you sure…"

"Liz, it’s the only way. We have to place our trust in her. It must begin now… as the letter says, we must be unified."

Liz was silent a moment, considering his words.

And then somehow she knew he was right—that his instincts were correct.

Maybe… we can wait just a few days. Allow it all to sink in with us first, she replied softly.
They needed time to strategize the best way to tell the others… but Liz felt something else surface, and then felt a quick pang of guilt. She knew their lives would always be like this, fraught with danger and complications… but she just wanted a few days to savor what had been birthed between the two of them tonight. She knew it was selfish, but her heart yearned for just this brief time with Max—without all she sensed would come in the wake of the letter.

"Yes, Liz," he whispered urgently. "We do need this time for just us… before we face this future."

And he pulled her roughly into her arms. That’s not selfish, sweetheart… just honest. What’s happened tonight is too beautiful not to cherish for just a day or two…And it will make us stronger in facing what lies ahead.

She buried her face against his warm tee-shirt, stroking his back beneath her fingers. Thank you, Max, she breathed softly…whispered it within him.

Suddenly, she felt something joyous and lovely well up within their connection, felt gentle laughter erupt within Max’s heart.

But you’d better watch out in chemistry, he teased softly. I haven’t forgotten my promise.

And Liz had the feeling that she was in for a very interesting day at school tomorrow.


Liz sat in Chemistry, taking detailed notes. She’d felt a burning within her ever since Max had walked in the classroom a few minutes late, taking his seat several rows behind her. This had been going on more than thirty minutes now--she knew he was doing exactly what he’d threatened, and she felt her body responding despite all her efforts to deny it.

There was something almost possessive in the way he kept reaching for their bond… something much hungrier and urgent than their tender lovemaking last evening. After having been so thoroughly intimate, the long night apart from him had driven her slightly crazy—especially with all that they’d learned in the letter. Apparently it had done the exact same thing to Max.

It was as if learning just how thoroughly she really did belong to him--on the very night when they had sealed their love--had created something slightly territorial within Max. She’d been sensing it ever since he walked into the classroom.

She shook her head slightly and determined to focus on the lecture, as she resumed taking notes. Unfortunately that proved difficult, since she kept feeling their bond as it wooed and gentled her, then grew more demanding. It lay just beyond her, shifting, turning…singing to her softly.

What did Max think he was doing to her?

She lowered her head a moment, and her hair fell softly across her face.

Maybe just for a moment…maybe she could let their connection open up just a bit. But only for a moment.

Max stared at the back of Liz’s shiny dark hair, and let his eyes linger down the length of her body. Her now familiar curves were so alluring to him, especially the way her khakis fell low on her hips. He caught sight of a little bare skin where her t-shirt rode up slightly as she leaned over the desk, making copious notes. He imagined kissing her in that exact spot, letting his mouth linger there, just as he had kissed so many other delicate little places on her body.

Note to self…remember her lower back, he thought slyly.

He couldn’t think about chemistry, not with Liz three rows up. Well, at least not the kind of chemistry you learned in class.

Not when all he wanted was to make love to her…right here and now.

He’d joked about how he planned to seduce her in the middle of school, but he hadn’t counted on the burning need he would feel within his body at the mere sight of her.

He shifted slightly in his seat, feeling himself grow a bit aroused. He leaned down over his notebook and pretended to write something—and reached for her yet again, tantalizing her with their connection. He felt it spring to life and then it spiraled toward her, whispering her name.

Oh, Liz…he breathed. Liz please…my love.

He felt the gentlest answer for a moment, knew she almost connected, but then she pushed it away—determined to behave in class.

He called to her again in frustration…and then felt their bond explode, jolts of fire shooting all over his skin.

Liz…all over him, her scent, her taste…. He closed his eyes and drank in the intensity of this explosion between them. And Max was all over her, as well—was caressing her like wildfire, nipping at her skin.

Max, she breathed. I am really totally going to kill you.

He smiled faintly, opening his eyes. He began tracing little notes in the margin of his paper, disguising what was really happening.

I had to keep my promise.

He drew her more tightly to him, pulled on the connection. You’re too far away, he breathed huskily. Come closer.

He felt their connection give a thrilling jolt… oh and he was just full of her now. She moved inside of him easily and began gentling him through their bond. In one swift movement, he felt himself enter her, too.

In and out they danced a gentle rhythm.

I’m making love to you, he whispered across her skin. He watched her shiver slightly in response.
He gazed at her slender backside, saw her shift uncomfortably in her chair. She lowered her head more fully, her thick dark hair forming a curtain around her face—and her shirt raised up a bit again, exposing that same very kissable spot in the small of her back.

Max? She cried out. What are you doing to my back?

God, yes…

He sensed her body heating up…that their connection was inflaming her quickly.

Max…we’ve got to stop.

Why? He teased. You don’t like this?

Shh…she said.

This is where I always want to be, just like this…all inside you, you within me. He was seducing her with his words, too.

Max Evans, you are so going to pay for this.

Hmm…he replied lazily.

He saw her raise her hand, and ask for a bathroom pass. Class would be over in just a few minutes—what was she doing?

Where are you going? He asked, as he watched her leave the classroom, quietly closing the door behind her.

To the restroom…and then we’re going to finish what you started.

He laughed. Whatever do you mean, Liz?

I mean, I can’t just sit in class and let you overheat me like some… alien sex machine. He had to hide his face, as a gentle laugh rolled through him. He saw the teacher glance at him curiously, and he bit his lip.

Well, I can’t, she insisted. He could almost sense her stomping her foot.

I understand, he feigned patience. So what are you going to do?

He smiled radiantly at her words. But be forewarned… that’s when the payback comes, she promised threateningly.


Liz leaned against the bathroom wall, her entire body awash in amazing sensations. Max had whispered and teased her to the pinnacle of her desire and beyond, all from his desk in the chemistry classroom. She was trembling softly in the aftermath of his lovemaking, her skin radiant and flushed.

And she had definite plans for Max Evans now.

There’s no one in here, Max…just me, she urged him. She felt his timidity across their connection. He’d made love to her wildly in front of thirty people, but she couldn’t get him to just come in the girls bathroom.

She felt his hunger for her shiver through their bond…then his decisiveness.

Evans, he whispered, I’m coming for you.

Evans… how she loved that he’d just called her that.

She heard the bathroom door open quietly…soft footsteps…felt the connection flare strongly, and then the stall door opened very tentatively.

Beautiful amber eyes stared down at her for the briefest moment, then Max slipped inside the bathroom stall, closing the door quickly behind him and locking it. When he turned back to face Liz, the expression in his eyes was hungry and wild—her breath caught in her throat at the sight of it. This had been incredibly reckless, teasing each other so fully here at school, when such little recourse existed for the two of them. He closed in against her, his eyes narrowing darkly, and pressed her back against the cool tile wall.

Quickly his mouth captured her own, his lips parting fiercely against hers, demanding all of her. This was no gentle taking… no, he was seizing her, compelling her to succomb to him.

They had so little time, and she wanted to pleasure him fully… wanted this to be his moment. The way he’d made love to her through the connection had left her feeling very bold.

She slipped her hand slowly between his thighs, rubbing him gently, and he answered with a deep groan.

Shh…she breathed, beginning a gentle rhythm as she parted his legs more fully with her hand. Tell me how it feels, Max…but not out loud.

It feels like I’m going mad, he gasped huskily, as she rubbed her hands against him through his soft khakis. He was so defined beneath the thin material--she could feel every last bit of him, as she began to massage him more insistently. He pressed his face against the top of her hair, his breathing growing more uneven and erratic.

Helpless…she could feel how utterly helpless he felt… and how almost ashamed of it he was.

Why? She asked gently.

That you have this effect on me… that you can command me so, God Liz…

He reached quickly to unbutton his pants, but she stilled him with her hand, and instead, very gently she began to unbutton them for him.

You’ve been making love to me all through class… now let me do this for you.

Max drew in a shuddering breath at her words.

Liz slowly slid his zipper down, and with this simple act, he cried out again, this time across the connection, kissing her even more insistently. Their passion was raw and demanding now…pressing them closer, as they careened heatedly back and forth between one another across their bond.

She eased his pants open, allowing his warm hips to fall free beneath her hands.

Next, she tenderly peeled his boxers downward, releasing him more fully. He cried her name fiercely through their bond, and a smile formed on her lips. She loved doing this for him, that she was the one doing the pleasuring--and she loved knowing how strongly it was affecting him.
And she felt a little thrill at the danger of it all—that anyone might discover them.

She traced her fingertips lightly across his abdomen, then his hipbone…down his upper thighs. She was again amazed by how thin he was, how tautly muscled. He was like a thoroughbred…his body so graceful and lean. She finished slipping his boxers away from him, so that he fell freely within her hands. He was incredibly warm and firm as she cupped him within her palms.

Ah…he cried out quietly, as she folded him firmly within her small hands, easing him back and forth, creating a steady rhythm. He reached for her, pressing his hands against her back… but she pushed him softly away.

No, Max, she whispered. Just let me do this for you… you do so much for me, you love me so completely.

He drew his breath in quickly. Okay… but you’re driving me mad, Liz, he whispered, leaning his head back against the wall, his eyes shut tightly.

I know I am… and I like it.

Oh, God, Liz…why did I start this? He moaned softly. How could I have thought I was the one in control when you command every emotion within me…

Max, she whispered gently. Do you think there’s anything I do to you, that you don’t cause within me?

Umm…he answered throatily, and she felt his deep pleasure ricochet through her.

She smiled softly to herself, rubbing him back and forth within her hands, as she intensified her hold on him. He leapt slightly against her touch, a bit of his wetness spilling within her hands. She continued her assault on him, gazing up at him, at the almost pained expression on his face. His eyes were pressed tightly shut and he rocked against her now.

I’m sorry, Max… she laughed tenderly. But you did start this.

He groaned again, this time out loud, just as she heard the bathroom door open. She pressed a finger lightly against his lips, drawing nearer to him now. They grew perfectly still for a moment, and she leaned her cheek against his chest, listening to his frantically beating heart. They heard the sound of running water, then footsteps, and the bathroom door opened and closed again.

Liz began again, letting her hands wander upward along his abdomen, pressing his shirt up as she created a little path against his stomach. She loved the feel of his rippled muscles beneath her fingers, and felt her hand leave a blazing trail of fire along his flushed skin. She began planting kisses on his chest, and drew his nipple softly within her mouth, then lathed it with her tongue.
He gasped and she felt his heart hammering crazily within him.

And he’d grown so hot…it was like his skin was touched by wildfire. She trailed her soft kisses downward, further down onto his smooth stomach, and all the while she kept him firmly within her hands, slipping him back and forth within her palm. He began to gently thrust his hips, meeting the rhythm she’d established.

His eyes fluttered open and met her own, and they had changed color again. Now they were a dark gold, shimmering and mercurial. He begged her as he gazed down into her eyes, pleaded with her to stop this—or finish it--she wasn’t sure which one. But she did know this was almost torturing him now, and that had never been her intention.

She continued trailing her soft kisses along his stomach, and then lower. There was a tiny path of dark hair that began along his lower belly, leading her further downward toward him. She pressed kisses along the light trail, sliding slowly to her knees, until her lips met his lowest part. She drew him quickly within her mouth, easing him in and out in a tender motion. He moaned quietly through their bond, whispering her name. Liz felt him spill slightly, tasted his saltiness within her mouth, and felt a roll of satisfaction within her. He threaded his fingers through her hair violently, pleadingly.

Can’t we just… make love? Here, Liz? He sounded so utterly desperate. I need more of you than this, he insisted.

She teased him with her tongue, as she cupped the rest of him within her palm, rolling him gently between her fingers.

God, Liz, he gasped quickly.

She allowed the connection to unfurl to it fullest, tried to meet his unanswered need by allowing him more fully within her. He responded quickly, filling her completely…dancing along her skin…anything to ease his desperate desire for her. She felt him explode all along their bond, racing along her surface, darting in and out…and yet she also sensed it wasn’t enough. He wanted so much more of her.

So she entered him in kind, and felt their souls touch, dance a seductive dance—then quickly they thread together and entwined without hesitation. Max sighed deeply, and she felt his release at their joining within the connection. The two of them were mating again so fully and deeply, and she sensed a full, growing satisfaction within him…his desire finding its completion. And then suddenly, she felt his alienness…awakening a bit more within him…and she felt all that power and heat shoot through their bond.

And she felt alien, too. Very alien…

Oh, and how she liked it. This was so different than their initial joining, so wild and feral, yet every bit as beautiful.

She wanted to know every dimension of their lovemaking, even this one… she knew his incredible gentleness, and now she saw how untamed he could be. And she sensed that he was a bit frightened by this side of himself, even as she so fully accepted it.

He was scared that something could have begun so playfully within their class, and yet have ended as tempestuously as this. She sensed how utterly vulnerable he felt, the way she was doing the lovemaking, teasing him so…but he also felt completely safe within her hands.

Their bond constricted a bit and she felt their souls intertwine more thoroughly, tighten…he was pulling her toward him spiritually, even as she wouldn’t let him do so with his body. She felt her chest tighten… felt electricity shoot between them.

She glanced up at him, where he leaned against the wall of the bathroom stall, and saw a gentle smile of satisfaction spread across his face. His physical desire was reaching its crescendo beneath her rhythmic touch, but she knew he felt deeply loved by her, by the way she’d joined with him anew.

I’m driving you crazy, too, he smiled.

But of course you are, she whispered softly in reply.

You are my mate, he said reverentially… All I want is to be joined with you, one with you. His chest rose and fell with his heavy breaths, and she noticed that her own breathing had become quite erratic.

She increased her rhythm, as she took him to the edge of his desire…and then he called her name over and over, pulled her into his arms and whispered her name in her ear, breathed it across their connection…allowed it to become like sunlight along her skin.

Oh my Liz…Liz…Liz…my… lovely Liz… my Zillia, he murmured, as his body shuddered, and roughly he spilled his warmth within her tiny hands. He nestled his face against the top of her hair…so satisfied, so bathed in her love for him. She tipped her face upward and kissed him softly, delicately now, as his labored breathing came slowly under control.

I love you…God, how I love you, Liz, was all he could say, meeting her lips with his own.

Max… she murmured. You amaze me…you’re so incredibly beautiful…your soul…your heart…. She paused a moment, gazing up at him. Your body.

He shivered slightly at her words, and stroked her hair between his fingers.

And they stood there for several long moments, satiated with their desire for one another, embracing their union. This was all either of them had wanted for such a very long time.

And then Liz suddenly pulled away from him, panic rising quickly within her. We’ve got to get to English class, she realized in alarm. We’re going to be really late.

They stared at one another for a brief moment, and then they both began laughing uncontrollably at the ridiculousness of the entire situation. They’d just made love in one class, and finished it off in the girl’s bathroom.

English class would just have to wait.