~ chapter 17 ~

Max’s instincts were never wrong.

Like a tigress crouching low, patiently eyeing her prey, Liz stood transfixed by the sight waiting for her behind the curtain. Her keen perception took inventory of his every movement. Sensing his awareness of possible danger in the way he froze in place a moment as if waiting for a sound to clue him in to the nature of the coming assault. Anticipating that moment when her target would be vulnerable for the ultimate pounce of aggression…

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Shaking himself from the shudder of anticipation that momentarily immobilized him, Max quickly shut off the water, reached for the nearest towel and draped it around him. Taking a deep breath, Max steeled himself for the obvious cat and mouse game that waited for him. The game he now knew he wanted.

One more deep breath. Shoving the shower curtain to the side, Max's gaze immediately fell on the vision that greeted him. An angel. But not just any angel. An angel…with the smile of the devil crossing her lips and the look of a tigress in her eyes.

Max swallowed hard.

If that predatory look in her enticing eyes was any indication of her plans, he was about to put his stamina to the test. With unadulterated lust shining from the depth of her soul through her exquisite eyes, Liz's lips curved into a feral grin. Caged passions and restrained desires were about to be unleashed. And once they were, there would be no holding back. Max's adam's apple worked its way up and down as he tried to open the tightness those thoughts brought to his throat.

Steam drifted lightly between Max and Liz holding them in its misty dream. Intensifying the moment. Creating an atmosphere that dripped with heat and sensuality. Hunger and seduction. Eager playfulness and swirling fantasies.

Liz made the first move. And it was damaging. Slowly, steadily she moved forward, her shoulders smoothly twisting in time with the swaying of her slender hips. Her tongue snuck out to wet her lips as her open gaze swept over Max taking in every uncovered inch and then some. A finger absently played with a long dark strand of hair before trailing lightly over the smooth skin in the crook of her neck as she tilted her head. Her eyes burned with the intensity of a million stars when her gaze remained fixed on Max's waist.

Good God. She's…slinking toward me. Max's hands balled into fits and he willed his knees to remain solid. She's…she's…staring…there… Max's chest rose and fell quickly and he fought the urge to cover a certain uncooperative member of his as a slight blush flooded his tanned skin.

Liz took a deep breath herself and immediately regretted it. Just the sight of Max standing before her practically naked was enough to make her dizzy. She didn't need the added encouragement of sucking the burning air into her lungs. He was Adonis come alive. Covered from head to toe with a robe of sparkling water that glistened across the hills and valleys, the curves and angles of his tawny skin, Max literally was a god come down to earth. Her eyes took in every inch, every detail. From the bulge of his muscular arms to his six-pack abs to the towel hung low enough on his hips that she could see the faint line where the sun's rays were blocked from branding him.

Feeling the weight of Max's stare, Liz's eyes flicked to his and a playful smirk pranced across her lips. "So. You ever going to come out of there?"

Max blinked when he heard her soft voice filling the space between them. "W-what?"

Liz took another step forward. "The shower. You ever going to come out? I mean…we really can't…" Liz let her eyes drift over his body suggestively. "…do what I was planning unless you…" Her eyes drifted back to his. "…come out of the shower."

Max gulped. "We--we can't?" Why the hell can't we? My fantasy driven brain has found plenty of ways to do plenty of things in the shower with you…

"Oh, no." Liz had the foresight to look innocently shocked. "What I have planned for you is…very special." She inclined her head as her honey-sweet voice called to him softly. "Come on, Max. I won't bite…" Raking her eyes over him once more, Liz added one powerful, effective word. "…yet…"

Max was out of the shower like lightning.

With a sly grin, Liz stepped forward boldly and dipped the fingers of one hand in the top of the towel wrapped firmly around Max's waist. Bidding him to follow her with the silent call of another finger, Liz gave him a 'come here' signal when she took a small step back. Like an oak tree's roots, Max's feet remained planted firmly to the floor and he didn't budge an inch as he crossed his arms in front of him. A half-smile followed to greet her antics as his eyes narrowed warily. "Uh-uh. First, tell me what we're doing."

Liz shrugged nonchalantly. "I thought it was time you experienced the Parker Special Sleepover Package…" She unhooked her fingers from his towel and pouted adorably before letting out an exaggerated sigh. "But if you don't want me…" Her long eyelashes batted as she tipped her shoulder to him and began to turn away.

A warm, soft hand shot out to stop her retreat. "I…I didn't say I didn't…want…" Max rolled his eyes when Liz turned back to him with a victorious twinkle in her eyes. A dark eyebrow raised as Max cleared his throat trying his best to downplay his obvious fall right into her trap. "So…the uh, Parker Special Sleepover Package, huh?" Max's eyes swept over her hungrily as his heart began to pound loudly in his chest. His voice was low and breathless with innuendo. "And just what kind of 'package' are we talking about? Hopefully one that comes wrapped in a white towel…"

Liz's tongue clicked against the roof of her mouth as her head shook slightly with each disapproving cluck and her finger raised to point accusingly at the dream standing in front of her. "Now, now, Mr. Evans. Did I just see a less than pure thought fly through that mind of yours?"

Mock shock claimed Max's expression and was accompanied with raised hands of protest. "Who? Me?" The corners of his mouth twitched as he fought to keep his laughter out of his voice. "Certainly not. Especially not after that exhilarating shower I just had."

"Exhilarating? Oh." Liz feigned disappointment. "And here I thought that shower was to cool you down…"

Max locked eyes with her meaningfully. "Somehow I don't foresee that happening any time soon." A knowing smile danced on Max's lips as a faint blush spread over Liz's cheeks. "So. About that package…"

"Riiiight. The package." Liz re-donned her tigress role and nimbly slipped across the floor till she was only a thin layer of air away. She raked her fingers down Max's glistening chest before tucking one finger back into the top of Max's towel and gazing up at him archly, her eyes pulling him into her spell of enchantment, her web of seduction, her…

Max sighed dreamily as he stared into Liz's eyes and willingly allowed himself to be pulled slowly across the floor. He was past caring about any trouble falling further into the depths of her eyes would cause later down the road. Past trying to name these feelings coursing through him in unflattering terms to ward himself from the danger. And so completely past trying to fight what was inevitable…his thunderous crash of defeat.

Still, it was delightfully fun to tease her…

Once she'd backed herself up to the counter, Liz smiled up at Max communicating with her eyes what she required of him next. Reading the silent request, Max grinned and in one swift move placed his hands on her waist lifting her effortlessly to the counter. Liz let out a little shriek as the suddenness of Max's move, but rapidly recovered when she saw the smug tilt of his smile. So, the game was on again. Not like it had ever been off, but still…

Giving in to him was going to be so much fun…

"So…" Max began as he braced himself by placing a hand on either side of Liz on the counter then leaning down slightly till they were eye to eye, noses only a mere inch apart. "I've done as commanded and taken my shower. What's next? And just how, uh…" Unable to resist the urge to touch her, Max reached a hand up to brush a strand of Liz's hair behind her shoulder allowing his hand to lingeringly mould to the curve of her neck as his thumb ran lightly against her cheek. "…special is this package of yours?"

"Mmmm." Liz practically cooed as her eyes glazed with instant desire at Max's touch. "It's one of a kind."

"Really?" Max cocked an eyebrow at her as a faint smile drifted over his lips. "Just how one of a kind?"

The smile of a temptress shadowed her lips as her hands found their way to either side of his face gently stroking downward to his jaw, her breath feathering across his skin sending shivers of need darting through him. "So one of a kind that you’re the only guest to receive this package."

"The only one, huh?" Max’s forehead touched hers as his need to connect with her overcame him and Liz felt the power of his smile against her lips. "And uh…what did I do…to…" Max let out a sigh that set her lips on fire with the very anticipation that hung in the air between them. "…deserve such a privilege?"

Liz swallowed as her eyes captured his gaze. Her fingernails lightly grazed the skin of his golden neck and tiny goosebumps appeared instantly in reaction as Max’s eyes darkened a few degrees to inky black. God, she loved looking in his eyes. Seeing what her touch did to him. She could literally see the tremors of hunger flicker to life in the depths of his eyes. Now it was time to make them blaze…

"What did you do?" A sultry voice repeated the question as her hands snaked around his neck and languidly wrapped wet strands of hair around her fingers while her legs opened to casually drape around his hips. Liz tilted her face ever so slightly bringing her lips only a whisper away from his. "Max…you make me burn…"

Her words scalded him. Max shut his eyes tightly against the flow of sensations her combined efforts of words and actions sent raging through him. His hand gripped her neck tightly as his other hand shot to the thin towel clinging to her rounded hip. While his jaws worked feverishly to control the animal urge to devour the delicate flower in his arms, Max's chest rose rapidly and little puffs of hot hair blew across her face.

Liz's gaze dropped to Max's lips and she swallowed the urge to attack him once and for all. A plea escaped her before she could stop it. "Max…kiss me."

Max's eyes popped open and Liz got what she'd wanted. To see his eyes blazing with hunger. Flaring with passion. Struggling to maintain some semblance of reason. An agonizing moment of uncertainty hung between them. Brutal conqueror and tender lover battled each other in the windows of Max's soul. In one flicker it seemed the conqueror would prevail and Liz would get her wish to be ravaged to depths previously unknown. Then the next flicker caressed her face so gently she fought the urge to wither into a heap of tears at the sheer gentleness glowing in his eyes.

Reaching an unimaginable balance of sensitive tormenter and kind cruelty, Max swallowed hard and shook his head in the negative to her request.

Liz quickly blinked away the hurt and confusion that flashed in her eyes. "W-why not? Don't you want…" Vulnerability edged her voice and she tried to pull back from Max, but his hand sprang from her hip to join its partner and cup the other side of her face keeping her from escaping him. A warm thumb stopped her words of doubt from continuing.

Reading her insecurity in the depths of her eyes, Max shook his head again, this time in understanding and reassurance as his voice lowered with promise. "It just isn't my turn yet."

"Your turn?" She asked breathlessly as hope pushed the disappointment out of her eyes. "For what?"

Max's eyes drifted closed again and his nose rubbed against hers seductively as his lips lightly brushed the air hovering just above hers. "To take you to the edge of insanity." His adam's apple jumped up and down a few times as Max tried to bring moisture back to his parched mouth and scorched throat. "To…" He released a heavy sigh. "…to make you…explode."

A paintbrush of relief did a broad stroke across Liz's features and dabbed her lips with a shamelessly coy smile as the timbre of her voice dropped its hesitancy and embraced a seductress' boldness. "Well, if *that's* our goal…"

Liz’s hands disentangled themselves from Max’s hair to slide down his glistening arms with aching slowness as she savored the feel of each hard, taut muscle constricting and relaxing under her touch. Max gazed at her intently while her eyes followed her hands as they slid downward until they closed over Max’s wrists, feeling his pulse as it pounded away at the base of his hands.

"Why don’t I…um…" A slow smile captured her lips and her eyes began to dance with plans as Liz reached behind her to grab a towel and laid it across her lap. "…tell you about this special package of yours…"

Repeating Max's earlier gesture, Liz’s right hand reached up to peel Max’s hand from the curve of her neck and pulled it forward to place a gentle kiss in his palm. Keeping her gaze firmly fixed on Max’s face to gauge his reaction, Liz felt a rush of satisfaction when a flash of fire lit his eyes and she felt the fingers of his other hand tingle against the sensitive skin under her jaw near her ear in response. Repeating the same process, Liz captured his other hand to reward it with an equally tingling brush of her lips.

Her smile against his skin as she pressed her lips into his hand warmed him from the inside out and Max's eyes drifted closed in response to the gentle caress of her moist lips as they traveled down to his wrist then back up again. He only managed to push out a grunt of agreement in response to her suggestion before a few more nips across his skin caused his chest to heave and his fingers to feather across her cheeks down to her jaw.

"First, we’ll uh…" Pulling his hands away from her face, Liz dropped a kiss of fire on the back of each hand then gently rested it over the curves of her hips. "…get you dried off."

Max’s chest rose and fell slowly as he pulled in a long, deep breath of air. He could already feel the blood in his veins rising in temperature as a tightness returned with a vengeance to the lower part of his body. He cursed himself for being so visibly responsive to her ministrations. It was going to be pretty damn hard to drive her to the brink of insanity when he was already halfway there.

Liz picked up the towel and shook it out seemingly oblivious to her affect on Max. But he knew she knew. He could tell by the hint of confidence that she tried to hide under her full lashes. The smirk of smugness that raced across her lips. The slant of her coquettish eyes as she turned them full force on his features to offer a gentle statement. "Max…I'm going to need you closer."

Max gulped at her words and the feeling of her bare legs as they tightened their grip around his hips and waist pulling him closer to the counter and to her own center. Even the smooth skin of her legs burned him with their touch. The longer they stayed firmly wrapped around him, the harder it was for his mind to distinguish between his skin and hers. He felt himself falling forward as tiny bursts of flames started popping up all over his body and he fought back the urge to groan when the friction of his towel only reaffirmed his suspicions…this was going to be one long, hard night. "H-how's that?"

Liz swallowed hard at the instant rise in heat the close proximity of Max's body sent radiating through her as he leaned forward. Feeling Max's fingers boring into the side of her hips, Liz decided it was time to push the envelope a little further on this game of theirs. "Perfect. Now, close your eyes." Hearing the echo of devilish schemes lacing her words, Max gazed at her warily for a moment until Liz responded with an innocent smile. "It's ok, Max. Trust me to take care of you…"

Max let out a sigh and shook his head slightly as a doubtful smile tilted his lips upward, but in the end his long eyelashes fluttered shut and Liz's breath stilled in her chest. How could anyone be so perfect? With a faint mist of water still hovering on his skin, Max looked positively delicious. Liz knew if she let herself go, she could devour him right now.

But his whispered promise of before stopped her. It just isn't my turn yet. She suddenly wondered what he was planning that could drive her to the brink of insanity. That could make her explode. That could make him so controlled now with the anticipation of what will happen then. An untamed hunger danced in Liz’s eyes as her mind began to drift to alluring images that brought a heated flush to her cheeks.

As Liz raised the towel to dry the soft wet strands of inky blackness that were haphazardly plastered to Max's face, Liz wondered if he knew what he did to her. She wondered if the thought even crossed his mind that all he had to do to make her explode was simply look at her? He'd already accomplished that feat several times tonight all without really trying. What would happen when he really did try? Would she be able to survive the flames? Or the hunger?

The chocolate of his hair clung to the smooth, tanned skin of his forehead and his lashes lay in curled, even streaks on his cheeks reminding her of the little ridges that curved the circular top of a her favorite candy. Her mouth watered instantly and she could practically feel the chocolate coating giving way to the pressure of her teeth as she nipped it away from the textured butter filling that melted against the heat of her tongue…

A soft voice suddenly interrupted her inner vision. "What are you thinking about?"

"Reeses Peanut Butter Cups." The breathless words were out of her mouth before she thought about it.

Max blinked in surprise and an instant smile lit his face as his nose scrunched up. "Reeses Peanut Butter Cups? Where did that come from?"

An impish grin pranced across Liz's lips as her eyes caught a devilish light that sent shivers up and down Max's spine. He swallowed back the rise of passion that gripped him every time she looked at him with those sparkling eyes. It didn't help that Liz's fingers were working their way through his hair now.

From his temples around his ears to lightly trail to the hair at the nape of his neck. Releasing the damp locks from her grip, her hands moved forward to repeat the process changing direction to flit over the crown of his head pushing hair back from his forehead. Her nails scraping lightly across his scalp. Her fingers lightly massaging everywhere they touched. Slowly, sensually sending pulsating currents of electricity to every nerve in his body.

His gaze flared with intensity and remained fixed on her face as Liz whispered an unexpected command. "Max…tell me how you eat peanut butter cups." The way his eyes darkened with her command, Liz wondered what was going on in his head. He was so much in control of his emotions…his impulses…she needed to know the extent of her affect on him. "It's ok to feel, Max." Liz whispered as she leaned forward her breath blanketing the curves of his broad chest. "It's ok to…lean on me…" Her eyes raised to meet his meaningfully. "…if you need me."

His eyes shut tightly at her words and his breathing stilled. Oh, no. Not need. Anything but need. He couldn't let her get to him that way… Think, Max. Think about anything…peanut butter cups. What was it she had wanted to know? How he ate them? He could do that. He could tell her. After all, how dangerous could a peanut butter discussion be?

"After I unwrap them…" Steeling himself to look in her eyes, Max allowed a smile to taunt his lips while his eyes drifted open to look into hers. "…I go all around the cup and…you know…nibble the little chocolate edges that stick up. Then I…I…nibble away the…uh, complete chocolate edge before I…" A deep breath. "…before I take off the chocolate top and…" A hard swallow followed closely on the heels of a sharp intake of breath when he saw Liz's eyes drift from his eyes to the neck level with her starved gaze. "…then I…lick the peanut butter…filing…before I…devour…"

Suddenly, Max's temperature spiked and his eyes shut tight again when he felt her lips press against his neck. It was a light kiss. A kiss that burned his skin and caused every nerve in his body to stand on end. A kiss that was closely followed by an equally arousing nip a little lower on his collarbone. Another nibble at the base of his throat where sensitive skin vibrated with a helpless sound of pleasure met the tingling sensation of her tongue as it snuck out to soothe the raw nerves her feast was calling forth.

Max's breathing became instantly erratic as his head tilted backward and his hands drifted from Liz's hips to the back of her head holding her against him. "Oh, God." His words were barely breathed as Liz pulled up a mental chair by wrapping her legs more firmly around his waist and continued her delightful feast right where he wanted her. Max moaned louder as Liz's hands began to roam the surface of his chest slipping under his arms to begin a trail of fire up and down his back before hooking themselves around his shoulders. While her mouth and tongue took slow, alternating turns between kissing and nibbling, licking and nipping, the length of his neck to his jaw, her hair grazed his chin as Liz moved to continue her attack repeating the process on any untouched portions of his neck.

The innocence in her voice contradicted the triumphant knowledge in her darkening eyes when she finally pulled away and gazed up at him steadily, her lips red and puffy from their recent meal. "Something like that?"

Cupping her face in his hands for support, Max ducked his head to meet hers and simply nodded unable to form words as his whole upper body fought to regain control of his breathing. His chest heaved and he tried hard to swallow as a burning fire beginning to rage in his veins, thumping out an alarmingly irregular heartbeat and causing that now familiar ache to explode in the pit of his stomach.

Liz gently took Max's flushed face in her hands and pulled back slightly. Leaning up she began raining baby kisses across his forehead. "Notice how I…" Her cheek brushed his nose as her lips ran down his temple and lowered to set his cheek on fire with her gentle kiss. "…stopped…" Liz dropped lower and placed a damaging kiss just to the left of the corner of Max's mouth. "…just short of…" Skipping over Max's lips, Liz nuzzled his nose with hers before moving to the other corner of his mouth dropping another bomb of fire just beyond the reach of his moist lips. "…devouring…" A kiss high on his cheekbone ended her assault when Liz pulled back to lock eyes with Max. "…you."

Max let out a deep sigh as a shudder ran through him when his intense, stormy gaze locked with Liz's. His question sounded from deep in his chest, ragged and husky. "Why did you stop?"

Fingers lightly dipped past the towel around his neck to rake up and down his skin as Liz's answer hovered over his lips, her eyes challenging him to make good on his promise. "I'm waiting for your turn…"

Max's body trembled as the volcano of desire erupted from deep inside shooting molten lava throughout his veins causing control to crumble away like boulders from a solid mountain. His hands quickly dropped down her back to curve the smooth lines of Liz's bottom and with one swift move his hands scooped her up and deposited her on the very edge of the counter.

Liz's breath caught in her throat at Max's bold move before a sharp gasp escaped her and Liz's eyes instantly glazed over as the heat of their centers collided. Widened eyes watched Max yank the towel that she'd been using to dry him from around his neck and fling it to the floor. "Why did you…" She glanced quickly at the discarded towel. "…you're not dry yet."

"Who gives a damn?" The heat of his words scorched her as his blazing eyes dropped to focus on her waiting lips. Max trapped her by firmly placing his hands on each side of her as he leaned down over the counter ambushing her with the intensity of his gaze. His eyes flashed with a predatory light as an impatient growl rumbled low in his chest. "My turn…"

And Liz Parker trembled…