Chapter 28

It was nearly one a.m., and Liz had been lying awake for a good hour. Max had never returned to the cafe, and she’d finally turned off all the lights and headed upstairs once Michael and Tess had left.

I’ll be back, he’d promised.

She wondered nervously what had transpired with Isabel--what had kept him away for such a long time—and she felt a restlessness grow within her. She knew he was coming to her tonight, knew it by the way she felt his energy all around her—resonating within her. He’d just been delayed so far.

Liz rolled over in bed again, glancing up at her window. She kept expecting to see him there any moment, beckoning her—but she was so drained after this amazing day.

Maybe she could just close her eyes for a few moments while she waited.

Sleep enveloped Liz, folding in around her, all hazy edges and dim awareness. She began to doze lightly, but her senses remained on edge, waiting for Max. Longing for him, even in her fitful half-dream state.

She wanted to celebrate with him, mark this day in their history in some way, because for the first time nothing stood in their way. They knew their true destiny… and they could step forward without reservation.

Liz rolled over restlessly in her sleep, needing him.

Yearning for her mate.

Hazy images… Max’s jeep, her hair blowing freely in the sunshine. Laughter… both of theirs, entwining, lilting toward the sky.

Daylight faded, and instead nighttime…the stars…the heavens. Max kissing her, the inky blackness wrapping all around them, even as Max covered her with himself. Something stirred within her… heat. Pure heat… then his lightest touch against her skin.

Liz came suddenly awake, and saw Max kneeling beside her bed, the moonlight barely illuminating him.

"I’m sorry," he whispered, tracing his finger lightly across her cheek. "I didn’t mean to wake you."

Liz smiled in the darkness of her room. "Are you kidding?" she asked. "I’ve been waiting for you."

He leaned over her, kissing her warmly, and his mouth tasted surprisingly salty—and so familiar. She met his kiss gently, and he answered by taking her mouth more fully.

Then the heat that had begun to envelop her during sleep, took hold of her body more firmly, radiating through every last bit of her. Her bedroom was so silent, and there was only the sound of Max’s gentle breathing against her face.

"Come here," she whispered huskily.

"Are you sure?" he asked uncertainly, glancing toward her bedroom door.

"Yes," she breathed. "I need you so much right now."

She scooted over in bed, suddenly aware of her skimpy t-shirt and underwear, as he climbed in beside her. He pulled her close to his chest, and he was like a furnace, drawing her near on a wintry night.

"Is Isabel okay?" she whispered in the darkness.

"Yes," he answered, and began kissing her again, this time much more deeply and hungrily.

"I had to take her home, and then wait for my parents to go to bed. That’s what kept me," he murmured in her ear. "I’ve wanted this for hours now, Liz."

He slipped his hands easily underneath her t-shirt, tenderly stoking her back with his fingers. Their kisses deepened, so succulent and delicious.

"Your parents…" he questioned, continuing his rain of kisses across her face, down along her neck.

"We just have to be really quiet," Liz whispered. "Silent."

He stopped kissing her abruptly and stared into her eyes for a long moment, incredible longing burned within his eyes. But she glimpsed more than longing there—she saw naked, undisguised love—passion that had deepened by increasing measures over the past days.

"What?" she whispered.

He smiled, stroking her hair back from her face, and then slowly shook his head. He cupped her cheek within his hand, drawing her mouth within a breath of his own… yet still he said nothing.

And then she felt it… knew what he’d done in that brief moment.

Heat swept across her in one swelling crescendo, cresting over her entire body--Max’s raw energy sizzling every part of her.

All of her body, even the most delicate places. Places that belonged exclusively to him now.

She opened their connection slowly, tantalizing him-- then it sprang to life, and she felt more than just his energy… she felt Max.

All over her, touching her.

Skittering across her skin, he darted all along their bond, and yet as she stared at him in the darkness, he lay completely still.

He began pressing the lightest kisses against her forehead, and she marveled at the sound of his quickening breaths. They were making love in the deepest way… the quietest way. Her parents would never know—and with that thought, she allowed their connection to unfurl wildly and felt Max rush inside of her, so desperate, so full of need. She found his lips in the darkness, and their kisses grew in intensity.


Liz was driving him crazy, just by lying beside him in that little t-shirt, and now the way she’d been toying with their bond, refusing to open to him fully. If he couldn’t make love to her physically, at least he needed to be completely connected… joined to the exclusion of all else. And yet she’d kept playing so coy, tantalizing him purposely. He’d felt her like a whisper all over him, breathing quietly along his skin.

And then finally their connection had opened--now she was inside of him, and he within her. Oh, but he wished she’d settle down… she was so giddy, whirling all about. He tried to still her, but she kept leaping in and out, until finally their souls found one another.

Like the deepest ecstasy, he touched her soul… so solid, so beautiful. He saw the colors again… magenta and green…a bit of purple. Swirling together, intertwining, melding.

And then the colors joined into one exotic hue, just as he felt their souls weave mysteriously together.

He gasped slightly, and felt the most amazing thrill of satisfaction, as Liz shuddered slightly in his arms. He was aware of how labored his breathing had become, of how much he wanted her physically now. There was simply no separating these two different dimensions of their lovemaking… one always lead right to the other.

Oh, sweet Liz, he moaned quietly. This isn’t enough…

I know, she answered, kissing him on the neck.

I need all of you, he begged quietly.

She began unbuttoning his shirt, as he eased her onto her back, kissing her along her neck, then down along her collarbone. He helped her out of her t-shirt, her breasts falling free beneath him, and he trailed the kisses lower down onto her chest, tracing the path of freckles.

Oh, those beautiful freckles. He could see them in the moonlight, dusting her skin so delicately.

You really like those, don’t you? She panted.

Umm…. He could barely whisper in reply.

Max paused in his seductive kisses, tracing his thumb along the freckles that trailed down toward her breast.

He felt her leap a bit within him, like a jolt of electricity. She was thrilling so at his touch, that it humbled him.

You affect me without even touching me, she reminded him in a gentle whisper.

Show me, he insisted.

Then he slipped more firmly on top of her, his knee pressing her thighs gently apart. She finished unbuttoning his shirt, and it fell away from his chest. Skin against skin, their bare chests touched in the darkness, so soft against one another.

He groaned out loud—couldn’t have helped it if he’d tried.

Max, she cautioned gently.

It’s your fault, he cried.

And in answer, he felt sunlight dance across his arms, his back… shimmering like gold dust all along his skin… Liz whispering along their connection, singing to him.

What was she trying to do to him?

Come inside, my love, she beckoned softly.

He had to get out of these damn blue jeans right away.

Max shimmied out of his pants amazingly fast, and eased back on top of her again. She could feel him underneath his boxers, so firmly defined. He pressed up against her, even through their underwear, and they began a soft rhythm with their hips. Back and forth they rocked, and Liz felt their bond begin to do something strange, as it changed suddenly without warning, becoming hungry and insistent. She tried to pull Max closer inside of her, but it was like their desperate physical need for one another had overridden their connection. She knew they’d joined earlier, yet it felt like he was so far away now—and she needed more of him.

Liz quickly slid Max’s boxers off of his warm hips, and he peeled away her panties, slipping between her legs. She was incredibly wet, and in one swift motion he thrust inside of her, enveloping her with his warmth.

We just have to be very quiet, Max. She cautioned.

Their physical need was unbelievable, shutting everything else out--there was only their two bodies now, resonating with such strong desire.

Max began thrusting gently within her, but at the same time she felt him grasping for her within their bond. Their spiritual joining grew suddenly deeper, more intense, and he pulled her tightly within himself, so possessive and hungry--their physical lovemaking only mirrored what was happening within their souls. This deep joining could only spin inward, to hidden places they’d never found before. It was like some intricate ballet, the way their alien and human sides were making love, with one and then the other taking center stage, back and forth.

He swept her hair away from her face with his hand, and stared down into her eyes, and suddenly his rhythm gentled, and the silence grew electric between them. He stroked her hair slowly, just looking at her, and she felt tears well within her eyes.

Very softly, he rocked back and forth within her, and she couldn’t believe what it began to do to her—how her desire began to escalate, making her feel suddenly wild.

Their breathing became ragged now, and their bodies more insistent, as their rhythm began to increase again. Max’s need intensified, mirroring her own, and he moaned softly in her ear, as he cried out within her.

Their passion crested further, and they lead one another out to the edge…beyond and back again.

And when it was done, they could only lie silently that way, Max still nestled gently inside of her.

She stroked his back, tracing the contours of his muscles…his backbone. She trailed her fingers up into his hair, as he buried his face against her. Their breathing slowed finally, and there remained only the thrumming of his energy all through her body. She’d noticed this the last time they made love—it seemed he left something of his power within her each time--a sort of residual electricity in the wake of his lovemaking.

It was like Max blazed a trail of fire across her body and soul, so that when they were finished making love, she was marked by him.



They lay on their sides now, nestled together. He was so sleepy , so contented… but he wanted to be with her.

Liz, everything has changed forever.

I know.

I’m almost a little frightened, he confessed. Her eyes flew to his in concern.

No, no… I mean, it’s overwhelming really. To have you so freely…

She cupped his face within her tiny palm, stroking his skin.

To think that you were mine once before, and that we found our way to one another again… across such distances… he continued.

It’s because we’re destined for one another, Max. It’s no accident.

He nodded in the darkness, and knew there was something he needed to tell her, although it scared him terribly.

But she needed to know.

What is it? Liz asked, sensing something within him that she couldn’t name. Not fear exactly… something unsettled.

He cuddled her more closely to him, and she lay her head against his chest. He began stroking her hair, threading his fingers through the length of it.

There’s something I never told you, Liz.

What, she asked, feeling suddenly anxious. There were no more secrets between them, so what was this?

Well, it’s just that… months ago, after Tess came, I had a dream one night. And I remembered my wife. He sighed, and then continued. God how I loved this wife.

Liz’s heart began to thunder within her chest. His love for her crossed lifetimes, and he’d remembered it.

I never told you because I didn’t want to hurt you… and because I knew you’d think it was Tess.

But it was me, she finished softly.

Yes, he said gazing into her eyes. And the thing is, Liz… it was just like this, exactly like it, all the emotions.

It’s more intense this time, though, isn’t it? Liz asked quietly.

Max hesitated a long moment, then finally continued. "It’s magnified enormously for some reason."

Maybe because this isn’t our first time down this path, she answered.

Max rolled onto his side, nestling her against his chest, and she felt him bury his face against the top of her head. He wanted to sleep, she felt it. Such a peace had enveloped him, even at sharing this hidden memory.

They lay like that for a long time, just quiet and close, only the sound of their rhythmic breathing--back and forth across the night--only the feel of their bare bodies against one another.

At some point, Liz sensed him drop into slumber, as she felt their bond change into something drowsy and soothing, like a warm bath.

Yet they remained connected, even as he slept in her arms like that.

But she wanted to remain awake--wanted to cherish this moment, etch it into her memory forever.

One perfect day had simply melted right into a new one, and Liz understood that this was just the beginning. She knew they would have their battles in the future, but they would fight them together, standing as one.

Because now they truly belonged to one another in every conceivable way…and no one could ever take that away from them again.

At long last, this was their time.