~ chapter 8 ~

Max shook his head slightly and put his finger against her lips just before they reached his. His voice was low but strong. "Liz, I meant what I said. You deserve so much more than silent fears and bad memories of a relationship that went bad. You deserve everything good this world can offer…" Keeping his eyes trained on Liz's, Max voice raised to address the third party that had stealthily entered the room. "Wouldn't you agree, Sheriff?"

Liz's eyes widened in shock and the breath left her body as if she'd been punched in the stomach when she heard Kyle's immediate response somewhere in the distance behind her. "Completely."

Kyle's voice echoed in the room and Liz spun around at the sound of it. "Kyle!"

The icy blue stare that had fixed on Max Evan's face melted the moment Kyle looked at Liz. His Liz. Here after all this time. Standing in front of him as beautiful as ever. Her dark hair flowing over her shoulders like a waterfall of chocolate. Her toned figure filled out in all the right places. Ebony eyes wide with surprise and cherry lips parted slightly, Kyle couldn't wait till the moment his lips claimed hers again…the way it was meant to be… He practically licked his lips before they curled into a leering smile. "Hello, Liz."

An uncomfortable silence filled the factory as Liz stood staring at Kyle mute while millions of thoughts clashed through her head at once. She thought she'd prepared herself mentally…emotionally...to see him again, but the fear, repulsion and anger that was pulsing through her now sent trendles of doubt shooting through her. Speechlessness only screamed the doubts into a harsh existence.

Liz's mind fought to grasp why her knees were beginning to shake and her throat was suddenly dry. It had to have been the surprise of it all. She'd envisioned seeing Kyle again walking down the streets of Roswell or entering the Crashdown for a thermos of coffee. She had the words ready to say to him when they once more stood face to face in a setting that her imagination had conjured up. The old soap factory wasn't one of those settings. If it had been any other place but in the old soap factory. At any other time but this moment.

It had to be the moment. The special moment between Max and her that Kyle's presence had rudely invaded. She'd been living a private dream come true in Max's arms until Kyle's appearance turned it into a nightmare. Or at least it was beginning to feel like a nightmare. Or maybe it was this place. To have them all together in one place again. Roles reversed, but the longing in her heart still as raw as it had been in high school…to really belong to one person.

Liz's mind pushed all those reasons to the side as contributors but not the focus of her fear. It wasn't even the physical stature of Kyle's presence. She'd been trained. She could take him if need be. Unlike in high school. So why was she suddenly paralyzed?

His stare. It was so different from Max's. With Kyle, she felt like a piece of meat to be devoured. It made her feel uncomfortable. Weak. Powerless. It made her feel…dirty. With Max, she was a gem to be treasured. A princess to be worshipped. Max's gaze made her feel…adored. Even more than that, though, it was the hidden delight she saw in Kyle's eyes. The delight of a person who knows they hold all the cards. That with one word they can turn another's world upside down. That a secret existed between them that could ruin everything if Max found out…

Her stomach suddenly churned as the thought struck her and at the sudden desire she saw flash through Kyle's blue eyes while he continued to stare at her. Max must have seen it too because she felt an instant warmth engulf her as Max moved behind Liz and wrapped an arm protectively around her waist, his chin resting against her hair. Liz finally let out a breath she had been holding and instinctively began to relax as she slid her hand along Max's arm until it found his hand then wrapped her fingers around his giving his hand a slight squeeze.

It was then she found the strength to speak in a steady voice. "Hi…Kyle. What a surprise. What are you doing here?"

Kyle shrugged. "Someone reported seeing a light here. Being that it's a condemned building, I thought it best to check it out." He attempted a chuckle but it came out flat. "You wouldn't believe the kind of things kids try to get away with in here."

"Imagine my surprise to find you, of all people, here with none other than…" Eyes hardening as they shifted to Max, Kyle's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "…Max Evans. Funny. I didn't think he'd be your type. Quiet. Shy. Spineless..."

Liz felt the muscles in Max's arm tighten and she could actually feel him struggle to control himself against Kyle's biting words. He sucked in his breath and forced himself to speak evenly, his words carrying more meaning than any of them had expected. "Things change."

"And some things stay the same." Kyle replied back with a pointed look at Liz.

"True." Max took his cue and forced a smile. "Take what I was saying to Liz earlier, for instance. She deserves so much more than…" Max tilted his head to the side, his expression one of concentration, his eyes drifting upward, as if he were trying to come up with the right word. Having found it not far from the tip of his tongue, a half-chuckle escaped him when he brought his meaning-filled gaze back to Kyle's face. "…well…than you."

Kyle chuckled in response to hide the sting of Max's words. "Nice to see you and I finally agree on something, Evans." His choice of words and easy-going manner would have fooled anyone else. Anyone else but Max. He'd watched Kyle too long in high school…had seen his kind way too often in his line of work…not to understand the hidden sting behind his agreement.

Max's eyes remained fixed on Kyle's face, reading his expression like one would read a riddle. Trying to make sense of every last nuance that flitted across Kyle's face while Max's other arm snaked firmly around Liz's waist protectively and he pulled her even closer to him sending a silent message of possession that Kyle didn't miss. But just in case he did…

Max shot Kyle a wry smile. "Oh, I don't know, Valenti. I think there's at least one thing we've always agreed on." He glanced back down at Liz meaningfully. "We've just had different methods of showing it."

Bright eyes looked back at Kyle as a cocky grin spread over Max's face when he bent slightly so his face was level with Liz's. "Incidentally…" He turned his face deliberately toward Liz's and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek then turned back to Kyle as he nuzzled his face against hers. "…mine works."

Liz pulled away slightly and glanced up at Max catching the confidence in his eyes, the pleasure he was getting out of goading Kyle and suddenly she felt her heart drop to her stomach with a disappointing thud. Max had known Kyle was there earlier. For how long? Had all of this been Max's way of sticking it to Kyle? Playing their 'cover' to the hilt? Had his kiss been part of the ruse too?

Whatever his reasons, the game had begun and now it was up to Liz to continue it…

She snuggled back against Max and turned adoring eyes his way as a patronizing smile took control of her lips. "Listen to you. Trying to take credit for us being together when you know full well I was the one to make the first move."

Max's eyes turned to hers and she saw both approval and warmth waiting for her. She was following his lead with amazing ease and he knew it. He reveled in it. She had just proven that as a team they were...natural.

A disbelieving smile spread over his face as he picked up effortlessly where she left off playing the part of the 'offended' boyfriend for all it's worth. "You're kidding, right? I hate to tell you this, sweetie, but just because your car is the one that plowed into mine doesn't mean you made the first move."

Liz pulled away from Max's embrace and turned toward him, wrapping her arms around her neck. "I wasn't talking about the accident, honey. I was talking about the obvious hints I kept giving you after the policeman took our statements."

Max's brows knit in mock confusion as his eyes twinkled with amusement. "Hints?" In the next instant a grin spread over his face when he saw the raise of her eyebrow and felt the way she pressed her body into his as her fingers began to feather the hair at the base of his neck.

He responded by rubbing his hands slowly, lightly up and down her back. "Oh, riiight. Hints." They shared a smile as if they had a whole secret past they were reliving together when they looked in each other's eyes.

Kyle was livid. In a matter of seconds, they seemed once more wrapped in the world he'd found them in. A world where just the two of them existed. But that world wasn't real. And Kyle was going to make sure they knew that. He cleared his throat with a chuckle. "You too, huh? Lizzie always did have a way of letting a guy know exactly what she wanted...when she wanted it."

Kyle's tone was beyond suggestive and Max felt Liz stiffen in his arms and saw the sting as it flashed in her eyes. His gaze remained on hers, warm and confident and strong. Max willed a silent message of his belief in her to be read in his gaze and Liz received it with a grateful smile and slight nod of her head.

Kyle caught the silent exchange and seethed even more. So, he pushed even harder. "In fact, I remember the night we came here for a party. Boy, was she hot for some action..."

Max's jaw stiffened and his arms twitched with the sudden desire to knock Kyle's words right back into his mouth. Max's brown eyes hardened at the words as he shifted his gaze to Kyle. One word more and the look in his eyes told Kyle he would be dog meat. Luckily for Kyle, Max's cell phone rang effectively cutting off Kyle's next words.

Max shook his head in mock disappointment as he reached for the ringing phone in his pocket with one hand while keeping the other firmly wrapped around Liz's waist. "Damn. And just when the conversation promised to be thoroughly boring."

He winked at Liz then clicked his phone on. "Evans." Hearing the voice on the other end, Max masked his expression and nodded. "Sure. Can you hold a sec?"

He put his hand over the mouthpiece and shot Liz an apologetic look. "Sorry, honey. It's important. I've got to take this."

Liz forced an understanding smile and wondered why she suddenly had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. His next words gave her the reason...

"Since I'm sure you two have a lot to catch up on, why don't I take this outside..."

"Max..." Liz grabbed his arm and gazed up into his eyes with a silent plea. A plea which he understood and sympathized with. But one he wouldn't concede to. He couldn't. Not without blowing their cover.

With a half-smile, Max wrapped his hand around the side of Liz's neck and pulled her to him pressing his lips against hers firmly, confidently. They had only kissed once, but the way his soft, warm lips moved expertly over hers made Liz forget everything else existed for a moment and all she wanted to do was drown in the now familiar comfort of Max. It was amazing how his lips fit so perfectly against hers. As if they were made specifically to mate with hers. She wanted more of this. So much more. In fact, Max's kiss made her feel like she was...finally home.

When Max finally pulled away, his eyes shined down at her in silent conviction while his thumb matched the softness in Max's voice as it absently caressed Liz's cheek. "You'll be fine. Take the chance to make a new memory of this place, Liz. You're strong enough to do it."

His voice raised to include Kyle in the conversation though his eyes were still trained on Liz's face. "I don't think even the sheriff here would like to take on a black belt in karate like yourself. Besides, I'm only a call away if he tries..."

Liz nodded mutely and Max leaned forward once more to give her a quick kiss before he turned to leave. As he came almost even with Kyle he paused and called back to Liz his eyes locked with Kyle's. "Remember, honey...I'll be just outside the door."

"Too bad you can't stay, Evans." Kyle quipped with a grin as he crossed his arms in triumph over his chest. "I'm sure we have some Liz stories we could swap."

Max's eyes to flash with a challenge though the smile on his face was congenial. "Any time. Any place."

Kyle took up the challenge. "I'll be looking forward to it."

With a voice low with determination and warning, Max nodded signaling the start of battle. "So will I."

Kyle silently watched Max till he had stepped outside and closed the door behind him leaving it slightly ajar. Turning his gaze back to Liz, Kyle took a step forward his eyes trained on her face. "Alone at last."

"Not entirely." She paused and took inventory of his expectant expression. "What do you want, Kyle?" Liz's hands clenched and unclenched at her side as she watched Kyle move closer.

Kyle shrugged. "I want to know if he knows."

"Knows what?" Liz swallowed hard reading in the depths of his blue eyes the answer to his question.

Kyle's smirk spread quickly and his eyes raked over her from head to toe then back up again. He stepped closer still till he was standing in front of her. Tilting his head to the side his gaze moved from her eyes to her lips. His smile deepened when he saw her lips tremble. Flicking his gaze back to hers, Kyle leaned forward slightly and whispered as his hand came up to touch her face. "I want to know if loverboy knows your deepest fantasies...the way I do..."

Peering down from the second floor above at the scene beginning to unfold, Cole Guerin crouched low. Should the pretty, dark-haired lady who was in love with the new alien in town need his help, he'd be positioned to spring into action...