~ chapter 16 ~

"Uh-oh." Alex Whitman entered the apartment that had been his home for the past three years and instantly knew something was wrong. He set his guitar case down by the door and watched as his girlfriend of eight years, Isabel Evans, paced back and forth in front of the large picture window. "Let me guess…Gucci didn’t have the sling back shoes in the color you needed for your new…"

"Oh, Alex!" Isabel flew across the room and was in his arms in a heartbeat. "God, I’m so glad you’re home…"

Alex’s eyebrows furrowed in concern as his arms wrapped tightly around her. "Iz, honey. What is it? You’re positively trembling…"

Isabel spent a few more comforting moments in Alex’s arms before pulling back to show him her shining eyes full of fear. "Alex…we need to talk…"

Alex nodded as he wrapped an arm around Isabel’s shoulder leading her toward the couch. "Alright. Whatever it is, I’m here, ok?"

Isabel nodded and sniffed back a few tears as she and Alex sank into their plush sofa. Silence gripped the room as Isabel sat staring at the hand she had clasped so firmly in her lap. Alex’s hand. The hand that gently stroked her hair until she fell asleep after a troubling nightmare. The hand that had wiped away countless tears over the past years. The hand that she counted on more and more every day to hold onto hers and keep her steady and strong.

What would she ever do if she lost him? Tears welled instantly in her eyes at the thought. No. She couldn’t…she *wouldn’t* let that happen. She felt his hand brush her chin, tilting it upward. "I’m not the one in this relationship that can read thoughts, Izzy. You’re going to have to spell yours out for me." Alex reminded her with a slight grin. "What’s going on?"

Blinking back her tears she raised her eyes to meet his. "Alex…I’m…I’m going away."

"What?"

"For just a little while."

"When?"

"Tonight." Isabel hastened to explain when she saw the worry crease his forehead. "I…" She let out a deep sigh. "God, I can’t even believe this is happening…"

"*What* is happening, Iz?" Alex’s voice became laced with frustration. Usually, he was a patient man, but having his girlfriend greet him at the door with tears then tell him she’s leaving wasn’t exactly the kind of welcome home he’d expected after a long day at the recording studio.

Isabel took a deep breath. "It’s Max. He’s in Roswell…with Liz Parker."

"Oh."

"Oh?" Isabel blinked at Alex’s one word reaction. "I tell you my alien, FBI agent brother is back in your home town with one of your best friends. A best friend that also works for the FBI, thinks you’re dead, used to be engaged to that scum Kyle Valenti and that my brother happens to absolutely adore and all you can say is ‘oh’?"

Alex shrugged. "I just don’t see the crisis, Isabel. Or at least I don’t see why you have to leave…"

Isabel jumped up from her seat and began pacing in front of the couch. "I don’t believe this. The potential for catastrophe…the end of our lives as we know it…is waiting in Roswell and you don’t think there’s a problem!"

Leaning back into the couch, Alex waited in silence till Isabel stopped her pacing and turned to him with frustration written all over her face. He patted the seat next to him as an invitation. When her response was to cross her arms in front of her and tilt her nose up in the air defiantly, Alex had to fight the urge to laugh. Instead, he cleared his throat and patted the seat again. "Come on, Izzy. Sit back down and talk to me." His voice softened into a plea. "Please."

Damn him. Isabel simply couldn’t resist Alex when he talked to her in that voice and gave her that pleading, puppy dog look. She rolled her eyes, let out a sigh and plopped down with a sigh. "I'm scared."

"I can tell." Alex reached over and took Isabel's hand in his. "I'm just not quite sure what you're afraid of."

Isabel's voice shook with emotion as she covered Alex's hand with hers. "I can't lose Max, Alex. For that matter, I can't lose you…"

"Iz, honey. You won't…"

"How do you know? Alex, the last time we were in Roswell, Kyle Valenti's bullet almost ended your life…"

Alex took Isabel's face in his hands. "And you, my love, saved it."

"Yes, but don't you see? Liz and Max together…Kyle's jealousy--his suspicions…" A shiny tear slipped out of the corner of her eye. "Max could be in danger from more things than just falling in love with your best friend. Kyle could go after him and Max could be his next senseless target. Liz could find out about us…"

"Max can take care of himself against Kyle. And if Liz does find out, we'll deal, Isabel. Just like we always have." Alex reassured her with a light kiss. "We can trust her, Iz."

"Are you sure?"

"There are only 5 people in this world I'd trust with my life, Isabel. Liz is one of them." Alex stated with conviction. "But you know that already, don't you?"

Isabel nodded slowly knowing Alex's thoughts on the subject since they'd discussed telling Liz many times over the past eight years. He'd always bowed to her will not to reveal their secret, but it didn't lessen his pain. And as much as she loved Alex, she loved Max just as much. And right now, Max was the one in possible danger. "I do know, Alex. I'm just…I'm just wondering…can Max trust her too?"

"That's a question Max will have to answer." Alex grinned suddenly as his eyes began to twinkle. "I don't think that's really going to be a problem though. You do know that whole adoring thing can go two ways, don't you? Max was Liz's biggest crush in high school."

"People change, Alex."

"I know they do." He wrapped an arm around Isabel's shoulder and pulled her to him in a reassuring hug. "And even though they change…some things still stay the same. Look at us. Still together after all this time."

Isabel chuckled in spite of her uncertainty and fears. "That's only because I've threatened to expose you to the tabloids as the subject of some gross alien experimentation and name that horrendous producer of yours as the alien."

"Well, that's true…" Alex's grin widened. It felt good to make his girl laugh. "I certainly haven't been hanging around for your cooking. All that God-awful Tabasco sauce and sugar mixtures you use…"

"Hey! Watch what you say about my cooking, buster!" Isabel slapped Alex playfully before letting out a sigh and tilting her head to look into Alex's eyes. She caressed the side of his face with her hand. "I still have to go. I need to be sure."

Alex nodded once. "I know." He leaned down and placed a chased kiss on her forehead. "Isabel? Promise you'll be careful. Promise you'll come home to me…"

Isabel's eyes misted with tears. "I promise I will always come home to you. I love you, Alex Whitman."

"And I love you…my beautiful Space girl."

A shared smile full of love lead to a kiss of promise that would last a lifetime…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A tropical heatwave descended on Roswell, NM. Specifically, to a tiny bathroom above the Crashdown Café’ in Roswell, NM. Exclusively, to two individuals who, with just one look, not only attracted heat like the color of black on a burning summer day but intrinsically generated it like the pit of an active volcano just waiting to erupt.

Although sweltering heat settled over Liz Parker condensing on her faintly tanned skin and causing her hair to cling in little wisps around her face, the woman in question stood frozen to her spot in the middle of the bathroom. Her darkening eyes were glued to the smoky curtain that Max closed behind him as he stepped into the shower with a grin. A winded ‘Oh my’ breezed past her lips when seconds later the dark silhouette promptly rid Max of his remaining clothes.

His form captured her. The sweep of his broad shoulders and defined chest blurred behind the shade of the curtain before he turned his back to her and Liz’s eyes hungrily drank in every curved outline of his arms, back, hips... Her damp hair fell across her shoulders as she tilted her head in silent observation of every move Max made, her mind filling in the blanks of the vision she was unable to clearly see.

And she was certainly not lacking for images. Especially since this had been a fantasy of hers for a while now. Max Evans…in the shower…buffed and bare. Just waiting for her to join him. A primal urge raced through her, pumping blood so hard through her veins that she could hear a loud rushing sound as her heart pounded out a startlingly rapid rhythm. The images came faster pulling Liz quickly and surely into her own dream world.

A dream world that lasted all of 10 seconds.

Liz snapped to, releasing a sharp gasp of surprise when Max's raven head suddenly and unexpectedly popped out from behind the shower curtain. His twinkling eyes focused on her blushing face, Liz immediately felt the embarrassment of being caught staring.

"Hey, Liz. Just…one more thing…" Max tossed Liz a wad of material which she caught on reflex. "…thought you might want a souvenir of our show. I'm sure I won't be needing them any more tonight." With a wicked wink Max ducked back in the shower but not before he saw her face go from blushing pink to pale white to crimson red.

Liz's chest rose and fell in short, quick pants when she realized the wad of material in her hand was Max’s boxers. She could still feel the heat of his body radiating off the soft material and that thought alone sent a rocket of pure lust shooting through her. The sound of the steady artificial rainfall turning on slowly filling the room once more with oppressive steam and beating against hard muscles and tiled walls drifted to Liz’s consciousness and she found herself being pulled forward by her own overwhelming need. She dropped the last shred of Max’s clothes on the floor, took a step and gulped. Only two more steps and she could reach out and rip the curtain away and…

Curiosity killed the cat. Liz swallowed hard and gathered all of her willpower before she spun away from the closed curtain shrouding the now completely unclothed form of Max Evans. Stupid cliché’, but still…it just might keep her from making a bigger fool of herself than she already had. It just might keep her from launching herself into the shower and onto Max Evans’ perfect body. Whether he was ready for her or not.

The thickening vapor wrapped around her and she felt the weight of a craving unlike anything she had ever known fall heavily on her. Her hands bunched up in fists by her side and she fought the urge to spin back around by biting her lower lip nervously and digging her toes into the crevices between the tiles of the floor. It wasn't right. To just spy on him while he was showering. To take advantage of his ‘vulnerable’ situation. It just…wasn't…

Liz grinned wickedly when her eyes fell on the mirror of her still opened medicine cabinet door. The mirror gave a perfect reflection of the shower curtain and everything behind it. The smooth lines of Max’s chest caught her eye as Max leaned his head back and ran his fingers through his hair pushing it back away from his face. Her smile disappeared quickly. Curiosity killed the cat. It still wasn't right. Not to mention good for her health. She could already feel the blood in her veins simmering with desire. The hunger in the pit of her stomach growling with urgency…

She'd be absolutely mortified if someone was intently watching her while she… Oh. Oh, wait. He just reached for the shampoo. A pile landed on his outstretched hand. Bubbles of vanilla and spice mixed with the thick black locks of hair and instantly filled the air with its intoxicating scent. Oh, to be that shampoo. To be the droplets of water running down his satiny skin, relaxing his tense muscles, soothing his tingling nerves…

From deep inside Max’s chest came a sigh of contentment. A purr of pleasure.

Liz swallowed hard as her mouth went desert dry. "Screw the damn cat…it’s dead anyway." Her fingernail tapped against her chin in thought. "What he needs…is a tigress. And I can definitely do tigress…" The muttered words brightened Liz’s eyes with determination and eager anticipation as she turned to face the shower curtain once more. "Watch out Max…the hunt has begun…and this cat will take no prisoners…"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max could feel the weight of her burning stare as it cut through the curtain and scorched his skin. As he heard her light sigh echo off the walls of the tiny bathroom a goofy grin spread over his lips. He couldn't resist the temptation that sigh brought. He deftly removed his boxers, bunched them up and poked his head out of the shower for the beginning of his plan to drive Liz Parker to distraction.

Delivering his suggestive gift to her, Max held back a chuckle when he ducked back into the shower and heard her gasp. Now, *that* had been fun. That had been *really* fun.

Quickly turning the water on to cover any laughter that might happen to escape him, Max slowly reached for the soap and washcloth. His grin deepened as each move was slow and deliberate, giving Liz a frame by frame visual of what she was missing by not joining him in the shower.

God, she was beautiful. Enchanting. Alluring. Sexy as hell and adorably innocent all rolled into one dynamic, petite package. And that blush of embarrassment that colored her perfect cheeks… This game they were playing with each other was without a doubt the best time Max had ever spent in his life. What the hell had been wrong with him back in high school?

Max's grin faded. He was scared back then, that’s what. Hell, he was scared now. This game they were playing was dangerous. On so many levels. So much more than he'd like to admit. Then again, maybe he should admit it. Maybe he should do what he'd always done when faced with a decision…lay out all of the facts. Decide the next course of action by the way the pros and cons fell. After all, this was no different from anything else. Right?

Max tilted his head back to wet his hair closing his eyes as he concentrated on letting the hot water run over his tired muscles, massaging them back to life. Opening his eyes, he glanced around and smiled when he saw the only available shampoo was Liz's. He popped the cap and took a whiff of the scent his mind would always associate with Liz. That intoxicating scent. That intoxicating Liz…

The vanilla-spice mixture engulfed Max as he began to shampoo his hair, his mind struggled to deal in facts not feelings.

Fact 1: Physical limitations. As far as he knew there were none. Isabel had been pursuing the 'merging of species' for years now with no abnormal side effects. No three-headed alien babies. No 'black widow' syndrome. No bright flashes of light that beam the alien's partner to 'home base' for experimentation… Nope. He was safe on that count.

Fact 2: He wanted her. Oh, how he wanted her. In fact, he wasn't sure he'd be able to make it through the rest of the night if all these urges he had weren't satisfied. He'd never felt anything this strong before. This…primal. This deep. When she touched him, she didn't just touch his body…she touched his soul somehow. Though, he must admit, his body was the first and most visible at responding. Max was no stranger to flirting, but this…this was…more.

It was a storm brewing inside of him. Building cloud upon darkening cloud as the anticipation hung over them like a blanket waiting to drop. He knew once it did…once that thin line of control was breached…the relief would be overwhelming. Soothing. Refreshing. Freeing.

Still, there was something to be said about the electricity in the air before the storm. The crackle of lightning as it pounded through his heart when her fingers found their way into uncharted territory. The thunder of desire as it rumbled from a place so deep inside of him it was frightening…

Max gulped for air. Well. So much for not feeling…

Ok. Next fact…

Fact 3: She wanted him. Every single emotion that had played in her expression, danced in her eyes, sounded in her sighs, the desire rolling off of her screamed one thing loud and perfectly clear. Liz Parker wanted him.

How amazing was that?

The girl he'd dreamed about for a decade had been dreaming about him too. Had made him the star in her private movies. Had centered her fantasies around him. And when she looked at him, her eyes were as bright as a child's looking through the glass window of a candy store. She was hungry. Ravenous even. And all of her cravings were centered on one large stick of eye candy named Max Evans.

The tremors that rippled through her body when he touched her hadn't gone unnoticed either. Nor had the way her eyes glazed with desire, drifted closed in a pleasurable battle to maintain control whenever his lips hovered just above hers. The slight parting of her luscious lips when she released a heated sigh was more than invitation to drink his fill of her sweetness.

Fact 4: Max had nearly broken that promise to himself to not kiss Liz's lips till they were beyond control more than once tonight already. He honestly didn't know how much longer he could hold on without giving up. A devious smile drifted across Max's lips. Then again, who said he really had to? As long as his wants didn't turn to need, Max could make out of this assignment unscathed.

He was sure of it. In fact, that would be his new motto: Want her, but don't need her. And certainly don't ever love her.

And that worked for him.

In fact, wanting her was like breathing to him now. Every desire fell swiftly on the heels of a previous craving, preparing the way for an insatiable hunger that only Liz could quell. In wanting Liz, she could touch his body. Tease him, please him and finally possess him. He certainly wasn’t opposed to that. But needing her…now, there…there she would have his soul. And love…well, love was the forbidden emotion of all time. For in loving Liz Parker she would own his heart. His alien heart. And once she did, he'd never get it back again.

Summary: Playing the game--immeasurable fun. Acting on desires--beyond acceptable to deliriously anticipating that moment. Falling in love with Liz Parker. Uh…no. That was the one thing he would never…could never…let happen…

It required too much trust.

Max rinsed the last soap bubbles from his golden skin with that determination echoing in his mind. His eyes drifted open slowly. There was a shift in the atmosphere. He could feel it tingling across his skin. Calling the blood in his veins to simmer. Raising the hair on the back of his neck and sending a pleasurable shiver down his spine.

The smell of the hunt was in the air and Max had the distinct impression that he was the prey…